ALEX GONZALEZ
University of California, Los Angeles
MOIRA ORAS
Deakin University
SHEKINAH TUNG
Christopher Newport University
JENNIFER HO
University of California, Los Angeles
ANTHONY PADILLA
University of California, Los Angeles
MALLORY WEAVER
PERCY DALLMAN
University of California, San Diego
Xavier University •page13•
JESSICA VANPEURSEM
HENRY GAGNIER
Christopher Newport University
Baylor University •page16•
Each summer, Maastricht comes alive with the energy and curiosity of students embarking on their study abroad adventures. In this newest edition of cestories, we are excited to highlight the impressions of our 2024 and 2025 summer students.
I truly enjoyed reading about the simil differences that make students laugh, reflections on their experiences, such places, trying ‘vlaai’, and exploring Ma richness of study abroad and remind u
As we look back on two memorable summers, I am deeply grateful to our partners for entrusting us with their students, to my incredible team for making sure the students have an academically and culturally enriching summer, and to the students themselves for the curiosity, openness, and joy they bring to CES, UM, and Maastricht.
I hope you enjoy reading their stories of discovery, adaptation, and all the small adventures that make a summer abroad unforgettable.
Laura Byrd
Assistant director of the Center for European Studies (CES) and Maastricht
Summer School (MSS)
Alex completed our Summer Programme in European Studies in summer 2024.
What are three cultural differences you observe between the Netherlands and your home count
“Ice and Water the Dutch must be im dehydration because it seems like the water per day and you bet it will be ro
“The Dutch love tourists. It is the most so accepting of other cultures and lov you’re doing something wrong, just a
“Clothing I love rolling out of bed at sweats and a stained T-shirt. You will sweatpants in public.”
in v e r s ity
"Everyday was a new adventure with a new thing to do."
“Show up to everything early! You need time at new train stations and bus stop d airports to figure everything out.” What is a travel mistake you learned from?
What was your favourite hangout spot in Maastricht?
“The nature around the Netherlands is amazing but Stadsbrouwerij Maastricht takes the cake. Great place to do homework, relax and eat great food at a good price. The staff is the best part. If you visit, tell Ryan that Alex and Venus say Hello!”
Moira completed our Summer Programme in European Studies in summer 2025.
What was the best food you tried in Maastricht?
“This might sound simple, but I can’t stop thinking about the cone of fries drenched in Joppie sauce (specifically from Friedt). It was definitely such a comfort snack to munch on, especially after class.”
What surprised you the most about studying abroad?
“It was surprising just how many people you would meet. You hear stories about people finding their closest friends, but I never truly understood the impact of studying abroad clos my close friends, even if it meant an ocean separated us.”
What are three cultural differences you observed between the Netherlands and your home country?
tely bourne has its bikes (and ts), b Netherlands. Everything seems to be in biking distance.”
ing over ‘vlaai’. I don’t think such pastry is common in Melbourne, or at least, in the areas I frequent.”
“The canals throughout cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht were beautiful. It was peaceful to see people sitting along the canals and enjoying the sunlight. Especially during the long summer days.”
What do you miss most about Maastricht now that you are back home?
“Maastricht is such a beautiful city. I can’t help but miss wandering through the streets. Maastricht is small enough that, if you ever find yourself lost, you can always find your way back to where you started.”
Shekinah completed our Cross Cultural Leadership in Maastricht programme in summer 2024.
is your favourite Maastricht memory?
“I loved watching the Euro games in different countries throughout the trip. Whether it was at a pub in Maastricht or the festival in Berlin, the energy of the experience was unmatched. It felt like a common thread between the countries we visited.”
"I miss being able to explore different places with my friends and immerse in other cultures."
What is a travel mistake you learned from?
“In the US, I am used to being able to pay for everything with card. So, when I was traveling in a small town in Germany, I did not think to check if the place we were dining at accepted card. After eating, my friends and I discovered that they only took cash, and almost found ourselves in a bind.”
What surprised you the most about studying abroad?
“I was surprised at how easy it was to communicate with people throughout the countries. Nearly everyone I interacted with spoke English in addition to their native language This made the entire experience a lot smoother.”
What do you miss most about Maastricht now that you are back home?
“I miss being able to explore different places with my friends and immerse in other cultures. Studying abroad allowed me to have a new adventure every day.”
Jennifer completed our Summer Programme in European Studies in summer 2024.
What is a travel mistake you learned from?
“I learned that there is no need to overpack! You can always adapt!”
What is your favourite Maastricht memory?
“My favorite memory is touring the limestone caves and learning about this history of Maastricht during WWII.”
"My favorite part about studying in the Netherlands was getting to learn in a new environment and hearing other people’s perspectives."
Where was your favourite place to hang out in Maastricht?
“My favorite place to hangout was the movie theaters. They have fun showings of old movies, and the snack options are definitely superior to the U.S.”
What did you enjoy most about studying in the Netherlands as an international student?
“My favorite part about studying in the Netherlands was getting to learn in a new environment and hearing other people’s perspectives, whether they were international or from a different part of the States.”
Anthony completed our Summer Programme in European Studies in summer 2025.
What was the best (day) trip you took while studying abroad?
in v e r s ity
“The best day trip I took while studying abroad was going to Utrecht. I loved getting to explore the bustling streets and eat amazing food. Some of the highlights were going to visit the nearby De Haar castle and trying Miffy-themed food at the Miffy Museum!”
What is a travel mistake you learned from?
“One mistake I learned from studying abroad was not planning ahead enough. There were
What was your favourite hangout spot in Maastricht?
“My favorite place to hang out in Maastricht was by the Meuse river. Being abroad made me realize the importance of spending time taking care of one’s own mental well-being. Some of my favorite memories were when I would sit alongside the river’s edge with a meal. I would be able to recharge myself to be able to enjoy the rest of my day with others.”
"Being abroad made me realize the importance of spending time taking care of one ’ s own mental well-being."
What do you miss most about Maastricht now that you are back home?
“Th hing I miss most about Maastricht is how easy transportation was between ns. Whether it be within the city or in other regions in Europe, travelling was e efficient than in Los Angeles. I especially miss getting to use a bike to travel areas.”
Mallory completed our university-specific programme for Xavier University and Lebanon Valley College in summer 2024.
What was the best food you tried during your study abroad?
“Delicious Belgian waffles and chocolates.”
What was the best (day) trip you took while studying abroad?
“Traveling to Brussels, Belgium, and going to the European Parliament.”
What did you enjoy most about studying in the Netherlands as an international student?
“I learned so much about other cultures, especially how people's daily lives in other countries differ from mine.”
“Learning about bike culture.”
“I was able to hop on a bus and go to Paris for the weekend.”
Percy completed our Summer Programme in European Studies in summer 2024.
What is the wildest or most unexpected thing that happened during your study abroad experience?
“Definitely going on a 10-mile hike in the Mullerthal trail. I got to see some beautifu structures, and it was so cool to meet fellow hikers along the way!”
What is your favourite Maastricht memory?
“Trying as many cafes as I could. I tried 12 in Maastricht, and my favorites were Koffie and Grenzeloos!”
What was the best (day) trip you took while studying abroad?
“Utrecht was beautiful and a very chill city, and perfect for a day trip from Maastricht. I got some delicious (and cheap!) Italian food while I was there, as well as visited a cute cafe and walked along the canal.”
"I felt a lot more engaged in class here."
What did you enjoy most about studying in the Netherlands as an international student?
“I loved learning about the differences between Dutch and American educational values. The problem based learning system is a lot different than a lecture-style class, and I felt a lot more engaged in class here.”
Jessica completed our Summer Programme in European Studies in summer 2024.
What was the most spontaneous adventure you had while studying abroad?
“My friends and I last minute decided to get on a river cruise on the Seine in Paris and it was perfect timing with the first Eiffel Tower sparkle of the night.”
"It was so easy to connect with people on the program right away!"
What was your favourite hangout spot in Maastricht?
“I absolutely loved the set up of the class structure, it was open to conversation and good cultural conversation We had people from all around the world in our courses, so we got to hear so many different perspectives and views on lifestyles.”
What is your favourite Maastricht memory?
“We were lucky enough to have the Euro games playing during our study abroad program, so going to a local café to celebrate the Netherlands was so much fun. It led to a lot of fun table and card games that lasted for the duration of the program.”
What did you enjoy most about studying in the Netherlands as an international student?
“It was so easy to connect with people on the program right away! The program had a small-town feeling, which made it feel like everyone knew each other and saw each other around the city.”
Henry completed our Cross Cultural Leadership in Maastricht programme in summer 2025.
What was the most spontaneous adventure you ha while studying abroad?
“The most spontaneous adventure I had was after dinner one night, a big portion of the group decided to go swimming in Lake Lucerne. It was great to see the peaks of Mount Pilatus, which we had scaled earlier that day, from the lake.”
"The most spontaneous adventure I had while studying abroad was (...) swimming in Lake Lucerne."
What is the wildest or most unexpected thing that happened during your study abroad experience?
“The craziest experience I had while studying abroad was when we went to Brussels and ran around the train station, going from track to track, trying to find our only ride home to Maastricht using the train system.”
What is your favourite Maastricht memory?
“My favorite Maastricht memory was sitting down at Cafe Falstaff with Mason Bennett, where we sat and talked about the city for over an ho As we sat there and people watched, our professor came out of the herd of people and sat down to have dinner with us.”
For this edition:
Text & photography
Ideas & input Design & layout
Alex Gonzalez, Moira Oras, Shekinah Tung, Jennifer Ho, Anthony Padilla, Mallory Weaver, Percy Dallman, Jessica Vanpeursem and Henry Gagnier
Naomi Nijssen
Naomi Nijssen
CENTER FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES
Bonnefantenstraat 2, 6211 KL Maastricht +31 43 388 5282 | ces.info@maastrichtuniversity.nl
