When asked why TU/e was his choice from the countless other choices offered by Erasmus, Andrei states that “it was my best ranked university on the list.” He listed courses like Databases and Datamodeling that have a strong correspondence with the courses in his home country. He compared the differences, noting that “TU/e is much tougher, where a more independent form of study is involved. Professors expect you to be self-reliant, whereas Romania has seminars and labs and lectures, with professors always only a step away from you.”

His favourite place in the city, besides Stratum, is the campus. With the abundance of international students living in such close proximity, he loves the fact that he could get accommodation on campus for the half year he resided here. “The first advantage has to be sleep. But you also meet a lot of interesting people that you share a lot of common ideals with. Socializing here happens without any effort.”

More understanding

Living in a shared house with Polish and Italian students, he states “I’ve learnt how to be more understanding and tolerant with people. And to be more caring for the environment.” But he stresses his fondness for living on his own, and having to solve his own problems.

When asked if he has missed his home country in the past half year, he dissents, “I have found a lot of Romanians here, especially in the Computer Science Department. In fact, I’ve got a Romanian Computer Graphics professor. He’s quite good actually, I like him.” 

Andrei, who’s leaving for Romania to continue his Bachelor for another year and a half, recommends every non-Dutch student travelling around the Netherlands one important thing. He emphasizes how each city has a different feel to it and taking the train to travel anywhere is really convenient. “I really like Rotterdam. And going across the border to Belgium is very easy as well.”

Still not grown accustomed to the sandwich and bread consumption in the Netherlands, he notes his special admiration for stroopwafels. “I don’t generally gravitate towards sweet flavours, but this is definitely an exception.”