Blog of Nikki Veldhuis

So this is it. This is how an exchange study supposed to be like. I had a great time with the Swedes and some exchange students. Quite unique actually, because exchange studies usually mean that you’re going to be with other Erasmus students. I barely had contact with other international students, except for the International Presence Exhibition project in Vasteras. Instead I was hanging around with local students in Eskilstuna. They we’re truly great friends and damn, I’m going to miss those guys. Always good for a crazy laugh and they we’re always a great help and company. I consider myself very lucky that I met them. David, Sandra, Henderson, Henrik, Oscar, Veronica, Klas, Andreas, Urban, Sophia, Andy and Robert; you are all fucking awesome.

Damn, I’m going to miss this country, the town but especially the people. If I ever have the chance to do an exchange study again, I will do it without thinking.

Of course, one of the reasons I started this blog is to report my school what I’ve done here. So here comes the official stuff.
I’ve learned especially some practical skills. I’ve learned 3d modeling and animation, got quite experienced in InDesign in a relative short time. My interaction design study at my home university is mostly about project methods and design ethics. It was very useful to learn some practical skills instead. However, from this point of view, I didn’t think I’ve learned some new methods in Sweden. I’ve learned to work in a team consisting of foreign people, but I used mostly the methods I’ve learned in Holland.

Most students (and some teachers) I talked to said that exchange studies are not about what you learn in school, but what you learn socially. You learn how to deal with difficult social situations, like languages and cultures. You learn how to fit in and use your own skills and expertise in a different environment. In this case, I learned more than enough and I think I got to know myself better. You discover things about yourself you never thought about before and look at it from a different perspective. This is the reason that everybody who has the chance has to go definitely on an exchange study. It’s a lot of work and a hassle before you go (and after) but it’s more, much more, than worth it.

At the moment I’m home with parents in the south of the Netherlands. The past few days I’ve been busy finding a room in Utrecht or Hilversum again. I really hope that I’m settled again before I have to start my last year at my school.

I was thinking to change this exchange study blog to a regular blog. It is a good way to learn writing English (I noticed that I still make terrible mistakes here and there). Also I want to keep my friends and family up to date with what I do. You will hear from me!

Finally, one more thing. I missed the dutch “quality” music!

Next to the information design project I’m doing a volunteer project in Västerås. I got in this project a couple a weeks ago because Hubert, one of the organizers of the International Committee, needed an designer. In this project we are giving information about the exchange student to the average Swede, because the school (and the municipal of this area) thinks that there is almost no awareness about exchange students. The budget is surprisingly big, so we can spend a lot of money on production and promotion. We decided to put big posters in common area’s. The posters tell the experiences of exchange students here in Sweden and their home country. We try to familiarize the persons with the visitor.

Below some pictures about the first mockup we printed at the print shop to give an idea.

We are discussing the print with the print shop guy about the possibilities. Don't pay attention to the girl in the back.

A close up of the first print.

For this project I’m doing the graphic design, thats quite a responsibility, because at the moment I’m the only one with the proper skills. I’m trying to find some help, because I think this is to much work (we are going to make more then 10 of these!). Well the overload of work gives me the next problem. For now it’s kind of easy going, but it going to be hell the next 5 weeks.

Remembered the Lighting course? We’ll that kind of sucked. It started sucking more when I got to know that I only get 2 ECTS instead of 7,5. The story is to long to tell every detail, but it narrows down that the solution for participating this course was half-assed. O yeah, and the teacher kind of screwed me over (don’t tell a Swedish teacher that his / her course sucks, in a proper way of course). But of course, this is also a bit my fault by not participating the final presentation because I was doing party-party in Stockholm. But it is a bit of chicken-and-egg story. I’m tired of talking to coordinators and the teacher to find a solution this way. I will try to get my two points for the honor, so I have to write a report to finish it.

To get all my points in the end, I’m going to follow another course. I’m going to do a graphic design course, with the program InDesign, for a real company. It’s a long time ago when I used InDesign, so a good opportunity to brush up my skills. The course is from the same teacher as the information design project. Also, I’m not the only exchange student, so this sounds kinda promising.

I have so much more to tell, but It’s getting late already and I have to get up early. I will try to make a new post before the end of the week.