Kevin during his internship in San Francisco!

Hey! Where are you from? Where do you study/live/work?
Hello! My name is Kevin and I’m a third-year application development student in Den Bosch, the Netherlands.

What was the first thing you thought when you arrived in San Francisco?
So warm! I left the Netherlands when it was freezing, and I arrived in San Francisco with 20 degrees Celsius.

What was the most shocking difference between the Netherlands and San Francisco?
That anything goes here! No matter how crazy you imagine something, you’ll probably see it happening on the street.

What does your typical workday look like?
I work daily from 9 to 5:30. My office is about a 20-minute walk through the beautiful Golden Gate Park.

What’s the work atmosphere like at your internship company?
The vibe is super relaxed. You need to finish your tasks on time, but while working, you can chat with everyone—and don’t be surprised if you hear someone singing or playing guitar in the background.

Have you ever felt homesick? How did you deal with it?
Luckily, I haven’t felt homesick. Coming to the U.S. has always been a dream of mine. I also stay in touch with family and friends every day through WhatsApp.

Do you feel at home in San Francisco? Why (or why not)?
I definitely feel at home in San Francisco. The city is incredibly beautiful and the people are a bit quirky, but very friendly. I live right next to Haight Street, and you see all kinds of people passing by there.

Is there a typical local dish that you REALLY can’t eat (or absolutely love)?
There isn’t really a typical local dish I’ve tried. San Francisco has a huge Asian community, so you’ll find lots of food from different Asian countries. And of course—it’s America, so there’s a fast food place on every corner.

Describe the people of San Francisco in three words.
Social, helpful, curious

What have you learned from your experience abroad? Was it the lovely community that you enjoyed? The cheap cocktails? The stunning nature? Or was your experience less than expected? We want details!
I’ve learned so much. One of the biggest lessons has been becoming more independent. You’re nearly on the other side of the world, and even though people here are very helpful, you still have to handle a lot of things on your own. I’ve also learned a lot about this amazing city and the American (work) culture.