Lotte during her internship in Bristol

Hey! Where are you from? Where do you study/live/work?

Hi! I’m Lotte and I’m from the Netherlands. During my internship abroad, I was studying to become an Executive Secretary.

What was the first thing you thought when you arrived in Bristol?

The first thing I thought when I arrived in Bristol was, wow, I actually did it, I made it! I couldn’t wait to start my internship.

What was the most shocking difference between the Netherlands and England?

I think the biggest difference between England and the Netherlands is that England is very polite and genuinely kind. People helped me until they were sure I could find my way. Some literally walked with me to where I needed to be, and another couple almost got on the bus with me to help me find my home. Dutch people just tell you which direction to go and that’s it.

What does your typical workday look like?

My workdays were long but really fun, I had the best boss ever! She’s very funny, polite, and I learned so much from her. Not just from my boss, but from everyone. I worked with so many international people and got to help many international students. I loved it. It’s a great way to meet so many different people.

How is the work atmosphere at your internship company?

The work atmosphere at the company where I interned was really good. Everyone is kind, fun, young, and very open—open to getting to know you better, but also open to sharing their lives with you.

Have you ever felt homesick? How did you deal with it?

I was very lucky that I never really felt homesick. Even though being away for five months was sometimes difficult, I stayed connected a lot by Skyping and calling my parents and sisters, and sending lots of postcards. You just have to keep in touch with people at home, but not too much—you also need to make friends where you are. If you don’t make friends, you’ll feel lonely quickly and get homesick faster.

Do you feel at home in Bristol? Why (not)?

Yes, I really felt at home in Bristol. It’s a young city. I was afraid I might not manage in a big city because I come from a small village. Luckily, Bristol really feels small. Even though it’s busy and quite big, you don’t really feel that. Bristol has lots of nice and quiet spots and space for everyone; there’s a pub for every type of person.

Give us tips on who you should become friends with abroad. Russians? Irish? Chileans?

I became friends with Spaniards, Poles, Turks, French, English, Irish, and even Koreans, Saudis, Italians, and Mexicans. I don’t think there’s a specific nationality you’re better off befriending. I worked at an international school and saw that people’s personalities can really change. You just have to find your type of people in the country you go to. Don’t judge people by where they come from.

Describe the people of Bristol in three words.

Bristolians are polite, funny, and friendly.

What did you learn from your experience abroad? Was it the beloved community you liked? The cheap cocktails? The beautiful nature? Or was your experience less than expected? Details, we want details!

I learned to be myself, to be more open to people, and to stop judging others. In Bristol, people really are who they want to be. I also learned to step out of my comfort zone. I loved Bristol because it’s a city that’s always alive. When the sun shines, people are everywhere: shopping, at the harbor, in the parks. Bristolians are people who enjoy and love life. They live every day and enjoy every moment. Every Friday after work, everyone rushes to the pub to celebrate the weekend, and honestly, every pub is full all weekend long. I’d love to go back and I recommend it to everyone. Another big plus about England in general is that they have bus companies where you can travel all over England for just £5! So cheap!! Definitely do it! Explore England while you’re there! I certainly did ;)