Maaike during her internship in London"

Hey! Where are you from? Where do you study/live/work?
Hi, I’m Maaike and I study Hotel and Event Management at Tio University of Applied Sciences in Rotterdam. I’m now almost at the end of my internship in London at a 5-star hotel.

What was the first thing you thought when you arrived in London?
Ohh, now it’s really starting…

What was the most shocking difference between the Netherlands and London?
The differences between the Netherlands and London aren’t that big, actually. I did know that British people can drink a lot, but I didn’t expect them to drink that much. Almost every evening after work, they go to the pub. No matter where you are in London, there’s always a pub nearby. The rent prices in London are insanely high. Rotterdam and Amsterdam don’t even come close.

What does your typical workday look like?
My workday usually starts at 3 PM. The restaurant opens for dinner at 6 PM. In the meantime, we clean up from lunch and prepare the restaurant for the evening. I usually finish around 11 or 12 at night. On weekends, we also have brunch at the hotel, so on those days my shift starts at 11 AM.

What’s the work atmosphere like at your internship company?
The work atmosphere is really good! I get along well with everyone, and I’m sure I’ll stay in touch with some of them.

Have you ever felt homesick? How did you deal with it?
I expected to get quite homesick, actually. When I was on holiday for three weeks, I would always want to go home by the end of it. But honestly, it hasn’t been that bad at all. I also had some visitors from the Netherlands a few times, which definitely helped. :)

Do you feel at home in London? Why?
I do feel quite at home in London! It’s really nice to be in a big city. There are always shops nearby that are open, and there are always people out on the streets. In some places I go, I can actually see myself living there, haha. London also has so many beautiful parks where you can really relax and unwind.

Give us tips—who should you become friends with abroad? The Russians? The Irish? The Chileans?
I share my apartment with a few Italians, and I also have many Italian colleagues. I’ve noticed that there are two different groups: one group is super friendly, and the other is… a bit strange, haha.

Describe the people of London in three words.
Polite, rushed, love partying.
Okay, that’s not exactly three words, sorry haha.

What did you learn from your experience abroad? Was it the amazing community that made it special? The cheap cocktails? The stunning nature? Or was the experience less than expected? We want details!
I’ve learned so much here. Maybe the most important thing I’ve learned is how to live on my own, haha. I’m really sad that my time in London is almost over. Time has truly flown by — like they say: Time flies when you’re having fun ;)