Your last few weeks abroad are nothing less than hectic. For some reason, IES Abroad quite disappointingly sends you home right around the day of your last exam; I had to turn in an essay on my last full day. So, you are studying for exams, packing up all your belongings, and saying goodbye to the great friends you made and the city you came to call home all within the same week or so. It really would benefit the students if IES Abroad changed this, allowing for another week after exams to say goodbye and allow ample time for packing.

I am in the minority of students who study a full academic year abroad as opposed to just one semester, and this extended period of time changes the scope of one’s experience. Eight months provides ample time to get accustomed and settle into your host city. By the time my friends from last semester were saying goodbye to Amsterdam, I felt like I was just getting settled. Two semesters also means twice as much spending, and the bit I saved up from my summer job was not nearly enough to last me eight months.

Amsterdam is home to a great array of live music, ranging from some of the biggest names in the world to new bands performing for the first time in someone’s basement. As a music lover and musician myself, I frequented this diverse spread of musical performance. Here are some of my best recommendations for seeing live music in Amsterdam.

Study abroad prep can be daunting – between organizing flight itineraries, transfer credits, finances, housing, vaccines, there’s a gazillion things to keep track of.

Throw accessibility needs into the mix, and this process can easily get overwhelming. I’ve made a list of 5 ways I am preparing to study abroad as an autistic student. 

Hopefully, some of these tips can help make your preparation process a little easier: