Mixing In With The Mix

INTEGRATION!
Such a simple word, but it makes one so nervous.
For most, such as myself and others who have never been to The Netherlands, it was a scary step forward. There are so many thoughts going through your mind. Thinking on what to expect, what it's like, if you're going to like it there, if it's gonna be easy, or will you make friends, and so many other thoughts racing through your mind. I'm from a completely different culture and the lifestyles are completely different, so you can imagine I wasn't sure how easy or hard integration would be as a student in a foreign land.

When I got to The Netherlands, when I got to the HAN, that was a reality check for me. I saw that I was not the only wanderer, I was not the only one trying to fit in. It was like I was placed somewhere that was filled with multiple versions of myself. I was surrounded by people from everywhere, people from cities I never even heard of. Coming from a 37 square mile island, that made me feel way better about not being seen on the world map. I'm from St.Maarten, just for the record. If you don't know it then that just justifies my point even more.

You see, being 1 more mix added in the mix makes you feel like you belong. You may be the minority alone, but with all of the minority of mixes, you become part of a collective majority. This is a new experience for everyone, this is the student life. This is where you learn, not only about your studies, not only about yourself, but also about others. You're here to absorb as much as you can with as much experiences as you can.

As I began to live the student life, I realized that no one came to school to be around hundreds of people just to be alone, I definitely didn't! In my first day I met a few people, so you can imagine my second, and third, and over all the months I've been in school. The student life showed me that regardless of where you're from, you're all labeled in the same category, and that's a 'student'. Meeting new friends, experiencing new experiences together, working together, growing together, PARTYING together, that's all part of what you signed up for, so no need to be shy and wonder if you'll fit in.

Keep an open mind and dive into the mix with everyone else. I've had some great memories and experiences with my fellow students so far, some I can now call friends. Don't be the odd one out, dive into the mix with everyone else. 

Meeting new people, integrating with new cultures, that's only one of the great student life experiences, wait until you see what else there is to experience.