The study

            My latest big travel experience has brought me to Norway. While the country itself was my purpose, it was not the tourism I was specifically coming for, but the academic credits. I lived in Bergen, which they call the rainiest city in Europe (in my experience that wasn’t quite true), to follow marine biology courses at the university. That doesn’t mean I did not do tourist-activities. I think it even allowed me to experience the culture more thoroughly. Studying in another country – and hence doing tourism in a completely different way – has learnt me a great deal. It taught me not only academic skills and knowledge, but also about being part of a different culture. In that way, learning is not only a reason to travel, but travelling as a reason to learn.

            Coming month I will travel to St Eustatius as part of a research team with the goal to invest marine biodiversity. Going to an area of the world I have not explored yet, it will be a completely different experience. I cannot wait to pick up my bag again and get in that travel-flow again.  

Enjoying sunset on a research vessel during one of my trips on the North Sea I did for my studies.