Sharks On the Move—Even in Turbulent Waters

Studying abroad means adapting to real life in real time. This week, we found ourselves packed like herring on an over-full Dutch city bus with dozens of equally stranded commuters thanks to a national train strike. What was supposed to be a smooth train ride to our next educational visit turned into a masterclass in flexibility, patience, and finding humor in the chaos. 

The bus was so full we couldn’t see out the windows, and personal space--a distant memory. The look of shock on the faces of the lucky ones on bikes as they peddled past us said it all. But there we were, two professors squished shoulder to shoulder, laughing at our own misfortune and marveling at how calm, polite, and resigned the Dutch passengers were. No yelling. No eye rolls. Just silent understanding that this too shall pass (eventually…after 13 more stops). It wasn’t what we planned, but it was a moment that defined one of the major lessons of the study abroad experience: living with the world, not just learning about it.