Hello!
My name is Alexis Alfasi, and I am a rising sophomore at Hanszen College, majoring in bioengineering with a minor in engineering design.
I chose to study abroad this summer because I want to travel as much as possible while I am young. I love exploring new places, meeting new people, experiencing different cultures, and trying new foods. However, I know that realistically, opportunities to travel may become limited once I begin working and eventually start a family. So, when I saw a chance to study abroad and earn credits for my minor, I knew I had to join the iSEED program.
I specifically chose the Paris and Amsterdam program because I’ve been studying French since eighth grade and wanted a chance to practice using the language with native speakers.
Before signing up, I didn’t know much about Amsterdam and hadn’t planned many activities (except for visiting the AnneFrank House, which requires booking tickets six weeks in advance the moment they go on sale). Most of my experiences here, whether alone or with other Rice students, have been spontaneous, as we figure out together what to do each day.
In just four days, outside of class, I’ve watched the sunset and swung off the edge of the A’DAM Tower, visited the Anne Frank House and Museum, and even enjoyed live jazz music!
When I arrived, I didn’t know any of the other Rice students that were coming to Amsterdam. But now, aside from visiting the Anne Frank Museum, we’ve done everything as a group, including meals and using public transportation. We’ve already formed such close friendships, and I can’t wait to see what else we do together over the next three and a half weeks!
Today was our first time working with students from the University of Amsterdam. They were incredibly kind, eager to collaborate, and actively contributed to the assignments. What surprised me most was that over half the students weren’t originally from the Netherlands! This made the experience even more fascinating, as we not only learned about their time in Amsterdam, but also their home countries.
Overall, so far, the iSEED program has exceeded all my expectations, and I couldn’t be happier that I chose to come.
Rice iSEED group A’DAM Tower
Swing off the side of the A’DAM Tower
Trying the Dutch food Poffertjes with Nutella and Banana
Prototyping on the first day of class
Sunset from the top of the A’DAM tower