Unfortunately due to the covid-19 pandemic, I was unable to physically study abroad. I did, however, connect with students from the Netherlands to make a podcast. We compared and contrasted different issues that arose in the two countries because of the pandemic. overall, many of the issues remained universal between the United States and the Netherlands. The main issue that we discussed was the increase in mental health issues, especially among the elderly. The group proposed that local colleges, governments, or communities extend programs to teach technological literacy in order to help reduce feelings of isolation during the lockdown.
I loved being able to talk to the students from the Netherlands. I learned quite a bit about the country such as the importance they place on green energy. I also found out that public transport is far more reliable and the primary form of transport for the country. That is something that I hope the United States will improve in the future as it not only would help poor-income communities but also relieve some of the air and noise pollution in the country.