Student Blog

3 min read

On March 9th, 2025, I initiated a meetup with the Netherlands APU Alumni Association. My second semester at Leiden University had just begun, and I was encouraged to arrange a meeting by an alumnus I’d been in touch with.

How the Meetup Came to Be

Earlier in my stay in the Netherlands, I received an invitation to an APU Alumni Europe Chapter meetup—coincidentally held in The Hague last year. Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend, but after being added to the group chat, an alumnus named Ramesh was able to reach out to me directly.

Ramesh Ganohariti graduated from APU in 2015 as a Culture, Society and Media (CSM) major in APS. He came to the Netherlands to pursue his master's degree and eventually became a Junior Lecturer at Leiden University. He was also the first President of the Board of Trustees that revived the APU Alumni Association’s Europe Chapter. I was truly grateful he made time in his busy schedule to talk with me about our APU journeys and life in the Netherlands. Hearing his story was surreal—I saw so many parallels to my own life since enrolling in 2022. We talked about APU’s international environment and its uniquely vibrant campus life—something that is hard to find anywhere else. Ramesh also shared his motivation to continue studying abroad and build a career in academia. His journey was incredibly inspiring, and it made me even more excited to meet the broader alumni community.

The Meetup

On the day, 10 APU alumni joined the meetup. Some already knew each other from previous gatherings or through work. It was a beautiful sunny day in Leiden—perfect for walking through the city as we talked. I loved slipping back into the familiar rhythm of mixed English-Japanese conversations, something I’d really missed last semester.

Among the group were Hiroshi and Mika Sakai, from one of APU's earliest graduating classes—2006. They had recently moved to Rotterdam as a family, looking for better opportunities for their children and careers. It was fun reminiscing with Mika-san about Beppu’s bus stops and sharing updates on the evolving APU campus. Mika-san currently works as an online HR assistant and language tutor, while her husband, Hiroshi-san, is launching a business focused on pressed flower art and holds workshops at elementary schools.

Similarly, Shimpei Takashima, from the class of 2009, had recently moved to the Netherlands from Ireland. He works as a Sales & Marketing Manager for language schools across Ireland, the UK, and Malta, focusing on junior study-abroad programs. He also runs a Japanese tea business, wholesaling premium tea from Kizugawa City in Kyoto Prefecture to the European market. He told me that his move was driven by curiosity and the desire for new experiences.

I also had a great conversation with Jycan Tan, an international student from the class of 2016 who took Japanese-basis classes at APU. It was interesting to learn how he ultimately chose to write his thesis in English despite his language track. He now works as an Immigration Specialist at ASML here in the Netherlands. I also spoke with Mizuki-san, who currently lives with her partner in Breda. She’s learning Dutch and taking courses as she works toward building a career in the Netherlands.

Next, I met Yen Pham, from the class of 2016, who is currently pursuing her MBA in the Netherlands after a successful career as an E-commerce Manager in Vietnam. I also chatted briefly with Vincent, who shared his experience of participating in an overseas exchange program in Switzerland while at APU—something that gave me valuable insight into my own experience studying abroad in the Netherlands.

Last but not least, I spoke with Yuko-san and Maciek. Yuko-san is temporarily based in the Netherlands as an expat from a Japanese company, working in corporate planning and project management at a packaging firm. Maciek was an exchange student from Poland at APU back in 2006. It was amazing to see how he still felt a strong sense of connection within the APU alumni network.

A Heartwarming "Shape Your World" Moment

Overall, this meetup with the APU Alumni Association’s Netherlands was an enlightening and heartwarming experience. I learned so much from my seniors and truly felt the essence of “Shape Your World.” Everyone I met has carved out their own path, guided by their passions and an international mindset—exactly the spirit APU instills in us. I’m so grateful to have found the APU family, even a continent away!

ZERA AMARI

Hello, everyone! I’m Zera from Indonesia. I am in my 2nd year of APS, majoring in CSM. I’m still relatively new to APU student life so that will motivate me to experience more things and make new friends! Of course, I won’t forget to write about it for you all!