From European winters to tropical rainforests
15 October 2026
by Maika Cornelisse
Utrecht University inbound exchange student
to Monash University Malaysia.
My name is Maika Cornelisse, and I study biology at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. I focus on wildlife ecology and nature restoration. For one semester, I studied abroad at Monash University Malaysia.
I had long known I wanted to study abroad, but never exactly which one. Then I started my bachelor’s degree and quickly discovered my interest in tropical rainforests and my desire to visit them myself. Malaysia has one of the oldest rainforests in the world and many unique species, so that’s when I knew I wanted to go there. Monash University Malaysia is a partner university located in the capital city, which made my choice easy. I arrived in February. It was winter in my country when I left, so it could not have been a bigger change to go from snow to tropical temperatures. I got to visit the campus for the first time, and there was an orientation day where I met my future friends. So, in an instant, I felt very welcome and comfortable.
Studying at Monash University Malaysia was a positive experience for me. Something that struck me was the campus layout. I appreciated how coherent the campus is and how easy it is to get from one building to the other. If you walk outside on campus, there is always something to do or an event, like engineering students building robots for their robot contest, or a market where you can try new kinds of food and buy cute stuff. There are also many clubs you can join. As this exchange semester was part of my minor, I decided to take some units outside the faculty of science. All the units were educational, but the one that I learned the most from was "Introduction to gender studies". It brought me some new insights into gender norms that are deeply ingrained in today’s societies. Another outstanding experience was during “Tropical Environmental Management”. I got to practice fieldwork and research in the tropical rainforests around Kuala Lumpur.
Of course, studying abroad is not only about studying. It is a chance to develop yourself on a much bigger scale. I made friends from all over the world, all with different beliefs, cultures, opinions and habits. It was so fun to discover our differences and share each other’s cultural practices. For example, I did not know a lot about Islam or Buddhism, but visiting temples and mosques together, celebrating Chinese New Year, and witnessing Eid taught me more about them. I made some friends that I believe will be lifelong friends.
During weekends and holidays, it was time to discover Malaysia. The first thing I experienced was the food. I loved the food so much that I still dream about it. Beforehand, I had some worries because I am vegetarian. Turned out that was not necessary at all. It was easy to find delicious vegetarian meals every day. I was also shocked by how relatively cheap and varied fruit is, my favourites being mango and dragon fruit. Whenever I had free time, I would go on a trip. During those getaways, I made the most amazing memories. My favourites were celebrating Chinese New Year in George Town, relaxing with all my friends on Pangkor Island, sleeping in a cave in one of the world's oldest rainforests, and scuba diving with sharks and sea turtles in Borneo. Malaysia has never-ending opportunities to explore.
Studying on the other side of the world has pulled me out of my little European bubble. I learned how standardised Western viewpoints are, while there are so many more important viewpoints to include. I noticed this even in the tiniest details, such as a water bottle labelled "European Standards" or mannequins with only white skin and blue eyes in a country where almost no one has those features. It makes me wonder why the Western world has such a big influence and what Malaysia would look like without those influences. But fortunately, I also witnessed a strong sense of community and culture, which I really enjoyed being part of over the past few months. I will miss the conversations with all my international friends, trying delicious new foods, discovering new places, and admiring the beautiful plants and animals that live in Malaysia.
If you are considering studying at Monash University Malaysia, look up a picture of Char kway teow. I recommend doing some research online about the culture and city from fellow exchange students, and other relevant topics. Bring appropriate clothes for the weather and cultural standards, and learn how to say hello and thank you. Don’t hold yourself back out of fear or anxiety. It is completely normal to feel uncomfortable and homesick. It is cliché, but learning how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable is a skill that will be useful for the rest of your life. In my opinion, it was the best time of my life! Take the risk and see for yourself.
More information about our inbound exchange program is available here.