By Camille de Ripainsel and Rojin Soroudi
Winter break means something different for every exchange student, whether they’re bundling up in Canada or lounging under the sun in Mexico. For some, it’s the thrill of experiencing new holiday traditions in a foreign land. For others, it’s the bitter-sweet feeling of being far from home during a season filled with family gatherings and familiar rituals. AUC students are discovering what winter means in places both near and far, and experiencing the season in ways that couldn’t be more different from the chilly streets of Amsterdam. Meanwhile, exchange students from abroad who came to study at AUC are exploring a city that comes alive with cozy lights, festive markets, and holiday cheer. No matter the location, this time of the year remains a season of connection, celebration, and adventure. Yet, for every exchange student, these experiences come with their own unique stories.
Camelia Terraza (third-year Social Science major) – Buenos Aires, Argentina
Beneath the palm trees, and in between cups of maté, Camelia Terraza—a Swedish-Argentinian-American AUC student—finds herself in Buenos Aires for her exchange at the University of Torcuato di Tella. Unlike many students abroad, Terraza’s winter break is a return to her roots, surrounded by family in her country of origin, with moments that signify warm times. She is delighted to wear her best summer outfits, party on the beach, and follow Christmas traditions that feature, as she describes, “ugly plastic Christmas trees.”
For Terraza, Christmas is a time of connection and joy, a season she eagerly anticipates for its sense of togetherness. Though the day is filled with hard work and preparations, she cherishes seeing it all come together. “After slaving all day to prepare everything, I get to see everyone,” she says, as her family gathers from across the globe for this occasion.
As the celebrations unfold, they share a dinner full of Argentinian dishes—from vitel toné, and matambre, to pan dulce and loads of ice cream. Then, the magic comes at midnight when Santa arrives to bring gifts. “I was Santa once myself,” she reminisces, smiling. As the night goes on, the family’s joy spills into music and dance: guitars strum, laughter fills the air, and glasses of fernet are raised.
For Terraza, winter break and Christmas under the Argentinian sun are not just a celebration – they are a living mosaic of her heritage, a reminder of the unifying power of love, laughter, and traditions.
Gabriel Lopez (third-year Humanities major) – Melbourne, Australia
For Gabriel Lopez, a French student from La Réunion, winter break began weeks ago, as his semester abroad at the University of Melbourne wrapped up in early November. In Australia, with reversed seasons, it’s the middle of summer break with endless sun, freedom, and two months of vacation ahead. Lopez has decided to rent a car with friends to spend two weeks surfing on the Sunshine Coast near Brisbane. Then, he will head back to Melbourne to enjoy the city with its people and kangaroos one last time.
His life in the coastal town of Noosa revolves around surf sessions, beach hangouts, and nights celebrating the end of the school year. Yet amidst having the time of his life, Lopez still notes that “people here don’t truly do Christmas,” feeling that “there’s not really the spirit.” Lopez misses the cozy traditions of Amsterdam’s winters—with cold wind and snow, dorm movie nights, and hot chocolate. Here Christmas appears only with “decorations in shops and the occasional Santa in the supermarket aisles.” Perhaps the “holiday magic,” he believes, is more present in big cities than in surf towns.
Still, as the waves rise and fall under the colored sky, Lopez deeply enjoys the beautiful contrast of his holiday season—loving this summer Christmas full of sun and surf.
José Arsenault-Moriel (Incoming Exchange Student) – Amsterdam, The Netherlands
As the cold days arrive in Amsterdam, students wonder how long the gray skies will stay around. But for José Arsenault-Moriel, a Mexican-Canadian on exchange at AUC from the University of Toronto, the weather is far from bad. “Apart from being quite cloudy, it’s not too cold,” he says, used to the snowfalls of Canada. As an endless traveler, Arsenault-Moriel has experienced winter breaks across continents, each with its unique traditions, and he now anticipates the atmosphere that will be taking shape in Amsterdam.
Arsenault-Moriel’s winter breaks have been a mix of cultures and climates, shaped by his time living in more than eight different countries. While Canada has been his home for a few years, much of his time was spent in the warmth of Africa and Latin America.
These experiences have infused his family’s winter celebrations with a blend of traditions. For New Year’s Eve, for example, wherever they find themselves in the world, his family has a unique ritual: “We walk around with suitcases in hand,” he says, recalling their nomadic lifestyle and their perpetual cycle of movement around the world.
Arsenault-Moriel has already caught glimpses of the winter season with the holiday lights that illuminate De Pijp and Jordaan at night. But he knows there’s still much more to uncover. For now, he waits with quiet excitement, ready to embrace the city’s winter charm and add another chapter to his ever-expanding collection of holiday memories.
Renske Ubink (third-year Science major) – Portland, Oregon, United States
Comfortable in her rain jacket, Renske Ubink, a Dutch student studying abroad at Reed College, finds herself feeling almost at home in Portland’s familiar weather. However, around her, the campus is more than alive, and she feels that “the seasons are changing.” Autumn’s beautiful colours slowly fall for winter – bringing promises of holiday traditions.
This Christmas marks a big change for Ubink as it will be her first time away from the busy celebrations with family and friends back home in the Netherlands. Yet, even as she misses the familiar patterns of life in the Netherlands, she is excited about the adventures awaiting her over the holidays. Having already embraced the American Thanksgiving with the vegetarian twist of “no turkey for me!” Ubink is also looking forward to what comes ahead. Some of her family will soon join her in Oregon, and together they will journey north to Vancouver, Canada. There, she will celebrate Christmas, and reunite with AUC friends who are also currently studying in the region.
By taking extra classes, Ubink has granted herself the freedom to spend January traveling and exploring South America, an adventure not yet planned but that she eagerly anticipates. Ubink, once a meticulous planner, has now embraced a relaxed approach to what comes next. This holiday season will thus not only be a celebration but also a time of connection, and the joy of stepping into the unknown.
The Herring 