- Student
- 24/06/2026
And how are things in Irvine, California?
When Milja van Rooyen heard that an international internship was possible as part of her Biomedical Engineering master’s degree, the question was never if she would go, but where. Opportunities like this do not come around often, and she knew she had to take it. So at the end of April, Milja boarded a plane to Irvine, California.
“I chose the United States because I wanted to experience a completely different culture while still being in a country where I speak the language. And to be honest, the sunny weather on the West Coast definitely played a role as well. UC Irvine may not be one of the most famous American universities, but it is growing rapidly, especially in research. That is exactly what makes it such an interesting place to do an internship: many developments are still relatively new.”
“My first culture shock was Irvine itself, and that started with finding a place to live. It is one of the wealthiest regions in the United States, and you notice that immediately in things like rental prices. That is why the university offers subsidized housing to anyone who works or studies there full-time. As a result, almost everyone lives on campus, from undergraduate students to professors. I was fortunate enough to rent a room from a family whose father is a professor at the university. It has been great fun to suddenly find myself living with an American family.”
“One thing I really appreciate here is how easily people connect with each other. At the supermarket, it is completely normal to end up chatting with the cashier about your future plans, and at the beach someone might ask where you bought your bikini or ask for tips for a trip through Europe. Especially when you are new and do not know anyone yet, that openness makes it easy to make friends quickly. People are always up for grabbing a coffee.”
“Things also work quite differently at the university compared to the Netherlands. For example, UC Irvine has its own secure AI platform that gives students and staff access to the latest versions of Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT without the risk of their data ending up on the internet. That is something TU/e could learn from.”
“In addition, every professor has their own research group. In my lab, for example, there are only four PhD students and one postdoctoral researcher. That small team creates a friendly and informal atmosphere.”
“Besides my internship, I try to explore something new every weekend. I am now halfway through my stay and have already visited San Diego and Los Angeles, and I joined part of the lab on a trip to Mammoth Lakes and Yosemite National Park. California is incredibly beautiful, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to be here. For anyone who has the chance to do an international internship: I highly recommend it, no matter how intimidating it may seem at first.”
This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor
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