For any freshman struggling with life out of the nest, put yourself in Jennifer Beeuwkes' shoes - she's 4,000 miles from home.
A Netherlands native, the 18-year-old came to MSU this fall to play field hockey for the Spartans after seeing MSU play in Holland earlier this summer. A tip from former Spartan back Judith van Haeringen had MSU assistant Rolf van de Kerkhof watching Beeuwkes closely during the spring, and by the end of MSU's two-week trip abroad, Beeuwkes had become the newest member of the Spartan squad.
Originally, Beeuwkes had planned to spend her post-prep career studying the language and culture in Spain, but after a meeting with van de Kerkhof, she made the decision to study Spanish in East Lansing.
That, and a little persuasion from her family.
Though they live halfway across the world, Beeuwkes' family bleeds green and white - her mother graduated from MSU in 1975, which Beeuwkes confessed was a big part of her decision to become a Spartan.
"In 10th grade, I thought about going to U-M because my grandparents lived in Ann Arbor, but I never really thought about it much after that," Beeuwkes said. "But then I talked to Rolf and met the girls on the team and decided to come here."
As a member of one of the Netherlands' most prestigious field hockey squads HDM, Beeuwkes led her team to a second-place ranking in all of Holland in 2002. Hockey in the Netherlands is much different from here in the United States, but Beeuwkes was quick to add she's having the time of her life picking up the nuances of American ball.
"In Holland, it's just a game, but in the United States, there's everything around it," she said. "They don't sing the national anthem in Holland, but I like it a lot. It makes each game special."
The assimilation has taken some work, and recalling her first game, Beeuwkes had to laugh. At her first match as a Spartan at Kent State, Beeuwkes was caught off guard by all the pre-game activities, including the announcing of the starters.
"Everyone was running out to midfield and I was scared," she said with a smile. "I was like, 'Where do I run?'"
Though used as a reserve as of now, MSU head coach Michele Madison said Beeuwkes could be competition for minutes once she adapts to the college field hockey atmosphere.
"She's coming along," Madison said. "Getting better every day."
Beeuwkes has already made her mark, scoring both the first goal of the preseason and the game-winning strike in the Spartans' season opener while playing midfield.
"She is a great player because she doesn't think," van de Kerkhof said. "She doesn't have to think - playing hockey just comes naturally to her.
"The way she scored shows a lot of her understanding of how the game is played."
Learning American culture off the field came a bit easier for Beeuwkes, who has a leg up on other international students with dual citizenship in the United States and Holland because of her mother. And, she said, her two closest friends, freshmen forwards Ashley Smeltzer and Ashley Pernicano, have helped her out a lot.
"I haven't had any trouble with my classes so far. They're all pretty easy," she said. "The biggest problem I've had so far is I miss my friends and family back home; the closest relatives I have now are in Traverse City."
Being so far away from home, Beeuwkes said one of the things that helps her out is the family feeling she has with her teammates.
"In Holland everybody is for themselves," she said. "Here, we do a lot together. The team encourages you a lot. Everyone here is very nice and positive. They cheer a lot on the sidelines and stuff.
"It makes me more comfortable and confident out there, like it doesn't really matter if I do something wrong, but I want to do it for the team."
It would be an edgier bet to assume Beeuwkes won't fit in. Green is still green, even from half a world away.
