The 28-year-old travelled to the country's Utrecht province with four other young professionals from the southern part of the South Island on an annual exchange programme run by Rotary's southern district.
Led by club member Maureen Butcher, of Cromwell, the group was hosted by Rotary clubs around Utrecht. They spent several days in each place, billeted by families, and took part in sightseeing and cultural activities and social functions.
Ms McFarlane found Dutch people to be very similar to New Zealanders - outgoing and warm.
‘‘They like a good laugh.''
Ms McFarlane said she also did ‘‘vocational days'', in which she spent time with people doing similar work to her own. This allowed her to visit hospitals and hospices and meet health professionals, volunteers and
academics.
Although the health system of the Netherlands was more market-oriented than New Zealand's, she had found health professionals in both countries were doing similar work and facing the same issues. She had also picked up ideas that she intended to apply in her own work, she said.
Immediately after her return to New Zealand, she made a presentation about the trip at the Rotary district 9980 (Temuka South) conference in Te Anau.
A major difference between the two countries was that euthanasia was legal in the Netherlands. It had been interesting hearing the views and personal experiences of Dutch health professionals on the issue, she said.
With the busy itinerary of constant activity and functions, she had found the trip draining, but an ‘‘awesome experience'' that had improved her communication skills and provided an opportunity for ongoing contact with the people she had met.
She would recommend the study exchange programme to any South Cantabrians considering applying for next year's trip, she said.
She was selected after writing an essay and being interviewed in Timaru and Dunedin, and believed she was chosen on the strength of her abilities as a team player and her communication skills.
