Chantelle's Exchange to Uppsala University | Sweden
I’ve never been the type of person to do things without overthinking every possible scenario that could result from my decision, but one week before applications closed I decided an exchange is what I wanted to do. I’d always wanted to go on exchange and I love traveling and meeting new people so I knew that if I didn’t jump at this opportunity there would be no more chances. So this only meant one thing; that I should just do it- and so should anyone else thinking about going on exchange!
I went into my semester abroad pretty much the same way I went about the exchange application process; that I had to make the most of this opportunity no matter what gets thrown at me. I told myself to soak up all the experiences I could and say yes to things that I usually wouldn’t do at home (to a certain extent of course) as one of the main purposes of exchange, other than gaining knowledge in your degree, is to challenge yourself to step outside of your comfort zone. When I arrived I realized this wouldn’t be that hard, as everything- from the knee deep snow to the -21 degree weather and to the sun that was only out for 6 hours a day- was so different and unfamiliar, but that is all part of the experience.
Once I arrived in Uppsala and was dropped at my accommodation, the initial shock hit me and I wondered what I had gotten myself into as I realized that I had pretty much just thrown myself into the deep end. But as I quickly made friends in my corridor and class and went exploring this little student town, all my worries about not fitting in or making friends or not being able to juggle living alone in a foreign country while studying were slowly forgotten. Everything about being in Uppsala- classes, people, the city, living by myself but at the same time with 11 other people- was so different to my life back home in Perth that I welcomed the change from normal everyday routine, even if it was just for one semester. So I was quick to immerse myself into the amazing student life at Uppsala, experiencing everything this unique Swedish city had to offer.
Although I had a full study load for the semester, I didn’t let that stop me from enjoying all the typical student life activities there was to do in Uppsala. From having fika, which is just an excuse to have a break with your friends and have coffee and sweets, multiple times a day to joining one of the 13 nations, that each represented a different region of Sweden, where they offered different discounts on meals, nightclubs and gasques, I was falling in love with this small student town faster than I thought I would. The Swedish people were also really friendly and welcoming, although conserved, and almost every Swede spoke perfect English which definitely helped make the transition of living in a foreign country less nerve-wracking.
One of the best parts of being in Europe, other than the opportunity to learn a different language, is that it is so easy to travel! I missed out on trips planned by the university due to my busy schedule but that didn’t stop me from traveling both alone and with friends I had made. I was lucky enough to visit breathtaking places such as Norway, Russia, Greece and Eastern Europe, as well as going on my first road trip around the country that I had called home for six months, being able to see all the beautiful scenery and nature in Sweden.
Although I missed the familiarity (and warmth!) of home and my family and friends at first, there are so many things to see, do and experience in and around Uppsala that it was easy to keep myself busy with new experiences and the company of new friends.. and of course study too.
Overall, my exchange at Uppsala University in Sweden was nothing short of amazing. I know it’s cliché to say that I learnt so much from all the experiences that come with being an exchange student and that I met incredible people from all over the world who I have forged lifelong friendships with, but it is true! Going on exchange was definitely one of the best decisions of my life and I want to encourage anyone who is thinking about it to jump at this amazing opportunity!
- Chantelle studied abroad at Uppsala University in Sweden
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