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fietsen (cycling)
a guide by Chiamaka🎀 (Universiteit van Amsterdam in the Netherlands) When you hear ‘Amsterdam’ what first comes to mind? I think of cycling (fietsen in Dutch). Everybody cycles here – it’s the most convenient and cost effective option to move around the city. Wheelchair users even have modified options ! So this blog is going to breakdown everything you need to know about bikes and cycling in the city (and the whole country, I guess). 1 why cycle?Depending on where you live in comparison to your uni (UvA is in the centre, VU is in Zuid (south)) you probably can’t walk. I personally live a 1h+ walk from UvA –…
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Studying Abroad in Budapest: Lessons from the First Semester
Nadine Brachi, ELTE University Moving to Budapest for a semester abroad felt exciting, daunting, and uncertain all at once. Leaving behind familiar routines and studying in a new country forced me to adapt quickly, both academically and personally. From navigating a different education system to learning how to feel at home in an unfamiliar city, the first few months have been a period of adjustment, reflection, and growth. Now, at the end of my first semester, I’ve begun to see how much this experience has already shaped me. Studying abroad in Budapest has been less about grand, cinematic moments and more about the small lessons learned through everyday challenges. This…
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A Great Start to My Year Abroad in Leipzig, Germany
By Miranda Dreisin (Universität Leipzig, Germany) Like many language students, I had eagerly anticipated my year abroad since the start of my degree, and it was a key reason as to why I decided to study a language at University. However, with the end of second year, and the progression of summer, I quickly became daunted by the prospect of moving to a city where I had never been before, where I didn’t know anyone, and where I was to be studying a degree in a different language. The main thing that significantly reduced my stress was the bureaucratic preparation I did in advance and it allowed me a much…
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Vegetarian Food in Singapore and Southeast Asia
By Micha Raja, Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore Coming to Singapore, I was initially nervous about the options for vegetarians and whether I would have enough variety of food to choose from. After having lived here for 3 months now, I can confirm, the variety of vegetarian options is incredible! Not only are there pure vegetarian restaurants but even some of the Hawker Centres have pure vegetarian food stalls. There has not been a single day I have struggled with food. One of my favourite go-to foods in the Hawker centres here is a Masala Dosa. There are lots of other Indian food options as well but also Southeast Asian cuisine can be made…
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Exam Season on Exchange
By Deborah, The University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada My first semester on exchange went by SO quickly, honestly it felt like exam season came and poured a bucked of ice water over my head. While exams are stressful no matter where you’re taking them, the experience here felt surprisingly structured and supportive, especially within the law faculty. One thing that really stood out during this period was how much effort the university put into student wellbeing. There were loads of organised events running alongside revision season, including doggy yoga sessions, studyathons, and other low-pressure activities to help students decompress. These were genuinely helpful in breaking up long days of studying…
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What can Santiago’s MUT teach us about urban design?
By Tengri Genc, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile With just a month to go before completing my semester abroad in Santiago, Chile, I thought I’d take the time to see those parts of the city further afield than my accommodation and its surrounding area. One area I’d briefly visited before was Tobalaba, famous for being the home of Gran Torre Costanera, the tallest building in South America. However, whilst this behemoth stands as the focal point of Santiago, just a short walk away lies another much more revolutionary development which I believe is worthy of some praise.
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A Love Letter To Budapest.
Nadine Brachi | ELTE University, Budapest In this blog post, my main aim is to convey why leaving the comfort of what I knew – Manchester, home, my friends, my dogs – for a new life in Budapest was one of the best decisions I could have made for myself and my future. Joining the year abroad programme was always in my mind. Having spoken to fellow students who were preparing to leave or had recently returned, I was captivated by their excitement and how it inspired them. I was also fortunate enough to have several friends also considering a similar pathway as me. In fact, picking Budapest as my…
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Taking Student Journalism Worldwide: My Experience at The Mancunion vs Woroni
By Lily Amos, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia When I moved from Manchester to Canberra, I knew I was signing up for a new continent, a new university, and a new climate. What I didn’t quite expect was how different student journalism would feel on the other side of the world. This year, I’ve had the very fun, very chaotic experience of taking my student journalism “career” international — from The Mancunion at the University of Manchester to Woroni at the Australian National University. It’s been eye-opening in the best way, and it’s really changed how I think about what student media can be. I’ve spent two years at The Mancunion while studying in Manchester. In…
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Adjusting to Life at the World’s No.1 Public University
Lucy Blanchard- UC Berkeley, United States When I got my letter from the University of California saying I’d been accepted into Berkeley I was, quite frankly, elated. It had been my dream school ever since my first-year self decided she wanted to study abroad. Reading that letter, I felt every bit of self-doubt and stress lift from my shoulders– I did it! I got into Berkeley! All my hard work had paid off. Aside from this, though, nothing could have prepared me for the transition period once I moved. I’m here to tell you about my experience, so you can be well prepared for the first couple of months at…
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Life in Toronto – What To Expect
By Isabelle Henaghan, University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada. Sunset from Toronto Islands
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Living sustainably in Japan
By Gloria Zheng, Osaka University, Japan I really can’t believe it’s been over 2 months since I’ve arrived in Japan. It has realy been full of ups and downs and I’ve really learnt a lot over living by myself in a foreign country. I’ve also had some time to think about ways to live more sustainably in a country that seems to full of contradictions – where everything seems to be wrapped in plastic with an eco label stuck on- but I’ve managed to find some ways to make daily living more sustainable for the future and the planet. It seems that Japan is in love with plastic with everything…
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Settling in at The University of Otago – the magic of UniFlats
Kara Dillon – The University of Otago, New Zealand Moving so far away from home can be daunting in itself, but having to navigate a completely a new life and make new friends in an unfamiliar place can seem an even bigger and scarier challenge. However, my experience of moving to Dunedin and settling in at The University of Otago couldn’t have been any easier due to the help of UniFlats! UniFlats is the accommodation provider which most international students will use when coming to study abroad here at Otago. Not only do they provide fully furnished accommodation which includes kitchenware and bedding, but they also organise events throughout the…
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
