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The Library Always Finds You: A Semester in Sydney, One Year On
By Meg Luddington, University of Sydney, Australia I am writing this as I enter the very final week of my degree. Outside my window is Manchester, a city that I love, even when it is raining, as it currently is. Endings always make me reflective, and a time I try to gather my thoughts on the chapter that has just been. As I reflect on the university chapter, I keep finding that many of my fondest memories are not from Manchester at all, but from my semester in Sydney.
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How Studying in Finland had an Impact
By Ria Mair, University of Helsinki, Finland Learning about different cultures Through my social circle, I learned a lot about different cultures during my year abroad. In the first semester, my friendship group consisted of people from various countries, and so we hosted a ‘bring your own dish night’. I had the opportunity of trying French quiche, Dutch ‘Poffertjes’ and even a New Zealand ‘mousetrap’. Beyond food, I became aware of other cultural differences. For example, when listening to music with my friends, I was introduced to different genres, and now I have a more broadened taste in the arts. I learned about different structures of language, as my French…
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A must do Nordic trip – hiking in Lofoten
By Ria Mair, University of Helsinki, Finland The Lofoten Islands, a beautiful archipelago located above the Arctic Circle in Norway, was the most breathtaking and fulfilling trip of my study abroad in Helsinki… The Cabin in Kabelvaag My home for the trip was a cosy little cabin right by the sea, which was perfect for a trip of long and exhausting hikes. I shared the place with my good friend from the University of Helsinki, and three other exchange students that I did not know – my little family for the next week! Showering, cooking and resting in the cottage became the prize after each day of physically pushing ourselves…
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The Best Eats of Helsinki
By Ria Mair, University of Helsinki, Finland Sushi Buffet Something all tourists should do when visiting Helsinki is try a sushi buffet. There are several dotted around the city, and all are delicious. With fresh seafood from the Baltic Sea, and plenty of vegetarian options, it is the perfect tourist spot. The nature of Finland is that the country is very trusting, and sushi buffets are an excellent depiction of that: you can trust that everyone will be respectful and tidy up after themselves. Although many things in Helsinki can be expensive, in comparison to the UK, sushi is one thing that is loads more affordable in Finland – and…
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An Insider’s Guide to Activities in Finland
By Ria Mair, University of Helsinki, Finland Walks + Hikes Around Helsinki, there are plenty of scenic walks to go on. My favourite one was from the harbour by the Market Hall, and then along the rocky coast until the beach. During Winter, along this walk, you would come across outdoor ice-skating rinks and Christmas lights. I preferred Helsinki in Summer, watching the sunset from the coast, watching people play volleyball at the beach and seeing more happy faces about. Just outside Helsinki, in Vantaa, was Nuuksio Park – an expansive hiking spot. When friends and family from home came to visit me, I always took them to Nuuksio, an…
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EAST COAST MAXXING – How to make the most of your time in the USA
By Lucy Kyle, Rutgers State University of New Jersey, USA The USA is massive and it can be overwhelming to decide what you want to see and where you want to go, so I have put together a guide of weekend trips you can do on the east coast to maximise your time there! NEW YORK CITY, NY First and foremost, New York City, there is so much to explore here and it is super easy access from New Jersey as well as many other states via public transit – NJ Transit, Amtrak and Flixbus. Once you are there it is also easy to get around via the Subway! New…
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What to pack when moving to New Zealand
Kara Dillon – The University of Otago, New Zealand With a reputation of being an over-packer, facing the challenge of packing my cases ready to embark on my journey to New Zealand, was not the easiest. However, now having lived here for a year, I have come to realise what was necessary to bring here… and what was not. Firstly, with New Zealand being a country with endless opportunities to travel, hike and camp, I thought it was necessary to bring my 75 Litre rucksack, my sleeping bag and my sleeping mat. Despite having used these, they took up a lot of space and weight in my suitcases. Little did…
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a complete guide to: KONINGSDAG (king’s day)
a blog by Chiamaka 🎀(Universiteit van Amsterdam in the Netherlands) The city is fully recovered from King’s Day celebrations this past April 27th. The streets were filled with orange, the sun was shining and speakers were blasting. In this blog I will prepare you for the most anticipated bank holiday of the year. It is a annual bank holiday celebrating the Dutch monarch’s birthday. It was originally Queen’s Day (the Netherlands had a queen for 123 years), but the current monarch is a man. People take to the streets for parades, festivals and markets, and the streets are decorated in orange. People also celebrate King’s Night the day before. There are…
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2 Hobbies I Discovered In Sydney
By Yaryna, University of Sydney – Sydney, Australia 1) Surfing 🙂 I attended my first Surf Camp last semester. What struck me most about surfing is the adrenaline you feel. As we put on our sticky wetsuits, lugged our incredibly heavy boards, and sat in a circle to discuss safety, I felt discomfort and mild annoyance – not at anyone, just at the sheer level of exertion at 7am. But as we entered the water, and the waves towered above me, I suddenly became completely absorbed. I was determined not to be dragged away by a rip current or pushed back onto shore. I was also desperate to catch my…
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Maintaining Health and Fitness While Abroad
Phoebe Faupel, North Carolina State University, United States Moving abroad to study at North Carolina State University has been an exciting experience, but one thing i realised was how important it is to look after both your physical and mental health while adjusting to a completely new environment. With busy schedules, social events, travelling and academic pressures, it can be easy to fall out of healthy routines. However, staying active and maintaining balance has genuinely helped me enjoy my year abroad far more. Here are some of the ways I have stayed fit and healthy while studying at NC State. Make Use of Campus Facilities: I immediately noticed at NCSU…
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Creating a home in Sydney
By Kirsty, University of New South Wales – Sydney, Australia Moving to Australia felt like a huge step, moving so far from friends and family, and basically starting my social life from scratch again. However, the anxiety was unnecessary. Once arriving, I moved into a shared room, it seemed very strange to share a room with a stranger, but it was one of the best decisions I made. I immediately felt at home, and got to become close friends with my roommate, and we started hanging out daily, and she helped me get settled in Sydney instantly. Through meeting my housemates, I immediately clicked with them and had a friend…
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Saariselkä, Lapland trip – spotting the northern lights three times!
By Ria Mair, University of Helsinki, Finland A must-do trip while studying at the University of Helsinki is to visit the beautiful northernmost region of Finland, Lapland. Experiencing the expansive snowy landscapes, Arctic wildlife, and cosiness of my cabin made the trip once in a lifetime, filled with joyful memories. 17 hours travelling… The journey there is one I’ll never forget. 17 long hours, tucked up in my thermals amongst a busy coach full of excited exchange students, waiting for the hours to pass and reach Lapland. Along the way, we made several stops at service stations, which all had that functional Nordic feel. Every station came with a massive…
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
