By Nina Vincent, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia Why Coming Home After Exchange Was Harder Than Leaving If you’ve found yourself on Manchester on the Road, I suspect you’re either deciding whether or not to do a year abroad, or maybe you’ve already been allocated your destination and are looking for more info before you leave. If this is you, I’m sure you’ve already come across loads of information preparing you for all the ways things will be different in your exchange country — culturally, academically, and socially. Living in a completely different place with a different history and culture… your way of life inevitably changes too. It’s great to be…

By Nina Vincent, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia If you’ve been in Canberra for more than a few months, you’ve probably had that feeling: you’ve been to the same brunch spots, walked around Lake Burley Griffin a few too many times, and you’re wondering what else there is to do that’s actually different. Cue: Brindabella Hills Winery. About a 30-minute drive from the city centre, this spot feels like a complete escape. Nestled in the foothills of the Brindabellas, the views alone are worth the trip — rolling vineyards, soft autumn light, and sweeping mountain ranges in every direction. It’s the  perfect mix of peaceful, a little bit fancy, and still…

By Nina Vincent, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia As my time in Australia comes to a close, one city stays with me more than any other: Sydney. It’s not just the harbour views or postcard-perfect beaches. It’s something harder to pin down a particular pace, a way of being. Sydney offers an ease that’s difficult to describe until you’ve lived inside it for a while.

By Nina Vincent, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia If you’re lucky enough to have been offered a year abroad at the Australian National University (ANU), you’re probably wondering what to expect from Canberra. When I first got into ANU, I had no idea what Canberra would be like either. Even though Canberra is Australia’s capital, it doesn’t feel like a typical big city. It’s unique, with a design that feels straight out of a Lego set. Canberra was built from scratch in 1907, with everything meticulously planned. Instead of choosing between Sydney and Melbourne as the capital, Australia went for a fresh start and built Canberra right in between the…