Europe
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Maximise Your Study Abroad Experience: Volunteering in Denmark
By Rudy Cone, University of Copenhagen, Denmark One thing you might not know about Denmark is how volunteering is deeply rooted in Danish society. One of the most common examples you’ll encounter at the University of Copenhagen is the famous Friday Bars—makeshift bars on campus, entirely run by student volunteers from various university organisations. When I first arrived in Denmark, I was honestly surprised by how eager Danish students were to give up their free time to volunteer. Copenhagen is packed with things to do, see, and explore, so I couldn’t imagine choosing to give my time away on a Friday night. However, when I returned for my second semester,…
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A Guide to the Seven Mountains Surrounding Bergens
By Charlotte Hussey, University of Bergen, Norway One of the first things you will learn about Bergen is that it is surrounded by mountains, earning the name of ‘the city of seven mountains’. The mountains provide many opportunities to explore the Norwegian landscape and wildlife from right outside your doorstep through several incredible hikes. Here I will provide a guide using my own experience of hiking the seven mountains throughout my time in Bergen. Each mountain is unique and offer different experiences and challenges.
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How to Master Budapest’s Public Transport (Without Losing Your Mind)
By Louis Hazeldine-Cosgrove, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary. When I first arrived in Budapest, I was more concerned about not getting lost; than getting to my actual destination. But quickly, I realised that Budapest’s public transport system is not only everywhere—it’s actually pretty amazing. That said, the network of metro lines, trams, buses, and trolleybuses can look like a maze when you’re new. But once you become familiar, you will see why they are considered as one of the best public transport systems in Europe! So if you’re heading to Budapest for study, travel, or just to soak in the views along the Danube, hopefully this blog will be able to…
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A Guide to Housing in Copenhagen: Housing Foundation, Mariendalsvej and more
By Rudy Cone, University of Copenhagen, Denmark When you apply for study abroad, the pressure to find accommodation can be extremely daunting. And rightfully so, as housing in Copenhagen can be difficult to find. Prices and demand are high, housing foundation accommodations are first come first served, and turning to Facebook runs the risk of being scammed. I’ve created this guide, to be used alongside the information from the placement team and help you feel more prepared.
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The Symphony of Paris: Gardens, Musicians, and Everyday Encounters
By Zhuzhen Xie (Nina), Babylangues, Paris, France I love leaving early to take the subway when it is less crowded. The difference that five minutes can make! Just by arriving one minute later, I could have been shoved onto the train and suffocated by heavy coats and mixed odors.
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Tromsø trip – swimming in the arctic circle!
By Tali Hamshaw, University of Bergen, Norway One of the biggest bucket list moments for a year abroad in Norway has to be seeing the Northern Lights. In our hopes to achieve this, my friends and I booked a trip up to Tromsø, in the north of Norway. Since Norway is such a large country, it was a two hour flight to get there, something which surprised me since that is longer than the length of my flight home to the UK. Before we even left for the trip I encountered a slight spanner in the works when I went to book my flight and found that it was sold…
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Amsterdam: Beyond University
By Will Fisher, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands It’s nice to earnestly say that my exchange year in Amsterdam has been one of the most fulfilling and formative experiences of my life. I approached the year with both excitement and scepticism, not sure if it would be as life-altering and meaningful as I hoped it would. Seven months in, I wouldn’t have wanted to do anything else with my time. The university itself has, of course, had an impact. UvA’s courses are varied and detailed, and my particular exchange programme has allowed me to go in-depth on topics such as alienation, free speech, and Machiavellianism, ideas that may be covered…
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(Ice) Swimming in Bergen
By Charlotte Hussey, University of Bergen, Norway Swimming in all conditions is normal in Norway! Whether on a warm summer day with blue skies or in the middle of winter, having to physically break the ice to get in. I take part in a weekly dip into the fjords across Bergen in different bathing points with a student organisation, ‘SVI Baddegruppen’. With the organisation, we would have sweet treats and every Sunday we would go into the water. Originally I thought we wouldn’t continue through all conditions but we did, even in the snow and ice!
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Adventures in Northern Europe
By Annabelle Henderson, ESADE Business School, Barcelona, Spain As I am on a year exchange, I complete two exchange semesters. This means that students who came to Barcelona for just the fall semester have left now we are in the Spring. I was lucky to be invited by some friends from last semester to visit them in their home countries. So, as I had a week off university, I decided to do some travelling and go visit them. Firstly, I went to the Netherlands. One of my friends I met last semester studies in Rotterdam at the Erasmus University so I went to stay there for a few days. Whilst…
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Trips from Bergen – Exploring Norway and Further Afield
By Charlotte Hussey, University of Bergen, Norway A year abroad, in my opinion, is the perfect opportunity to travel. There are so many opportunities provided, whether through organised trips by different organisations like ESN (Erasmus Student Network) or simply by meeting many likeminded people. I have found that my new friends are like me because they really love to travel. It also helps that I seem to have much less work to do here than in Manchester meaning I have more free time to travel!
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A Storybook Adventure: Lyon and the Little Prince
By Zhuzhen Xie (Nina), Université Lumière Lyon 2, Lyon, France Just a few days before leaving for the holidays, I finally set up a day to trace the footsteps of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of the renowned The Little Prince. Recalling the first time I researched Lyon, the city where I would be living for my study abroad program, my heart leaped as I discovered that it was the hometown of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Immediately, I was embraced by a soft and familiar comfort as I built a connection to my childhood memories of reading The Little Prince. As it was one of my mother’s favorite books, I had already…
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Three short moments from Amsterdam
By Will Fisher, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands The moon hung full and low and serene over Gaasperplas, the mile-long lake lying a short stroll from my Biljmer apartment. I was walking with a friend whose eyes seemed hand shaped to reflect moonlight back into mine. Our night had taken us halfway around the lake, stopping occasionally to watch small waves lap against the handful of shores and beaches scattered along the waterfront.
