Europe
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Adjusting to Copenhagen: What Shocked Me Most Upon Arrival
By Rudy Cone, University of Copenhagen, Denmark Before coming to Copenhagen, I anticipated some differences to the UK. I had been deep in research to settle my nerves and feel prepared, watching countless ‘Day in my Life’ videos on TikTok and YouTube and perfecting my Danish with a 100+ day streak on Duolingo. Yet, experiencing firsthand both the big and subtle differences was a whole other story. Quickly, I realised the reality of living in Copenhagen and being on a study abroad year did not meet my initial expectations. After a few weeks of reflection, I have put together a list of two types of differences I’ve had to navigate–cultural…
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Football and Festivals in España
By Annabelle Henderson, Esade Business School, Barcelona Living in Barcelona has so far been an unforgettable experience, especially with the incredible food, culture, and vibrant city life. There’s always something happening, and I feel so lucky to be living in such an energetic place. Recently I have attended lots of festivals and done many cultural activities.
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Memories from a Mixing Bowl
By Zhuzhen Xie (Nina), Université Lumière Lyon 2, Lyon, France It has been two months since I started my residence abroad in Lyon, France. Among all the exciting changes in environment and lifestyle, I found myself a little baffled by the challenges of language and adaptation that would take some time to overcome. However, I think I have discovered one way to find my own rhythm: baking. After a busy week, I would spend an afternoon in the kitchen, playing with sugar, butter, and flour while listening to the soft tunes of the cello or piano. With my successful attempts, I would share the results with my friends who lived…
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Inter-railing for a week around Europe
By Hannah-Louise Sampson, Freie Universitat Berlin, Germany After my study exchange had come to an end, I decided I was going to inter-rail for a week as a way to slowly return to England.
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Reflecting on my time abroad in Germany
By Hannah-Louise Sampson, University of FU Berlin, Germany I am back from my study exchange in Berlin now and I’ve been reflecting on my experiences living and studying abroad. Hopefully I can give some insight to anyone thinking about studying abroad. I surprisingly wasn’t too nervous moving to Berlin and perhaps, that’s because I knew it was only for a semester and I wasn’t far from home which acted as a sort of safety net for me.
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Top Tips for Arrival in Bergen
By Charlotte Hussey, University of Bergen, Norway Travelling to a new city, in a new country will always be hectic, moving there even more so – meeting new people, experiencing the different culture, learning the language and more! It is fun and exciting, but can also be tiring and there may be things you wish you knew before arriving. Here I will talk about my top tips to make moving and settling into Bergen and Norway easier.
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Arriving in Barcelona
By Annabelle Henderson, Esade Business School, Barcelona I have been in Barcelona for just over a month now, studying at Esade, and I am having so much fun! To tell you about the last month, firstly, I arrived towards the end of August, a week before starting my exchange at the university. I had no idea what to expect and didn’t know anybody else in Barcelona when I arrived. But, I was excited about my new adventure and exploring a city where life is so different from that in Manchester.
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I spent a week with no sunlight: A December to Remember
By Chloe Bolton, University of Helsinki, Finland I went on an ESN trip to Northern Finnish Lapland, what an experience. Now just to state, you don’t have to go with ESN, you go via train and rent a car there, get a cabin and plan your own activities. I chose to go with ESN as it’s an organised package rip, meaning you’ve got little room for error and can’t get lost or stuck on your own in the freezing cold (which is always a bonus). I will add that the ESN trip was a lovely way to meet people on exchange in Finland that don’t do law or go to…
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A year in Helsinki…
by Chloe Bolton, University of Helsinki, Finland As I write this, I’m filled with a mix of emotions. It’s hard to believe that a year ago, I had freshly arrived in Helsinki, and had not met all the lovely people I now call my friends. What a lucky girl I was, there’s not much I wouldn’t give to do it all over again. The year that has passed feels both fleeting and monumental, filled with experiences that have shaped me in ways I didn’t anticipate. Now, as I reflect on my time here, it feels like the perfect moment to write about what this year has meant to me.
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Budget-Friendly Entertainment in Amsterdam: Jazz, Cinema, Storytelling, and Affordable Meals
By Augusta Arron, Universiteit van Amsterdam, The Netherlands Being a student in Amsterdam is all about exploring its rich cultural opportunities and entertainment, and it goes far beyond its well-known bar and nightlife scene. For students looking for unique experiences that won’t break the bank, I am offering a guide to discover activities which can be just as fun, including jazz, cinema, storytelling, and food.
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(Cold water) Swimming in Amsterdam
By Augusta Arron, Universiteit van Amsterdam, The Netherlands Dive into the authentic Dutch experience Amsterdam is known for it charming canals and vibrant city life, so of course, with time, locals have found a way to blend the two. Swimming allows you to experience the convenience of the city while enjoying its natural beauty, while also socialising and getting some exercise. These swimming spots offer a refreshing escape from student life and let you explore the city from a local’s view point.
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Borrels, Canal Swims and social spaces – Exploring Amsterdam through my google maps of saved gems
By Hannah Castenskiold, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Netherlands I have found it so useful creating google maps folders like this for different cities that I’ve lived in. Especially when friends come and visit, or even when I am visiting new cities, I save places so that I can remember them for the future. Having friends and family come visit is definitely one of the perks about choosing Amsterdam for your year abroad, and has given me extra excuses to do the ‘touristy’ things or take them to these special places around the city. So, I thought it would be useful for any future visitors or future year abroad-ers, to collate all…
