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Learning A Third Language in My Second on My Year Abroad: First Impressions
By Miranda Dreisin, (Universität Leipzig, Germany) I grew up only speaking English in an area where a lot of other people spoke another language fluently at home, and I distinctly remember from childhood wishing I were able to do the same. I was put in a German class in Year 7, and really enjoyed it, and by the time I was 16, being able to be proficient in another language was very important to me. I thus chose A-Level German, and at 18, decided to carry that passion through to degree level. Three years later, I am now studying in Germany, where having learnt another language from scratch is hardly…
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Prague in Winter: The Best Things to See and Do
By Miranda Dreisin (Universität Leipzig, Germany) One of the best things about living in Central Europe is how easy it is to travel – often on a whim, and usually without much hassle. Last month, I planned myself a very last minute weekend trip to Prague, which is only around 3 hours drive from Leipzig, Germany where I am currently studying. I took a cheap FlixBus before sunrise, and woke up having already arrived in the Czech Republic. I’d only visited Prague once before, and that was in summer, so I was curious to see how to make the most of a winter visit in just two days. I unfortunately…
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17 Mai: Celebrating Norwegian National Day
By Charlotte Hussey, University of Bergen, Norway The 17th of May is the biggest and busiest day of the year in Norway! It is the Norwegian Constitution day and Norwegians go all out to celebrate it. Each city has its own plan for the day and Bergen’s was jam-packed. We wanted to celebrate like the Norwegians, even without the traditional clothing (‘Bunads’) that they wear. I had been looking forward to this day the whole year so it was very fun to take part in the celebrations.
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So Long, Copenhagen: Reflections on Study Abroad
By Rudy Cone, University of Copenhagen, Denmark As I write this, I’m surrounded by four blank white walls and a year’s worth of belongings packed into two measly suitcases. On the one hand, I’m riding the high of an amazing final month in Copenhagen, soaking up the sun after surviving another exam season; on the other, I’m feeling a creeping sense of doom as I realise that this city will soon no longer be mine to call home. So, I wanted to take a moment during my final week, to reflect on my study abroad year at the University of Copenhagen. 2 things I recommend 1. Mobile Pay As I…
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Last days in Amsterdam
By Will Fisher, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands After a year, it’s hard to say goodbye to this city. It was hard to make the choice to spend a full two semesters abroad, and nerve-wracking coming here and settling in to a whole new country. But now, ten months later, I can’t have asked for a better way to spend my year. I decided that for my last few weeks properly living in Amsterdam, before I embarked on a cross-Europe (+ Morocco) summer trip, I wanted to pack in a little of everything that made these months so special to me. Fortunately, the University of Amsterdam’s academic block system meant…
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Memories from Rome
By Zhuzhen Xie (Nina), Babylangues, Paris, France The first weekend of June, I had the opportunity to visit Rome, where I met up with my friend who was a French exchange student in Manchester last year. Before arriving, I struggled to imagine what the city would look like. Having heard about the city from storybooks, travel guides, and all the iconic movies, I was extremely curious and yet a little scared to visit the actual place. Would it be as romantic and ethereal as it appears? Immediately after arriving, I took the bus directly to Vatican City, which is right next to Rome’s city center. After a week of gloomy…
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The Best of Barcelona!
By Annabelle Henderson, ESADE University, Spain As I approach my final week of exchange in Barcelona, I would like to share the ‘Best of Barcelona’: food recommendations, hidden gems and what not to miss!
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Festivals and Events You Cannot Miss in Budapest
By Louis Hazeldine-Cosgrove, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary Studying in Budapest is more than just lectures and libraries, this city knows how to celebrate. Whether you’re here for a semester or a full year, experiencing its festivals and celebrations will leave you with a lasting impression on Hungarian culture. From traditional folk events to cutting-edge music festivals, here are some of the best festivals and events in Budapest you should not miss. 1. Sziget Festival (August) If there’s one event Budapest is internationally known for, it’s Sziget. Held on Óbuda Island in the Danube, this week-long music festival transforms the city into a bustling place for music lovers from all over…
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6 Tips for Moving Abroad
By Annabelle Henderson, ESADE University, Spain As I near the end of my year on exchange, I have some tips and advice that I think would have been helpful to have heard before I went away: 1. Prepare Well in Advance Getting organised early is essential. Some documents, like visas, often require additional paperwork just to start the application process, so it’s important to research requirements as soon as you know where you’re going.For example, I studied in Barcelona for a year, and even though I didn’t move until August, I had to start gathering documents by March — five months ahead!It can also be really helpful to reach out…
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Oslo – Munch, Matty Healy and Saunas!
By Talitha Hamshaw, University of Bergen, Norway 06/03/2024 – 09/03/2024 A key trip for year abroad students in Bergen is to Oslo, the capital of Norway. My friends and I booked tickets to The 1975’s concert in Oslo earlier in the year, so we decided to combine this with our trip to Oslo. To get to Oslo from Bergen you can either fly or take the train. The train journey from Bergen to Oslo is famous for its views, however it takes around 7 hours and is slightly more expensive than flying therefore we decided to get the train on the way there and fly back. The train journey did…
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An Itinerary for Visitors
By Ellen Sleeuw, University of Copenhagen, Denmark I had a few friends and family come to visit me in Copenhagen over the year and by the end I think I found a great way to show them lots of Copenhagen, visiting the tourist attractions, whilst also showing them some of my favourite spots. I was living in Ørestad, so this was my starting point, but it is easy enough to switch up the routes!
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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…
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
