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North Carolina State University: How to Navigate your first week
By Phoebe, North Carolina State University Leaving home and starting fresh in a new university for a year can seem like a daunting experience. Trading a familiar city, routine, and support network for somewhere completely new inevitably brings a mix of excitement and uncertainty. But stepping onto campus as North Carolina State University for the first time, I quickly realised that a year abroad isn’t just about adapting to new places- it’s about discovering a new version of yourself along the way. Arriving in Raleigh after studying at UOM felt surreal. Manchester’s usually grey skies and tightly packed streets were replaced with the sun, green campus spaces, and a distinctly…
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Travel While You Can: My Year-Abroad Adventures
By Alex Toomey, Rutgers, USA One of the best parts of a year abroad is the freedom to explore. Rutgers’ location is perfect—you can hop on a train, book a budget flight, or pile into a car and see so many different sides of the U.S. I tried to say “yes” to every trip I could squeeze in between classes, and those journeys became some of my brightest memories. Here’s everywhere I went—and a few hacks to help you plan your own. Boston – 3 Days of New England Charm Boston was our first big getaway, and it ended up being more affordable than we’d imagined. We scored a $100…
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The Student’s Guide to Supermarkets in New Brunswick
By Alex Toomey, Rutgers New Brunswick, USA If you’re not on a full meal plan, knowing where to stock up on groceries and dorm essentials is an absolute survival skill. Over my year in New Brunswick, I learned where to go for the best deals, the freshest produce, and the random little things that make student life feel a bit more normal. Here’s my guide: Trader Joe’s – The Cult Favourite Hands down, Trader Joe’s was my number one pick for groceries. The vibe is friendly, the products are reliably tasty, and the prices are actually very good for the quality. Their snacks, frozen meals, and unique pantry staples are…
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Finding Your People: Societies and Club Sports at Rutgers
By Alex Toomey, Rutgers New Brunswick, USA One of the quickest ways to feel at home at Rutgers is by joining a society or a club sport. These groups provide instant community, built-in adventures, and a welcome break from the library grind. Two of my favourite experiences were with the Rutgers Ski & Snowboard Team (RUST) and Rutgers Club Field Hockey. Rutgers Ski & Snowboard Team (RUST) I’m an avid skier, and even though I’d heard that East Coast skiing is nothing like the Alps I grew up with, I was determined to find a ski club at Rutgers. I’m so lucky I found RUST. This is a competitive team that races during…
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My ultimate guide to Rutgers dining halls, swipe-friendly cafés, and the downtown New Brunswick food scene…
By Alex Toomey, Rutgers New Brunswick, USA Dining Halls: All-You-Can-Eat Livingston Dining Commons (Livi) – My Home Base 10/10Livi was my second home and easily the best dining hall on campus. I would sometimes swipe in once and stay the entire day, setting up my laptop in a booth with friends and turning it into our private study lounge. Unlimited coffee refills and decent Wi-Fi made it a surprisingly productive spot. The food kept us going too. The salad bar was my favourite on campus, with endless fresh toppings, grains, and seafood (sometimes even mussels and prawns) so you could build something different every time. The Asian section served stir-fries,…
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Rutgers: The Birthplace of College Football
By Alex Toomey, Rutgers University, USA Before I came to Rutgers, I thought American football was just… a worse rugby with more padding and commercials. But little did I know, game days here are a full cultural event—like a mix of a music festival, street fair, and sports match all rolled into one. Whether you’re into sports or just here for the vibes (#guilty), trust me when I say: you don’t want to miss this part of the Rutgers experience. So, here’s everything I wish I’d known before my first game day… The Basics: So, What Even Is American Football? And if you’re ever totally lost, just ask someone nearby.…
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The Ultimate Guide to the Rutgers Bus System, Campus Life, and Getting Around NJ
By Alex Toomey, Rutgers University, United States of America So you’ve landed in New Brunswick, bags unpacked, Target haul complete, and the emotional goodbyes are slowly fading into your mental rearview mirror. But now comes the real challenge: figuring out how to get around this sprawling maze of a campus (hello, five campuses?!) Fear not, future Scarlet Knight, buckle up for the lowdown on everything from the infamous Rutgers bus system to NJ Transit tips. RUTGERS BUS SYSTEM: CHAOS? YES. USEFUL? ALSO YES. Let’s start with the Rutgers bus system—both a miracle and a mild source of trauma. This free, student-only shuttle system connects all five New Brunswick campuses: College…
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Studying Abroad and the Fear of Missing Out
By Rosie Atkinson, Stony Brook University, U.S.A Studying abroad in a foreign country is a life-changing experience as you meet new people, learn about new cultures and visit new places, but this can also come with the fear of missing out on what’s happening back home. I have been in the USA at Stony Brook University for almost a month now and have made new friends and took part in many different activities and trips, but I still face the fear of missing out on things back at home. The fear of uncertainty that you face in your new foreign country combined with the familiarity of what you are leaving…
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Jet-Set to Jersey: From NYC Adventures to Rutgers Realities
By Alex Toomey, Rutgers University, USA The Plane Journey: Tears, Tunes, and Timmy Tim: My journey began with a predictably tearful goodbye—pulling myself out of the comfortable embrace of my friends and family at the painfully early hour of 6:30 AM. Well, maybe not that early, but when you’re a sleepy girl like me, anything before 9 AM feels like dawn. As the taxi pulled away, my tears only intensified, so naturally, I chose to make things worse by playing the most heart-wrenching songs known to man. Think “Scott Street” by Phoebe Bridgers level of emotional torture—#dontbeastranger indeed.
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Going Off-the-Grid: Tales of a Mancunian Lost in the City of Angels
By David Sustana, University of Southern California, United States Hey again from the other side of the world! I just wanted to share with everyone about my once-in-a-lifetime trip to two of America’s national parks during my time abroad.
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Reflecting on my First Semester at UW-Madison!
By Ava Griffiths, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA I have now completed my first semester abroad! It has certainly been overwhelming at times but ultimately so rewarding.
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My First Week at the University of Wisconsin, Madison!
By Ava Griffiths, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA It has been a hectic few months settling into my new life at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. I am now just finding time to upload the blog post which I wrote after my first week here – it’s now been nearly four months! The time really does fly by.
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
