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💌 A Love Letter to New York City
By Hannah Parsons, Rutgers University, New Brunswick Social media portrays New York as a huge city with endless opportunities, places to visit, food to eat, drinks to try and shops to explore. And, honestly? It really is like that. Before I went to New York, I imagined it as big, scary and overwhelming. I had seen countless Tik Toks about how small you feel when you stand amongst the skyscrapers, and I completely understood what they meant. But at the same time, I always saw New York as an amazing place where you could be whoever you wanted to be. I have been drawn to New York since I was…
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52 Hours, 7 States, 5 Friends
For our end-of-year trip, we decided to travel sustainably and take the train across the United States from Chicago to San Francisco. We travelled on Amtrak’s California Zephyr, which makes 35 stops along the way.
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The Wellesley Window: The Beginning
In the first edition of The Wellesley Window, Amelia explores 'The Beginning' of her application process.
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Arriving at UNC: First Impressions of Chapel Hill
By Adam Lamin, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States) Before arriving at UNC, I had already had a slightly unusual start to my year abroad. One of my friends from home came out to the US with me beforehand, and we spent a couple of weeks in Miami before eventually driving up to Chapel Hill. After that, arriving at UNC the day before orientation felt like the real beginning of the exchange. I arrived at UNC knowing absolutely no one, but strangely, I did not feel nervous at all. I expected to maybe feel overwhelmed or slightly anxious, but instead I just felt excited. I had this…
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Staying Sustainable In the States
Phoebe Faupel, North Carolina State University, United States Before moving to the United States for my year abroad at North Carolina State University, I wasn’t sure how easy it would be to live sustainably compared to being at university in the UK. I expected to rely heavily on cars and thought I might struggle to maintain some of the habits I’d built at home. However, one thing that genuinely surprised me was how many opportunities there were to make environmentally conscious choices in day-to-day student life. Here are a few ways I have managed to stay sustainable while studying abroad in the States. Walking More Than You Think: Although American…
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5 Things to know Before Going to University in the States.
Phoebe Faupel, North Carolina State University, United States Studying abroad in the United States has been one of the most exciting and eye-opening experiences of my university journey so far. Moving from the UK to study at North Carolina State University came with a lot of excitement- but also plenty of surprises. If you’re thinking about doing a semester or a year abroad in the US, here are five things i wish i’d known beforehand. 1: Campus Life Really is Like the Movies Before arriving, I thought American campus culture was exaggerated in films and TV shows- but in many ways, it genuinely isn’t. College campuses in the States often…
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A Foodie Guide to New Brunswick
If you're at Rutgers University, check out these great food spots. Honeygrow offers customizable noodle bowls, Hidden Grounds Coffee serves excellent cold brew, and O Bagel is perfect for breakfast. For comfort food, visit Stuff Yer Face, while Playa Bowls provides refreshing açai options. Don’t miss Thomas Sweet for ice cream and 7-Eleven for snacks.
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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,…
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
