GO LSE Student Experiences

I think Bocconi and this exchange in general really opened my eyes on so many aspects. It allowed me to take a step back, reflect on what I want for my life and how it is so important for me to position myself within the world instead of focusing and being locked in my mind all the time. It s important that as young, perfectionist and pressured individuals we learn to deal with our stress and anxieties to be able to move forward and learn and grow in all environments. 

I learnt a lot also in terms of studies, how to approach exams in a less toxic and stressful way and saw I excelled so much more in that case. I have been able to experience for the first time a second approach to education in university and it showed me that there is so many different ways of approaching the same things, and that it s all about perspective. I believe that this will definitely help me in starting my new and last academic year at LSE with less anxiety pressure and mental pressure. This in turn will help me grow as a person and excel in my academics because I will feel good about myself. 

I was also able to secure a 6 month internship in a deep tech startup and that gave me the opportunity of being immersed within the Italian culture to another level. It is something I would have never had the time to do were I in London and yet it contributes so much to my professional growth and development. I learned so much and for once, I really have the time to be fully a part of a company instead of just spending 3 months there. I think this will greatly contribute to my profile attractiveness for future jobs and I am very grateful for that. 

Overall, I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything else. I learnt so much and grew on an academic, professional and above all personal level. I would recommend it to anyone who is ready to welcome new ideas, positive and constructive criticism, and who always wanted to have the opportunity to try out new subjects and interests they never allowed themselves to take a look at. 

By Violette Lafarge - CIVICA Exchange (2022/23)

My exchange year has given me time to get to know myself. The host institution (Bocconi University) was less academically demanding than LSE so I had time to focus on different projects and aspect of my life – than purely academic. I had the time to reflect on my objectives, goals and re-think my career path. I was able to catch up on independent project – like reading, creative writing and travelling. 

From an academic perspective, at Bocconi I was able to choose subjects that I would usually not have the opportunity to study during a Law degree. I broadened my knowledge and interests in topics of history, politics, economics, media and the arts. This was an invaluable opportunity, which largely broadened my general knowledge and awareness. 

The extra year gave me time to further develop my career. I had the chance to take on research project with LSE professors, for which I could not find time during the LSE academic year. I also found the space to apply for very competitive vacation schemes for which the application process takes months. I was successful in securing the places I applied for, which was not the case the year before when I had to handle both the LSE academic requirements and the application processes. I was also working part-time which greatly contributed to my CV. 

Moreover, I was able to create a lot of friendships with people from different cultures and learn another language. I had more time to dedicate to getting to know other people – the smaller-size of Milan allowed those connections to flow more naturally than in a large city as London. I got to travel a lot with those friends – allowing me to really understand the cultural, social and political background and contexts in Italy. After 4 months, I felt so confident in Italian that in my second term I chose a course in history of music taught solely in Italian, which I was very proud of.  

Finally, studying in another educational system and living in another city allowed me to appreciate LSE and London even more. It was a great opportunity to take a year break from those environments, but being away from them made me see why they are special – which made me even more excited to continue studying in the UK next year. 

 By Natalia Neuber - CIVICA Exchange (2022/23)

The most important insight that I can provide to any students considering to go abroad is to open your eyes - it may seem a clichė but so many people claim that they are open-minded but in fact they do not realise that they are still so close-minded to different races, cultures, people, diversity. So many people claim that they know so much about the world because they have travelled there, or lived there for a couple years, but there’s always a new place to explore, new cultures to discover, a new part of yourself to open up.

Personally speaking, I found the culture the most enriching part of my study abroad experience, I would even make references to the country I used to study in when something reminds me of it, picking up habits from the locals, because I really did feel integrated into that society even if it was just a couple of months. I was particularly satisfied with the people whom I got to meet as I was part of a programme which integrated a diverse mix of students coming from all around the world. I have grown so much as an individual, I returned to my home school with a multitude of stories to share with my peers, full of love, life and laughter. I kept in contact with my friends I met on exchange and made plans to visit each other,I can confidently say that I have friends all over the world and I feel welcomed to all of these countries!

The simplest way I could express my experience is that I learnt to focus on the bigger picture - there are so many opportunities in the world, so many people waiting to meet you, so much to experience, so much that I don’t know, and there is so much I want to learn about in the world. In spite of this, I must admit, the experience was not perfect - nothing is, but what you do gain from it far outweighs the bad stuff.

By Hoi Ka Lam - GMIM student (2022/23)

I remember how thrilled I was upon first learning of LSE’s new exchange program with CEU, and having lived in Vienna for almost a year now, I can firmly say that I have hugely enjoyed my study abroad experience. Due to advances in both my personal and academic development, I shall head into my final year at LSE feeling much better prepared and with a much clearer vision for the future.

Firstly, studying abroad has enriched me academically, for CEU’s offering of interdisciplinary courses has not only given me a broader education, but also enabled me to experience a completely new style of teaching. These courses were facilitated by the university’s highly international community, allowing me to gain an insight into the perspectives of people from a range of different countries on numerous social and political issues, thus enhancing my intercultural awareness. 
In addition to the academic aspect, living in Vienna, often hailed as “the world’s most liveable city”, has enabled me to become familiar with a new culture and a more laid-back attitude towards life.

I shall now return to the UK having acquired a better sense of what I appreciate and value in a city, and with the ability to view my own culture through a different lens. One of my main goals during my time abroad was to improve my German skills, and whilst my ability to do so was in part impeded by English being the dominant language at CEU, I do now feel more confident at speaking the language in an everyday setting. Furthermore, Vienna’s strategic location at the heart of Europe meant that I was able to travel to places that I otherwise may never have visited; in doing so, I was able to improve my previously limited historical knowledge of the region.

Looking to the future, the break from my studies at LSE has enabled me to reflect on where my true interests and strengths lie, and I now have a much clearer mindset regarding my future career plans. Furthermore, I have become much more open into looking at career opportunities outside of the UK upon graduating, as I feel more confident in my ability to live and work in a foreign country.

All in all, the past 10 months in Vienna have absolutely flown by, and upon reflection I am hugely grateful for the opportunity LSE gave me to study abroad. It has truly been an invaluable experience, and I would recommend all future students to apply.

By David Parsonage GO LSE student (2022/23)

The decision to pursue a year abroad at Sciences Po proved to be one of the best, not only in my academic journey but in my life. Having finished my second year at the LSE, I was rather unsure of the direction I would like to follow after my undergraduate studies. However, during my exchange, I had complete freedom in choosing my modules, which allowed me to venture out of my area of focus at the LSE and get a taste of other disciplines.

Thanks to this year of unconstrained academic experimentation, I am now much more confident about my path ahead. My time at a French university has also exposed me to a significantly different academic tradition to the one I had known from my home university – a truly enriching experience which, I am sure, has rendered me much more open-minded, able to appreciate various perspectives and engage in a more nuanced way of thinking.

The benefits have not only been academic, though.Much like the LSE, Sciences Po is a highly diverse environment, where I had the opportunity to meet people from varied backgrounds. As the university lies not only at the very heart of Paris but also of the French political system, spending a year (and such a politically interesting one for France, at that) there allowed me to delve deeper into the country’s culture, social mosaic, and pressing issues, which enhanced my understanding of this fascinating society. Not to mention how crucial my time spent in the City of Lights was for developing my French! 

Having said all that, my year abroad was not always nice and easy. Moving to a different country (even though it has been the second time for me in the last three years) means dealing with all sorts of hurdles: from the language barrier through adapting to different cultural norms to navigating the administrative maze.

However, I strongly believe that such experiences are extremely important, not only because they foster skills and qualities such as independence and flexibility, valued by so many employers, but also, and perhaps more importantly, because they allow for more well-rounded personal development. All in all, I do not regret a minute spent on my year abroad at Sciences Po, and I feel much more ready and confident ahead of my final year at the LSE as well as whatever lies beyond, having gone through this truly transformative experience.

By Jan Mlynarczyk GO LSE student (2022/23)

Reflecting on my year at the school of economics, I realise I’ve had so many experiences and life lessons it’s hard to grasp it in a few words. Interestingly, I did not want to go to Stockholm - I applied to go to Sciences Po - but I’ve been so incredibly happy. 

I’ve branched out academically, taking law, sustainability, econometrics, finance, sustainability and entrepreneurship courses. I’ve challenged myself by taking on a 125% workload. Furthermore, I’ve immersed myself into the student association; I helped organise the after-party for the Nobel Night, I supported the organisation of the biggest career fair in Scandinavia, took part in “tough viking” classes, and went to parties in the basement of the university. 

As a city, Stockholm is a lot more quiet than London. Even though it is a capital city, Sweden is just a smaller country. However, it made me more creative as well. I rented skis for free from “the fritidsbanken” - a library for leisure activities - to go skiing from a hill in Stockholm. We went to nature areas on the outskirts of town for hikes. Chilled on beaches. Took a ferry to Helsinki for one day. Had an insane amounts of cinnamon buns with coffee, bagels and meatballs. 

I was also able to reconnect with activities I used to do for fun and kind of “lost” in the hectic life of London and LSE. SSE offers a literary agenda - a book circle where you get the books for free and a free lunch when discussing. I visited museums and travelled. Baked. 
Lastly, I am so grateful for the people I met. Exchange students are a different kind of people in a way. Due to the acute awareness of the limited time we have, there’s a certain go-getter energy. From having a BBQ on the first sunny day of the year - in the snow - to weekends filled with parties, I feel like we threw ourselves at life. I’ve made even more international friend groups than back in London. 

Writing this and reflecting on a year of adventures and personal growth, I am so glad I endeavoured on this adventure. And this all despite not having housing about three days before the start of the academic year. 

Mere Wolfensberger, GO LSE CIVICA Exchange 

Studying at the Stockholm School of Economics provided me with a rigorous academic experience that allowed for insight into contemporary modern business issues and applying them to actual industrial experience. The highlight for me was working within the innovation and entrepreneurship department for a Management Operations course whereby we were assigned a Swedish innovation platform to consult for ten hours a week to improve their operational excellence by utilising the school work conducted through analytics and interviews with various CEOs. As a result, a social innovation report I worked on is now used by the business and the industrial experience has allowed me to become knowledgeable on the Nordic start-up market which I can now place into context when evaluating job prospects post-graduation. 

I particularly enjoyed the close-knit community of the exchange students which meant there were strong social ties and a lot of organised activities such as weekly banquets and traditional drama performances called Spex. My favourite part of the year was the trip to Lapland hosted by the exchange team where we spent a week learning about the Sami Community and engaging in various cultural activities. The team worked hard to ensure every student's experience was optimised throughout the year and this was appreciated by all. One positive aspect of the education experience was the fact the courses were contextualised in a business setting and as a result, a lot of lectures had guest speakers from various top firms. For example, my accounting class was taught by a different partner from a Big 4 firm each week which allowed for a nuanced and engaging class dynamic. The education system contrasted a lot with the British System with a more participation-focused and broad activity-based class system which meant I could study subjects I would not be able to at LSE such as History of Art and Wellbeing Psychology - this benefitted my understanding of what I want to focus on in the future. 

Alongside my studies, I interned at a fintech start-up which I was offered through support from the business committee.For professional growth, this was useful to adapt my working technique to the working technique of the Nordics in addition to developing language skills and a comprehensive application of academia into business development. 
What I gained from studying abroad can not just be measured in academic attainment but also in personal growth and outlook on life - I have had to push myself to do things I never would previously be open to and work with people from diverse backgrounds with contrasting opinions. As a result, I am more confident in social situations and have developed the way I work in teams and high-pressure environments. I am now interested in working abroad in the future after experiencing how easy it is to assimilate into new cultures, contexts and cities (something unbeknown to me previously). Overall the experience was my favourite year of university and I would recommend it to anyone.

Rebecca Grant, GO LSE CIVICA Exchange

By Isabel Botley

What is UC Berkeley really like?

Berkeley itself was an interesting city, even after living there for year I felt there was so much I hadn’t seen or explored. When I first moved there, I thought it was much closer to San Francisco and much more like London – both were wrong. San Francisco is roughly an hour away by public transport, and there is not a single resemblance Berkeley holds to London. Berkeley is much smaller, quirkier and is very student-based city. Where Cal students place a lot of value on school spirit and sports. As such the Cal vs Stanford Football game was one of the highlights of my first semester. That being said the coffee is terrible, and you will still buy it (or Boba).

Academically, it was quite an adjustment. The LSE formatives and summer assessments suddenly became weekly assignments, random class pop quizzes, mid-term exams and finals alongside all the usual lectures and classes. There is also no reading week, and 15-week terms! So, while my classes varied from 'War in the Middle East' to 'Learn to Fly Pilots Course', it required an entirely different way of learning and academic onus. One of my favourite modules was ‘AmazonGoogle’ – a hands-on class in defining and building business models in a data-centric way; it covered everything from data-ethics, coding, behavioural economics, and stats. Studying new things was liberating, but I feel ready and refreshed for what awaits in my final year at LSE. As an BSc International Relations and History student, I feel lucky to have participated in different academic fields, while professionally, I established new skills and interests. I also feel prepared to continue to work and study abroad in the future, and to be more open of things outside my comfort zone.

It was not, however, always the perfect study abroad in sunny California. It rains, a lot, more than you think it would, and besides the weather there were some hard moments too. Often these were filled with a sense of saddest or doubt; whether I had made the right decision to leave my closest friends at LSE at such a pivotal point in our degrees and what coming home, and fourth year would be like without them, how much I would miss family, big occasions, and London. Reaching out to other LSE students at Berkeley, really helped me during these times, they knew what I was missing but also encouraged me to think forward to all the opportunities that were still to come. So, it was easy to feel overwhelmed, but for me personally while these were the hardest moments to overcome, in reflection they are my proudest. It wasn’t until the year end, that I realised how I had accomplished and grateful I now am to have had an experience that made stomaching the homesickness worth it.

There will be so many big things to miss – the sprawling campus, the hilly walks, the sun and new things to see. It will be the little things, however, that remain with me. Watching the sunset over Golden Gate Bridge after a long day of class from the Campanile, to catching coffee with friends at the famous Café Strada, the Yerba Matte induced study sessions in the library, study breaks on Berkeley’s Memorial Glade, and the and the weekly American Football games in the Fall and the movie-like reality of Greek Life (Go Bears)! Or even the quaintness of San Francisco’s Marina district in the day and it’s liveliness at night.

On my original application, I had said in my final 20 words that LSE had taught me how to understand the world, and now I wanted Berkeley to teach me how to change it. And while I may still be figuring out the latter, my year aboard certainly changed me. I would recommend studying abroad as it has made me growIsabel Bottley – 3rd year By Isabel Botleypersonally, academically and to put myself out there with a newfound sense of confidence. American college life was something quite different – but I have met friends, enjoyed classes, travelled to new places and have had experiences that I wouldn't change - now that it has come to an end it feels strange to think that I almost missed out on what going to Berkeley could offer me because I lacked the confidence before.

It was a challenging year, but it was an unforgettable experience and is something I will look back on with only the fondest of memories.

By Ifan Peredure Morgan

Reflecting on my time at Berkeley

I will reflect upon my year at Berkeley as one of – if not the – most enriching experiences of my undergraduate years. From meeting Logan Paul in a Las Vegas hotel lobby, to more important stuff like academic and personal development, studying abroad has given me truly unique and special experiences.

Academically, the freedom to move between subjects and disciplines – and away from the domain of my degree at LSE – bolstered my knowledge base, broadened my perspectives, and widened my skills. My classes ranged from Bioethics to Byzantine History in the fall, from Philosophy of Physics to Latin in the spring – but all were designed to outlast their semester. Methods of assessment were much more geared around independence of thought and creativity than in the UK – perhaps best exemplified by history seminars entirely run (and graded) by class debate and discussions on weekly readings. The courses nevertheless still allow you to acquire parts of the wealth of expertise and knowledge held by the faculty. As such, I will be returning to my Economics degree at LSE with a much stronger ability to question what I am taught with a greater depth of criticism.

A highlight of my time at Berkeley was residing at the International House. I-House is a special place, with a rich history approaching a century, and unique offering – I lived with people from over 70 countries during my time there. It is majority post-graduate, and majority international (though a fair amount of residents are native Californians) – meaning I met some truly exceptional people who I would not meet at LSE, or London more generally. Opportunities offered by I-House included staying with an American family, retreats to the Californian countryside, and a chance to meet someone from a different country at each meal time. I strongly recommend I-House to any LSE student going on the exchange at Berkeley.

I explored the Bay Area as well as much of California and the United States during my time at Berkeley – largely with new friends from I-House or my courses. The university gave us free coverage of Bay Area transport – very useful given its size; I especially enjoyed exploring Marin County (Sausalito, Muir Woods), and North-West San Francisco (Presidio Park to Golden Gate Park). The university also facilitated travel by ensuring that finals were done by mid-December – meaning I could take a month-long road-trip over Christmas, with Big Sur, Las Vegas, and the Grand Canyon being particular highlights.

The city of Berkeley itself is also, of course, an awesome place. You can spot sites from The Graduate, in which many scenes were based and filmed in Berkeley. You can hike many different routes around the hills next to Berkeley, getting spectacular views of Berkeley and the Bay along the way. You can taste the excellent Mexican food on Durant Avenue (the more south you go towards the border, the even better it tastes), and ‘Top Dog’, a local favourite. No visit to Berkeley, however, would be complete without a trip to Moe’s Books – a wise person once said “India has the Taj Mahal, Berkeley has Moe’s”.

Changes in my attitudes and lifestyle which Berkeley fueled are already salient. My heightened interest in the humanities will direct my studies and reading going forward; keen to replicate my I-House experience, I will now be living at International Student House in London during final year; it has whetted my appetite for traveling and learning languages – for example, I am currently writing this in Germany, where I am taking German courses. Overall, I am unequivocal in recommending any LSE student to apply for the Berkeley exchange.

 By Vanalika Talati

From Brit to Bear: Embracing the UC Berkeley Lifestyle

The Opening Scene

My first week of American college felt like a movie. As cliché as it sounds, the sky really was that blue and Californians really were that happy. For me, it was a bright change from life growing up in England, and miles away (literally and figuratively) from anything I had experienced before.

My first week on campus consisted of a 30-degree heatwave (86 Fahrenheit for the Americans); countless unpacking of accents and a jam-packed orientation schedule. The week respite from classes did, however, provide a welcome opportunity to discover the beauty of Berkeley’s campus. Immediately, I was in awe. The backdrop was a striking combination of historic and modern buildings. With the Doe Library having all the grandeur of an Art Museum and the Campanile (you’ll recognise it from scenes in Oppenheimer), towering over the grounds in all its 300-foot glory. I couldn’t help but feel like everything was larger than life here and this was the start of something new.

Transitioning into the ‘Cal’ way of life

From then on, everything was go-go-go. I quickly traded winter coats and the hustle and bustle of London for the famous Cal colours of yellow and blue. Cheering at my first American football game and living with college roommates became the new norm. I found myself sunbathing on the Glade (the park on campus) in between lectures, a definite perk of living in California, and swapping my Pret coffee breaks for afternoon hikes and pilates classes. My CO-OP house, a charitable housing scheme for Berkeley students, was another highlight of my year. Living with over 40 girls introduced me to some of my best friends at Berkeley and other exchange students who were just as eager to discover America. There, I had the opportunity to experience life on Frat Row, live a mere 5-minute walk from the nearest pool and hike on the surrounding mountain trails after class.

Choosing classes: Navigating a range of almost 4000 options

Academics at Berkeley look very different to that of LSE. While the fervour of relentless studying is the same, there is also a wider breadth of subjects offered. With a pick of over 4000 classes per semester and 100 Decals (student-run classes), I was spoilt for choice. The options ranged from courses taught by Nobel Prize winners to more niche subjects like 'Drugs and the Brain’. I opted for a mix of Berkeley's classic ‘must-tries’ alongside my Major requirements. These included 'Intro to Astronomy,' where mandatory labs involved midnight star gazing at the campus observatory and Public Econ classes with Emmanual Saez himself (a lot of the class was him citing his own work). Even Midterms were a new concept as I found myself balancing problem sets alongside 19th-century English Literature essays. The GPA system at an American College also assigns a significant portion of your grade to cumulative work and engagement. This framework fostered a culture of weekly By Vanalika Talatidebates in my Political Economy seminars and many group projects. I even had the opportunity to research for one of my favourite professors as a part-time job.

Extracurriculars - Greek Life to Finance Clubs

While arriving in the US alone was initially daunting, I sought out extracurricular activities to build myself a community. From my first week, however, I realised societies looked very different to what I was used to - think Hunger Games. Dozens and dozens of clubs from Venture Capital to Quadpot would line the edges of Sproul (the campus foreground), and push their flyers into eager, waiting hands. Recruitment wasn’t easy either, with clubs often asking for rounds of interviews to gain a coveted spot in their group. Highlights included participating in Sorority rush, where the extravagance of Greek life was not understated. Four days of countless dresses and rehearsed songs later, and you would finally receive that golden letter inviting you back to the chapter. Joining a Finance club, I was also reminded of the multitude of career options available in the States. It’s these clubs, Greek life and sports that make up a lot of the vibrant, social atmosphere on campus.

Home away from Home

Exploring California and experiencing Berkeley to its fullest also became a priority. This led to some unforgettable road trips from Yosemite to Mexico, celebrating my 21st birthday in Las Vegas, and basking in the breathtaking sunsets of the West Coast. Most weekends, I would end up in San Francisco, a mere forty-minute bus ride away, becoming familiar with the sloping hills and its different vibrant districts – Castro was a favourite of mine. Driving down the Sonoma coast singing along to radio songs, to hiking in 4 feet of snow in Tahoe, I quickly fell in love with the Bay area.

Reflecting back, Berkeley encompassed a lot of things for me. An opportunity to live by myself in a completely new country, 9 hours from familiarity, but also to create a new home and meet people from all walks of life. While studying can be the same in London and California, I appreciate how lucky I was to be taught by such a variety of professors and create all these new, treasured memories, so far away from my usual reality. So, as I sign this off, I hope this post conveyed a little of how grateful I am for the opportunity to live the American Dream.

It is overall a very nice experience to live in Japan for one year. I got the opportunity to know more about the local culture and learn about their language both on campus and outside. Because I am actually living here and need to speak Japanese on a daily basis, my Japanese has improved significantly. I also had the opportunity to improve academically. Here in Japan, I am able to take many courses that are more focused on East-Asian societies, history and politics which are not that available in lse. I got to learn with many excellent scholars who specialise in East Asia and it helps me a lot with my future study. 

By Lin Zeng, BSc Social Anthropology (2022/23)

The one year that I spent in Japan is such an amazing experience for me. It gives me an opportunity to have wider perspectives to see the world. The experience that I had in Japan is different from the one I had in the UK. In the UK, I fully embraced a drastically different culture from my own. In Japan, it was more about enabling me to appreciate the subtle differences between different Asian cultures. On top of that, I am especially satisfied with the support that I had from both the LSE team in charge of the exchange programme and the host institutions department in charge of the exchange students. I was being taken with such great care that I had no need to care about other things but totally immerse myself in the exchange experience and enjoy this precious opportunity to its best.

As the host institution often hosts events for exchange students, it actually allowed me to make friends with many students from all over the world, this, in turn, gave me the opportunity to know more things other than Japan. This, however, does not mean the chance for me to interact with the local Japanese students was limited. There were also a lot of occasions provided for exchange students to meet and study with the local Japanese students and gain a deeper insight into Japanese society. I gained more insights into Japanese society and culture as well academically speaking, thanks to the various courses available for the exchange students provided by the host institution.

Overall, I have had an incredible journey in Japan, and have more perspectives about not only Japan but also the whole world as well. And I am grateful to LSE and the host institution, the University of Tokyo, and the people in the two institutions that made this happen.

By Fohua Pan, BSc Social Anthropology

My study abroad had changed my life in multiple ways. Firstly,  I studied things I have never had a chance or opportunity to not only in LSE but at the institutions back in the UK. The insights I gained were unparalleled - about global politics, economics, social studies, language learning and also about myself and my own interests. The best thing about my study abroad year was joining a local society and meeting so many local students with whom I could bond with over our mutual hobbies.

I was particularly satisfied with the academic teaching and opportunities I could undertake, as I could take far more subjects than possible at LSE in my degree. It has impacted me in countless ways. I have gained a sense of self-confidence and self-knowledge that I have never had before. I have become far more independent and self-aware, as well as more professional skilled. I have met so many amazing people, travelled so much and had some of the best, most beautiful experiences of my life. I feel like I have had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to really try new things and think about myself and my career at such a crucial moment before my graduation, and this will help me endlessly in my career and prospects beyond LSE.

I would say that it has changed my perspective on life as I got to experience so many facets of another culture, learn another language and also be so far out of my comfort zone. It has changed my approach to learning and re-ignited an interest in academia, language studies and also shown me more of the career I would be interested in! I got to take courses that are specific to the country I was in and that allowed for a deeper appreciation of my surroundings and the culture.

I will miss it all so much and miss all the friends I have made but I am so grateful for this opportunity that has truly changed my life. I feel as if being out of my comfort zone, I really got the time and space to explore whatI wanted in all aspects of my life and this exchange; the experiences, travels, studies and friends, have shown me exactly what I want for my next step. The experience will never leave me and I will be eternally grateful and connected to this country and have life-long friendships both in the UK and abroad as a result. 

By Arden Farrow, BSc Social Anthropology