I knew I wanted to study abroad during my time at Carleton — I figured a semester in a new country would be the highlight of my degree! I went on exchange in 2022 to the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, and I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect when I left. Now that I’m back on Canadian soil, I can safely say everything below helped my exchange go as smoothly as possible, and I’m happy I can reflect so positively on the experience!Â
IT TOOK TIME, BUT I EMBRACED THE DIFFERENCES
When I first landed in the U.K., everything felt wildly different. I was away from everyone I knew, adjusting to a new city, and for the first time, I was reminded that I have an accent! While it’s hard to be away from home, the differences in a new country are absolutely magical. Everything is exciting: new people, new cities, and new experiences. I was back home again soon enough — so why not try something new?Â
I WAS WRONG — A LOT
I had a reasonably tame list of mistakes from my exchange: I packed too many summer clothes, I booked a Wales tour for the wrong day, and I had to do a few last-minute switches to my class schedule. I met exchange students with horror stories of shady foreign officials, cancelled trains, and language barriers. Travel is stressful, and since this was my first major journey abroad, I had to learn not to beat myself up over the small details. Things will go wrong, and those mistakes made for fun travel stories to bring back home.Â
IT WAS A PACKED FEW MONTHS
When my exchange ended and I came home, it hit me how exhausted I was. My exchange was full of opportunities to travel, make friends, and explore a new city. While I loved packing my days with sightseeing and going out with my flatmates, my sleep schedule definitely suffered. It’s important to take care of yourself while you’re away, but I also wanted to fit in as many adventures as I could — my time was limited!
LEAVING WAS TOUGH, BUT IT’S HARDER TO COME BACK
I was terrified to leave Canada, but I couldn’t have asked for a better exchange experience. I made amazing friends, saw dozens of new places, and fell in love with a new country. Unfortunately, it made coming home quite difficult. It’s tough to return to the regular routine of life, so I had to give myself some time to adjust back. But I wasn’t just coming home — I was coming back with a load of new stories, fascinating experiences, and some great friends.Â
Going abroad is a fantastic way to push myself out of my comfort zone, meet new people, and experience a completely different lifestyle. If you’re thinking about an exchange, consider this a sign to start your great adventure!