Going on exchange was an experience of a lifetime; one that I would not trade for anything. It was an incredible year and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone. I went on exchange to the University of East Anglia in England and loved everything about the university, the people and the city. It is a relatively small university located just outside of the Norwich city centre, and I loved the small campus and strong community. I lived on campus in residence accommodation which was a great way to meet British and international students. Check out the UEA student union page, it talks about the different weekly events they plan and the musical acts they get to come and play on campus http://www.ueastudent.com . The way the international exchange is run at UEA makes it extremely easy to meet other international students, which is an incredible opportunity to meet people from all over the world in the same situation as you. The first day I arrived at UEA I was met at the train station by a welcoming group from the university and they helped me find my residence and get settled in. It was a fantastic introduction to an amazing school, and if I had the chance I would go back in an instant!
England is an amazing place, and with an incredibly efficient and advanced train system it is easy and relatively cheap to get around. Definitely check out http://www.thetrainline.com to book tickets as far in advance as possible to get the cheapest fares. Also, buying a 16-25 railcard will end up saving you a lot of money if you plan on taking the train more than 3 or 4 times (which is highly likely). If you are planning on going for the first semester only, book your flight home as late as possible and use your Christmas break to travel around. If you can stay until New Years try to go to Edinburgh, Scotland for the Hogmanay street party celebration. http://www.edinburghshogmanay.org/
If you decide to go on exchange for the 2nd semester you will love the fact that you have a whole month off for Easter break. This is a month just before final exams that you can use to revise and also travel around the UK and Europe. Taking the train is a great direct way to get anywhere in Europe. Sometimes flights may be cheaper so it is a good idea to keep your eye on this website for any deals (I got a flight to Barcelona round trip for £5.00 including taxes which is equivalent to around $10CN http://www.ryanair.com).
If you are to remember anything from this blog, try to remember these few things. Be sensible with your money, meaning spend it while you are there because you will regret the chances you decided not to take. Take as many pictures as you possibly can, especially if you are forgetful like me! Take your school work seriously, but remember that it is about the entire experience not just your grades. The time will go by faster than you can imagine, so live it to the fullest. I hope that reading this has given you an idea of what to expect going on exchange.
Lauren Karpman
Honours Biology & Psychology IV
University of East Anglia – England
lkarpman@uwo.ca
