UTS Think Global

From ghost town to party town

October 5, 2015

Coming to Uppsala, Sweden at the start of August was a shock. I’d just been backpacking around Eastern Europe for three weeks and seeing two countries every week. All of a sudden, I came to a stop in a deserted Uppsala with nothing but a Kathmandu backpack full of dirty clothes and a tent.

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Less than 40 minutes north-west of the capital Stockholm, Uppsala boasts itself as the home of northern Europe’s oldest university – established way back in 1477. Although it’s the fourth largest city in Sweden, most of Uppsala empties out over the summer as students return home until the new academic year starts in September.

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Sacrificing an extra month of summer travel, I’d committed myself to an optional Swedish language course at Uppsala Universitet, starting one month before semester began. And it was worth it.

Although most speak perfect English, Swedes get a real kick out of talking to you when you show that you’ve got an interest in their language and culture. While I was warned that Swedes are shy, it’s actually been easy to meet Swedes here, as well as in other parts of Europe as I was backpacking.

Uppsala’s student life is unrivalled. Corresponding to different regions in Sweden, there are 13 student ‘nations’ at Uppsala Universitet, which are the perfect place to loosen up and forget about your exams. Unique to Uppsala, a student ‘nation’ is a student society which run club nights, restaurants, sports teams, choirs, orchestras, theatre groups and almost everything else under the sun. And you can work for them too – it’s another great way to meet locals.

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Throughout the semester, nations host dress-up student parties known as ‘gasques’. As it’s the start of a new academic year in Sweden, my nation – Södermanlands-Nerikes – held a ‘recentior’ (freshman) gasque, which involved a parade down Uppsala’s streets with our nation’s marching band – blocking traffic – and a formal dinner in our nation’s dining hall. Don’t expect to finish your food at a gasque – your dinner will constantly be interrupted by drunken speeches and traditional nation songs (my nation dates back to 1595), which we had a week to learn from our nation’s songbook. To top it all off, our nation building turned into a club for the afterparty – the night gets wilder as more alcohol is served!

Parties aside, there’s always something to do in Uppsala. Everything’s within walking distance or, at most, a short bike ride away so there’s no excuse to stay in your room. Uppsala is an international city with an international university, so there’s no shortage of people here from all over the world.

If people isn’t your thing, there’s also plenty of nature in Uppsala. Picking blueberries, lingonberries and (edible) mushrooms is a tradition here, as is hiking and staying the night in a forest hut. If you’re itching for a swim (in summer) or a place to iceskate (in winter), Sweden’s third largest lake is a half hour cycle south of Uppsala – and there’s even sand!

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The cost of living in Uppsala is about the same as in Sydney, besides the rent – which is about three times cheaper than Sydney’s ridiculous prices! Groceries cost roughly the same, and local transport costs nothing – you can’t live without a bike in Uppsala.

Sweden’s known for being green, and it’s easy to see why as almost everything is accepted by household recycling – including lightbulbs and batteries. Trains and buses aren’t the cheapest, but they’re comfortable and they run on-time.

They say that Swedes are a fit bunch, and that’s true in Uppsala at least. It’s not surprising, given that everyone rides a bike to get from A to B. It’s not uncommon for drivers to give way to you, even when it’s their right of way and we’re blessed with separated bicycle lanes everywhere (listen up, Sydney).

Uppsala’s perfect location also makes it convenient to explore other parts of Scandinavia and Europe. Although Uppsala is my home away from home, that hasn’t stopped me from leaving Uppsala for a spontaneous hiking roadtrip to Norway – which happened after less than two days of planning with friends from my summer Swedish course. In just over a week, I’ll be taking an overnight sleeper train to Copenhagen in a fortnight, followed by Amsterdam. Adventure awaits!

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jesse.x.chen@student.uts.edu.au
BERLIN EMBRACE- through the eyes of possibly the WORST tourist in history

October 1, 2015

This is not my first time in Berlin, in fact I’ve been to been at least five times previously. Since my very first visit I can’t deny that the city has changed slightly, its not quite as edgy but it is definitely still sexy.

I arrived in Berlin almost two months ago. Despite the airline loosing my baggage, I was in a good mood and I instantly felt at home. After being in London and Paris for three weeks, suddenly there was a sense of space and openness. I could actually see the sky, it wasn’t lost in between tall buildings on narrow streets.

My first day was less than amazing. I had booked an Airbnb in Wedding, but once I arrived I realised I hadn’t been given a unit number – I hadn’t realised that in Berlin, units don’t actually have numbers, the occupants names are on their doors so all you have to do is ring the right name — In a panic I asked the nearest cafe for WIFI and they sent me to the closest pub…

The bartender told me that in order to use their WIFI I had to buy a drink, however didn’t actually offer me a choice. So, at 10am, I found myself with a full glass of wine sitting in front of me, WELCOME TO BERLIN.

Ok, I have a drink, now can I use your WIFI? To which this wonderful woman replied.. NO!! ABSOLUTELY NOT! – Can I at least use your phone? NO WAY, NOT EVEN AFTER BUYING A DRINK!

I was fuming, sitting in a bar at 10am with a full glass of wine, no bag and no way of contacting my hosts. I was just about to storm out when I decided that I couldn’t possibly give this Berliner the satisfaction of drinking a wine that I had paid for. One minute later I was back on the street a bit tipsy at 10am when a bird shat on me in my only change of clothes – WELCOME TO BERLIN

Berlin – city of contradictions

Such a welcome has only made me love Berlin more. It’s a place on contradictions, freedom, joy, energy, curiosity, love and acceptance. I am well travelled and I’ve never felt at once both so comfortable and thrilled by a city.

After almost two months the closest I’ve come to seeing a ‘sight’ is.. actually, its just not happened yet… I almost went to Check Point Charlie to catch a night bus home after a night out… but… I didn’t

So what exactly have I been doing?

FINDING A PLACE TO LIVE

The first two weeks were almost entirely filled with searching for a flat. People tell you its hard to find a flat in Berlin, but it is not hard, its gruelling! Some people get lucky but mostly its just hard. ( I arrived in September when every Student in Berlin is also looking – I’m told its easier to find a place mid-semester or in winter)

The website to use is WG-Gesucht.de, its the most popular. There are so many rooms posted but you should only reply to posts that were created in the last 3 days to a week. Flats offering a room get literally hundreds of replies and are usually filled quickly so theres no point searching in posts that have been created two weeks ago.

Replying to a post – make your reply personal and honest and more than two lines of text – they’ve bothered to write a mini novel and they expect you to do so too…. and make yourself easy to contact (put in your Facebook page or a phone number).

Then the fun part – FLAT VIEWINGS — this is what took up most of my time, traipsing across the city seeing three flats in a day or more. Some viewings were lovely, I stayed for hours, made dinner, drank wine.. and others I couldn’t leave fast enough ( I was asked in one flat if I’d like to try the bed out – meh, maybe some other time). I wasn’t picky, I would have happily lived in all of them but I was only offered one (the competition is that fierce in September), so I took it.

It’s not all bad, it was actually pretty fun as I was meeting some great people everyday. Out of the experience I joined a Volleyball team and got an invite to a regular big BBQ by the Spree. As difficult as it was, I really value the experience and I met a lot of Germans (and also a lot of real Berliners – which I’m told there are only about 10, so now I’ve met most of them). Also, if you want an easier time, you can just rent short-term rentals and move a few times during your exchange, its much easier and you meet more people.

NOW…

So now I live in a great place in Wedding. Its not the most popular area, there are more bars and fantastic cafes in places like Kreuzberg and Neukölln, but Wedding has its own amazing charm. The bars are small and local, the people friendly and you can often see some of the same people again, so its easy to make friends – it has more of a neighbourhood vibe, similar to Redfern in Sydney.

My housemates are fantastic! I’ve brunched with their parents, started tango dancing (a huge challenge in intimacy with total strangers), had dinner in an artists Studio (that had pet cockroaches and a bathtub full of goldfish), been to one off events, parties in the suburbs, live music, swimming in lakes, naked swimming in lakes, kayaking, food halls, Oktoberfest and general bar & food exploring.

Berlin is such an incredible city, there is so much to do everyday – and generally pretty affordable (a theatre show / event might cost 8Euro for students) The music scene is beyond brilliant and there is so much quirky art, and the shopping is AMAZING!! – I accidentally bought a vintage jacket a week – so cheap. I plan to do some tourist sights soon.. just the outdoor ones, all the museums can wait until it gets cold (its already starting!). I’ve never been so active and I’ve never been so tired, I find myself doing all sorts of things when I’ve only had a few nights sleep the night before, there is just too much fun to be had.

German is a tricky language, but its definitely worth learning. They have a lot of sayings to explain situations that we don’t have in English, and I’ve sat through enough parties not understanding the bulk of the conversation to know that my experience would be more enriched if I could speak decent German.

Come to Berlin, the bureaucracy is rubbish but the living is AMAZING!

Elise Gouvernet 12028092
Splendid Segovian Sleepless Nights

October 1, 2015

Hola!

Greetings from Segovia, the old Spanish city surrounded by medieval walls, dense with Romanesque Churches, crowned with a Gothic Cathedral that inspired the Disney castle, and renowned for the iconic Roman aqueduct which runs through the heart of the city. Though maybe most importantly, this stunning city is my home while I am on exchange at IE University, Spain.

About two months ago I left my warm Sydney home, my family and my full-time job for what I knew would be the greatest experience of my life – at worst it would be one of those experiences that you learn those invaluable lessons from, but at best I would not only be learning but cherishing every moment. And so far I am pleased to report that even though there have been those challenging moments, I am having the time of my life.

So what do you need to know about Spain and its people? Everything you’ve heard is true. Yes, they are full of life and laughter, yes they are loud and proud, and yes no matter what their age or situation they will party like it’s their job. After all, this is the country where wine is cheaper than water and the music never stops. Segovia, however, offers a unique interpretation of this vibrant culture – during the morning the city centre is bustling with tourists visiting to learn about the rich history, by early afternoon tumbleweeds roll as the siesta is observed, and from 9pm the town bursts awake with the laughter of the uni students who occupy most of the town centre. They begin the night with dinner and drinks, followed by bar hopping and then more drinks until the early morning. Still you will find the students back at uni the next day at 9:30am, ready to learn from some of the most successful professionals in the world. Lesson one: In Spain, you will learn to test the limits of the “work hard and play even harder” lifestyle.

Sleepless Nights
Credit: Canavans-Theatre Segovia, 10 September 2015

The other thing about being in Spain… Everyone speaks in Spanish! Travelling around Europe, I was lulled into a false sense of complacency as everyone spoke some English. Though as soon as I arrived in Spain I knew that wouldn’t be the case! “Yo no hablo espanol” quickly became my go-to phrase. But “Esta bien”, it turns out that the Spanish are the type of people who will keep and communicating with a wide smile until, in some shape or form, they have registered the message. Lesson two: With determination, you can overcome any challenge, even if the determination isn’t your own!

And so I can’t wait to find out what the next few months have in store for me – I can’t wait to keep experiencing all the sights, sounds, food, and warmth of the Spanish people. Lesson three: “To travel is to live.” – Hans Christian Anderson.

Hasta Luego!

Amy Mathai

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From Shanghai, With Love.

September 30, 2015

Week 5 in China and boy has been one heck of a roller-coaster ride. So firstly, I just have to say, Shanghai is bloody amazing. Shanghai is the largest city proper in the world with a permanent population of 24 million people. This a city that fascinates and intrigues… around every corner a different scene is waiting to be discovered and spectated upon. This is a city full of immense contrast; bamboo carts & bicycles ride along side luxury European cars, some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers dwarf the old Shikumen neighbourhoods (19th C. Shanghainese housing). The charming former European concession district has become neighbourhoods of hip bars, clubs, restaurants and boutique shopping and more, and even just going for a stroll here is really lovely. There are so many street vendors selling an array of foods and products. Every driver on roads here feels the need to constantly beep their horn (for absolutely no reason as well) it’s a crazy phenomenon, and catching a taxi is nothing less than a thrill ride. Here in Shanghai, taxi drivers get paid by the distance they drive, not time. So they get you from A to B in the shortest time possible so they can pick someone else up. It’s awesome, but a bit scary at times. There is an incredible vibrancy about this city. Something not to be missed are some of Shanghai’s ancient water towns, these are further out from the modern “center” and so I’ve only been to 2 so far (with many more planned), but they are simply splendid. There is so much history here in Shanghai, it’s fascinating.

So part of my initial “shock adjustment” period was actually getting use to the prices here. When it comes to the cost of things… how do I put this… it’s different. Firstly, there’s no consistency in prices here, and secondly, things you would expect to be expensive are really cheap and things that are “Aussie Staples” (bread and butter, milk and coffee) are hellish expensive. Let me run through a brief list of examples. One bar can sell you a beer for 80 RMB whilst the one next door can offer the same beer for 10 RMB. A brand new bicycle? 500 RMB (119 AUD), a piece of steak? 300 RMB (71 AUD), Jar of bolognese sauce (to mix thru with some pasta)? forget it, 60 RMB. Language textbook at 68 RMB (16 AUD) verse a box of cereal at 60 RMB (14 AUD). I still keep thinking to myself, how can textbook and box of cereal be almost the same price? Now for the killer, Milk (and all things dairy), I love milk. I drink a lot of milk, until moving to China that was. 1L of Australian milk is 49 RMB (12 AUD), however even the local “home brand” Chinese milk, is still a hefty 16RMB (3.90 AUD) per 950ml. Let us just say, I’ve had a huge change in diet recently. Don’t get me wrong, the food is amazing here, it’s just different set of “staples”. On the flip side, fruit and veges are significantly cheaper here, a fruit platter for just 20 RMB is a bargain by Aussie standards. But in short, everything I’ve ever known about what things should cost has been totally flipped on its head.

I’m studying Architecture at Tongji University, which was a terrific decision on my part because some of the work I’ve seen from local students is just incredible and it’s inspiring actually. It’s a very competitive school to get into and so the students are coming from all over China to study Architecture here. The campus here on Sipping Road is massive, it’s nothing like UTS. It’s very spread out and very green, which was surprising given we are in the center of Shanghai. Most of the international students here are mostly coming from Germany, France and various African nations, I have yet to meet any other Aussie’s here except for the lovely Jyana who is also from UTS. Even at the 8 Universities of Shanghai international student party, I didn’t meet any Aussies which was a real shame. I would say the main international student community here in Shanghai is definitely Germans. They are absolutely lovely people, quite similar to Aussies I think and so they’re easy to get along with. However, I would like to see a bigger presence of Australian’s actually. It’s in our interest to build stronger relations with China and I believe more Aussie students here would be one way of assisting this process perhaps.

Brendon Hori

UTS ID 11439433

31.230416 121.473701
Winner Winner I’m a Berliner

September 30, 2015

Wow, Berlin. What a place. I have ended up here as a result of the endless recollections I’ve endured from friends who were lucky enough to come to this City. It seemed a no brainer.

I have been here for 2 weeks now and already I am spellbound. It seems you cannot walk 2 blocks without stumbling across amazing live music, markets, amazing food or simply some of the best people watching I have ever experienced.

Going on exchange is such an amazing experience, I’m not even a third of the way through a nine month trip yet and already I cannot remember the Sam who left Australia back in June.

I have been lucky enough to do a lot in the time before the semester started, from going to the Festival Monolith Dour, to working on a winery in the South West of Germany and hiking by myself for 3 weeks in the Swisse alps. All of these things being dreams of mine that would not have become a reality without going on exchange.

Since arriving in Berlin I have found a place to stay in the beuatiful suburb of Neükoln which has an healthy Turkish community. I am joyed to report I have become inundated in a world of cheap beers, cheap (and very tasty) kebabs and extrdordinarily liberal people. I have been to individual clubs that stay open for 72 hours and make the Kings Cross of old seem like a childrens ball pit at your local McDonalds.

My involvement in the community of Berlin is only just getting off the ground, however, I have had the opportunity already to do some volunteering. The refugee crisis is a real tricky issue troubling the whole world at the moment and Berlin could be considered an epicenter of sorts. I have recently begun helping at the Moabit processing area where hundreds of refugees are being held up whilst they wait to gain their papers for the entrance into Berlin. This opportunity is not something us as Australian citizens have access to so easily and whilst I am here I think it is fitting to get involved.

All in all, Berlin is amazing and to be able to say it is my home for the next 6 months brings a smile to my face.

Samuel Guy Renzaglia 11418151
Copenhagen

September 30, 2015
I arrived in Copenhagen at the beginning of August for the pre-semester Danish course. I recommend this to anyone studying at the University of Copenhagen. It was a lot of fun and has made getting around the city easier. Nearly everyone speaks English (because it’s taught to kids in school from a young age) but it’s nice being able to read the street signs and understand the train and metro announcements.

Nyhavn

One of the first things I did after I arrived was to go bike shopping. I went from shop to shop looking for the perfect ride. I didn’t find it. The bikes carried either a high price tag or a thick layer of rust. I turned to the internet. DBA (the Danish eBay) had an impressive range. I met up with a woman to test ride a pretty blue ‘lady bike’. It seemed fine, so I bought it. On the way home, I discovered the gears were broken. I resold the bike and (with the my roommate’s help) bought another. It has been great.

Biking really is the best way to get around the city. It is very flat and most streets have bike lanes, which the motorists respect. There are a number of places that are more accessible by bike than by public transport. For example, the food markets at Papirøen (Paper Island), which we frequent for cheap good food. Helmets are not mandatory in Copenhagen like they are at home but are a good idea. I heard a number of biking horror stories, which (to my parents’ pleasure) convinced me to get one.

Riding to Uni

There’s a lot to do in Copenhagen. I’ve had my brother here for the past few days and have been showing him around all the sights. Up the top of both our lists are the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, perched on the water at Humlebæk and currently home to an amazing Yayoi Kusama exhibition, and the deer park at Klampenborg. Today we are going to take a canal tour of Copenhagen’s best architecture and then see Frederiksberg Palace.

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

When I’m not entertaining siblings, I’m madly trip planning. In the pipeline are:
- Spain and Portugal for the mid-semester break
- Paris for a James Bay concert
- Swedish Lapland to see the Northern lights
- Budapest, Vienna and Prague for the Christmas and New Year period
Trip to Norway (Pulpit Rock)

Luckily my two classes are not very demanding! I have just two days of uni a week and no assessments until finals, which are oral and apparently very relaxed.

I’m very glad I chose Copenhagen for my exchange experience and can’t recommend it enough to others.

Anna Conigrave
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When in Milano

September 30, 2015

The main reason I decided to go on exchange is to live in a country that I don’t know the language then see how I will survive. I took it to another level by not learning Italian before I arrived in Milan which I totally regret. I have been in here for about one month. The host university is Bocconi University, one of the most prestigious universities in Italy. The Italian guy sitting next to me on the plane was so excited when he knew that I study here.

The main highlight in Italy for me is Italian food. It seems like you never go wrong in Italy. I always randomly order in restaurants due to my limited knowledge of the language but the results so far have never disappointed me. Olives, for example, are one of the few things that I don’t like to eat but it is different story here. Gelato also lives up to my high expectation

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Being in the north of Italy may be the biggest pro in terms of travelling as it is easy to access to other countries in Europe. I have visited Switzerland two times already this semester. It only takes couple hours to go to Switzerland by train. I have plans to go watching some football matches in other countries soon.

If you are a football fan, you will absolutely enjoy the time in Europe. I spend most of my weekend watching football matches. To watch European league football in Australia, sacrificing some of your sleeping time is a minimum requirement as they usually come late night, and forget about the UEFA Champions League if you have class in the morning. Watching a match without having to yawn every ten minutes is just like heaven.

Milan derby

Italian’s passion for football is incredibly high. I went to San Siro to watch the Milan derby match (AC Milan vs Inter Milan) last few weeks. The stadium is the biggest stadium I have ever visited. During the match, I sometimes didn’t hear the referee’s whistle as the fans chanted (shouted) really loud. I was just a guy who wanted to watch a good match, but sitting in the Inter fans area, I had no choice but to just go along with them otherwise I might not be able to go home.

I have heard about the Italian bureaucracy before coming here. To experience it is interesting to me. It is like each person has his own system to finish the business. However, I don’t mind as long as it is done.

If you are not certain about going on exchange for whatever reasons, I am not good at encouraging people but I really want you to go for it. You could just pick a country randomly like when I randomly order in restaurants and the result will surprise you.

Shinnapok Suvapiromchote

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Amsterdam (Never Never land)

September 29, 2015

Neverland

29th of September

I flew out of Sydney on the 6th of August, so I’m nearly two months into exchange. That’s funny because I’ve already blown through about three quarters of my money. That’s normal, right?

My reckless spending probably has something to do with the three weeks in Barcelona, London and Berlin before semester started (Europe! Everywhere is close! You can go places!) I have no idea what happened most of that time – money was spent. Here’s some pictures.

Barcelona

Barcelona

Barcelona

London

Berlin

Berlin

Now I’m settling down in Amsterdam, going to uni, and dealing with a personal budget emergency of Joe Hockey-esque proportions.

It’s morning here, and the weather is crisp: it’s sunny, blue and deceptively chilly. Perfect weather for a cute outfit with a nice coat and riding around on a bicycle. I know I’m doing it right if the woman at the checkout starts speaking Dutch to me – it means I’m dressed for European Autumn.

I find that the art of blending in is one of the single greatest joys of travel. Blending in at the checkout isn’t just about dressing right: it also means you have to look bored, as though popping up to the shops for milk and stroopwafels is a mundane task. You have to be ready with a tote bag for your groceries – the checkout woman is NOT going to bag up your groceries for you. She’ll scan them and toss them down a very aggressive looking conveyor belt and it’s your responsibility to swiftly bag them before the next person’s items come cascading down on top of yours. Do this while paying with cash (no visa, no master card), sifting through your euro coins, and try not to seem intimidated. Looking inexplicably nervous as your eyes dart around the room while buying groceries is classic “awkward tourist” behaviour.

I feel as though I’m on a permanent mission to transition into a “seasoned local”. It sounds silly, but being treated like I live here is a simple pleasure that I feel compelled to strive for. Having said that, there’s also a lot to be said for getting excited in the snack aisle and running up to my English speaking housemates holding liquorice Haribo gummy mix exclaiming “HAVE YOU TRIED THESE?”

Haribo selection

I live with 17 fantastic people in a big old, grey apartment block, the Weesperflat. It’s what a prison would look like if they forgot to send the guards in and the prisoners started having parties. Everything is made of cages. The elevator smells like vomit and stale beer. But the VIEW! The seventh floor penthouse view is a winner. The balcony looks out over all of Amsterdam, with the lights on the canals sparkling in front of you at night.

Amsterdam canals at night

Right now it’s morning and the street below is buzzing with speeding cyclists. I’m watching them while I drink my coffee. Mornings are nice in the Weesperflat: someone usually puts the BBC on and it flashes away with the volume on low as we slowly wake up, make breakfast and greet each other good morning.

Polish dinner night with the roomies

Living with people is one of the best decisions I’ve made. Between movie nights, trips to local bars and ciggies on the balcony, you meet people and end up discussing politics or the Syrian refugee crisis, and you learn whole new perspectives on these things that you’ve never considered before. You’re taken out of your bubble, and you’re a better person for it. Give it a few weeks and you’ll probably decide you have a crush on someone and start gossiping about it with your new BFFs. You’ll play drinking games that you considered yourself “too cool” for back home in Sydney. You’ll end up drunk and yelling things at passers by from the back of your mate’s bicycle, being the excitable international student that you’ve always envied. You’ll explore the city, attempt to get into cool underground parties, make lifelong friends and embarrass yourself in the supermarket countless times. It’s a lot of fun.

Matilda Fay 12030704
Montréal, je t’aime!

September 29, 2015

Montréal, je t’aime! I have been in Montréal for just over a month now and have loved every second of it! I am here completing my final semester with four electives at the French speaking universtity; Université du Quebec a Montréal (UQAM). And I am the only Australian student studying here at UQAM. Fortunately my classes are in taught in English which has made the experience so far a lot easier even though I wish to improve my French speaking skills, I haven’t been so succcessful.

I attend class two and a half days a week so there is plenty of time to explore Montréal and to travel to other cities. I’m living with seven other students from France, Africa, Italy, Germany and Northern Ireland in the residences. We all get along so well, like a house on fire and do so many things together. In the past month we have travelled to Quebec City and Burlington, Vermont in USA to the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory. We all explore Montréal, go to Salsa and Swing dancing lessons, cook and even clean together. I couldn’t of asked for better flat mates.

Montréal is truly one of the most spectacular cities I have ever visited and a place I would happily stay forever. There is a company that organises cheap trips to USA and parties for international students here in Montreal, called Interstude, everyone must check them out if you’re thinking of coming to Montreal. We recently attended their Rep Your Flag Fest with 800 other students from the univerisites around Montreal and it was a blast. There is always something happening in the city from free open air dance classes to pillow flights in the main square and even a Poutinefest where I had Pulled Pork Poutine.

The seasons are so distinctive and so very different to what we experience in Australia! Summer just finished and we have said goodbye to the the 30 degree days as we entere fall the leaves are slowly starting to change to red and gold. They all say I will experience -20 degrees before I leave in December which I find so hard to believe as it has been so hot!

I have just under 3 months left in Montreal before I head to New York City for Christmas and New Year with some other Aussies! And I know the next few months are going to be just as great and I’m going to try to speak French more even though it is so easy to get away with English.

Gros bisous!

Chloe Skafte 11655976

Instagram: @chloeskafte

45.511816 -73.559244
Copenhagen

September 29, 2015

I didn’t really have any expectations prior to going on exchange. The day the exchange application was due I went to visit the Exchange Office for some last minute advice on how to list my preferences when the lovely lady casually asked if I had considered Denmark as a possible destination. Curious at this new possibility I went off to do some research and within a couple of minutes I discovered Copenhagen was the apparently the ‘green’ capital of the world, the capital of what was recognised as the ‘happiest country’ in the world and also home to the free town Christiania – once an abandoned military base until it was taken over by hippie squatters in 1971 (If you have never heard of this special place, click on the following link to get a feel – Christiania Buzz Feed article). That was all it took for me to want to spend my 6 months living in this idealistic city.

But it turns out the main reason I have fallen in love with Copenhagen is that especially during Summer, it is SO full of life and surprises. Events and parties would be happening every day in multiple locations throughout the city. One day I was riding my bike and found one of the main streets ‘Nørrebrogade’ and the Dronning Louises bridge was blocked off so cars couldn’t pass through. Instead there was a reggae DJ grooving out and boxes and boxes of coloured chalk were provided for everyone to get down on the floor and create some colourful art along the street and bridge. Just in case you weren’t into the reggae tunes, a bit further down the street there were speakers paying the sound of birds singing. So beautiful.

Another day I was riding home from a swim in the harbour and stumbled upon a free opera, contemporary dance and ballet concert in one of the parks. So in I went, sat down on the grass and enjoyed along with the other extremely prepared and organised picnicking Danes.

Lastly – I didn’t think I would come to Copenhagen to fall in love with Cuban salsa, but here I am attending free classes every Tuesday afternoon.

This reasoning is not to mention the incredibly magical parks and lakes, bikes, outdoor dance parties, organic food, street art, delicious coffee and pastries and beautiful people.

This may seem like an overwhelmingly positive review but in my 2 months of living here I honestly have not experienced anything to cause me to frown.. except maybe how expensive everything is 🙂

My only piece of advice is to have no expectations for wherever you go on exchange, no preconceived notions of how you think the journey will or should pan out, just set your intentions of what you want out of the experience before you leave and let it flow to you in the most curious unexpected ways.

Carla Barnett

SID 11716634

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