Okay Milan. Wow, I can’t even describe it. It has been one of the most amazing cities I have come across pretty sure. You tell people you are going and their response, “err there is only Duomo and spaghetti…” or they think you have changed your communications degree to fashion… mmm.
But boy there is so so so much more to this place. I think the greatest thing so far about this place is it’s a mix of the most beautiful people, with anyone and everyone from everywhere. You meet people from Sicily to Naples to Verona who are all here to study, work or explore. I honestly just tried to talk to anyone I could in the first few weeks even if it is in a heap of broken English they will persist to try talk to you through a heap of hand actions and a couple of good laughs. My lonesome self would literally walk into a show and just try say anything to the person at the desk. After about two weeks I managed to befriend a few people, have a few fun dinners and then with their help I began to see SO much more.
I think this is the main thing about this city, that it’s more the lifestyle of the city itself that makes it amazing. Everyone is so friendly and they want to be able to help you in anyway you can and show you the things you have no idea about. Do whatever you can to meet people and do everything and say yes to everything, you will honestly see so much more. Of course they have all the Italian qualities of the love, passion, food, humor and history, but Milan just seems to have this extra touch of something I can’t put my finger on. One thing I will agree on is majority do dress immaculately, from the old ladies leaving there houses in coats and hats to the grudge models you have to speak up to. The people that ask you for money still manage to own a decent pair of leather shoes. So far I witnessed the week of fashion week managing to sneak into a few happens and now currently racing from classes to explore design week, with free entry into most displays, free museums and good cheap music about. They really know how to have a good time no matter what the situation is and are purely great company.
Another thing that is perfect about this place is it’s central Europe so you can really go most in Europe under 100 euros if you keep your eyes on skyscanner. But then again don’t run away to a new country every weekend otherwise you never really lived in Milan and will not know it’s real ins and outs. Do day trips around Italy as well. There are so many little gems around. Get sun in Lake Como, check out Genova and Cinque Terre, Dolomites and Verona. I want to really explore some of the south in the next few months. Over the rest of my stay i plan am planning on travelling a little more as the summer picks up and visit some friends places around Europe. In my two months so far I have seen so much I would have never expected to see and yes again met so many amazing people national and international. So I will continue to try get my pasta al dante, fingers crossed I’m fluent in Italian when I’m back and for now I’ll be eating cake with an espresso in Via Vigevano Naviglio. Ciao ciao.
By Tanya Mackey, Bachelor of Arts in Communications (Journalism)
After going to so many exchange meetings, filling out form after form and spending long chunks of time waiting in the UTS international office I began to build up the idea of moving to London for uni as a far-off dream that may or may not come true.
Even after holding the hard copy of my acceptance letter from the University of Westminster it still didn’t fully sink in.
Fast forward to New Years Eve 2013: I hopped off the plane at Heathrow after a draining 30 hours in transition. It was mid afternoon, outside was grey and rainy, and the robotic voice from the airport speakers had a british accent. By this time I’d realised – yes this was actually happening. Later that night I watched the fireworks over the London Eye, Big Ben and the River Thames. It sounds super corny but at that point in time everything I’d dreamt about began to come true.
Since those first few moments in London there have been times where I still pinch myself or do a double take because life here can be absolutely unrealistic in the best way.
Let me explain:
Being a Sydney girl in London
Londoners in general are strangely envious of Sydneysiders. They are totally jealous of our beaches, the sun, the stereotypical ‘surfy’ lifestyle (the amount of times I’ve been asked if I surf…) and they find our accent endearing. Just being a girl ‘all the way’ from Australia has made me feel like a bit of a spectacle. This, combined with talk of drop-bears and the vast amount of spiders and sharks was a surefire way to make some new british mates and snag some fun dates. Also, if you’ve been overseas before you’ll know that Aussies stick together, so I’ve been fortunate enough to make a lovely group of fellow Australian girls to hang out and go exploring with.
Personal interests/opportunities
I guarantee that no matter what your interests are you will find a way to pursue them in London. This city is so huge and diverse in a way that Sydney could never be. It’s literally a melting pot of ideas and creativity entwined with cultures from all around the world put in motion by people from all walks of life. If you’re into art there is a never-ending amount of galleries, studios and classes to keep you busy. If you like music there is always a gig to go to no matter which night of the week, aspiring musicians seem to congregate here, there are clubs with rooms and even floors playing different genres, and all the big names in the industry will stop in London whilst touring. If you’re keen on fashion and shopping I’ve found London is a zillion times better than Sydney (or any other city in Australia, really). High street shopping is incredible and I still can’t get over how massive the flagship Topshop store is on Oxford Street – FYI it even has a restaurant inside. No matter what your budget there are plenty of options to sift through…I could go on and on so get in touch if you’d like a guide.
Travel time to other countries
Last month I visited Milan for a few days. The trip blew my mind because I sat on the plane for about two hours and I’d made it to a totally new country; the brits and europeans don’t think twice about this luxury but I found it quite surreal to be in an absolutely new culture without having to do the usual trek halfway around the world. It really puts into perspective how isolated Australia is in comparison to Europe. Another perk is that London is in the vicinity of all the great European cities and plane tickets are usually quite cheap (as long as you don’t leave it to the last minute), I’ve found return tickets to visit a friend in Switzerland next month for fifty pounds return (thats $100!).
Going to uni/on campus life – Harrow Halls
One thing I am most thankful for is to have the opportunity to live on the campus where I study, in Harrow Halls. When I was first assigned this accomodation I’m not going to lie I was a little disappointed, as I had envisioned myself smack bang in central London at the Marylebone Halls. Rather, Harrow is about twenty minutes from the city by the tube (which, by the way, becomes part of everyday life) and the vibe is completely different to the mad rush of the city. There’s big grassy open spaces, an oval where everyone hangs out to have picnics, play music and have a game of football or frisbee on sunny days. All the classes here are the ‘creative’ subjects like film, music, fashion, journalism and photography. I’ve discovered that music courses here are super popular and it seems as though everyone is in a band and regularly plays at the student bar or actual venues around London! This also indicates that the best parties happen here at Harrow thanks to all those rowdy musos (and lack of harsh security). Now that I’ve lived here for a few months I really couldn’t imagine myself being anywhere else and I’m sure if I didn’t stay in these halls my exchange experience would have been completely different. Whether or not you are interested in Harrow Halls, I’d encourage you to look into on-campus accommodation because each set of flats have their own fun and each have their own special perks too; be it convenience, location, price or decor.
So, now that you’re seriously considering making your dreams come true, remember:
“Our lives are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald
All those hours spent organising and saving for exchange will be totally worth it!
I’ll leave you with some photos of my life as a University of Westminster student so far:
Central LondonNorthwick Park – the open spaces next to Harrow HallsFound the lollies inside Hamleys! (a huge british toy store on Regent Street)Sunset outside Buckingham Palace“The Tube” at Northwick Park station (two minutes away from Harrow Halls)My Arts & Entertainment Journalism course went to the National Gallery instead of a lecture to find inspiration for an assignment – it was one of my favourite assessments to dateDaytrip to Oxford – this the bodleian libraryAnother daytrip to see the white cliffs of Dover – I’m loving the fresh ocean air!
If you would like to ask any questions feel free to contact me via email: tanyajmackey@gmail.com
You can also follow my travels on instagram: tanyajmackey
The last four months have been the best of my life. I don’t know how I can possibly convey through words the excitement, joy and phenomenal experiences that I have undergone throughout these past few months.
Before leaving I wasn’t quite sure what to expect at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. However, after living here for a few months, I can honestly say I am having the time of my life. I am having the full authentic American college experience. We all went to a Spring football game on the weekend, which was awesome!
I have made friends with both American and international students, which has allowed me to experience the best of both worlds. I have met students from all over the world, from Manchester, France, Turkey and Spain, and these are just a few amongst many places that the students come from. I have become extremely close with the international group over the semester. We are like a family and I am dreading leaving them!
I love living on campus. It is an extremely different lifestyle to UTS. I love knowing that the majority of my friends are always around and that I can call them up at any point and hang out with them. College nights are Wednesday and Thursday, and they are awesome fun. Unfortunately if you are under 21 you can’t drink, but it is still fun if you like the clubbing scene.
Everything is so new and exciting here! Even going to the grocery store is an adventure! The variety here is out of control! Even buying the most basic foods such as bread is exciting because you can choose from about 10 different types.
Of course they also have fraternities and sororities here which is also a fun experience. I have befriended some people in both of those societies and have attended their parties – which is again something you can’t do at home. The way that the frats and sororities dress is super interesting – I love just observing their clothes. The boys have to maintain a well-polished look whilst the girls are a bit more country with their tight pants and country boots.
Whilst being on exchange I have learned a lot about myself and others, and I feel as though I have grown and will continue to grow as an individual. Without all the responsibilities at home including balancing study and work, exchange allows you to relax and take time for yourself (amongst studying), make new friends, grow as a person and just experience things you wouldn’t ordinarily at home. It forces you to escape your comfort zone and for me, exchange has been the best thing I have ever done!
Just a quick heads up! If you are thinking about going on exchange to Charlotte, be prepared for extreme weather! When I first got here I was wearing 5 tops because I was so cold. It averaged around 1 degree celsius, and was often below that. Recently, we have had days where it has been in the 20’s, and today was 15, so be prepared for bipolar weather!
Departing Sydney for Copenhagen, all the advice had me prepared for a reserved people, cold weather and depressingly short days. Fortunately it’s all turned out to be a load of nonsense. I love this city.
Whilst some had their eye on a typical Scandinavian winter, you’ll hear no complaints from me that Copenhagen is experiencing its warmest winter since records. It was only a couple of months into our stay when we found ourselves playing ‘football’ in the park and eating ice cream on the street.
The Danes certainly have a way, but at least those that I’ve had the pleasure of knowing have demonstrated a warmth and inquisitive quality. I’m lucky enough to live with a couple of Danes with whom I’ve become close friends. We sit and drink the horrendous Danish beer and eat the surprisingly enjoyable Danish liver paste.
I’d hoped to get through this blog without mentioning bike riding, but five paragraphs in I concede I should have known better. The bike riding – the most cliché take-away of a Copenhagen exchange – is unbelievable. I live on an island called Amager which is south of the city. Some folks would say Amager is way out. But on our bikes no distance is any further than a glorious peddle, often in exceptional company as we ride in and out of town.
So fond of the bikes are we that a group ride to Aarhus – a cool 110km away – is in the late stages of planning for the Easter break.
Being such a small country, excursions like this have been possible to get a broader sense of this Kingdom of Denmark.
One weekend saw myself and a few friends hire the only automatic car in Europe and drive south to the island of Møn, where we found the Colgate white cliffs which stretch around the island’s coast. We saw some of the unique scenery cosy Denmark has to offer, stayed on a quaint Danish farm and survived driving on the other side of the road.
Heading north, a short day trip on the train took me to Helsingør to explore what the Danes call Kronborg Slot and the rest of us call ‘Hamlet’s Castle’. Excursions like this, coupled with Danish movie nights organised by the local University of Copenhagen students have helped our education about Danish history and all their Kings and Queens.
There’s something about this experience that makes me feel like I’m learning twenty new things a day. Whether it’s around the dinner table or in the classroom the European experience has certainly thrown up new ideas about life, love and laughter and offered new perspectives.
Most exciting of all however, is that the best is yet to come. The weather’s been good, but just wait until the summer. The Danes speak constantly about the summer time: “Such and such place is beautiful in the summer” they go. “Such and such an activity will be a lot of fun in the summer.” There won’t be enough days or long moonlit nights this time around to experience all the Danish summer has to offer but here’s to surviving exams and soaking up as much of it as we can.
The University of East Anglia may be 35 hours away from Sydney, but for the last two and a half months it has felt like home. Being a city girl, I was both excited and nervous about moving to Norwich, a small city in the northeast of England. Although it’s classified as a city, Norwich feels much more like a town, with a slow pace of life and a lot of green. But don’t be fooled, country life in no way means quiet. There is always something to do, ranging from a drink at one of the city’s 300 pubs, a play at one of the many theatres or a gig in town. In the last 10 days alone I have done all three of those things.
A very dodgy photo of Haim, playing at the club on campus.
Norwich has also proved itself to be a great base for travel, the highlight being an impromptu road trip to Manchester and Liverpool at the end of the third week. On Wednesday we booked a car and on Friday five new friends and I set out for a casual drive across England. Words cannot do the trip justice, but I would highly recommend driving through the Peak District at sunset, gaping open mouthed at the beauty of the John Ryland’s Library in Manchester and bracing the freezing cold winds at Albert Dock in Liverpool. London is only two and a half hours away and much time has been spent there, including one memorable weekend where ten of us ate until our hearts were content at Borough Market and danced until 6 in the morning at the Ministry of Sound. Future travel plans include Ireland and Scotland, as well as heading over to the continent to practice my Spanish and visit friends in Germany.
Albert Dock, Liverpool. The Peak District. Borough Market.
In order to appease my parents and faculty, I have to say that it hasn’t all been fun and games. UEA has a strong arts faculty and I have really enjoyed taking a break from law to learn about British history, global politics and Spanish. The teaching staff are lovely and it’s been fun adding ‘an Australian perspective’ to everything. I’m also blessed with a wicked view of UEA’s broad and parklands from my bedroom window, which makes studying just a little bit easier.
Speaking of which, living on campus is one of the coolest experiences of the whole exchange. Not only can you roll out of bed 10 minutes before class and still be on time, but you have an instant family. The freshers provide endless hours of amusement and ‘thank god I’m not 18’ moments and the internationals, who make up half my flat, never shy away from an opportunity to try something new or chat about the weird English quirks we just don’t understand. Flat living also brings with it movie nights, Wine Wednesday, communal cooking and a 5 minute walk to the campus club – really what is there not to love?
Last but not least, exchange has introduced me to some awesome people. I’ve got to stop there, otherwise I’ll get soppy, but my time at UEA wouldn’t have been this awesome if it weren’t for them. Luckily, half of them are Australian –because we really are everywhere – but I look forward to visiting the rest in future travels. As if I needed another excuse!
A word of warning – if you choose to study in San Francisco you wont want to go home. The last 3 months have been possibly the best of my life. The people, the experiences and the city have been nothing short of amazing.
I am living in the sunset district which is mostly covered by fog but on the odd day you might just see the sunset and it’s amazing. I am living with 3 of the nicest people I have ever met and we are all Internationals (Argentina, France and France) at SFSU.
If I could give any words of advise, if you are thinking about choosing San Francisco or even a semester of exchange – just do it.
Yesterday night I got back from a week of Spring Break which was awesome. We travelled in a group of around 20 international students and road tripped around the West Coast. We went from Santa Barbara to LA to Lake Havasu to the Grand Canyon and finally to Vegas.
With only 60 days left in San Francisco I am not looking forward to leaving and it’s safe to say that I will definitely be coming back.
So it began. Life as a exchange student, or ‘Erasmus’ student as they say here. Life here is awesome. No one word can describe this land, except maybe freedom. Weed is legal, prostitution is open, and per capita the Netherlands is top 5 in the world when it comes to refugee intake.
The main means of transport here is bike. The air is noticeably fresher and ive never felt so invigorated after a morning ride to university! Who needs coffee anymore? Its a shame that us Sydney siders havnt been given the gift of flat ground (everywhere! literally). The highest peak in the Netherlands is around 300 metres! So it makes sense that bikes just work. You go to a shopping mall, the bike parking is bigger then the car parking. They have bike parking above ground, underground and everywhere else you can imagine. If you dont have a bike here.. everyone has a bike here who am I kidding.
Ive been blessed to be living in a smaller city rather then the crazyness of cities such as Amsterdam or Rotterdam (mind you they are only an hour away from train). Eindhoven at first seemed very different and modern compared to all the other cities in the Netherlands, such as Utretch, Delft and Amsterdam. The first thing I noticed when I arrived was the electronics brand Philips. Yes Philips was born, brought up and started his company in Eindhoven. I did’t know this only until I got here, and boy can you notice. Eindhoven locals are obsessive about Philips (literally every building has a Philips sign on it). World War 2 resulted in Eindhoven being very heavily bombed and history had to be re created from scratch – and the biggest accomplishment known for the locals post world war was Philips.
Just like any living thing that grows at a young age, its growth is exponential. This applied to this city also, because its so new I later found at Eindhoven got dubbed the most innovative city in the WORLD (this is going to look so GOOD on my resume haha). Per capita they release and publish the most patents in the world. Second is the city of Boston (Harvard).
Anyway, beer is really cheap. Food is the same price as Australia. But beer, lets get back to beer. Boy is the beer good here and cheap, did i say that. My go to point of comparison to my friends back home is a Belgium beer call Duvel. In Australis one schooner of this liquid gold goes for about $10, here in this magical land – a 6 pack goes for 6 euros!!
As you can imagine, parties are crazy here. Not only is there house parties of 150+ erasmus students from all over Europe every weekend, but Eindhoven has within it and special little street named Stratum. This magical street has the most bars/clubs in the whole of the Netherlands, with about 60 bars/clubs stretching across the street. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night we can see the night begin no earlier then Midnight. Or if you fancy a beer or two during the week, you usually go to the Beer Professor establishment, where you are treated with 200 different types of beers that are from the regions of Holland, Belgie and Deutchland.
In terms of study. The level of skill required and amount of work is definitely higher here. They have better machines, technology and resources I’ve noticed compared to Sydney. In terms of MY study, yeah about that…
Netherlands is such a beautiful country. Im so glad i picked a european country – I’m sure the others who did also would agree with me when i say this. I have so many options for travel its crazy. Especially with summer coming around, I think life here will just keep getting better! I truly am thankful for UTS for giving me the opportunity! So much fun!
Having been here for almost 3 months I can safely say they have been some of the best of my life so far! I always wanted to go on exchange but never could have imagined how many special memories would be made on the other side of the world, and I’m barely halfway through my trip! I’m on exchange in Norwich, England which is 2 hours north-east of London. It is quaint and gorgeous while still maintaining the allure of decent sized city with beautiful history, great food and drink and a welcoming and relaxed vibe. The University of East Anglia is brilliant, a 20 minute bus ride to town and set on a beautiful lake. Having never lived on campus for University before I was initially overwhelmed with excitement in how much of a cool little bubble it is with so many fun things going on and the prospect of a nightclub and bar on campus was extremely enticing! I have made so many friendships here so far with both English students and internationals, of which many I know will be life-long and exciting travel plans have been made together around England and Europe which has enhanced this experience even more. It really is an eye opening experience and I feel like my perspectives and desire to travel and try new things has been greatly impacted for the better. I absolutely love the people here and I will be so sad to leave! Would definitely recommend UEA in Norwich for exchange as I can honestly say I’ve had the most fantastic time imaginable!
I’ve been away for 6 weeks now and boy has it flown fast!
I never thought I’d be one to go on exchange away from the comfort of my family, friends and Sydney lifestyle. I remember sitting on the plane all on my lonesome waiting to jet set off and thinking ‘Why am I doing this?’ I was naturally a little freaked out as it all hit me. But arriving in Voralberg, Austria and seeing the snow capped mountains amidst a small town of beautifully crafted houses/ buildings and breathing in the fresh crisp air I knew it wouldn’t be long before I could call this place home. I’ve already experienced and learnt so much in what seems like such a small space of time.
GRADUALLY learning German and accustoming to the Austrian ways of doing
Travelling to surrounding European countries and gaining insight into the diversity of cultures
Visualising design from a new perspective through class discussion, exhibitions and everyday observations
Being a student of a well organised and highly facilitated university that has a completely different timetable structure to UTS
Carrying out the domestic responsibilities that come with living alone
And, enjoying the awesome company of other students from across the world
Things I’ve come to love and learn about Dornbirn:
It is the biggest town in the Vorarlberg region, but in comparison to Sydney it so so small!!! It makes getting to know the locals quite easy
Average temperature: 12 degrees
There has been little snow – apparently its been the worse skii season in over 10 years
Being on time is important – Austria in generally quite organised
Traditional Austrian dishes to try are kaisersemmeln (pancakes), kaserspaetzle, Germknödel (during ski season) and Cordon Bleau (schnitzel stuffed with cheese and ham).
If you order a beer here, expect at least half a liter. They also have Radlr (sweeter beer with citrus) which is my favourite 🙂 It kind of taste like cider but with less alcho I think (2.5%!)
They have food markets here every Wedensday and Saturday in the main platz where you can buy some yummy cold meats, cheeses and fresh fruits/flowers! There are also flea markets around Voralberg Friday – Sundays which is really good for stocking up on items for the kitchen/room for cheap!
Vorarlberg has a very strong (German) dialect so it is a good thing most of the young people here know how to speak English.
Everyday groceries and necessities are quite expensive in comparison to Australia… except for the chocolate hehe (However places such as Lidl and hofer which are like ALDI are generally inexpensive)
I feel a bike is an essential thing to own here as it is the easiest mode of transport in a small town. I bought mine about two weeks ago and I love it!!
Austria is very sustainable when it comes to waste management. Each individual is expected to separate their rubbish into plastics, papers, metals, glass, organics and restumüll (excess waste). As much as it requires more effort, this is something I wish they enforced in Australia!
Nightlife here is a little more subdued than Sydney but there are still plenty of little bars and pubs where you can enjoy drinking with your mates.
Fast Facts about Fachhochschule Vorarlberg
The teachers I have had so far seem to be pretty easy going, quite good at speaking English and have an interesting sense of humor. They do also have high expectations of work and they aren’t afraid to tell you if something is lacking.
Almost all assignments are in group work which I find a bit challenging at times but it does prepare us for what we are expected to face in the real world. Our groups usually include an Austrian student, which I find is a good way to get to know the locals!
FHV has excellent facilities including the plotter machine that is free for all students to use!!! They also allow you to hire all types of electronic gear such as SLR cameras, go pros, etc.
They have free sports Monday to Wednesday, which I love!! Its great way to keep fit and socialize with the local students.
The school has been great in supporting us as we settle into our new homes. From the moment we arrived they were so helpful. We were picked up from the train station by the international coordinator, Anja. We had an fun orientation week that allowed all the students to not only get to know one another but also their home cultures and things to try, see and do here in Dornbirn. FHV has also organised many excursions such as going to the Bregenz carnival, a Pub Crawl night, treated us to a lunch at the markets (on the condition that we order what we want in German) and attending the Funken (an old tradition held on the first weekend after the end of carnival and is celebrated to welcome spring and banish the cold winter).
As expected, I’ve found it a bit challenging to focus on what I’m really here to do – study! Considering it is still early days and I’ve only just began to settle in, I know I will make the most of my study opportunities form here on whilst still finding room for travels and other exchange festivities. I’ve found it is also really important to find time just for myself, to just reflect on my exchange experience so far and make time for the little things.
