Personal Development
The friendships that I made on exchange will last me a lifetime, and I’m not exaggerating. To meet people from all corners of the globe that share similar interests and values as me, and to get to explore new places together and gain new perspectives, was an invaluable part of my experience that I will always be grateful for.
Professional Development
One of the greatest skills I gained professionally, which will assist me moving forward in my career, is the ability to adapt to new surroundings and ideas rather quickly, and definitely to think outside the box! When you’ve been taught to do something a certain way for your entire academic career, I think it’s extremely useful to have to work outside of your comfort zone. It really prepares you for anything.
Funding
I don’t think I would have been able to make the most of my experience without the funding I received. It covered just under the total cost of my rent for the 6 months, which would have otherwise caused me a great deal of financial stress and maybe even influenced whether I participated in the exchange.
