Motivation
I was intrigued about the Scandinavian technology/ robotics industry, and wanted to learn more. I'd also heard that the gender ratios in computer science were more balanced there.
Personal Development
Alongside all the good times, there were various adversities and obstacles that helped me develop as a person. One such obstacle was when I travelled to a cabin in Lofoten (relatively rural but gorgeous area in the north), and my bag was lost by the airline.
While the hikes and landscape was beautiful, it was difficult to enjoy myself without any possessions and with the constant worry of if my bag would ever be found. However, what really helped me was focusing on what I can control, and realising that even in the worst-case scenario, I would still be okay. When they eventually found my bag I was overjoyed, but I was also very happy with how I dealt with the situation, as it helped me enjoy my time in Loften and also gave me a good strategy to deal with similar problems in the future.
Academic Devlopment 
When I walked into the first lecture of my Electromagnetic and Acoustic Waves course, I was dismayed to find that the course was being taught in Norwegian. I was really excited to learn about this topic, but I spent the first half of the lecture wondering if I should drop out and if I could get by with just the slides being in English. I decided to gather my courage, and during the mid-lecture break, I asked the lecturer if he could switch to English (as it said on the course profile that it was taught in either English or Norwegian). He agreed, and said he hadn't realised there were non-Norwegian speakers in the class. Because of this experience, I realised how important communication can be, especially in an international setting, and I learnt to advocate for myself in an academic context. I also was more engaged with the course throughout the semester, and realised the value of lectures.
Professional Development
During my exchange semester, I volunteered as a chef for ISFiT - the biannual international festival in Trondheim, and the biggest global festival about international society and politics. I wanted to contribute to such a cool event and hoped it would offer an opportunity to connect with other Norwegian and international students. During this experience, l occasionally felt out of my depth in a fast-paced environment, working in a role that I had no professional experience in. However, I resolved to give this experience my all and try my best to connect with others and fit into the kitchen environment. I helped provide meals for hundreds of students each shift, while keeping to tight deadlines and strict dietary requirements. Overall, this experience helped me develop organisational and time-management skills. I also learnt how to operate in a role that I'm not confident in, building my selise of self both personally and professionally.
Costs and Budget
Overall, I spent approximately $11,800. A significant portion ($4,500) was spent on an organised two-week trip to the arctic, and the majority of the rest was spent on groceries (approximately $80 per week) and rent (approximately $700 per month). The rest of the money was spent primarily on purchases related to the sports groups I joined at the uni (access to training rooms, gym membership, uniforms) and outings with friends. I maintained a budget through using Excel (with calculated columns doing the currency conversion). I would highly recommend keeping a budget of this kind, but also remembering (especially if you’re somewhere like Norway, where things are more expensive) that you will almost certainly be spending a lot more money than you would back in Australia, and not to get too caught up in being frugal that you miss out on too many experiences or don’t enjoy your time.
My personal budget for exchange was supplemented by $1,500 from UQ travel bursaries, as well as $6,000 from my VC scholarship. This money helped me gain a little more freedom to engage in experiences that I wouldn't've otherwise been able to and explore more of the culture of Norway. It also removed the immediate financial pressure I would have otherwise faced, leaving me to better enjoy my exchange and focus on other pursuits.
Accommodation 
All exchange students at NTNU are guaranteed student housing. I lived in a four-bedroom apartment with a shared kitchen and bathroom in NTNU's largest student housing complex (Moholt Studentby). I loved how the location was close to the uni but still independent, and there were many events and activities organised by Loftet (the student village common room). I also loved the chance to connect with other international students and Norwegians who lived in Moholt.
Highlight
While the natural environment of Norway was unmatched, the biggest highlight for me was the people. All the other exchange students were so open and friendly, and it was so nice to find people who wanted to hike/ camp/ walk/ otherwise explore Norway with you. I loved having people who were in the exact same situation as me but had come from entirely different cultures and had entirely different perspectives. Bonding over shared experiences and learning about their worldviews was priceless, and I know l have made friends for life.
Advice/Top Tips
An exchange offers a unique opportunity to not only live in a foreign country for 6 months, but to directly immerse yourself in that country's culture, education system, and general society. It's so cool to me that when I went on exchange, I had a place to live, I had a community with which to acquaint myself with, and I had a task (university) to attend to that automatically surrounded me with locals who I could talk to and learn from. I think the best way to view exchange is as a tool to immerse yourself in another country, and to use that tool to fully experience that country's culture and values. While doing touristic things was enjoyable, I found that my best memories arose when I was staying with a Norwegian family in the suburbs or learning about cuisines and traditions on the Norwegian national independence day!
