Personal Development
I previously struggled with the confidence to make new friends, instead sticking with my small bubble of high school friends. Exchange forced me to branch out and work on my social skills. I have a wider network of friends and peers now and have gained confidence as a result. I also think exchange has made me a more relaxed person. I focussed too heavily on work and studies before going on exchange at the cost of having fun. I now feel I have struck a better balance between work and play.
Professional Development
Organising trips with large groups of people has developed my communication, teamwork and organisational skills. Ensuring everyone is satisfied with a travel itinerary requires compromise and effective communication. Booking cars, flights, accommodation and activities requires attention to detail and communication with vendors. One particular challenge was finding a rental car for a surf trip in Norway. The destination was extremely isolated and travelling there without a rental car would have costed the same amount as finding taxis and public transport. However, finding a rental company that would allow us - all under 23 - to hire through them was a challenge. It required attention to the fine print of the company's policy and communication with my fellow travellers to ensure at least 2 people fulfilled the criteria and were comfortable driving in snow on the right side of the road. I also feel like my ability to delegate in group projects improved. I was less controlling and more open to even division of labour as I wanted to maximise my time out of the classroom whilst abroad.
Accommodation
I found out about accommodation options through webpages, emails and videos from Lund University. They advertised the accommodation as extremely competitive, which made me anxious to accept the first offer I received. I got accommodation through the provider called ‘LU Accommodation’. LU Accommodation offers guaranteed housing for non-EU citizens, which was a pro. I lived in a student corridor at the accommodation block called Eddan. This meant I had a heated modern private room furnished with a bed, study desk and chair, bookshelf and laundry basket. I could also purchase a linen and towel package. I also had a private toilet and shower. My room was clean, modern and overall good. However, I would advise students to go through ‘AF Bostäder’ instead for a variety of reasons which I will list below:
1) The rent is cheaper for a similar room.
2) AF Bostäder offers free accommodation across the summer holidays for their tenants who have studied in the Spring semester (Jan-June). LU Accommodation does not. You have to pay for the summer months if you wish to remain in your room.
3) Eddan is for international students only. This is the case for a considerable portion of the LU Accommodation housing areas. AF Bostäder on the whole has more social student corridors with more events and local Swedish students.
Highlight
The highlights of my experience included surfing in Norway and Morocco, skiing in the French alps and hiking through Sweden in May and June and enjoying the student culture in Lund with my exchange friends. In Norway, it was snowing and the waterfalls on the cliffs either side were frozen while we surfed which was surreal. In Morocco we visited a coastal town called Essaouira for 4 days. It was an incredibly laid-back place where food and accommodation was cheap, the culture was different and the weather was warm enough to roll straight out of bed onto the beach for the day. I couldn’t recommend Essaouira enough for future travellers. I had never skied before. Learning in the steep French Alps across 4 days was a definite highlight. The skiing culture in France is amazing, with plenty of groups of young travellers enjoying the apres ski. Overcoming fears and conquering red runs by the fourth day will be something I never forget. May and June are beautiful months in Sweden where the days are long, the weather comfortable and everything is in bloom. May kicks off with Valborg: a all-day student celebration in the park with live music and bonfires and barbecues at sunset. I recommend spending as much time in Sweden in May, as everyone enjoys the long, sunny days and looks to make the most of their last month of exchange.
