Brussels, Belgium: CSEP F24 Camille Finette
The one thing I wished I would have known before going on exchange is…
To do a little research on where you are going and what’s interesting and possible to do there. For sure you will discover a lot of things during the exchange but if I had been more informed or prepared I for sure would have visited and travelled to more destinations.
The scariest part of going on exchange was…
The part before stepping foot out of the train. Literally the scariest part is everything before you get there. At least for me it was. As soon as I saw the city and the people I felt less scared and more excited. I think it’s scary when you try to imagine how it will be, how you’re going to feel and everything, but once you get there and get out of your imagination it’s really just life as always but in a different place (way more exciting).
I recommend going on exchange because…
It will make you aware and grateful of what you have. At least for me, I feel getting so close to another culture made me more appreciative of my own. I feel like it changed my general perspective. Also made me more independent and responsable and overall self-sufficient. AND it thought me to appreciate the little things and overall it’s just an amazing, might I say even life changing, experience.
A tip I would give to students applying for exchange is…
Don’t be afraid of being alone. Go explore your city and go on trips alone if you don’t know anyone yet. Don’t let that be a limiting factor. And get out of your comfort zone. Go to events, joins clubs. Eventually you’ll find your friends and the city will feel like home. Also, make it part of your routine to keep in touch with your friends and family from home.
