By James O’Callaghan

Hi, my name is James and I have recently finished my semester exchange at the University of Bergen. This is my blog post covering some of the highlights and challenges of my exchange, as well as the lessons I learnt along the way.  

The Highlights

While the entire exchange is considered a highlight for me, some of the key points I will mention include trips to a couple of places. We made it to the largest castle in the world in Gdansk, Poland; Svalbard, which is located at 78 degrees north; and Tromso, also located inside the Arctic Circle, and especially the friends who joined me on each of the trips. In particular, the Tromso trip, the day after my last exam, with a large group of friends I had made throughout the semester, was a fantastic experience that included snowmobiling and seeing humpback and orca whales in the Norwegian fjords. Svalbard was also really spectacular, and it was fascinating to learn about those who live in the northernmost settlement on the planet. It was such an isolated yet beautiful place and is somewhere that I have full intentions of returning to in the future to further explore.

Other highlights obviously include all of the friends I have made from countries all over the world, including France, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, Italy, England, Czech Republic, and a range of other places. I made plenty of memories with these people that I will treasure for the rest of my life and cannot wait for the opportunity to make further memories with them when we meet again in the future. I should also take the opportunity to talk about Bergen itself because it really is a fantastic city full of history, beautiful streets, and plenty of things to do. I never felt bored there or unsafe and would truly consider moving back there in the future, provided the rain lightens up a little bit (it rains around 260 days a year). The public transport throughout the city is also very good, as was the accommodation, which was cheap and warm even in the winter months. I should also say something quickly about the academics, which were all taught to a high level and really informative for someone like myself who went over with virtually no understanding of EU and EEA law. A particular paper in energy law really caught my attention while I was over there, and I will be looking to see if I could use my law degree to conduct some work in that sector in the near future.

The Challenges

There were some challenges that come with the exchange, and a big one for me in Bergen was the lack of personal space. Most rooms are shared, even in flats, unless you are on a full-year exchange, which is more likely to get you a single room. The shared rooms can be cramped, and with around 1,000 people at Fantoft, the common areas can feel just as crowded. This issue varies depending on the person; for me, walking was a temporary solution. Your experience also depends on your roommate’s habits, which can affect your ability to find space to do things like call home.
Another challenge was the winter months, where sunlight can be limited to about 5 and a half hours a day, making vitamin D necessary for health, along with the cold and snow that require good clothing. Despite these challenges, they were relatively minor, and there is so much enjoyment to be had in Bergen, with many people to meet, so I would recommend the exchange to anyone interested in spending time abroad.

The Life Lessons

The exchange taught me a number of valuable life lessons I can take forward in the future. Funnily enough, a big one was the value of a walk. Obviously, it helps when you are in a city as beautiful as Bergen but just taking the time during the day to go for a walk allows for a good opportunity to clear your head, especially considering that living at Fantoft tends to involve shared rooms. A walk also allows for opportunities to see different areas of the city you are living in and it’s amazing some of the stuff you likely would never have seen otherwise. It is something I have also taken to doing in other cities I have visited, and I must say I don’t think I will ever tire of looking at some of the architecture of European cities, especially in the old towns which are all spectacular. The exchange also taught me the value of good weather which we are at a premium for back in New Zealand. When you live in a place with the amount of rain Bergen receives you learn to treasure the good days and this will definitely be something I will be doing back home.

Hopefully, this blog post has sold Bergen enough for you to give it a go because it really is a fantastic city which deserves all this praise and more. If you have any questions regarding it feel free to get in contact with me and I would be happy to talk more in-depth about my time over there. 

Thanks, James.