By: Caitlin Titheridge

I’ve just returned to New Zealand from a two-semester long exchange at the University of Stirling in Scotland, and in this blog, I’ll be sharing some of the highlights and challenges I faced, what the experience taught me, and how I believe it will shape my future.

First up, the highlights!

There were so many incredible moments during my exchange, but one of the biggest standouts was definitely joining the university’s cycling club. We went on so many amazing trips, and I’m incredibly grateful for the people in the club who took me to some really special places. Joining the club was hands down one of the best decisions I made and it truly helped me make the most of my time abroad.

To give a few specific examples, this past semester we went on a two-day trip to Laggan, where we stayed overnight in the local community hall between riding days. We also took a four-day camping trip to Aberdeenshire, riding each day. One of the highlights of my whole time abroad was a five-day riding trip to Wales with one of the girls from the club. I also summited a ‘Munro’ with a night stay in a ‘bothy’ which was a cool way to experience more of what Scotland had to offer. All of these experiences were made possible through the cycling club so I would 100% recommend finding some clubs to join should you head on an exchange!

Other highlights include the meaningful connections I made with some of my lecturers and classmates. I also worked part-time throughout my exchange, and the relationships I formed with my “work family” were another really special part of my experience. And of course, Scotland’s rich history never failed to amaze me, the sense of place and heritage was unforgettable.

A final highlight to mention from my time abroad was after finishing exams at Stirling, I went on a solo trip to the Italian Dolomites, which was such a cool experience, and something that felt so accessible thanks to being so close to Europe!

Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

There were a few challenges, too. One major one for me was dealing with the “double winter” going from New Zealand’s winter straight into Scotland’s, and then returning to NZ for another winter at the end, three winters in a row! As someone who does a summer sport and loves the outdoors, I found this tough! If you’re in a similar situation, I’d definitely recommend taking some Vitamin D supplements and finding routines to still keep yourself active and getting outside as much as you can. It is possible to make this a positive situation!

Another challenge I faced was making friends within my classes. I’m not the most outgoing person, and I found it tricky at first to break into existing friend groups. It got easier over time as people got to know me, but initially I was hesitant to approach groups and insert myself into conversations. This is something that took a bit of courage and patience to work through but I figured it out and had a blast from here.

So, what did I learn?

I learned so much during my time on exchange, but the most powerful lessons were about what I’m capable of. This was my first real time overseas, and being away from home for nine months was a big deal, but I faced it head-on and came out of it knowing I could absolutely do it again. Moving to the other side of the world alone is a huge challenge, but it showed me that I can handle big and scary things including making friends, adapting to new environments, and even navigating a foreign-speaking country solo during a side trip (which felt so cool!).

Looking ahead.

I know this exchange will have a huge and positive impact on my future. It’s given me a deeper sense of confidence and resilience, proof that I can do hard things. The life experience I gained is priceless, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity. This has been a life changing experience for me and something I never thought I would be able to conquer so if you’re in this situation where you don’t know if you can, you can! There are so many awesome people out and about who will help guide you when you need it to make your exchange firstly achievable but secondly an unforgettable and enjoyable experience!