Hi!! My name is Emilie Don and I am currently a first year student studying a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences. In 2026 I will be leaving to Spain to do a semester exchange at the University of Alicante.

My main reasons for deciding to go on exchange was the new experiences and independence that it would provide me. I am excited to live and study in a country and culture different from New Zealand, and am hoping to gain new perspectives on life, and to make friends with people from all over the world. I chose Spain because I wanted to go to a country that primarily spoke a different language from English, and as I am currently learning Spanish, it seemed like the obvious choice. I am very excited to hopefully travel to some other countries in Europe while I am there, and explore Spain itself.

Living so far away from home, and living alone for the first time ever, is very nerve wracking, but I am so excited for everything that it will involve. This exchange will force me to step out of my comfort zone, and I could not be more grateful for this opportunity. I have almost no idea what this trip is going to be like, which is somehow simultaneously the best and worst part! I am looking forward to it all though.