By Shanell Affleck

I cannot believe how quickly my exchange has come to an end. In just 2 days, I will be on my way back to Aotearoa and I must admit, I’m surprised by how hard it has been to say goodbye.

The overwhelming sense of community at Lancaster University has been absolutely inspiring, giving students the opportunity to explore their passions right outside a classroom (literally). Societies are primarily run by the students, and I would say these have been a major highlight for me during my time here. Not to mention, I have not had a single test or quiz – bonus! Regarding the societies, I had joined 3, one being Muay Thai. I enjoy training back home, so I was keen to explore the society, and I am so pleasantly surprised by how much I have learnt here. I have nothing but respect to the students who have dedicated their time to teach others, all because of a shared passion and love for the sport. I am incredibly grateful for everyone i have meet through these societies who have made my time here so much more enjoyable. The sense of community here is definitely what I am going to miss the most.

Like any adventure, my exchange didn’t come without its challenges. From taking the wrong bus and ending up halfway to another city more than I’d care to admit, to seeing the sun roughly once a week (yes, the weather in the UK is as bad as they say). To be fair, I have landed myself in one of the wettest cities during the start of winter so I really shouldn’t be shocked or when it started getting dark before 4pm.

On a more serious note, adjusting to life here for me was slower than I had imagined and there were a few times I found myself longing for home and its familiar comforts. So it is surprising to say, I am sad to be leaving and that in a way Lancaster really has become a second home. Academically I had quite a bit of spare time in my timetable, which was an adjustment in itself as a gal who is used to staying busy. Although with quite a few assignments due mid January (partly because I am not here for the exam period, the schedule is very different to Waikato – but yay, no exams), I may soon regret wishing for a slightly heavier workload. At first I was super apprehensive about putting myself out there, especially since I knew I was slightly older than most of my peers, and additionally many of the students I did meet around my age weren’t particularly involved. However, stepping outside of my comfort zone led to some of the most rewarding experiences, and I can say 100% that it’s a good reminder that sometimes embracing the unknown is what makes life truly meaningful.

This exchange has taught me much more than I expected and in ways I wouldn’t have imagined. Embracing uncertainty and even being excited about it has given me a new perspective and motivation to step outside of my comfort zone to continue finding new and exciting experiences. While the journey hasn’t been entirely smooth, going on this exchange really has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity filled with friendship, adventure and growth.