By Makaia Trueman

My Cardiff exchange has been a truly life-changing experience, filled with unforgettable memories and valuable learnings. During my time abroad, I had the opportunity to visit new places, try unfamiliar foods and meet people from a wide range of backgrounds.

One of the biggest highlights of my exchange was attending the All Blacks game live in Cardiff. It was such an amazing atmosphere in the stadium, filled with colourful lights and big cheering crowds. Some of my family came all the way from NZ to visit me for the game, so it was cool experiencing it with them. It was also good that the All Blacks won that night, and seeing all of the Kiwis there made it feel a lot more like home, which I loved after being away for so long.

While away I also did a week trip to Spain and visited the city of Alicante. I loved it there because although it was winter, it was still a warm and refreshing contrast to Cardiff weather. People were still swimming at the beaches and it was a bustling little city. One of the highlights there was visiting Santa Barbara Castle, a historic structure dating back to the 9th century that overlooks the entire city and coastline. Standing at the top and looking down held an incredible view. We also watched a flamenco show, which gave insight into Spanish culture, and visited the Canelobre Caves, an amazing 145-million-year-old cave with a long staircase descending deep into the mountain.

Although my exchange was full of fun memories, it was not without its challenges. The homesickness was definitely harder than I thought, especially with the 12-hour time difference making it more difficult to call home. Adjusting to the cold and rainy weather was also tough, with the sun setting as early as 4pm. These factors definitely made it harder to stay motivated, but I learnt to adapt and continue exploring despite these challenges.

Overall, my exchange has taught me that I am capable of doing things that I would have previously thought scary. This is things like not only travelling alone but also living a 25 hour plane ride away from home. I taught myself to be able to live on my own and rely on myself to do things. This exchange really helped me to step out of my comfort zone and grow as a person.

As a result of this exchange, I now feel like I can travel anywhere in the world without hesitation. I’m more willing to travel and try new things, which have helped to open doors to great adventures. I am grateful that I undertook this semester exchange, as it has been a highly rewarding way to grow, learn and experience the world.