By: Alex Symes

My exchange in Liverpool has so far been an experience of a lifetime! As I’ve just hit the midpoint of exchange I’ve done a lot of reflecting about all the adventures I’ve had so far while looking forward to all the adventures I’ve got yet to come.

Living in a new country has pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best possible way. As this is my first time living out of home, from the very beginning, I had to learn how to adapt. From navigating a new city, adjusting to a different university system, and building a new routine. At first, that felt a bit overwhelming, but over time it’s made me so much more independent and confident in my ability to handle unfamiliar situations.

Student life in Liverpool has been lively and social. One thing I really enjoyed was how easy the university made it to make friends and feel included in the community. In the first few weeks almost everyday there was some type of welcome drinks/dinner which really helped me to meet people and find my group. I love how social Liverpool is as well, nights out have been a big part of the culture but I love how it isn’t obligatory and you can dip in and out depending on your mood. Socialising also isn’t limited to nightlife and there have been so many coffee meetups, study sessions and movie nights in the flat that are every bit as special. 

My favourite part of exchange though is all the travelling me and my friends have done. One of the biggest advantages of being based in Liverpool is how central and connected it is to the United Kingdom. This has meant every weekend me and my friends have been on trips. We’ve travelled to Bath, Stonehenge, London, Cornwall, Wales, and the Lakes district. Each destination has been so different and I’ve grown and learnt so much from travelling to each destination. 

One of my highlights from the semester was during the holidays when we went on a 2 week coach tour around Ireland and Scotland. This was an incredible experience to see so much of those two countries in depth. This half of the semester we have more plans to branch more into Europe with plans to see Italy next weekend. Budget airlines, especially Ryanair, have been a lifesaver, with flights sometimes as cheap as £20. I would definitely recommend taking advantage of this if you’re planning an exchange in Liverpool.

Overall my exchange has been absolutely incredible and I’ve loved every single second.