JANUARY_UNIKUM_WEB

Michael, England
A chapter has come to
a close for the exchange
students of the 2023
Autumn term, some
may even feel inclined
to view it as the end of
an era. While packing
away my room and
slowly boxing-up
memories of the past six
months, it was easy to
feel down about leaving
my new home from home. To myself and others, Norway has
come to mean so much. Taking the opportunity to study abroad
has quite honestly been the best thing I have ever done for myself.
I’ve been continuously shocked by how good life has treated me
when adventuring outside of the same-old-same-old.
I am a second year Fine Art student from the UK and I find it quite
safe to say that I found what I’ve been looking for at UiA. The
profound comfort which I felt in my day-to-day life in Kristiansand
was something new and wholly unexpected to me and my family.
Being in Norway felt right, it just suited me. Having never left
that small island with the big attitude, I was unaware that leaving
home (I mean really leaving home, not just moving to the next
city) teaches you things that seem stupidly obvious in perspective.
For myself, I found that the degree came second for once. I was
able to explore past my paintings and textbooks and instead spend
time with precious new friends, something I have only learned to
pursue through leaving the (dis)comfort of the UK.
I have loved the inability to escape nature in Norway, the
everyday is rightfully built into and around the natural world:
seeing kindergartens on hillsides, with mountainous rocks jutting
out into the playground, woodland trails around the back of uni
which lead to nowhere and everywhere at the same time, and a
close-nit community of student housing, with views you couldn’t
hope to find anywhere else. The views are different to back home.
We have mountains and forests of course, but they honestly pale in
comparison to the wildlife quite literally living on your doorstep.
Not to sound like I’m trying to win back Norwegian residence
(though I certainly wouldn’t turn it down), during the semester
I had the pleasure of spending time with the kindest, most
welcoming people one could hope to meet. It surprised me how
taking this chance landed me in the exact right place to make so
many friends and meet the likeminded people I was promised
I’d find back in my first year of university. Taking the initiative
to meet people was nerve-wracking, but it helped that joining
clubs or going to social events were accessible and free here. The
paywall in front of societies at UK universities is ridiculous and
has prevented me from having a similar experience at my home
university. That being said, I might have to suck it up and dish out
some money in the coming semester to make the most of my time
there.
I’m so grateful to
have been welcomed into Unikum to write articles
and proofread: something I’d never envisioned for myself and
now don’t want to lose (even from across the sea). In the short time
of being there I made memories I’m determined not to forget, and
even though I can’t remember every detail of some of the socials
(no prizes for guessing why), I know they were some of the best
times I’ve ever had. Now, I could continue gushing over Unikum
but that would likely push the word count a bit far. So, might I
suggest incoming internationals also make note of any Linguistica
socials on the calendar. They’re a lovely group of people and I met
some of my closest friends through their events. The sheer number
of activities and events going on in the city, at the university and
at BARE hosted by all of these groups is commendable, and varied
in a way which I cannot liken to my experience back home.
If you haven’t invested in wool, granted, you might be losing a few
fingers and toes during the winter. But at least your heart will be
warm with the good company you’ll keep.
Like anything, going on exchange is what you make of it. Not
everything has been sunshine and rainbows. So, if you want my
advice: stay well away from the bus for tog, check the alcohol laws
of any country you plan on living in (tears of a 19 year old), and
don’t bother yourself over the superhuman levels of cleanliness
the student housing will demand of you. There’s so much else
you could spend your time on and, unfortunately, that third issue
seems to be something many students have suffered for.
Something I cannot and will not forget, is the chances I took and
the times I told myself to just go and try something, because that’s
when I was able to really learn how to live. So, thank you UiA. For
me you have been the key to a much less lonely university life (and
with any luck, beyond that). I can’t wait to come back, hopefully
next time with a higher understanding of simple Norwegian than
a grade B.
JANUAR 2024 UNIKUM NR 1 7