Going on exchange was absolutely the best decision I’ve made throughout my academic career at Queen’s! During the winter 2023 semester, I attended Uppsala Universitet, in Sweden, through the bilateral exchange program. My semester in Uppsala has truly been a life-changing experience that has enriched my personal and academic growth in ways I never could have imagined. Uppsala is a picturesque city with an incredible community, only a 30-minute train ride from Stockholm. It is a city similar in size to Kingston, and lively with students, with student run “nations” that are always welcoming and have daily events running. Living in Sweden allowed me to immerse myself in a culture that values sustainability, equality, and social welfare. The lifestyle led by Swedish people, with its emphasis on work-life balance, was a refreshing change from my fast-paced time spent at Queen’s. Despite the somewhat cold reputation of Swedish people, I was pleasantly surprised by the strong sense of community in Uppsala and was met with genuine warmth in all of my interactions with people there.
I enjoyed experiencing a different academic system to what I’m used to and gained valuable knowledge that I’ve been able to apply in my fourth-year courses. As a Life Science student, I took courses that required many lab hours, which allowed me to develop practical hands-on skills and form great friendships with Swedes! We also completed one course at a time, so more time was spent delving into the topics.
During and just after my time in Sweden I also managed to travel quite a lot, with all this experience broadening my world view. In northern Sweden and Norway, I was able to see the mesmerizing northern lights and stunning mountain landscapes. I also witnessed the diversity of cultures that Europe has to offer, travelling to Spain, Portugal, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Slovenia, Morocco and more! Without a doubt, the best aspect of exchange for me was making incredible friendships with people from all over the world. Saying goodbye was much harder than initially leaving Canada than I ever expected it to be. However, I’m grateful that I made such amazing connections with people that they were so difficult to part ways with at the end. The friends I made taught me about myself and pushed me out of my comfort zone, allowing me to grow as an individual.
Another huge aspect of exchange was gaining a great sense of independence. I now know that I can pick up my life and move to another country where I know no one, and make friends, succeed in academics, experience a new lifestyle, and have the time of my life. The memories and lessons I’ve gained from Uppsala will stay with me forever. This journey has given me the confidence to face new challenges, a global perspective on life, and a network of friends scattered across the globe. I can only hope that others will be inspired to explore, embrace the unknown, and let exchange transform them! I would recommend completing an exchange to anyone even remotely interested, you won’t regret it!
