For context, I was diagnosed with diabetes in my second year, around the same time we had to research where we’d spend the next academic year. The only real research I did for my time in France was look at how far it was from Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, in order to find the easiest transport option. For Spain, I knew it would be somewhere that was recommended for their translation studies, so that was easier.
The day I moved to France was intense...
The day I moved to France was intense. My first time in an airport, on a plane... I cried a lot. With having a combination of stress and homesickness already kicking in, knowing that I would be away from my family (especially my dogs) for 3 months was terrifying to me. When I finally got to my hotel in Paris, I instantly fell asleep (mainly because I wanted to be well-rested for the next day as I was taking a trip to Disneyland Paris).
Those 3 months are some that I would like to forget. It was lonely, I didn’t research my accommodation well and ended up hating it, and I was constantly having issues with both my health- the latter being something that a lot of the teachers didn’t understand. However the friends I made are some of the nicest people I know. We were all in the same boat; we’d just moved away from home, studying in a language that wasn’t our mother tongue, and didn’t know the area. I only met one person who was also from Newcastle University, so we connected well, bonding over knowing we didn’t really have anyone else in our corner.
Now Spain, I can keep this one short. I travelled with all of my lessons learnt from France- how to navigate the airport, the importance of coming home and seeing everyone. I loved it and I would go back in a heartbeat. I made so many more friends, both a combination of exchange students and Spanish natives. We pushed each other mentally and academically, and supported others when we needed it. The good weather, the good food, the good people – Spain was such an amazing time, and I’m happy I spent 6 months there.
To anybody starting to plan or just embarking on their year abroad, hang on in there! Don't be too bogged down if your experience doesn't live up to phenomenal expectations... your year abroad will be personal to you, and your experience is what you make of it.
