Let's Talk: My Experience Going on Exchange to Oxford, England

I can’t believe it’s already been a year since I packed up my life and moved to Oxford, England for a semester abroad. The concept and feeling of time can be hard to measure, but I find this year even more challenging as many of the months have blurred into one because of this pandemic. Before I knew it, I was receiving notifications from my phone telling me ‘one year ago today’ with various photos of the first few weeks of my exchange!

I always intended on speaking about my time on exchange. It was a wonderful experience that I would recommend anyone who has the means and qualifications to do. While it can be a very stressful time and lengthy process sorting out paperwork and learning the regulations and restrictions of your country of choice, it’s all worth it in the end when you arrive at your destination.

When sitting down to write this post, I originally planned on including the logistics regarding the process of planning your exchange through York University’s Go Global program, including my (very) honest thoughts and opinions on the program, but for the sake of this post I just want to highlight the key moments of my exchange from the time I arrived in Oxford until I returned back home. If you’re a York University student thinking about going on exchange, I would be happy to share my experience with Go Global, the process, and more details regarding the qualifications and legalities in the future! Send me a message and I’ll be happy to connect with you!

I was so lucky that I connected with the girls I was living with so quickly. Carmen, Natalie, and Ally became fast friends as we bonded over this new and exciting experience while being there for one another when we were having off days (and I’ll be honest, I had quite a few). Each of the girls had come to Oxford from another country. Natalie traveled from Hong Kong, and both Carmen and Ally came from Australia (with pasts in Malaysia and New Zealand respectfully) so we all shared the fact that we were new to English living. We explored Oxford together, whether it be through haunted night tours or jumping from pub to pub on a Friday night with the boys, Phil and Austin. These five became my rock and it’s truly crazy to think of how little time we had together but how close our bond was. I’ll truly hold these friendships dear forever.

From left to right: Carmen, me, Natalie, Ally, Austin, & Phil

Part of my anxiety came from my fear of not being successful at an English university. That I wouldn’t meet up to their standards and would flunk out. If you didn’t know, the way students are tested in England universities, and in my case, Oxford Brookes University is far different from any course I’ve taken at York. All of my classes consisted of two assignments worth nearly half of my grade each. This is a stark difference to York’s LAPS courses where it feels like you have an assignment due every other week. Looking back, I preferred this way of testing, especially if you’re on exchange… it allows you more time to travel!

Travelling around Europe was something that I took advantage of. I visited London whenever I had the opportunity, either alone, to meet up with a Canadian friend living in London, or traveled with friends from Oxford. One of my favourite times in London was a trip in November with two of my friends from our film class, Millie and Molly. We spent the day wandering around the city, exploring charity shops, and having tea just outside Buckingham Palace. The purpose of this trip was for me to get my second tattoo, something to commemorate my exchange experience, so now every time I look at the butterfly on my ankle, I think of the fond memories I have from such an amazing experience.

I’m so blessed with the many other opportunities I had to travel but it was who I was travelling with that made the time so memorable. My dad travels A LOT for business so we worked around his schedule and met up in various countries for the weekend whenever we could. Together we explored Switzerland, Scotland, and Germany. He also took a few days off to get the whole family together (more on this later) to London for the weekend, and he then toured Oxford with me during my final days of my exchange. I know this isn’t remotely close to the experience anyone else would have on their exchange so I’m that much more grateful for the opportunity to not only travel Europe, but to do it with my dad.

Lucerne, Switzerland

I have a whole travel series planned where I’ll be speaking about the many places I’ve had the opportunity to travel while I was on exchange and in years past, solo trips and ones with my dad. I can’t wait to revisit these trips with you and share my recommendations of what to see, do, and eat when you’re traveling around Europe!

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love London. They also know that my dream family vacation would be to have my entire family in London where I would get to play tour guide because of my extensive knowledge of the city from the many times I’ve toured the city through Google Maps (I’m not joking). So when my whole family surprised me in London, I’ve never been more surprised in my life. I knew Zac and my dad were coming on his reading week and my mum has never been a huge fan of travel but she surprised me at the hotel (and I have video proof of her surprising me, my reaction was priceless). That weekend was such a memorable time for so many reasons. Having the family together again after being away from home for a month was something special. I got to explore my favourite city with my favourite people and I truly couldn’t have asked for a better weekend with them.

This weekend with my family in London also allowed me the opportunity to see just how independent I had become over the month I had been away. It was when they left me for the airport that I realized I was okay on my own. The fact that I was able to pick up where I had left off a few days prior and become self-sufficient again showed me that one, I was surviving on my own and two, one day, whenever it may be, I’ll move away from my family and I will be okay.

My time on exchange was amazing. It was memorable and it truly changed my outlook on many things in life (cheesy or what?). While the entire experience wasn’t amazing and there were many lows too, I try to do what I do in any other situation, focus on the positive, and not give the negative the time of day.

I’m so grateful for being able to have this opportunity and I’m so grateful for the people I met along the way. I just want to make a few notes and thank all those who made my experience on exchange so memorable:

Dad, thank you for pushing me to look into going abroad and believing that I was qualified for it. If it wouldn’t have been for your pushing (and sometimes nagging), I probably wouldn’t have looked into this experience of a lifetime because I didn’t think I could do it. I’m also so incredibly grateful for the memories we made travelling around Europe together. We grew closer even though I was living away and I will cherish that time together forever.

Dad & I near The Bernina Range in Switzerland

Mum, thank you for letting me go even though I know you didn’t want to. “Goodbyes” and “see you soons” are always difficult but you knew how much this experience would mean to me and you let me go. Thank you for surprising me in London. You being there was two of my worlds colliding and it’s a memory I’ll cherish.

Millie and Molly, thank you for randomly coming up to me after class one night in the Oxford Brookes shop while I was picking up peanut butter to ask if I wanted to get a drink and talk about the film of the week. I normally say no in those situations but I’m grateful that I said yes, and brought my small jar of peanut butter to the pub where we chatted about all things film, Meghan Markle, and our genuine fear of certain political situations. You made our film class the only class I always went to because we got to meet up weekly. I miss you both so much and I can’t wait to see you when I’m in England again!

My Oxford crew, you guys made my time in Oxford worthwhile.

Carmen, my first friend, we bonded over a peeler/pillow accent confusion and you ensured I wouldn’t give myself food poisoning by helping this girl out in the kitchen with her chicken.

Natalie, we bonded over our trip to Bath and your willingness to kill those big, nasty spiders for me! If it wouldn’t have been for you I don’t think I ever would’ve gotten a full night’s sleep in Oxford.

Ally, my closest friend and the person I miss the most. We spent a lot of time together in that kitchen, procrastinating our school work, and learning the ins and outs of each other’s lives. You were always there for me when I felt homesick and we bonded over certain confrontations we would’ve rather avoided. I’m so grateful for your friendship and I wish you didn’t live all the way in Australia but I’m sure we’ll meet up eventually, in your country or mine.

Phil and Austin, you two gents were always a treat to have around. Phil, the voice of reason that never failed to make me laugh. Austin, the creator of the infamous Squirrel Cafe and quite possibly, the greatest barista of all time. Pub nights, kitchen dinners, and that final trip to London wouldn’t have been the same without you both.

I’m so incredibly grateful for my time on exchange. I know those 3 months in Oxford will be a time I look back on in years to come and smile at all the great memories. I can’t believe it’s been over a year since I left home for Oxford but I take this time now to reflect on the memories and continue to thank all those who made it possible.

I cannot stress enough, if you’re even considering an exchange, do it! You won’t regret your decision to go and you’ll make memories that’ll last a lifetime.

xx Lex