A Galentines evening in Paris

Spending Valentine's Day in the most romantic city in the world was surely very intimidating for me, not to mention it was only my first month in Paris as well. So, a couple of my girl friends and I had a super wholesome picnic at the most iconic landmark, the Eiffel Tower, to celebrate this day with each other, remembering how important it is to support one another, especially because we all moved to a new city. While taking a group photo, we had asked another group of Mexicans to help us, and that surprisingly turned into hours and hours of conversation with then, exchanging cultures, experiences and advice with one another. I know i have not only made lifelong friends and memories, but I have also allowed myself to completely immerse myself in the Parisian culture. This is just one photo to commemorate one of my favourite evenings in Paris, but during my exchange I had met so many incredible people just like through these instances and I could not be more grateful for it.

The Fantastic Five under Mont Saint Michel on a bright sunny day

This is the friend group that I have spent the most time with throughout my exchange. 5 people, 4 nationalities, 9 languages. The photo was taken by a stranger during our first trip to Mont Saint Michel, the famous French landmark. It was a super sunny and beautiful day and everyone had a hard time trying to open our eyes while walking to the island. The reason why this picture is special is that Francis, the far left guy, never opens his eyes or smiles in any photos but this time. This is also one of the most photogenic moment of us five.

The last bit of youth under the sunrise

The photo was taken in sunrise time in one of the prettiest beach in St Andrews, West Sands. We were joining one of St Andrews traditional festival, May Dip, in which every student can choose to jump into the sea at merely a few degree Celsius. It was approaching the end of semester at that time in which our exchange journey has almost been to the end, but the vibe of youth was memorable to me under this photo and hardly be forgotten.

To Space Again?

Given the recent rise in space travel again, it was amazing to see the astronaut suits at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum that were used on NASA missions when first exploring beyond our Earth. This photo represents the brave dream to explore the wider world and that we should never stop dreaming, no matter how challenging a task may seem! Who knows what the future holds?

 

The Unbreakable Bond

This photo was taken with my closest friends I met during the exchange, who are from the US and Brazil. That was the last time we met before we all headed back to our home countries. It was taken in front of the Royal Palace of Madrid, which is one of my favorite places in Madrid. We have promised to keep in touch and see each other again, be it in our hometowns or in Madrid. The friendship made in the exchange will last long after, even forever.

 

Pedalos in the French Canyon

This photo was taken at Verdon Gorge (Gorges du Verdon in French) during a trip to Marseille. This picture shows a different side of France - not the typical touristy destinations but the mesmerizing nature it has to provide. This area is only reachable by car so after a long drive, we were greeted by beautiful turquoise waters and limestone cliffs. We rented pedalos to go into the canyon which was more beautiful than seen in the picture. It was memorable for me as it was the first time I travelled with completely new friends and formed close relationships with them.

Discovering Barcelona's Cultural Symbol

Having been in Barcelona for a few weeks, all of us exchange students had heard a lot about the Sagrada Familia and knew it as Barcelona's biggest cultural symbol. We planned a weekend trip specifically for this Basilica and awaited the sight of it throughout our metro ride. As soon as we got out of the station, there it was! By far the most beautiful thing we'd seen in Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia was much bigger than expected and bore many nature-like details. After staring at the monument for a good 15 minutes, We proceeded to click the uploaded picture! :)

Pumpkin Patch Exploration

This is the first time for me and for my friends from Europe and Japan to experience the pumpkin patch right before the Halloween during our UK exchange journey, though the field is really muddy after rains, we still enjoyed it a lot!

Paint Party at NEWTS Orientation!

This picture was taken at NEWTS Orientation during the paint party. We randomly applied the color to our hands and painted it onto other people's clothing during this activity. The school colors of The Queen's University: blue, red, and yellow, are represented by the three colors of the dye. We also combine the colors to produce new hues, representing the integration of different cultures. By dancing and painting together, we have fun social outings with the other exchange students. This event is one of the most remarkable memories as we can embrace the party culture at Queen's!

Sky High

Exchange is all about "JUMPING" out of your comfort zone. As you step into the unknown, you will only be amazed by what the future holds!