The iconic double-decker bus drives past the Palace of Westminster in London. Photo by Aron Van de Pol on Unsplash.
Welcome back to Part 2 of my exchange in Denmark! I’ll be continuing on with the next two topics to introduce you to what your international experience could look like:
- travelling and exploring
- my professional and personal growth from this experience
Travelling
Growing up in Canada, travel is somewhat inaccessible. With how large the country is, there are fewer options for easy travel to any place significantly different than home. When I came to Europe, I was shocked with how simple and cheap it was to visit such diverse places. I’ve always prioritized experiences over things – I believe that they provide the most meaning in my life! Additionally, I’d like to live and work outside of Canada post-grad, but I’m still unsure of where I want to go. I was hoping that through travel I would find some clarity in what I’m looking for in a future home. In this section, I’ll recommend some tips for travelling on a budget and also some of my favourite spots I visited on exchange!
Travel tips for the budget student:
- Set a central home base – Denmark wasn’t the best choice for this due to its geography, but somewhere like France has many train and bus routes alongside air travel for more options.
- Have flexible expectations – It’s good to know where you already want to go, but you might have the opportunity for somewhere you didn’t expect! I chose my destinations depending on price and timing, so I ended up going to unexpected places that happened to be cheap.
- Understand your standards – Don’t get too cheap! Know what your boundaries are: for mine safety was number one. Oftentimes cheap prices align with sketchy areas – do your research!
- Do your research – It saves money to be prepared! You might get deals on attractions or know the best local restaurants. Depending on the location, we would cook meals instead of going out to save money (the food is not always the main attraction).
Some Favourite Destinations
I learned through visiting multiple countries that there is a difference between wanting to live somewhere and enjoying travel there. These were my favourite cities that I visited in Europe:
To live (and work):
Northern lights in Copenhagen.
Palace of Westminster, London.
Copenhagen, Denmark: The vibes and energy of the city, especially in the summer, were amazing. The only things are, it’s very expensive, and I wish there was more diversity in the food and people living there.
London, UK: I loved how lively the city was, a big change compared to living in Vancouver. It was very diverse, and the Chinatown was great. But the pound made things very expensive, and although I got lucky with the weather on my visit, I hear that it’s cold and wet almost all year.
To travel:
View from a boat ride down the canal in Budapest.
Colourful town in Cinque Terre.
One of the secluded coves in Mallorca.
Budapest, Hungary: Such a lively and youthful city, and the canals are beautiful especially at night. Everything was so affordable so it’s a great spot for budget travelers.
Cinque Terre, Italy: Going in the off-season, the weather was colder but the towns were so serene and quiet. The colourful buildings were beautiful and the food was amazing (especially tiramisu)!
Mallorca, Spain: The coves and beaches are gorgeous and feel so different than beaches in Vancouver. Every spot feels like a hidden gem, and the water was incredibly clear and blue.
Growth
Through my exchange experience, I definitely feel that I’ve grown as an engineer and also as a person. Meeting and learning more about so many people from all over the world broadened my perspectives on the world and helped me better understand different points of view – which I believe is vital for engineers designing solutions for others. I was also able to learn more about the industry in a another country, how they approach the working life, and discover what elements I look for in a future workplace or home country.
Personally, living in Denmark has taught me to truly live in the present and appreciate the beauty of where you are, wherever you are. Moving to another place and leaving so quickly reminded me how fleeting experiences are, and how we should treasure every moment. I’m beyond grateful to have been able to experience this and would recommend it to any student considering going on exchange or working abroad. If you are interested in exchange or CIE and looking to learn more, visit website here. We also have several other posts about CIE on the MECH Ambassadors site: this one would be a great start for learning about CIE!