I had always wanted to do my year abroad in a French-speaking city outside of France, so the University of Geneva in Switzerland was a no brainer. I was very keen to understand in what ways the language and culture would differ to that of the standard French I’d spent many years studying.

Known for its very pricy lifestyle, I found it slightly easier than I had anticipated to do the year on a budget : shopping in the cheapest supermarkets and meal prepping, along with using transport passes and doing all the free attractions where possible really helped. With a lake as beautiful as Lake Geneva you didn’t need to pay for any tourist attractions!

I tried to throw myself into uni life, just as I had when I started at Lancaster, and it was the best decision I could have made. As a member of the Lancaster Music Society, I was very grateful to have been able to join a band in Geneva. It not only provided me with some awesome opportunities to play in the city, but also surrounded me with native speakers and locals who were so happy to help me learn.

One of my favourite parts of the year were the day trips we used to take to visit other cities. Joining the Erasmus programme can be a great way to meet new friends and explore the area for much cheaper prices. One of my favourite trips was the Swiss train rally, where we visited four Swiss cities in twenty-four hours whilst completing challenges along the way and competing with other Erasmus students from all over the country - all for less than the price of a train ticket!

Overall, my study abroad year was the most enriching journey of my education so far. I have grown both academically and personally in so many ways, and I am beyond grateful for all the opportunities the year gave me.

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