Alumni Spotlight: Elaine Thomson

I chose to study at the University of East Anglia (UEA) as I liked the idea of a 4-week course; long enough to have a true exchange experience but short enough to allow other summer plans, though it turned out to be such a rich experience that I didn’t need any other summer plans! The course was also affordable for the content, and easy to tailor to your financial needs with several optional excursions and a meal plan. I was also tempted by the reputation of UEA as a top-notch institution with excellent facilities, and the perfect balance of academic and social activities in the curriculum.

We were so lucky to see much of the surrounding area on excursions from UEA. It’s difficult to choose from the nearby Norfolk Broads, Oxford, Bath, Cambridge, London, Salisbury, Cromer and Wells, but I’d have to say Wells-next-the-Sea was my favourite excursion. It’s a beautiful seaside village where I had fresh crab for lunch and we walked along a seaside path to the beach, where we saw colourful beach huts, and then took a little train back into town, which was fantastic! This was followed by a trip to nearby Holkham Hall, a grand manor house that is open to the public. The estate was magnificent and boasted beautiful grounds where people were actually playing cricket when we arrived!

If I could change one thing, it would be that there were more hours in the day and that the 4 weeks didn’t fly by so quickly! But really, you don’t want to miss a second of the excitement, and this does mean that you’re constantly kept busy and maybe don’t get too much sleep! But everything you do on exchange is worth it, whether planned or spontaneous. The one thing I do regret is not taking more trips into the Norwich town centre, as it is a beautiful city and my module was quite busy so I didn’t get to see as much of it as maybe some of the other students did. I would suggest making it a point to go and have dinner in town at least once; there’s some great restaurants like Jamie Oliver’s Italian and Thai in the River.

I feel as if I went into the program hoping to be as outgoing as possible and to try new things, because I do have a habit of settling into a routine when I’m at home. Not only did I accomplish both those goals, but the program made it so easy and enjoyable to do so; everyone on exchange is in the frame of mind to meet new people and discover new experiences. Joining in with that attitude comes so naturally on exchange, and if you just go with the flow and keep an open mind to experience as much as possible, amazing times await you! I came out of the program feeling more confident, and with a worldwide group of friends, and future fellow travellers.

My favourite photo from this trip was a group shot of all of us on our way back to campus after a night out. I love this picture because we’re all smiling and being silly, but also because I feel it really captures the feeling behind this program; I was actually taking a photo of a lit up church in the background, but everybody jumped in at the last minute, and this wonderful spontaneous photo was the result. Also, the fact that this picture was taken only a few days after we’d all met for the first time is a perfect example of the bonding that happens on exchange, and how quickly and firmly your fellow students become comrades in arms!