Neha (Sem 2, 2023)

My Exchange at The University of Virginia

I found out about the 360 International Exchange programme because a couple of my friends had been on an exchange in previous years.

When I first arrived I felt a bit nervous in a completely different country since I’ve lived in Auckland my entire life. However, Virginia was gorgeous and welcoming, and my nervousness quickly turned into excitement. Virginia was surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, giving it a very earthy, rustic vibe, opposite to Auckland University’s city campus feel. Since my first impressions of Virginia was very positive and welcoming, I felt very secure and happy with my decision to pursue my exchange semester there.

My accommodation was about a 20-30 min walk from the centre of campus. It almost felt like off-campus housing because of that, which I liked because it gave me the much-needed split between home and university. I enjoyed it as some of my friends also lived in the same accommodation and as a result, we would walk to classes and parties together. My accommodation was also right next to one of the better dining halls on campus which came in handy. 

Orientation was great as I got to meet almost every exchange student. It was also quite tiring as we walked across the entire campus, learning about the university. Meeting everyone was the highlight of the orientation as it made way to many friendships. It was also after the orientation that the exchange students all hung out in one dorm, getting to know each other.

The teaching was almost like high school teaching. There was no lecture room, but we were rather sitting in a classroom with the lecturer teaching us. I did not get assignments but rather weekly homework sheets that had to be completed. However, I had many office hours for each of my classes which were quite different to my classes in Auckland.

Charlottesville is a beautiful, historic, vibrant city. It felt completely different to Auckland since Charlottesville is primarily a university town, most of the people living there were between 18-25. The closest big city in Virginia is about 1h away from Charlottesville. The city itself was very green and very beautiful. 

As for extracurricular activities, I decided to join UVA Outdoors, which was an outdoor adventure club run by UVA students. Through this club, I’ve been on many hikes throughout the vicinity of Virginia such as up to McAfee Knob and the Humpback Rocks, the first which was part of the Appalachian Trial. 

Food-wise, I opted to take part in the meal plan for the duration of my semester abroad as it would alleviate the stress of cooking food for the week. The food wasn’t too bad, it depended on the day and the dining hall that I ate at. UVA had 3 dining halls, 2 were more centrally located whereas the last one was closer to the end of campus. More than the food, the highlight of the dining hall was going to dinner with my friends as they all had meal plans as well. It was a chance to see my friends almost every day and catch up on the day we had.

My highlights on exchange were the friends I made and the adventures we had. I learnt so much about different places and cultures through my friends. I met people and friends from Germany, Sweden, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland and London. Coming from a little corner across the world, it really opened me up to how big the world is. I learnt about different countries’ traditions, such as MidSummar from Sweden, and Advent from Germany and countries like Greece having a Name Day. My friends and I went on trips to the Outer Banks (North Carolina), Charleston (South Carolina) and Nashville (Tennessee), and these trips were a big highlight of my exchange. 

My advice for anyone who is thinking about doing an exchange, I would say do it! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and can be life-changing. I had absolutely no regrets doing this exchange and definitely 

Q&A

What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?

It was amazing learning from world-class researchers at one of the top public universities in America. The learning style was completely different to UoA. It felt more accessible as every one of my classes had office hours where students could work together and with TAs to answer assignments and weekly homework questions. 

Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?

I recommend joining the UVA Outdoors Club. It’s one of the biggest clubs on campus and is entirely student-run. There is a joining fee of $30 per semester or $50 for the whole academic year, and I think it’s worth it. With this club, I was able to go on some amazing hikes around Charlottesville and Virginia and really explore the nature the state had to offer.  

What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?

1. Familiarize yourself with the local culture, customs, and traditions of the region you’ll be staying in. One of the biggest differences was the tipping culture. It is an unspoken rule to tip when dining in which is completely different to NZ culture. 

2. Ensure you have all necessary documents, including your passport, visa, and any required permits. The student visa process takes a while to wrap your head around and a while to fill out but it is completely worth it.

3. Say yes to new opportunities and adventures. Saying yes to hang outs with friends, clubs, hikes and other activities allowed me to make some amazing memories over my time at UVA.

How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?

The amount I budgeted for the exchange was sufficient. I created a monthly budget for 5 months which helped me a lot. 

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

Experiencing a new culture broadened my perspective and my understanding of the world. This included the exposure to different cultures and their traditions. Living in a foreign country also led me to step outside of my comfort zone, leading to personal growth and increased self-reliance. Additionally, studying in a different academic environment provided me with unique insights into the American education system and teaching methods.

Do you want to share anything about travels you did outside your host city/country?

During the month after my exchange, I travelled to various states in America before my student visa expired. This included states/cities such as New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennesse, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Arizona, San Fransisco and Los Angeles.