Gabriel (Sem 2, 2023)

My Exchange at The University of Virginia

My time at The University of Virginia was incredibly special and something I would recommend to any student on the fence about studying abroad.

The university itself ran loads of events. We had multiple acapella nights where the different groups would sing and we would all dance on the lawn. One such night was called ‘Lighting on the Lawn’ and the entire grounds lit up different colored fairy lights and we got to celebrate the holidays as a school. I also ran a fourth-year 5k to raise money for charity. Around one thousand students participated and we all got food and shirts at the finish line. The sports events were incredible, as we gathered en masse, a sea of orange cheering on our Cavaliers in football, basketball, volleyball and soccer.

In terms of extracurriculars, UVA was chock-full of them. I joined the WUVA news team and club gymnastics. While I ended up not having too much time for WUVA, I did learn how to conduct interviews, work film equipment and edit the recordings. I dove into club gymnastics headfirst, and made some incredible friends. We practiced twice a week and went on hikes, threw parties and went to competitions.

The courses were also spectacular. My favorite class was called ‘Terrorism and Counterterrorism’. It was taught by a former Colonel who wrote policy memos for some of America’s top advisors. We covered the leadup to and the effects of the September 11th attacks in incredible depth. His nuanced perspective and breadth of knowledge helped me understand the intricacies of foreign policy from an American perspective.

In terms of food and accommodation, UVA was decent but not great. Our residential college had different events and free food, but not too many students attended. Most of the non-exchange students in our hall kept to themselves and didn’t make an effort to introduce themselves. The dining halls had loads of different options but the sheer number of students they had to feed made it difficult to provide fresh food.

Socially, I had the time of my life at the University of Virginia. Our group of exchange students involved Kiwis, Australians, and loads of Europeans. We became extraordinarily close in the time we had together, and I’m planning a European trip when I graduate to see them all again. However, a good portion of my friends weren’t exchange students. I hung out with gymnastics teammates, classmates, and even random people I’d meet at parties or football games turned into close companions.

The memories I made at UVA are ones that will stick with me forever. Walking the grounds every day to go to class or exploring at night was phenomenal. Downtown Charlottesville was an area I frequented to go out to dinner and to peruse various antique shops. The adrenaline at sports events and different daily social interactions I took for granted all around the school are things I’ll miss dearly.

The biggest challenge, as corny as hackneyed as it sounds, was leaving. Knowing I won’t see the majority of my friends again, and will no longer be able to call Charlottesville home was extremely difficult. I take this as a sign of the special time I had, and in retrospect, wouldn’t change a thing about it.

UVA was like a choose your own adventure book. I decided to push my limits and meet as many new friends as possible, but I have more introverted friends who had smaller circles and just as much fun. You get to pick your path as a Cavalier, and I could not endorse a school any higher.

Q&A

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

Getting to meet such a variety of friends. UVA is an incredibly diverse school and there are so many unique ways to find your people. I had a group of exchange friends, gymnastics friends, class friends and loads of people I’d just meet walking around campus.

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

Join as many clubs as possible! Sign up for ones you aren’t sure you’re interested in and give them a go. You get out as much as you put in during an exchange program, and clubs are a great way to meet those with similar interests to you.

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

Spend the breaks travelling. Charlottesville gets quiet during the fall break and long weekends. We visited New Orleans for a few days and it’s such a unique city. America has so much to offer, you should definitely take advantage of it.

Bring warm clothes!!! The winter gets very cold, and overpacking can’t possibly hurt.

Take advantage of local, off-campus areas. We went on tons of hikes which were all within a close drive of the uni. Downtown Charlottesville, which you can walk to from the grounds, is fantastic and has lots of different events year-round.

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?

I’m a bit of a special case. My family lives in America, so I was able to go home for the holidays and save a bit of money. I didn’t count course fees in my budget, as I was paying for classes on the Auckland side which I’d have to do anyway. Once you get airfare and accommodation paid for, giving yourself $100 a week for food (if you don’t have a dining plan) is a safe bet. You’ll spend most of your time on grounds, so a lot of fees are included in what you pay to study there. I’d also say budget $1,000 to travel around America during breaks.

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

As I said earlier, you get what you put into your exchange. If you push yourself out of your comfort zone and try to fit as much as possible in the four months, you’ll have an incredible experience.

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

New Orleans was breathtaking. It inspired the jazz and blues scene in America and stays very true to its roots. We went to jazz bars and walked around the unfailingly busy and exciting Bourbon Street. We enjoyed a ghost and bayou tour, and soaked up the sun on the Southern Coast of America.

Final Comments

Don’t spend time in your exchange country doing what you could be doing in Auckland. Spending excessive time on screens or not exploring what your host university has to offer may seem easy, but you won’t grow very much.