I was lucky enough to be able to spend an exchange semester in a country I had never been to before – and maybe would never have visited otherwise. So it was really exciting to participate in the exchange in Leuven, a small and incredibly cosy city in Belgium.

My first impression of Leuven was that it was reassuringly calm. I have a lot of travel experience, and Leuven felt like a safe, secure and calm place. No culture clash at all. Even though I didn't speak the local language, a lot of people can speak English, meaning communication was not a problem. Still, I decided I would try and learn the language (Dutch).

Leuven, Belgium. Photo: Denise Winroth

There are many other ways of experiencing Belgian culture, beyond learning the language. The city has a mixture of history, culture and a diversity of students that can only be experienced on location – as well as the Belgian beer, chocolate and waffles. The university organises several voluntary activities to help you get to know the city and meet new people. There was so much to take in and there were lots of meetings at the start. It can all be quite overwhelming, getting to know the university, classmates and the city in one go. But it was fun and I was lucky to establish lasting friendships early on. Travelling around Belgium and the neighbouring countries was a major part of what made the exchange special.

Education-wise, the system is very different to the one in Sweden. In order to make up the equivalent credits for one semester, you had to take about seven courses instead of four. The grading criteria were much tougher and teaching took place every day in huge lecture theatres, using a more traditional approach. This teaching was more intense than what I am used to, and I was forced to adapt to their methods.

Looking back, I can say that it was the challenges I faced during the exchange that taught me the biggest lessons. Overall, I have developed personally, made friends for life and am one experience richer. I would jump at the chance to go on an exchange again, and I think that everyone who gets the opportunity should take it!