"It's been pretty rad."
| Home Institution | Subject area studied at Ulster | Campus at Ulster |
|---|---|---|
| Montana State University, United States of America | Criminology | Belfast |
How does your home institution campus compare to Ulster University?
It is bigger, but it isn't as nice and new as UU.
What were your highlights from your mobility experience
My most memorable moments are hanging out with the friends I've met. I have made some of the best friends I've ever had, and I hang out with them daily. I enjoyed doing the cooking group put on by Dalriada Village, as it allowed me to meet new people and find a way to work with them.
What cultural similarities/differences did you notice?
The people here are much nicer and willing to talk to everyone. I've enjoyed the small social interactions I had with the people in Belfast. The students here are very cliquish, so it's been hard making friends in my classes. I've also found the food is not my favorite. However, if I had access to American food, I would be completely fine to live here forever. Everyone is much more accepting here.
What challenges did you encounter? And how did you overcome them?
Getting used to the school system was a little hard, but I feel like I settled well into it. It was also a little difficult fitting into the culture, so I just had to observe the people for a few weeks to figure out the cultural norms and standards.
Did you find it easy to meet new people and make friends?
It was easy to make friends with the people I live around, but making friends in my classes is hard. I don't know if it's just the law students here, but they are not too open to making new friends and hanging out with new people. I really only hang out with other international students.
Tell us the top things you did/experienced while studying at Ulster
I really enjoyed going kayaking with my friends and going out at night with them. I also loved seeing Giants Causeway and the Bushmills distillery.
Any words of wisdom for students thinking about studying abroad?
I would tell them to just be flexible and not to expect anything. It's easy to get scared or stressed out, but it will feel a lot better the more you get out with your friends and in the city in general.