Hi everyone,
Don't even know where to begin with this post. I'm speechless that the biggest adventure of my life to date is finally coming to a close. After a total of 158 days away from home, I'm finally travelling back to Aberdeen in the morning. My 5 month adventure has seen me take a total of 18 flights to 7 different countries.
I feel so lucky to have experienced so much at such a young age. Getting to travel to Qatar, South, Korea, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and the UAE. It has truly been life changing. I have seen so much which has taken my breath away. It will feel like it's been all a dream when I'm sitting in my flat in Aberdeen thinking about the time I walked along the Great Wall of China. The memories I have accumulated are forever.
Highlights including the Great Wall are: Getting to live in a completely alien place and adapt to new surroundings, meeting new and great people, conquering Mount Fuji, visiting Tienanmen Square, riding elephants through the jungle in Chiang Mai, Thailand on Christmas Eve, and seeing the fantastic fireworks display at Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong on New Years Eve. To be honest, the highlights of my trip could go on for pages. I will never forget them.
I would like to thank Robert Gordon University for providing this opportunity for me, Hanyang University for educating and welcoming me in South Korea, and my family and friends for supporting me the whole time I've been away.
South Korea was a great exchange placement to be given. It's a very hospitable place, and very under-rated in my opinion. It's efficient, clean and very Asian! It took me completely out of my comfort zone. I had to adapt my whole lifestyle from changing what I ate, and how I ate it (chopsticks), how I commuted (adapting to a mega city is interesting!), and how I spoke with different people. I can't come away from this adventure with anything negative. I really embraced everything and made the most of it.
But, as one chapter ends, another begins. I will be heading back to Aberdeen tomorrow, and then leaving for Glasgow a week later to begin a 6 week work placement with the Press Association. It will be invaluable for me to gain this experience and help to keep me grounded as I'm probably experiencing revere-culture shock!
I'm not really good with final farewells. But, I want everyone to know who's reading this that I am truly thankful for the support you've given me during my adventures, and that I feel extremely lucky to have been able to share my memories with you. If anybody ever gets the opportunity to travel or study abroad, I really really recommend it. I've now been fortunate enough to have lived in the Middle East as a teenager, and now I've been able to study in Asia. Meeting people from all different walks of life and seeing new places really broadens your perspective on the world. Just take the chance or the leap and put yourself out there into the World outside of your comfort zone. Life really is too short. My life philosophy is usually: "Everything happens for a reason." I believe that this time has created more life changing moments in one semester than I could ever have hoped for if I had stayed at home. Another philosophy I'm now increasingly living by since being away is: "YOLO- YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE." I hope you all understand what I mean. I really can't emphasise enough how much I wish studying abroad was compulsory. I want everyone to experience what I have.
Below are some pictures of my trip that I feel sum up my time:
If anyone has any questions, please just send me a message and I'd be more than happy to help you out with any travel queries.
Thanks again everyone,
Ben :)
Don't even know where to begin with this post. I'm speechless that the biggest adventure of my life to date is finally coming to a close. After a total of 158 days away from home, I'm finally travelling back to Aberdeen in the morning. My 5 month adventure has seen me take a total of 18 flights to 7 different countries.
I feel so lucky to have experienced so much at such a young age. Getting to travel to Qatar, South, Korea, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and the UAE. It has truly been life changing. I have seen so much which has taken my breath away. It will feel like it's been all a dream when I'm sitting in my flat in Aberdeen thinking about the time I walked along the Great Wall of China. The memories I have accumulated are forever.
Highlights including the Great Wall are: Getting to live in a completely alien place and adapt to new surroundings, meeting new and great people, conquering Mount Fuji, visiting Tienanmen Square, riding elephants through the jungle in Chiang Mai, Thailand on Christmas Eve, and seeing the fantastic fireworks display at Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong on New Years Eve. To be honest, the highlights of my trip could go on for pages. I will never forget them.
I would like to thank Robert Gordon University for providing this opportunity for me, Hanyang University for educating and welcoming me in South Korea, and my family and friends for supporting me the whole time I've been away.
South Korea was a great exchange placement to be given. It's a very hospitable place, and very under-rated in my opinion. It's efficient, clean and very Asian! It took me completely out of my comfort zone. I had to adapt my whole lifestyle from changing what I ate, and how I ate it (chopsticks), how I commuted (adapting to a mega city is interesting!), and how I spoke with different people. I can't come away from this adventure with anything negative. I really embraced everything and made the most of it.
But, as one chapter ends, another begins. I will be heading back to Aberdeen tomorrow, and then leaving for Glasgow a week later to begin a 6 week work placement with the Press Association. It will be invaluable for me to gain this experience and help to keep me grounded as I'm probably experiencing revere-culture shock!
I'm not really good with final farewells. But, I want everyone to know who's reading this that I am truly thankful for the support you've given me during my adventures, and that I feel extremely lucky to have been able to share my memories with you. If anybody ever gets the opportunity to travel or study abroad, I really really recommend it. I've now been fortunate enough to have lived in the Middle East as a teenager, and now I've been able to study in Asia. Meeting people from all different walks of life and seeing new places really broadens your perspective on the world. Just take the chance or the leap and put yourself out there into the World outside of your comfort zone. Life really is too short. My life philosophy is usually: "Everything happens for a reason." I believe that this time has created more life changing moments in one semester than I could ever have hoped for if I had stayed at home. Another philosophy I'm now increasingly living by since being away is: "YOLO- YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE." I hope you all understand what I mean. I really can't emphasise enough how much I wish studying abroad was compulsory. I want everyone to experience what I have.
Below are some pictures of my trip that I feel sum up my time:
 |
| Great friends made. |
 |
| Visiting the "scariest place on Earth"- the DMZ. |
 |
| Conquering Mt Fuji. |
 |
| Hong Kong from Victoria Peak. |
 |
| Tienanmen Square. |
 |
| Great Wall of China. |
 |
| Bamboo rafting in Thailand. |
 |
| Tiger petting. |
 |
| Family support. |
 |
| Camels of Qatar. |
 |
| Burj Khalifa. |
If anyone has any questions, please just send me a message and I'd be more than happy to help you out with any travel queries.
Thanks again everyone,
Ben :)
