What I wish I knew before my year abroad

Esther Humphries, Online Science Editor, gives advice on preparing for a year abroad

SINCE Putin launched his barbaric invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there have been various international responses. Europe, the US and the UK have been united in condemnation of the invasion and each has moved heaven and earth to provide military equipment, financial aid and refuge. However, the most surprising help for Ukraine has been provided by both Sweden and Finland, countries who have for decades profited from their neutrality in world affairs. Since the invasion, both countries have applied for NATO membership and aligned their military aid to that of the West. To end 2022, in a not so neutral move, Sweden provided a military package worth some $287 million from helmets to rocket-propelled grenades. The substantial package not only affirms Sweden’s strong support for Ukrainian victory in the face of Russian aggression, it also proves the country’s desire to be a more prominent player in international affairs.

tage in isolating Russia’s access to the Baltic Sea from St Petersburg. The Leningrad Naval Base which is positioned in the Baltic Sea will become less sustainable if surrounded by allied European countries: favourable for NATO and not for Russia and its cronies. This move to be a member has all come since the invasion of Ukraine, displaying the unexpected resolve of the Swedes. Their response has not just been effective in providing aid but also operates as a greater symbol of defiance in the wake of one man’s tyrannical waging of war against a sovereign state.

Victory for Ukraine is not yet assured; the brutal campaign of Putin rages on despite victories in Kherson and swathes of other territory. Military aid and resources will still be essential if there is any hope of ending the conflict. Sweden has pledged another $59 million of aid already for 2023; their resolve and support for Ukraine is remarkable in both its nature and the fact that it has not been picked up by much of the media that covers the European support for Ukraine.

THE year abroad can come with many challenges. Adapting to a new culture and language whilst balancing study or work commitments is not easy, especially when shadowed by feelings of homesickness, loneliness or insecurity. There is plenty of practical advice that I could share. Above all, start on the admin as soon as you can — there can be a lot, it can feel overwhelming and often, in my experience, the bureaucracy can be very slow. But there are also many things I have learnt about both myself and the experience since embarking on my year abroad. It is not helpful to compare your experience to others. Battling comparison is not exclusive to the year abroad: it is something that many people struggle with throughout university. However, the temptation to compare your experiences with other people on your course or your social media feed may be maximised by the year abroad. I have learnt that the year abroad is an individual journey; no one will be the same as another. But what matters is what you get out of it. This will be different for every person; perhaps you meet lifelong friends, perhaps you finally feel confident speaking your second or third language, or perhaps you simply realise that you are more of a somebody.

Give yourself time to settle in. My year abroad has taught me the true meaning of culture shock. For me, it was not sudden or abrasive, but rather the gradual and consistent unfamiliarity of living in another country. This is not necessarily a negative thing; I enjoy learning about different aspects of a new culture, but it can be tiring and it can take some time for you to feel really at home in your new environment. If you feel unsettled or even homesick in your first few weeks, this is completely understandable but it does not have to define your whole year abroad experience.

The two Nordic countries are positioned to be accepted to the NATO membership this year which would turn the Baltic Sea into a ‘NATO lake’. This gives a strategic advan-