How a Couchsurfing experience changed my life and the Brexit didn't

In the beginning of this year I did not even have a clue that I would be studying abroad in Scotland. I was pretty sure I would apply for university in Berlin, Potsdam and Hannover. In Germany there are no tution fees. In Scotland as an EU citizen you also don't have to pay a penny for the undergraduate degree. Whereas in England you have to pay up to 9000 pounds a year, in Scotland the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), an agency of the Scottish Government, pays the whole tution fees for Scottish students and EU nationals (international students and students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland are not eligible for the support though. Quite unfair, I know...). 

The first time I heard of this advantage was during the On-arrival-training of my European Voluntary Service. (I have done an EVS in Dudley, England, from August 2015 to January 2016. I will write another blog post about it.) Back then I googled for maybe half an hour about studying in Scotland. But then I didn't think about it anymore because I was convinced that it would be too challenging to study in a foreign language and that the living costs in the UK might be too high. 

In January I suddenly changed my mind. After the end of my EVS I decided to travel two weeks and to try Couchsurfing for the first time. I went to Dublin, Edinburgh and London. I took a cheap Ryanair flight to Dublin and stayed at a girl's flat on the campus of the Dublin City University. At this point I really want to recommend Couchsurfing because you'll meet amazing people and see the city through the eyes of locals. Afterwards I went to Edinburgh and I don't exaggerate when I say that these four days changed my life. First I stayed at a flat with three couchsurfers. 

Oblivion

Oblivion. That is my favourite word in the English language and also one of the reasons why I started this blog. Similar to Augustus Waters in 'The fault in our stars' I am afraid of oblivion. Contrary to him I do not necessarily have a fear of being forgotten, because that is what usually happens one day. I am rather afraid of forgetting all the memories and moments that my life consists of. This blog will help me to remember my thoughts and bring the dust of thoughts to life.

When I was nine years old, I started to write a diary. Trivial words of a child growing up in a small German town close to Hamburg. But from time to time I still enjoy reading these pages, feeling a bit like the small Alexandra in primary school again. By using this strange thing called 'Internet' it is even easier to write down thoughts, memories and experiences, pretty much anytime and anywhere. I believe that blogs are amazing - they are so authentic, provide an insight in other lives and no one can tell how long they will actually continue living.

In two weeks I will move from Germany to Scotland to start studying in beautiful Edinburgh. To live in this incredible beautiful city and to stay abroad for a longer time period is a true privilegue and honour. On this blog I will also share my experiences about the university application system in the UK and I hope that it might be helpful for someone. The adventure has just started.