One of the other exchange students Philip, who was from Taiwan, joined the Bath Spa American Football team. Going to watch him play made me realise that I wanted to get more involved with extra-curricular activities in Bath. I had always wanted to play cricket and so Claire and I decided to join the cricket team. We went along to practice one day and were welcomed warmly by the boys in the team. Claire didn’t stick with it, but I did and played three matches for Bath Spa during the time I was there. I wasn’t a star, but it never mattered to everyone else, and we had a great time together as a team. I scored my first boundary in our 40-over match and made some great friends.
Joining the cricket team was a great way to meet people and make friends, not just within the university but also in the community. We played against two of the local teams in Bath – Lansdowne Cricket Club and Hampset Cricket Club. Playing cricket in England was so much fun, and having tea during our break felt very authentically English! I was lucky enough to also attend the first Ashes test in Cardiff at the beginning of July with one of my friends from the Bath Spa team. It was a great day, despite the eventual result of the match.
My experiences while I was on exchange have helped to broaden my mind and have changed my perspective on the world. I am less judgemental and more confident in myself than I was before I went on exchange. Going to England was a good choice for me because there was no language barrier, and some of my family are English so it almost feels like home. Studying in another country was an unforgettable experience, and I am so glad that I was able to take part in exchange while I am at university.
