Photo: A film photo of my friends from Sydney, Amsterdam, LA and I in front of the Founders Building.
Jasmine is studying at Flinders University and is undertaking an exchange at Royal Holloway University London, during Semester 2 2025.
As I reflect now on my past week of being at RHUL, I feel so immensely grateful and privileged to be embarking on this life-changing experience. I recall the bittersweet feeling of the plane taking off; I left my newfound life in Italy, where I spent 9 months au pairing, for my penultimate dream of 2025- attending the Royal Holloway University of London. Royal Holloway is located in Egham, a small student town located within the borough of Runneymede, where the Magna Carta was devised!
I have constantly reminded myself not to let a single day of this experience slip through my fingers. Even in the past week, this exchange has exceeded my wildest dreams. I have engaged in the chaotic nightly Student Union Freshers events, studied prereadings in the beautiful Reading Room at midnight with friends, completed a taster for the dance and criminology society, spent countless hours at netball trials, and settled into my on-campus shared dorm.
I have felt immensely loved whilst listening to my fellow international student friends singing “Happy Birthday” to me in their several different languages, with a Colin the Caterpillar cake smiling at me. Although I appreciate studying at the unique Flinders campus, surrounded by nature- I also adore being able to experience a traditional university life at RHUL. I’ve spent late nights in the common room playing bananagrams and introducing Kath & Kim to non-Aussie students, running around campus in hopes of winning the welcome week scavenger hunt, eating the delicious dining room meals, and stargazing in the quad; stunned by the beautiful Founders building. These memories fill me with a sense of premature nostalgia- I have so much love for the people who have accompanied me in these adventures. I’m unable to even contemplate saying goodbye.
Jasmine was fortunate to be awarded a Mathew Flinders Statue Scholarship to support the exchange experience.
Photos: Campus cat + Bedroom on campus + View of Founders Building from my room
