I used to think of travel as something measured in speed. The faster you arrive, the better the journey. But ever since I started my study at H-BRS and had to go back home to Vienna several times during the year, I have started to question that assumption. And now when I’m planning my exchange to Keele University, I try to keep in mind that the way I travel matters just as much as the reason why I travel.
Now, I try to choose the slower path as often as possible.
My journey will not begin at the airport but at the train platform. There is something quietly decisive about standing behind the yellow line with a ticket in your hand (or on your phone) that does not promise the quickest route, but an adventure.
As the train pulls away from the station, I imagine the familiar geometry of the city softening and giving way for fields, rivers, and scattered villages. The landscape will not vanish beneath clouds as it would on a flight. Instead, it’ll unfold gradually like a long sentence being written in real time. This journey will allow me to not only experience my destination but also the connection between the start and end.
This journey itself will become part of my education. While travelling through different regions, I can observe the infrastructure that supports sustainable mobility, like rail networks, and public transport, but also nature, like rivers or forests.
I do understand that no form of travel is entirely without environmental impact, but the least I can do is to make a conscious decision to try and minimise the impact wherever possible. So, rather than aiming for perfection, I will do my best to focus on responsibility.
But my commitment to sustainability will not stop there. It will continue after I arrive at Keele University. I plan to rely on public transportation, walking, and cycling whenever possible. Since I don’t plan to get a car there, this should be rather easy. Of course, I plan to bring my reusable bottle (I mean who needs plastic when you can have your own emotional support water bottle?) and tote bags for shopping. I will also try to make thoughtful decisions when purchasing stuff. I heard that England has some pretty good second-hand shops, so that seems like a good option. But huge hauls won’t be in the cards since I still have to carry all that stuff back to Austria.
When I finally arrive at Keele University, I hope I’ll bring more than luggage and academic ambitions. Hopefully, I will arrive with a mindset shaped by conscious choices and a commitment to sustainable living. My journey will not simply be a way of reaching a destination. It will be the first step in showing that international mobility and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand so we can travel together toward a more sustainable future.
