Travel, to me, is one of the richest ways to build independence, boost your confidence and inspire creativity. Therefore, I believe that it is vital to grasp any opportunity that allows you to venture as widely and as boldly as possible to countries that are far beyond your own comforts. Experiencing new ways of life can lead to discovering vibrant cultures and drive genuine self-growth. However, these opportunities may become scarce unless we become more conscious of the world around us and the significant impact of travelling has upon it. Many people believe that they alone cannot do enough to change the world, however if we all make incremental changes then the impact we would make together would be astonishing. Growing up on an island, I have been surrounded by luscious greenery and observed the immense power of the sea throughout my life and now, I have seen how the impacts of others have affected the beautiful place that I call home.
In order to achieve a sustainable study abroad semester, I have thoroughly researched my options for sustainable travel. Unfortunately, due to the fact that I have to cross the Atlantic, my options were limited. I have chosen air travel as it is the more economical and more time friendly option compared to sea travel. In addition, after in depth research, I discovered that a cruise would be my only sea travel option. This would produce at least double the amount of carbon of a flight (https://theicct.org/marine-cruising-flying-may22/), given that the cruise would be longer and has more resources that require power on board than an aeroplane.
The other main aspect of studying abroad sustainably was choosing where to live. By sharing a flat with other tenants, it reduces the need for more housing infrastructure and expanding the city into nearby greenspaces. Choosing a fully furnished flat, including the kitchen allows me to avoid purchasing items that I would only use for a couple months and also helps to contribute to the circular economy. If needed, I will buy extra items from charity shops which will allow me to support a cause tied to of one of the Sustainable Development Goals as well as reducing waste. Another important aspect of choosing where to live while studying abroad was accessibility. By being central to the city, it means that I will often be able to walk as my main source of transportation. Moreover, there are many public transport links for when the destination is too far to walk both of which are extremely sustainable travel options.
Finally, as a woman attending a business university, I would like to empower as many women to enter the world of business and help reduce barriers especially in fields like finance to create a more equal and inclusive environment.
I am thoroughly looking forward to my semester abroad and hope to return to the world the value that I am receiving from this opportunity by contributing positively wherever this experience leads me.
