Applying for studying abroad, I imagined language barriers, cultural differences, and how to prepare dishes apart from fish and chips. Travelling from University Of Sussex to Aarhus University in Denmark caused me to be aware of what I use, what I waste and what could be learned as a lesson. This trip wasn’t just about being educational but aimed for being moral, planet conscious and touching. My thoughts changed towards the Sustainable development Goals (SDG’s) to be from colorful images to become quiet guideposts showing me the way into a sustainable, fairer future.
Arriving at my accommodation at Aarhus, my first conversation with my flat mates was about waste disposal not in theory but on the ground. Everyone was talking from a different perspective about their experience of disposing waste, so we collaborated to sort out food, paper, glass and plastic in a proper way. I told my flat mates about the idea of the leftover shelf in the fridge which encourages other people to share their food and at the same time using food before it goes bad which reduces food waste. I mentioned using Too Good To Go app to buy leftovers from restaurants to reduce food waste.
I decided to walk to reach Netto in Aarhus. It’s around 14 minutes away from my accommodation, often raining sideways. I can rent a bike, a choice through Donkey Republic app, but I was able to convince myself that walking is more, more pensive, more rooted … more sustainable. Probably all three.
Home in Sussex, I’d take the bus from the East Slope to Aldi, as walking was around 1 hour and 30 minutes. Now goody goody walking and running around Aarhus feeling on cloud nine. My steps are in connection with my physical and mental wellbeing. It’s an offset and a tap on the shoulder of my own guilt.
In between navigating smart bins and eco anxiety, there’s also the learning. Not only in lectures, but also communicating with my friends, flat mates, and lecturers who discuss climate not just as theory, but as story. That’s SDG 4 in action: learning that fosters intellectual capital.
There comes the shared collaboration with a global connection that is far beyond study abroad experience. The glorious emotional touch when people around help you feel at home, teach you a new language and support your inner self mingling into a new path. That’s SDG 17: building a global collaborative future with fruitful returns.
Crossing borders made me aware that sustainability isn’t just an approach, but it’s a way of life, formed by routine and community. From going through classifying waste to reflecting on commuting and eating. I’m determined to keep learning to form a good routine. Although I can’t save the planet alone, I’ll keep pushing. Having faith that every action taken will encourage others to imitate me.
Resources used
1. https://www.donkey.bike/
2. https://sdgs.un.org/goals
3. https://www.toogoodtogo.com/
