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Teodora Necsa at the Edinburgh Christmas market

Scottish highland cow

Teodora at Loch Ness, Scotland

Picture Scotland: A land of legend and lore, with mysterious Celtic roots, breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Its terrain is not unlike Canada’s so Teodora Necsa didn’t expect to be surprised by Scotland when she left Edmonton on exchange to the . 

She was quickly proved wrong. Everything from university clubs to classes were different from what she was used to at the �鶹��Ƶ. Teodora was even pleasantly surprised by Scotland’s natural beauty. 

“I went out and saw a lot. I didn't even imagine it'd be that stunning and it surprised me. It surpassed what I thought it was going to be like.”

Her experience with culture shock was quick to fade, as she soon found herself falling into a routine and feeling more at home. Jet-lagged and frazzled, Teodora and her friend went to an event hosted by the university where she found — to her pleasant surprise — that her anxiety slowly melted away. 

“Everyone was talking, everyone was dancing together and it was such a good energy. I think that's kind of when I started to calm down and really started to enjoy the experience as opposed to just being so flustered.”

Just when Teodora was finally finding her bearings and enjoying life in Scotland, she was hit with an unexpected setback.

Before starting her exchange, Teodora had to participate in the risk management orientation mandated by the Education Abroad program. There, she learned about the myriad of risks she may be exposed to in Scotland. Whooping cough was one of them, due to a recent rise in cases in the U.K.

Teodora was required to familiarize herself with the symptoms, which proved useful when she fell sick. She instantly recognised her cough and fatigue for what it was — whooping cough. Although getting sick in a foreign country can be distressing, just knowing why she was sick and how to get treatment made all the difference. Fortunately, she was able to see a doctor and get on antibiotics immediately. 

“It's made me way more independent because I had to navigate this whole new country by myself.”

One of Teodora’s favourite memories was of the time she went on a tour of the Scottish Highlands. “It was honestly so gorgeous and just fun. The tour guide was so funny, the scenery was so beautiful and I got to meet some friends there.”

Despite the hiccups — or rather, the singular bout of whooping cough — in her journey, her exchange at the University of Glasgow was an adventure that Teodora will always cherish. 

“You get to meet so many interesting people and you get to just experience a different way of life. I didn't realize how much I was missing out on other university experiences till I went to Scotland. It definitely pushed me to find a nicer, better balance between work and play.”