My experience travelling abroad on a semester exchange programme differs slightly from the norm in that I did not apply for the exchange opportunity through the international office at SU. Rather, I had previously applied for a second semester exchange programme through the SU English Department, which I had hoped would see me spend the second semester of 2018 abroad studying at UPEC, in France. When my initial application was unsuccessful I fully expected to have to wait until the second semester of 2019 for the opportunity to apply to roll around again. Imagine my surprise when, in September of 2018, I received an invitation from the English Department to take up the exchange opportunity in the first semester of 2019; meaning I ended up attending UPEC for what was their second semester; from January until June of 2019.