"The Travels and Studies Gave me the Strength to Follow My Dreams"
What do you want to do with your life? Some of us find the answer to this difficult question on the other side of the globe - overlooking the Himalayan mountains, or through a chat with a random person on a bench in Hoi An. Read about how studying abroad changed Tuva's (28) life.
This text is translated using AI.
View the original article here.– When I finished high school, I decided that I didn't want to study anything unless I really wanted to. So there I was, not quite sure what to do with my life.
Suddenly an opportunity appeared - Kulturstudier. Especially peace and conflict studies piqued my curiosity.
Was it really possible for me to travel and see the world, while earning academic credits, receiving support from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund, and feeling secure in my travels through the support of the staff at Kulturstudier?
Many people end up studying abroad somewhat randomly, and perhaps initially have no idea what they want to work with, where they want to live, or what they want out of life.
– When I traveled to India at the age of 19, I had no idea that this journey would change the entire direction of my life. Because what happened over the next few years was that I ended up going on exchange to four different countries.
Through studies in India, Vietnam, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, I had the opportunity to move beyond my own comfort zone.
Peace and Conflict Studies is now offered in Nepal, and Development Studies 2 is now available in Ghana.
– I met countless people, both through my studies and the travels that followed, who inspired me to start thinking big and new thoughts. I took exams among the mountains in India, in Mexico City, and in South Vietnam.
Here I met people who told stories I would never have believed unless I had actually met them and heard them tell.
When I traveled to study with Kulturstudier at 19, I didn't know that it would change the entire direction of my life.– Tuva (28)
– The fact that I studied Development Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies contributed to giving me a critical view of the structures in the world community, and at the same time experience how important it is to take care of oneself in this large complex world.
It's almost 10 years since I traveled to India. All my experiences from abroad and all the friends I made along the way have shaped the life I live now. The journeys gave me the opportunity to feel that life does not last forever.
I learned that it is by defying our own fears, being open to new perspectives, and having trust in the people around us, that we create a life we can look back on with gratitude.
Many find that time spent abroad can shape them as individuals and lead to life taking a new direction. Perhaps you feel that you need time to broaden your horizons and open yourself up to new opportunities?
– The journeys and studies made me find the strength to follow my dreams, not let others' ways of thinking and attitudes hold me back, and not be afraid to make choices that are different. This strength has made me more aware of the kind of people I have around me, and has led me to now live a life filled with amazing people who love me for who I am.
The same strength has led me to start a new journey - I have started my own company, and on a daily basis I work with breathwork, and other ways we can use breathing to work with emotions, uncertainty, and limiting thoughts.
– It feels very safe to be able to travel with other Scandinavian students, and many of those I studied with are still close friends. But if I were to share a small tip, it would be to occasionally step outside the student group.
To dare to pause and start a conversation with the owner of the restaurant you're eating at, or with an elderly man you meet on a bench in the park.
There are so many fascinating people out there who can teach you something, and you won't have access to this knowledge unless you step out of your comfort zone.
