Kubanychbek Tagaibekov: “Norway is one of my most desirable destinations.”

April 29, 2024

My name is Kubanychbek Tagaibekov, and I am a junior in the Environmental Sustainability and Climate Science department.

Since childhood, I have dreamed of visiting Scandinavian countries. As a nature lover and photographer, Norway is one of my most desirable destinations. Fortunately, AUCA has an exchange program with The Arctic University of Norway. This university is located in Tromsø, which is small but entirely alive. For a person who has never been so far from home, Tromsø is an excellent place to start discovering the European lifestyle.

During my semester, I enjoyed living a healthy lifestyle in an eco-friendly city. Hiking in these mountains is a fantastic thing to do on weekends. Also, I noticed how the Norwegians are happy to see people from different cultures. Moreover, in the northern part of the country, visitors can feel signs of the indigenous culture of Sami. Many museums and shops are dedicated to the native population, which will help. I was lucky to see the Northern lights several times. This experience is different in real life.

The academic part of my exchange was not as smooth as I expected. The teaching methods there differed from what we are used to in AUCA. However, the strong base of writing skills and critical thinking helped me a lot for my final exams. In these classes, I have built long-lasting friendships with people from around the globe.

In addition to an already good semester, I had a chance to visit Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Professor Rasmus made this possible. We toured the country in two weeks and participated in two Arctic assemblies. This experience was unforgettable.

One of the reasons I chose this university was the scholarship that goes along with the program. Living in Norway, significantly beyond the Arctic Circle, is quite expensive, but with the stipend, I had no stress about financial matters. In conclusion, I have more than I could ask for, and I am grateful for this time and experience abroad.

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