Reunited in Volda 10 years later: – A very special place in my heart
Xènia, Natalie, and Carmen had the time of their life as exchange students in Volda in 2015. This summer, they came back to re-experience the magic of small-town Norway together, and Volda did not disappoint.
On the 649-metre-high Rotsethornet overlooking Volda, the group of former exchange students celebrated their 10-year reunion in the place they'll never forget. Photo: Private.
One sunny Thursday in August at Volda University College (VUC), there was a knock on the door at the VUC International Office. Entering was a big group of smiling, familiar faces.
It turned out to be former exchange students from the class of 2015 who had travelled to Volda for a weeklong 10-year reunion.
A group of students from all over Europe had stayed in touch after their time in Volda and planned to go back to “the place you'll never forget”, and 15 of them found the time this August.
Have kept in touch for 10 years
Reuniting in Volda was an emotional experience, as they re-lived their experiences, friendships, and impressions. Some now brought their life partner with them, who finally could see for themselves why this place is so special to many former students.
Travelling in from Spain, Germany, and France, the group wasted no time in revisiting the beautiful surroundings from their Volda days: After climbing the iconic mountain overlooking the town, we found them preparing a barbeque at the nearby lake, all in walking distance from campus.
– We are in love with this place, and we are also in love with the experience that we had here back then. So we have kept in touch between us since our time here, says Natalie Hughes.
Volda still feels like home
Although a lot has changed around campus in Volda in 10 years, the former exchange students quickly found familiar ground.
– The magic that we experienced as students here is the same. We can feel it, says Xènia Puig.
– The feeling of the place is the same, but you can see that it grew that it feels more like a city now. But it’s still Volda, Natalie chimes in.
– It still feels like home to us. As soon as I landed at the local airport, I could smell the air that was like, [inhales] “okay, I am in Norway now”, adds a smiling Carmen Sedeno.
The unmatched Volda experience
So what is it with this small university college in this tiny town that could make such a lasting impression on international students? According to the students themselves, there is not one answer to this question, but several aspects working in combination.
The small, yet vibrant student community is a major factor, and so is the nature in Volda and the freedom the students experienced, both inside and outside the classroom.
For many of the former exchange students, their stay in Volda was their first time living away from home, and an experience that changed their further study and career plans.
One of the students went on two further exchange stays later in his academic career but stated very clearly that his experience in Volda could not be matched.
– Volda is “the place that is going to change your life”, as well, right? Because I know it changed my life, and I know it changed many other lives, Natalie says, and recalls seeing the Northern lights for the first time here.
– I met so many people that I got to visit later through the years. I visited Xenia who lives in Barcelona, but I also visited Sigrid who lives in Denmark, and many other places, and I think our life changed because of that, adds Carmen.
- Curious about the multicultural student life in Volda? Follow our international meeting place Pangaia on Instagram!
International students very satisfied with VUC, feedback shows
– It is fantastic to meet former international students and to hear how their experience in Volda has made a lasting impression on them, says Arne Humberset at the VUC International Office.
He joined the visitors as they were preparing their reunion BBQ at the sunny lakefront.
– Our own evaluations and surveys already show that international students are very satisfied, but it is still something else to hear directly from students how much they value their experience in Volda so many years later. It gives us motivation to improve further and to ensure that VUC will have a lasting impression on future generations of international students, emphasizes Humberset.
- Considering an exchange to Volda? See all the cool courses you can take at VUC!
Fell in love with the Nordic vibe
In 2015, Natalie, Xènia, and Carmen all exchanged from Spanish universities to take media courses in Volda.
One particular course left a lasting impression on the trio: the Outdoor Media Production course, which combines media production with experiences in nature.
As some of the group are now working as teachers, they also reflect on how the experience of studying in Volda and living in the Norwegian culture influenced their thinking about education.
– I think we became more open-minded. When we were studying here, we visited a local school. It was so different to the Spanish schools, and more open and practical, so we could get some ideas and bring them back to Spain and try to apply some things that that we thought were very nice, says Natalie and Xènia.
As the group make the most of their days of reuniting in Norway, we ask them if they will be visiting Volda and VUC again in the future.
– We’re joking about coming back one day with kids—maybe our kids will do their Erasmus+ exchange in Volda, laughs Carmen.
Xènia explains how since her Erasmus+ exchange, she has been in love with the Nordic countries. Her husband even proposed to her during one of their Norwegian vacations.
– Norway will always have a very special place in my heart, and every summer we try to travel north. For me, the days in Volda have been truly special, and the phrase “Volda is the place you’ll never forget” feels so true.
