About Paula
- Studies psychology
- Was an exchange student at INN during the autumn semester of 2025
- Normally goes to Kazimierz Wielki University in Poland
How would you describe your time as an exchange student with us?
Being an exchange student in Lillehammer will stay with me for a long time. It charmed me in so many ways – from the city and the university to the people I met. I felt genuinely welcomed and well taken care of. It made me realise there is a whole world outside my usual bubble, and I found that I really enjoyed it. I got to know myself better, and it broadened my perspective even after returning home.
A part of me wished to remain an exchange student for a bit longer.
What is the best memory of your exchange with us?
It’s very difficult to choose just one, because it feels like something that could be written as a book or filmed as a TV show to do it justice.
What stands out the most were the people I met – Norwegians and fellow international students alike. My days were so varied, from going out to Normal or Kiwi/Rema and somehow ended in staying up way too late, to working on projects with Norwegian students and attending lectures.
My best memory is simply the ordinary days that somehow felt extraordinary at the same time. Especially those moments when I would stop and realise that only a few months earlier, I would never have imagined being here at all, let alone feeling so happy and at home in it.
What are your best tips for future exchange students coming to us?
Keep an open mind and say yes as often as you can. Of course, know your limits and take breaks when you need them, but try to take everything in as fully as possible – it goes by faster than you expect. One moment you’ve just arrived and everyone is asking where you’re from and when you got here, and before you know it, people are already asking when you’re leaving.
But be warned – you might return home and find yourself unable to stop talking about your exchange whenever someone asks about it.