Dear Frugality, my best friend.
You’ve led me to do some pretty ridiculous things. Sleeping in the hatchback of my rental car, camping in Norway in October, and eating an overabundance of Peanut Butter & Jam (PB&J) sandwiches, but I just can’t seem to shake you off.
After working four jobs last summer to pay for my exchange, there is nothing as rewarding as the feeling of stretching every penny (Nickel? Kroner?) as far as it can possibly go. None of my experiences have highlighted this more than my ‘potato week’ trip to western Norway.
For many months I have dreamt of hiking to Trolltunga, a glacier formed rock shelf jutting out high above the Norwegian Fjords. Hiking season usually ends in Mid-September, so planning the trip for Mid-October was a risky decision, but my only option. Luckily I had a friend that was willing to join me.
Arriving in Bergen, we were exceedingly lucky to be greeted with sunshine-filled skies, and a backdrop of beautiful mountains. How refreshing to have the comforts of home to surround us! After driving over 200km we reached Odda, a small town just south of the trailhead. We slept in our tent in the frigid air of Norway, and packed it up before sunrise the next morning. Anxious, but ready for adventure, we made our way to the base of the 22km, 8.5-hour mountain hike. Well prepared with rain gear and hiking attire, we were ready for anything.
The first 5 kilometres were the hardest, as we ascended straight up until the mountaintops plateaued. Above the tree line, vegetation was scarce, and the only wildlife to be seen were little lemmings – territorial, hamster-like creatures. For hours, we carefully made our way along icy boulders and steep cliffs until we reached our destination.
As we stood on top of the world, the view from the edge of Trolltunga was breathtaking to say the least. There is something so perfectly serene about being enveloped in a vast mountain landscape, and after the hike our whole trip was fulfilled. It didn’t matter that it poured rain for the next three days while we took shelter in a Norwegian family’s attic and the local McDonald’s. The rain was a gentle reminder of just how lucky I am to be doing what I love on the other side of the world.
Exchange on a budget is about managing trade-offs. I slept in my tent on cold nights so that I could have seat warmers and flexibility during the day. I ate a sickening amount of PB&J so that I could ride the world-renowned Flam Railway. I am also foregoing any travelling in November so that I was able to hike Trolltunga.
For prospective students, don’t let the seemingly humongous price tag attached to an exchange semester deter you. Hard work, a well-planned budget, and realistic expectations can go a long way. Of course, if your desire to do something is strong enough, you will always find a way and you might just get a little bit creative, too.
Madeline is in her third year at Beedie and is currently on international exchange at Copenhagen Business School in Denmark. Her love for the outdoors and passion for sustainability are what drive her involvement within the community. She recently completed her year-long term as Enactus SFU’s Education Manager for Banner Bags and also represented the organization as a Presenter at the 2014 Enactus Canada National Exposition. In addition, she founded YoutHatch, a program that encourages student involvement at her local salmon hatchery. When not buried in her textbooks, you can find her instructing kayaking, running, cycling, wilderness camping, and hiking.