I am going to Malaysia! Specifically to Kuala Lumpur, the capital. It will be quite some miles away and will require two plane journeys.

I can’t tell you how excited I am to visit Malaysia. Although I have friends from that part of the world, it will be the furthest that I have ever travelled. This makes deciding what to pack a little tricky, but so long as I have sun screen and insect repellent, I’ll be fine!

So far I have made sure to plan and organise myself in preparation for the trip. I have visited a travel nurse, brought some books for the journey and researched the city itself. It seems that Kuala Lumpur has both eastern and western influences. The food has a lot of variety and the landscape consists of beautiful palm trees and lush greenery set against the backdrop of huge towers, hotels and shopping malls. The average temperature for Kuala Lumpur in March is a sunny 30 degrees. Needless to say, after a cold winter in the UK, spring in Malaysia is just what I need.

Whilst in Malaysia we will be taking part in some Psychological research; looking at the way that different cultures can influence the workings of our memory. This is something that I am also excited about as the memory is on aspect of Psychology that I am most interested about. Meanwhile, the opportunity to take part in a live experiment first hand will be an invaluable experience that I have so far not had as a first year student.

I decided to take part in this trip as I love to travel and immerse myself in new cultures. One of the most brilliant opportunities offered by Lancaster University are the many overseas trips on offer. Before even starting my course, I knew that travelling overseas with other students would be important for making the most out of student life. Travelling overseas and doing research will be a great addition to my CV, allowing me to demonstrate cultural understanding and enthusiasm for my subject field.

All in all, I know that travelling to Malaysia will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience – I can’t wait to get over there! I hope to find nice souvenirs for friends and family, as well as great mementos for myself, not to mention some wonderful pictures to remember it all by.