My name is: Emily

I'm studying: German and International Relations at Aberdeen University

For my year abroad I went to: Cologne, Germany for 9 months

While I was there I: Taught in a Gymnasium (Grammar School) as a Language Assistant for the British Council.

Five words to describe my year away are: Amazing, daunting, challenging, enriching, hilarious.

My top tips for anyone going there are: To go beforehand to sort out accommodation. However much you think that you can rough it for a year, a nice place to come back to is key!

The cleverest people find accommodation: Online.

Don't leave without: An open mind!

The best night out is: In the Altstadt with new friends.

When your parents visit: Visit a couple museums, especially the EN-DE Museum if they are interested in the Holocaust.

My favourite lunch place: Any café in the city centre for people watching.

My best place for a hot date: Vapianos - amazing Italian restaurant that leads to an unconventional date.

On a Sunday: Walk along the Rhine.

The most useful website I found was: Teachingenglish.org.uk.

If you want to fit in quickly, you should: Learn some Koelsch - the local dialect.