I have always heard that studying abroad changes you. I expected that to be true, but what I did not expect was how much it changed me. Reflecting on my time abroad, it taught and reinforced so many lessons about myself and how I interact with academics, others, and the world around me. The following are just a few takeaways from my experience studying abroad in London.
1. Say Yes to Things
One of the biggest lessons for me was learning to say yes to opportunities presented to me, especially regarding excursions offered by ISA (now WorldStrides). I got the chance to participate in two excursions. Through these excursions, I got to see things I would not have otherwise. The first excursion I got to participate in was a trip to Windsor Castle with afternoon tea. The castle was breathtaking. I also learned about the royal family and saw where Queen Elizabeth’s funeral procession happened. Afternoon tea was lovely as well. I got an Earl Grey tea, and I got to have scones with clotted cream and jam for the first time.
The second excursion was a trip to Borough Market, Tate Modern, and The Globe to see The Merry Wives of Windsor. The coolest part of that excursion was getting to experience what it is like seeing a show at The Globe Theatre. I was worried about being able to understand the plot and what was happening, but you are surrounded by so many people that you can easily follow the reactions. The actors also do a great job physically conveying what is happening. If I had not said yes to those opportunities, I would have missed out on getting to see an iconic royal residence and historical landmark. I would not have discovered my love for teatime, especially the scones. I would not have been able to see a show at the iconic Globe.
On the excursion to Windsor, I fell in love with afternoon tea. I ended up doing a cream tea, which is just tea and scones, three more times on my trip.
2. Embrace Independence
There were many times that I ended up on my own exploring different parts of London. While I had been out in big cities before, I had never really been solo. This trip taught me how to be comfortable navigating the city by myself. I learned to use the tube system with a lot of help from an app called Citymapper, which I highly recommend. It is very helpful for showing several routes to get to your destination and has relatively real-time updates on trains. In addition to figuring out transportation, I also learned to feel more comfortable as a female solo traveler. I adjusted to carrying my bag in a certain way for peace of mind and, in general, being more vigilant. I also learned to let go of a little bit of anxiety about being out by myself.
The last thing that came with embracing independence while abroad was making my own plans. When I explored on my own, I could pick where I wanted to go, which was exciting but overwhelming at times. In these moments, I referred to my list of things I wanted to do in London. Using that list, especially having it loaded into Google Maps, was very helpful when trying to figure out which destinations to group together.
I learned how to navigate the Tube system and appreciate how convenient it was to get around the city.
3. Support is Everything
Having people around you that you can reach out to for encouragement or to simply talk about your experiences with is extremely beneficial. That can look like family members, friends, or even professors. It is good to have this support because studying abroad is not all sunshine and roses. It can be tricky trying to balance coursework with exploration of a new place. It can also be an adjustment to living in a new city and having to create new routines.
I was lucky enough to have the support of my parents back home. They were very encouraging throughout the whole process, and I would frequently text to update them. I also found support systems in the friends I met. It was nice to be able to talk to people going through the course and program with me. We found ourselves frequently discussing course materials and ideas for our projects. They made my days so much better when I found myself frustrated or overwhelmed. Intentionally creating a network to support you in the good times and uplift you in the bad is one of the best things you can do during study abroad.
4. Adjust Your Expectations
I was told that academics would be very different abroad. I had several people tell me that class would be less interactive and discussion-based than in here in the United States. That ended up not being true. My class did entail quite a bit of direct teaching, but the professor also had us engage and discuss our thoughts on the course material. That could just be because it was more of an English literature-focused course, which merits discussion, or the professor’s teaching style, but it was not that hard of an adjustment for me.
When you have expectations for your program, do not hold onto them too tightly, and prepare yourself for the fact that they may not be accurate. However, one expectation that was correct is that grading is different. You may do the same quality work but receive a lower grade. Familiarize yourself with the grading system your program uses and what grades mean passing.
5. Soak Up Every Second
The last lesson I learned is that time goes by so fast. It is crazy. It felt like one day I was landing in London, eager to begin exploring the city, and the next I was preparing to leave, packing up all my souvenirs and leaving behind the experiences as wonderful memories. I truly enjoyed all my time abroad.
From the shows I saw to the friends I made and the places I visited, all of them will have a special place in my heart. I left the city with experiences of pubs and museums. I left with a renewed love of tea and a newfound love of scones, clotted cream, and jam. I left with so many books and souvenirs. I left with stories that I cannot wait to tell my friends at school. Time flies, but the memories never leave, so be in the moment and seek out the experiences and people you want. Because truly, studying abroad is what you make of it.