by Brandon Hicks| Fall 2024 |
Time is up for my three-month study abroad venture in Oxford, England. How could three months go so fast? I left my teenage years behind when I celebrated my birthday abroad. This was the first birthday I celebrated without my family; however, my friends on the trip made cupcakes and got me candles. I felt their love on a difficult day, and this continued throughout the trip.
Twenty-three students in one house quickly became a family. We ate together, we studied together, and we lived together. Over the twelve weeks in Oxford, we traveled to many places throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. I was fortunate enough to visit London, Wales, Switzerland, Germany, and the Lake District. Many of my friends went to other places like Finland, Italy, France, and many more. Each of these destinations was incredible in its own way, but the most memorable times were with the people we were with, the challenges we faced, and the time we shared.
Despite having much time to travel, we did have to focus on our studies during our semester abroad. I only took four classes but balancing the workload remained a challenge throughout the semester. Things in Oxford just took more time. We had to walk to get to class, to get groceries, and to our volunteering places. Walking to get everywhere changes your perspective on how this society functions and how different life in our places can be. I enjoyed walking around Oxford because it gave me a better feel of the city rather than driving everywhere. I actually got to look around, feel the air, and most definitely the rain at times.
Life was just different being away. I had to adapt to life without a car, which was challenging for me. Not everything was on demand as it usually was back home. I did not have meals waiting for me and had to fend for myself most days. These times were enjoyable because it gave me a taste of independence that I had been craving. This experience was a journey of growing up and finding out who I am. This venture has prepared me for a life away from home and even college. I was not being looked after by my parents and had to truly take care of myself in a way that I had never had to before. It was not easy in the beginning, but over time, I adapted and got into a routine that helped me.
Although I learned a great deal about independence, I also learned a great deal about depending on one another. There were many times when my friends and I would be sick, and we had to take care of one another. Going to the nearest CareNow was not an option, and we had to help each other in any way we could. We had to truly depend on one another for belonging and feeling loved. Being away from our families and significant others for three months was an incredible challenge, but it could not have been done without the support of the family that I made here.
