by Rebecca Blake| Fall 2024 |
Traveling abroad is something that seems so romantic to me. The sights, the people, the food… It seems magical! I knew that I wanted studying abroad to be a part of my college education. I’ve had two experiences traveling abroad before ACU, and they did not disappoint. They were trips completely planned out, and I didn’t have to worry about a thing; I just had to enjoy it and have fun! This third abroad experience was a bit different, though, and arguably the best. Spending three months in another country isn’t just a visit at that point; you live there, make friends, grocery shop, and find favorite spots. Oxford this fall was a huge blessing to grow in confidence. Not only was it the longest time I have been abroad, but it was also the longest I have been away from my family. The Oxford House became my family, though – with family vacations and all!
Over the semester, I was able to grow personally and with others. The classes that I got to take alongside other honors students were fantastic. My favorite class by far was the Religious Teachings of C.S. Lewis class with Dr. Patrick. I definitely grew in my knowledge of Lewis and the theological ideas that he brings forward. Getting to read through the entire Chronicles of Narnia in the first half of the semester was a wild ride, but one that helped me to see new theology and biblical parallels to bring into my own life. My other Bible class, Message of the Old Testament, was in some ways the most interesting class. It opened doors to looking at the Old Testament from a primarily historical perspective, often comparing it to other cultural myths. This sort of comparison was unfamiliar to me, and it ended up being pretty thought-provoking. Sometimes I was uncomfortable, but it ultimately grew my faith and apologetics.
Reflecting on times that made me uncomfortable on this trip, I can think of several times when traveling throughout Europe, I was uncomfortable. Out of the five personal travel trips I took over the semester, all but one had some sort of mishap – and that was the last trip! Each trip I took with friends was well worth the travel stress, though. I wouldn’t have traded it for anything because it personally grew my confidence to take control of a bitter situation. It also grew my patience and teamwork with others. Back from London, our train was delayed and we had to hop around stations, but we learned how to navigate stations together. In Wales, we missed a bus and walked for an hour to our Airbnb, bonding the entire way. Getting to the Netherlands, we took the wrong bus and almost missed our flight, but we learned how to navigate under stress and stay (somewhat) calm. In France, our train was delayed until after our hotel check-in hours, but we tried everything we could and experienced the kindness of people in another country. Finally, in Italy and Croatia, we had minimal issues and smooth(ish) sailing. All along the way, I kept telling myself, “Maybe next time will be smoother”. Well, it finally was at the end! Third time’s – well, fifth time’s – the charm!
This my third abroad experience has been the best by far, and every “third time’s the charm” experience was worth the learning experiences of the times before. I loved being able to live in a new place and move from confused to confident in my journey. I look forward eagerly to the future opportunities I may have to make it “third time’s the charm”!
