I remember going with very few expectations because I was eternally grateful for the opportunity and was just going to experience everything that came my way. I wanted to explore Oxford. Travel around England. Travel to Scotland and into Europe. And I did just that. I wandered Oxford and walked in meditation. Beyond the door of House 9 was always an adventure. One of my favorite stories perfectly encapsulates the journey of studying abroad.
I decided to take on a mundane task in a city I knew nothing about. I went to Tesco. This may seem insignificant, but for some reason, I will always remember it. I had woken up earlier than the rest of the girls and decided that I should get food for the next few days rather than eating out for every meal. I set the route on my phone to the nearest Tesco, turned on my music, and walked through London on my quest for breakfast (and the other meals as well, of course). I made it a challenge to not look at my phone and try to work my way there with very little help. I did get lost, but I discovered souvenir shops, cafes, grocery stores, and other hidden gems of London. It was this simple act that made me fall in love with the city. I have always admired London and knew I would love it, but walking to the store past cathedrals and tall office buildings alike, radiated the energy of a metropolis. It solidified my desire to move here once I graduate college.
The following story is one in Oxford, my semester home. During our final week of classes, my group wanted to wander Oxford as a tourist now that we had spent 3 months trying to blend in as much as possible and establish ourselves as a student in Oxford. There were trips to the Castle and Prison, the museums, historical sites, parks, shops, and tearooms. On the last Wednesday in Oxford, the 5 girls on the trip all went to the Ashmolean Museum for afternoon tea. We walked up the white stone steps to the balcony restaurant. Once we reach the top, we are reminded of the seemingly bleak weather outside. I always kind of liked the weather, though. Despite it being cold and dreary, it is quite unlike the humid and muggy like the oh-so-familiar Texas rain. This cold, comfortable afternoon will always be in my memory as a beautiful image of the community and of my study abroad family.
This journey during study abroad has changed me for the better and has provided me with so many life-long friends. I have traveled to many culturally rich places and have learned how I operate in independence while still being rooted here in the states. I plan on finishing my education here in Abilene, but quickly returning to London, a city that felt just as much like home as my birth town. Study Abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I highly recommend it.
