YOLO Moments

Sometimes it can seem like I know a lot of things. A lot of facts, a lot of information, a lot of intelligent things. However, this is only on paper. The truth is that even though I know a lot of things I don’t know anything about traveling or really much about life outside of the bubble I grew up in, so of course, I should study abroad right? The answer, although a tad counterintuitive, is a big, fat, scary YES.

Ever since coming abroad, I have grown to be more independent while at the same time growing closer to my housemates and the city of Oxford. One experience that stands out in my time abroad was when a group of us took a weekend trip to London and saw a show at the Royal Opera House. This experience is one that I’m glad I was able to have, one, because it was fun, and two because it helped me realize that I could navigate and find my way around a complicated city like London by myself. Another experience that I enjoyed was when the whole group got together and we had a thanksgiving meal. The whole afternoon the Oxford house smelled of onions and sugar as everybody prepared their dishes and rushed around the two kitchens so that everything would be done in time. My favorite part of that dinner was when we were all sitting around eating with everybody at one table and connecting with one another over this shared experience that we were all having.

In addition to these once in a lifetime moments and memories, something that I will take away from studying abroad is how in any location from Oxford to Paris you can always find something familiar or something that you feel relates directly to you. Discovering this was important for me because just having that little piece of home reminded me of everything I loved from Texas but also about all of the fun, new things that I had gotten to experience in Oxford. One time where this happened was at the St. Giles fair that took place not too soon after arriving in Oxford. I was reminded of the fairs that happen in Texas and it was nice to be able to see a little bit of Texas in Oxford and when I return home to be reminded of Oxford when I attend fairs in Texas. This to me was a fascinating overlap of two seemingly different cultures coming together in an unexpected way.

Altogether, I have enjoyed my time in Oxford and will especially cherish all of the once in a lifetime things I got to do like spending a week in Paris, attending shows at Her Majesty’s Theatre, and visiting the Houses of Parliament. Studying abroad has been a way for me to open up, get out of my comfort zone, and explore the world and I think that this has allowed me to learn new things I never knew before, gain new experiences, and grow as a person.

The Eiffel Tower Glowing