Studying abroad in Oxford, England was absolutely incredible. Being able to go and engage with another culture in an unfamiliar place helped me to grow in unimaginable ways and I am forever thankful for the experience and how it shaped me. The experience itself was something that I did not expect. I think I expected to enjoy the locations and landmarks, but I had no idea how close I would become to strangers. My interactions with new people made the experience for me and I am forever grateful to have met people like Thomas, Charlie, Natalie, Ellie, Shali, Real, and many others. I also had no idea how close I would get to people within my study abroad group. Through visiting pubs, touring exciting locations, playing 4-square volleyball, and playing jack box games I made some amazing friends who I will definitely stay in contact with. It’s the simplest things in life that make it worth living, and it’s these simple moments that I will remember for the rest of my life.
Exploration throughout my study abroad experience was incredible. Walking around Port Meadow in Oxford, and exploring coffee shops and restaurants with others was what made study abroad enjoyable. My favorite country I visited while abroad was the Czech Republic. I had some delicious food in the Czech Republic, met some exceptional people, and saw some of the most beautiful sights. Discovering places in Oxford like Four Candles, The Plough, The Trout, The Perch, and Barefoot on my own and with people, was a delight. After this experience, I now know more than ever that I could live abroad if I had friends alongside me. Although it would be scary and would take some getting used to, I know that I have the willpower and ability to overcome any obstacles that would keep me from having a wonderful time.
The most important thing I learned about myself while abroad is that I have the ability to set the mood of a room. About three days before studying abroad I decided to start a practice called radical acceptance, a practice in which you choose how to respond to situations that are outside of your control. My goal was to respond positively to hard situations without being shallow or fake, and it was ultimately harder than I was expecting. Still, I did have relatively good success especially when I was well-rested and I discovered that when I was able to be in a good mood, it helped other people’s moods. It allowed me to appreciate everything around me more. I also discovered that I have an unhealthy habit to complain about things when I run out of things to talk about, and this is something I must work on. The main thing I learned about myself is that I am enough, and I realized that I am loved by the people around me. Study abroad was extremely life-changing for me and I am so thankful to the honors college for helping fund my expedition.
Featured Photo: This is a picture of me in the Czech Republic. This portion of the trip was my absolute favorite part of my adventure.
This is a picture of my two grandparents who met me in Scotland. The fact that they are able to travel so easily at their age is absolutely amazing to me
The Scottish Highlands were incredible. I loved getting to experience this with my friends!! Scotland forever!!
A picture of Bash and I in the Scottish Highlands.
This is a picture of me and Paddington Bear.