[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-83px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”-42px|-40px||||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Studying abroad has always been a dream of mine. I don\u2019t exactly remember at first what it was about it that was so appealing to me, but the urge to get away from home and from what I knew was getting increasingly strong. Oxford, England is drastically different from what I had experienced in Abilene, Texas. In fact, when I first arrived, I was in shock and absolutely terrified because Abilene was all I ever knew. This feeling left within about 48 hours though.<\/span><\/p>\n On my first day in Oxford, we were on the go from the start. The walk to town with everyone felt so foreign because there were so many unknowns. My first time getting groceries at Tesco was very confusing because the checkout systems were so different. The first time I went to a caf\u00e9 I forgot the British word for something and embarrassed myself, and it seemed like things just kept going wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n Adjusting to a completely different culture took some work, but it wasn\u2019t long until I found myself thinking less and less about it. In no time I was going on walks around the city by myself, I learned the tricks to having a smooth checkout at Tesco, and I grew more comfortable interacting with the locals. These even became some of my favorite things to do.<\/span><\/p>\n There were some other challenges that came with moving to Oxford. For one, I had to feed myself which was something I had never fully experienced. Living with 17 other people was also a big adjustment and sometimes difficult. This along with taking 17 hours and having to balance school work, social life, and traveling usually made for jam-packed weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n I managed to create a schedule of getting groceries and planning meals after a while. I also learned to have grace for others in the house when something came up. The classes I took helped me dive further into the culture and history of the country I was in. I got to travel to so many places including Blenheim Palace, Highclere Castle (Downtown Abbey), Windsor, London, the Lakes District, Wales, Scotland, and Spain, as well as numerous Abbeys, museums, and ruins. I also had the opportunity to do so many fun activities such as punting on a canal, countless hikes, swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, and building the best relationships with my housemates. Through all of these experiences, I learned so much about myself and valuable life skills and lessons. I can now successfully navigate the Underground system in London, and find\/book cheap flights and train tickets to where ever I want to go. I also know how to keep myself and my items safe in big cities and how to navigate them safely. I have definitely learned to open myself up to new possibilities and am more confident in myself. Another big thing is that I feel comfortable and can adapt quickly to new experiences and challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n Living in Oxford for a semester was life-changing. This experience changed me and grew me in so many ways I probably haven\u2019t even realized yet. Learning to be an adult and do things by myself and for myself is one of the best lessons that everyone has to learn eventually. I will forever be grateful and remember this transformative trip.<\/span><\/p>\n Featured Photo: Loch Lubnaig in Scotland<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/honorscollege\/files\/2022\/11\/Michelle-Oliver-Fall-21-Oxford-1-Michelle-Oliver-scaled.jpg” title_text=”Michelle Oliver Fall 21 Oxford 1 – Michelle Oliver” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|||84px||” custom_padding=”|||0px||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n \u00a0Above: Punting on the Oxford Canal<\/span><\/p>\n Below: Hiking Helm’s Crag in the Lakes District<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/honorscollege\/files\/2022\/11\/Michelle-Oliver-Fall-21-Oxford-5-Michelle-Oliver-scaled.jpg” title_text=”Michelle Oliver Fall 21 Oxford 5 – Michelle Oliver” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||81px||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/honorscollege\/files\/2022\/11\/Michelle-Oliver-Fall-21-Oxford-4-Michelle-Oliver-scaled.jpg” title_text=”Michelle Oliver Fall 21 Oxford 4 – Michelle Oliver” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/honorscollege\/files\/2022\/11\/Michelle-Oliver-Fall-21-Oxford-2-Michelle-Oliver-scaled.jpg” title_text=”Michelle Oliver Fall 21 Oxford 2 – Michelle Oliver” align=”right” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” width=”61%” custom_padding=”|||0px||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Studying abroad has always been a dream of mine. I don\u2019t exactly remember at first what it was about it that was so appealing to me, but the urge to get away from home and from what I knew was getting increasingly strong. Oxford, England is drastically different from what I had experienced in Abilene, Texas. In fact, when I first arrived, I was in shock and absolutely terrified because Abilene was all I ever knew. This feeling left within about 48 hours though.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18033,"featured_media":5797,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"1080","footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[22860,496],"class_list":["post-5780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-acu-honors","tag-study-abroad"],"yoast_head":"\n