On Sept. 10 I headed out for an adventure of a lifetime. I am currently studying abroad at the University of Derby in England. I left on a Wednesday night and arrived in London at 7:45 in the morning, as there is a five-hour time difference. A meet-and-greet service met me outside of customs where I met four people from America who were also in the same, confused boat as me.
After waiting around the airport for a few hours we hopped on a bus and drove two hours to arrive in Derby. The first day I was really jet-lagged and didn’t know anyone so I walked around to find some shops and relax.
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The first week I was here the international students did everything together. The ambassadors took us around Derby and showed us important places.
To say the least, this has been the best experience of my life so far. I am surrounded by a completely different cultural-scene along with all different kinds of accents. There are currently 2,000 international students studying at the University, which is made up of 20,000 students—much bigger than Keene State.
Derby, England is a big city two hours outside of London where the streets are packed with different kinds of people. Currently I live in a flat made up of five wonderful people that I can now call a few of my best friends. The University scene is much different here; there is no dining commons, so in our flat there is a kitchen where we need to cook our meals. I live in a hall called Sir Peter Hilton Court, which is a ten-minute walk to the center of town and twenty-five minute walk from the main University.
I have already made wonderful memories with my friends, whether it is staying in or going out for a night on the town. I now not only have many friends from England, but also from all around the world—whether it be Brazil, Austria or some from different parts of America.
One thing so different from Keene in Derby are the lectures, which I have once a week for four hours. I am taking an American Studies class, which is so different to see the British point-of-view on America. Most of the people I have met always ask me what I think about Obama and how cool it is to have a president rather than the queen.
People I come across are so amazed by the way I talk and some of the word choices I use—for example, a “vacuum cleaner” in England is called a “hoover,” which makes me laugh every time I hear them say it in their accents.
The list can go on about how our words are different, but being in a different country with no one I know has made me become more independent and very proud of where I come from. Traveling in Europe is so much easier than traveling in America, which is why I am planning a trip to Paris, Ireland, Florence and Barcelona.
I don’t know if I will have an experience like this again so I need to take full advantage of every possibility.
It is really hard to put into words about my experience so far as it has just started, but I wouldn’t change it for a thing. Before I left my aunt left me with one comment, “I wish you every amazing thing possible. Just say ‘yes’ to all pleasurable offers.” I hold this to heart because it is true in every possible way. If you have the opportunity to study abroad to see what other parts of the world are like, take it. This is once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that should not go to waste.