At the beginning of my sophomore year of high school, my parents broke the news to me that we were moving to London the following summer. Although many of my friends at the time admitted they were jealous, I was terrified. I didn’t want to give up the life I had in my small hometown in New Jersey. The prospect of having no idea what to expect, not knowing anyone, and having to start over horrified me. Luckily, I had a really positive experience living in London for two years and I wouldn’t want to trade it for the world.
The most important things I learned while living abroad were not related to what I was taught in the classroom. It was the cultural exposure, ability to adapt, and courage to explore that I acquired while in London that will stick with me for the rest of my life.
If you plan to study abroad while at BC—whether it’s a few weeks over the summer or for an entire year—there are several things that I have learned (sometimes from my mistakes) that I think everyone should apply to their own study abroad experiences.
Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill is a great place to visit on the weekend!
Don’t be afraid to break out of the “bubble” of your school. If you want to fully understand the country and the city you are in, you have to explore and embrace the culture. Go to markets and busy streets. Go shopping. In other words, go where the locals go. It will be very easy for you to stick to your “bubble” of other exchange students and get too caught up in your schoolwork. There are several places in London that I never visited—and wish I did—just because it wasn’t a typical place that “expats” went.
A photo I took of Big Ben and Westminster Abbey while riding the London Eye.
Don’t be afraid to be a tourist in your own city. After almost two years in London, I never saw the inside of St Paul’s Cathedral, never went into many of the famous museums, and didn’t go to many tourist attractions because, “nobody who lives here goes to those.” Do not make my mistake! See the famous sights! Go to the touristy things! Yes, you are living there, so you are not a tourist. But you are (probably) also not a native of the country you’re studying abroad in. So soak in the opportunities while you can.
This is a picture I took of the place where they filmed the boat tipping scene in The Sound of Music while visiting Salzburg, Austria.
Don’t be afraid to splurge a little. Especially if you’re in Europe, getting to the rest of the continent is very easy. It’s also a lot easier to get to the rest of the world than it is from the United States. If you can, travel. Do so as much as you can. It might mean working two jobs the summer before just so you can afford it, but you will thank yourself for taking the opportunity to travel the world. And don’t forget to buy souvenirs! Instead of getting something from a gift shop, look for something that represents the country, or the place you have visited. This could be anything from a street painting to pint glasses. You’ll be much happier with those than a plastic, low-quality good from a gift shop. I also really enjoy collecting post cards from the places I visit and putting them in a scrapbook.
Lastly, don’t forget to record your memories. As important as it is to live in the moment and not behind the camera lens, it’s also important to take pictures so you can show your friends and family where you have been, and also remember your trip for years to come. It’s also fun to write about your experience. Bringing a notebook to record your thoughts and feelings about your trip is not only a great way to detoxify, but also a great way to look back on what you did during your study abroad trip.
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