Our Celeb this week is Rachel Gangwere, a 22-year-old exchange student from Kansas City, Missouri. Studying Drama at Manchester, she’s been here since September and tells us what life is like for an American study abroad student in Manchester!
So Rachel, tell us a little bit about yourself!
Most British people hear I’m an American and this is typically what happens…
People: “Where are you from?”
Me: “Missouri”
People: “Where’s that?”
Me: “Its in the Midwest”
Blank Stare
Me: “Its in the center of the US”
Again blank stare….
Me: “Cowboys and Indians”
People” “Oh I know where you are from now.”
I find it hilarious!! My sense of humor is drier, which is why I feel I fit in better here. American humor is more slapstick. I study Mass communications and Theatre with a minor in American Sign Language, have been here for a semester and will be going back to Missouri in January.
You mentioned you were an exchange student, what made you decide to become one? Do you miss home?!
I’ve always wanted to travel, ever since I was little but figured that was something that would have to wait until I was older and had the money for it. But when I was a freshman one of my professors made our class go to the Study Aboard Center and write a mock essay, so once doing the research and finding out how affordable the Uni made it, I became obsessed with the idea.
I miss American food! I love England so much but the one thing I can’t get on board with is the food. Everything is covered in gravy, flavorless, and I don’t understand why so many things that aren’t pudding are called pudding. In the US the only pudding we have is a desert, so one time I ordered black pudding, thinking it was like chocolate or something. Imagine my surprise when I finally figured out I just ordered pigs blood. I haven’t really been homesick, I was actually every surprised. I suppose I haven’t had the chance to be. Coming here has been a nonstop adventure, there is never a dull moment and I’m constantly learning new things. Doesn’t leave much time to miss home. Also I’m a fourth year (a senior) back in America so I’ve been away from my family for a couple years and used to it.
Why the UK and why Manchester as your exchange uni?
Well I chose England because I have always been fascinated by British culture. My dad raised me on British comedy, programs like Fawlty Towers and Monty Python and movies like Arthur, A Fish Called Wanda and Notting Hill. I love Doctor Who and Sherlock…things my American friends wouldn’t find entertaining.
I chose Manchester because when I read about all my options, Manchester’s description reminded me of my hometown. Manchester and Kansas City are both big cities but they aren’t as big as cities like New York or London. They both have lots of things to do but it doesn’t cost a ton of money. Manchester has such a rich history, its absolutely beautiful, and the people are so nice. I know I made the right decision coming here!
How different is it from Missouri? What are a few of the biggest differences, and similarities, you’ve noticed?
Well, fun fact…. England is about the same size as Missouri. In Missouri, there are two types of people, city dwellers and country folk. Yet in England you drive for sixty miles and meet a dozen people all with different accents and sub cultures along the way. One difference is judgment of distance. My friends think four years is a crazy long journey. I think four hours sounds like nothing. It takes a whole day just to drive through Kansas.
Did you have any stereotypes about the UK before you got here? Have you noticed them or was it all just misconceptions?
I came to this country thinking everyone here was going to hate me. I was told that British people are stuck-up, and hate Americans for taking their language and butchering it. I was pleasantly surprised to find that that wasn’t the case. I found that once people realized I was American, they instantly wanted to talk to me. I get told all the time, “Oh I love your accent!” One of my friends tells me that I’m so fabulously American, so there are stereotypes that are true, such as, Americans are loud. Back home I’m considered soft spoken and quiet, but people here point out I’m loud all the time. What’s good is that people don’t hate me for them like I thought. I do wear a lot of bright colors…(oh and I spell color along with favorite differently).
I do have a few funny stories! I was hanging out with my friend, Drew. He asked if I wanted some tea, I told him yeah that I’d love some. He came back with dinner. I asked him, “What’s that?” He replied that he had made us ‘tea’. “That’s not tea”, I said. Then realizing that British people call dinner, tea. I was expecting the hot beverage. I had agreed to dinner and I wasn’t hungry.
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Favourite thing about Manchester so far?
The rich history. One of the many things I love about British culture is the value on history and tradition. I love history but nothing in my country is much older than two hundred years, and even then Americans don’t really care about preserving history. So most old buildings, that can be saved, end up being torn down and replaced with an ugly mini mall or parking lot. Manchester has so many museums, libraries, and beautiful architecture, its absolutely mind blowing for someone like me.
You must be part of a sorority coming from America…. What’s your funniest sorority story? And you’re leaving in January to go back home, do you think you’ll be back?
My sorority is called Phi Mu. My funniest story…well I refuse to date frat boys, mainly because boys who choose to live with 100 other boys tend to, though not always, develop a certain attitude towards women. They get in the habit of referring to girls as bitches and dating girls becomes a ‘challenge’ to impress their frat bros. I just choose not to be a part of all that but I still have lots of male friends in frats, I just don’t want to date them. Well several of my guy friends in this one frat knew my policy on dating frat guys, and when they were hazing their pledges, they made one of the challenges: “first pledge to get Rachel to go out of a date with them gets a prize. When asking her out you must dress and act like the stereotypical frat guy”. So at a social, I had no idea that they planned this, so I had twelve or so of their pledges following me around all night, and none of them took no for an answer. To get my friends back, my sorority sisters and I went to their rooms and stole all their condoms…
Any advice or tips to those considering an exchange? Or who just want to travel to a new country?
Do it! That’s the first and scariest step. Picking up and leaving your comfy life behind for a place you don’t know anyone and embarrassing yourself is almost a grantee but it will be worth it. Have a sense of humor and be open to new experiences. Holding on to your culture is great but embrace a new one isn’t going to lessen your own. Try everything even if it sounds or looks gross, its all part of the experience and you may even like it.
If you are shy like me, going to a different country is a great way to become more outgoing. You may not have anyone to go with but go out anyway. Go alone and introduce yourself to stranger. If you stay in then you will miss out.
Best thing about your exchange so far?
It’s cheesy but the best part about my exchange is the memories. I’ve learned so much from being here and everything I’ve learned has a funny story behind it. Truly the best experience of my life.
Last question we promise! Any embarrassing exchange stories?
[She laughs] Well I was dating four guys at one time and I didn’t even know it… In America, when a guy asks you on a date, he makes it clear it’s a date. When I first got here I met several boys. I would meet up with them at pubs, chat, and we would get to know each other. All seemed perfectly normal but just to be sure these weren’t dates, I paid for myself. One of the guys I had been hanging out with tried to kiss me and I told him that I didn’t like him that way. He insisted that we had been on several dates and acting as if I owed him something. I found out later that all these guys were under the impression we were dating! I learned that hanging out alone with a guy can be considered a date, which is unheard of in the US, I hang out with all male friends alone and they never consider it a date. So I had to break up with four guys who I didn’t even know I was dating.
(Photo credits to Rachel & Wendy Cooper)