Study Abroad: Lessons Learned

With finals closing in on me, I am already creating my last to do list. Those crucial things that absolutely need to get done before I fly out of here for good: sell my bike, use up gift cards, redeem coffee points, (buy another suitcase?), the list goes on. As I wrap up my life here and prepare to go home, I’ve been reflecting on this semester as a whole.

 Not surprisingly, studying abroad has proven to be an amazing experience. There are no comparisons I can draw to transplanting my life across the ocean. I have learned so much about the place I’m living, the places I visit, and myself. Mark Twain said it best with “travel is fatal to prejudice,” because I certainly feel more connected to the world. These people around me aren’t foreigners, and I’m not a foreigner; we are all citizens of this Earth. We all love and laugh and cry just the same. I feel more open minded, patient, and accepting.
 
But of course some lessons are learned the hard way, for me–through regret. Coming here, I knew nothing and no one. Everything had a clean slate: the place, the people, and me. It felt like freshman year all over again, especially the part where everyone frantically pairs off into circles of friendship that feel somewhat forced, hasty, and uncomfortable. Inevitably, that wave passed, classes began, and things began to feel more authentic, and then more routine. London became a home for us all.
 
All the while, I placed myself at a distance from the experience. I was afraid to become attached to things that were so impermanent. One of my favorite people here, my roommate goes to Boston University. The University College of London Frisbee team I play with will not be following me home. Unconsciously, I have made certain I do not attach myself to anything that would be too heart wrenching to let go of and in the process have potentially missed out.

I don’t remember this feeling from summer camp. Every summer hoards of kids completely immerse themselves in their newfound communities, disregarding the inevitable parting. I totally ignored it and fostered some real friendships with all the emotions and effort I could possibly provide. But not in London.
 
Now I’m older, but maybe not wiser. This isn’t summer camp, but it’s an equally fleeting three-month excursion from my norm. From the start I had the end in mind and protected myself, and my feelings, to a regrettable extent. I forwent certain outings and social events for my own personal betterment–for things that would outlast my time here in London. Somehow I had forgotten that memories outlast feelings.
 
And so, if I could pass on any sort of lesson from my time abroad, it would be to never let circumstances impede on an experience. Try not to place things in the context of your larger life, because you’ll miss the important details that appear trivial. If I could do it all again, I would embrace every nook and cranny of this city, my friendships, and my teammates. I would take more risks and allow myself to be more vulnerable.
 
 Live in the moment. Cheers.