One morning towards the middle of August, I was once again woken up by the gentlemen power washing the streets outside my window, tables being set up at La Raza below, bells from bikes pedaling fast to work on Trinity Street. The refreshing cool breeze that swept through my window on Rose Crescent brought the sounds of Cambridge alive outside. I thought to myself how lucky I was to be able to wake up in such a beautiful place. While spending the summer in England wasn’t the easiest decision to make and it certainly presented its challenges, those quiet, peaceful moments reminded me of why I chose to go abroad, and those are the moments that I ache for now. Those six weeks were some of the most exhilarating, terrifying, challenging, and incredible weeks of my life. I learned so much about myself, about the absolutely breathtaking city of Cambridge, how to live in another culture, and how to explore a new strange place with people that I now consider family. Most importantly I learned vital lessons about life.
I learned how to say no and that it was ok to be selfish every once in a while. When you go abroad, everything is so fresh and new. You want to try everything you possibly can and do everything you can possibly do. However, sometimes you need time alone to reboot and that is ok. It is ok to say no if a friend asks you to grab lunch with them so you can wander by yourself. It is ok to go shopping without a buddy or go do homework in the park alone. I absolutely loved hanging out at local shops and exploring new places with my friends, don’t get me wrong, but those times where I wandered the streets of Cambridge by myself where some of the best moments as well.
I learned how to be confident. When you are thrown into a new place, with new people across the world, and in a different time zone, it is easy to be flustered and want to curl up in your room all day. It can definitely be overwhelming. But at the same time, yes you may not know anyone, but that can also be a beautiful thing. I didn’t have to worry about being judged by those around me or possibly seeing someone I knew around every corner. Living in Cambridge brought out a side of me that I have never experienced before. I was fearless. I was brave. I was confident and carefree. When you are forced into a new culture, that side of you is bound to come out because you almost don’t have a choice. I learned how to walk around with my head held high and in turn, I was able to bring that attitude back with me to Durham.
I learned about humility and responsibility. When you encounter a new place or culture, it is key to stay humble. You will most likely mess up certain words, say something funny, or get weird looks from locals. It is inevitable; you are a tourist after all. Embrace it. By accepting yourself as an outsider, you can gain a new perspective and appreciate the culture more than if you were trying too hard to fit in. When I first went to a restaurant, I asked for my food as “take-out” but I got a funny look because in England it is called “take-away.” I laughed it off and said I was new to the area and the worker laughed it off with me. Own the fact that you are from a different country! I also learned that you really have to be responsible not only with decisions that you make but with your money (especially when the currency exchange rates are terrible and you can burn through pounds very quickly) and your time. It is very easy to spend the days roaming around but you have to remember to put time aside to stay on top of homework.
I learned the significance of spontaneity. At college, you establish a routine for yourself, with class, work, and clubs. I work best with structure and having a plan every day, so going abroad for me was very difficult. The unexpected really scared me but over time, I learned how exhilarating and empowering it was to just let go. Some of the best memories I have of the summer were the days where a group of us would wander with no destination in mind. That is where we found our favorite restaurants or stores like Primark and even a Starbucks (we couldn’t live without our Frappuccino’s, let’s be honest). We can’t control everything. Sometimes too much planning and too much structure kill the magic of the moment. Once you surrender to the possibilities around you, I promise it will be the most liberating feeling you have ever experienced. Spontaneity is the best kind of adventure.
I learned the importance of looking up. We live in a world that is technologically driven. We walk around with our heads in our phones checking out the latest Tweets or Facebook updates. When I went to England, I didn’t have my phone with me very often because I didn’t want the high data charges. All that I had was a cheap burn phone that let me send short texts, call friends in the program if I needed to, and tell me what time it was. A couple days after I was there, I noticed how freeing it felt not to be on my phone all of the time. I was able to look up and admire the unimaginable beauty around me. If I was walking around with my smart phone, I could have missed the intricate detailing on the ancient buildings, the singer on the corner of the street, or a wave from John at Cambridge Crepes. When you are glued to your screen, you can miss so much. But when you stop for a moment and look around you, you can see how amazing life can be. To quote the fantastic Ferris Bueller himself, “Life moves pretty fast, if you don’t stop and look around once in a while you could miss it.”
Once you set yourself free, the possibilities are endless. I will forever relish in everything that going abroad taught me. I confronted my fears, met incredible people that I will forever call my family, experienced moments that I will never forget, and explored the most marvelous places. In Cambridge, England I felt myself changing. I became stronger, more confident, spontaneous, humble and responsible. I came out on the other side a new person with a new appreciation for life. This is both a love letter and thank you note to Cambridge but it is also to convey how wonderful it is to live in a foreign city. Going abroad is something that everyone should experience because you can learn so much in such a short period of time. It will truly change your life.