The Panther Newspaper: Ashley Tries Putting the Study Abroad Experience into Words

After three incredible months spent studying in London, I’ve been forever changed. I must return to the States soon, but Europe will always have a special place in my heart and I will miss it dearly until I finally get to return. This may be the end of my journey here, but the adventure in my soul will never cease to exist — and there are still so many parts of the world that are calling my name. If you have the opportunity to study abroad, I insist that you take it because this has been the greatest experience of my entire life.

I’ve compiled a list of tips and lessons I’ve learned along the way and I hope it can be of use to anyone who is traveling overseas in the near future.

*Me, posing in front of Big Ben and one of the city's famous red phone boxes.*

1. Culture shock isn’t a guarantee

Whether it’s because I grew up surrounded by a culture that doesn’t necessarily belong to me or it’s simply my adaptive personality, I never truly felt the culture shock that every study abroad student was prepped for extensively. I did notice small cultural differences, but it was never anything that caused the symptoms of this phenomenon, which tend to mirror those of anxiety and depression — even though they were made out to be imminent. After traveling to 16 cities in 11 foreign counties, not once have I been taken aback by the cultural differences and instead relished them while I had the chance (including the places where English isn’t the native language). The lesson here is this: never let a fear of homesickness hold you back.

2. Always take any necessary safety precautions

Keeping yourself safe should always be your first priority. There are often signs posted in public areas warning people about pickpocketing, which is a common (but thankfully non-violent) crime that occurs throughout Europe. To avoid becoming a victim, I tend to carry everything in a small clutch that I can easily keep track of while doing my best to blend in with the locals because foreigners are typically seen as easy targets. You also need to constantly be aware of your surroundings, especially in larger crowds. If your self-defense skills aren’t up to par, it can be a bit nerve-wracking because you aren’t allowed to carry any sort of weapon in the United Kingdom, not even pepper spray. Just being smart about your demeanor is really all you need to do. Confidence is key — act like you know where you’re going, even if you have no clue.

3. Public transportation is a blessing, not a curse

Although Orange County doesn’t have an underground metro system like most major cities in Europe, I truly wish that it would implement a similar system as it is fast, reliable and cheap. The alternative that is available is the bus system, and after being abroad I’ve realized how silly it is that taking the bus seems to be looked down upon by most people because many Europeans use public transportation consistently. Having a car consumes a lot of time (to take care of it), money and fossil fuels which are all problems that could be solved with a monthly bus pass. The only sacrifice is that you have to plan ahead a bit because you do have the slight inconvenience of adhering to the bus schedule — but there’s nothing wrong with getting somewhere a bit early because of that, especially if you’re like me and notoriously late for almost everything.

4. Academics differ in every country

I can only speak of the system in England, but it certainly contrasts with the American education that I’ve been exposed to previously. First off, telling any British student that I was a senior only led to me being given confused looks. University in the U.K. only consists of three years and they aren’t labeled as freshman, sophomore or junior year, but instead simply as year one, two and three. The university I studied at was quite small and reminded me of Chapman because of the small class sizes (and Sodexo’s presence on campus), but the lack of participation points and approximately 50 percent of your grade being based on the final were both factors that were new to me. The semester was also much shorter, but that was because of being a study abroad student and I certainly had no issues with it.

5. Go out of your way to meet locals

This bit is so important because it’s the only way you’ll truly be able to understand the culture of Britain or any other country that you visit. Granted, it was a bit difficult to meet people at my university since a lot of my classes mainly consisted of other study abroad students, but I found other ways to connect with Londoners. Joining clubs on campus is an easy way to meet people with similar interests as you, just like at any other college, because it’s much easier to strike up a conversation when you clearly have something in common. I also met locals by simply going out to pubs, which is always the start of a fun friendship. Another way to meet people is through dating apps, such as Tinder, even if you only use the chat feature and never actually meet any matches in person. It’s a great way to learn about the slang, dating culture and most importantly, get great suggestions for popular places that locals frequent — it also doesn’t hurt to get a compliment or two along the way. Who knows? Out of all those new friends, you may even meet an actual love interest, like I did.

6. The currency exchange rate can make or break your bank.

The United Kingdom is unique in many ways, but one of the most significant differences about the island nation is their use of the British pound. Before coming abroad, I knew that exchanging United States dollars for British pounds wasn’t going to turn out in my favor, but I didn’t think I would essentially be losing half of my money. The biggest downside to living in London was that the prices for most things are either the same as in the States or even more expensive. Every time I made a purchase, I’d add up how much I was spending in dollars and almost always cringed a little bit. But when I went to other countries like the Czech Republic or Hungary, I was pleasantly surprised with how little I was spending after making the same mental calculations. It all just depends on where you go.

My view of the Swiss Alps from a Ryanair plane, an airline that offers cheap flights to and from various European locations.

7. Travel often and see as much of the world as possible

Flights from the United Kingdom to other European cities tend to be surprisingly cheap, depending on where and when you want to go. It’s definitely worth it to take advantage of how close you are to countries that are normally on the other side of the world. Some of the best memories from studying abroad have been from my adventures to other countries and I feel truly blessed to have had the time and ability to travel about twice a month — only having classes two days out of the week helped. I continued on my journey after my term ended, but I know this is only the beginning of a life dedicated to fulfilling my wanderlust. Getting to see so many different cultures first-hand has allowed me to see the world through new eyes and appreciate it for all that it has to offer.

8. Don’t be afraid to act independently

*GIF courtesy isisthescientist.files.wordpress.com.*

Many people feel the need to travel in packs, but going places alone is one of the most freeing things you can do while abroad. You get to do whatever you want, whenever you what, wherever you want, and you don’t have to rely on or keep track of other people. Maybe it’s the introvert in me, but there are plenty of times where I don’t feel like socializing and would rather sit in silence while simply admiring the beauty of the world around me. When I have days like that, I don’t let it stop me from going on an adventure because sometimes the best days are when you make discoveries that you get to cherish by yourself. My entire reason for coming to Europe was to take the time to fully find and understand myself, which isn’t always possible with other people around, and I adore the nostalgia that comes from reliving your travels through the stories you bring home to your friends and family.

9. Always remember who and what you represent

No matter where you are in the world, you have to realize that you’re representing not just yourself and your home university, but your entire country. And not everyone is keen on interacting with United States citizens. Exactly how people feel about Americans completely depends on the individual — this goes for the Americans’ behavior and the preconceived notions of the person they’re communicating with. It’s vital to always present yourself in the best way possible and strive to make a good impression on everyone you meet.

10. Stay open-minded and be spontaneous

The worst thing you could do as a traveler is to close yourself off to new experiences or shut people out because they aren’t behaving in a way that you’re accustomed to. You have to realize that things are going to be different in every place you visit and you’re there to appreciate their culture, not force yours onto them. Try something you’ve never done before at least once a week to truly immerse yourself in the culture(s) you’ve chosen to learn more about. As long as you aren’t putting yourself or anyone else in danger, don’t give it a second thought and just do it. It will go by faster than you think and you only regret the things you don’t do.

Lead photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.