Studying abroad is kind of like crossfit: once you do it, you just don't stop talking about it. It's like you are truly a changed person. Students dream of studying abroad, but many factors prevent them, including things like money, or the fact that violent acts of terrorism keep happening all over the world, and that is a little intimidating, or maybe your parents don't approve of sending you off on a "vacation." Regardless of the limitations that could prevent you going abroad, overcome them and just do it. I just got back from Europe and it was one of the coolest things I have ever done in my life. I went to study architecture technically, but learned so much more. It was all started by a sorority sister mentioning the trip to me, so that day I picked up an application and told my mom I was headed to the UK come May, and here I am now.

I started my journey in London (I went to Paris, France too, but for now we will only talk about London), which was by far one of the best cities that I have ever been to. There are so many things I could tell you, but I'll just give you the important details. This city is as busy as New York City, and as beautiful and monumental as Washington, DC. Everyone is in a rush. They are dedicated to their work, and they are pretty reserved. Once Londoners find out that you're from America, they ask you about things such as Donald Trump, "South Park," and fried chicken (yay for stereotypes of America). Some interesting things I discovered in London are that you have to pay to use the restrooms in Europe, they don't have wash cloths in their homes, hotels, etc., and refills don't come free. The people here love to drink; in fact once they get off work, everyone heads to one of the hundreds of pubs London has to offer. I even saw one lady with her baby in the pub. Drinking and driving doesn't seem to be an issue for these partiers because Londoners' use public transportation everywhere they go. The city itself has so many beautiful sites, one of my absolute favorites being Saint Paul's Cathedral, talk about architecture and talk about a view. This should be on everyone's bucket list.

I learned many things in London, but the biggest lesson was how thankful I am that America is so free. In London you walk the streets and everyone looks/acts the same, but in America you can act, say, do, wear, and dream however you'd like. America holds diversity and opportunity that we tend to take for granted. One Londoner explained to me that many British Entrepreneurs leave the United Kingdom to come to America in order to make it, because in America reputation doesn't matter like it does there. You can be born poor and make it to the top in the United States because everyone is granted privilege to the American Dream. Hearing these words come from someone who wishes for that opportunity really makes you take a step back and appreciate where you're from.

Studying abroad helped me understand how thankful I am to come from a place as special as the United States. It doesn't matter where you study, you will probably come back feeling the same way and looking at life in a new light. As said before, I also went to France and it gave me the same overwhelming feeling of blessings, but that is for another article, another week.

Count your blessings, dream big, take opportunities, and travel abroad. You won't regret it.