When I was 18, weeks from being 19 I went to the study abroad office and handed in an application to go to England for the Spring semester. I was fresh out of a breakup and I desperately needed to get away. I needed to get to know myself better and become more independent.
It was a whirlwind. I got my acceptance (shockingly), followed quickly by passport, visa, and a plane ticket. I blinked and I was on a massive jet with tear stained eyes.
England was a breath of fresh air for me. The rolling hills were mesmerizing for me, with cascades of shades of green. There were tiny villages everywhere and each one had its own pub. I was in an old world and I was exactly where I needed to be.
I had the unique experience of getting to stay with family members throughout my semester away. I was able to develop a beautiful relationship with my godfather and his family. His wife taught me how to make a true cup of English tea and that digestives are a true pairing. It was surreal to be surrounded by relatives so far away from home. I learned of a beautiful lineage of my family and read several books written by my great grandmother and namesake. I got to visit her college at Oxford, where she was one of the first women to attend. I had the privilege of going to a concert with my godfather, feeding horses with my uncle, and visiting old tea houses with my cousin. That was one sliver of my experience.
Not many people can say that their first apartment was in a foreign country. I do have the privilege. My wonderful aunt and uncle stocked me up with all kinds of goods and moved me into a town house in the middle of Hull. Cranbrook Ave would be my world's center. All of my fellow international friends lived along this road. Some of my favorite memories were inside these shabby homes,eating incredible food. These friends became my family. They taught me that distance can not devalue memories. I wish I talked to them more but I know we are in each other's thoughts. They taught me the importance of learning from new cultures and to respect one another's ideals. We had this incredible opportunity to not only discover one another's customs, but we also were learning the culture surrounding us.
I learned so much about myself during that time and my family history. I learned that my great great great grandfather was award winning archer (and I got to see and hold his golden arrow in the museum). I learned it's okay to trust new people because they could be people that will share some of your dearest memories. I learned to love history and appreciate architecture. I learned to be alone and develop independence. As Andy Bernard said in the Office, "I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you actually left them."
