Study abroad: While it may only look like two simple words, there's so much hidden behind it all. To someone who has never lived and studied abroad, it is a dream, an ambition, or even just two words that their eyes pass through on a page. To someone who has done it all, it triggers a constant flow of memories, nostalgia, overwhelming feelings of missing your homestay country and the want to live it all again.
Three days ago, I was able to say to someone, "I am studying abroad," but now I am home. I have studied abroad. That is an odd feeling for me to wrap my head around. Everything has been done. Over with. As I sit at my kitchen table writing this down, I feel like the last four months of my life have been a dream. Like I just took a really long nap and had a super epic dream. The only proof I have are my memories that I am trying so hard to hold onto, my photos, what I have collected along the way, and my barely-there bank account.
Despite everything, there are so many aspects of living in England I will miss, and there are also parts I am happy to be free of. Everyone's situations and stories are different. But these are the top things I will and will not miss about living in the United Kingdom.
The Currency
If you study abroad in England, you understand the pain. The pound to the dollar is killer. Walking up to an ATM is something everyone dreads, and somehow the machine always feels the need to tell you exactly how many US dollars you are really taking out of your bank account. Like no, I think I'm good, but thanks for making sure I knew I was slowing getting broke.
Food Options
Eating in the UK is interesting. I wouldn't say the food is necessarily bad, but it certainly isn't the best place to eat. I mean if you're looking for some killer fish and chips then yeah I'd say go for it. But overall there is just a sense of the same bland options, and I can honestly say that every time I traveled, most of my money was spent on food. I mean who wouldn't opt to eat paella for every meal while staying in Spain for the weekend...
Proper English Cream Tea
Honestly, seeing that advertised all over England is something I'm already craving. From the fresh scones and cute little individual tea pots right down to the tea because yes, England actually does have the best tea out there. No, of course I'm not biased...what?
Central London
This is the dream right here. Living 30 minutes away from central, I was able to easily hop on a train from my university to Waterloo Station and walk right up to the London Eye and Big Ben. And yeah, it's cliche and touristy, but try telling me you would get sick of seeing the view of Parliament and Westminster Abbey every time you rode into the city. It was a view I never ever got sick of. Ever.
The Accents
Another obvious one, but everywhere I walked, I would hear "You alright?" meaning "How's it going?" I loved to eavesdrop on conversations as I walked to class just because I wanted to listen to the accents. And of course, traveling to other countries meant new languages and new accents along with getting lost because you didn't remember a lick of Italian from the two years you took in college. It's all part of the fun.
I could probably list a million things to be honest. Studying abroad is something I will highly recommend to anyone who asks me about it. Four months ago I was a very different person, and yeah everyone says that. "I'm different now!" Yes, but you won't ever understand what we mean if you don't experience it for yourself. Leaving your home, flying eight plus hours to an entirely new part of the world, starting a new life there, making entirely new friends and traveling with strangers to unknown places will change you. How could it not?
For me, study abroad isn't just a word anymore. It's a brand new piece of the puzzle that makes up who I am today.
