Jacklyn Estrin
"Originally I was nervous to travel alone, but I ended up doing a lot of solo travel. I learned a lot about myself, gained confidence, and learned to become comfortable with the uncomfortable."
I had dreamed of going to England since I was eight years old. I wanted to experience the rich history that England has to offer and travel to the birthplace of Harry Potter! I wanted to explore everything from cosmopolitan cities, to castles and idyllic countryside. I had a hunger to see the world and I knew England was where I wanted to start my adventures!
There were so many! One really special experience was touring Buckingham Palace and watching the Changing of the Guards. It is a definite must-see when travelling in London!
Originally I was nervous to travel alone, but I ended up doing a lot of solo travel. I learned a lot about myself, gained confidence, and learned to become comfortable with the uncomfortable.
I had class Tuesday through Thursday. After, I would usually return to my "flat" - I had a single room and private bathroom. I would cook dinner in my flat's communal kitchen and eat dinner (and sometimes dabble in karaoke) with my British flatmates. I often spent the weekends traveling, either within England or out of the country.
I took Fundamentals of Management, an impressionism art history class, and two classes that allowed me to take my learning outside of the classroom. I took Architecture of London and London Culture from Chaucer to Punk. Both had walking tours every other week. It was valuable to explore London through both an academic lens and a tourist's point of view. The assignments are largely back-loaded at the end of the semester. My grade was based on a few assignments, typically a midterm essay and a final essay or exam. It is definitely a self-directed style of learning. There are readings before each class, but there is very little class time. My classes only met once a week for an hour or two. It was nice though, because it offered a lot of flexibility for travel.
One of the most valuable components of studying abroad was the ability to live with British and international students. I lived in an apartment with four British students and one student from Shanghai. We frequently sat around our kitchen table talking about our hometowns and sharing stories from our childhood. It felt so good to laugh together and come home each day to a wonderful and welcoming group of friends who became as close as family by the end of my time abroad.
Because I did a lot of solo travel, I learned a great deal about myself. I feel more confident in myself than I ever have before. Now I am ready and eager to keep my adventures going and I look forward to seeing myriad countries and cultures throughout my life.
Don't be afraid to travel by yourself, you will learn so much! Plan your trips in advance because it can be expensive to be spontaneous. Don't spend every weekend travelling because your host country has so much to see and explore. Get to know the local people or students at your host university. It is incredibly valuable to hear the experiences and stories from people with a different background than yours. Learn, explore, and enjoy! The time goes by really quickly!