Before going abroad I defined myself as: scared, excited, kind, caring, open-minded, ready for an adventure, and a collectivistic person. Even after my study abroad experience I would still define myself as all of those things, except for scared. Studying abroad helped me grow into a more independent and confident person. What scared me before going abroad is now something that I appreciate and have learned from. I learned how to be self-reliant and outgoing in a way I had not been before by doing things that scared me. I put myself out there and made myself vulnerable to everyone I met and in the process I discovered parts of myself that I did not know existed.
I thought that living in a big city would be my greatest disadvantage, but it actually became one of my favorite adventures. I would often just walk around and explore London with friends when we had free time. My two favorite places to walk were Southbank and the canal in Camden. Southbank had so much activity everyday that I could wander around for hours and never got bored. In Camden I often walked by the canal when I was stressed and homesick. It was so peaceful and the sound of the water made me feel at home in a way that I could not find anywhere else in London.
Londoners also met my expectations and more. They are private people until you ask for help. After you interact with them they are more open and willing to help you. For example, if I was lost and I did not know where the closest tube station was I could ask a stranger where to go and they would help me before continuing their day. One time I slipped and fell down the escalator in Camden Town Station on my way to class and 2 women were kind enough to help me up and make sure I was ok before we all continued our morning commute.
Experiencing different cultures by being immersed in the city that I was either visiting or living in changed how I experienced and viewed my surroundings. It allowed me to see the world through a local’s perspective instead of a tourist’s. I’m so thankful that I was given the opportunity to study abroad, make so many new friends, and experience a whole different way of life.