Dear pre-departure Katherine,
Get ready for one of the most exciting and formative experiences of your life! This journey has truly changed me so much and I am so grateful to have experienced it. While studying abroad, I have grown in ways that I expected to and also in unexpected ways that have been so formative. I have definitely gained a lot of independence, increased adaptability, and a newfound appreciation for other cultures. I came to London expecting to grow in these ways and I am glad that I have done so. I feel that I have also grown more confident in myself, which was something I did not really consider before coming here. I have had to put myself out there in new ways and in new places, both of which have made me a more confident person overall.
Something I wish I’d have known at the beginning of the program was how fast it would all go. The thought of living abroad for 3.5 months was a little daunting at first, but it has truly flown by and I wish I could ease my worries about it in the beginning. I have had incredible opportunities to explore so much of London, travel to other countries, and indulge myself in European culture. It is hard to believe that I created all these new, incredible memories in really such a short amount of time. I have tried my best to make the most of every moment spent here because I know it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I truly would not trade this experience for anything and can’t believe it’s almost over!
As I am reflecting on this time abroad, there are a few things that come to mind regarding what was most surprising about my global experience. First of all, I was surprised by where I would recognize cultural differences. I thought that they would be very apparent and perhaps even overwhelming, but I found them to be rather subtle for the most part. Of course the lack of a language barrier here helps, but overall I found the cultural differences to be very manageable and even fun to discover!
With only 2.5 weeks left in my time here, I really just feel so appreciative of this whole experience and know that I will carry these memories with my for the rest of my life. I wish I could go back and do it all over again!
My family visited me a few weeks ago and we traveled to Paris together! I love London but it’s so fun exploring other cities too 🙂