However, I have not been very prompt with cataloging my time abroad. Rather than exclaiming like an anxious white rabbit that I am late for an important date, I will simply take the time to try and remember everything important that has happened in the last three weeks. (It's okay, I don't I have class tomorrow and sleep is for the week!)
Anyways. Hi! Hello! This is your dear friend, junior English major, Art minor, former Manchester University student, current University of Gloucestershire student, former Resident Assistant, current average adult Emily reporting for duty! The past three weeks have been a whirlwind, but lets get started on remembering!
Week One (10 Jan.-17 Jan.)
This was a crazy, crazy, cray week! I officially landed in London at 7 a.m. after a sleepless flight and then bravely began the adventure that was getting to Cheltenham on my own since I was unable to join the other students in the study abroad program on their group flight due to a polar vortex. I wasn't completely alone, there is one other student from MU studying at UoG with me and we were both kept from joining the group flight due to the storm. But none of that mattered any more because we were finally in England, meeting with and talking to other Uni students at the bus station (both British and American!), seeing benches that could be used for mermaids on the sleepy bus ride, and then being greeted by our Resident Director, Denise, with the warmest hug when we stepped off the bus in Cheltenham. Soon we were settled in our rooms in the hall we would be living in and fighting the jetlag until it was an acceptable time to fall asleep.
The next few days were a bit of a blur between going out to a pub with several of the students in our study abroad group, wandering the town of Cheltenham with a smaller group of girls, meeting my (FREAKING AMAZING) flatmates, shopping for the various things I needed for my room (that I couldn't pack in my suitcase), and beginning my classes. However, the excitement of being in a new country faded a bit and the real adjusting began.
I've been abroad before and have experienced new and exciting cultures, however I was a tourist of sorts then and I knew that I would be returning home and returning to a comfortable schedule in two weeks. This time I'm actually living in a new country and, as a result, have to find a home and a schedule here. Things have been (and some times) hard and difficult in terms of transitioning to a new course schedule, a new group of people to live with, a new time zone, a new money system, ect. And while it's easy for me to dress the part and pretend that I am a fellow British student, my cover is always blown as soon as I open my mouth to talk and people here my accent. Being an American abroad is both a blessing and a curse- I can both get away with messing up everyday tasks (like buying movie tickets) because I'm foreign and cute but I also feel as though people are just waiting for me to mess up and then just write me off when I do. The transition to life here has also been difficult with my main support system of friends in the states. I cannot tell you how many times I've cursed the time difference because I'll have been lonely in my room and unable to contact one of my friends from home because they are asleep or in class. This was one of the biggest things I dealt with that first week.
However! The week ended on a high note when I was taken out to a pub with one of the girls in my study abroad group I have now become rather good friends with! The Snugly Ducking (the nickname I have given the pub that is actually called The Frog and The Fiddle) became our favorite place that night where Rebecca and I shared drinks and discussed literature, art, college life, grad schools, transitioning struggles, and spring break plans. I seriously found my spirit animal in that girl and I could be happier. The next day we also found a kindred spirit in my flatmate, Kelly.
Week Two (18 Jan. - 24 Jan.)
Week two began with the wonderful trip to Liverpool! While I am not the biggest fan of the Beatles, I had the best of times with two of the biggest Beatles fans I have ever met: Rebecca and Kelly. Together we wandered the Tate Museum of Modern Art where I was reunited with some familiar names;
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| Like Miro |
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| Accurate fangirling |
and then ended the afternoon at the Beatles Museum.
The rest of the day was made when I went out for a night on the town with my flatmates. Just so everyone knows, English Burger King is just as good and as wonderful as Casey's popcorn chicken while on late night adventures.
The rest of the week went swimmingly. Classes were lovely and intellectual, the students there began to open up to me (the week before I felt like I was just the annoying newbie who knew nothing), I made late-night food adventures with my flatmates,
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| Which is conveniently next to The Snugly Duckling |
bonded with people through beautiful heart-to-hearts, re-discovered my love for Wes Anderson films, shopped for cute, European fashion,
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| This skirt is my new favorite thing ever |
became emotionally compromised by so many attractive and bearded faces,
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| I swear I become emotionally compromised every time I leave my flat |
enjoyed and photographed as much sunlight as I could,
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| England is absolutely gorgeous when it isn't a giant puddle |
skyped/facetimed/snapchatted with my people at home,
danced, laughed, and remembered how to breathe.
There are still some random hard moments where I miss my friends, my family, and my home (both at my parents houses and at Manchester -- specifically Schwalm Hall). But I'm slowly but surely finding my place and finding my way in this new land thanks to the wonderful friends and experiences I am making here and the care and support from those back home.
I promise I'll be a good reporter and keep you all updated on what comes next for me in the upcoming weeks abroad. Until then, I bid you adieu!
Much love,
Emily
