My Time in Reading
Coming from a university of 3,800 students, in a state I know like the back of my hand, I wasn’t quite sure what ‘studying abroad’ would look like for me. Reading certainly had tough competition, but I can say with confidence that the experience was all that, and a bag of chips (crisps). Although my time here was brief, the adventures I took, the people I met, and the lessons I learned will stay with me for a lifetime.
The Study Abroad office has been a home away from home, and I will forever treasure making Chris go red in the face from laughing. They not only made the transition seamless, but they looked out for their students, connecting us to the campus and creating events and adventures so we could explore the UK. The most valuable thing to me was knowing that if I missed my family, I could find Helen and get the best bear hug this side of the pond.
The modules I took might not’ve fit under my major back home, but they enriched my experience and challenged my American notions of study and research. Jacqui Turner’s ‘Rebel Girls’ module on Victorian feminism has been the most entertaining, educational, and challenging course I’ve ever taken, and I wouldn’t trade the late night studying and essay work for anything. ‘Past in the Present’ got me into the Ure Museum, and thinking about ancient Greece in new and engaging ways. And of course, ‘Modern Britain’ with Lucy Watson was the most satisfying way to end every Friday. For a course on British culture in modern society, it was the most global environment I’ve ever been in.
Both in and out of class, I’ve met so many amazing people while studying here, especially in my flat (shoutout Bridges C3.1). The days and evenings spent crowding into the kitchen, just talking and laughing with some of the most genuine and kind girls from around the world are priceless to me. Special thanks to my 姐姐 [big sister], Hannah, for teaching me so many Chinese recipes, and Sara, Sofia, Giovanna, and Giorgia for spending Thanksgiving with me. I’ve met so many incredible people while working on class projects and mingling at campus events, all of whom have colored my life for the better. I’ll treasure the memories and friendships for a lifetime.
I would be remiss not to mention the adventures I took on my own, possible entirely by the grace of Reading’s public transport. Being so close to places like Bath, London, and Oxford meant my weekends were filled with travel and sightseeing. Downtown Reading is a bus ride away from campus, and it is packed literally to the brim with restaurants, shops, events, and things to see. I have eaten some of the best food of my life while I’ve visited, and spent at least 200 pounds total in the local Asian convenience store. I fulfilled my childhood dream of visiting 221B Baker’s Street, and only cried a little, and watched ducks on the Thames. There’s truly never a dull moment in Reading, all you have to do is take that number 20 bus.
The Study Abroad experience at Reading is one of a kind, and something I endorse to anyone even slightly interested in trying it. It’s so much more than an educational opportunity, it’s a broadening of horizons.
