The Beginning of a New Adventure

Have you ever picked up, and moved across the world to study abroad? Most people would say that sounds like a scary but exciting experience, and I would have to agree. That being said, my decision to study abroad was an easy one. Despite the fears and nerves of leaving my family and friends, I knew this would be an adventure of a lifetime. Since I was a little kid I knew that I wanted to travel the world and experience other cultures. From hearing stories of my mom living overseas, to hearing about my other family members experiences studying abroad, I knew that studying abroad was a dream that would hopefully one day become reality. 

Flash back to the end of my second year of college. I nervously wandered into the education abroad office on campus with no idea what I was getting myself into. After learning about different programs that I could participate in, I, again, knew that I wanted to study abroad. After learning about the University of Reading, I was confident Reading would be the school and city for me. I really enjoyed that Reading was close to London and had lots of options for travel, shopping, and activities. Once I got my acceptance into the program, I anxiously planned out what to pack, planned my trips, and nervously said my goodbyes. I then got on the plane and was ready for whatever life would throw at me. 

I arrived in Reading at the beginning of January and have been here nearing a month and a half. Arriving in England was one of the most challenging, yet, rewarding experiences of my life; Those initial butterflies when arriving at the University of Reading, to missing little things from home, to experiencing the joys of making my first few friends and taking of the first trips outside of Reading are all experiences that shaped my initial abroad experience. So far, this adventure of studying abroad has been far better than I could have ever imagined. I have made many friends, explored some of England, and planned trips into Europe. Some of my favorite sites and cities have been Warwick Castle, Windsor, Bristol, Cardiff, and London.

It seems like just yesterday I was navigating the airports and figuring out how to work the public transportation system. Time really does fly by when you are having fun, and I would not trade this opportunity for anything. I can’t wait for what’s to come!