Looking Back

Hello! My name is Rachael Pompeii and I am going to be a senior English Literature and Professional Writing major this year at King’s.  A little over a month ago I came back from a semester abroad in Manchester, England.  Although it would have been great to document my experiences as they happened over the five months I was away, unfortunately King’s started this study abroad blog near the end of my journey.  Instead, I am going to try my hardest to recall some of my best memories, my biggest challenges, and all of the things that made my study abroad experience the best time of my life.

After being home for over a month, I have quickly come to realize how much my study abroad experience meant to me.  After getting over the initial shock of being unable to walk anywhere I need to go but instead having to actually drive somewhere and put gas in a car, I began to realize the deeper reasons behind my disappointment in being back in the same town I have lived in for 21 years.  While abroad, I was forced into the most independence I have had thus far in my life.  This independence was very scary, but now I realize that focusing on myself and my desires for five months is something I miss as I am returning to my normal life full of commitments.  My time abroad taught me so much, but above all it taught me just what I am capable of as an individual.  I went from the comfort of the approximate 200 mile radius that I travel on a regular basis to having the world at my fingertips.  In Manchester, I found myself able to jump on a RyanAir flight to Prague, grab a MegaBus to Wales, or catch a Virgin Train to London.  Once in these amazing places, my new-found friends and I were forced to deal with obstacles we never thought we would overcome.  We were constantly navigating new cities, learning new transportation (many times in a foreign language!), and living in any hostel that could give us the best rate.  There were times when I felt like we would never make it and that my back would break from all the weight in my backpack, but we always made it in the end.  I certainly learned that travelling takes patience and effort, but I never once would look back and say the hardships weren’t worth it.  Not only did I learn what it takes to travel, but I learned that I posses what it takes.

Thinking back on my time abroad, the overwhelming feeling I have is nostalgia.  Although I just recently returned home, my time abroad already feels like a lifetime ago.  It is an experience that I never fullygrasped when I was away, and the time went too quickly.  I have only the fondest memories of the English culture I was emersed in, the people I met and traveled with, and the places I visited.  In continuing to blog over the next couple of months, I hope to not only provide those of you looking towards your own study abroad experience with some helpful stories and hints about the places I have been and English culture in general, but I also hope to sort out my own thoughts and feelings about the past five months.  There is so much to think about and remember, and I look forward to sharing it with anyone who wants to read!   

About these ads