What I learned studying abroad in England

In January last year, I went with a group of students on a whirlwind tour of seven English cities for two weeks. We stayed in Liverpool, London, and Oxford, and took day trips to York, Chester, Bath, and the Cotswolds. This was a highly transformative experience that taught me a lot about the world, life, and myself.

I highly encourage all college students to consider studying abroad because doing so exposes them to new ideas and teaches life lessons. 

By immersing themselves in a new environment, students who study abroad can practice intercultural communication skills and expand their global perspectives. 

Although I only stayed there for two weeks, studying abroad in England allowed me to get a taste of a new environment, which helped me begin to grow intercultural communication skills and cultural literacy. 

One exchange I had with a cashier in Liverpool exemplified this occurrence: I went up to the counter to order a sandwich, and the cashier asked me, “Are you okay?” 

I felt baffled. Do I look like I’m not okay? I thought. 

I didn’t know what to say, so I just ordered my food without answering his question. 

After the interaction, a quick Google search taught me that “Are you okay?” is a greeting similar to “How are you?” in the United States., and that an appropriate response would be “Yeah great, thanks. You?”

I still messed up the response a couple of times later on in the trip, but I began to get the hang of it. 

I learned from this experience that it’s important to prepare oneself for cultural exchanges in a new country by learning the culture’s norms, customs, language, communication styles, and more. 

In addition to gaining greater intercultural awareness, studying abroad also challenged me to take greater responsibility for my life and improve my problem-solving skills. 

At one point, I lost the laundry pods I packed and needed to ask one of my peers for help with getting my laundry done. This mistake taught me to be resourceful and willing to ask for help when it comes to navigating everyday problems. 

Not only did I improve my intercultural communication skills and problem-solving skills, but I also learned the importance of staying open to learning new things.

I learned many fun, interesting facts that I never would have learned had I not gone on this trip. 

When our group took a tour of the Globe Theatre in London, we learned that back in Shakespeare’s time, audience members wanted to get a seat near the sides of the stage rather than near the front of the stage so that they could “hear the play.” 

Paying attention and being present in a foreign environment can lead one to learn information they never would have expected to learn. By opening myself up to acquiring more knowledge, I returned to the U.S. with a bit more of a well-rounded perspective on life. 

I also learned about cultural values in England that I would like to see emulated here in the U.S.

England has invested in many efforts to encourage sustainable living, such as only giving out plastic bags at grocery stores when customers ask for them and offering plenty of plant-based options in restaurants and shops. These are practices that I want to see more of in the U.S. 

I also appreciate the balanced lifestyle that many people in England seem to live. In the cafes, restaurants, and shops, I noticed that people tend to take their time with eating and shopping and tend to be present with the people they’re with. 

I loved immersing myself in this more mindful, relaxed way of life, and I’m currently working on learning to “stop and smell the roses” more often. 

Overall, this experience was truly memorable and life-changing. 

For me, it marks a milestone in gaining a newfound sense of independence, confidence, and self-awareness, and I’ll never forget each city’s essence: the industrial feel of Liverpool, the old-timey, touristy feel of York, the quaint, classy feel of Chester, the cosmopolitan feel of London, the college-town feel of Oxford, the spa-culture feel of Bath, and the cottage-core feel of the Cotswolds. 

If you want to challenge yourself to expand your worldview and get out of your comfort zone, go study abroad — it is worth the investment because you’ll return having learned ideas and lessons that will last you a lifetime.