54 days is how long I’ve been in the UK, that’s nearly two months, which surpasses my previous record of being away from home for only 4 weeks! I reached the halfway point early last week so I thought I’d take the time to reflect on my progression and what one might be able to expect especially if this is the first time being away for an extended period of time. In the study abroad intro videos Iowa State touches on the highs and lows referring to it as somewhat analogous to a roller coaster. I think that’s a good way of summing it up, and it will definitely be different for everyone. I’ll break up my experience into sections.
Weeks 1-2; This was the time when I traveled around before classes started. This was definitely the time when I was figuring things out, everything from planes and trains to hotels and hostels. I was a little nervous facing a new country and new situations by myself, but the busy rush of the first few weeks pushed me through it and now the things that always seemed so intimidating are a part of everyday life. However, some nights I did find myself missing friends and family back home. By the end of the second week I was definitely ready to move into my university accommodation.
Weeks 3-5; The next three weeks flew by, in previous posts I talked about all the things that needed to be done upon arrival to the University. I was meeting all kinds of new people and getting to know my city. Not to mention classes on the side! These three weeks literally felt like one week.
Week 6; During week 6 my family came to visit, I was running between classes and the city center everyday to visit with them. We also traveled around on the weekends, which was a nice change after being in Birmingham for a month. This week flew by just as fast as the others.
Week 7: The seventh week definitely slowed down compared to the rest. This was the week that I hit the halfway mark. On one hand the days leading up to it seemed to have gone by in the blink of an eye, but on the other hand it seemed like a lifetime ago that I first boarded the plane to London. Fall was in full swing, and being one of my favorite seasons, I found myself missing home and all the activities that come with Fall. Now in the grand scheme of things it’s not like English culture differs a lot from American culture. However, the city life is nearly complete opposite from my rural home area. This was the main source of feeling homesick. There are no open roads to drive on, no open spaces to walk in, save for a few parks here and there. At home I would travel miles to go various places for shopping, visiting people etc. Here, life is lived in a 2 square mile box at most. Everything you need is packed in it. Which is convenient, but doesn’t allow for the feeling of much space or freedom I get when living in a more rural area.
In conclusion, I’m normally not one for being away from my hometown for long periods of time so I imagined I would get quite homesick. Which I have here and there, but luckily, not nearly as much as I anticipated I would. The one thing I have found the most helpful to stay content with where you are is to stay busy. Whether it be with classes, traveling, hanging with friends, exploring the city, etc. as long as you continually mix it up so that you can avoid boredom things will go much smoother. I may touch on this topic again toward the end of the semester to see how the second half progresses.
-Quinton
The American Globetrotter 