By Grace White
Have you ever wanted to study abroad? Exploring the world is an amazing experience, and while we are here on campus, it can sometimes be fun to live through the abroad experiences of others! With that, let’s have a chat with Emily Miziniak ‘23, who is an Honors student studying in London this semester.
Like many students, Emily wanted to go abroad, but she wasn’t sure that she would be able to. “I’ve always wanted to travel and I love exploring new cities with lots of history, so studying abroad seemed like an amazing opportunity to travel and continue my studies. I chose to study abroad in England for many reasons, but ultimately I thought I would feel the most comfortable and safe here. When the pandemic hit, I thought studying abroad was off the table for me, but the SNC study abroad office gave me all the information and updated me along the whole process to make sure I could study abroad safely,” Emily explained.
Now that she is abroad, Emily is taking advantage of the culture of the city she finds herself in. “I love the mix of historic and modern buildings, the mosaic of different cultures and accents, and the combination of environment and sustainability found in the biggest city in England. Everywhere I look, there are interesting things to see and hidden details easily missed. For example, I live in a dorm right next to a park/train station, which happens to have one of the only giant redwoods in London, something easily missed, but also extraordinary because giant redwoods are not supposed to be able to grow here,” she explains, talking about some of her more general experiences. In addition to these experiences, Emily has engaged with a lot of exciting and specific activities. “I love walking along the Thames towards Tower Bridge, going to see musicals in historical theatres for my musical theatre class, and curating a list of bookstores in London I want to visit, among other things. Recently, I have been looking into the classification of London as a forest by the UN, finding interesting places (like the redwood!) and parks that hold diverse secrets. (Parks are also a great place to drink coffee and bask in main character vibes),” she explains. Anyone going to England should certainly take note of these activities, because who doesn’t want to “bask in main character vibes” while exploring a new world (especially if you are doing so in an informed and conscientious way, respecting the lives of those who live in the country you are visiting).
Of course, studying abroad isn’t just about sight-seeing. As the “studying” part implies, there is a lot of school work to do. However, there are some major differences between studying in a foreign country and studying in the U.S., as Emily has discovered. “Classes are set up in a lecture-seminar format, and because of the pandemic, most lectures are pre-recorded and virtual. I have a reading and a lecture to take notes on each week, and then small groups of students meet for a seminar, where we discuss relevant questions and ideas about the week’s information. My grades are determined by an end-of-term paper, typically pertaining to a seminar question or topic I found interesting, which is quite different from how my grades would be determined in the US. I really enjoy this structure, I find that it helps me retain and comprehend the material I’m studying and it helps that I only have classes two days a week!” Emily explains. This system seems to work really well for her, allowing her to absorb a lot of information and truly learn a lot while abroad! She is definitely able to learn well both in and out of the classroom.
Speaking of learning outside of the classroom, Emily has needed to adjust to certain things and learn some basic things that would be simple in the U.S. but are more complicated when you are in a different country. One of these things has been grocery shopping.! “I didn’t expect to have a hard time finding places to shop for groceries and toiletries, but many of the stores we have in the US are not in the UK. A lot of the brands we have in the US are also not available in the UK, so that has been a real struggle. The first time I went grocery shopping, it took me 2 hours and then I got lost on my way back to school! Also, the Oreos here are horrendously understuffed,” Emily mentioned. This seems like such a small thing, but food is such a good way to feel reminded of home and combat homesickness, which means that groceries are really important. Plus, there are many necessities that one needs from the grocery store for living in general, let alone mental health. Luckily, though, Emily is figuring it out and leaning on some English friends she has made along the way.
Speaking of getting to know some British friends, Emily has realized that the British people that she has met are extra nice and happy, which is an exciting thing to hear from a midwesterner like Emily. “People here just seem genuinely happier, and it really reflects in how they act around others. The first day I was here I had a lot of administration errands to do, and everyone from the doormen to the student workers were very accommodating. Every time I venture into central London, the people are so joyous it is infectious.” That is amazing to hear, as being around happy, supportive, and kind people just makes any experience better.
So, what should you do if you want to study abroad? You can contact Alli Reed in the study abroad office, as she can guide you through the application process and connect you with resources. Then, if you are going to London, Emily has some final tips: “One of the first days you are abroad, have a “tourist day” go out, do not worry about classes or paperwork, and just fully immerse yourself in what the city offers. I did this and it helped relieve my stress and eased my adjustment into a London lifestyle. Also, do your research! I always heavily research the places I want to visit so I am always informed and am not caught off guard. For London specifically, look into the museums and niche sites here, most are free and have been my favorite places to go so far. I also always carry a bus book for travelling because bus rides can be a bit long. London is an incredible place with so many layers, find the ones that interest you.”
There are so many cool places in this world, so take the time to explore, just as Emily is!
