I have always heard people talk about the friendships they’ve made whilst studying abroad and how those friendships last a lifetime. That is true, however, no one ever mentions how much time you spend alone when you’re studying abroad either. You’re not always surrounded by a group of friends who are constantly laughing at your jokes and are crying because they know you have to go back to your home country. There are moments where it’s just you and your thoughts and I guarantee you, it’s one of the most liberating feelings ever.

I have now mastered the art of doing things alone. I know what you’re thinking, but I promise you, there is nothing sad or depressing about it. I have looked at myself in the mirror and told myself not to waste such an amazing opportunity. I have told myself not to be afraid to try new things even if it means trying them alone. I have stopped being afraid of what everyone thinks, and I’ve decided to only worry about what I think. To be honest, we will go many places alone. However, the confidence to still thrive in a new environment by yourself is a skill worth having for the rest of your life.

I have taken myself to lunch, taken myself to the club and walked around the city of Nottingham, England surrounded by nothing but my thoughts. I have felt free, I have felt liberated, but most importantly I have learnt a lot about who I am and what I think. I have fallen in love with all the versions of myself and who I continue trying to be.

There’s so much to look forward to during study abroad. Firstly, you are in a new place. Take some time to figure out who you are and what you value. Secondly, do not be afraid to take risks. If no one wants to go somewhere, go by yourself. Grab a pair of earphones and hit the town. There is so much life to be lived that you cannot spend your days waiting for someone to join you. Thirdly, whilst on this journey alone, fall in love with yourself and I promise you people will be drawn to you and your energy. You will always make friends, that I can promise you. Lastly, you are going to spend the rest of your life with yourself. So, travel alone, eat out alone, take that trip alone. Don’t let the weight of living stop you because at the end of the day when you lie in bed all alone, know that it was you who was brave enough to conquer this world alone.

What I’ve Learned While Studying Abroad in the U.K.

I have always believed an educated person isn’t one who has read all the books but rather one who has traveled the world.

There is so much comfort in your home country. A sense of safety, reliability, but also routine. Everyday you wake up, brush your teeth, get ready for classes and back home. The same routine over and over again. Now imagine, for once that routine changes. Now it’s you, out there in the world, your day starts, you brush your teeth but instead you decide to go to London for the day or take a weekend trip to Italy. That’s what study abroad offers, an opportunity to learn whilst you are learning.

In the time I have studied at Nottingham Trent University in the U.K., I have learnt that English doesn’t sound the same everywhere. There is a restaurant/pub called Wetherspoons which is embedded in the British culture, people here take their night life seriously, jacket/baked potatoes can be eaten with almost anything, the British love their tea and their grandmas and finally, when someone says you are fit, they are not at all talking about how much time you spend in the gym, but it’s actually a compliment on how beautiful you are.

I have made friends from all over the world. They have taught me about their home countries whilst I’ve taught them about mine; I learn just as much as I teach. These friendships are different, it’s almost as if you are aware that you are running out of time. So, you get close so much faster, you become family within weeks and you’re invited to places you never even knew existed. These friendships will expose you to new cultures and values. They will challenge you to look at life from a new perspective and I can honestly say I’ve loved every second of it.