The first few days that you’re in a new place, everything is just that — new. It’s overwhelming and you feel like you’ll never figure out where everything is, but it’s also thrilling and exciting. Soon enough you start to learn how to get around the city, start finding your favorite locations, scope out the restaurants, coffee shops and tourist attractions that you’re looking to cross off you trip bucket list.
You get to the end of the stay and think back to how little you knew when you first arrived. Now, you have a newfound connection with a place that you don’t really want to leave. It's crazy to think about how you even got the opportunity in the first place.
Before I left for this program, I was not excited at all. There were things weighing heavily on me at home, money was extremely tight, along with the worry of finding a job once I returned. I was passed up on several job offers due to the trip and I started to get discouraged. I honestly didn’t want to go on the trip, but I had paid the money and needed to get my last credit to receive my diploma.
Before I left, everyone around me continuously told me I was going on this study abroad program for a reason. Didn’t they know that finding a job was more important?
We took off and after the nine hour, cramped flight to the UK, along with a hectic trek through the airport to get onto the correct train, I got to see some of the most beautiful sights. I sat back in my train seat, jet lagged and already exhausted, I looked out the window in awe. I thought to myself, “Holy smokes, I almost chose not to come here.”
If you know me, you know I started talking to locals the moment my feet hit the foreign soil. I got to meet new people and hearing their story — from coffee roasters to record store shop owners. As I met new people, I started to get to know my classmates and their stories as well. If no one has told them before, let me be the one to say it — these are some incredible ladies full of passion, intelligence, beauty and talent. I have loved our conversations and laughs, saving each other from sketchy men, pushing all of us to try new things and embracing the adventure.
My favorite part about getting to go on this program, wasn't just the fact that I got to go to another country and see some beautiful things, because I could have done that at any point in my life, and I will most definitely do it again. My favorite part of this program were the people that I got to share this experience with. From Andy telling us about his hometown and sharing a little piece of his life with us, to Vy being camera ready at all times of each day, or hear Claire talk about her love for clotted cream while also talking coffee with me, or going down to the beach to listen to music, throw rocks and crack jokes with Abi. If I would have chosen not to go, or to back out of the trip like I had started to contemplate, I may have gone to Brighton later on in life, but I would never have the memories that I do now. I'm thankful for that.
Midway through our stay, I came down with a nasty cold. My allergies are known to act up whenever I travel, the change in air quality and weather tend to throw off my sinuses. It steadily got worse as the trip progressed, but I had so much to see, so much to do, so many photos to take. I started to feel miserable. As you will find out soon, the vlogging had pretty much stopped all together and the photos became minimal. I just wanted to go home and lay in my bed. However, even though I was struggling, I couldn’t help but continue to fall in love with this place.
To make a very long story — that I will tell over a series of blogs and videos — short, Brighton, England will forever have a piece of my heart now. The experiences I have gotten with some of these amazing people will be memories that stay with me forever. Did I find my reason why I got the chance to study over here? I have a few ideas. I may not have changed the world, but who knows, I could have made an impact on someone over the course of the trip. At the end of the day, I learned a lot and saw some truly incredible sights. I learned more about the culture and the history behind a country that we (Americans) were once a part of, and that is more than enough for me.
I may be home and I may be in love with our seasoned food here in America, but don’t worry, I’ll be back for you Brighton.
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