Arcadia Scotland

Now that I have been back in my hometown of St. Louis, I have reflected a lot on my experience studying abroad in London. My family and friends have commented on how much I changed in the four months I spent away from home. I have felt it myself. I believe that this is a reflection of the way that studying abroad teaches you so many valuable life lessons. While you are abroad, it can be difficult to explicitly notice these life lessons since you are focused on school work (since you do have to put "study" in "study abroad"), exploring every street of your new-found home, and traveling to beautiful and exciting cities with friends. Now that I have been home for a couple of months, I am more aware of the ways that I have grown since living and studying in London. Today, I want to share with you three lessons I have learned from studying abroad in London. 

Lesson One: The Importance of Slowing Down and Mindfulness

The one thing that I was warned about before getting dinner at a restaurant in London was to be prepared to ask for the check! Unlike restaurants in the United States, the waiters will not bring the check to you towards the end of the meal. In British culture, bringing the check without being asked is considered rude because it is viewed as rushing the customer out the door. You are expected to sit and fully enjoy your meal when you go out to eat in London. Even fast food restaurants have plenty of tables where families and friend groups can take their time and relish every bite. As someone who usually eats lunch while studying for an exam or picking up a quick dinner before going out with friends, this was definitely a culture shock! Whenever I experienced culture shock in London, I tried to lean into it instead of pulling away. So, I began to slow down in my daily life. I would dedicate at least an hour to eating a meal at my favorite restaurants. I savored every bit of fresh, zesty pesto pasta from PaStation or sweet, smooth custard from Humble Crumble. This spread into all aspects of my life. Because of this, my memories in London are so much clearer and brighter. I remember minute details from the city like the color of my friend Skye's raincoat when we took shelter from a storm in a bakery or the feel of the soft velvet seats while watching The Devil Wears Prada Musical. I soaked in every moment I was in London so that I could have a lifetime of memories in one of my favorite cities in the whole world. Now that I am back in St. Louis, I try to replicate this same behavior. I memorize the taste of the spicy queso that my Big Nicole and I order every time we have dinner together at our favorite restaurant and the way that my friend Sarah laughs anytime we force ourselves to do the dishes. My life has become richer since slowing down, and it all started with attempting to hunt down the waiter after a meal in London!

Lesson Two: The Value of Saying Yes (Especially If It Scares You)

"Yes" can be such a scary word. It means accepting new responsibilities. It means taking a chance on a new romance. It means traveling 4,000 miles away from home and building a new life for yourself on your own. If there is ever a time to say yes to things that scare you, it is during your study abroad! It is a comfort zone, not a comfort wall; it is not supposed to keep you locked away. You should be striving to embrace everything that your study abroad city has to offer you, and you can only do that by saying yes, especially when it scares you. When I arrived in London, I decided that I would say yes to as many opportunities as I possibly could. In four months, I saw more than twenty West End shows, visited a dozen museums, traveled to three bucket list destinations, and so much more because I said yes to seeing something new. I made friends that I hope to keep for the rest of my life just because I yes to a lunch or dinner invite. I became a stronger and more passionate writer because I said yes when Arcadia Abroad asked for Content Creators. I had some of the best food of my life by saying yes to trying a restaurant recommendation online. I found some of the best hidden gems that I never would have discovered on my own in London because I said yes to Arcadia Abroad's Hidden London series. I met one of my favorite authors (M.L. Rio) because I said yes to showing up to an author event by myself. By saying yes as much as you can, you make your study abroad city feel like a second home. It also teaches you the importance of trying new things and embracing changes. Today, I try to continue this trend by saying yes to trying new local restaurants, taking on a fellowship that scared me because it would push me in new ways, and always being open to new friendships. This one simple word could change your life. I know this because it has changed mine. 

Lesson Three: I Can Be Independent!

Growing up as the oldest daughter, I was always a part of a trio. I would not trade my relationship with my brothers for anything in the world. At the same time, I am comfortable moving throughout the world as a part of a group. However, when my parents dropped me off at Arcadia Abroad's orientation in London, I knew that I was on my own. It was different from my first semester in college since I go to school about forty minutes from my house. While I had the basics down (like how to do my own laundry or keep track of my finances), I could still rely on my family for direct emotional support or a quick lunch to catch up. Now, it was all on me. This was the thing that I was most nervous about before studying abroad. Although, after a couple of weeks, I found that I could survive and thrive on my own. While I made lots of friends and I knew that I could rely on them if I wanted to explore with someone else, I also found a lot of joy in exploring without anyone else. I could travel on the tube or the train by myself. I could go out to lunch or dinner at a nice restaurant by myself. I could go to a museum or a ballet or a park by myself. I could do so many exciting and fun things by myself! Studying abroad has taught me that I can be fully independent, even in a foreign city. This independence has not stopped now that I am back home. I continue to not be afraid to go to events by myself or study by myself at a public library. Studying abroad in London has prepared me for the next chapter of my life where I will have to venture out on my own after graduation! I know that I have the confidence to do it again. 

Conclusion

We normally believe that our study abroad experience ends once we step on the plane ride that will return us to our hometown. However, the lessons we learn while abroad change us and shape us into better students, better friends, and better humans. These life lessons I learned in London will stick with me for the rest of my life. I would fundamentally be a different person if I never studied abroad. London will always be a city of inner growth and development for me. I cannot wait to return to London and see what other lessons I can learn!