Student Bloggers

Two weeks into my study abroad program and I feel like I have been in Edinburgh for a year. Every day feels incredibly long in a good way. The first week was full of various info sessions and awkward introductions with every person I sat next to in orientation. Week two was full of frantic running around on the University campus and trying to understand just what is going on in my classes.

Expectations vs. Reality

1. That it would be really difficult to find people to hang out with: Arcadia puts all of their students studying abroad through a half week orientation. This made me nervous at first. Being shoved in a room all day with people I don’t know really stressed me out. Actually I really enjoyed the orientation, I’d say it really helped get me acquainted with the city and meet some really good friends. I was lucky to just happen to sit by people I ended up liking now I see almost every day. What I had to keep reminding myself is we are all going through the same scary situation and we are all here for the same or similar reasons.
2. That my classes would be similar to lectures at home, just bigger and not discussion based: This was the hardest thing for me to figure out when I got here. The first week you aren't in school and it just feels like a vacation. You’re running around meeting people and doing fun things. The first day of school was one of the most stressful days of my life. I generally really enjoy school but I didn’t realize how hard it would be to adjust to a new system. All of the lectures have at least 100 people. For many classes there is a new lecture location and a new lecturer every day or every week for your class. At my home University I have classes of about 30 but a lot of times less. We have class at the same time and same place every day. We get to know our professors and build a professional relationship with them. It is just not like that here. That was a difficult thing for me to figure out but I think now I am figuring it out.
3. My flat would be just like or really similar to my apartments I had lived in near campus at home: The on campus flats here are extremely different from home. I like to refer to it as a mini dorm. For most of the flats I have seen you walk in and there is a long hallway. Off the hallways is everyone’s separate bedrooms, usually two bathrooms (depending on the amount of people who live there) and one “common area.” I put common area in quotations because it is different every flat. In my flat, for example, our “common area” is essentially just the kitchen with a table in it. In other flats I have been in their “common area” is the kitchen with some extra space with mini couches and stuff. It is weird for me just because most apartments back home are much more open and communal. At home you see your roommates all the time but here it kind of feels like you are living alone. Somedays it is nice some days it isn’t but it really depends on who you live with and what you prefer.
4. That I would be terribly homesick the whole time: This is probably the scariest thing I have considered while studying abroad. I am incredibly close with my family and love Minnesota. After my senior year of high school I went on a ten day trip with my aunt to Italy. I am close with this aunt and it was an amazing trip, but as it turns out I was terribly homesick the whole time. The entire time I kept thinking “I wish the rest of my family could see this!” remembering that my family was all home, together, and I was away. Before leaving I felt like I was going to feel that way for my entire five months here. Fortunately, at least I have not felt that way at all.

I have definitely felt a bit homesick here and there in the last couple of weeks but not even close to the extent I expected. I’m not sure why exactly. Whether it be that I just feel comfortable here, have made good friends quickly, or hopefully maybe I have grown up a bit more and become a bit more independent (but I honestly doubt that). Whatever the reason I am glad that I seem to be adjusting to this place I will call home for the few months.