Fairleigh Dickinson University offers great global opportunities for its students. My school prides itself on being number one in global education; it sends staff and students all around the world to gain experience, education and culture. Places such as Japan, Thailand, Ecuador and Australia and even to Rio for the 2016 Olympics this year. All are all adventures that driven and dedicated students can yearn for. For me, I am leaving for England this week. I will be studying abroad at Wroxton College in the heart of rural England with over sixty other FDU students, some of my best friends and sorority sisters included. As described on the Fairleigh Dickinson website, "Recharge your expectations, broaden your horizons, strive to be extraordinary, and come be a part of the Wroxton experience". The semester lasts about four months so I will be missing Halloween, Thanksgiving, five birthdays and my cousin's birth but will make in home in time for Christmas. As the time comes to board the plane for the biggest vacation of my life, many things have come to mind, and most likely the minds of any students that prepare to leave for a semester abroad.
1. How, Where, When and What do I pack. How do I possibly condense my wardrobe into two check-ins and a carry on. Sweaters, leggings and fuzzy socks are a given but what if I need that skirt from Love Culture I got two years ago, or these new shoes that would go great with those jeans I didn't think I would need. Anticipating two days of packing sounds excessive but is it really though?
2. Thank goodness I slaved away all summer. Missing out on beach trips, Six Flags and hibachi dates with my friends didn't seem rewarding at the time but the extra savings I have now make me glad I toughed it out. Waking up at 6:30 AM and not getting home until 5:30 PM absolutely deprived me of sleep but I'm sleeping good now knowing that I'll have money to spend while abroad. The saying is true, "The earliest bird gets the biggest worm".
3. I will be on a mini-vacation in small ways. Besides visiting cities every weekend, my lifestyle will change dramatically. My life at home is usually very chaotic and fast paced. In England I won't be driving at all, which is a big change for me considering I practically live on routes 287, 78 and 280. In addition to no driving, I also will not be working. Like most college students, we've been working since 16 years old. It will be a nice treat to be able to relax and not fill my time with shifts. I am anticipating more down time and a slower routine; although knowing me I won't be able to relax and will probably plan out every free moment I have.
4. I have to get better at math in about five days. The current exchange rate is one US dollar to .76 British pounds or one British pound equals $1.31 US. For most other countries that use the Euro, the conversion rate is one US dollar to .89 euro. So if I take out 500 American dollars, it really only equates to 380 pounds or 447 euro. This conversion will be something that needs practice and time to get used to. Hopefully I can be a stage five clinger to someone who actually knows what's going on or I'm running out of money fast.
5. I've never been the scrapbooking type, but this trip must be an exception. I already have visions of pages upon pages of postcards, admission tickets, stickers and pictures. Photos of Big Ben, the Eiffel tower and Stonehenge. I want to be able to look back at the people and places I saw and reminisce on the time of my life. That is, if I get the courage to delete my pictures off my phone to make space for new ones.
6. The world has become a crazy place and I cannot be naive while I'm there. Maybe watching Taken wasn't a good idea, or watching the news, or listening to my Grandma preach. I know never to walk around alone or in small groups, I know never to leave a drink unattended or take one from anyone but the bartender, and I know not to have by eyes glued to my phone when walking around. Even with all the precautions, anything can happen in a blink of an eye. It is my responsibility however to be as safe and smart as i can be, no matter the environment.
7. There is no doubt I am going to have extreme FOMO while across the pond. If you didn't know, FOMO stands for Fear Of Missing Out. I thought I had FOMO when at school, seeing my hometown friends visiting each other when I couldn't, or seeing snap chats of my sisters at the cafe when I was stuck in the library. But no, this is going to be extreme FOMO. Watching my loved ones make memories without me will be hard, and I know it will make me miss them one hundred times more. I will miss my aunt give birth to my cousin, I will miss my little sister going into high school and I will miss three of my best friends turning 21. I'll be missing a whole four months of time with my loved ones. I know I will be creating my own memories and am still so excited to go, but I wish I could be two places at once.
8. Bouncing off the last one, I am more than afraid I will be forgotten about. Not by my family but at school mostly. Some people that go to Wroxton come back and it's like "Wow, I totally forgot about you!!" I have to keep reminding myself that everyone else's world is going to keep revolving with or without me and that I just have to focus on my own world. The most I can do is stay in touch with my friends and family at home and always remember everyone is just a Facetime away.
9. I hope to have a new appreciation for food. I've never had a small palate so I know trying new things will not be a problem for me. I just hope that I have meals at places that are rich with culture and flavor. Places and dishes that will stay with me for years to come. I want pasta and gelati that would put my family's Sunday dinners to shame (Sorry Nonna). I am excited to try new things and enjoy the authenticity and art that Europe has to offer.
10. One worry I have seems pretty silly when I take a step back. I wonder about the person I will be when I come back. I know I will not change my values and morals because that is who I will always be, but I have heard that most people change when they come back. You see the world in a different light once you actually see how much there is to this life outside of New Jersey. I could come back and have a different mindset on my purpose, or feel a direction towards a career I didn't have before or even have completely different set of goals. After seeing stunning views, century old churches and absorbing a whole new culture, who wouldn't come back with more insight?
11. Although I am very excited to see Europe for the first time, I will also be missing something very important at home. If you know me, you know my little sister is my world. Everything I do, I do for her and to allow her to have a better future. While I am away this semester learning and widening my horizons, she will be entering her freshman year into high school. I won't be there to send her off to the first day of her new chapter, help her with her homework or be there when drama lets loose. I know her strong smart spirit will carry through the transition easily, but as a big sister I wish I could be there to guide her.
12. This opportunity will never come again. This is my only chance to take English classes, taught by English professors, in a 17th century English castle surrounded by so many friends. The tours and views may still be there years from now, but not again will they be seen through my young adult eyes. I must cherish every sight, taste every bite and soak in every structure. Every cobblestone road, every wave crashing on the shore, every busy intersection, and every breeze through the trees. This world is so beautiful, I refuse to take anything I experience as less than a blessing.
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
