I've been studying abroad in England for about 3 months now and I've noticed that I've changed as a person even during that short period. Everyone says that studying abroad is something that changes you; I thought that was complete hogwash, but I'm here to tell you that it's not.
Here are 5 ways that study abroad changes you:
1. You become knowledgeable about other cultures and people that are different than you.
Before coming abroad, I had never met someone that was born in India or Russia, and I had never met someone that was Agnostic or Muslim. It feels cliche to say that studying abroad makes you "cultured" but it definitely opens the door for that to happen. It gives you a much broader world-view by introducing you to different people and cultures that you might not have back home.
2. You pick up the lingo.
In England, they have a lot of different slang and sayings than us in the U. S. Some of my favorites are saying you're "knackered" meaning you're really tired. I was talking to a friend one time and he said ''Mate, I got pissed at the club last night" and I was so confused. Pissed = drunk in the U. K. I've started saying "the lot of you" when I'm talking about a group of people. Cute, I know.
3. You learn how to pick up new things fast.
When you're abroad, chances are you're doing some traveling. With each new place comes a new set of standards, rules, currency, and just tons of other different things. You learn how to adapt to the newness of another place pretty quickly because you just don't have the time to figure it out slowly when you're trying to see as many places as you can in four or five months.
4. You realize how much you take for granted back at home.
Regardless of whether you go abroad somewhere that is similar to home, like England is to the U. S., or you go somewhere completely different, you never realize the things that you took for granted at home. Driving with the radio up and the windows down is one of my favorite things to do at home but since I've been abroad, being in a car just isn't an option. I also really miss coffee; yeah, they have Starbucks (my favorite drink is a simple vanilla iced-coffee with soymilk which is like $3 at home) but it's not very good and with the currency rate, my go-to drink is about $7.50.
5. You become independent.
Being abroad was the first time I've ever felt I was truly alone. In a place where I knew absolutely nothing about the currency, the public transportation, and how the grading system at school works, I really did have to figure most things out on my own. This was also my first semester not having a meal plan and I learned that I'm actually a pretty awesome cook.
While studying abroad can be hard, it has so many rewards to it. Regardless of how long you're abroad, you're bound to return changed for the better with a broader world-view and better appreciation for your life. I've said it before and I'll say it again; If you can figure out how to make it happen, then make it happen because it's an experience that you'll never regret.
