1. In what ways have I changed?
I think I have changed in several ways that are a bit more subtle. I've always been an independent person, but this trip abroad has shown that I can cope fairly well on my own. I have also learned how to make a great cup of tea and the art of jacket potatoes. This trip has also shown me that I can function abroad and makes me think even more about moving outside of the United States. I also think that this trip finally helped me to overcome those people who say they care, but are never there. I can only hope that this continues once I actually get home. I have realized so much about myself because of this trip and I am so happy that I got that chance.
2. In what ways might my friends and family have changed?
I don't think much will really have changed with them. My family will be further along with the wedding plans for both of my brothers and it comes even closer to the reality that they are both getting married next year. Thank goodness I love both of my future sisters :) As for my friends? I don't think they will have changed that much either. My sisters will have changed the most in adapting to losing so many wonderful seniors last year and gaining 2 fabulous sisters!!! Some of my friends will be leaving to go on study abroad trips next semester and I hope we continue to keep in touch...especially if they stole my tiger! (*cough* JAVI *cough cough*)
3. How would I like my family and friends to treat me when I return home?
Please please please please don't get too frustrated with me. I know I'm going to bring up England a lot. Also, if you don't really want to hear about my trip, that's totally fine! But if you do ask...be ready because I will probably do on a long, nostalgic summary. Also, if I say something in English slang, don't get mad at me! It's become habit and often it sounds a lot better (and makes more sense) than the American term for it. As long as I keep busy, it won't be as bad...and writing letters to Meghan and Jen.
4. What am I looking forward to the most?
Being able to hug my family and friends. I MISS HUGS!! I love Meghan and Jen but we can only hug each other SO many times. I am also looking forward to driving my car again, u-hotz, hanging out with my Pheta loves, NETFLIX, my Wii, my bookshelf, no more time difference between my best friend and myself, fast internet, good peanut butter, and watching Sabres games.
5. What am I going to miss?
Being able to run into Jen's room at anytime. "Meet you in front of the porters in 5" with Meghan. The Farmers market in town and on campus. Being able to travel to fun places in a short amount of time and last minute, crumpets, BBC iPlayer, Sainsbury's, the bars on campus (esp. Grad Bar with Live music every Thursday), cheese toasties at 2am with Jen, cookies and music nights with Meghan and Jen, Arrogance and Ring of Fire with the flat, Nerf gun wars with Jen, attacking Jude and Greg with our Nerf Guns, the bar stool we found, Top Gear magazine, good beer, cheap wine, Lancaster, public transport that is efficient and wonderful, train rides through the English countryside, buying lamb from the nice guy at the farmers market on campus, not getting ID-ed when I buy alcohol (drinking age is 18), English accents, guys who dress so well, being only a 2 hour train ride from London, old buildings and architecture, seeing really nice cars driving around all the time, short lectures, discussion seminars, being on facebook right next to Meghan and still posting on her facebook, going on trips almost every weekend, the view from my room, Ribena, being a 2 hour train ride from Edinburgh, and SO MANY OTHER THINGS. Yeah, kind of freaking out about only having 3 weeks left. But as Meghan said "DO NOT GO THERE! We have two weeks left. Enough time for sadness at the end of it. Now is for fun time. :)" Our last night, the 3 of us are going to have a
slumber party, watch movies, take pictures, bake and eat cookies, swap Christmas presents and reminisce
about everything
Classes here (except the semindars), how hard it is to read people here, needing to read between the lines of what people say to understand what they actually mean because they are too polite to just say what they mean, arguments over English words vs. american words, and the anti-socialness of my flat.
7. What are the lessons I have learned that I never want to forget?
I never want to forget how I spent my time here, that I tried to make the most of it and saw as much as I could. I have also learned that I don't work well without deadlines. I need to work on my ability to focus on projects that have a loose deadline or one that seems way down the line.
8. What are some skills I have learned?
How to make a great cup of milky tea and jacket potatoes. I also learned how to fix damaged clothes, hand wash clothes, and make a clothesline out of random objects.
9. Some say that re-entry shock is more challenging than initial culture shock. What are some things I might do to make the transition easier?
I think I need to talk to other people who have done study abroad because they will have been through this before. I also think I will need to keep in touch with my friends from the UK, especially Jen and Meghan. As long as I keep busy, it shouldn't be too bad. I also think that when I get back to Geneseo and see all of my friends it will be easier.
10. What have been the most important things about this study abroad experience that I want to share with friends and family?
I would like to talk about difference in how the education system works here. I also just want to look at pictures and tell people about them, but only if they actually want to see the pictures and hear the stories.
11. What do I want to do with the experiences I've had?
I want to make a compilation video of pictures and videos. It would give me a project to work on and let me remember all of the amazing times I had here. I would also like to hear what changes other people have seen in me.
That's all I can think of for now! :) Thanks for reading and I hope you like the new layout!
~Carolyn
P.S. now that you actually can comment...PLEASE DO SO!!! Haha :)
Your first ever comment! And of course it's from me. ;) Lovely post. I am going to miss you so much too - but we WILL NOT THINK ABOUT THAT! Love you lots!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh. This was really really fun to read, because I wrote things that were similar and things that were different.
ReplyDeleteIt really made me think about how many fun times we really had in the last 2 1/2 months, and how much I'll miss you!
Reading your answer to question 5 was so sweet. I will definitely miss all those things too. And you will be getting many letters and packages from me, as will Meghan!