Almost Home
My study abroad journey is almost over, and I don’t want it to end. I have learned so much and had some of the most fun I have ever had. Leaving the friends I have met is going to be hard. I am grateful for everything I have done and learned, and I know I will have these memories for the rest of my life.
I am the proudest of how much my people skills have improved. I have never been the most outgoing or social person, and I was really nervous to put myself in a situation where I didn’t know anyone. In the past 4 months, I have made so many genuine connections with people. Some I only had one conversation with and some will be my friends for life. I think that I am a lot better at carrying on a conversation and connecting with people than I was when I got here. In ministry, you need to be able to talk to all kinds of people, so I am very glad I had this experience.
Being abroad has given me so many opportunities that I never would have gotten otherwise. One of these advantages is that the University of Roehampton is a lot bigger than MLC. There are many more clubs and activities on campus because of this. If I could go back and do my semester abroad over again, I think that I would try to participate in these events on campus more. I did get involved in a few things, but I was so busy doing things out in the city most of the time that I neglected what was right in front of me. On-campus activities are a great way to meet people. Plus, they are free!
Although I wasn’t involved on campus as much as I would have liked, I did plenty of things. London is a huge city with so much to offer, and I made it my mission to never be bored. My flatmates and I explored our corner of the city, trying new restaurants and going into every store. We went to museums and took dance classes. We were motivated to try new things because we were in a new city. I recently realized that I haven’t explored nearly this much in New Ulm. There are so many restaurants I have never tried and places I have never been to. It might not be as glamorous as London, but I want to make it my new mission to never be bored back home either. Even if it just means going for a walk in a park with my friends, I want to always be appreciating the world around me.
Even though I love London, studying abroad has made me much more grateful for my home. By my home, I mean the USA, Connecticut/Minnesota, my church, my school, and my family. I gained a lot of pride in my home while abroad. There are some things you just can’t get anywhere else. I am grateful for enthusiastic American customer service, Kraft mac and cheese, and Target. After spending so much time outside of the country, I didn’t get less American, but more American, because I learned what that really means.
Looking back, I can see God’s hand working in so many ways. He knew what I needed to get through the hard times and He put me in the right places with the right people. When I came to London, I didn’t know a single person here, and I had no idea who I would be living with. The assignments were completely random. God’s plan was so evident in the fact that one of my flatmates is also a Christian. I was able to relate to her in a way that I couldn’t with others, and she helped me through some tough moments. Leaving the bubble of MLC was scary because I wasn’t just leaving my friends, I was leaving my Christian community. Having a Christian friend here who I can talk to made a huge difference to me.
I also think that it was part of God’s plan for me to meet Karla. I didn’t expect to practice my Spanish or become closer to my culture while in England, but it all worked out. Some of the best benefits I have gotten from being in London were ones that I never expected or planned.
I have two pieces of advice for future study abroad students. The first is practical: save as much money as possible before you go and track your spending carefully. You won’t be able to work while you are abroad and the last thing you want is to be overly stressed about money. Studying abroad is expensive, but it is attainable. You just need to identify in which areas you want to spend your money. The second piece of advice I have is to constantly try new things. Studying abroad in its entirety will be a new experience, so I would encourage everyone to make the most of it and keep the momentum going. You will only have this experience once and after you push yourself out of your comfort zone, it will feel so rewarding. If you play it safe the whole time, you will probably still have a good experience, but you won’t grow nearly as much or have as much fun.
Even though this is my final blog, my journey is actually far from over. I still have a month left in London, and then it’s off to Buenos Aires for an entirely new culture (and language). Even after I get home, I will continue to grow as a result of this experience. I would tell anyone getting ready to study abroad not to expect it to change their life. It’s best not to go in with that mentality because it creates unrealistic expectations. That being said, it absolutely will change your life.
Final days in Berlin
By the time I am writing this blog, I have exactly two weeks left in Germany. I am a weird mixture of so excited to go home and incredibly sad that I am going to be leaving Germany. I am rushing to do all the last-minute things I want to do one last time before I leave. I am going to monuments, having picnics in parks and beaches, and eating a ton of Döner. There is so much I am going to bring with me back to America. The thing I am the most proud of is how much more confident I have become with my German and how independent of a person I have become. Spending 12 hours a week in a classroom speaking just German every week has most definitely improved my confidence in speaking German. I’ve also written more in German than I have ever before, which has definitely made it much easier for me to process what I want to say in German. I am also much more independent because I did some solo traveling. I went to Salzburg, Austria, and Paris, so I have definitely put myself out there and made some great memories because of that. If I could do something differently, I would have definitely explored more of Germany itself. I 100% want to come back and go to a bunch of different places in Germany. I would have also put myself out there more with the German students. They kept the study-abroad students extremely separated from the normal German students, so I wish I would have put myself out there to make some German friends. There are a lot of things I want to incorporate into my life back in America. I don’t think I can give up German breakfasts. The meat and cheese and bread are great and way better than my previous habit of just eating sugary foods for breakfast. Traveling around different countries has also made me realize that there is so much in the United States that I have never seen. People would mention so many cities in the U.S. and ask me what they are like there, and all I could say was I didn’t know because I’ve never been there. I’ve gone to a handful of states in the U.S., but I haven’t really been to the places I really want to go to, and there isn’t really any good reason as to why not. When people hear of all the places you have to go to in your life, they are almost all in Europe, but there is so much back at home that I have never seen. I have never seen the mountains in Colorado or Montana or been to so many places with beautiful nature. I want to do much more exploring and see new places in the U.S. I am extremely thankful for my time in Germany, though. I am so grateful for the friends I made and the memories I now have. Making friends in an environment that could feel really hostile in the beginning at times was a huge worry of mine. I’m so glad God blessed me with the friends I made, so I could really make the most out of this experience. I’m also glad that I had a semester to relax and not be quite as busy as I normally would be. And let’s be honest, being able to listen to Netflix in German was super cool! I think it was an enormous blessing to have a host that spoke Spanish because it made the beginning of being in Germany much easier to adjust to. It also enabled me almost never to speak English with my host. The advice I would give to future semester abroad students would be to be ready to put yourself out there. Being in a place where there is a language barrier is extremely difficult, but the more you step outside your comfort zone, the more you will learn. I’ve learned so much while I have been in Germany, and I would love for others to have a great experience or even better than I did!
Picture 1: This is my first sight of the Eiffel Tower in Person.
Picture 2: This is a picture from Austria of the Alps. (The hills were alive with the sound of music!)
Picture 3: These are five people I spontaneously met in Paris and spent the day with!
3° Guarantee
As I approach the end of my study abroad experience, it is time to look back and reflect.
I am proud to say that I have lived in Ireland. I was able to attend a public university where I could study science and teaching. I learned how to get around a new city and discovered where my favorite places were. Through it all, God made sure I wasn’t alone.
I remember wanting to go to a public university. After sixteen years of Lutheran school, I wanted to know what something different was like. I am content with the taste I had. I feel more confident in my capability to succeed wherever I am.
When I first arrived in Limerick, I set my belongings in my room and joined a group of study abroad students who were going to find where the stores were. I was exhausted, but I went with them. The next day, I walked around with other people as they explored campus and the Stables Club (one of the pubs on campus). Everything felt isolated; here was a building, over there was a store. I felt so proud when I was able to walk around by myself and connect the dots of all the places I had seen. The longer I stayed the more I explored, and my mental map expanded. By the time I had visitors, I felt like this was my city.
My experience was a success, but I would have done a few things differently. I met two women in my ecology class with whom I wish I would have formed a study group. We sat next to each other in lecture and one was my lab partner. We would text about how we thought we did on the assignments, but I wish I would have asked them if we could have studied for exams together. There were times when I felt lost when it came to studying for my ecology exams. Having other people to share what they thought was important from the class would have helped me better prepare.
This semester needed to be low stress. I had been told that studying abroad brings a different kind of stress to your life because everything is new and different. To make sure I wasn’t pushing myself too hard, I took four classes, and joined one society. I was happy with the amount of classwork I had and I really enjoyed craft society, but I wonder if joining another society or club would have been a good idea. I would have had the time for it and I hopefully would have met more native Irish people.
Some of my projects I was able to work ahead on and turn in well before they were due. I was so proud of myself for that. There was one paper that caused me to struggle. I made a plan to work a little bit on the paper everyday for two weeks in order to finish it two weeks before it was due. Then, I would have my Easter break free and the week after to work on other papers or assignments. My plan did not work. I became very lonely when the time to work on the paper arrived. I was sad and unmotivated. I could not get myself to work on the paper before Easter. After Easter, it was so hard to work on the paper since it had been causing me stress for multiple weeks. Finally, I started researching and writing. I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning three nights in a row because that seemed to be the only time I could sit down and work on it. I wish I had started the paper early, but it is finished now.
Life in Limerick is a little different than at home. There are some little things that I can take from life here and incorporate them back at home. I have really come to like sticky toffee pudding while I have been here. I even start comparing all the different versions that I have tried and rank them (the little microwave versions from Aldi are very good). I would like find a recipe I like for sticky toffee pudding and make it at home. I have also enjoyed drinking tea here. I have tried for a long time to get myself to like tea, and I think I am finally learning how I like it. I would like to drink more tea at home and even get a yellow tea pot.
Craft society was a great way for me to create things while I was without many of my craft supplies. I love making things. Sometimes I wanted so badly just to make something whether that be jewelry, crochet, sewing, scrapbooking, or something else. I think it would be really cool if I could start a craft club at MLC to help other people take a break from their day and make something fun.
My fellow MLC study abroad travelers shared how they want to explore more of what is around them when they get back home. I feel like my parents were good at showing my brother and me what there was to do and see around us growing up. I remember talking with my mom about where cute places to go with my friends for lunch would be, and she had many ideas of local spots. I would like to keep learning about what my city has to offer when I go back home. I am sure there is more to see.
God has blessed me in so many ways while I have been abroad. I am very grateful for the people he has put in my life. My family, friends, and boyfriend have been very supportive throughout my time here. My ecology friends have been great, my housemates have all been nice, my International Study Abroad group has been fun to hangout with, and it has been wonderful to spend time with Wibke. Wibke helped to encourage me, pushed me to try to things, and taught me a little bit about Germany. Going on walks with Wibke has been one of my favorite parts of studying abroad.
God has made so many events work out well for me here. One of my favorite examples of this was Easter. My family had visited me before Easter, but needed to be back home for Easter Day. I was feeling lonely and most of the university students were gone traveling. Wibke texted me on Easter and asked if I wanted to go on a walk. I had thought that she was still gone traveling but she was back! We went on a walk, chatted, and were able to celebrate Easter in our own fun way.
Another way that God was working in my life was through our International Study Abroad trip to Dublin. There are four of us women studying in Limerick who are part of the International Study Abroad program. We went with the others who are studying in Galway and Dublin on a trip to Dublin. Through that trip I started talking with Elizabeth. A few weeks later she texted and asked if I wanted to get lunch with her. At lunch, we talked about different places we wanted to go. We both wanted to visit London, so we planned a trip to go together. That trip to London also allowed me see Kendra, a fellow MLC study abroad traveler.
My friend Zoe is studying abroad this semester as well. Part of her program was a study trip to Dublin. She was able to purchase a later flight back and stay a little longer in Dublin. We were able to spend a few days together which was probably my favorite part of my time in Ireland. Our schedules are alining again so that I will be able to visit her soon in Sweden.
I am very grateful for the opportunity to study abroad. I encourage others to study abroad if they can. Some important thoughts to keep in mind when thinking of studying abroad are to plan ahead, lean on your support group, put the effort in with your studies, and let yourself relax.
It is helpful to start planning for studying abroad early. I picked up a booklet about different places to study abroad with the International Study Abroad (ISA) program my first week as a freshman at MLC. ISA is not the only way you can study abroad. There are many other programs and you can even apply to study abroad directly with the school you want to attend. If you want to have more group activities planned for you, ISA could be a good option for you. If you would like to set your own travel plans, applying to the university directly might be a good option. Either way, start planning early so you have the most flexibility with what classes you can take abroad. It can be hard to find classes that transfer in place of your required classes, so planning early lets you have the most options.
Never be afraid to lean on your support group. It is completely okay to call home, talk with your friends and family. They will want to know about what exciting things you have been learning and seeing. They can also help to make you feel better when you are feeling down. You will find people you can talk with while you are abroad. They will be a good support system as well, but don’t forget to check in with your parents and let them know you are alright. Your support group also includes God. Read your Bible and continue praying while you are abroad. God is taking care of you no matter where you are.
Studying abroad is exciting. You meet new people, see new sights, but remember you also get to learn so many new things. Try to be excited about all the classes you are taking abroad, even when the big papers and exams come. You are here to learn and your classes abroad can teach you so much. You will be happy you put in the effort.
Let yourself breathe. Try not to over schedule yourself while studying abroad. You will need time to go to class, study, eat, do laundry, hangout with friends, and travel. You want to make the most of your time abroad, but that might not mean doing everything all at once. Much of your time will be spent out of your comfort zone and in your learning zone. You will even surpass your learning zone and enter your panic zone a few times. It is perfectly okay to take a break from your learning zone and go back to your comfort zone every once in a while. If you enter your panic zone, I encourage you to go back into your comfort zone and try to process what happened for a little while. You are already in a new country where everything is different. Challenge yourself, but don’t push yourself too hard.
How was my forecast from my “Playing Weatherman” post?
- More confidence and patience
- Pictures of Limerick, the Cliffs of Moher, and Blarney Castle
- Classes about ecology, music, psychology, and teaching
- Periods of being lost and lonely
- A successful trip because I saw the places on my Need To See List, made new friends, passed my classes, and came back with an Irish accent
3° Guarantee:
- More confidence (and hopefully more patience)
- Lots of pictures of Limerick, the Cliffs of Moher, and many other places. I did not make it to Blarney Castle, but I saw two other castles (Bunratty Castle and King John’s Castle)
- Classes about ecology, psychology, and teaching, but not music
- I did get lost and I was lonely
- It was a successful trip, I made friends, I think I passed my classes, no accent though
I am so happy with my decision to study abroad. The University of Limerick in Ireland was a great choice for me. I have enjoyed what I have been learning, I experienced what I wanted to, I saw the beautiful country, and met new people. I have become more openminded and more confident in my abilities. God has blessed me so much through this experience. Thank you to everyone who has supported me through this, especially Mom and Dad. I love you. Thank you!
Easter In Limerick
Today was a very rainy day. It started raining last night and kept going until the afternoon. It cleared up for a little bit, then it went back to raining. In the evening, it stopped. When it wasn’t raining in the afternoon, the sun came out and I even saw a rainbow. It was a beautiful Easter rainbow reminding me of God’s promise to never flood the whole world again.
God always keeps his promises. As soon as Adam and Eve sinned, God promised that he would send a Savior. That Savior would defeat the devil, pay for the consequences of all the sins ever committed, and win eternal life in heaven for everyone who believes in him. Today, we celebrate that God kept that promise. At Christmas, we celebrate that God sent his son, Jesus, to earth as man and God to live a perfect life as our substitute. On Good Friday, we remember that Jesus needed to die in our place as payment for our sins. Doing wrong has consequences. The consequences for not listening to what God commands is death. Jesus needed to die to make that payment for sin. On Easter, we celebrate that Jesus dying as the payment for the sins of the whole world was not the end, Jesus came back to life. He showed that he has power over sin because he paid for it. He has power over the devil because he fixed the relationship between God and his people. The devil no longer has power over God’s people because all the work needed to be done for their forgiveness is completed. Jesus showed that he has power over death because he came alive again after dying. We have the promise from God that because Jesus became alive again, after we die, we will live eternally in heaven. There will be no more sadness, pain, or death in heaven. There will be joy and peace because we are with our God who loves us.
One way that I was reminded of God’s love today, was by all the people he has put in my life. I was able to stream my home church service. I was able to share in the joy of Jesus coming back to life by texting my friends and calling my family. I was even able to share some of my Easter traditions with my good friend, Wibke.
Wibke and I went for a walk during the afternoon when it stopped raining. We each ate a piece of chocolate cake, she purchased from the store, as my egg bake was in the oven. The egg bake still needed more time in the oven, so I shared with Wibke Easter candy from the United States, like jellybeans and Peeps (thanks Mom and Dad for the candy). The egg bake still wasn’t done, so we went for a walk, drank some tea, and sampled some of my hard boiled eggs. Finally, my mini egg bake was ready to eat. It was fun to be able to share some food from home with Wibke.
I miss all my people back at home. I know that I am very blessed to be here in Ireland studying and seeing the country. I am excited to finish up my studies here, see a few more sites, and be home in a month.
Happy Easter! Christ is Risen!
Puerto Ricans in London
I expected that upon coming to London, I would learn a lot about UK culture, and I have. I am proud of the way I have changed to fit in and become comfortable with the way of life in England. However, I am even more impressed with the changes that have occurred in my relationship with my own culture. I have grown to understand the American culture and the ways it differs from that of Europe.
Most of all, I am proud of how I have grown in my relationship with Puerto Rican and Latin American culture. I have always tried to stay in touch with my culture by learning Spanish and spending time with other Latinos when I can, but the only other Puerto Ricans that I have ever been close to have been my family.
I was placed with my flatmates randomly, and Karla just happened to be one of them. She was born and raised in San Juan, and is as Puerto Rican as you can get. We immediately had something in common and quickly became friends.
Since then, we have had many conversations about our culture, the aspects that we share, and those that we don’t. We have discovered a part of our culture together by going to salsa classes. Karla has pointed out things about me that I never would have attributed to being Puerto Rican, but very well could be a product of culture. She has taught me a ton, and I have taught her a few things. On just the surface level, we speak the same language and have the same comfort foods, but culture goes a lot deeper than that.
Our other American flatmates have commented on more than one occasion how gracious of a hostess Karla is. No matter how briefly someone enters our flat, they are always offered juice, water, or coffee at least once. As it is with most Latinos, her family is the most important thing in the world to her. Not only that, but family doesn’t just mean blood. In Puerto Rico, any older person in your life can be your grandma or your aunt.
I know a lot about Puerto Rican culture, and I am learning more every day, but there are some things I will never fully understand. We don’t really learn about the history of PR or its status in relation to the United States government in school, but the topic is on the minds of many Puerto Rican residents. The trauma of living through Hurricane Maria still lives in the cultural memory of the island, and they still deal with random blackouts in electricity. I can sympathize and listen, but I will never know what that’s like.
This week, I joined Karla on a trip to Italy with her brother and some of their friends. They are all very nice, and I’ve had a great time, but it hasn’t been without its difficulties. Even though I am also Puerto Rican, I am decidedly the cultural minority in the group because I didn’t grow up on the island. My Spanish serves me well, but it’s not perfect. There have been times when I’ve been lost. It’s not a good feeling to sit at a table with a group of people talking and laughing and not being able to understand or contribute. I have to remind myself that it’s ok to make mistakes and ask questions, and I’ve learned a lot in just a few days.
This experience has opened my eyes to how so many people must feel. I have so much admiration for Karla and other international students I know who use their second language all day. It can be exhausting and frustrating. I felt so grateful whenever someone noticed that I was confused and took a second to explain something to me.
It was totally by accident that Karla and I even met, but I couldn’t be more glad that we did. Not only because of how much I’ve grown but because she is an amazing flatmate and friend.