By William Coffman, Opinions and Editorials Editor
I had never been to Europe before when I began my study abroad adventure. My only prior experience abroad consisted of childhood trips to Canada and Mexico, which I scarcely remember, and a couple visits to the Bahamas where I stayed at a resort. I remember vividly the feeling I had walking off the plane at Heathrow. It was a mixture of shock, excitement, intimidation and even second-guessing. Indeed, the most prevalent thought I had during my first day in London was “what have I gotten myself into?”
It was strange being in a different place. It was hard too. I remember I went to bed that first night, looking at my calendar and counting the days until I would be on my flight home. I felt so uneasy and unconfident. “It’s only the first night,” I remember thinking. “You can’t possibly be homesick already.” Looking back now, I don’t think I was. I think I was having a completely normal reaction when taking a leap of faith and trying something new. That initial moment of unease, after taking the first steps into an unknown arena of life is natural. It is a feeling you should strive to seek out for yourself.
Looking back now, it is almost laughable to me when I think about how uncertain I felt that first day. My time in London is something I will forever cherish. Any feelings of doubt or hesitation soon faded as I adjusted to the new world I would call my home for the next few months. What a place London is. What beautiful lands England, the United Kingdom and Europe are. My days were spent walking the streets of London, touring its museums and gazing in awe at its sights. When not in class or at my internship, I was out and about, living life to the fullest.
Those who know me well know I am an old soul in a young body. I don’t drink, I don’t party, I don’t play cards. Truthfully, I am rather boring. But I found so much in London that called to me outside the pubs and clubs. The elegant theaters of the West End, the calm tranquility of Hyde, Green and St. James’s Park. The bustling nature of Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Oxford and Regent Street. But perhaps most special, London’s landmarks: Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, and Buckingham Palace. I made it a goal to see these sights every day, and I can confidently say that I fell in love with them.
Photo courtesy of William Coffman
On weekends I would take the train to other English cities, like Cambridge, Oxford, Windsor and Bath. I took the Eurostar to Belgium, where I saw beautiful architecture and enjoyed the best chocolate and waffles of my life. I took the Eurostar again to Paris twice, on the second trip devoting a day of travel to Normandy to see the D-Day beaches. I visited Edinburgh and surfed in Wales. But it was London that captured my heart.
It was London where I devoted most of my time, and I was well-rewarded. There are very few things I can think of in London I didn’t get to, but oh, how I cannot wait to return. It is funny thinking about my first day in London and comparing it to my last. I left London excited to return home and saddened by the fact I was leaving what had become home and, in some ways, still is home.
When George Mallory was asked why he wanted to climb Everest, his answer was, “Because it is there.” When you are studying abroad, you are not just a student but an explorer. It is an adventure. It will intimidate you. It will humble you. It will change you. I truly believe anyone who does a study abroad program betters themselves. Pixar’s “Up” reminds us “adventure is out there!” Find yours and get going.