As I reflect on my semester in London, I feel nothing but gratitude. It is hard to put into words the amount of personal growth I developed in four months from new experiences, the people I met, and the new perspectives I gained. I am a first-generation student who had never traveled to a different continent, so it would be fair to say I had fears and hesitations when deciding to study abroad for an entire semester. However, this helped shape my decision of what program and location I ultimately chose. To be honest, I chose London as my location because it is an English-speaking country. I knew that I struggle with foreign languages, so I found a place where that wouldn’t be a challenge. I found that the IES London: Study London program did a great job of helping me along the way, but it gave me enough space to figure things out on my own.  

"If you are debating if you should study abroad or not, do it. I never thought this would be something that I could do, being someone who loves being at home. However, this is one of the best things I could’ve done for myself. It allowed me to become more independent and get out of my comfort zone."

London, in itself, has so much to offer and there is something for everyone; I have never met an individual who didn’t like it after visiting. The public transportation system allows for easy access to all areas around the city and there are four airports in the city alone. This allows for easy, and fairly cheap travel. I was fortunate enough to travel to six other countries outside of England: Ireland, Spain, France, Scotland, Switzerland, and Italy. London also has a diverse population with many countries being represented and over 300 languages spoken. As a study abroad student, there were so many opportunities in London to learn and have fun. The IES London: Study London program offers classes that are experiential, meaning they took us out into the city for a firsthand look at the content we were learning about. My favorite class was Architecture of London. Each week, we would go on a walking tour in a different area of London and talk about the history of the buildings’ architecture. This allowed me to see neighborhoods that I otherwise probably wouldn’t have seen.

Studying abroad connected me with an entire new network of peers and friends. In my program, we were surrounded by 200+ students from the United States in our accommodations and in our classes. Although this didn’t allow for total immersion into the local culture, it allowed me to make connections with like-minded people who live closer to home. The friends I made when studying abroad are people who I now consider some of my closest friends. The bond you create with those you travel the world with is unlike anything else.  

There are some tips that I have for anyone who is planning to travel abroad in the future.  

First, apply to every single scholarship you qualify for. Yes, it can be tedious and repetitive, however, it is totally worth it. Studying abroad can be very expensive but there are many ways to save money. It is worth the experience, so set aside time to fill out those applications. Continuing on the money topic, my perspective while abroad was ‘I am only studying abroad once, so I am going to make the most of it.’ I did research to find the things I wanted to do and the places I wanted to travel to ahead of time, and I created my budget around that. I didn’t want to have to say no to experiences, so that prior planning allowed me to make the most of my time abroad.  

Next, if you are debating if you should study abroad or not, do it. I never thought this would be something that I could do, being someone who loves being at home. However, this is one of the best things I could’ve done for myself. It allowed me to become more independent and get out of my comfort zone.

I think about my experience daily and am patiently, more like impatiently, waiting for the next time I can return to Europe. In fact, it was hard for me to come home. It can be just as much of an adjustment going back to ‘normal’ life. While abroad, I heard great advice, saying to treat your hometown as the next city you’re ‘studying abroad’ in. This allowed me to find new things to try that I had never done, even though I had lived here for 21 years. I now have a deeper appreciation of where I come from and look for opportunities to learn about the city I came home to. So, in conclusion, studying abroad was the best experience I’ve ever had, and I hope you can find a program that will provide you the same. 

LEARN HOW YOU CAN APPLY FOR A GLOBAL ACCESS AMBASSADOR SCHOLARSHIP

The Global Access Ambassador Scholarship program provides awards to study abroad for a summer, semester, or academic year. The scholarships are intended to support students who study abroad with the intent to serve as Global Access Ambassadors upon return to the UI campus. Upon completion of the study abroad program and return to UI, award recipients are asked to submit a photo and an open letter to prospective students or suggest an alternate means of sharing with prospective students.

Please note that the opinions and views expressed by ambassadors are solely those of the students and do not reflect or represent the views of International Programs or the University of Iowa.

International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement.  IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.