{"id":1503,"date":"2024-05-29T14:52:07","date_gmt":"2024-05-29T21:52:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogschapman.wpenginepowered.com\/center-for-global-education\/2024\/05\/29\/top-5-things-i-learned-during-my-semester-abroad\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T06:26:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T06:26:15","slug":"top-5-things-i-learned-during-my-semester-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/center-for-global-education\/2024\/05\/29\/top-5-things-i-learned-during-my-semester-abroad\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 Things I Learned During My Semester Abroad"},"content":{"rendered":"

I studied abroad at the University of Roehampton in London in the fall semester of my junior year. I was there from September through December of 2022. During my semester abroad, I learned so many valuable skills and lessons that continue to benefit me long after the end of my semester in London. These are the Top 5 Things I Learned During My Semester Abroad:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Language Differences<\/u><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Studying abroad in an English-speaking country, I didn\u2019t expect there to be any language barriers or communication issues. While for the most part that was true, there were a few instances in which learning some British-English vocabulary was helpful.<\/p>\n

    Knowing the differences between British and American English is mostly helpful when ordering in restaurants. I thought I knew the general differences (fries are chips, chips are crisps, cookies are biscuits, etc.) but there was so much more I learned. One of my first mistakes in London was ordering a lemonade. What I got was something more like Sprite – a carbonated soda with barely any lemon flavor. Another phrase I learned to say differently in the UK was asking for the \u201cbill\u201d at the end of the meal rather than the \u201ccheck.\u201d (They\u2019ll still know what you mean if you ask for the check though).<\/p>\n

    I also learned that I was wrong about some of the language differences I thought I knew. For example, the word for bathroom. It\u2019s common knowledge that the British term is \u201cloo,\u201d which it is, but I found that most people in London just ask for directions to the \u201ctoilet.\u201d And I knew that the British word for \u201ctrash\u201d was \u201crubbish,\u201d but when you\u2019re looking for the trash can, you really should be asking for the \u201cbin.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Also pictured below is me and some friends \u201cpunting\u201d in Cambridge! In America, punting means kicking a football, but in the UK, punting means taking a small boat out on a river, usually at universities like Oxford and Cambridge.<\/p>\n

    Photos: me at my first restaurant in London; me and my friends at a pizza chain we frequented; me with friends punting in Cambridge<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Navigation<\/u><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Because London is literally thousands of years old, most of the city was built without modern urban planning like we have in America. This makes it a beautiful historic city, but it also makes it extremely difficult to navigate. Almost none of the streets are built in a grid like New York or Chicago. There are also streets, alleyways, staircases, and other passageways that are only accessible to pedestrians. The twists and turns in London can be charming, but when you\u2019re in a hurry and in an unfamiliar place, they can also be overwhelming.<\/p>\n

      The best navigation tools are Apple\/Google Maps and CityMapper (which tells you the arrival time of your bus or train), but it is also important to know the geography of the city. By studying maps, I learned generally where London\u2019s boroughs and landmarks are in relation to one another. Most of the tube stops have trains going in multiple directions, so being able to know whether you\u2019re going east or west is crucial to navigating the underground.<\/p>\n

      Something I was not prepared for before taking London public transportation was the number of times I would have to change trains or buses to get to my final destination. It took some getting used to at first, but after a while it felt like second nature.<\/p>\n

      One last thing about public transportation that I learned is that there\u2019s a distinct etiquette involved. Most tube stops have escalators since they are deep underground. The proper way to ride an escalator in London is to stay on the right side if you\u2019re just standing, and stay on the left side if you\u2019re walking up or down.<\/p>\n

      Photos: a Tube stop, me and my friends on the National Rail, Waterloo station\u2019s escalators<\/p>\n

      \"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Packing<\/u><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Before my semester abroad, I was always an overpacker. For my semester abroad, I managed to pack all my necessities into a large suitcase, a small suitcase, and a backpack. And in order to travel around Europe on a budget once I was there, I was on flights that allowed only one personal item (aka only my small backpack). Here\u2019s what I learned about packing light:<\/p>\n

        Use packing cubes! I was able to stuff a lot into each bag, and fit several bags into each suitcase. They saved me a lot of room because they keep clothes from spreading out and taking up more space. In this picture, I was able to fit 2 sweaters, 5 long sleeve shirts, and 3 tank tops into one cube.<\/p>\n

        Scale down your wardrobe. I brought mostly neutral and solid colored items so that everything I brought could go together. And when I went on weekend trips to other cities, I wore the same jeans every day and packed only 1-2 shirts. Not packing jeans in my backpack saved room in my backpack for toiletries and other essential things.<\/p>\n

        Nowadays, I\u2019m a VERY light packer. I travel back and forth from Chicago and Orange County a lot, and I only bring my backpack with me when I go home for breaks. Studying abroad taught me how to know exactly what I need to pack for a trip based on the way I travel.<\/p>\n

        Photos: what I fit into one packing cube; my small suitcase with my backpack<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        \"\"<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Travel Booking<\/u><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          My semester abroad was the first time I had the freedom to make my own travel plans, but it was made less overwhelming by all of the resources available online for booking transportation, accommodations, and activities. Here\u2019s what I learned about booking trips while abroad:<\/p>\n

          Stay in Airbnbs! First of all, you can find some really unique ones which makes it way more fun than staying in a hotel or a hostel. I think I\u2019ve told funny stories about all of the Airbnbs I\u2019ve stayed in just because they all have a touch of eccentricity. Airbnbs can also be a lot less expensive while giving you more space, especially if you\u2019re traveling with a larger group.<\/p>\n

          There are so many student discounts to take advantage of! The UK offers a railcard for students to get 30% off train tickets, so I signed up for this at the beginning of my semester and was able to get great prices on tickets from London to Edinburgh, Liverpool, Cardiff, Oxford, and other places in the UK. For booking activities, museums and sites that charge admission usually offer free or discounted tickets for students. I saw Matilda <\/em>on the West End for \u00a315 by going to the box office right before the show and purchasing a student ticket. It never hurts to ask!<\/p>\n

          Next, look around at what activities are available to do in a place before you go. I used the app Get Your Guide a lot, and there are some really unique tours and activities on there. My favorite was in Norway, where I got to go to a ranch and play with hundreds of huskies, eat a freshly cooked meal in a little cabin, and see the northern lights while drinking hot chocolate.<\/p>\n

          Finally, airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet offer very low prices which is a great choice for students wanting to travel over the weekend! These flights usually have less leg room and only allow one bag per person, but the flights I was on were usually only 1-2 hours long and the bag policy taught me to pack light. I bought a round trip ticket from London to Dublin for only \u00a326. The only catch is that sometimes these flights fly out of airports farther from the city center, so make sure you have a convenient way to get there.<\/p>\n

          Photos: the balcony of my Airbnb in Florence, view from my seat at Matilda<\/em>, playing with huskies under the northern lights in Norway, exploring a forest in Dublin<\/p>\n

          \"\"<\/p>\n

          \"\"<\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Independence<\/u><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            While abroad, the most important skill I learned was how to enjoy my own company!<\/p>\n

            Everyone travels differently. I love getting up early, walking everywhere, reading every sign at museums, visiting historical sites, and learning from tour guides. Some of my friends preferred sleeping in, taking public transportation to save time, trying the food, visiting the local shops, and being spontaneous.<\/p>\n

            Despite our different approaches, we figured out how to make it work, which was often by splitting up and doing our own thing for a little while.<\/p>\n

            In London, I would often go to museums on my own and then go out to lunch afterwards \u2013 pictured below is my lunch at a cafe I stumbled upon near the British Museum. In Madrid, I woke up hours before my friends and decided to take a walk through a park, where I got to see peacocks roaming around! Towards the end of the semester, I even went on a day trip alone to Cardiff, where I had an incredible time. And since I was alone, I started chatting with a BBC Cymru tour guide about being a film student, and I ended up getting a private tour of parts of the studio not open to the public! That was one of the highlights of my semester abroad.<\/p>\n

            I\u2019ve changed a lot as a person because of my semester abroad. I\u2019m much more comfortable going to theaters to see movies and plays by myself. I used to always fly with friends, but now I prefer to navigate airports alone. I\u2019m okay with wanting to do different things from my friends, because I found the freedom to do anything I want on my own! I\u2019m much more open to trying new things because while abroad, I learned to take every opportunity as my only chance.<\/p>\n

            Photos: my lunch after going to the British Museum, a photo I took of a peacock in Madrid, selfie at Cardiff Castle, me on the set of BBC Sport Wales<\/p>\n

            \"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

            In Summary<\/u><\/p>\n

            I hope this has opened your eyes to the importance of traveling abroad! Learning about how people in other parts of the world live their lives has inspired me to live my own life in new ways. I learned valuable skills such as navigating a metropolitan area, packing my bags with only the essentials, and booking my own travel plans. But most importantly, my semester abroad taught me how to be more independent. It made me a much happier and more confident person, and I hope that your study abroad does the same for you!<\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

            Helen Neppl<\/p>\n

            Fall 2022<\/p>\n

            London, United Kingdom<\/p>\n

            University of Roehampton<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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