Another term has come to an end. It is nice in some ways but also alludes to starting and finishing the last of coursework assignments. Additionally, it is starting to be more spring-like here which is exciting. I look forward to seeing campus in full bloom.

Despite being here for six months, people’s reactions to realizing I’m from America still kind of surprise me. Most people get very eager which is interesting. Meeting new people feels like being interviewed or playing 20 questions. (To be clear, I take these interactions in a light-hearted way.) It’s funny because some of the people I’ve met seem to know more about American politics than I do. I also don’t necessarily mind talking about my experiences in an American school or as an American living abroad. I think American culture is sometimes glorified here, but personally, I think it’s like anywhere else: we have pros and cons, and to “outsiders,” things may seem nicer or worse than they are.

Another funny reaction I receive is when I explain my personal university experience. I’m from the South and then move to Columbia for the academic year. The time it takes to travel around the United States always catches English people off guard and I’ve received many “you don’t sound Southern,” which I don’t, so that’s fair. Back in the States, since I live further away from home, I stay on campus during breaks. There are more people who stay on campus, but some of my English friends were kind of thrown off knowing I’d be staying.

These are a few of the many circumstances where my friends and I learn from one another and explore how we process things differently.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Lancaster University