When I first considered studying abroad in London, I didn’t really think about any challenges that I may face or how I had to plan for this trip. I had never travelled alone before, let alone lived in a different country far from my family. I had lived in Seattle, Washington my whole life and only travelled back to Iraq to visit family. The thought of navigating a new city, dorming by myself, and managing day-to-day life without the comfort of falling back on my parents was a bit scary. London felt like a new world to me, but I was still interested in exploring and expanding out of my comfort zone to be able to become more independent.
Tips I would give if you’re considering studying abroad:
1. Research your study abroad program and meet with a UW study abroad advisor before applying. Make sure to figure out if the study abroad program is right for you, if the credits will transfer for what you need and if the class is what you want to be attending. You have to remember you are also attending classes while abroad!! So make sure the class is what you are interested in learning and if it is right fit for you.
2. Make sure you are able to save up money or apply for scholarships. Studying abroad can be quite expensive so it is so important that you are able to save up some money before hand or apply to scholarships in order to pay for the program cost and additional expenses during the trip. It’s also important to take into account the plane ticket and what the conversion rate is for the country you are studying in. For example: Londons conversion rate is for 100 dollars it is around 76 pounds so things were more expensive than I expected it to be. Although this can be a con, do not let it scare you since this is easily fixable and manageable. You can be responsible by applying for scholarships early and saving money by either getting a job or asking for student loans/financial aid help from the financial aid office.
3. Another tip is to make sure to make an itinerary for your trip. Plan out each day and what part of the city you will be exploring so you can save money and also make the most out of your trip! It is so important that you research the city you are going to be studying in and see if there are any events during the time you are there and any student discounts or things you can save on while you are there. When I was studying in London, I didn’t realize how expensive the food or shopping would be, but luckily there are many discounts given here for students and I was able to save some money from just showing my student ID.
Overall, this experience was life changing. I discovered so many things I was able to do, from living on my own to learning to navigate the train systems and streets of London, (even when I’d get lost in the underground and it would take me an extra 30 minutes to get home since theres no wifi underground). Each of these small victories built my confidence and soon enough I found myself genuinely enjoying this new independence I gained. This experience not only taught me how to live in a different country, but also gave me the confidence to realize that I am able to adapt and thrive in any place even if it feels scary and foreign.
So, to any UW students considering to study abroad: Yes, it might be scary at first, but the fear is just the beginning of your amazing adventure in a new country and discovering your own independence. Do not be afraid of the unknown because it will lead you to places you never imagined before. You miss every opportunity you don’t take, so take the risk. Here are some pictures of me enjoying my time in London. Taking a boat ride in Cambridge and exploring all of the colleges such as Kings college and Cambridge university. To seeing big ben in central London and visiting the shopping center in Oxford street near Covent Garden and Soho. I also enjoyed my time seeing many famous paintings, (Van Gough sunflowers looks so much better in person!!).
