Students' and Parents' Experiences
A year ago I never expected that I would have travelled halfway around the world for school. I was a 4th year at my home university gearing up for graduate school when my advisor said to me "Why don't you do a year abroad?" I looked into a few schools and the University of Sheffield stuck in my mind. "Why not?" I thought as I was filling in my application. 6 months later I found myself standing in Manchester airport after a 7 hour flight and a 5 hour lay-over at Dublin airport, alone, proud… and in utter shock. I couldn't help but think, "Jo, you are 24 years old. Why are you doing this?" I knew that this would help me with my Medieval Art History Degree back home, but I also knew I needed an adventure. So far, that is what I have gotten! First off, there was always something to learn. You tell the bus driver where you want to go before you pay, don't ask for a soda or people will look at you strange. You stand in queues, not in lines and complete strangers will refer to you as "love" and "duck". (Try getting away with THAT in America!) Cars drive on the wrong side of the road, but don't try telling that to the people here because they will swear up and down they are on the correct side of the road.
I decided to live in university catered accommodation because throughout my experience I have found this is the fastest way to meet people and you get the most friends. I was right! Once my corridor was assembled I found I had 12 new friends and we all get on great! I found that being 6 years older than the youngest person in my corridor makes me both a novelty and a big sister to most of the girls here. The only time age is a problem is when we are trying to decide which of the many wonderful clubs to go out to. I insist on going to the 80's club to listen to music by Berlin and White Snake and I get blank stares as if I was speaking a foreign language.
Overall, this has been an amazing adventure so far! I cannot wait to see what the future has in store! I joined the women's football team and I am going to visit many medieval cities while I am here. I can barely remember the number of balls and socials and events that I am going to go to before the semester is over. I left America feeling I was too old for a change this big, that I was too old to even have real fun anymore. Coming here was the best decision of my life.
It has taught me that I have more potential than I have given myself credit for. I have learned that I can come to a foreign country and live among the people and actually survive! I found that I do have the energy to play 2 hours of football and then dance the night away with my new friends. The most important thing I have learned is that I can successfully balance school with everything else the University and the City of Sheffield has to offer. I hope it can do the same for you!
Joellyn Lauritch
Medieval History
Study Abroad Student