Back Home- Study Abroad in Review

[@downsman1]

If your study abroad programme has taught you self-confidence and acceptance, then it has been completely worthwhile. All other experiences have been just a bonus. You have changed so much from the shy, nervous, quiet introvert that arrived here, as I knew you would. Travel teaches you something of the wider world, which is great but much, much more about yourself, which is invaluable. You have learned that you are completely capable of organising and arranging things by yourself, of budgeting, cooking, finding your way around, doing your own laundry etc., in fact, so many different and vital life skills. You have become a very different person and will find the next stages of your life so much easier because of it. Thank you again for all the super videos of your travels and experiences, they have been a pleasure to watch. Very best wishes for the future...……………………….....................….the old man by the sea.

[@NicoleMiller-ej7qz]

hano verian again, thank YOU for all of your kind words and support through this journey. It has meant so much and has been such a treat to read all your comments. I wish you the best, as well 🧡

[@abcxyz-cx4mr]

You can’t really ask whether Europeans are as friendly as southern US Americans bc it’s too much of a generalisation, each European country is different and within each country there’re regional variation. As you’ve experienced yourself, the people and friendliness in France, England, and Germany are completely different. I’d say the European countries that match southern US hospitality are Ireland and Scotland bc the Irish and Scottish smile, wave, greet, and make conversation with strangers just like Americans do - this is rare elsewhere in Europe.

[@sunflower9680]

Probably Wales and Northern England too, but perhaps they’re not as open and approachable as the Irish and Scottish.

[@NicoleMiller-ej7qz]

Marley Barley very true haha! I can really only speak to my experience in the midlands of England.

[@KatieDaniel]

[@NicoleMiller-ej7qz]

Katie Daniel 🧡🧡🧡 love you

[@lunaluna6459]

I didn’t comment much, but it was nice following your travels, thanks for sharing and good luck in the US. What other countries would you have liked to study in? What other countries do you want to visit? Hopefully you’ll continue travelling.

[@NicoleMiller-ej7qz]

Luna Luna thanks for watching!! :) I hope to visit Russia soon! That would be next on the top of my list. But I’ll be happy to go anywhere I can. I see lots of travel happening in my future, whenever I have the chance :)

[@sunflower9680]

I know you were based mostly in the Midlands and the north of England, but did you experience the difference in personality and friendliness in the north and south of England? And the difference between England, Scotland, and Wales?

[@NicoleMiller-ej7qz]

Sunflower While I did travel to all those places, I’m not sure I spent enough time there to really grasp the differences in personalities! My trips to southern England were always very quick day trips, and I was only I Wales for a weekend. Scotland however I did spent an entire week in, but it’s still hard to say exactly what the difference was.

[@sunflower9680]

Nicole Miller - True, that’s a good point. It’s fantastic that you explored all of those areas in Britain. You’ve visited more places in Britain in your six months here than some foreign students do in their year to three years here.

[@NicoleMiller-ej7qz]

Sunflower haha well I wanted to be sure to get in as much as possible. Hopefully it won’t be too long before I’m back and can visit more!

[@Samchocolate11]

One thing I want to ask is did you find England’s education system hard? I’ve heard it’s more essay-based and demanding than the US education system.

[@NicoleMiller-ej7qz]

BlueSkies11 in certain ways it was harder, and in other ways it was easier. There are a lot less grades, st least from my experience, in the grade book in the uk. Meaning that your essays and finals are pretty much your entire grade- which means you have to work a bit harder. But they also seem to give you more time to work and study, as the classes meet less frequently and have longer breaks. You are definitely expected to work more on your own, but I think the time commitment is less.

[@Samchocolate11]

Nicole Miller - I assume the extra time to work and study helped you adjust to the more demanding curriculum/education system in general. Which one do you prefer? I think the US has a more rounded system, you’re expected to do presentations, get marked on class participation, projects, and extra curricular activities, whilst all those things happen in England you’re not graded for it.

[@abcxyz-cx4mr]

Did you experience culture shock when you returned back to the US?

[@NicoleMiller-ej7qz]

Marley Barley so far, not too bad!! I think the biggest thing was when I landed in Atlanta and went to get food, people weren’t as polite and it took me a minute to be like “oh yeah- people are a lot less patient here.” And it’s been a bit strange being in grocery stores and not seeing things like digestives or dairy milks haha!

[@abcxyz-cx4mr]

Nicole Miller - ahh yeah I’d miss our biscuits and chocolates, but on the plus side at least you have all your peanut butters! You now have English/European habits, like hanging clothes on a clothing rack instead of tumble drying it, walking instead of driving, and were you always quiet, will you keep up with those habits in the US?

[@NicoleMiller-ej7qz]

Marley Barley some of them I’ll keep for sure!! I’ve always hung some of my clothes to dry, depending on fabric. And I’m hoping to walk more now that I’ve gotten used to it!