University of Arkansas Office of Study Abroad: Happy Thanksgiving! #HogsAbroad in England

Happy {early} Thanksgiving! I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend and holiday! Meanwhile, I still have class and a lab report due Friday. A few friends and I are getting together for a makeshift Thanksgiving dinner, but it won’t be the same without my family. However, I consider myself lucky to have the opportunity to miss it, and it’ll just make me even more appreciative next year.

For some reason, it’s been a very trying few days (e.g., broken washing machines, stolen kitchen items, impending deadlines) and I feel the need to let go of my aggravations and try to cherish what time I have left. So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to talk about some of the things I’ve been thankful for during my time abroad.

First off, I’m so thankful for having the opportunity to live and study abroad. It was never in my 5-year plan to study abroad, and I didn’t even consider it a possibility; so getting and being here now feels like a mixture of luck, fate, and fortune. Also, I know I’ve said it before, but I’m so grateful for everyone who helped me get here, whether that be through a letter of recommendation, a scholarship donation, or even just words of encouragement. I’m also thankful for all the love and support people have sent me from home. It’s nice to have people check in on me every once in a while, even if it’s just my dad sarcastically asking if I’m having a little turkey dinner for one.

I’m also thankful to all the people I’ve met during my time abroad. Every person has taught me something new or opened my eyes to new perspectives and opinions. For example, Joseph, a tour guide from France, taught me to seek knowledge and culture always. William, a Scottish driver, taught me that the best way to honor a lost loved one is to live a life full of happiness and love. Amanda and April, two older women from New Zealand, taught me that life is short and if you want a tattoo, get a tattoo (I didn’t get the tattoo)!

Oddly enough, I’m also thankful for the time I’ve been given to be alone. My mom always told me that I would need to learn to be alone without being lonely, and I think I’ve learned that lesson very well. Throughout all the waiting in airports, waiting on trains, waiting on buses, etc., I’ve had a lot of time to sit, be alone, and think. I’m chronically addicted to my to-do lists and daily routines, so I can’t remember the last time I daydreamed before this trip. Ironically, it’s been the most personally productive time of my life.

While I’ve done a lot of thinking, I’ve also done a lot of reading. Before, I had sworn off fiction books thinking they were a waste of time when I should be using my time to learn and read for knowledge. Somewhere along the way, I picked up this fiction book, called The Little Paris Bookshop, that helped me understand the value of a good fiction book. In this book, the main character owns a bookshop on a boat called the “Literary Apothecary.” He has a special ability to read his customers and “prescribe” them a book that will help soothe their soul. Isn’t that such a lovely concept? I can now praise the value of a good book, as this book, and others, helped me through the loneliness and sadness I experienced early on.

Lastly, I’m thankful for all the travel opportunities I’ve had, such as the one I took this weekend to Amsterdam! Amsterdam is quaint, and the Red Light District is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before in my life. Please enjoy the pictures, and I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Eat some turkey for me!