University of Arkansas Office of Study Abroad: Struggles Abroad #HogsAbroad in England

(Nyhavn)

Happy Halloween! While I haven’t seen many carved pumpkins and candy corn doesn’t exist here, people are dressed up and ready to party the night away. Also, the sneaky approach of November means I am officially at the halfway point of my journey! At this point, the trees are almost bare, the temperature is dropping, and it starts getting dark around 4:30 pm. While everyone is still adjusting to the turn of the clocks and hour gained, I want to fester in the collective gloom and talk about my struggles.

While I don’t think culture shock is the appropriate term for my experience here, I think the model still applies – Honeymoon, Frustration, Adjustment, Acceptance. Traveling around Europe, I didn’t spend long periods of time anywhere, and there was always the excitement of the next destination. Being stationary for the past month, the thrill of living in a new place has given way to the irritations of temporary living.

Please understand that I don’t want to be negative or convey regret in any form, but I think it’s important to remain transparent and honest during any experience to portray the whole picture. I think most people would struggle with homesickness or lack of familiarity issues, but I’m struggling with living in what feels like an extended stay motel.

During my travels, it was fun to live out of a backpack and pretend to be a minimalist. I like to compare it to a camping trip. You know when it’s fun to sleep on rocks and eat cans of beans for dinner because it’s a primally satisfying adventure? It was basically the same thing, except I was sleeping in hostels and eating food I couldn’t pronounce. But, at the end of a camping trip, you go home, shower, and sleep in your own bed. At the end of my travels, I came here with nothing more than a few clothes and my laptop.

For the first few days, I was going to the store regularly to buy things I ‘needed.’ I know most people pack appropriately for a study abroad (unlike me) but it’s those things you don’t think about until you need them, like tape or a can opener. Then there’s the stuff you wish you had, but can’t justify buying it for less than three months, like a nice coffee maker or room decorations.

Also, living with 13 other people, problems are inevitable because people have different standards of cleanliness and respect, especially across cultures. I won’t go too much into that because I think it’s easy to imagine and the situation could be a lot worse. Plus, without a car and the consistently off-schedule public transportation, tasks, like going to the grocery store or going into town for a meeting, become all-day affairs.

Overall, living in a new place will always have its pros and cons. In a positive light, the topic of common frustrations is a great way to bond with new friends, and you have a better appreciation for home. Also, I am aware that I could buy all these things that would make me more comfortable for my last two months here, but I find it wasteful and I’d rather spend the money on more travel.

I don’t like to complain, and as I write this, I’ve been thinking about how lucky I am that the only issue I have is my dorm (ok I miss my dog too). At the end of the day, when I look back at this time I won’t be thinking about all the inconvenient trips I had to make to the store or how many times I had to clean up after someone, but instead, I’ll remember all the people I’ve met and places I’ve gone. But also, for anyone wanting to study abroad, it’s important to know that behind all the pretty pictures and stories are moments of struggle. Nevertheless, as soon as it started, it’ll be over, and regardless of my frustrations, I remain so happy and thankful.

On a more positive note, I spent my weekend in Copenhagen! For me, Copenhagen was like if Whole Foods was a city: beautiful, green, organic, eco-friendly, and expensive. I did a lot of sightseeing and went to Tivoli Gardens, which is the amusement park that inspired Walt Disney. However, it was freezing (I saw snow), which I wasn’t prepared for, and I’m still defrosting. Please enjoy the pictures, and I promise to be more upbeat next week!