My Last Cup of Tea #HogsAbroad in England

London Tower Bridge

Well, folks, this is it! The last blog post of my study abroad journey! Was it just me, or did those 12 weeks pass by quickly? I have to admit; I wrote this post earlier than usual because I thoroughly prepared myself for the middle of finals week stress. As much as I love studying like crazy deep into December, I am ready to get home just in time for Christmas!

Unfortunately, I have a final on Friday, and no planes were leaving late enough for me to be able to get to London in time and Saturday (before Christmas) is apparently the most expensive day of the year to fly. So, I have a flight on Sunday, which gives me just enough time to pack up my backpack, go souvenir shopping, and have a last hoorah in London (I’m thinking the London Eye or a West End show – maybe The Lion King!). I’ll get home late on Sunday, just in time for Christmas Eve. I hate that I’m missing most of the holiday season, but I’m sure lucky to have had these experiences and still be home for Christmas with ALL my family!

Last week I took a trip to Clacton-on-sea to see the North Sea before I left and this past weekend I took my last weekend trip to Cambridge, with hopes it would inspire me to study harder. However, it was freezing cold and started pouring rain, and I didn’t feel too inspired. I did, however, see the 3rd generation of the famous apple tree where Sir Isaac Newton watched the apple fall and the building where J.J. Thomson discovered the electron. To wrap the weekend up, I had a last goodbye dinner with my flatmates. Pictures below 🙂

(Clacton-on-sea)

(King’s College)

(Newton’s Apple Tree)

(Flat 2 – University of Essex)

I’m not sure if I have any readers who are considering a term abroad, but if you are – do it! It’s life changing in many ways you’d never expect. If I had to give advice, now that my time is over, I’d say (1) do your research and know your priorities (2) don’t underestimate your ability to figure things out, but also don’t overestimate your on-hand resources and (3) study! But over everything, embrace it! Embrace everything: the uncertainty, the unknown, the uncomfortable, all of it! It’ll be the best time of your life!

I want to thank everyone who kept up with my journey and sent kind words of encouragement! Writing isn’t my strong suit, and writing posts to an anonymous audience made me feel vulnerable. But overall, I’m glad I was able to document my adventures, and I’m sure my mom was thankful to get more than a two-line text update each week!

While I’m excited to go home and get ready to graduate, I know I’ll miss the excitement of travel and new adventures. I don’t doubt I’ll be back in Europe at some point, but it’ll never be in the same context. Because I love numbers, I sat down and figured out some of the stats of my trip – starting on August 28, 2018, and ending on December 18, 2018. Here they are!

22 Planes (and two more to go!)

24 Trains/Long-Ride Buses

17 Hostels/Hotels

1,266,017 Steps

&

567 Miles!

Along with too many taxis/Ubers/metros to count and over 1,000 pictures taken.

Lord knows I’m ready to sleep in my bed, wash my tennis shoes, and throw away my over worn clothes. But I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything, and I’m so blessed to have been given the opportunity! A big thank you to everyone who helped get me here (it was a group effort). A year ago at this time, I was thinking about all the hoops I’d have to jump through to manage a term abroad and if it would even be worth it. Let me tell you; it was ALL worth it.

Soon, I’ll be going home with my luggage a little heavier, my pockets a little lighter, and my heart a LOT more full of gratitude and appreciation. If there are any lingering questions or any traveling job offers down the road, don’t hesitate to contact me at any time.

Happy holidays and a happy new year, to all!

Signing out for the last time, with a smile on my face and a warm cup of tea in my hands.

Cheers,

Brisa B.

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Industrial Engineering major Brisa Bartczak is spent the Fall 2018 term in England with our U of A Exchange program at the University of Essex, Colchester with the help of our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship and the College of Engineering.

Read more from Brisa at https://sites.uark.edu/bsbartcz/

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/