I’m Rach, a third year Criminology with Psychology student who recently returned from a semester abroad at the University of Rochester, in upstate New York in the USA! This time abroad allowed me to have the unique opportunity to study Anthropology, a fascinating topic to explore as a social science student due to the expansion into cultural perspectives I had never covered before.
Arriving in the states offered a greater culture shock than I had expected, but after adjusting my sleep schedule and accepting that walkable towns were practically non-existent here, I found myself in a comfortable rhythm in my life in the U.S. Classes were unusual, I felt like I was back in secondary school with rooms of maximum 30 students, graded participation and everyone being on a comfortable first name friendly American basis with each other. To begin with I honestly missed being a face in the crowd in a 200 person Southampton lecture hall. The content of these classes is what spurred me through this different way of learning, reading the works of authors who originated the culture concept was very interesting and gave me new outlooks to not only my studies but also myself.
During orientation week all the exchange students visiting Rochester were introduced to one another and this is where I made my first batch of new friends. It was nice being around those who were going through the same things I was and wanting to get the most out of the experience just like me. Not long after meeting, a few of us decided that on our next available long weekend we’d fly to Chicago to explore the city and spend two days at a music festival there. This weekend was amazing, letting me see more of the U.S and finally hear a few of my favourite bands live. This experience began a routine of spending every other weekend in a different state where possible, doing both solo trips to places like Nashville, NYC and across different parts of California, as well as going to Niagara Falls and Dallas with friends.
I can’t recommend this experience enough. My advice is to take every opportunity given to you, and if you really want to do something just go, you don’t need to wait for someone else to go with you. This experience has left me with the best memories and a need to get out and see more of the world.
