I always knew studying abroad was something I’d be interested in doing in college. In theory, it would be a fun trip where I would get to meet new people and see new places before returning to campus as a changed person. In practice, it was all of this and more.
A few days ago marked, for me, two weeks since returning to America, and now I look back on my time at Oxford University as if it was some sort of dream. I try to imagine the walls of the centuries old libraries I walked through and the train rides to faraway places I would take on the weekends with friends. I scroll through the thousands of photographs I took during my travels and smile at the memories they showcase. In theory, studying abroad seemed cool to me. In practice, it was completely transformative- a chance to be fully immersed in the vast history and culture of a place while simultaneously forming incredible and unique connections with those around me.
One of the nights I think of most fondly now that my time at Oxford is over is one of the last nights of the trip, when we all gathered in our finest clothes for High Table, a formal dinner that has become a UA at Oxford tradition. In our dresses and suits, my friends and I took pictures and complimented each other’s fancy attire, talking about how we all felt like we were going to prom. We shared a delicious meal cooked and served by the amazing staff at Worcester College that had been so kind to us throughout our entire time staying at the college. Our professors gave speeches that made us tear up, and we all talked about how much we would miss each other, about how we would miss this.
Though only a few weeks removed from the experience, I miss Oxford immensely. The memories I formed there will be special to me for the rest of my life, and I’m so lucky that I’m able to stay in touch with the people who made it incredibly special for me. I always knew I wanted to study abroad, but I never knew where I would go or what it would be like. Now, looking back on my experience in Oxford, I can gladly say it exceeded every possible expectation.