What studying abroad meant to me.

I'm back in the United States and my summer in England has ended. So much has happened that I cannot even begin to describe what this experience meant to me, and honestly, I don't think I'll ever know just how much studying abroad has affected me. Because it's so much more than taking classes in a foreign country or making new friends or living in an exciting city. It's how placing yourself in a distant point on a map completely transforms your personality, lifestyle and mentality, all for the better. I could write forever on why studying at the University of Leeds was the greatest time of my life, so here's my attempt at conveying just how much I learned about myself and the world around me:

The amazing friends that I made taught me that the best people are the genuine ones. Never try to be anything that you're not because you can and will make friends, no matter what country or situation you're in. On my first night in Leeds, I let my guard down and was my goofy, extroverted self, and you know what, I had one of the best nights of the trip bonding with people I now call my best friends. Don't be afraid to be yourself, it's just not worth it.

Speaking of letting your guard down, I learned that you have to be vulnerable. There is a peace and a freedom that comes with opening your heart up to others and not being afraid of what might happen. We all pursue meaningful relationships, and for the first time, I was completely open with my emotions. I wore my heart on my sleeve and didn't pretend to be indifferent when I wasn't out of fear of rejection. And guess what, it payed off, because I have some pretty spectacular memories with certain people simply because I didn't play games with them about how I felt. Studying abroad instilled that confidence in me.

The fact that I only had four weeks in Leeds made me completely aware that you have to make the most out of the time you're given. Life is short. Period. I love the saying that you won't remember whether or not you got a good night's sleep five years from now; forget whatever's holding you back and just do everything you possibly can because the opportunity will end.

I learned that you not only have to be open-minded but that it's truly the best way to go about life. I was able to converse with those of differing opinions about my religion, morals and beliefs without being judged because we all approached the situation with pure curiosity and respect. You wanna talk about being a global citizen? Try listening to others, it works.

In a very paradoxical sense, I learned that, in fact, it is a small world after all, yet you have a very small place in it. It was so neat to be able to bond with people from completely different cultures so quickly, but it hit me pretty early on that the details of my life aren't all that important. It may sound disheartening, but this very humbling fact is quite important. The world turns regardless of what's going on in your life, so don't be a diva and get on with your issues because they are irrelevant to 99.99% of the population.

I gained the invaluable knowledge that I am a much more independent person than I give myself credit. Studying abroad requires quite a bit of courage, but the benefits of self-awareness make it all worthwhile. Be bold, make decisions for yourself and take chances because finding out who you are in this world makes life so much more bearable.

I realized that the world is a truly glorious place. You need to go somewhere that looks, feels, tastes, smells and sounds different from your home. You need to walk in the same steps of those who lived a thousand years before you and have your mind blown because it hasn't changed that much since then. You need to witness a physical object, whether it be a painting or a church or garden, that makes you cry because it's so beautiful. And you need to realize that we are so lucky to be on this planet because despite all the terrible things going on in this world, you are here in this foreign land, experiencing the wonder of life. I have never felt so alive nor had so many times where I'd just stop in my tracks, look around, and thank God for being young. For the ability to take in a moment and just revel in it, knowing that it will eventually pass so you have to appreciate it while it's still there. For praying with all your heart that you can soak in every last ounce of a memory because whatever happened was so perfect and wonderful that you want to have it with you forever. For being so blissfully happy about a small, miniscule occurrence and treating it like it was the best thing to ever happen because those you're with made it that amazing. For being so full of emotion that the only people who understand are those you're experiencing it with, giving you a connection that never dies. For loving a group of people so much that, even after four weeks together, parting with them is as hard as a break-up: that nauseous, hopeless feeling that no amount of tears or hugs can cure. And for having so wonderful many stories to tell that you don't know where to begin because words or pictures don't do the memories justice. 

Thanks and gig 'em,

Rachel

Our Last Hooray

I'm sitting in the Manchester Airport right now, waiting for a plane to take me to Heathrow and then on to Houston. Because I don't want to burst into tears, I'm just going to recount our last two, amazing, spectacular, fantastic nights in Leeds and address the sappy stuff later.

How cool is our teacher, Alice?!

Sweet Jemma

On Friday evening after our day trip to Haworth, the entire Leeds International Summer School got together one last time for a Farewell Dinner. We all got dressed up and went into town for a three-course meal at the delicious restaurant, Giraffe. For three hours, we laughed and cried (a lot): our wonderful Program Directors, Clare and Gill, both said a few words about how amazing this time has been, we all gave our stupendous Social Assistants countless rounds of applause and hugs for their hard-work and invaluable friendships they've provided us with and several students spoke and even sang. (A group of people saw Wicked in London, so two girls sang "For Good", which made us all teary-eyed it was so beautiful). Even though many of us weren't leaving until Sunday, we were all aware that this was the last time we'd all be together as one unit. And it was quite heartbreaking.

Brittany, Beth and Kathryn: three beautiful ladies.

Luckily, we are all very fun, cheerful people who recognize that having fun is much better than being sad, so we all approached the night with a celebratory disposition rather than a mournful one. At the dinner, there was more laughter than tears, and since none of us wanted the night to end, we went to the same Karaoke Bar we had gone to a few weeks earlier and had a great time. Highlights include Ken and Beth's Eminem showdown and Clare's adorable Queen serenade. It was simply brilliant. We then made our way to a bar called the Smokestack, which absolutely takes the prize for the coolest club I've been to: they only play old music and the mood is very old-fashioned, speakeasy-esque, yet it was such a lively and energetic vibe that couldn't be matched. When we got back in the wee hours of the morning, several of us hung out in the common room, playing games, telling stories and just enjoying each others company. We even participated in what we Aggies call "pond hopping" (to everyone else, it's just getting into the fountains on campus). There is a giant one at the University of Leeds, and part of our "LISS Bucket List" included going in it. The water was freezing so we just stood inside for a few minutes, but it was worth getting to say we accomplished splashing around in the fountain. By then, the sun had come up and it was a new day, much to our disappointment.

I have so much love for these people!

Anna and Emma en route to the Run

That afternoon consisted of a tearful goodbye to Jodie and Beth, two of my favorite Australians, and us getting ready for that night. We all wanted to go out with a bang, so our group of friends decided it would be fun to go on the Otley Run, Leeds's famous pub crawl. (They all participated in it a couple weeks earlier while I was in London, so this was my first time). Traditionally, your group dresses up to a theme, and we decided to pretend to be a "Hen Party" (what England calls a Bachelorette Party). Making it even sillier, Carwyn, one of our social assistants, played the role of "Bride".....We all made t-shirts with our respective roles in the wedding party on the back and got a person from each bar to sign them -- definitely a fun souvenir! Needless to say, the night was eventful, and it couldn't have been a more perfect way to end our time in Leeds. It's nights such as those that make me appreciate being young: when I look back on my twenties, I can smile and reminisce on crazy-fun times like Saturday's and know that I am one lucky girl. I got to spend my last hours in the city I love with the people I love, and I'll never forgot the memories we made. 

The best friends anyone could ever ask for.

Thanks and gig 'em,

Rachel

PS- My next post is going to be a tear-jerker; I just have to bring myself to write it. Prayers appreciated...

Bronte Pilgrimage

Our last week in class was absolutely amazing! I've been taking a course on English literature and the Bronte sisters, so naturally it's been extremely interesting. The University of Leeds has an amazing Special Collections of ancient texts: we got to view several 18th century books in the Country Houses class, but this week were able to see some mind-blowing Victorian pieces. I was freaking out because there were letters from Oscar Wilde, Charlotte Bronte and Charles Dickens, as well as miniature, hand-written books by Branwell and Emily Bronte and the crown jewel of the Brotherton Library at Leeds, the first edition of Shakespeare's complete works. Needless to say, I was in awe.

Letter from Oscar Wilde

1st edition of Shakespeare's plays

Branwell Bronte's miniature books

On Friday, we took a day trip to Haworth, the village where the Brontes lived and wrote their timeless novels. Their father's parsonage is now a museum run by the Bronte Society and displays their furniture, clothing, drawings, etc. It was so neat to get to walk around the house and see where and how they lived. Jane Eyre is my favorite book, so I was very grateful to be in the same rooms as Charlotte when she wrote it. It's opportunities like this that make me value studying abroad so much: you are able to stand where they stood and soak in all the wonder. We also got to eat some delicious (and cheap) fish and chips, and then we walked around the very charming village, goofing off and making the most of our last day of class.

Haworth crossing

The cutest local, Oscar!

If you've ever read Wuthering Heights, you know that the moors play a huge part in the story. When Emily Bronte wrote the novel, she was inspired by her home, so we took a hike up the moors to see exactly what she meant. It was absolutely breathtaking, both literally and metaphorically: the hike was quite tiring, but it was so worth it because the views were unmatched. It couldn't have been a more beautiful day, and to be out on the moors was truly a blessing. I had such a lovely time taking in the amazing views and being with my friends and wonderful teacher, Alice: it was a glorious day to say the least.

Thanks and gig 'em,

Rachel

LISS takes London

Oh my goodness, where do I even begin? I am so sorry, dear readers, for delaying this post for so long: it's been a crazy (wonderful) week here, so I'm going to break it up into separate posts.

We left Friday morning for London -- this being my fifth time in the past month -- but I was nevertheless extremely excited. We, as the Leeds International Summer School, have made so many wonderful memories in Leeds that we couldn't wait to make some in London, and it certainly did not disappoint. Our coach trip was filled with Catch-Phrase games and naps, which made the four hour drive very pleasant. Upon our arrival into the city, we headed straight to Wimbledon, the magnificent tennis club that just hosted its prestigious tournament a mere two weeks prior. I enjoy playing tennis (although I'm pretty terrible at it), but I've never really watched or followed it, professionally. This outing, however, was loads of fun and very, very interesting: it was definitely a neat afternoon (plus the weather couldn't have been more perfect)!

Shout-out to Nebraska

After leaving Wimbledon, we headed to the heart of the city to our accommodations at the University of London, which, coincidentally, was very close to Nebraska Street, much to Anna's delight. That evening, we went to the Ice Bar, a bar that is literally frozen (hence the parkas), and it was very cool. Get it....COOL....(Don't pretend you didn't chuckle.) We then explored London's night life and had lots of fun going to new places and meeting new people.

Chilly fun: even the walls were made of ice!

On Saturday, all of LISS went to the Shakespeare Globe Theatre, where we took a tour and learned the history of both the original theatre and the current company and monument. We even got to see a sword-fighting demonstration, something everyone was entertained by.

My friends and I spent the afternoon sightseeing around London: we stopped by St. Paul's Cathedral and then took a boat tour along the Thames. It was a very, very hot day, so the river breeze was lovely! Afterwards, a few of us walked around Westminster and went shopping at the amazing tourist store, Cool Britannia, where you could purchase literally anything imaginable dealing with Great Britain (friends and family, get excited about souvenirs). We even ventured over to Hamleys, London's famous toy store that my family and I went to nine years ago. That night, we went to this super cool club called Bounce, a bar that offers ping-pong on the sight where ping-pong was created. I was terrible (shocker), but we all had a blast hanging out with each other and laughing at ourselves. 

Everyone is excited for Prince George!

On Sunday, we walked the Victoria and Albert Museum and then made the trek to Buckingham Palace in hopes of still being able to view the Royal Birth Announcement. Unfortunately, it was no longer displayed, but we stopped for brunch and I ate the best omelet I've ever had! I wasn't even that deprived of Prince George hype because Harrods was all about the Royal Baby: they had congratulatory signs posted all over the store and even sold commemorative mugs (which of course I had to purchase). We were all so exhausted from the weekend that most of us slept on the bus ride home, a sure sign of a great trip! I'll definitely update the blog soon about this week, but for now, I'm off to our Farewell Dinner *insert sobs*. But really, I cannot even come to terms with the fact that this amazing summer is almost over. Okay, I can't think about it or I really will start crying.....

Thanks and gig 'em,
Rachel

Taco Night (pronounced tack-o)

Look at those leaders of culture

In honor of National Tequila Day, we at the Leeds International Summer School thought it would be fun to look south of the border for inspiration for Wednesday's social. So we hosted our very own Taco Night! Anna and Kathryn declared themselves Social Assistants for the evening, and I must say, they did a fantastic job.

We all took a trip to the local supermarket and picked up supplies, then headed back to prepare our traditional Mexican meal. I have to admit, this was the most cooking I've done since I've been overseas. (I'd probably starve without frozen mini-pizzas...) The tacos were a hit, and we had a great time celebrating National Tequila Day on the other side of the Atlantic.

Love these Aussies and their fancy-dress

Here you go Alex, your very own picture on the blog!

One really cool thing happened at Taco Night that I definitely didn't expect but am so happy it did. My friends and I ended up discussing religion and Christianity for a solid couple of hours, and it couldn't have been a more interesting, non-confontational way of going about it. You see, back home in Texas, pretty much everyone is a Christian, or at least religious in some way. I've always been strong in my faith, and while I've been the outcast sometimes, I've never been in a group of people with such differing beliefs. And it's so cool that I get to experience this here! Because the thing is, we all care about each other a lot -- no one was attacking anybody, no one was being judgmental. It was purely a conversation sparked from curiosity. People constantly tell me that Study Abroad is the greatest because you are exposed to fellow young people at all walks in their spirituality, and I couldn't agree more. I am not a perfect Christian by any stretch of the imagination, but I think I explained my beliefs and those of the Christian Church well last night. I pray that God uses me in a way that impacted those around me; I can already see that I've grown so much throughout this entire trip and am so blessed by the friends I've made and the conversations we've had.

Thanks and gig 'em,
Rachel

York: a city that transcends time.

Scenic York

Yesterday after class, I took the train up to York by myself for a day trip in the city. My friends had all gone the Sunday I was in London and had a great time, so naturally I felt the need to explore York for myself. Plus, my family and I spent several days there when we went in 2004, leaving me nostalgically longing to go.

The Fisher Phone Booth

Upon my arrival into York, I called my Dad and asked him about a certain phone booth that needed to be tracked down. You see, this phone booth is very special to my family because we have, coincidentally, gotten our photo taken in front of it each time we've gone to York. My parents traveled to England and Scotland before my sisters and I were born and got a picture with it, then when we all went we stumbled upon this same phone booth and snapped a picture with it, so of course I needed to get my picture with it on this excursion. I made my way along the River Ouse and the ancient Roman wall barricading the city until I found the Fisher Phone Booth. It was tucked away on a quiet street corner, a bit dilapidated and in need of some TLC. I have to say, I was quite sad to see how poor of a state it is in, but I nonetheless was pleased with myself for reaching my destination. I looked a bit ridiculous snapping selfies in front of this phone booth, but frankly I didn't care. I know this is very cheesy, but I really hope this phone booth doesn't bite the dust. Who knows, maybe I'll return with friends or a spouse or my own family and will get the same picture that the Fishers continue to take. It's just a sweet reminder of times past, a familiar landmark sentimental to those I love.

You can even see Leeds from here!

 I made my way along the wall and into the city center; York is very unique because it still upkeeps the narrow, ancient roads from the Tudor years, lined with quaint shops and museums. York Minster came into my line of vision, and I eagerly entered the magnificent cathedral. The day started very dreary, however the clouds cleared and the weather was sunny finally, shining light through the breathtaking stained-glass windows. I opted to climb to the top of York Minster, a feat that not everyone choses to conquer. Our time-slot for the ascent lined up and shuffled into the narrow turret containing the whopping 237 steps it would take to reach the top. As we began, I thought to myself, "This is nothing. I'm a (somewhat) fit individual. Heck, I'm 20 years old, I can do anything, basically." My confidence was a bit premature. The thing about the climb is not so much the act of walking up so many steps....it's the endless repetition of going round and round a dark circular stairway with no clue when the top has been reached. FINALLY, though, we made it, and the view of Yorkshire from the top was worth it! I was proud of myself and marveled in the sweeping sights seen from atop York Minster.

I made my way down the steps (not very fun) and got to look around the gothic church. I have to say, if you've never seen an ancient cathedral, you haven't seen true beauty. It almost makes me cry how breathtaking a building can be -- call me crazy, but York Minster is a marvel of masonry, physics and art. It is nothing less than sensational to stand in the nave and spin round and round, unable to catch your breath because your senses are so overwhelmed with the grandeur. It is a spiritual encounter, bringing those who experience this church's glory closer to God whether they realize it or not. I literally could not help but thank Him for this treasure of a church and for the fact that I, in 2013, get to witness this ancient beauty no longer found in the modern world. This is why studying abroad is so important. It puts things into perspective and makes you appreciate the world you live in. It's a gift.

Thanks and gig 'em,
Rachel

Best Friend and a Baby

I am one lucky girl because I got to spend the weekend in London with my best friend, Julie! She's currently studying abroad at KU Leuven in Belgium, so she hopped on a train and met me in jolly old England. We stayed at the University of London's College Hall, which is a dorm that is open to travelers during the summertime. I highly recommend these accommodations for people on a budget instead of staying in a hostel because 1) we got our own (very clean) room AND bathroom 2) it was an amazing location and 3) it was affordable.

Authentically English Fish & Chips!

On Friday, we walked to Leicester Square and went down to the crypt at St. Martin in the Fields to make our very own brass rubbings, which were masterpieces in their own right (just kidding, we're no artists...). We then checked out Duchess Kate's picture at the National Portrait Gallery and walked around Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus. The highlight of the night was definitely taking Julie to Wagamama and PHANTOM OF THE OPERA!!!!!!! Julie had never seen it before, so of course I had to share with her my favorite show of all time. It was amazing and wonderful and everything beautiful this world has to offer. I know I'm being a little dramatic (no pun intended), but Phantom moves me unlike anything else. This is the second time I've seen it in London and fifth time ever (once in New York, three times in Houston), and I can honestly say, I still get excited when Christine enters the mirror and awestruck when the Phantom serenades her with "Music of the Night". I could write a whole post (probably a novel) on just how much I love and respect this show, but I will restrain myself and simply say that I had a splendid time and was so grateful I got to share my greatest interest with Julie (who loved it, by the way!).

Tea time with Julie

We awoke bright and early to go shopping at Portobello Road, a fantastic London market where the streets are lined with antiquity and souvenir vendors (along with much more cool stuff!). Julie and I shopped A LOT -- especially buying gifts for back home. Naturally, I couldn't get the song "Portobello Road" from the Disney movie, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, out of my head..... Afterwards, we walked to Kensington Palace where we had a proper Cream Tea, which was lovely. We found out that Kate and William were back home here; unfortunately, we didn't see them, but we did stumble upon a very cool James Bond sign!

Fisher. Rachel Fisher.

We then hopped on the tube and traveled to the Tower of London, which I felt the need to show Julie because it is such a London staple. I was pleasantly surprised that, despite having only just been there two weeks prior, I was just as engaged and excited. Besides, seeing the Crown Jewels NEVER gets old ;) We got our picture snapped in front of the London Bridge and even boarded a traditional Double-Decker Bus, a first for me! It was loads of fun; after this weekend, I feel as though I've mastered traveling around London.

Julie and I got off at St. Paul's: unfortunately, the church was closed, but that didn't stop us gazing with amazement at the grandeur of this magnificent church. We were lucky to find the perfect red phone booth for our tourist picture, and we walked across the Millennium Footbridge for a great view of the Thames. I was very proud of us because we were ahead of schedule (I made a list of things to do), so we went ahead to Harrods where we took in the Food Halls and, yet again, bought souvenirs.
As two very weary travelers, we made our way back to the hotel and had a light, but nonetheless fun, night in our neighborhood, checking out a few pubs and making an ice cream stop.
The next morning, we got to the British Museum right when it opened, and I showed Julie all the highlights (the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon exhibit, the "Bog Man" and mummies, etc.). Because this was Julie's first time in London, we desperately needed to go see the London hotspots: Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and Parliament. Although we didn't venture into any of these landmarks, it was fun getting to show off the iconic London area. We even caught the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, although we were slightly disappointed because we thought the crowds were there to catch a glimpse of the Queen, presuming she was coming/leaving.
I had such a wondeful time with Julie this weekend and was very sad to see her go. She's having an amazing time in Belgium, and I cannot wait to hear about her other adventures abroad! I'm very grateful I got to take Julie around London; not to toot my own horn, but I'm quite proud of myself for playing the role of travel/tour guide quite well. It's reassuring to know I can manage on my own for future trips! We terribly missed Ashley and Haylie (our two other best friends), but this weekend made me that much more excited for our homecoming when we'll all get to live together at school next year!
As for today, we started a new module for the Leeds International Summer School: I'm taking a course on Victorian English Literature, mainly focused on the Brontes. I'm very excited because our teacher seems absolutely lovely, and I'm very passionate about this era, especially in novels -- should be fun! Tonight, we went to play Laser Tag, which I had a BLAST participating in! Aaaaaaaand the big news.......THE ROYAL BABY WAS BORN!!!!!!!!!!! He's a bouncing baby boy who'll inherit the throne of the country that I'm currently living in.......it's so neat to be in England right now! I love this nation so much, and I'm so glad I get to celebrate this joyous occasion with them :)

Thanks and gig 'em,
Rachel