The November 5 election has been on many people’s minds since well before the start of this semester, and this past week has, of course, brought the election to the forefront. Being abroad during this time has been complicated, and has looked different for everyone. Here, I’m going to describe some of my own experiences and takeaways from before, during, and after Election Day. 

Budgeting is genuinely one of the most important and yet impossible parts of studying abroad: it’s easy to convince yourself that you’re going to hold yourself completely accountable, spend only within your budget, and not fall for the phrase “you’re only in your 20s abroad once”. However, speaking from personal experience abroad, this is no easy task. 

In my first FAQ post, which can be found here,  I talked about academics. Now, I’m back to answer  questions about adjusting to life at the University of Oxford, especially during freshers week. 

Student Life

Q: What is freshers week like? 

For me, having so much time away from the U.S. and the craziness that can come with a semester at Amherst has allowed me to think and reflect on a variety of topics relating to myself, who I am at this point, and who I would like to be in the future. Thus, in many ways, the quieter moments of this semester abroad have been a godsend.

In my experience, making new friends this semester hasn’t been too different than my experience at Amherst - in fact, making friends with other Americans in my program has been pretty simple since everyone’s in a similar boat and looking to meet new people. On the other hand, I’ve found that making friends with locals is extremely difficult due to a number of reasons.

It’s really hard to pick a favorite class over here! I feel like my education has opened up in a really amazing way, with the opportunity to take classes in all areas that still contribute to my coursework at home. My classes include: Spanish language, Watercolor, Islamic Art and Architecture, Federico Garcia Lorca and the Andalusian Literary Tradition, and Mediterranean Ecosystems. 

While exploring Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Aotearoa New Zealand at large, I've been constantly astounded by the riveting landscapes and strange customs — gas station meat pies, calling hikes 'tramps,' phrases such as 'keen' and 'sweet as.' Of course, studying abroad goes far beyond the classroom, or even the institution you study at: it means folding yourself into local culture and learning by living. I'd be remiss to say it's to 'find yourself.' That is a vast oversimplification.