Bye Bye, FYSAE: Settling in Back Home

Transitioning from a fun-filled, exciting semester abroad has its challenges, but as I start to settle into the fall semester, I’m also rediscovering what I missed about Glenside. 

Finding the Similarities

One thing that I really enjoyed about my time abroad was the independence that came with living in the Princess Elizabeth House, the dormitory that students of the Arcadia London Centre stay in while studying abroad. I had to commute to class each day, explore means of travel beyond driving, and cook all of my meals. 

Now that I’m back in Glenside and living in Oak Summit Apartments, I’m feeling a similar sense of independence, being a bit detached from main campus. I walk to campus each day, which helps to maintain the feeling of being in a more walkable city. 

In addition to this, my time navigating public transportation abroad has given me more confidence to do so here. Without having a car like I would in my hometown, I was forced to take the tube or a bus to places that I wanted to go. Back in Glenside, I’ve been more excited to travel throughout Philadelphia, now that I’m more comfortable with using public transportation.

  Living in an apartment has also given me a kitchen of my own, so I can continue exploring my culinary passions. While in London, I developed an interest in experimenting with Asian fusion dishes. Since I’ve been home, I have tried incorporating elements of these dishes- soy marinated eggs, variations of stir frys, etc.- into my cooking, which has really elevated my skills and flavor palettes. 

Accepting the Differences

While I’ve done a decent job of adapting my elements of my life abroad to work at home, I have to accept that  there are always going to be things that I did in England that I can’t recreate stateside. I won’t have classes that bring me around the city or experience the vibrancy of the nightlife of Camden while in Glenside. 

On the other hand, I couldn’t take long drives in the countryside with my friends or easily visit my family while abroad. Just as there are things that I had to leave in London, there were many other experiences in Glenside that I had to leave during my time abroad. 

Picking Up Where I Left Off

At the end of the day, I have to admit that as much as I treasured my time in London, I’m excited to get back into the swing of things here. Since returning to campus, I have been able to help other students prepare for their FYSAE journeys, get back to performing with the UKnight Dance Team, and begin working toward completing my minor in Law & Public Policy. 

If you are also transitioning back from a semester abroad and having a tough time readjusting, know that you’re not alone. But in time, the fun part is that what’s old and familiar will feel new again.