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Rachel Stalley
Rachel Stalley is an Ambassador who studied abroad in London.
Briefly describe a specific cultural experience you had on your trip that made a lasting impression.
I was lucky enough to have studied abroad during Will and Kate Mania! Call us crazy, but when the clock struck midnight on April 29th a group of us were already on our way to Buckingham Palace. We found prime seats on the mall and were literally feet away from Royalty. Attending the Royal Wedding was one of the coolest things I have ever done and will most likely never do something like it again. I got to see British history in the making! We even interacted with some locals while we stood outside for almost 15 hours. It was British culture at its best and I had the opportunity to witness it.
Why did you choose the program in which you participated?
I studied abroad to challenge myself and to gain experience living really on your own. I also love to travel and London is a good central hub to other European cities, which is one of the reasons I chose the London program. I had wanted to visit London ever since I was eight years old and my mom took me to see Disney's The Parent Trap. There was just something special about the scene when Lindsay Lohan arrives in London and The LA's There She Goes plays while numerous London landmarks are shown. To this day, I just get giddy when I watch that part of the movie. London was just always one of the places I dreamed about going and study abroad was the perfect opportunity. London is a very diverse culture and something was always going on whether it be a sporting event, a music festival or a movie premiere.
Describe your overall study abroad experience.
Study abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Whether you want to go to London, Ireland or Australia study abroad has something for everyone. You will make friendships to last you a lifetime. I learned many life lessons that I will remember forever. Studying abroad teaches you things about yourself that you couldn't find out any other way. You gain experience traveling, interacting in another culture and being more independent. The hardest part of studying abroad is leaving your family behind but one of the biggest things you learn is how much you love and appreciate them when you get back. Although I lean towards London, it doesn't matter where you go just try to study abroad somewhere. They are all great programs! Now is the time!
How has the trip affected you? How are you different for having completed the experience?
Although I already considered myself a pretty independent person, study abroad helped me to become more financially independent. When abroad you our forced to make your own decisions and are much more on your own then when you are at school. You don't have the luxury of calling your parents when you need some advice. You have to manage your time and your money but still allow yourself to have fun. I was able to limit my spending but not let it be a reason for me to not do something that I wanted to. I also became much more aware of my carbon footprint. In London groceries, class and even many restaurants and shops were all in walking distance. We were also able to take public transportation almost anywhere we were planning on going.
What advice do you have for future Study Abroad Students?
Make every moment count! You do not want to leave having regrets. Get out and explore. Go see what you wanted to even if it means going on your own. Make a bucket list. Write a journal. You don't want to forget to do something you had planned on doing and you never want to forget what you did while you were there.
Do everything you can to get know each person in your group even if you think you won't have anything in common. Be kind to each one of them because in the end they will be some of the best friends you've made at college.