I am Anna Catherine and am studying abroad in Leicester (LES-TAH) this Spring 2019 semester.
I have met many study abroad students, which has been the biggest blessing. They are all so kind, and I know we are all experiencing the same problems of adjusting to this new life away from home. There are students from all over the world. I am not learning just England’s culture; I am learning a bunch of other cultures as I meet other study abroad students. In my accommodation, the students who have been here for a semester already, have been very welcoming and given great advice on where to eat, shop, and how to adjust to the life in the UK. I know they will have my back in every situation.
Upon arrival, we were taken on a bus from Heathrow Airport in London to Oadby Student Village, the accommodations for students. The University provided us with a box of goodies, which included a giffgaff SIM card so we can communicate in the UK. I ventured to ASDA, the equivalent to our Walmart, which is only a 10 minute walk from the village. I slept a full 12 hours the first night due to major jet lag.
The University is a few blocks from the city centre, which is commonly known as Highcross. The city centre is one of the most diverse areas in the UK. The city is beautiful. Every building or house is made of brick and has the exact English charm that we see only in movies. The cars are small, fast, and on the wrong side of the road, so I make sure to look both ways about six times before I cross. The weather is cold, cloudy, and for the most part, it has not been too rainy.
I am excited to see what this semester has in store. So far, it’s looking pretty great!
