By: Natalie Kreider

Before I left for my three-month study abroad here in London, I was given a lot of much-needed advice because this was my first time doing something this grand. However, there was one piece of advice that stuck with me, and that was to “go meet people and take chances.” To me, studying abroad, regardless of where you go, is the perfect opportunity to do this. However, it was easier said than done, but I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone, especially since I came by myself and didn’t know what to expect. Taking that advice to heart, I had one of the most adventurous and memorable summers of my undergraduate years. 

I’m someone who loves meeting new people, but initiating conversation to make that happen is nerve-wrecking to me. On my first day here, I challenged myself to do just that at my study abroad intro orientation. As I left that meeting with my roommate, now friend, Sandra, whom I had only met a few hours prior, I approached and complimented a girl’s heart-shaped Coach purse that I genuinely thought was cute. However, I remember that I was hesitant for a split second beforehand, not wanting to be awkward, but I reminded myself that’s what I came to do. Fortunately, Morgan, the one who had the purse, excitedly accepted it as she complimented me on my outfit afterwards.  Nonetheless, it just so happened that she was standing with another girl, Caroline, who was one of my Biology lab mates from a year ago at uni, but she recognized me before I recognized her. From there, the three of us struck up a conversation, and I invited them to join Sandra and me for dinner, where we all got to know each other. From that point forward, the four of us became inseparable and did almost everything together. Looking back, if I had not spoken up and let my anxieties get the best of me, I would’ve missed out on one of the most meaningful connections I made abroad. 

 I grew up always having company, as I have two older siblings and live near my extended family. Since this was the first time I had been this far away from them, I made it one of my goals to be more independent and be more comfortable being with myself. Through this opportunity, I was determined to cook for myself every week. Consequently, I think I became known as the “chef” in my flat since my three roommates would typically tell me that my food smells delicious, ask me what I’m cooking, or inquire about what ingredients I’m using. I’ve also taken it upon myself to go on solo adventures within the city. For instance, I attended a free meditation session at the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre, where I had the chance to meet local LGBTQ+ individuals and was welcomed with warmth. I have also gone on a solo day trip to Brighton on a very windy day, where a seagull tried to steal my sandwich at the beach, even though they were far in sight, and I couldn’t help but laugh about it. With that same spirit, I flew out to Amsterdam, and upon landing that night, I wandered through the lit-up neighborhood behind my hotel, happily eating gelato on a sprinkle cone and taking photos of a cat named Larry sleeping outside before meeting up with my friends the following day. Amid those solo experiences, I began to realize that being alone in a new place didn’t make me feel lonely, but rather freeing, as if I were building trust in myself and creating little joys in real time.  

The advice, to “go meet people and take chances,” came out of love and with the hope that I would follow through. At the time, it sounded almost obvious, but living it out this summer rendered something completely different. During my term here, I kept those words in the back of my mind, trying to grasp what they meant. What I noticed is that taking a chance doesn’t necessarily mean having to act upon a bold or grand gesture. Sometimes, it simply means initiating a conversation or showing up alone in a new space. Those small moments shaped my summer in ways that I couldn’t have imagined through friendships, unexpected adventures, and a greater trust in myself. Through it all, I learned how to feel more at peace and at home with who I am.