I think the biggest challenge for me being in a different country has been navigating the different relationships and experiences that I have had over the course of my time abroad. The program I am in is an American center in London where all of the students are from the States and come from many different schools across the United States. All of the excursions through the program are with other Americans, my peers and classmates are all Americans, my roommates are all Americans, and most of the people I meet are Americans. This has been surprising because I was expecting to meet a lot of British people my age and get to know people from London or other parts of the United Kingdom. The program is not small- there are about 170 students- but it feels like a fishbowl because everyone is somehow connected. Additionally because the program is so small compared to the likes of Pitt, navigating relationships and independence has been a bit of a challenge. Everyone is in similar mindsets of getting the most out of this experience and wants to do everything, but this leads to large groups of Americans going to the same place at the same time. It can be difficult to determine how to set boundaries with a random bunch of people that I just met a couple months ago. 

I am extremely grateful for the people that I have met and the things I have got to do while being in London and have made some friendships that will last beyond the program, but the bubble that I feel like I exist in with the inability to not be around CAPA people is something that was unexpected for me. 

I have learned that it is freeing to do things alone and not everyone needs to be invited to everything all the time- separation is a good thing! This is likely something that happens across all programs that have dedicated American centers with only American students. There are great things about being around other Americans- relating to the newness of being in a new place, reminiscing on the snacks that the United Kingdom is noticeably lacking or just talking about home sometimes. My advice is to focus on the positives because there are many and do things by yourself sometimes- it’s good for the soul!