Hi everyone, I’m Rachael, and I’m checking in again from my study abroad experience at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). I’m taking a minute to reflect on October and all I’ve experienced this month.
School-wise, I definitely feel like I’ve found my rhythm. Getting used to a new place will always take a little while, but now I feel that I’m used to QUB’s campus and learning environment. I’ve also solidified my daily routine, which provides a lot more stability to my weeks. For any other students considering studying abroad, I would definitely say that developing a routine for yourself is huge for acclimating to your new environment.
October was the month of my first assignment due dates. I’ve invested a lot of time in acclimating to the different class structure here, and there are still some things that I’m not used to. Submitting assignments worth a large portion of your final grade will always be stressful, especially if you’re not used to the school system. But I’ve always found that attending office hours is incredibly helpful, and the same is true here. To other students considering studying abroad, I would also recommend going to office hours for assignment advice or even just to introduce yourself to your professors.
While I’m abroad this semester, my two main focuses are school and travel. I’m taking a break from other extracurriculars (research, societies, etc) while I’m here in order to focus on these two priorities. I’m excited to return to my Pitt activities in the spring, but I also don’t want this academic travel experience to end! Europe is simply so much closer than it usually is, so I’m taking advantage of this to visit some sites outside of Northern Ireland as well. This month, I’ve done two main trips, which were both incredible. First, I went to Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands. The city architecture and surrounding nature were some of the most beautiful scenes I’ve seen. My goal when I travel to new places is to learn as much as I can, particularly about the local history. I loved experiencing the literary, artistic, cultural, and political history of Scotland during this trip.
My second excursion was a longer trip to Germany during QUB’s mid-semester break. As with Scotland, I was interested in travelling here due to my ancestral heritage in the region. And I was again in awe of the beautiful nature and rich history of the cities and sites I visited. I’ve been constantly making connections between my class content and the attractions I visit or the museum artifacts I see while travelling here. I love how studying abroad is such a comprehensive learning experience in this way.
As I’m just over halfway through my study abroad experience, I’m grateful for all I’ve been able to do so far. Balancing studying with travel will always be a bit of a challenge, but every day of this semester, I know I’m making the memories of a lifetime.
