Students from the USA

Read This Before Traveling

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By Kiana Lim

Nursing student, Villanova University, United States of America

I believe that everyone who decides to study abroad should make time to travel to other countries. It can seem daunting, especially because you’re still trying to adjust to a brand new country you have just moved to. But my mom reminded me before I left that I probably won’t get an opportunity like this ever again. This is especially because, for me, it can get pretty pricey to travel to Europe from America. From that point on, I knew that I wanted to make time to travel during my study abroad experience.

While traveling to a foreign country can look pretty glamorous on Instagram, there’s a lot of planning and preparing that goes into every trip. I had no experience with planning trips prior to this year, and so I thought I would share 3 basic steps to start your planning as well as my tips and tricks for anyone else wondering how to start.

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Missing Home, and other Not-So-Perfect-Study-Abroad-Experience Feelings

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By Shannon Mahon, Villanova University, USA

My study abroad experience is somewhat unique (at least by American standards) in that I am studying at University of Manchester for the entire academic year. Of my friends and peers that go abroad, nearly all of them will only be gone for one semester or a summer. With that unique experience comes a unique perspective-especially because I went home for a month for our winter break.  Continue reading →

A Month Left

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As I sit in Kro Bar, a cozy restaurant/bar that has easily become one of my favourite spots in Manchester, two men sit down at the end of the table next to me.  My interest was piqued at the mention of research grants.  It appears to be an interview about some type of research job.  There’s a mention of biology, biophysics, gene regulation, cancer, cell behaviour.  The older man starts talking about what his lab at Yale is like.  I listen to their conversation, unable not to.

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Sorry Mom, I’ve Been Talking to Strangers

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By Shannon Mahon (Villanova University, United States of America)

I am not a well-travelled person- well, not yet at least. My life has been limited to my small corner of the world in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. My social circle pre-departure closely reflected this fact- nearly all of my friends hailed from the same area, with travel history about as limited as mine. In choosing to spend my second year of university studying nursing in Manchester, I made a promise to myself.  Continue reading →

Manchester, You’re Wonderful.

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I’ve been in this city for nearly a month now, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.  Classes have finally started, and after attending my Contemporary Irish Poetry and Fiction class and getting the required novels, I’m super excited.  Excited to read, to learn about histories and cultures I never previously knew about, to meet more students from England and all over the world.

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