By: Jacob Hurajt
Studying abroad is an amazing opportunity that college students have. Having that sort of experience while still a young adult can teach so many things about culture, independence, national identity, and so much more. Its hard though, because sometimes you get accustomed to people, places, or options that are simply not available back home. I went to England for a few months and had a ton of amazing adventures throughout the country and beyond. I’ve walked on Hadrian’s Wall, the largest structure the Roman Empire ever built, my group and I got into a snowball fight with locals in Amsterdam, none of us speaking each other’s language, and I’ve been kicked out of the tallest building in London because I wasn’t dressed well enough. These were amazing experiences and great stories to tell, but they aren’t what I miss about being abroad.
I miss waking up on a Sunday morning and walking downtown with friends to our favorite restaurant. It was a small hole in the wall tea shop called Grannies that mainly sold candy, tea, and cakes, but happened to sell freshly made paninis as well. I swear they were the best sandwiches I’ve ever had, cheap and fast too. I loved the atmosphere, happy and calm, with my friends around me.
I miss being able to explore. There was always something new to see, try, or find. You could walk down a normal street you’d never been down before and find a small church that had stood for longer than America had been a country. If you really looked you could find restaurants, stores, or people in strange places. The Strawberry Lounge had the absolute best milkshakes I had in England, and it was hidden around a corner in an alleyway, with no shop visible, just a sign and a door in the wall.
Most of all I miss the history. Everywhere I went there was amazing architecture, a fascinating story, or a building older than any I had seen before. When I was in London, I was looking for a place to eat with my mom who had come up to visit me. We didn’t know the city very well and were walking down some random side street trying to get from our hostel to downtown, when we saw a restaurant called The White Hart. When we walked in, we learned that the restaurant was actually the oldest licensed premise in London, dating back to 1216. Imagine finding a place on accident that happens to be more than three times as old as my home country.
I miss many things about England. I miss the people I went with, the places I went, and things I did, but I don’t worry. I’ll be back someday.