Dolphins Overseas: Getting adjusted across the pond
Photo Credit: Bethany Dixon
Bethany poses in front of William Shakespeare's house
Bethany Dixon, Staff Writers
February 9, 2012
Filed under News & Features
Landing anywhere at 6 a.m. isn’t fun. It doesn’t matter if you’ve landed in London — it’s still 6 a.m. I will admit that I saw — and remembered — very little of London in the first day. Jet lag is as bad as temporary amnesia.
It takes time to adjust to a new place. I’ve just finished my first week of classes and everything is still very new. I have noticed that Le Moyne students are spoiled by the proximity of everything. I used to complain about back-to-back classes in Grewen and St. Mary’s. Not anymore — I walk half an hour to class from my residence hall. At first I was positive that I would be late to every single class. I’ve actually learned to really enjoy the walk.
We’re also spoiled by free laundry. To do a single load here, it costs three pounds. That’s about $4.75.
Here, I only take three classes. At first, I was shocked at the amount of free time I have. It was quickly filled with reading assignments and a lot of time exploring my surroundings. There are plenty of opportunities to take trips all over the country. The university has buses to Shakespeare’s birthplace and castles, as well as trips to Cambridge and Oxford.
Most university students rely on the bus quite a bit. I haven’t quite figured out how much the bus costs. The ride has a different price every once in a while. It could be the exact same route but a different price. Being a tightly wound American with a type-A personality, I had a little bit of trouble with this concept. I am learning to roll with things. That is new for me.
All in all, people are really helpful and want to show you around. I have found that most people want to ensure that I feel at home. Other study abroad students are eager to share information about their countries. We all swap stories about our lives back home, learning about everywhere from Germany to Australia.
I’m getting adjusted, slowly but surely and am starting to realize it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.