If I could give advice to anyone considering a year abroad, I would say to go with an open mind and say yes to everything. You never know who you will meet or what small invitations might lead to. Embrace the culture fully because opportunities like this do not come around often.
Studying abroad is not only about academics. For example, I only had around six hours of tuition a week, which gave me a lot of time to explore. Because I was living in the second largest city, flights were slightly cheaper, so I visited Germany, Sweden, and Poland. I feel like I grew a lot as a person, learned a great deal about myself, and expanded my world in a way I never expected.
I now have friends across the globe, including Germany, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as new friends back in England. I am incredibly grateful for the experience, and I would encourage anyone considering it to explore the option because it truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
