Tag: university of denver

Bittersweet Goodbyes Make Exciting Hellos

Published on by rhiannalewisLeave a comment

Hi everyone! I’ve been itching to start sharing my study-abroad experiences here but that would have been hard to do seeing as I just left for my program this morning! Since I can’t yet share stories of ancient sites or amazing food, I thought I’d ruminate on some goodbyes I’ve had to do recently. My nine-hour layover in Montreal today has given me ample time to sit with all the complex emotions of leaving home for such a big adventure and I hope you find some shared sentiments here, whether you’ve strayed far from home before or stayed close.

I’m no stranger to being away from home. I spent 12th grade living in the dorms of my high school (where I previously had been a commuter student) to prepare for college life. This ended up being the training wheels I needed because I decided to come to the University of Denver which is roughly 2,000 miles away from my hometown in Pennsylvania. I, like so many other students, knew that I wanted to go away for school, but unlike others, I always knew it was going to be an emotionally difficult transition. Noah Kahan’s “You’re Gonna Go Far” has pretty much been on repeat in my head for the last four years.

I’m an only child of a single father with whom I’m extremely close and who has been my best friend + biggest supporter my whole life. I’ve also been blessed with friends who support me wholeheartedly no matter what. Coming to Denver is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, but the goodbyes every winter and summer break don’t get easier, I just get more used to them. Walking through security at the airport this morning felt like that but a million times bigger.

I’ve never left home for four months before. I certainly haven’t spent months in another country aided only by two comically large suitcases an ocean away. A seven-hour time difference, a totally new culture, and signage in an ancient language I will attempt to learn two days a week at 8:00am is a complete 180° from what my life normally looks like. Change is good and constant, but it is scary, too.

As trepidatious as I may sound, though, I am excited. Maybe even more than excited. As I take a break from pacing the International Departures Terminal at YUL to kill time, I look at all the departures happening around me, hear destinations I’ve never been to, and realize how little of the world I’ve seen (and I’ve been blessed to see more than many others.) Even though the last two weeks have been full of teary goodbyes, they have reminded me of all the “hello’s”, familiar and not, that I am going to experience in the upcoming months. It has been, and will always be, a privilege to have things in my life that make saying goodbye so hard.

Next stop: Athens!

Finding Joy in the Unknown

Published on by Abigail HopperLeave a comment

“What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise.” — Oscar Wilde

Though there have been regular moments of homesickness, exhaustion, and overwhelm, I can confidently say that most of my anxieties about coming abroad have been matched by the most rewarding experiences I could’ve hoped for. From scavenger hunts to picnics to a weekend trip to the beach, in just two weeks I’ve already begun to settle and make so many new connections. I decided to share some of the biggest fears that have arisen, and then the actual outcome below.

Fear #1: an unfamiliar environment

Outcome: In the past 14 days I have derived an incomparable amount of joy from the newness and charm of the environment around me. Every new corner is a new coffee shop, a new bar, a new park. And while exploring with others is fun, I’ve found that taking myself out to just walk for blocks and blocks and be able to go on a whim to anywhere I’d like has been so rewarding.

The second day of my arrival I walked about a mile and a half to a guitar store where I spoke “franglish” with a very kind owner, and was able to go home with a new guitar. Then the next day I was so anxious to ask for help in a grocery store, but was greeted with kindness and patience.

Each new place I’ve found, however uncomfortable, has brought a new fulfilling aspect to my day and I cannot wait to see what else Rennes has in store!

Fear #2: starting my program alone

Outcome: If I could go back and choose to attend a program with more of my peers from home, I would not. Not because I do not adore and miss my home friends, but I’ve found that from a group of 60 people who all are in the same boat and from 55 different countries, the most rewarding and surprising connections have arisen. There was a moment when around 30-40 of us were sitting around a huge table at La Bonne Nouvelle (a local bar) and there were dozens of conversations occurring between people from so many different places in the world, where I realized the magic of this program. I’ve watched open minds lead to agreements and opinion changes. I’ve seen connections between people who live on completely opposite sides of the earth, I’ve seen compassion. And I have never felt so quickly welcomed into a space. I truly believe that this is the best program I could’ve chosen.

Fear #3: speaking French

Outcome: In the days before my actual orientation, I was on my own exploring and hadn’t actually practiced speaking French since first semester of sophomore year, so I was definitely quite a bit rusty. And, as expected, conversational French is very different than grammar exercises and Duolingo prompts. However, to my surprise, I’ve been met with so much patience in practicing my French. In quick interactions I have had waiters not even bat an eye at my French or if they do switch to English they will return to French and allow me to continue practicing. I imagine the speed of a smaller city compared to Paris is more suitable for interactions like this, and there are also thousands of international students who come here annually and this has been very apparent in these interactions. Then, during my orientation, I had 3 full days of 8-5 intensive immersive language courses. By the end of the third day, though exhausted, I was understanding full classes which were conducted entirely in French and could already see growth in my pronunciation and vocabulary. Most of my classes this semester will be in English, but I’m incredibly excited to keep improving my French!

This upcoming week is my official first week of classes(eek!!) and this weekend a few of my new friends and I are planning a trip to Paris where I will get to see a few familiar faces 🙂

Thank you for reading!!