Going abroad is one of the coolest opportunities you can have at Kenyon. However, it can be a pretty big transition when you come back to campus. I just spent the year studying abroad in Exeter, UK (and yes, it was amazing), but it sure feels strange being back on campus.  Here are ten thoughts you’ve probably had over the past two weeks if you too just came back from abroad.
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1. “Who Are All of These New People??”
Ok, everyone goes through this a little at the start of a new year at Kenyon. By the end of last semester, you feel like you know a pretty good chunk of the school, but once you come back in the fall, there are all of these new faces again. But when you go abroad, especially if you were gone for a whole year, there’s not just one, but two classes of new (to you) students you haven’t met yet. So. Many. New. People.
2. “… And Where Are All of the Upperclassmen?”
Not only are there so many new faces, but there are also many familiar faces missing. It’s weird to come back and not see all of the upperclassmen you used to regularly hang out with. And it’s even weirder to realize you’re now the top of the school. Graduates, we miss you!
3. “OMG I Haven’t Seen You in So Long!”
At least there are still some people who are still around and aren’t new to you. The best part of coming back from abroad is definitely seeing all of your friends again whom you hadn’t seen in a semester or year. Cue lots of hugging and lengthy catch-up sessions.
4. “Wait, How Do You Print Again?”
Ok, not gonna lie, I actually had to ask my housemate this. But hey, it’s been a year; it’s easy to forget these things!
5. “God, I Feel Like a Freshman Again.”
All of the new people coupled with forgetting how to do things definitely make you feel a bit like a freshman again. Like freshman year, coming back from abroad is definitely a big transition. These things will start coming back to us soon, though.
6. “Oh Wow, Peirce Has Changed.”
There is so much that’s different in Peirce now that wasn’t there my sophomore year. From the new electronic board in the atrium to flavored coffee to Peirce Pub actually serving late night food, it’s pretty exciting to see.
7. “I Forgot How Hard Kenyon Classes Are.”
Study abroad might not be the “Junior Year Vacation” it has the reputation of being, but oftentimes, the classes you take abroad just aren’t as difficult as Kenyon classes. It will definitely take some time to get used to the Kenyon workload again.
8. “This Campus Sure is Small.”
When you’re abroad, you often have the opportunity to get off of your school’s campus a lot more than we do at Kenyon. And at least in England, it was so easy to travel all over the country and visit other countries in Europe during long weekends and school breaks. I do miss being able to hop on a train and explore a new city every weekend.
9. “God, I Miss Being Abroad… ”
I do recognize that I’m a walking cliché after coming back from abroad, but at least for me, being abroad was every bit as amazing as everyone said it would be. I really miss it, from the amazing food I had (scones and gelato were to die for), to the breathtaking sites I visited, to the wonderful people I met.
10. “… But It’s Still Good to Be Home”
As much as I loved being abroad, it is still nice to come back to the familiarity of Kenyon. It’s good to finally catch up with all of the people I missed and be back on the campus that I love. And who knows, maybe I’ll end up back abroad one of these days!
It’s a big change to come back to Kenyon after spending a semester or year abroad. The first few weeks might be a bit of a challenge, but you’ll be back in the Kenyon rhythm before you know it!
Image Credit: Writer’s Own, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
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