Back in grade school, studying abroad was something I always dreamed of doing in university. Last September, I had the unique opportunity to make that dream a reality by spending nine months at Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K., where I studied international business management. My year in the U.K. truly changed my life, and I am excited to share my experiences with you!

Facing Challenges

One thing I have learned in the past year is that the study abroad experience begins even before you board the plane. Applying for a visa and managing my finances taught me responsibility, while packing my bags showed me how to prioritize. The biggest change came from living in a student flat. Balancing the responsibility of taking care of myself with learning to compromise and live alongside flatmates with different routines was challenging, but it helped me develop valuable life skills. Having to adjust to English accents was also an unexpected challenge. My exposure to British media made me overly confident in my English listening ability but left me not realizing the fact that real-life interactions do not come with subtitles, as well as how strong Newcastle’s “Geordie” accent could be.

The U.K. university system also challenged me to learn in new ways. Unlike Chonnam National University, Northumbria’s business classes were always accompanied by biweekly seminars. I had never attended one before, so I was nervous and unsure of how to prepare. In my first seminar, I was not able to get a single word in despite extensive preparation. However, I learned over time what my instructors were looking for in group discussions and how to make the most of seminar time to improve my assignments. Northumbrian learning opportunities didn’t end in the classroom. For my business ethics class, I went on an excursion with my classmates to Cullercoats Bay, a nearby beach that had been contaminated by a local company. Seeing the site in person definitely made the ethical issues we were studying more tangible and memorable.

Exciting New Adventures

Like any exchange student coming to Europe for the first time, I took full advantage of cheap and spontaneous travel opportunities. Northumbria’s “Be Part of It” program offered affordable excursions for students, which allowed me to explore cities like Leeds or Manchester without worrying about the cost. International student-focused travel agencies like Lundgren Tours introduced me to places in the U.K. I never would have thought to visit on my own, like Alnwick Castle or Lindisfarne. My favorite trip with them was to the Scottish Highlands, where I got to hike three days straight, wake up to amazing mountainous views on a bunk bed, and eat haggis for the first (and last) time.

Travel seems more exciting at first glance, but my most lasting memories often came from new experiences I had within Newcastle. I got to experience Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night, which celebrates the failed Gunpowder Plot to destroy the British parliament. I saw fireworks all over the city and sat next to the biggest bonfire I’ve ever seen. Football was also a new experience. As someone who only watches it when the World Cup is on, I probably watched more football matches than I have in my 21 years of life pre-U.K. What made football particularly interesting was not the sport itself, but the atmosphere around it. I was even lucky enough to witness Newcastle’s first major domestic trophy in 70 years—almost a lifetime! I’ll never forget standing in an unbelievably crowded pub and watching people hug, cry, sing, and spill beer on each other.

Lifelong Friendships
A large part of what made my time in the U.K. so memorable came from the close friends I made there. I met my closest friends at an international student welcome event, all of us nervous yet excited to make new connections. We met waiting in line for free burgers, which led to a night of chatting at the student bar, an interestingly common institution on British university campuses.

The best part of being in such a diverse group of friends was cooking and eating together. One of my favorite memories is celebrating friendsgiving—a Thanksgiving potluck in which each guest brings a homemade dish. I made jeon, another friend baked appelflappen (Dutch apple turnovers), and another cooked kulajda (a Czech mushroom soup). Later, we all made our own bowls of túrós csusza, which is a Hungarian cottage cheese pasta. Beyond shared meals, my friends became my support system. From late-night study sessions to weekend trips, these friendships helped my year abroad on the other side of the world feel more like home.

Understanding What’s Out There
As well as new cultures and friends, studying abroad also opened my eyes to all the academic and career opportunities out there. Whether through the courses I took, the people I met, or the cities I explored, I realized there is a world of possibilities beyond my local environment. This experience has given me the confidence to pursue new challenges and to consider a future career path that could take me back to the U.K. 

By Lee Younny, Senior, Faculty of Business Administration