This photo was taken in Glencoe, Scottish highlands! I went to the Highlands several times and was always blown away! I call my study abroad experience my “Sarah in Scotland Era” and this picture is the perfect image to show it.
Author: Sarah Godfrey | Major: History | Semester: Fall 2022
On September 8, 2022, I stepped into the airport of the city that I would call home for the next semester: Glasgow, Scotland. Little did I know that my life was about to change forever.
My experience started off with a bang! The ruling monarch of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II, was announced dead the minute my flight landed in Scotland… literally. As if it was not already hard enough to uproot my entire life and move abroad, even the locals were unsure of the consequences of the historical event we were witnessing. My first week, I watched the ceremonial procession of the queen to St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. As a history major, this was one of the most memorable events of my lifetime.
The next week, my classes started. In Scotland, it is customary to take three classes instead of five as a normal course load, so I took two classes and two half-classes. All of my courses were history related, and it was fascinating to learn about world events from a European perspective. Unlike schools in the United States, schools in the United Kingdom typically have one test at the end of the term instead of cumulative work leading up to finals week. This was stressful, but also meant that I had more free time in the evenings and weekends. The classes were all lecture-based, so attendance was crucial. My favorite class was called Scotland’s Millennium, and I learned about major historical events in the country dating back to medieval times.
Since Scotland is smaller than Arkansas in terms of area, I was able to visit several of the sites I learned about at the University of Glasgow by taking the train or bus. The University itself, founded in 1451, is a historical site, too. It boasts quite the impressive alumni list, including David Hume and Adam Smith. The University of Glasgow was also the inspiration for Hogwarts in Harry Potter. The campus had a myriad of clubs and societies to join. I joined the tennis team – yes, the official University team – and had a blast with my new teammates. We made unforgettable memories traveling to tournaments, whether we tried new food together or danced our hearts out at Scottish ceilidhs!
As much as I loved exploring Scotland, I left the country almost every weekend to go somewhere new! Travel is cheap and relatively easy in Europe, so I travelled to almost twenty countries by myself! My first solo trip was to Oslo, Norway, followed by Rome, Vienna, Munich, Ljubljana, Tallinn, Helsinki, Prague, and too many more to count! My total country count for 2022 was twenty-four countries! I explored art museums, national parks, restaurants, cathedrals, and anywhere else I could go along the way! My solo travel helped me to grow as I never would have even thought was possible. I gained so much independence and confidence in myself, and it has impacted my life forever.
A popular question I received before studying abroad was how I chose Glasgow, of all places. I picked the University of Glasgow when I was fifteen years old. I have always had a fascination of Scotland, so it was an important requirement that whichever school I chose for college to have a program in Glasgow. The Honors College was extremely generous in helping me achieve my dream. To answer the people who asked, I always responded, “I don’t know, I just had a feeling.” I could never have been more right. The people I met, friends I made, things I saw, matches I won, and life I lived was incredible. That “feeling” I always had in my heart led me to places I could have never imagined.
My “Sarah in Scotland” phase of my life is over (sarah_in_scotland_ was my Instagram username while I was overseas), but I will never let go of the woman I became while I lived in Glasgow. I am different than I was when I left, and I now hold a place in my heart for the memories I made during that period of growth.
To anyone on the fence about studying abroad, my advice is to do it. By leaving your comfort zone, you will achieve things you never thought possible. Your heart might not lead you to Scotland specifically, but you will never regret the life experience you gain from embarking on such an adventure. I found a second home in Glasgow, and my wish for anyone reading this is that you too can have this life-changing experience.