Since being at the University of East Anglia now for the majority of my study abroad period, I have found numerous communities that are entirely welcoming. I joined the Lacrosse society, which was one of my best decisions so far and has had a huge impact on my time here. When I joined, I was nervous about a few things, not knowing anyone, not having played in 3 years, and about being accepted wholly in my identity as a gay woman. All of these worries were speedily replaced by an overwhelming feeling of belonging. I have found many friends within the club, both on the men’s and women’s teams, and all of the members are extremely welcoming of any new players and are more than willing to openly talk about such things as sexuality, in the best sense. This has been my most impactful experience at UEA, and has taken me to numerous socials, games, and experiences that I treasure. If you are wondering, is it worth my time to get involved in a society or sports club while abroad, I would highly recommend it. This is coming from someone, while at U of O has yet to be heavily involved with any organizations besides the student radio, KWVA. It has even encouraged me to want to join in the club lacrosse at U of O when I return.
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I have had a lovely experience getting to know my flatmates as well, which is another community that I am honored to be a part of. While having a solid community and friendships within lacrosse, it is also nice to get along with the people you live with, which provides a home away from home. Immediately when I arrived, they told me to let any of them know if I got homesick or needed anything, which succeeded in staving off the homesickness in itself. We spend most days, meals, and nights in the kitchen talking and hanging out. They have been at the forefront of getting me acquainted with true British culture, from advising my tea intake to watching old UK Love Island and other tv shows.
In terms of cultural shift, there is some, but not an overwhelming amount. Mostly I get strange looks (in a joking manner) for my American accent, and a large number of conversations about where exactly Oregon is. You will find funny little British phrases creeping their way into your vocabulary, among my favourites being: “Oh my days” which is equivalent to “Oh my God!” or “To be fair” which is used all the time, as well as “banter” to describe chatting. Simply being open to a different culture is the best way to get comfortable in one. You will, however, inevitably find yourself in the supermarket aisles confused about what to buy because none of it looks even remotely the same.
By Ashley Fale-Olsen, Diverse Ducks Ambassador
University of East Anglia Exchange, Winter 2023