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I have been back in the U.S. for five days after traveling Europe for seven weeks. Before my program ended and my additional travel began, one of our teachers briefed us on what to expect when returning back to the U.S. One topic we discussed was reverse culture shock and getting used to home after being gone and experiencing so many new things. I honestly expected to experience this heavily. Before I left, I had never been to Europe, flew by myself, rode the metro, and so much more. I was afraid of how I would feel back at home after I had a jam packed summer abroad. Surprisingly, I have not felt this at all. I am beyond grateful for all the new memories and gained experiences but I am also happy to be home.
As I have mentioned in previous blogs, I come from an immigrant household. My father is from Ethiopia and my mother is from Ukraine. They both immigrated a little later in life and did not have the opportunity to attend college in the U.S. I am a first generation college student and they are so happy for me. Their greatest desire is for me to get to do all the things they didn’t. My parents have not traveled that much so me going to Europe was exciting not just for me, but my whole family. Coming back I was immediately welcomed home with my whole family and flowers at the airport. Two days later, we had a small family party so that everyone could see me and welcome me home as well. I am privileged to have an immense amount of loving family and that has definitely helped the transition. I've also come back with this new knowledge that has made me more confident in my identity. I truly cannot emphasize how much being in London for my program really helped me become confident in my identity as a multi-ethnic person. It was so refreshing to see and meet so many people like me and now I can view my life with my lens. I'm not as different as I thought I was and there are a whole sea of people that look like me and have similar experiences in the world.
For first generation, minority, or PathwayOregon students who are thinking about studying abroad my advice would be to take a risk. I applied for the program not knowing if I would get in and with little knowledge of what Europe was like. No one in my community had studied abroad and many people were shocked when I told them that I was leaving for almost two months in another country. I was even discouraged by some people. They told me that it was too far and I didn't know what I was doing. I took what I would consider the biggest risk of my life and got on a plane by myself to Europe. However, it was truly one of the best experiences of my life and I will cherish it forever. I have changed and grown into a better person. I never thought that as someone who is a first generation and a PathwayOregon student, that the opportunity to go abroad would be opened to me. This experience taught me that the world is full of so many beautiful opportunities, and you should grab onto as many as you can.
By Sarah Shewaye, Diverse Ducks Ambassador
London in a Global Context, Summer 2023
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First-Generation American & College Student in Arrives in London
Finding Gratitude & Comfort Abroad