One of the Best Experiences of my Life

 College of Arts and Sciences      September 13, 2023

I can’t believe I’m back from one of the best experiences of my life. On January 15^th of this year, I had a plane ticket in hand, an overweight suitcase, and endless expectations with me, not knowing what awaited me on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Having the opportunity, I would instead call it a blessing, to participate in an exchange program at the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom was undoubtedly more than an enriching academic experience but also a personal one. I always saw studying abroad as something beyond my reach and resources, so being able to achieve an unexpected goal made this experience a thousand times better.

I could go pages and pages talking about my experience from beginning to end, but I will keep it brief here. I was part of two volunteer programs, one organized by UoP Global, and the second by a local art gallery. Both programs focused primarily on planning an event, one to attract international students to get more involved on campus and the other to attract tourists and students to get involved with contemporary art. I was assigned to hang up posters, provide informational brochures, hand out small gifts, and even make cotton candy. Nothing crazy, but it was a lot of fun. I also attended a concert by an Afrobeat singer from Nigeria, the place was packed and although I didn't know many of the songs, the atmosphere was everything. My favorite event was the circus show in one of Portsmouth's main parks. Surprisingly, the circus was run by a Colombian family, so I found it very interesting since that’s where I am from.

Studying abroad helped me get out of my comfort zone, expanding my knowledge of what it is like to be in a diverse community of people from all over the world, with different backgrounds, beliefs, accents, and cultures. In the process of choosing where I wanted to study abroad, one of the main reasons I chose Portsmouth was because students from over 150 countries are part of this amazing community. I was able to meet incredible people, including classmates, professors, and friends. Although there was a different accent and terminology than what I used to be familiar with, it was never an impediment to create bonds with new people. During this unforgettable adventure I had the opportunity to travel to other countries such as France, Monaco, and Portugal. The University of Portsmouth will always have a part of my heart and will be the place of memories that I will cherish for a lifetime.