Amber Dacres

An Honest Student's Year Abroad

Sitting in a massive lecture theatre brimming with over enthusiastic language students, just like me, gushing over the year that is to come. "I'm off to South America," boasts one girl. "I'm headed to China" beams another, already anticipating the oohs and ahhs that are to come. People always tell you that the year abroad is the best part of your whole uni experience. The year is supposed to be a holiday basically—you fall in love, you meet people, have amazing experiences, yada yada yada. The problem with these things is that people place such high expectations on single events that when the time comes you find yourself somewhat unsatisfied. Social media piles the pressure on even further; you're always left comparing yourself, sizing the others up, zooming and stalking and eventually throwing your phone in exasperation. This my friends, sums up part 1 of my year abroad.