Omayma studies within Queen Mary’s School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences and has just completed a year abroad at Northeastern University in Boston, on the East Coast of the USA.

I had no idea what to expect going into my year abroad because it was not only my first time living away from home, but also my first time visiting the United States. When I started thinking about where I should go, I really thought about what kind of environment I would like to be in, especially since I would be located here for the next nine months. So, I came across the city of Boston, known for its big number of students. It had captured my attention, and I knew it was the city I wanted to have an American college experience in.

I discovered Northeastern University, recognised for its beautiful, colourful campus located in a lovely region of Boston with locations like Newbury Street, Fenway (where the Red Sox games are hosted), and the Prudential Center. I was impressed by how close everything was and how it was all within walking distance.

I was able to distinguish between American college life and British university life during my first week there. Being able to study psychology in a different setting and observe the educational differences was such a pleasure. Even though I love the subject, I was grateful that I could take classes outside of it because of the flexible curriculum in America. I was able to immerse myself in Northeastern’s school spirit by attending sporting events such as Beanpot, the big ice hockey tournament where we compete with other Boston universities. The tournaments were fun because I was able to watch both the men and women teams win. I recall this being one of my favourite moments because I first learned about ice hockey at Northeastern and it was so much fun to chant and celebrate with other students. I really wanted to attend the highly anticipated beanpot. After experiencing it, I understood why it was a much-anticipated event each year, as winning against Harvard and celebrating was one of my most fond memories.

I was able to attend Springfest, another annual event at Northeastern, where Carly Rae Jepsen and Amine performed, which was a nice way to kick off spring, especially given we had exams later in the month. Other performances took place during the year, such as Faye Webster, which was open to all students on campus. Brenda Song, the actress, and Colin Jost, the Saturday Night Live comedian, had also arrived, which was a lot of fun to watch with my friends because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I even got to go to my friend Sara’s sorority boat event as a plus one and experience something completely different that was part of American college culture. There were other extra activities throughout the year that were enjoyable to attend, ensuring that there was never a dull moment and that there was always something to look forward to.

I remember being terrified at first, the journey felt like forever and all I could think about was how my year abroad would go. But now that I’m nearing the end of my year abroad, I couldn’t have wished for a greater experience. I’ve established friends I know I’ll maintain even after I leave and had the opportunity to see more than just Massachusetts. I got to visit California because my friend Kayla welcomed me to her home in San Luis Obispo, where I saw a different side of the US away from the east coast. It’s strange to think that I rarely felt lonely since I was always surrounded by caring and compassionate people who went out of their way to make me feel comfortable, even when I couldn’t travel home for the holidays.

Overall, I am grateful to Queen Mary for providing me with the opportunity to study and see the city of Boston, as well as for their consistent support when I needed it, which made me feel that I have a support system despite being so far away from home. I am also thankful that I did not give up and continued with the process. While it may have seemed scary at first, it was well worth it since I would not have met the people I am close to today, experienced things I never imagined I would, and learned the things I know now.

Thank you again, Queen Mary and Northeastern for allowing me to experience a year I will never forget!