BSc Biological Sciences student Menal Aamir threw herself into a year of sun, sea and study at University of California, Berkeley. The change of pace from London brought her out of her shell, cementing life long friendships.

After receiving my acceptance letter from the University of California, Berkeley, I was overcome with both great excitement and fear. The thought of leaving behind my family and friends and travelling across the Atlantic Ocean to live in a foreign country by myself felt overwhelming and, quite frankly, frightening. However, after being dropped off at the airport and saying goodbye to my parents, I sat on the plane with immense exhilaration for the adventure that lay ahead. I was about to set off on a journey that would teach me independence, confidence and the importance of getting out of your comfort zone!

Though I feel I was quite prepared for my year abroad, I wish I had researched the climate conditions in Berkeley more! Luggage weight restrictions meant that space and weight were precious, so I could have taken out certain clothing items that I didn’t end up wearing because they didn’t suit Berkeley’s weather. Furthermore, in retrospect, I also could have researched more about the teaching and assignment style of UC Berkeley classes, as I feel they greatly differed from Queen Mary classes. More importantly though, I wish I had stressed less prior to leaving! It’s natural to feel anxious and worried about an uncertain future, but if you do your research, make informed decisions and have good intentions, your year abroad will be fantastic!

Interestingly, the most difficult part of my year abroad was the academic part, which was not something I expected. Meeting the credit requirements was challenging and the classes I ended up taking were academically loaded. There was also a difference in teaching/ learning style compared to my experience at Queen Mary. We had weekly homework and quizzes, and attendance for discussion classes was mandatory, which meant that I spent a lot of my time tied to my desk studying. However, this was also due to the fact that I solely took neuroscience-related classes (directly related to my degree) as opposed to ‘lighter’ classes that I could have taken for interest or enjoyment. Moreover, in contrast to Queen Mary, the enrolment process involved emailing professors for permission to enrol, checking prerequisite requirements, and creating your own class schedules to fit your preferences.

My accommodation, a student-led cooperative house called Cloyne, is where I made lifelong friends, and where I made the most special memories! Roommate culture is an aspect of university life that most British students are not accustomed to and can be a source of anxiety when moving abroad. However, being open, friendly and welcoming to other cultures meant that I made many close friends in a house of 100+ students. Berkeley can be a pretty costly city, where housing and groceries do not come by cheap! But COOP housing was an affordable option, and incredibly close to campus too! It provided daily dinners (cooked by a crew of students), kitchen utilities, and fresh weekly groceries and dry items, which meant that I rarely spent money on food! Moreover, the house had plenty of recreational communal spaces where you could watch films, play board games, play pool or have late night chats with your housemates. A key highlight for me during my time there was playing badminton with my friends every day in the courtyard for hours on end! If you are planning to study at UC Berkeley, then I highly recommend living at Cloyne – it has an unmissable sense of community, and you will feel welcomed despite being miles away from home.

California offers an impressive range of vast scenery, which meant that my friends and I would plan trips every other weekend despite busy academic schedules. We enjoyed challenging hikes in the Yosemite mountains, long breezy drives along the Pacific coast, touristic walks in San Francisco, as well as nice long naps on Catalina Island beaches. A trip I enjoyed the most was to Stanislaus National Forrest, where we cut our own Christmas tree and made s’mores over a campfire, under a starry night sky. Another memorable trip was to Alcatraz, which was only a short ferry ride away. The audio tour around the prison and being able to see where the prisoners slept was super interesting! Moreover, since the university offered free public transport for all Berkeley students, we often frequented San Francisco for nice fancy dinners in the city! I would highly recommend doing a year abroad in California – it is arguably the most stunning US state!

Being a recipient of the Turing scheme meant that funding for my year abroad was stress free. Initially, expenses were a key factor in deciding on whether I could afford a year abroad. However, I found that careful planning, including dedicating time finding affordable housing and food options, and applying for funding options offered by Queen Mary meant that doing a year abroad in a place as expensive as California was completely doable! Furthermore, I have found that organising your money and spending responsibly by being accountable of your expenses can help sustain your bank account. Additionally, if you are planning to do a year abroad, you can begin preparing early by saving throughout the prior year, or maybe even taking up a summer job.

Overall, I would say that my year abroad has given me one of the best and most unforgettable experiences of my life, and it has made me the happiest I have ever been. I believe I have grown so much as a person and have discovered many things about myself and others that I would not have learnt within the comfort of my home. Prior to my year abroad, I felt nervous thinking about living in a foreign place far from family and friends, being anxious that I would not enjoy my experience with new people. However, I have come to the important realisation that navigating and thriving in a completely different country on your own forces you to be independent, adaptable and develop confidence in your communication and other real-world skills. Socially, living abroad has pulled me out of my shell and converted me into an extrovert. Being surrounded by academically inclined, different-minded and interesting people was refreshing, and I am grateful I was able to make such unique, life-long friendships with people from such diverse backgrounds. Academically, navigating an unfamiliar education system was a positively challenging experience. Not only did my classes teach me new information and perspectives, but also in a way that was different to Queen Mary classes.

Finally, I could not recommend doing a year abroad enough! It is truly such an exciting and important journey to embark on, especially if you are young. I believe your 20s are for travelling and discovering places, people and yourself, and a year abroad offers just that! It’s okay to be anxious and stressed about it initially, but you will soon find yourself immersed in an exciting new environment surrounded by new friends creating memorable moments!