Hello! My name is Emma Hasquet and I spent my Beyond the Classroom Experience studying abroad this past 2023 fall at Aberystywth University in Wales. I studied wildlife conservation as I am studying wildlife biology at UM, and focused on marine biology to help tackle the challenge of looking into local ways to combat climate change. My university was in a coastal town, so it was the first time I was able to experience living by an ocean for an extensive amount of time. The courses taken at the university were also fairly different than the ones taken at UM, with assignments being far fewer, yet more extensive in nature, so that took some getting used to. However, the professors and courses taken were very interesting. For instance, I took a GIS class that involved us mapping Ouzel populations on a mountain called Cadair Idris, that I was able to climb by taking a bus just an hour north.

While abroad in the UK, I focused heavily on traveling and managed to explore many parts of Wales, Scotland, and England. At first, I was unsure about choosing which term to complete my semester abroad, but studying in the fall was actually a great choice as the fall colors were very vibrant, and the cozy, yet moody weather autumn tends to bring was perfect to experience the quaint and historic villages found throughout the UK.

One thing I did a lot of while abroad was solo traveling. It was the first time I had been to a new country without my family or friends and was in turn responsible for every aspect of a journey — transportation, finding accommodation, food, and overall planning. However, I met so many people at hostels, restaurants, and even on mountains that I never felt truly alone. Going to the UK also made for a fairly easy transition culturally as most people speak English, and are similar to Americans. The UK also had quite the array of landscapes to explore. Even cities, such as Scotland’s capital: Edinburgh, has a hill to climb in its center. National parks there are stunning, and Wales is home to Snowdonia National Park, which covers about a third of the entire country. My favorite sites though have to be given to Scotland. I was able to visit there a couple of times, and made it to the Isle of Skye which is home to the Cuillin Range, and the Quiraing–both showstopping mountain ranges. Also, the amount of sheep I saw was absolutely brilliant, and they triple the population of humans in Wales alone.

Throughout my time abroad, I grew as an individual because I became more self-reliant and sensible. I was capable of doing so much more than I thought, even without a car, and I became more familiar with other cultures by meeting people from all around the world. I had roommates from France, Germany, and Spain, and a girl on the field hockey team I practiced with was from South Africa. It was always fascinating to hear about everyone’s upbringing, and it is heartwarming to know I have connections throughout other parts of the world I would have not established without this experience. If I could do it again, I would, but I would definitely try and study for an entire year. I felt welcome most everywhere I went, and while there were some steep learning curves to find my bearings at the start, pushing myself out of my comfort zone ultimately paid off and I made memories that will last forever.