Carmela Wilkins, 19, completed a foundation course in art and design at Falmouth University in May and will return to do an undergrad degree in the UK. She is from Rhode Island, US
Why the UK?
I got bored with my surroundings after high school. Rhode Island’s a big place, but I was too used to it. The UK has always appealed to me because of the culture. People communicate differently from Americans.
One main difference is sarcasm, which I found funny at first because I wouldn’t catch on. I’d have to ask “are you being sarcastic, or not?” and it took about four months before I was able to be cheeky in my comebacks.
What was the best thing about studying in the UK?
It’s between two things – the environment and the people. Before leaving for the UK for the first time, I wrote down my expectations of what it would be like, and how it would look. I thought England would have big grassy plains with wide open skies and farm animals. But it was completely different. I started going on road trips and really seeing England – the environment exceeded my expectations.
And the people – the friends I made at Falmouth and outside of university. I’m still friends with them now and I plan on staying friends with them, they’re amazing.
What was the most difficult thing about studying in the UK?
Working out the currency exchange. I thought it would be fine, but it wasn’t until I got there that I became adjusted to it and could do the numbers in my head, in terms of how much I’d get back after paying for something.
Did you experience homesickness?
Last Thanksgiving it would’ve been nice to have gone back for the weekend to celebrate. I’d also get homesick when speaking to my sister over Facebook or Skype and she’d say: “I’ve just seen auntie so-and-so and grandma.”
But I mostly embraced my homesickness and thought: “I shouldn’t be hung up about not being at home doing A, B and C when I’ve always wanted to come to England to pursue what I wanted to do.”
I got over it easily, to the point that my mom would say: “You don’t miss me or the rest of the family.” I’d say: “You shouldn’t expect me to call constantly and miss you, I’m doing my own thing here and it’s new being independent.” I was just getting used to everything.
How much contact did you have with family?
My mom called me every day in the first month. By the second month she called every other day until about January and in third term she’d only call once in a while, which I found funny because it began to bother me that she didn’t call enough. She was like: “You’re fine, you’re an adult.”
What did you miss most about home?
I’m a big cereal person and my mom always buys me Special K Fruit and Yogurt at home. You can’t get it in the UK. I thought I could I cope without it at first, but in my third term I woke up with such a craving that I asked my mom to ship some over. She sent me three boxes and I was so happy.
What are the biggest differences between US and UK student culture?
I’ve heard from my UK friends in the States and my American friends in England that nights out are different because of the laws around drinking ages [in the US it’s legal at 21, in the UK, 18]. At the same time, teenagers being teenagers, we don’t let regulations stop us from doing things.
How did British students act around you?
I stuck out like a sore thumb in my first week – not only had I dyed my hair white, but I was also the only American on my course. People would say: “Have you been to all the 50 states?” And I’d say: “No, America is really large.” People were always intrigued by the culture.
Have you experienced any hostility because you’re American?
Not really. My friends would take the piss every now and then and point out when I said things like “pants” instead of “trousers”, or “jelly” rather than “jam”. They’d say: “No Carmela, you’re in England.”
But now that I’m in the States, it’s reversed. I’ve said to my sister: “You should go and put some trousers on.”
What advice would you give to other Americans thinking about studying in the UK?
Do it! I know so many people who stay in the place where they’re born – they go to high school there and feel so familiar with their surroundings that they end up staying. It can lead people to lack ambition. Whereas if they rebelled, they could achieve much more. That’s one reason why I think that, if you want to study abroad, you should totally go for it.
Read more stories in the series:
• International students in the UK: who are they really?
• Meet a student from... Germany: ‘I brought a meat hammer from Germany so I can make schnitzel’
• Meet a student from... Malaysia: ‘I miss how, in Malaysia, everything revolves around food’
