In middle school books were, in a way, my best friends. I was always reading, even when walking in the hallway (which I don’t recommend). I loved to read about the different adventures that the protagonists were on and how they would solve different problems. However, I enjoyed reading most of all because it was my source to travel to a completely different world. Reading ignited a new flame in me. It made me want to explore more of the different parts of the world I already lived in. So I began to dream of traveling. Thus, It has been a dream of mine to travel and explore the many wonders of the world. Never had I imagined that I would be able to embark on such an adventure so soon in my life.  I am so grateful towards UMass Boston for allowing me to experience something I had only ever dreamed of till now. This trip to Scotland was not only my first step towards my dream to globe-trot, but also a major step towards my occupational goals. This has been an exceptional event for my first experience traveling across sea.

The culture I was exposed to and the contrasts in ours and the Scotland students’ daily lives was enjoyable to observe. While there are noticeable differences, like their love for haggis, their were many similarities as well. The historic buildings in Glasgow and Edinburgh were breathtakingly beautiful. I felt as though I was a part of something much bigger as I walked the streets of Glasgow and learned of its history and legends. Similar to Boston there were many modern buildings as well as Starbucks joints. I learned some Scottish dancing, which was incredibly fast paced and fun! It really brightened the mood and brought a joyous feeling with it. We indulged in fish and chips various times, and all the venues of our meals were incredible. The Scottish subway ran in an oval shape, and was much nicer in comparison to Boston’s MBTA Red line. However, the subway system in Boston branches out more and has various lines such as the orange and green line, unlike the Scottish subway. I learned of the undying love of sweets that the Scottish students possessed. I also had the pleasure to try many sweets at various points of the trip. This experience gave me a new angle of observation and a new understanding of people. I learned many things historically and culturally that matured my thinking. I feel with this new understanding I gained the bonds of friendship I made with the Scottish students will last forever. I hope I will get many more chances to meet with them in the future.

The Glasgow Caledonian University was a key part of this experience. In my observation, the school’s academic setup was very similar to that of UMass Boston. They had classes that ranged from large lectures to small classroom-size classes, which allowed for both mass education as well as a bit more direct instruction. In comparison to the University of Glasgow, GCU had more mordern architecture and interactive space, much similar to UMB. The school was set up in an open manner allowing many open spaces for group work.The instructors were very welcoming to the Boston ambassadors and involved us in the class as well. I was able to refresh on many skills I had forgotten, and learned material that is further ahead in our syllabus. One of the Chemistry lectures was an introduction to Organic Chemistry which gave a basic overview of the course. The information from this lecture will help us tremendously as we aim to take Orgo-Chem next semester. GCU also had much diversity in its community. The students as well were incredibly welcoming and cooperative during courses. My experience at the university was fantastic, and I hope to return to study here for a while.

I enjoyed many aspects of Scotland, including the architecture and education. I would definitely visit again for a longer stay, to indulge in the culture further. This trip has made me realize how much I have yet to see in the world, and has definitely unlocked my thirst for adventure. I plan to continue traveling to other parts of the world and learn as much as possible. I hope I can utilize the skills and understandings I will gain from these experiences to further my career. As a doctor I will need to be able to find common ground with many of my patients, and by having these experiences in my background I would be able to cooperate with them much better. The friends I make on these trips will forever be dear to me, and I hope that we could also work together in the future on various projects to make this world come closer as a whole- to make it a better place for ourselves and others.

I would like to thank everyone who made this exchange event possible. Thank you for allowing me to have this experience and move one step closer to my dreams.