Day 229 - Some reflections... But not the end!

Before I first began posting for this academic blog and taking extra notes in classes of the differences between Geography taught in the US at UCLA and how it is taught at home from experiences at UCL, the blog merely served as a way for me to communicate with my home geography department. In the first few weeks I struggled, I felt I had to dig deep, a process that was unnatural and forced. The blog felt very detached and impersonal, an aspect of my initial posts that makes reading entries of length difficult and indigestible. Now however, writing these posts has become natural and enjoyable, but most of all personal, I feel I’ve been able to fuse my academic experiences here at UCLA with my personal experiences sharing them with those who pay interest in reading about my time in Los Angeles. I’d be dishonest if I said I didn’t feel the process was at first laborious, however I now find it enjoyable and that is the reason why I intend to continue posting new entries beyond the submission date for examination. I believe it is important for myself to reflect and to allow my family and friends to be updated on my findings and experiences but also help advise those that are due to embark on a year abroad themselves. I aim to share my blog with the UCL study abroad team so that they can gain insight along with prospective travellers about integration, culture shock, and crucially the differences between the education system here in the US, and what to expect in comparison to what they’ve become accustomed to at UCL.

This brief post serves to highlight the importance of blogging for documenting such life changing and future shaping experiences. As I’ve learnt whilst being here, grades are simply not transferrable between US and UK universities due to the crucial differences between the way classes are taught, the materials used and the forms of assessment. Though sceptical at first, this is the most appropriate form of assessment but also makes sure the student extracts the most out of their study abroad experience and critically reflects on their academic and personal journey.

In two weeks I shall write another entry providing updates on my experiences, and importantly reflecting on how I feel at this stage of my year abroad, week 7 of my last quarter here at UCLA. Things are coming to a close, and this blog will continue to document it until the very end.