Studying Abroad: Living Accommodations

With my two different experiences, I stayed in two different types of residences. There are factors to take into account depending on the program and the details and my experience will not reflect everyone’s experience. Being away from home for an extended period of time can be a little nerve-wracking, even for the most adventurous of souls. Home means a lot of different things to different people. As much as I love seeing the world, I want to feel at peace in my living accommodations. Often times, studying abroad can be someone’s first taste of leaving home so it is important to weight the options.

London - A Homestay in Kentish Town

My study abroad program had two options: a shared dorm near the central university but meals would be on our own budget or a homestay where four dinners would be provided and an Oyster card in zones 1 and 2 (Buses, Tubes, etc.). The dinners mean a lot to college students on a budget! The program has changed now, but given these two options, I had to take the pragmatic route and choose the homestay. It was the single best decision for my abroad experience. I stayed in Kentish Town, not too far from the heart of central London and was about to walk to major shopping areas in 40 minutes or take transportation for 10-20 minutes. My host family were an older couple who also hosted other students. Some families hosted two students, but my family opted for one from my school. At first they did it to make mortgage payments and then they continued to meet more people and share their homes. As a New Yorker, I was hesitant because we mainly keep to our own circles. This was a departure and a moment of growth for me. I had no roommate, no housemate, nothing familiar, but getting to know them and their extended family was a blessing. There were afternoons when I’d hang out with their granddaughter. I had a tiny room (their granddaughter’s) and then they gave me the choice of moving to a a larger space. The entire home was four stories and it was filled with plants, warmth, and years of accumulated stories. And the garden and cats! How idyllic. So much of my current home is modeled after this, trying to capture a feeling of ease and happiness. When I wasn’t on the move and exploring the city, I was resting at home. They wanted to meet my school friends, and so they helped me host a dinner party. They became my family. We kept in touch and I saw them one last time right before I went to study abroad in Lyon. They were curled up watching television, which we often did together. It was like no time had passed. And then I received a sad email. Her husband passed away. I’ve reached out, but no reply. I’ll forever cherish these few months and the warmth I felt within their home. It made leaving America that much easier and tempered my homesickness.

Lyon - Citadines Presqu'Ile Lyon (Apart Hotel Lyon)

In Lyon, this was for my MBA program, and was only for about 2.5 weeks. It was essentially a mixture between an apartment/hotel. It had the luxuries of an apartment with kitchen and all and the luxuries of a hotel like the concierge and cleaning services. We were right in the heart of a historic area and it was convenient to shops, school, public transportation, and more. I loved feeling so immersed in the culture and being able to walk outside to buy little snacks or items to cook in the kitchen. It helped us to feel at home. I hate the idea of scrambling to find coffee or items I find essential to daily living. What a treat it was to wake up, brew some coffee and get started on the day. We did have roommates, and I can’t recall if there was an option for a single suite. I chose a good friend (four of us agreed to go on this trip) and we ended up sharing the bedroom instead of throwing someone on the very uncomfortable pullout couch. It was her first time abroad and she says she thinks quite fondly of our memories.