Article originally published in the Fall 2020 Edition of PRISM: UF Honors Magazine.

Amidst the chaos and uncertainty that has been 2020, I made what perhaps could be called an usual decision: I decided to go ahead with my exchange program this Fall, and spend several months studying in Scotland. Since September, I’ve been taking English and Scottish Literature courses at the University of Glasgow, through UF’s College of Liberal Arts and Science’s Beyond120 Exchange Programs. When I decided to go abroad, it was back in February, when coronavirus was only a distant concern. Once everyone went home in March, and summer study abroad programs were all cancelled, it seemed likely that Fall programs would be next. There was a lot of anxious waiting that summer, watching case numbers in the U.S. and the U.K.

Finally, in August, the Fall programs were given the go ahead. For me, the choice ultimately came down to taking UF online classes at home, or taking online classes in Scotland. I decided that I would be safer in Scotland, considering Florida’s high COVID-19 numbers, and that I’d at least have the possibility to travel and meet new people. So, at the end of August, my best friend and fellow UF student, Sasha, and I flew over to Glasgow. Following the UK coronavirus guidelines, we had to quarantine in our dorm for two weeks, so we made sure to arrive early before classes began. Quarantine was probably about as interesting as you would expect--we would have groceries delivered, and I focused on reading, and trying out new hobbies like embroidery. Since we moved in way before anyone else had arrived we even threw ourselves a karaoke night!

Then, classes began September 21st. I’m taking three courses, and have class just two days a week. They consist of hour or hour-and-a-half long seminars that are all via Zoom, where we discuss our readings and the lectures we’re expected to watch beforehand. Even though they’re online, they are still enjoyable, and there’s definitely a big difference between UK and US classes. I only have 3 assignments overall in my courses, plus a participation grade, which means while there’s arguably more free time, the few essays and other classwork are worth a larger percentage of the overall grade.

In terms of living in Scotland, the country has imposed tighter coronavirus restrictions after cases increased when university students returned. In Glasgow, in addition to wearing face masks and social distancing measures, visits to different households are prohibited, and all restaurants now have to close by 6 p.m. The University of Glasgow did have an outbreak in several of the dorms at the beginning of the semester, with many students having to self-quarantine. Thankfully our residence hall wasn’t as badly affected, and now the number of student cases is starting to decrease.

With all of this going on, probably the biggest question I get asked is if I’m still glad I came to study Scotland. Admittedly, there are downsides. All the classes and various organization meetings are online, which isn’t ideal when you came to experience a different university environment. It’s sad to walk past the beautiful buildings on the campus, and see them with empty and darkened windows, wondering where my classes would have been and what the classrooms would have looked like. Glasgow is known for being a vibrant city, with concerts and other entertainment, so it can be difficult knowing so much of that has been cancelled or postponed, especially when you hear how usually there are ceidleighs (pronounced cay-lees), or Scottish social gatherings with country dances, all the time.

However, being abroad is amazing, and I do believe traveling to Scotland has still been a worthwhile experience. The people in Glasgow are super friendly, especially our flatmates, who are all from different areas of the U.K. It's also so special to experience Fall (my favorite season) in a place where you can actually see the leaves change. We live in a gorgeous Victorian neighborhood, and the fastest way from our residence into the city’s West End is through the beautiful Botanic Gardens, which are always filled with people walking dogs!

I think my favorite part has been the ability to explore the city and travel around the country. While we are not allowed to travel to continental Europe because of the American travel ban, and England recently went into lockdown, we can still travel in Scotland, which is filled with many amazing cultural and historical sites. Besides exploring the museums and other attractions in Glasgow, we’ve visited places such as Edinburgh and the Highlands.

Edinburgh was one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever visited--it has gorgeous historic architecture, and its hills allow you to see the surrounding mountains and views of the ocean from practically everywhere. Plus, it’s pretty amazing to look up and see Edinburgh Castle sitting on an overlooking hill while you’re walking around the city, and hearing bagpipes from local street performers. It’s also a must-visit for any Harry Potter fan (regardless of your current opinion of J.K. Rowling). We took a tour that not only showed us the cafe where Harry Potter was originally written, but also the graveyard that inspired many of the names used in the series, the most notable being Tom Riddle, a.k.a Lord Voldemort.

Then, we travelled north to the Highlands to ride the Jacobite Train, a.k.a the Hogwarts Express from the Harry Potter films. It's famous for its scenic route past Highland mountains and lakes, and the praise does not do justice to the stunning scenery--At one point I even saw deer grazing on a mountainside! I definitely recommend it for anyone traveling in Scotland. While we have to be cautious in planning future travel, we hope to travel north again to see the Northern Lights this winter.

While of course this isn’t the ideal time to be studying abroad, I believe it’s always important to seize experiences while we can--especially when we’re students. When I made the choice to go abroad, I asked myself: “When am I going to get another opportunity to live and study in Europe again, especially as I’m now a senior?” While I do wish that I could be here under normal circumstances, I’m so thankful for all the special experiences this program has afforded me. Besides, years from now I can look back and say I spent a semester abroad during a global pandemic--definitely a sentence I hope I’ll never have to say again. And yet, carpe diem!