Community, spiritual growth, an ever-expanding thirst for knowledge: these are all good reasons for any student to leave home. But for Geraldine Lang, this meant flying over 3,200 miles, landing in a new country, and settling into her new home on the Le Moyne College campus.
“Spending time in a country other than your own will always help shape a new understanding of different cultures and society,” says Lang, a student at Stirling University, located in the Central Belt of Scotland. “I was initially surprised at how different America was compared to the UK; for instance, hardly anyone drinks tea…” she jokes. But all jokes aside, for Lang, living like a Dolphin meant crossing seas to make friends, sharing a room in the Heights, and walking past the Noreen Reale Falcone Library on her way to class.
Like any new student, Lang was worried about making friends so far away from home in a new place. “At first, I was worried how I would fit into the college community in my junior year—never mind with my Scottish accent—but within a few days, I realized there was nothing to worry about! Everyone I met was very welcoming and nice enough to introduce me into their circle of friends.” Friends, says Lang, that she made both in lecture and outside of class.
“I am so grateful to Le Moyne for helping me become a more confident speaker. It was refreshing to see students voice their opinions so confidently. I used to worry about how to answer in class. I think Americans have that side of things figured out; everyone is so confident, which I think is reflected in the learning system,” says Lang.
Scotland and the United States have different system for higher education. In the United States, students spend an additional year in school, with more assignments, homework, and oral presentations throughout each semester. In the UK, a grade may be based instead on lecture participation and on final exams.
“I forget how different university is here! I miss Le Moyne’s way of teaching. At home, we have big lecture theaters and it can be very intimidating. The pace is fast, and you feel like just another student in a big room. Comparing the two, my professors at Le Moyne were so friendly and wanted everyone to feel connected. Le Moyne genuinely seemed to be one of the friendliest places I could go to. This school cares about its students, not just about grades, which is vastly important for young people!”
Lang is an English major and enjoyed an American perspective on English literature. Some of the literature and stories in her classes were readapted in Scotland, and still others were completely unknown to her. “The English program looked amazing and I always wanted to study Irish literature.” Creativity was one of Lang’s favorite aspects about the college. Sitting at the tables in front of the science addition held a fantastic view of the city skyline, which would often become a place for inspiration. “Le Moyne was a friendly institution that excelled in its support for creativity.”
Though she’s miles from Le Moyne, Lang is still able to keep the community close, and it provides great stories for her friends in Scotland.
She and her friends still laugh about her experience seeing the theatrical production of Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird一she was the only one who gasped at the ending. They reminisce over Facebook and other social media, even though she’s miles away.
“I’m lucky enough to live in the digital age, so I still keep in touch with a number of close friends from school. Seeing pictures from campus makes me feel so nostalgic! I can say that Le Moyne will always hold a special place in my heart and I will never forget these months I spent amidst a whole different student community.”
“Everyone helped me feel completely at ease there and I will be forever grateful to Le Moyne for making my study abroad the best experience of my life.”
Article by Arin Jackubowski ‘17.
Arin is interning with the Offices of Communications and Advancement this semester.
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