How it all began

When my dad asked me two years ago whether I wanted to do a stay abroad, I was initially strictly against it. However, after a few weeks of thinking about it, my perspective changed. I started by applying for scholarships in the United States, which was a lengthy process but an incredibly rewarding experience. In the meantime, I considered other destinations as well and came to the conclusion that the United Kingdom would be worth a try. It was possible to stay for only four months, and I would be closer to home for my first time abroad. So, I submitted applications to a few different schools. In the end, I chose Glenalmond College, a school in Scotland, which ultimately seemed like the best option for me.

Arrival at the college

When the term began, my dad accompanied me on the flight to the school. I was very excited for obvious reasons. The people there were very welcoming and helped me find my way around the school. During the first week, I had to familiarize myself with everything, but it was pretty easy since the school felt like one big friend group and community. It also helped that there was a “Moncrieff,” the name of the party that takes place every Saturday.

The School

The school system was very different from how it works in Germany. You only choose three subjects, which for me were Maths, Business, and Physics. Later on, I also chose Technology as a fourth subject to fully utilize the time I had there. All the subjects were very interesting, especially Technology, so I was very glad that I had added it.

Daily routine

In the morning, we were woken up by a bell in the corridor at seven. We then had half an hour to change into our school uniforms before heading down to the dining hall of the house for breakfast. After that, we walked to the school, which was about a seven-minute walk. Every morning began with a 15-minute chapel session, followed by the start of lessons. After the fourth lesson, we had lunch, followed by either sports or one or two more lessons. Supper was served at around six, and at seven we had two hours of prep time, during which we completed homework or revised for the next day. At around ten, we headed to bed.

Due to having something to do all the time the time flew by like nothing.

Half term

Around six weeks into the term, we had a holiday during which I flew back home. I was very excited to see my family and friends again. Unfortunately, I broke my wrist during the holiday, which meant I had to stay in the hospital for the next three days. After the half term, I returned to Scotland. Because of my broken arm, I couldn’t participate in sports, so I brought my drone to take pictures for the school and myself, making good use of the time in another productive way. This turned out to be a great idea, as during the upcoming long weekend, I went to the Highlands with my dad and was able to take some amazing photos there.

Summary

The rest of the term went by quickly, but I realized how much the stay taught me—not just about speaking English but also about the differences between cultures. There were many cultures represented at the college, including Spanish, French, and students from overseas, as well as other Germans besides me. This made it easy to notice the commonalities and differences in how people reacted to certain situations. I also observed distinctions between Germany and the UK, such as how drinking tap water is common in Germany, whereas in the UK, there is a stronger focus on debating skills and building a sense of community.

During my stay, I learned many new things about myself, such as how to live more independently and how to cope with leaving my home and family behind for a period of time. It also pushed me to step out of my comfort zone.

A huge thank you to my parents for making this possible for me!!!

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