Summerfuel

My advice would be to research Oxford and get to know the city. For some reason, it never crossed my mind to study the place, but then, maybe I wanted it to be a surprise. Summerfuel offers you so many great resources that are definitely worth the read. I was skeptical when told not to pack full bottles of shampoo, body wash, etc. but when there's a pharmacy, or chemist, in town with everything you could possibly need, there's no reason to overpack. Take your time to research and read up on everything and anything, but most importantly, enjoy every last moment of your time in Oxford.

I was always so excited to start my days at Oxford. I would usually wake up at 8 A.M. and get ready for the day before heading down to the dining hall. When we first arrived, we received a day to day itinerary, so we knew what to expect for the day. My friends and I always liked to get breakfast as early as possible to maximize our time. The kitchen staff we so incredibly kind. I even had an inside joke with one of the guys because every time there were hashbrowns, I'd ask for them (and maybe a few extra). We'd all sit down in the dining hall to enjoy our meal and chat with each other. After that, we had some free time before class started, which I either spent in my dorm reading with my friends or strolling through the gardens. We had two, hour and a half morning classes with a brief break in between. I chose Shakespeare's Oxford and Oxford Authors (classes vary based on interest, though every class is amazing!) Our professors were local to Oxford which was fantastic in and of itself. Sometimes, we'd stay in the classroom, but there were also times when we'd explore the campus, walk through town, or visit the local museums. Afterward, I would meet up with my friends and walk into town for lunch. It was my favorite part of the day because I got to get out and explore the town. There are countless options for food from American classics like KFC to sit down cafes or even historic pubs. I also had a habit of stopping by Moo-Moo's for an afternoon Ovaltine milkshake. If we didn't have afternoon class, we would often stay in town until dinner. During this time, I'd most likely been found wandering the levels of Blackwell's bookshop, buying so many books that I knew it would present a problem when packing. On the days when we did have afternoon classes, we'd head back to campus for a fun seminar-style class of choice- for me, it was Adventures in Afternoon Tea. Dinner is provided in the dining hall, yet I often found myself back in town, looking for another new place to try. There were always some fun evening activities before checking in for the night. On the weekends, we had incredible activities planned, like visiting a palace or driving into London. There was never a dull moment in Oxford.

In going away from home for three weeks, all on my own, I feared that I would be unbearably homesick. This, however, could not be farther from reality.

I decided that I would fly on the chaperoned flight to Heathrow to make things easier. We all met up in JFK and made our way through the vast airport together. Before we even got to security, I had a handful of friends already. Upon arriving at Lady Margaret Hall, we had a brief meet and greet and were shown to our dorms. I felt like I was stepping back in time when I crossed the threshold of my room. There was a small fireplace, (though I would have no need for it) a cozy little bed, and a magnificent view of the garden, just outside of the building. With the provided WiFi, and in all honesty my own cellular data, I kept up to date with everything at home. Some of my friends used it as time away from their parents (understandably), though I chose to call my mom and grandmother every night to tell them all about my adventures. Also, the handful of RA's became like a hybrid mom/ older sibling/ friend to me. I always had someone to turn to if I wanted advice or someone to bug (you'll find that some of the RA's are friends that you stay in touch with as well).

Modern technology took away all the stress of being homesick and allowed me to enjoy the wonders of independence while never feeling stranded.

My trip to England taught me to be independent and appreciate delving into other cultures. While I am normally quite reserved, being in Oxford taught me to be bold and try every opportunity that presented itself. I became a leader, not a follower. Now that I'm back home, I am thrilled to get to know the person that I've become.

When it came time for me to apply to college, I had it in mind that I didn't want to attend some University of wherever. I got out my laptop once more and began to research. While in Oxford, we had the chance to attend a seminar from a college counselor about receiving our post-secondary education in the United Kingdom. I visited UCAS.com and began looking for my next adventure.

The November after I spent my summer, I accepted a place at a top university in Scotland. My adventures are far from over and I hope that my path leads me back to Oxford once more.

Since students are living in one location for a month, they really get a chance to experience what life in that city is like, an experience that they cannot get by doing any typical teen tour program. Summerfuel strives to give students the full French experience and offers so much more than the amazing language classes taught by native speakers.

From looking at authentic artwork at the Matisse Museum to parasailing high over the Mediterranean Sea, Summerfuel gives students the opportunity to study and live like a French student.

The best advice I can give is to really take advantage of the opportunity and make the most out of each experience. Try to use French every chance you get: start conversations with the lunch staff, mix in some French when you are with other Summerfuel students, make conversation and barter with a local vendor at the Cours Saleya market. Most importantly, participate in as many activities as you can.