Developing an Explorer’s Spirit

When I first mentioned my interest in attending the Grinnell-in-London (GIL) program, my family and many international friends asked me the same question: “You are a Chinese student studying abroad in the United States. Why bother studying abroad again in the U.K.?” I didn’t give it too much thought at first. But somehow I felt that if I missed this opportunity, I would probably never visit Europe in my lifetime. Even before I applied to Grinnell, many people back in China tried to talk me out of studying abroad, but I persisted and made one of my proudest decisions in my lifetime. With GIL, I proved myself right again, except that the Grinnell-in-London experience was even more colorful than I could ever imagine.

Grinnell-in-London really showed me the core of what a liberal arts education means. Not only did I have the chance to pick classes I would normally never pick, but also I got to get out of the classroom and learn in the real world! The British history class taught me how to appreciate every inch of land beneath my feet as we walked through the ancient alleys in London. The Renaissance art class taught me how to appreciate European classic art and brought me face to face with those art works in different museums across Europe. The neuroscience class focused on the emergence of science in Europe; and we visited Bethlehem Royal Hospital, one of the oldest mental hospitals in the world, and learned its place in history. Last but not least, the European crisis class reminded me not to forget about the ongoing social and economic conflicts in Europe.

However, the most challenging yet fruitful class I took was the British theatre class. We went to a play every Monday or Tuesday in a major London theatre. For Wednesday’s class, one student was appointed to give an analysis and lead the discussion. As a student from China, I have always found it hard to express myself in public. I can’t remember how long I practiced the analysis and discussion, even way before we watched the play. The most difficult part was to construct my own analysis of the play. I was too used to absorbing others’ opinions and would forget to use my own voice. To give a truly personal analysis of The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable, I drew on my knowledge of psychoanalysis, philosophy, and photography. Not only were my professor and classmates impressed, but also I surprised myself by learning how capable I could be.

Just as the cliché goes, travel gives you the opportunity to explore yourself, and the Grinnell-in-London program gave me a precious opportunity to really explore and get to know myself. My life in London was at first scarily free of constraints, so I had to think about my life and how I could make the most out of it and stay happy. I learned to break out of the limits of my apartment, be open-minded, and visit museums, exhibitions, and other cultural events with my friends. I learned what responsibility really means, since I had to cook my own meals and take care of my friends at the same time. I traveled to a dozen countries and made friends with people speaking different languages. I reached out to locals to talk about our experiences and received guided tours to some locals’ favorite spots. I even developed a deeper understanding of my biggest passion in life — photography — as I was able to get in touch with some of the best photographers from London and Paris.

In the end, the Grinnell-in-London program gave me the opportunity to deepen my understanding of the United States. The things I learned in Europe shine light upon the deep European roots of American society, allowing me to draw the connections between art, food, politics, and social norms of Europe and the United States. As a result, I have been seeing American society more clearly than ever.

Grinnell-in-London has taught me things that are invaluable — independence, self-reliance, confidence, and the explorative spirit. I think I will travel even more around the world when I graduate, because now I know that the world is always bigger than I think and always has much to offer.