Getting Away from It All: Christian Sandlin’s Semester Abroad

by Christian Sandlin, TLU Junior, Business Administration

Studying abroad was one of the best experiences of my life. TLU made it very easy to get the process going, with Director of International Education Charla Bailey helping me every step of the way. I ended up going to London, England, a beautiful and amazing city where I had some great experiences.

While in London, I made some genuine friends who I keep in contact with to this day and hopefully will for a long time. We had a great time exploring the city and enjoying everything it had to offer. I got to see iconic landmarks like Big Ben (fun fact, contrary to popular belief, the clock tower is not called Big Ben but is actually called Elizabeth Tower; Big Ben is the great bell inside), the London Eye (the giant, slow-turning Ferris wheel, which gave a breathtaking view of the city), and London Bridge. IES Abroad, the study abroad program I used, offered some amazing field trips for their students: I went on a trip to see the town of Bath (probably the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen) and visited one of the most renowned structures in the world, Stonehenge (honestly a little underwhelming but still a great experience). 

My new friends and I also left the city and took some trips throughout Europe together. My favorite place was Barcelona, Spain, where we chartered a boat to take us for a ride on the Balearic Sea (part of the Mediterranean), and explored the city. Barcelona may be the best city I’ve ever been to; it had a rich culture and some beautiful sights—I’ll definitely go there again someday. I also went to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, which was another breathtaking city. The canals are beautiful and a must-see. 

But more importantly than the good times and great sights, my study abroad experience changed me for the better in many ways. I’d gone through some very tough times immediately before leaving, and the ability to get away from it all and have new experiences on the other side of the world was the best thing that could have happened to me at that point. The experiences were incredibly valuable to my growth as a person. Having the opportunity to exercise my independence by booking my own flights, making my own meals, and just living and thriving on my own, gave me skills that I will need for the rest of my life. Overall, I think choosing to go abroad was the best decision I have ever made. I am incredibly grateful to TLU, IES Abroad, and everyone else who made this opportunity possible for me.