Introductions

 

Hello, my name is Wren Howell! 

I was born and (mostly) raised in Northern Indiana. So far, I’ve lived in four different states, two different countries, and moved a grand total of eight times in my life. I am, to most of my friends, the resident tour guide (and coffee procurer) when exploring new cities. 

I am currently finishing my bachelor’s degree in English & Creative Writing at Dominican University near Chicago, Illinois. Outside of my writing endeavors, I enjoy metal music, figure skating, activism, and exploring obscure coffee shops. In the past academic year, I studied abroad at the University of Oxford, living in the 18th-century townhouse previously occupied by the renowned English Romantic painter, printmaker, and watercolorist, J.M.W. Turner. 

From living in rural towns with populations under a thousand to the largest metropolis in the United States, New York City, I know a thing or two about making the most out of any situation. Studying abroad, or living in any new place for that matter, is not just about learning to successfully navigate a city the “right” way, checking everything off your “to-visit” list, or gathering for yourself a new, shiny social circle. While these are all neat things to accomplish, unfeasible expectations can be the death of experience. 

As such, this blog was created to offer alternative, more mindful approaches to making the most out of your time abroad, putting an emphasis on the mundane moments that make one's experience studying abroad more than a whirlwind tour that you keep boxed away in photos on your phone. 

In the following weeks, you can look forward to tips on how to build confidence, make connections, and adjust for change while studying abroad. 

Talk to you soon, 

Wren 

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I'd welcome any and all questions, concerns, or thoughts in the comment section below this post. Simply type in your feedback and press Enter. Alternatively, you can reach me personally at chynzie611@gmail.com.