May 15, 2023
Hawi Odhiambo '25
Notes from Abroad: Hawi in England
Hawi '25 posing by a 'Red Telephone Box' in Nottingham
Hawi Odhiambo ' 25, a double major in economics and international relations with a minor in Chinese, studied abroad at Nottingham Trent University in England.
Is there ever a time when you know the amazing road trip is coming to an end? Leave amazing; the convenience, the love, the enjoyment, the routine, the understanding, the everything is just going to end. I’m currently in that period of my study abroad semester, that little window of transition when I know I am going to have to readapt my lifestyle to one of independence, convenience, and adaptation within my life back at Lake Forest College. The past 4 months of my life have been nothing short of what I would call my “other” button. Whereby I can allow myself to be shaped by the short-term decisions that I make to restructure what I truly want out of my life.
Convenience and adaptation have allowed me to freely attune myself to the environment I am in. Through this, I have lived with a bunch of different people from different countries. Picked up a few conversational sentences in French, Spanish, Italian and Swedish, learnt how to cook a variety of meals for myself, and reshuffle an independent routine that requires my input daily. This could be from attending lectures and seminars, to doing grocery shopping, to making sure I create time for both my academics and my social life. All whilst still learning the fundamentals of being a youth in the city of Nottingham, like financial stability and time management.
Studying Sociology in NTU’s School of social sciences has encouraged interdisciplinary learning, allowing me to deeply investigate my interest on sustainability through a financial, social, and agricultural lens. I have listened to talks from profound lecturers around the UK and opened myself up to interning in Oxford’s Said Business School with the Chief of Staff Association, learning directly what it means to be a Chief of Staff in today’s world and how we can input effective sustainable foundations that would allow for the future management of society.
All in all, my “other” button has been a rewarding experience of mostly inclines and less of the descents. I am open to returning to LFC with a newfound mindset on my personal and professional life, looking at what I want for my future.
Hawi with friends exploring London:
