Cate Hayman 

Wales, UK

What motivated you to study abroad during your time at Carnegie Mellon University?

Ever since freshman year I knew that studying abroad was something I wanted to do. Initially, I wanted to go to the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, Australia for my semester abroad, as I was born in Australia and wanted to take a pilgrimage back there. However, I booked an acting job over the summer with a three month contract that conflicted with the beginning of the semester. Because of this, I had to pick a school in the northern hemisphere with a start time that would work with my schedule. I reevaluated why I wanted to study abroad, if not explore my birth country, and I concluded that it was because I wanted to travel. So I chose to study in the UK because it is so easy and cheap to travel around from here. Now I’m studying at the Royal Welsh School of Music and Drama and I’m loving it. Also, since I have been here, I’ve been to Paris and London and I have trips planned to Spain, Germany, Austria, Poland, Ukraine, Sweden, and Northern Africa!

If you could go abroad again, where would you study and why?

If I were to study abroad again, I would want to go to Australia. I left when I was four and therefore only know the country within the limitations of family visits. I would like to go back for a few months to rediscover and explore the country on my own terms and set up a network of artists and friends unrelated to family vacations.

What have been some of your favorite experiences so far?

One of my favorite things about being here is all of the friends that I have made. In my class at school, I am working with people from Ireland, Scotland, England, Belgium, Canada, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand. Having such a diverse group of people in the school brings lots of different perspectives that I haven’t had access to before. Not only am I learning a lot from my classes, I can feel myself growing and expanding as an individual.

Another one of my favorite things about being here has been the travelling that I have done. When I went to Paris, I felt like I had a bit of a crisis because I couldn’t believe how much I loved it. I never wanted to leave. When I went to London, I was able to meet up with my CMU classmates who are also abroad in Barcelona, London, and Scotland. This was maybe the most fun weekend I have had all semester. We spent the whole weekend sharing experiences and talking about how much we love our study abroad programs.

What challenges have you faced and how are you dealing with them?

I won't lie, I haven't faced a whole lot of challenges since I’ve been here. It took me a few weeks to really settle in with my classmates, but even that was relatively seamless as I am studying at the Royal Welsh with another CMU student who is a very good friend of mine.

What are some things you did to prepare for your time abroad and how have they helped you?

The main thing I did in preparation for study abroad was making sure I had enough money to travel. Such a big part of studying abroad is the ability to participate and indulge in another culture for a few months. Depending on the place, that isn't always cheap. I recommend to anyone studying abroad that they save money beforehand so that they don’t have to miss out on any opportunities that may come their way!

Other than that, I didn’t do a whole lot in preparation for studying abroad. I made sure all my CMU business was taken care of, and the rest I left up to destiny. My job over the summer was also extremely time consuming so I didn’t have a whole lot of time to worry about getting ready, I just kind of had to pack and leave.

What do you wish you’d known before going abroad?

Pack lighter than you think you need to! I packed relatively light, however, I wish I packed even lighter. Lugging my stuff around is so not fun and also I have been buying lots of souvenirs.

Other than that, I’m not sure what I wish I would have known beforehand. I have had a marvelous time discovering this process on my own. I probably could come up with plenty of advice reflecting my own experience, however, I am really grateful that I was able to come in to my study abroad journey with an untainted perspective. My open mind and lack of expectations entering a new program in a new country has set me up for a great deal of success.