Study abroad: Tom's story
Published on 28 October 14
Ahead of next week's Study Abroad Fair, we spoke to students who have been there and done it. Meet Tom, who spent a year working in Jacksonville, Florida. Here is his story:
I came to Manchester with no intention of spending any time abroad. However, after spending some time looking the potential placement opportunities and speaking to fellow students I decided to give it a try. Little did I know that this would in turn give me the best year of my life.
I applied to the Mayo clinic in early October; this was by no means my only application. I had applied to many other institutions in the USA. I found out I had got the place, along with three other Manchester and two Leeds University students, just before Christmas, and we arrived in Jacksonville in July for our 12 month placement.
Jacksonville is a huge place, the largest city in mainland America. If I am being honest, the city itself was not the most hip and vibrant city in the world, or the most visually spectacular, but the people and the placement combined made it feel like paradise.
The Mayo Clinic is one of the world's leading research facilities, and as such has attracted researchers from around the world. Interacting with that many people from different cultures was certainly a new experience for me. It was spending the year both working, and socialising with such a wide range of cultures that I would consider my highlight of the year (even more than the weather!)
Speaking of the weather, it was phenomenal! To spend an entire year where the weather never gets colder than 10 degrees is beautiful, but be warned! Returning to Manchester's own unique climate is a culture shock in its own right! If you are lucky enough to go, enjoy it as much as you can. Do go fishing. Do go swimming in the ocean. Do go (try) surfing. You can't do that in Manchester!
We had a lovely apartment between three of us, a mere 30 metres from the beach. However, finding it was not easy. In Jacksonville, particularly by the beaches, people don't advertise online or in estate agents but instead with a sign out on the front yard. As such, the best way to find one is usually by driving round the area and hoping to see a sign. Jacksonville is also not known for its public transport, so more than likely you will need a car between the group of students. We decided to go to an auction - this was a bad choice. We ended up spending an awful lot on car repairs; I would recommend in future enquiring via your institutions social list and asking if anyone is selling a car.
During the year I was working on the genetics of dementia, a project I thoroughly enjoyed and come the end of the year I did not want to let it go. All six of us really enjoyed our projects, even though initially they might not have seemed to be what were interested in (myself included). I was also remarkably fortunate to get a first author publication in a scientific journal at the end of my year, something which improves my CV dramatically.
As with most placements, we had opportunities to travel whilst away. We had trips to the theme parks in Orlando, to swim with the manatees in Crystal River and I got the chance to go canoeing down the Swanee River in Georgia. Once the year was up we had the chance to do more travelling. We ended up going on a road trip around Florida spending time in Miami, the Keys, the Everglades and Tampa Bay. This trip was a truly amazing experience, we met so many amazing people and ate some incredible food; it rounded off the year in epic fashion.
Whilst at the Clinic, I was offered the potential to return in a technician position after my final year, an offer I immediately accepted. All of the amazing experiences I have had, the friends I have made and even a future career has come from going abroad. I would recommend it to everyone.
The Study Abroad Fair is taking place on Tuesday 4th November, 12pm-4pm in Academy 2 in the Students' Union and gives you the opportunity to explore the options for spending a period abroad at an overseas university as part of your Manchester degree.