As a lifelong proponent of close friends and tight circles, I saw this as my opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and meet new people, whether that was in my Shakespeare class or at random cafés around the city. I'd lived in the Midwestern suburbs my whole life before moving to Syracuse (a place that didn't feel much different) for school. So, in London, I was looking forward to making friends in a new kind of cityscape.
The queries and applications for U.S. universities have seen a significant drop, and students are considering alternatives. Destinations such as the U.K., Germany and Australia are being explored, and Canada is proposing a dedicated work permit for current and potential U.S. H-1B holders. All these initiatives and policy changes are sure to bring about a massive shift in demand for the U.S. as a destination.
I'm not sure if it was the high stakes of planning the perfect itinerary or the looming idea of feeling like an outsider in a new place, but growing up, travel always felt daunting to me. In the hopes of conquering that fear, I applied to my university's summer study abroad program and soon found myself thousands of miles from my home in California to complete a two-month internship in London.
Traveling with my grandparents in Paris taught me to embrace a balance of structure and spontaneity, enhancing my appreciation for the city and our shared experiences.
In the United Kingdom, most students are now barred from bringing family members. Canada has enforced a cap on study permits, restricted work eligibility after graduation and doubled the financial threshold for students to prove self-sufficiency.