Cambridge: The End

August 29, 2017

Well, my time here is over. I submitted my last paper earlier today, I had my last lecture yesterday, and I have my last formal meal tomorrow night. As one would expect, it’s pretty bittersweet. I could easily stay here another 8 weeks or longer. But I do miss Boston and all the comforts of home. My experience here has particularly affected how I see the next few years of my life/career going. I always thought I needed to live in a big and busy city, but living in a smaller town like Cambridge has shown me that I actually enjoy this energy and mood. Plus, since I plan on staying in academia for a good while longer, the focus here is really inspiring. I learned that Cambridge was originally just the University, and the town grew around it. So, even those homes and business not formally tied to the University are related. After speaking with a few of the professors and advisors here, I will definitely be applying for a master’s here.

Most surprisingly, I learned that I am able to live quite comfortably outside of the U.S. While I’ve always enjoyed seeing and learning about other places, I never considered really living in them. Especially since a lot of my career interests rely on being in the U.S. However, being here has made me rethink that. I can still pursue a lot of what I’d like to in other countries. In fact, my career will probably be much more fruitful if I spend time in other places. As I said in my first post, I have always been a homebody. But taking the chance of studying abroad has definitely made me redefine my ideas of “home.” Cambridge has felt like my home for these past 8 weeks – it has been my home. “Home,” then, isn’t the place I’m used to and spend most of my time, but rather a feeling of comfort or excitement or novelty. It’s just where I am: how I exist it.

Written By

Nicholas Napolio

At Northeastern, I study political science with a particular focus on American public administration, public law, and queer politics. While abroad in Cambridge, I plan to immerse myself in British politics and further my understanding of American politics by comparison. I am taking courses on European legal history, British criminal law, and gender & sexuality informed by British culture. These courses are similar to courses I have taken at Northeastern but will allow me to study the differences between American and British conceptions of each. In addition to coursework, the University of Cambridge offers social and cultural opportunities such as pub tours, trips to London, and weekly banquets.