By ELLA SILVA
As many of you may know, I was abroad in Northern Ireland last semester. And while of course there were ups and downs to being in a different country, there were a lot of things I missed about Beloit while I was gone. I wanted to take a second today to run through the things I missed the most, and perhaps inspire you to be extra grateful that you have access to all of these things right now! Today! Because I know I am.
- Woodmans
If any of you are unaware, there is a cornucopia of all things grocery, alcohol and whimsy just a mere 10 minutes away from us, and it’s open 24/7!!!! Woodmans is a large supermarket that is open 24 hours a day and is honestly one of my favorite places on earth. It has a large selection of pretty much everything, and also makes the yummiest grocery store sushi of all time. Also!! Open 24 hours a day!! You’re telling me I can grocery shop at 1 a.m. if I so desire? I can. And I have. Gorgeous. Large supermarkets in general are way less of a thing in the UK, and Woodmans is even exciting to me by U.S. grocery store standards. Very magical.
- Our cute little campus
I know it sometimes might not really feel like this, but the Beloit College campus is cute! And whimsical!!! I love getting to walk under our large trees, look at our cute old buildings on the academic side, and see the squirrels chase each other around on the grass. I would also like to emphasize the “little” part of this point, because I love that it takes me at most 30 minutes to get from one end of campus to the other. I just love that I can go out somewhere and not have to take an entire epic journey to get there, which is something I had to deal with while abroad.
- Beloit style
I love how quirky and fun people dress on this campus. A lot of fun outfits can fly here that would get me weird looks in other places, and I love that! It’s a safe place to experiment, as well as to see my peers dressed in fun and cool ways! It’s really like a little bubble here and I missed that little bubble a lot.
- Midwest sunsets
This one really speaks for itself. There is no prettier sunset in the world than the ones I have seen here over fields or over parking lots. They are just so gorgeous.
- The Round Table
Duh!!!! I missed this lovely student-run paper!! I missed pitch meetings, and editing in the office on Sundays. I missed giggling with all of the lovely writers, editors, and readers, and I missed getting to research and write big stories. I was still copy editing while abroad last semester, but I was disconnected from all of the most fun parts of being involved with this paper, and I missed it all dearly. If you have never experienced being more involved in the Round Table, this is your sign to try it out! Don’t miss out hehe
- Silly Weekend Parties
Beloit parties are just so unique and so low stakes. I love dancing in some house’s questionably decorated room to someone’s Spotify party playlist with all of my friends. Pregaming for hours and only going to the function for 30 minutes. Walking into a party and realizing no one is there and then going to another party and bouncing back and forth all night. All of these things are just so Beloit and I’ve never experienced them anywhere else and it is so fun! It’s silly, but fun.
- Taco Bell
This was really more of a thing I missed in the U.S. in general, but Taco Bell my love *falls to knees in tears* I MISSED YOU!!! UK Taco Bell does exist but it is not even close to as good. And in Beloit specifically, I missed ordering Taco Bell at some late hour while drunk and having the most exciting meal of my life in the form of a Crunchwrap and a Grilled Cheese Burrito.
- MY FRIENDS!!!!!!!!
Last and most importantly, I missed all of my friends here so so so so so so so so much. I love you all dearly and every moment I get to spend with you now is the most exciting thing in the world because I missed living our little lives together. Mwah mwah.
Featured image: Ella Silva’26
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