Studying Abroad Through Songs
Semester Abroad: Exchange at Penn
Elle, one of the Exchange at Penn Correspondents, shares her experience here at Penn during the Spring 2026 semester. Follow along with the group of correspondents on our blog and look out for their images on the @exchangeatpenn Instagram feed.
Studying abroad at the University of Pennsylvania felt like stepping into a story I had imagined long before it all began. Looking back in hindsight, it felt like a Spotify playlist curated with all different kinds of genres but all coming together to capture the embodiment of what I was feeling through music.
Lyrics are powerful. I think we underestimate that sometimes, the power which the words we say and hear hold. Essentially, they are just affirmations which we subconsciously and blindly consume on a day-to-day basis, but when we take a second to step back from the rhythm and appreciate the actual voice, I believe we see something deeper. Â
Upon flying into the threshold between time zones, Hilary Duff’s What Dreams Are Made Of, echoed in my mind for days on end. It captured the liminality between my child-like innocence and my adult sense of anticipation. Watching the Lizzie McGuire Movie when I was little and watching her and Isabella perform on stage felt so surreal, crossing the border into America felt like that too, as if all the things which were leading up for the last three months, such as getting my visa approved, immunisation checks and financially saving up, were amounting into something tangible.
Walking around campus for the first time and checking into my dorm and getting my Penn card, everything feeling new and full of possibility. There was a sense of excitement which lingered with me for the first couple weeks. That feeling reminded me of Perfect Day by Hoku, a song which captured for me the simple joys of experiencing something new for the first time. Plus, walking around an American college campus really made the opening of Legally Blonde hit different in way I can’t unsee now. I’d never studied at a university city before, coming from King’s, and I really liked how close in proximity everything was, how secluded the buildings were yet how open Locust Walk appeared.
Soon came the process of adjusting and learning how to navigate a new environment and finding my place within a new community. I must admit it was much tougher than I originally anticipated it to be. I anticipated it to be much like my move to London from Newcastle, which went smoother than expected. However, this was different. It took more time to adjust, there were days I did feel lonely, and kind of like an outsider. I wondered if this place would ever truly feel like home. Even now, there are still moments when that loneliness resurfaces. But I’ve come to realize that it’s a feeling we can never fully escape.
In many ways, it reminded me of the message in Happiness Is a Butterfly by Lana Del Rey, where happiness is delicate and fleeting. Sometimes it lands with you, and sometimes it drifts away, but the beauty is in learning to appreciate when it does, rather than, how long it will last. I’ve begun to think about loneliness in a similar way. In the moment, it can feel overwhelming and inescapable, as if it surrounds you completely. Yet, like happiness, which is contingent on time and place, it will equally arrive as much as it leaves you. I believe it’s important to acknowledge how those feelings don’t diminish the value of the experience, only enhancing what is truly real.
My time in America and at Penn really shifted my relationship with my faith. Joining Grace Covenant Church became a meaningful part of my experience. For the first time, practicing my faith felt more open and communal. I found myself worshipping much more publicly through singing alongside everyone during Sunday services and praying together in a way that felt natural.
Being part of the church also introduced me to a wider community beyond just my classes with our café night hosting so many talented individuals and seeing them play, sing and bake was so much fun! Touch of Heaven by Hillsong Worship is a song which acts as a testament to my spiritual growth and finding peace in my community at Penn.
During spring break, the weather was so beautiful but also a little off and on which I’ve come to learn is a trait of Philly’s bipolarity. I found myself making many trips to centre city and exploring Reading Terminal Market, shopping at Liberty Place and being so awe-stuck at the Magic Gardens.
After wandering through all the stores, we don’t have back home like Bath & Body Works, Aritzia, and Tropical Smoothie Café, I was on my way back when a sign in a shop window caught my eye: customize your own fragrance. It felt almost like a little invitation, too intriguing to ignore.
Inside Old Factory NYC, I was guided through the process of creating my own signature scent. It was unexpectedly fascinating, almost like perfume science. I started with a base fragrance, slowly layering different notes on top, testing them on my skin to see how they changed and blended together. Each small decision shaped the result. I was able to design the packaging and give the perfume its own name – eau de elle – which made it feel like a memory captured inside a bottle.
What made the visit even more special was the warmth of the people working there. The shop had only recently opened in Philly and was still being furnished, with deliveries arriving throughout the afternoon, Sophia took the time to chat with me about when they had started the store and the idea behind letting people create their own perfumes. If anyone ever finds themselves there, I would absolutely recommend stopping by. I found it such a unique experience and would be great to do with friends!
As the semester continued, studying abroad became less about adjusting and more about embracing the adventure. There were moments filled with laughter, spontaneous watch parties, and the excitement of exploring both city life and Penn’s academics. Songs like Va Va Voom by Nicki Minaj and OTW by Khalid perfectly represented that energy and freedom.
Now, coming towards the end of my study abroad, songs like POV by Ariana Grande and Snowfall by Øneheart preserve the intimacy of my reflection. They remind me to look back with gratitude, allowing me to realise how differently I see the world now. As I move toward tomorrow, I don’t know where I’ll wake up or how much I will change. But I know that the person I am has been shaped by these moments, by the music, the friendships, the challenges, and the discoveries, stitched together like lyrics and harmonies. My time at Penn became a soundtrack that I will replay and carry with me into the future, as I embark on my next playlist adventure x.