School year abroad

Hi everyone,
I'm an American high school student. A few years ago, I went to England on vacation and loved it, and it became a sort of dream of mine to move there someday. Last summer, I got the idea of doing a year abroad in a secondary school there.
Anyway, it all worked out, and I'm going to boarding school for a year in Canterbury! It's really exciting and I'm looking forward to it. Today, though, I did a bit of Googling about British opinions toward Americans, and found mostly negative stuff about how we are stereotyped as stupid, fat, annoying, etc. There were also a few people that mentioned American classmates that were teased so relentlessly they left...  
My point is, although I'm excited, what I've seen has made me sort of uneasy about the whole thing. I won't know anyone (although I'm told there is another American girl who is older than me). If people do laugh at my accent or whatever, I can have a good sense of humor about it, but I don't want it to get to the point where it's really malicious.
If anyone has experienced that sort of thing or just has any tips for me about making friends, living in a boarding environment (I already go to a boarding school and have boarder friends but am a day student), British schools, or anything else like that, it would be awesome.[:
(While I'm on the subject, I do have a boyfriend and friends here that I want to maintain my relationships with while I'm gone. Tips for that would also be really helpful.)
Thanks!

Living in a boarding environment is going to be a very different experience to what most of the people here have experienced. It is going to be vastly, vastly different to what you have known. My husband went to a boarding school and it was nothing like an American school experience whatsoever.

And yes, there are many people who do stereotype Americans, holding them personally responsible for everything they find wrong with the US from TV to politics. I have the feeling that may be magnified at your age group.

You are very, very brave, is all I can say. Good luck.

Although people have been teased or made fun of for being American, having an American accent, etc., I think those people are in the minority. Overall, people in the UK are lovely! You're going to have a fabulous time! 

I think you're going to be fine. In my experience most British people (and I am British myself) who harbour "antiamerican" sentiment have a) never met any actual American people and/or b) never been to the US. If anything is said, take with a pinch of salt, be a good ambassador for your country and prove them wrong.

That said, if anything truly unpleasant happens bring it to the attention of teachers etc. at the school. Bullying is taken very seriously in UK schools and the school should take any relevant action swiftly.

But chances are you'll be fine and everyone will want to be your friend! Good luck!

I find people do periodically make wise cracks about Americans in general, but on the personal level it seems more like people take an interest in me because I'm American. They do often want to know why I would come here when they perceive life in the US to be better. I think it's the old "grass is always greener thing." I think you're in for a fabulous experience!

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Well I think it's wonderful! Wish I had had that kind of adventuresomeness at your age.

My only advice is to not make snarky remarks yourself (which from the sound of you, you probably wouldn't)....you know like, "Ugg, beans for breakfast!!".

/that being said, food may be a challenge......

Very cool!  How brave and how lucky you are to get such a worldy experience at a young age.  Awesome. 

Does your boarding school have a wide contingency of international students?  Do they have support for international students?  I know British boarding schools are highly coveted around the world for the quality of education they provide and can be quite used to students from around the world, so perhaps your school is one of them.  If that's the case, hopefully it won't be too harsh.

You may find that students find you 'cool' for being American. Or they may pick on you. (Hope not!) Just remember, you're doing something really amazing, going to the other side of the world, living a dream and getting to experience something that most people will never get to do- living internationally!!  It's only a year, live it up, enjoy and soak it all in.   

Sounds fun!  I did a year's exchange years ago, albeit at a slightly older age than you, as an academic librarian.  I worked at a British university library and felt very welcome.  Colleagues were very interested in hearing how things were done in the US.  On a personal level, I felt they all mostly thought of me as somewhat glamourous and exotic!!  I never ran into any anti-Americanism but I was always careful to present myself as a professional.

Good luck!

Oh how very exciting! Its wonderful that you made your dream come true and you are off to England for a year!
As far as maintaining your connections with family and friends, email & skype are good ways to keep in touch.
Try and write letters too, it will be nice for your people back in America to get a letter from you in the mail and hopefully they will write to you so you get letters on mail day (I don't know much about boarding schools except what I have read in old novels and I remember they always had a day during the week when they got mail and packages from home)! 
I agree with BostonDiner, I am sure you will be thought of as the glamorous and exotic American at your new school, good luck and have fun!

Hi,

Congratulations on having the opportunity and seemingly wanting to go for it !

I agree with various posters above for the most extent - and I'd still say for you to go forward with the experience.

Like any country, for the most part, you'll probably meet some fantastic, great, down to earth people and no doubt you'll meet perhaps some who aren't. I have no idea what a boarding school is really like, I didn't go to one, but as it's that age or stage in your life, then I'd say the chances of you indeed getting remarks about being American are going to happen - I think it's how you deal with them which will be key. If they are likely to affect you to a greater extent, then perhaps do indeed find out about who to speak to at the school about it etc. If you can and will laugh it off then all the better for you. If any of the other people begin to make it more of a habit and be nastier, then you may need to seek further advice on how to deal with them etc. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself either! I've experienced racism blatantly and directly when I was at a college of further education and I notified the college senior staff, wrote reports etc and stayed civil about the whole thing.

Good luck with everything !

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Hi,

Congratulations on having the opportunity and seemingly wanting to go for it !

I agree with various posters above for the most extent - and I'd still say for you to go forward with the experience.

Like any country, for the most part, you'll probably meet some fantastic, great, down to earth people and no doubt you'll meet perhaps some who aren't. I have no idea what a boarding school is really like, I didn't go to one, but as it's that age or stage in your life, then I'd say the chances of you indeed getting remarks about being American are going to happen - I think it's how you deal with them which will be key. If they are likely to affect you to a greater extent, then perhaps do indeed find out about who to speak to at the school about it etc. If you can and will laugh it off then all the better for you. If any of the other people begin to make it more of a habit and be nastier, then you may need to seek further advice on how to deal with them etc. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself either! I've experienced racism blatantly and directly when I was at a college of further education and I notified the college senior staff, wrote reports etc and stayed civil about the whole thing.

Good luck with everything !

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Well said DtM

Congrats on this exciting and rare opportunity to study abroad! I personally think that this is an amazing gift to be seized with both hands. I can understand your concerns about the 'wise cracks' made about being American etc.. I sometimes get flack from my UK friends, who know and love me, just for being American. I think being able to laugh it off is important and to recognize when someone is being playful or spiteful. I agree with DtM that if it's taken to a level it shouldn't be, then use your resources at said school to address any of those issues. I truly hope your experience is a fun, exciting and pleasant one! I'm sure you'l be the envy of all your US friends. Best of luck