Study Abroad and Domestic Study Away

London has been an adventure thus far. I’ve been immersing myself into British culture, from everything to understanding the lingo used here, restaurant etiquette, and to learning how to use public transportation. Being a sociology major has made me observe this new culture through a specific lens. To describe briefly everything from fashion aesthetics, social mannerisms, nightlife culture, and the list continues. Living in a country that I’ve never been in has also made me realize how extremely fortunate I am. Being a first-gen college student, my mother has sacrificed a lot so I can have this opportunity through my education. 

Since England is close to Europe, I have had the ability to travel outside of London like Wales and Italy. It was as easy as taking a four hour coach bus to Wales to only taking a two hour plane to Rome. I have been able to travel with people that I met here in London, that I now consider long life friends. I also visited Brighton in the beginning of my time here and it is very different from London. Brighton is a coastal town whereas London does not have that beach town ambiance. London is such a big city though that I won’t be able to explore all of it before I leave. My favorite places that I definitely recommend for people to visit when in London would be Shoreditch, Soho, and Notting Hill.  

 The last couple of months have been challenging and exciting at the same time. It was my first time traveling without my family so I truly had to become independent and learned how to buy my own groceries and cook for myself. It was nerve wracking but exciting at the same time because I was exploring a new country that I have never been in. It saddens me that I only have such little time left and that much of London will be left unexplored. I want to thank The Smith Fund for the scholarship because without them I wouldn’t have been able to study abroad.