For almost two weeks now I have been sacrificing part of my winter break to take a Sports Economics course. I have slaved away in a classroom for three hours at a time, and I have exchanged sleeping in for a cold early morning walk.
Alright, fine I'm being a little dramatic. It hasn't been all bad. Yes, I've done all that, but I've gotten to do it in London! Three-hour classes were followed by backstage tours of London's first football (soccer) club and the gorgeous Wimbledon complex.
It really has been a phenomenal experience and I think that can be partially attributed to the fact that I picked the UK as my destination. Because this was such a short trip not having to learn a new language was a must. Add the fact that many of my American favorites can be found somewhere in the city, and you have a perfect beginner study abroad experience.
That doesn't mean there haven't been some bumps along the way though. For example, just two hours ago I got horribly lost while I was walking alone. Fun times. Here are four other things that have surprised me during my time here in London.
1. The Food
While I have loved sampling the huge variety of food that London has to offer, I've been most surprised by the ease of access to cheap, healthy and quick options. For less than 5 pounds I can get a pre-made soup or salad and be on my way.
The taste of the food has also been surprising. Things like yogurt don't seem to have nearly as much added artificial sweetener. It's a little jarring at first but now I've really grown to like it. The soft drinks on the other hand, or pop as they call it here, are much sweeter than back home. That's because they're made with actual sugar and not corn syrup. You'll never look at American soda the same way again.
2. The Bathrooms
First of all I have yet to hear anyone call it a loo, and it's been really disappointing. Second, the bathroom is always downstairs. No matter what restaurant, pub, or attraction I've been in the bathroom is always down the stairs. It's a little annoying, but hey at least they're consistent.
The toilets are also different as well. If you ever visit be prepared to put some work into flushing. Fair warning it may take you a few tries to get the hang of it.
3. The Television
If you're only here for a short time, it's very unlikely you'll have much time for television. The first thing you'll notice is that obviously, the accent is different. Personally, I'm a huge fan of this particular difference. Second, I've noticed that many programs have little to no commercials. How great is that!
4. The Pubs
Even after a short time here, I am a huge fan of the British pub. I can have as much or as little to drink as I want. I don't get carded every twenty minutes and I can actually hear myself think. There's no loud music to shout over, and the only people are really loud are the drunk sports fans.
This is what I've experienced so far, check back next week for more of my thoughts on studying in the UK.
