It has been a little over a week since I left home to study abroad in London for four months. Within this short amount of time, a lot of great things have already come to surface. I know these next four months are going to fly by and when it comes to the final stretch, there will be numerous things I'll miss about this great city (though that's a worry for later). As a one week celebration, I've decided to highlight five perks of studying abroad in London (though there are definitely more than that):
1. Those accents though
This is basically my reaction anytime I hear a British man speak. There's just something about the accents that can put a smile on your face.
2. The transportation is super efficient
Being from Chicago, efficient transportation is really important to me. Actually, I think that's one downside to going to school in northern California. However, with studying abroad in London it's so easy to get place to place. The "Tube" is the train for Londoners. It is super easy to learn and runs very efficiently. Although it closes by 1 am which isn't helpful if you're out somewhere else late at night, it's a neat system. The buses are also great.
3. The beauty is endless
I haven't even explored all that much of the city. Nonetheless, the beauty that I've encountered so far is amazing. From the unique architecture to the comforting parks, it's not difficult to find beauty at every corner.
4. The diversity
This past year, Idris Elba, an actor, voiced his concerns about diversity in the media to parliament. It's an issue that has been gaining positive attention because media within Britain aims to represent all citizens. This isn't to say racism doesn't exist within England, but knowing that someone could voice a usually controversial issue to the government is pretty awesome. Not only that, but within London alone minorities make up roughly 50% of the population. Also, nowadays 10% of relationships are interracial. Diversity is the norm here which I really appreciate.
5. It's safe
What else could a parent ask for that their child be studying abroad in a safe environment? Although things still happen in London, the system that the city has set up limits violence. Along with that, it is absolutely illegal to carry a gun, even for police officers! Therefore, an issue like police brutality is not something that airs on the news every week or so as it does in the states. There is also surveillance throughout the city and the police officers are super friendly.
I could continue on with this list but I'll stop here for now. Not only are these perks universally beneficial, but they make the experience all the more enjoyable.
Cheerio 'til next time!
