The best decision a college student can make is stepping out of their comfort zone. After the four years we spend living our college lifestyles, we are forced into the grown up world. How does one prepare for that?
For many students, studying abroad is the perfect opportunity to come out of that zone. Some argue that study abroad is JUST a resume benefit, but I can assure you, I've also become more independent and responsible from my time abroad.
While you should study abroad anywhere possible, I highly encourage the London experience.
Appreciating different cultures is key in taking full advantage of your experience. You're not only learning from other cultures, but you are also becoming a more open minded person. London is the perfect place to travel for Americans, because of the easy adaptability.
The lack of language barrier is a definite plus of studying in England. While lingo may be hard to catch onto, you'll survive by understanding simple street directions.
Studying Abroad:
You're probably wondering how much time school actually took up, while there. For my program, we had two days of class and two days of field trips. We completed a lot of class work before departing, so we could spend majority of the time exploring the city!
For any communications or business majors, this is the perfect environment for you. In the heart of the city, you'll find offices on every corner, business men and women in every direction, and the slightly familiar feel of New York City.
London is also a very diverse. Everywhere around you, there are people of various ethnicities and different languages being spoken.
There are also many diverse activities to offer. There are street performers, Broadway shows, museums, and an abundance of history. And of course famous landmarks like Big Ben and the London Eye are must-sees! It's no surprise that many films are shot in London. A variety of walking tours are available, for tourist to see some of their favorite movie scenes while visiting.
Dover Cliffs is only a short train ride for a great hike and breathtaking view. It's also easy to travel within England to other small towns, like Bath and Oxford. If you want to travel to other countries while abroad, London is a great place to do it!
Public transportation may be one of the best parts about London. The tube is the city's underground train and is the main form of public transportation. These trains run all around London and to main train stations, where you can take trains all over Europe. You'll definitely do your fair share of walking, but you'll quickly learn your way around from doing so.
You are forced to learn how to budget, when you use the British pound. With the pound's value almost being half of the U.S. dollar, the budgeting struggle is quite real.
Food regulations in England are very strict compared to America. Since this is true, Londoners consume plenty of nutritious foods. Once returning home, I realized how much more energy I have when not consuming preservatives. Fashion wise, London is the place to be! When returning home, you're sure to be ahead of the latest trends.
Study abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Your family is on the other side of the world, thousands of miles away. Needless to say, you're forced to become more independent than ever before. But don't let that scare you, because there will be plenty of other students, by your side, in a similar situation.
Which brings me to the best part: the friends you take this journey with.
While I can put most of my abroad experiences into words, I can't express how thankful I am for the people I met. At the beginning of the trip we started as strangers, but soon became close friends. Throughout roaming the streets of London and exploring various cities, these people were by my side for it all.
