Studying Abroad in London, England

During my undergraduate years, I studied abroad in London. Having grown up with the Harry Potter series, I guess you could say I had a certain affinity towards all things British. London was an obvious choice. I didn't speak a lick of French, my school offered no other programs and I did not want to apply for an affiliated program.

I had a friend living in London, but otherwise there was no familiar soul. All the ladies in my program were ones I'd spoken little to. On top of that, I chose to live the semester in a homestay - the closest one to the city center because the school administration felt I could handle the big city well. I appreciated the short commute but all my friends were a few train stops away, further away from central London.

I arrived two days earlier, doe-eyed, practically pinching myself. The taxi drove on the other side of the road, something quite jarring for an American. I spent a few day with my friend prior to making my way over to my host family's house. For the next three and a half months, I stayed in Kentish Town, ate pleasant meals of lamb burgers, roast potatoes, and the like. I entertained my host parents' granddaughter and helped out a bit in the house. They were never overbearing, and always up for a good conversation. I always felt at home. Not everyone had the same experience of course. I struck gold with my awesome family. I'm so glad I chose the homestay because I went back to visit them in 2016 and it was amazing to hear what everyone had been up to. The house barely changed a bit. The cats were still up to their old antics.

I went to school and worked at my internship, living a quiet existence. I was rather alone and part of me relished in that solitude. I read. I wrote. I soaked in the London mist. I felt it was a "writerly" place, all solemn and gray. I had days when I went out to explore. I had days when I stayed in to watch junk on the television and did some writing. It felt perfect, all of it.

It's the small moments that I remember. Sipping coffee in the morning as the rest of the house hustled with their morning routines. My feet on the countless Persian rugs that lay on each floor. Having a soak in the tub surrounded by plants on the garden terrace with  the cats running in and out of the house. Also cuddling with the cats and having them beg for food every morning. Having biscuits and tea, always with milk and sugar. Cornish pasties. Winding along with the Thames on gray afternoons. Freezing under the open thatched roof as we watched Shakespearean plays. 

I'l always remember getting off the tube station and walking down towards my homestay. Especially during the later months when the sun set earlier and every house had a wreath on the door and warm light shining out. All the shops on the high street were draped with lights and people were gift shopping. So much gift shopping. It felt like a Charles Dickens wonderland. It was nice to have borrowed a different life for a short period of time, but around this time that I began to yearn for home and my own family.

When asked, I will always say that studying abroad is a good experience. I took the chance to live briefly abroad during graduate school as well. It's a "safe" way to explore a new place since there is usually structure and guided tours. Living abroad may not be suitable for everyone, depending on your life and work situations. For an undergraduate student with little commitments, I relished in the freedom of picking up and spending a semester abroad. Plenty of my friends have been abroad and my siblings have also done stints in Asia.

For those of you thinking about living or studying abroad, check out the related articles on studying abroad.