Going into this study abroad experience, I was most excited about seeing the fashion, old museums and to learn about what makes London so great. When stepping in the car from the airport I knew exactly why, London is GORGEOUS! From the airport to just a regular streets everything was just beautiful and I am not just saying that because I was a tourist. I was nervous of course, going into a new country about the food that would be available for vegetarians, I am what you call a picky eater but East London had all the vegetarian options you could ask for. The first week was full of dreams come true, laughter, amazing people and adventures. If I could start the 4 weeks all over again it would began just like this!
I took my first train ride! The excitement was all over my face, I had never been on a train before I was so excited to finally get the chance to take what Londoners call “the tube”. Tea Time! Meeting our classmates and professors
We took many trips but one of the best things about the first week is that one of my dreams came true. I GOT TO SEE STONEHENGE IN PERSON! I was so overwhelmed by the experience I could not grasp words to express my feelings. Who ever thought little old me would have made it to Stonehenge this soon!
Our next trip was to bath: this water was said to have 97 minerals and healing properties. I definitely stuck my hand in thereNight Life
Now, as I sit in the airport again (it’s rather peculiar how all of my posts are at the airport..) waiting to board yet another flight I’m so excited to go home and be with my family again. Although I’ll miss all of my friends and family here, it has come time to board my flight (literally in 5 min).
London has taught me so much in the past 5 weeks from their culture, a new language, the posh way of living, all things medical and science down to how they drive. I wouldn’t change anything that I’ve done on this trip and some memories I will forever hold and cherish. To the friends that I’ve made, thank you for making this trip even better. We’ll have stories to tell our grandkids of what only we know to have happened on this short trip. All of our laughs, cries (yes, we cried), dinners, and long hours of studying will be some of my favorite moments spent abroad.
To London, you will forever be one of my favorite cities in the entire world. Thank you for your hospitality and for welcoming me with open arms. This isn’t goodbye, it’s see you soon. Now I’ll have to literally “mind the gap” in my heart from not being here (INSIDER LOL)
Studying abroad has taught me a tremendous amount of things about myself that I didn’t know before. I was able to live in another country and find new ways of adjusting every day to a completely different life than the one I was used to. Abroad trips will humble and shape you into who you’re supposed to be and here is where I found who I am.
Upon our final week, my classmates and I did everything we all could possibly have wanted and more. We each made it our missions to have the best final six days to kick off our new semester in America. It started with a visit to the Tate Modern Art Museum where each piece of artwork told the story of many lives and centuries throughout time.
Then, (internally screams again)I visited Buckingham Palace!! A full tour inside of the building and had tea at the Crown Victoria
Disclaimer: the palace holds garden parties each year for their friends and family members that was started in the late 1800’s by Queen Victoria and her husband King Albert. It is a ten minute long walk from the palace throughout the entire guarded and there’s mini food shops and ice cream stands on every corner (the queen loves gelato). Although I wasn’t able to take pictures inside of the palace of course, it was a remarkable place filled with history and poise.
While keeping the royal spirit in mind, I went to Tower Hill the next day to see the Crown Jewels of the royals 😍 we even got to take a picture with one of the guards
As a break from all of the exploring, my flat mate reserved a table for all of us at the Duck and Waffles restaurant overlooking the city of London. It’s quite a posh place to be in so we had to look extra exquisite. I also tried duck for the first time.
Again moving into the historical parts, we saw the first hospital and visited another posh medical society that our professor was sort of. (She recommended me to them as well and I will become an official member when I graduate college!)
Another pretty historical visit was the Foundling Museum, where small infant children would be brought here by there mothers to be taken care of by wet nurses and doctors when they couldn’t care for them. The mothers would leave little pieces of them behind with the child and then recollect them when they were older (usually around 5 years old). This hospital was created to stop the spread of children deaths in London.
Then I saw Harry Styles….on a billboard of course.
And then another trip to the Wellcome Library (it’s my favorite ever)
I went to another theatre show that was absolutely hilarious and my favorite of all time! It even had one of my favorite actors, Andrew Scott, leading as the main character.
Finally, we had a departure dinner for the entire program to come together again. It was definitely bittersweet.
Our last big adventure together goes to Abbey Road, where the Beatles shot their famous album cover of them walking across the road. There are no stop signs or traffic signals on that particular street so getting a good picture was utterly impossible. But, nonetheless, thanks to my photographer and group of friends they were able to capture the perfect pictures
This week was filled with lots of field trips from our classes and special moments that happened to me that I’ll always remember.
So let’s relive it shall we…
1. I’m officially a signed model
After coming across one of the agencies during my free time I was able to share my personal portfolio and get feedback on them all. So it looks like I’ll be traveling to London more often than I thought..sooo cool.
2. I went to The Apothecaries (pharmacist) Garden, the Chelsea Physic Garden, where they keep all of the plants and herbs used for natural healing. Some of them are even still used today in some of the medications we take. (I made the connection)
3. The old operating theatre where surgery was done during the 1800’s. I was even able to be a volunteer and lay on the table as the tour guide demonstrated how surgeries were done during that time period! He gave me a pretty cool eraser for being a great volunteer as well.
4. A trip back to 221 B Baker Street
5. And finally, last but certainly not least, a trip to the London Bridge
I’d like to say that week 3 is probably my favorite given the fact that I was able to visit some of England’s most notable places.
A trip to the Wellcome Library
And the British library Sherlock Holmes’ house for all of you SiFi lovers. 221 B Baker St.
and then of course we had another school fun night, Curry Night after we visiting 19 Princelet Street, one of the oldest immigration houses in the world.
I also went to my very first English theatre play Mamma Mia. Was even better than the movie. finally to wrap up the week our program funded for us to visit The English Parliament where they still hold their governmental meetings and royal funeral.
Fun fact: the queen still visits and sits at the head of the house at every meeting with her crown brought to her on a pillow.
Averett Around the World 