If somebody had told me back in high school that I was going to spend my first semester of college in London and would have the best time of my life, I would have laughed in their face and moonwalk away from them, screaming that they are crazy. But no, they were not crazy, and yes I had the best time of my life.
I didn’t
know much about London, which sounds bad on paper, but I think that was what
made my experience better. I was going completely blind to a place I never
faced before. People talk about how your first semester of college is what
makes you an adult by dealing with a roommate, picking your own classes, and
making new friends. Being in London, all of those obstacles I had to deal with
were hard yet easy.
The study centre is in the heart of London, literally. If you see the Tube Station map, the centre is in Tottenham Court Road, which is in the middle of everything. Which is great when you are bored one Tuesday night and decide to go to a Christmas Market outside Embankment Station, or go to an Ice Bar and dance to the music with your friends, or travel the London Eye and see the city lighted on night. I never thought I would experience all of those things and more my first semester of college.
I got to
visit so many places that, without the program, I would have avoided as a
tourist. For example:
·
I spoke in front of my classmates and a bunch of strangers at Speaker’s Corner when I had to
give a speech for my Public Speaking class.
·
My friends and I walked across the zebra steps
of Abbey Road, and took pictures next to the studio were the Beatles recorded
their many albums.
·
I traveled to three different cities in Europe–
Amsterdam, Berlin, and Paris– with my brother (if you get the chance, drink the
water from the places you go, they all taste differently and it makes you think
more about how water works).
·
My friends made Thanksgiving and we all set
around the table and gave our thanks. I almost cried.
·
I went to my British friend’s house and sat
eating English breakfast while her mother told stories of the time she was a
flight attendant.
·
I climbed the many steps up St. Paul’s Cathedral
and watched the sun go down the London Bridge.
Studying abroad my first semester of college has made me cherish all the experiences I have from now on. Dr. Seuss says it best: “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” All those experiences I had while in London made me realize that if it wasn’t for that April day, when the brochure of the International program came in the mail, I would have spent my first semester of college at home, or going to community college. I am grateful to have walked the damp gravel to see Stonehenge, or tripped on concrete on my way to buy groceries in Bloomsbury, or flashed a smile to the worker in Russell Street News. My first semester abroad was, as Barney from How I Met Your Mother would say, “Legend-... wait for it... and I hope you're not lactose intolerant because the second half of that word is DAIRY!”
Check out Kiara's video from her study abroad experience! http://youtu.be/JQoo_7MWxQ0
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