My Time Abroad, So Far…

I’ve currently been in the United Kingdom for a little under a month now... and yet, it feels like a year's worth of experiences.

They say that the first couple of weeks is the honeymoon stage of being abroad--- that I should be feeling nostalgic or homesick by now. And hey, while I do miss my family and friends, I am still enjoying England! Every day here is a new adventure and I have some much more to do.

Anyway, grab your Oyster Card, and let’s start from the beginning:

(FYI most photos are a slideshow)

• The day I arrived, a few girls and I set out for East London to Shoreditch. This eclectic part of town is full of vintage and designer clothing stores that will help you dress like a London trendsetter. Shoreditch’s renowned bagel shop, Beigel Bake, was most notable to a foodie like me. What may seem like an ordinary bagel bakery to outsiders, is a mouthwatering delicacy to natives of East London— it’s even seen me quite a few times ;).

Beigel Bake - Shoreditch

• Day two in the UK and I was already visiting Cambridge— renowned for the prestigious Cambridge University. Our trip was packed with tours of the beautiful town, university, and a peaceful river punt.

• I’ve visited three museums so far: British, Natural History, and Science Museums. In London, most (if not all) museums are free to the public so it's a great way to make the most of your time in the city.

• I don’t think you can spend a day in the city and not hit a street market— they occupy almost every district! My goal is to eventually visit all the best street markets out of 162. Wish me luck lol.

Portobello Road Market - Notting HIll

• I’ve never been to New York’s Broadway (bucket list #33), but I think London’s West End or Theaterland might have it beat. Have you been to Broadway? State your case below. So far, I have seen Matilda and The Lion King and they both blew me away.

• Just last week, we took a 3-hour trip to Stonehenge and the Roman baths in Bath, England. Seeing these World Heritage sites inspired me to see as much as possible (currently adding to the Bucket list). The history of these sites is eye-opening, to say the least. Bath itself is such a gorgeous city and where I now plan to retire.

• Hop on the National Rail and head south to the Mayfield Lavender Farms. They just started to bloom and are great for photos (check out my latest Instagram post ;)) Nestled perfectly in the countryside, it is also a great escape from the busy city.

Mayfield Lavender Farm

• And last, but certainly not least, my Comparative Healthcare class took a trip to Westminster Abbey to tour Parliament. As a policy student, I thought it was pretty interesting to see UK policymakers and even sit in on sessions of the House of the Lords and the House of the Commons. Honestly, it was nice to learn about where it all started.

By the time you read this post, I would have just returned from my best experience yet— but it wasn’t in the UK. Yup, that’s right, I went to PARIS! I finally had my moment in France and it was… HOT. Hot, hot, hot!! I think I need a Paris do-over.

Despite the weather not being on my side, I had a great time taking multiple pictures of the Eiffel Tower, embarrassing myself with bad French, and exploring all that Paris has to offer…c'était fantastique!

With a little more than a month left, I plan to explore more of England. Places like Birmingham, Manchester, and Brighton are at the top of my list and I cannot wait to start checking them off.

If you ever get the opportunity to study abroad or travel somewhere new, remember to make the most of it! Maybe even journal about it ;)

While my journalistic posts do not elicit any comments, I would love to read what you all think or if you have any suggestions for where I should visit next. Until next time!

London Eye