Why I Chose to Study Abroad in London

An Overview of My Program and What

Makes London Perfect

Hi friends!!

I am so excited that you've been speaking my language this long, and for the newbies... Welcome! This blog post officially marks the beginning of my study abroad journaling series.

If you do not follow my social media pages-- well, first go and do so here thx --then you should know that I am currently studying abroad in London for the summer. Quick rundown, I was able to earn college credits toward my degree and gain an internship with an England-based NGO through a global experience program called AIFS Study Abroad. AIFS is one of many different third-party study abroad programs that my home university (The Ohio State University #BuckeyesAbroad) offers and they have numerous programs all around the world.

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I am among 10 other students doing the study+internship program in London through AIFS, and boy has it been a journey already!! Here's the deal. I was set to depart on May 13th but was delayed due to visa issues with the Ukrainian refugee crisis. In fact, several study abroad students have experienced delays everywhere and it really puts a damper on our academics/experience :(. You can read more about it in this article.

Despite our late start, my time in London has been FANTASTIC so far, and I cannot wait for what the rest of the summer holds! I will be sure to fill you in on all the fun activities I've done in the next post along with some captivating photos of the places I've been and the food I've eaten.

My View for the Next Couple of Months

Have you been to London before, lmk below?

Why Study Abroad?

I have been blessed with a full-tuition scholarship that allows me to attend college debt-free and was immediately enthralled with the possibility of studying in a different country since my freshman year. The idea of learning new things, experiencing new cultures, and meeting new people excites me! There's also a different level of independence associated with living in a new country because you're essentially stepping out into the real world and forced to navigate a new lifestyle on your own. Thus, the hunt to study abroad began.

A Dream Deferred

Originally, I had planned to study in Aix-en-Provence, France during Fall 2020 with the Institute for American Universities or IAU, but as we all know, the world had other plans and that was eventually canceled.

Still, I was determined to live out this dream before I graduated. I ended up altering my entire degree plan to fit a study abroad AND graduate early. This resulted in a lot of 18 credit hour semesters and stressful nights, but I needed to make it work.

Why London?

London is a vibrant and dynamic global city, and you can see this by walking down almost any street. In my opinion, the culture here is as diverse as Washington, D.C., or even Chicago -- just a lot more European!

But wait, there's more...

• London has so much to offer. With street markets, shopping centers, parks, music halls, etc. everywhere, you will never get bored. Idk about y'all but I am a city girl and London is just the place I need to be.

Tower Bridge

• The education... obviously. Ever heard of King's College? I'm sure. London is a center for excellence in education and in very close proximity to renowned universities such as Essex, Cambridge, and Oxford! Traveling to these schools, even if you're not studying there, is perfect for networking.

Cambridge

• Culture. Did I mention that London is a global city? Yes, because it is!! London is home to over 270 nationalities and 300 languages. Places like Chinatown London, Camden Market, Notting Hill Carnival, etc. expose you to groups of beautiful cultures, art, and people.

Camden Town

• Nightlife. I mean... the pubs-- when you're old enough. If you want a fun Friday night out on the town with your peers, London has you covered. In my first week, I even hit up a stand-up comedy night right down the street from our new home!

Out @ the Pub

• The food, sights, ugh, and so much more!

Not to mention, this weekend was also The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, celebrating her 70 years of reign (the longest of any English monarch). A truly once-in-a-lifetime experience and I was right in the middle of it!

...

There's definitely so much more I would love to share but all in due time. I'm curious, have you studied abroad before, and if not, where would you go?