What was a highlight of your trip?
Laura: There were so many great things about studying abroad in London that it’s hard to choose one highlight. Academically, the highlight of my trip was visiting the British Library and seeing many original manuscripts of my favorite British classics like Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, or Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. As an English major, that was a really special experience. Overall, the highlight of my study abroad experience would have to be the IES field trip to Scotland. My family is originally from Scotland, so it was really special for me to be able to experience my heritage first hand and visit the towns that my clan is from! We traveled all over the country and visited Edinburgh, Inverness, and many other small towns in Scotland. We took a boat trip on Loch Ness, hiked in the highlands, and played with reindeer in the Cairngorm Mountains. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget.
Describe your typical morning.
Laura: My typical morning when I was at IES London usually included classes, a different one each day that lasted two and a half hours. On those days, I started off my morning by grabbing a cup of coffee or hot tea and a croissant from my favorite bakery across the street from my residence hall, then taking the Tube or the bus from Chelsea to the IES Centre. The rest of my morning was filled with lively class discussion and interesting lectures. Depending on the day, I might be watching adaptations of Shakespeare works, learning about London’s medieval history, or discussing today’s most renowned British authors. On the mornings that I didn’t have class, I usually spent my time catching up on my reading in Hyde Park or going on runs with my roommate around our neighborhood.
What about your afternoons?
Laura: My afternoons were similar to my mornings most days. I spent three of five afternoons in class, most of which included fun field trips to the many museums and historic sites around London. I ate lunch with my classmates in the lounge of the IES Centre, and then we would meet up with our professors in Central London to tour sites like the Museum of London, The British Library, and the National Portrait Gallery. In my architecture class, we spent many afternoons taking guided walks through the boroughs of London and putting our knowledge into practice with impromptu quizzes about the types of architecture we saw. On the afternoons that I didn’t have class, I spent time visiting museums, shopping, and exploring parts of London recommended by our professors.
And evenings?
Laura: My typical evening included going to the grocery store, making dinner with my roommate, and finishing my homework assignments. Many nights, I had the opportunity to experience the theatre in London, seeing many famous musicals like Wicked, Jersey Boys, Singin’ in the Rain, and Ghost the Musical. My classmates and I would often go to one of the pubs around our residence hall and listen to some live music. We would also hang out the University of London Union, called ULU, and mingle with some local British students. London is a beautiful city to explore at all times of the day, but it looks magical when all of the buildings light up at sunset. Exploring the Westminster and Whitehall area of London after sunset is also something fun that my friends and I did.