No Extra Baggage

When one of my instructors mentioned the word “midterm” I was baffled. Midterm can’t be approaching? I just got here! Truth is, time is flying by and I’m doing my best to make the most of it!

The week began Monday with a group presentation for my British Life & Business course. Our project consisted of choosing and comparing two UK media sources. We evaluated the BBC and The Independent and analyzed both outlet’s coverage of the same topic, identifying any biases that exist. The assignment forced me to read with an open mind and taught me the importance of looking for biases when interpreting any kind of information. Plus, it gave me a little more experience understand terminology unique to the UK!

Tuesday morning I woke up and decided to book a last minute ticket to tour Buckingham Palace. Going into the Palace I honestly didn’t think I’d be very interested in it, but I felt it was something “you have to do while in London”. I couldn’t have been any more wrong. Standing feet away from the Royal Carriage was such a neat experience. As soon as I entered, I was speechless. I began asking myself several questions – such as “How did they build this?” and “Can you imagine who all has walked through this building?” Beautiful paintings, a meticulously designed interior, and historic artifacts grasped my attention. Words can’t really describe how I felt when inside, but I was definitely in awe of my surroundings! What an experience – one I’ll never forget!

On Wednesday a couple of my friends and I visited Notting Hill. It was my first time there, and this area was so gorgeous! Uniquely painted buildings lined the streets! We visited various markets and tried some great food along the way! I’ll definitely be returning to Notting Hill!

Thursday was the day we decided to book train tickets to Edinburgh, Scotland (for the next day). Bright and early on Friday two flat mates and I headed for King’s Cross Station to catch our 6:00 train. The train ride from London to Scotland took about 4.5 hours, and we all shared some amazing views. Some of my favorite were the rolling hills lined with greenery and sheep, as well as the views of the ocean in the distance. 

Once we arrived in Edinburgh we quickly noticed the change in temperature (at least 15 degrees cooler than London). The weather really wasn’t the best – cold with a constant rain. However, we embraced the not-so-friendly weather and decided to make the most of it. We walked up to the Edinburgh Castle to take in all of the views and to appreciate the history that the Castle holds. It was a such a great learning experience viewing the cells that held prisoners centuries ago and the supplies used during various battles. My favorite part of the castle was a small chapel that dated back to the 1100’s (if I remember correctly)! It was such a peaceful chapel to walk in and sit down in. 

Another takeaway from Edinburgh: the rain doesn’t stop the sounds of bagpipes. Along many corners we listened to men playing bagpipes – my favorite being one that played “Amazing Grace”. In addition to soaking in the culture, we visited the observatory and hiked Arthur’s Peak. Of course we tried iconic Scottish foods – such as Sticky Toffee Pudding and Haggis. We also met some locals while we were out and had a great time hanging out together. 

Our visit to Edinburgh was an absolute blast, and I hope to return soon. This week was full of adventure, good times, and learning experiences. I can’t wait for this next week!

Time has flown by since the last post, and it must be because “time flies when you’re having fun”. It’s been another wonderful week to get settled in, meet more people, and to continue to explore the area!

As much as I love to keep trying new places, I continue finding myself at a few of the same hotspots – such as Hyde Park and Green Park for running, Imperial College for working out, and Piccadilly Circus for spending nights out on the town.

 On Thursday I had the opportunity to participate in a class field trip to the Museum of London Docklands for the International Trade Class that I’m in. This was an awe-inspiring experience that left me absolutely speechless. The day began by me getting lost around the Canary Wharf tube station. After finally meeting my class at the museum (late, of course) I started to see everything I had hoped to, and more. The museum is massive! With artifacts dating back hundreds of years, it was a visit that everyone can appreciate. The trip was so fitting for our class. It tied in everything from construction of London to the commodity and slave trade markets that lasted so long. I enjoyed viewing the historic artifacts that were engineered and built remarkably – without the use of modern technology. One example was a section that discussed how hydraulics systems were designed using water combustion to move goods efficiently. It’s fascinating to imagine how the docks were built, how the products were moved, and to understand how commerce existed in the days before technology. 

Another aspect of the museum that simply took my words away was the slavery section. Here lied pictures of slaves, torture mechanisms, and journals (inventory logs) of slave information. It was a very sad part of the museum, but it really made me think about how far society has progressed since then. Do we have a long way to go? Yes, of course. I’m a believer that we can always improve in terms of becoming a more diverse, ethical, and socially inclusive society. However, as mentioned before, the improvement made so far is astonishing! The museum offered an amazing visit and I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to go. 

After traveling back to my flat I (collectively) made a somewhat (very) impulsive decision to book tickets to Geneva, Switzerland for just 12 hours ahead. Two of my flatmates and I packed in a matter of about 15 minutes after spending a little too long out at Piccadilly Circus. We had airline tickets, our bags, and nothing else. Planning on snatching a cheap room, upon arrival we learned that was not an option. It turned out that the Laver Cup was the same weekend and literally filled up every place we tried except for one. Once we found a place to stay,  the trip finally started to fall into place. We explored without any kind of itinerary or schedule, which turned out to be a great way to learn about and appreciate the area. On Saturday we visited Switzerland and France, taking a boat tour of Lake Geneva and hiking Mont Saleve. The views were breathtaking, and the experience was one I’ll never forget. 

Another amazing week down. Check back for more posts and updates!!

Having never traveled outside the US before, the trip thus far has been an eye-opener. Upon my arrival in London my phone died quickly after exiting the airport. The two bags that I checked had been delayed, and I found out that they would be delayed for a few days. It’s these unexpected “challenges” that offer opportunities to learn. Since I decided to leave my phone charger in the bags that I had checked, I realized my navigation would consist of following signs and asking questions. The trip to my flat was time consuming, confusing, and maybe a little frustrating at the moment. However, this day helped me memorize my surroundings and appreciate the chance to learn. Additionally, the delayed baggage turned out to be a blessing in disguise when I discovered just how many stairs I had ahead of me that day. A somewhat difficult introduction to London proved to work out quite well.

After completing the “hike” to my flat, I was greeted by my ten flatmates. We introduced ourselves to one another and excitement for the semester dominated conversation among each of us. Through discussion we each talked a little about ourselves, and what we hoped to accomplish through our time abroad. A few of the common goals mentioned were immersing ourselves in the British culture, visiting other European nations, and grasping a better understanding of how the different parts of the world are connected.

The first few days consisted of crossing the “must-see’s” off the list, including Kensington Palace, the London Eye, Big Ben, and more. Together we’ve ventured off exploring various parts of the city, found ourselves lost on the Tube, and tried out a few of the many great restaurants around. One of my observations of the city is the gorgeous architecture. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. The majority of the buildings here are very old, but extremely well-maintained. Many of the building styles are similar, but each building seems to have unique characteristics that really set them apart from surrounding buildings. The air here is surprisingly clean, and the visible pollution levels aren’t as bad as I had expected. It’s evident that the streets and parks are taken care of!

Cloudy, cool days full of rain. Nope, not yet. We’ve enjoyed beautiful days of sunshine and comfortable temperatures. I’ve embraced the gorgeous city landscape by jogging through various neighborhoods, Hyde Park, Green Park, and around Piccadilly Circus. The weather here has made it easy to immerse ourselves in the foreign atmosphere.

As classes began, I quickly realized just how fortunate I am to have this opportunity. The instructors are fascinating (in part because of the accents and quirky British sayings). This has been a wonderful beginning for the semester and I’m so excited to see how the semester progresses, I’m eager to continue to meet others, and to truly grasp an international understanding of communication and business in the “real world”. Stay tuned for updates as the semester continues, and follow along for a few pictures along the way.