Student Testimonials: Life in London
Studying abroad gives you greater perspective in an internationally linked society. There is no substitute for living in another country and discovering the ins-and-outs of another culture first-hand. Living in London exposed me to a multicultural mega-city with limitless possibilities for adventure. I will always think fondly of my memories talking politics with Brits in traditional pubs, jogging in Hyde Park, interning in London's financial district. and traveling around Europe on weekends. Study abroad is an irreplaceable enhancement to a Santa Clara education. Contact Bethany at bfeske@scu.edu ___________________________________________________________________________ Kristen Parrish After studying abroad in London, I can look back and honestly say it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. By living in a different country, you are allowed the freedom to experience things you would never get to if you were merely on vacation there. In a matter of weeks, I had grown accustomed to the culture and managed to fit in as best I could. Whether it was through my manners on public transportation or even through buying clothes so I could dress like everybody else, I found different ways to make myself be as “British” as I could possibly be, that is, until I opened my mouth. One thing I can say I did when I was abroad was I never held back on anything. I tried all different types of food, even if it looked disgusting. I observed the cultural norms and tried to participate in them as best I could. For example, in England, it is normal to go to a pub in the afternoon and have a drink; however, it is frowned upon to be an obnoxious drunk. Living in London, I was able to test my own limits and I was challenged all the time to go outside of my comfort zone. The fact that I was willing to do this is probably why I got so much out of it. One recommendation I would make to anyone going abroad would be to befriend people who are from that particular country. I went abroad with one friend who I roomed with, instead of going with a group of my friends. Both my roommate and I noticed that a lot of people in the program tended to hang out each other, instead of branching out and making new friends. Something that is both obvious and obnoxious is a large group of Americans wandering around because it is blatant that they are tourists and they are often extremely loud. After about a week, my roommate and I tried to avoid these groups like the plague. We ended up befriending a group of four British guys who were really cool and who we ended up becoming very close with. What was really great about this was that they took us to all the London spots where locals hang out and where no American would ever think of going. We also got to go on a road trip with them to one of their beach houses in southern England. All of these things we would never have been able to do had we stayed within the limits of American abroad students. For anyone who is not sure whether or not they want to go abroad, I strongly recommend it. You will come back to Santa Clara wishing you could stay abroad longer. For me, I still really miss London and I think of going back all the time. It actually hurts hearing about people who get to go now and knowing that you will be left behind. On the other hand, it is a really good feeling when they ask for advice or good places to go and you can tell them all about your favorite spots and about your experiences there. I am very happy that I was able to go abroad and I encourage anyone who is unsure about going to do it. It will change your life forever and really give you a different perspective of another culture. Contact Kristen at knparrish@scu.edu |
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