Submitted by Danielle Tahan on the 2019 fall semester program in London, England…
After only one week, I can confidently share that life in London is as captivating and thrilling as one would imagine. Every moment I am in awe of the beautifully rich and diverse culture that surrounds me. Whether I am walking the streets of the Royal Borough of Kensington where my classes are located, or around the residential yet lively area of Shepherd’s Bush where I live, I am surrounded by historic beauty as well as the diverse individuals who give it life.
I am studying and interning in London through CAPA, a global education network. I cannot speak highly enough of this extremely supportive and well-structured program. Upon arrival, and even prior to, we were oriented to our program and the city and supported academically, mentally, and physically. I am eager for the opportunities that CAPA will continue to provide me, as they have already greatly fostered my journey abroad.
I have been able to really immerse myself into the London life by joining the daily commute via the Tube. On my way to my internship at a primary school, I commute with the local children who are all dressed in uniform. I am impressed by the children who are half my size and are able to effectively navigate the Tube system much more swiftly than I probably ever will be able to! Their competence actually inspired me to become more confident during my commute, and I am already much more comfortable than my first few days here. It is difficult getting accustomed to a few subtle, yet influential differences such as the traffic patterns in London that don’t seem to make much sense!
It has been thrilling to discover how easily I can access several tourist attractions, such as Buckingham Palace, St. Charles Cathedral, the London Eye, Notting Hill and the Kensington Gardens.
For me, it is even more exciting to explore areas that I wouldn’t find in a travel pamphlet. As one of my goals of the semester, I aim to immerse myself into the city beyond the role of a tourist. I attempt this by actions such as taking a detour of the area on my lunch break, conversing with the man in the coffee shop of the tube station who makes my coffee every morning, or observing the locals on my commute and while exploring to understand what it is like to live here. I find these actions to be extremely enlightening and the most valuable to my experience thus far. I look forward to continuing to understand life in London and I am eager to discover more about its culture through direct exposure and exploration.
