9 Tips For The Panicked Student Studying Abroad

Exactly one year ago, I was preparing myself for a semester abroad in London, panicking about every little detail imaginable. I was secretly hoping I'd have a Lizzie McGuire experience where I'd become an international pop star and have a scandalous affair with a British version of Paolo, but to my disdain, that didn't exactly happen. That being said, my four months abroad were the time of my life and I'm always extremely excited when I can give advice and suggestions for those going abroad as well.

In lieu of mourning the fact that I am not returning to Europe this fall, I thought I would put my nostalgia to good use and give you 9 tips before heading off to what may be the most spectacular journey of your life.

1. Pack light.
              
I'm sure you've already heard this spiel, but it is important you actually do so, unless you want to have an unfortunate situation at the airport on your way back like I had. I overpacked and damn, I regretted it. If you pack two suitcases, I suggest keeping the second one a bit light, so you have room for all of your worldly purchases and keepsakes.

2. Don't be a cheap ass.
.                                             
No, you don't have to buy a Burberry trench with the matching rain boots if you are in London, or a Louis Vuitton luggage set from Paris. I'm talking about when you really want those handmade Greek sandals, but are debating it because they cost 35 Euros; you probably shouldn't hold back. Chances are that these kind of purchases are a once in a lifetime opportunity, so if it is within your budget, go for it.

3. Bring comfortable, sturdy shoes.
             
Sure, you may want to strut around looking fly AF in your slightly uncomfortable wedged booties that complete your perfect fall ensemble, but it's REALLY not that practical. I would stick with comfortable sneakers, boots, or flats because the odds of walking everywhere are quite high.

4. Don't neglect your city/country.
                 
Weekend trips are awesome, but don't book EVERY weekend away from your designated country. Spend a few weekends getting to know the city and different parts of the country you are in. After all, you did decide to study abroad there.

5. Get a filtered water bottle.
                                  
Staying hydrated is important, and one of these bottles are a great investment for making sure that you can do so without the risk of getting sick from unfamiliar water. Whether it's a Brita or a Bobble, having a filtered water bottle with you is a life saver. It is cost efficient and great for the go as well as all of your weekend trips. 

6. Take risks.
            
Now I'm not advising you to break into Kensington Palace to find Kate and little Georgie, but try new foods, make new friends, and go a bit out of your comfort zone. I promise, you will thank me later.

7. Figure out the public transportation.
             
This will most likely be your main source of transportation when you aren't walking. Not only is it useful to figure out, but you will feel so accomplished when you become a pro at navigating the metro or bus system.

8. Respect the culture.
             
You are about to enter what may be a completely different environment than what you're used to, and you might be seen as an outsider at first. It is important to respect the culture, even if you may not completely agree with their practices. Try your best not to be a loud, obnoxious American. For extra bonus points, try and incorporate different phrases and customary actions whilst in the country. Most of the locals will be either impressed or appreciate such gestures. 

9. Cherish every moment.
           
This is your time to explore, be independent, and have experiences of a lifetime, and it is going to fly by. Make sure to take advantage of all opportunities and treasure your time abroad. Don't forget to capture all the special moments and most importantly, have fun.

Travel on,

Of Dead Mice and Strange Men

So I have officially completed my first week of classes, which was interesting to say the least. I really do enjoy all my classes and like all of my professors. I have made it a habit to go to Hyde Park as often as possible for daily walks, and I seem to take at least one picture per visit, without fail.

Here was our squirrel friend we made at the park. You can basically call over a squirrel the way you call over a cat in these London parks.

There are so many swans at the park. I usually make a reference to Natalie Portman or Swan Lake each time I see one.

What I love about the park is that I seem to stumble upon a new treasure with each and every path I take. The other day I found these "Italian Gardens" which were simply lovely.

In other news, one of the showers in our flat ended up leaking down to the floor below us (sucks for them). So currently, our situation is 13 girls to two bathrooms. Yesterday they literally took out our shower, which was definitely a new sight.

Upon further inspection of the work they were doing, I stumbled upon a slightly disturbing artifact....

Yup, that is indeed the remains of a poor little mouse friend that must have gotten trapped under our shower, most likely years ago. Rest easy.

On a brighter note, my flatmates and myself took an alternate route from the regular study abroad biddies and decided to go out for dessert. We went to a little shop that sells waffles called Wafflemeister, which was PHENOMENAL.

Fresh waffles with a bunch of different topping options...enough said.

Such delicacies were devoured in a matter of minutes.

A highlight to our night would be this intoxicated, yet pleasant English man who came over to us and complimented those of use with luscious, lion's mane-esque hair. He proceeded to walk away, only to come back five minutes later and take a seat. We nicknamed him Wafflemister.

His friend came soon after to sweep him away, joking (I hope) that he was breaking his probation of staying away from American girls. The experience was entertaining to say the least.

Well that's all for now; tomorrow morning I'll be exploring some of the markets, so I will be posting again shortly.

Sweet Dreams,

The Journey Begins

So this past Wednesday I finally moved into my residence hall, which happens to be a flat in South Kensington (right around the corner from Will and Kate) with 12 other lovely ladies. The past few days we have all been running around like crazy with orientations, tours, and just exploring our new home. 

I won't bore you with all the details of my orientations, but we can just leave it at how they threw a hell of a lot of information at us in a short period of time.

Here's a glimpse of our flat; I'm residing in a quad that is currently a bit dull in appearance, but that will likely change soon. It also happens to be the coolest (temperature wise) room in the whole flat, which I am certainly happy about, especially during the ends of the heat wave in England.

Our kitchen is rather nice and fully equipped, but it can get a tad cramped when being in a home with 12 other girls.

On Saturday, we were lucky enough to receive a Parliament tour, which was absolutely spectacular. Sadly, photographs could not be taken inside, but the architecture and decor was breathtaking. 

For one of our first evenings out, we paid a visit to a traditional pub for dinner called the Silver Cross nearby Trafalgar Square, which was a really nice change of environment to what I'm used to in the States.

On another night out, we happened to find Daniel Radcliffe exiting a show he was just in. 1000 points to Gryffindor.

To make that same night even better, we ended up getting gelato from a local shop called Scoops. It was to die for.

One last highlight would be visiting Kensington Gardens, which was really grand and relaxing. Here we are casually hanging out in front of Kensington Palace - the soon to be home of Prince William, Princess Catherine, and baby George.

I am truly having the time of my life here. This city is so beautiful and so rich in history and culture, and I am extremely proud to call it my home for these next four months. I'll be starting class tomorrow morning, so it's about time I headed to bed.

Cheers,