Krystal R. - London, England - Fall 2011

It’s been a long journey since I stepped foot in Chicago O’Hare airport a mere 2 weeks ago. My first airport experience, my first time on a plane, my first time in a new country, my first mixture of jet lag and a horrible cold, my first 21^st birthday that I slept through. Every time I experience something new, I quickly log it into my database of first experiences abroad. It's still such a struggle to realize that I live here--that I'm taking part in this immensely beautiful and historical city. Every time I cross a street or admire a building, my brain flickers to the thought, "I live in London." This thought is most commonly followed by a small chuckle and a smile that probably makes passersby wonder if I'm right in the head. I've experienced so much in the short time I’ve been here and there is still an unearthly amount of exploring and places to cross off my to-do list!

Since being here, I've had the opportunity to extensively explore campus, see where the Olympic Stadiums are being build, visit Europe's largest urban shopping mall (where I bought nothing…I’m so proud of myself), take a small tour of central London, and met so many amazing people. 

In some ways, I feel like a freshman all over again...new school, unfamiliar campus, new flatmates, new professors, signing up for a million clubs (namely, fencing and the theatre company), and being given free stuff at the Fresher’s Fair. I have 8 others living in my flat from the US, England, Singapore, India, and China. It's refreshing to be a part of such a diverse culture, and especially such a small, diverse living community. We've been having themed dinners to get to know each other better, such as last night's Fajita Fest (pronounced "fahighta" if you're from Southern England!)

On to the stuff you’re actually interested in: I’m studying at Queen Mary, University of London which is located in London’s East End. It’s a very diverse community, and not as glamorous as central London, but provides just as many, if not more, cultural encounters. Upon arriving, there was a two-day orientation, which informed us where to find the information we needed, which was very helpful, and also gave me an immediate insight to their academic system. Notice I said they informed me where I could find the information I needed, instead of giving me the information outright. This seems to be a theme in the classroom, as well, which I actually enjoy. 

I chose to apply to Queen Mary directly instead of going through a program. Although this was accompanied by some frustrations and a lot more research than applying through a program, I saved a lot of money. It was a lot of work to find all of the information I needed to make sure that everything was lined out, but it made me a lot more aware of how much work goes into studying abroad, even in the preliminary steps. I couldn’t run to my program every time I had a problem or a question (because I don’t have a program), but the study abroad offices both at EC and Queen Mary have been really great about guiding me to the resources I need. 

The school has approximately 18,000 students (don’t quote me on that!) and is quite crowded compared to the good ole Elmhurst! I’m taking all drama modules here, so the class sizes are still relatively small, which I didn’t expect coming into a larger university. Classes vary from extremely hands-on in the more practical courses, to discussion oriented, to lecture. However, most of my flatmate’s modules seem to be more lecture based, so I suppose maybe I’m special because I’m a part of the ever-quirky Drama department (which, by the way, is ranked number one in England). Here, grades are based on only two assignments throughout the semester—usually research papers. We’re expected to devote 8 hours to each module we take, but usually only have 2 hours of class time, so we’re expected to do a LOT more outside work and reading. 

I’ve heard London referred to as a ‘molting pot’ on several different occasions, but never really understood why until now. Not only can you hear multiple different accents as you walk down a street, but you can also identify multiple accents layered together which is extremely interesting. Because people come from so many different backgrounds, it can be quite difficult to set in place a clear image as to what exactly British culture is like. 

Amusing things I have learned thus far:

1.      Paper towels = kitchen roll

2.      Dish soap = washing up liquid

3.      CCTV is a really nice joke.

4.      All British people love to defame the French…even the French ones.

5.      They don’t refrigerate their eggs…and they still taste delicious.

6.      Shopping in a supermarket can be quite difficult, because so many food names are different. (Tomato juice = creamed tomato, zucchini = corgette)

7.      They don’t drink nearly as much tea as I expected.

8.      British people love having “a go” at the American accent, and some will occasionally tell you how annoying your American accent is in the middle of the supermarket.

9.      “Just a bit up the road” is always more of a distance than one would think.

10.  It costs $25 to call home and leave a 10 second voicemail.

11.  You can only enter Buckingham Palace when the Queen is out. (This means I have to go before October 3, because Kate’s wedding dress is on display! Don’t worry, Alice, I’ll sneak a picture!)

12. If the pigeons of London were counted in the census, I think London’s population would more than triple.

13. Everyone knows that they drive on the opposite sides of the road, but that doesn’t lessen the shock of seeing someone drive on the wrong side of the car, or having to look the opposite direction first before crossing the road.

14. There will always be differences that are amusing, and similarities that are frustrating and vice versa.

15. It’s all an adventure.

            14 days ago, I began my 4,200 mile journey still thinking it was just going to be a dream, and now here I am, looking out my flat window in London and writing about it. So far, my love for this city is immense, and I only expect that to grow!

Be prepared, be outgoing, be spontaneous. Most of all, listen to Alice; she’s a study abroad genius.

Cheers,                  

Krystal