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It’s been over a month since I’ve been back to the States, and I can’t stop thinking about London and studying abroad. I still have London’s weather on my phone. I still occasionally check the exchange rate between the pound and the dollar. I still am subscribed to Time Out offers for London and I receive the emails about the current tube strike and I’m pretty sure I’m still on Buzzfeed UK.

My time after study abroad has me missing London and its accessibility. I miss walking from my dorm room to Sainsbury’s to pick up some 20p 2 liter water bottles and crisps. I miss Nando’s sauces and Nutella from Poundland. I miss people watching on morning commutes and watching the changing cityscape as you travel through the synapses of London.

My time after study abroad has also caused me to reminiscence constantly and relive memories. I relive the day I hiked through the Ourika Valley, the day I walked in Fitzgerald’s footsteps, the day I had my first authentic British fish and chips. These memories are bright and vidid in my mind and I cherish them. I hug on to them tightly as Joy does in Inside Out(amazing movie if you decide to check it out). I never want these memories to end up in the memory dump. They’re all precious to me: joyful, sad, fearful, disgusting, and angry.

I think back to the person I was when I started study abroad and the person I am now. I don’t think there are too many differences. I think what’s most important is that I take pleasures in simple things. Everyone says study abroad is a huge adventure and you galavant throughout Europe every day. For me, it was a bit quieter. Sure I had my fair share of adventures, i.e. my Easter Break adventures, but I enjoyed the little things like finding a new place around London to walk around or just to people watch on public transportation. In London, I became so much more interested in stories and pictures. I became so much more interested in moments. Plain simple moments became the most beautiful to me.

I hope to take this with me wherever I go. Although I didn’t journal a lot in London, I am starting to now. I want to be able to remember and relive things and carry them with me. But I want to go out and make new memories as well. Although I’ll probably never get another chance to study abroad, I will definitely be returning back to London, maybe by myself or with friends. Who knows?

Parks and Recreation

So what do you do when London finally starts get warm (it hit 73ºF!) and you don’t want to waste any of that sunshine, warmth, and good vibes?

You take advantage of London’s many parks, royal and not. Fun Fact: 47% of London is actually green space. These green spaces are perfect for just sitting and talking with friends, having a picnic, enjoying a nice read, or just simply soaking in the sunshine and blue skies.

After coming back to London, I have been getting back into the hustle and bustle of London life and catching up on some tourist attractions I missed. I visited Hyde Park, again, and headed toward Buckingham Palace, Wellington Arch, St. James’ Park, Downing Street, the Horse Guards Parade, and all the way down to Trafalgar Square and up to the Mall again. I learned that there are pelicans in St. James’ Park. At first, I didn’t believe the sign but I saw the pelicans for myself. It was a nice time walking around and then relaxing with This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald before pollen beat me and I headed home.

The next park was Regent’s Park. Now I’ve always heard about Regent’s Park, but I hadn’t gotten a chance to visit. I was so glad I did though. Regent’s Park is filled with beautiful gardens and a beautiful lake. Apparently this is where the Royal Botanical Society used to study botany as well. I took a leisurely walk around and ended up having dinner here as well. I sat, had some good food, and read Glamour UK, the Taylor Swift Guest Editor issue.

Unfortunately, it’s raining now so no park time today.  There are a total of eight royal parks in London and I hope I get to at least one more before I head home. I’m not exactly sure which park it will be. I guess it depends on what I’m feeling but for now, I’m going to soak up the little moments of sunshine and rain alike.

Easter Break[ers]

Spring Break in the university lifestyle is usually portrayed as one week in the school year for relaxation and freedom before finals and the stress from finals binds you to the library.

As a study abroad student in London, spring break, or Easter break, is four weeks of traveling, self-discovery, with some revision mixed in. After submitting one of my final papers, I took off.

First stop: Istanbul.

I have always wanted to visit Istanbul because of how unique it is in terms of geographic location and the ethnic demographics that follow it. Istanbul is literally where East meets West.

I visited all of the important sights of Istanbul: the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, and ate my fair share of delicious kebabs, Turkish Delights, and drank Turkish coffee. The Hagia Sophia was interesting to see, especially when all the elements of its reconstruction are still seen today. It’s a piece of history that has recorded all of the movements and events it has undergone. Istanbul was a nice break to see different types of architecture that aren’t seen in other parts of Western Europe, especially when it came to the symmetrical outlines of the city and the architecture in general.

Next stop: Athens.

Ever since watching Disney’s adaptation of Hercules, despite its endless list of errors, I have been interested in Greek mythology. By going to Athens, I was able to make dreams of seeing Greek temples a reality. As much as I enjoyed seeing the ancient agoura and the Acropolis, my favorite part of Athens was being able to see the city of Athens. Orange blossoms were in bloom along the city streets and its aroma permeated in the air, light and sweet. Again, I enjoyed my fair share of delicious kebabs.

Next stop: Santorini

Ever since Lena Karigaris went to Santorini in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, I wanted to do the same. (I see a common theme in the inspirations of the places I want to go to…hm…). As much as I wanted to sit on the beaches of Santorini and relax, I was welcomed to Santorini with wind and rain. Despite the non-idealistic weather, I enjoyed Santorini. As some good friends of mine would say, these are the aspects of a trip that make it memorable. I will always remember the wind blowing against me as I trekked from Imervogili to Oia. I will always remember watching the sunset on the balcony, wrapped up in my sweatshirts and trying not to sit on a puddle by accident. I will always remember the bright colors of the island when the clouds cleared up. I will always remember the bright blue waters of the Mediterranean and subsequently being able to swim in its waters. Santorini fulfilled all my expectations and even more.

I then returned home for a day to relax and recuperate before heading off to Paris.

I had been to Paris before so I didn’t feel compelled to spend too much time at the tourist attractions. Instead, I hit the main attractions (Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, the Catacombs, walking along the Seinne) before pretending to be Gil Pender, without actually meeting Ernest Hemingway or F. Scott Fitzgerald. I sat on the steps and waited for the black taxi cab to show up (surprisingly, it didn’t). I headed off to see Hemingway’s apartment in Paris, ate dinner at La Rotonde, soaked in the atmosphere of Harry’s New York Bar, visited Les Deux Magots and Cafe La Fleur before heading off to Brussels.

Ah Brussels. The city of chocolate, waffles, and fries. There is so much more than just food to Brussels though. Brussels is an amazing city with great legends and history. It was my first experience in a hostel as well and it was definitely exciting and new. I walked around the city, in great sunny weather, and learned about a country that people often forget, even though it’s literally the capital of Europe.

After Brussels, I head off to Amsterdam. I knew exactly what I wanted to do in Amsterdam. I saw the Van Gogh Museum and learned so much about Van Gogh, that I didn’t know. I gained a newfound appreciation for his art, his work ethic, and his experiences. I visited the tulip gardens, and although I wasn’t allowed to run through the tulip fields, I got to see how beautiful the flowers really are and how nature can create such amazing art. I went to the Anne Frank House and learned so much about one young girl and her dreams. I ate stroopwaffles and fries with mayonnaise and peanut satay sauce. I didn’t bike in Amsterdam, but I walked along the canals and admired the quiet and quaint atmosphere. There was something so relaxing about walking along the canals and seeing the houseboats rock from side-to-side.

I then headed down south to Madrid. The past few destinations were more jam-packed as I walked briskly and quickly from place to place. In Madrid, my pace slowed down. I didn’t feel pressured to do everything because I knew I couldn’t do everything. There was too much to do and too much to see, but I soaked in all that I could. I ate as many churros with hot chocolate as I could. I saw the Temple of Debod, saw its ancient hieroglyphics, and sat in a bench in its surrounding park. I finally saw Guernica for the first time. I ate a lot of tapas. I saw amazing pieces of artwork in the Prado and the Reina Sophia. I did not see Cristiano Ronaldo, however. I didn’t see the interior of the Palacio Real, but I did see its massive exterior. It definitely deserves its title as the largest palace in Europe. I walked through the Buen Retiro Park and saw the Crystal Palace and a lot of turtles hanging along the river banks. I enjoyed the pace of life in Madrid and how everyone just enjoyed the present, not worrying about the past or the future and enjoying the present, because once it’s gone, it’s gone.

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I headed further south to the city of Seville, right in the middle of its April Fair. The streets were filled with horse carriages and women in beautiful flamenco dresses. In Seville, I visited the Plaza de España and rowed across the canal. I admired the architecture of the Plaza and the importance it held for the past and the present. I then visited the palace of Alcazar and admired the gardens and the tiles. I did not get a chance to see the bullfights in Seville but I enjoyed my time in the quiet city, amidst a flurry of colors.

After Seville, I headed to my last destination, Marrakech. It was my first time being in Africa and I was excited. Although I did not go to Casablanca and ask Sam to play it again, I enjoyed my time in Marrakech. I walked through the markets and admired the tapestries, colors, spices, and more. I visited a traditional Berber house and had delicious homemade tea, bread, butter, olive oil, and honey. I saw the beauty of the Atlas Mountains and traversed through many many rocks and steep climbs to see the waterfalls. I took a camel ride through the Ourika Valley and saw just how cute baby camels really are. I saw beautiful tile work and symmetry in architecture. I learned about the herbs and spices that are used in Morocco. I practiced my haggling skills and enjoyed a mix of nature and the city. Marrakech is different than what I pictured in my head, and it has made me more eager to see other parts of Morocco, including Casablanca.

Although Easter break is over, and I only have a month left in Europe, I am still excited for the adventures to come. Adventures can happen in the smallest sense and I’m excited to see all that I can get while abroad.

Little Towns, A Quiet Village

‘Though she be but little, she is fierce.’ – William Shakespeare

The above quote from A Midsummer Night’s Dream is my favorite quote from Shakespeare. Why? It goes to show that size often belies a fiercer creature underneath. I like to think this applies to people and places.

With USC, I visited Stratford-upon-avon, home of William Shakespeare. It was a quiet, quaint, and quintessential English town. The sun shone brightly throughout the weekend, except towards the end when rain broke out as we rowed along the River Avon. I started off my weekend with a tour of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. I learned all about how much detail, preparation, hard work, and diligence go into one showing, let alone a production of a whole play. Everything and everyone was so intricately connected to keep the show going on. I later got to see how it all worked out on stage later that night, but I’m getting ahead of myself. After the tour, I saw Shakespeare’s grave at Trinity Church and then explored Stratford-upon-avon. I took a boat tour on the River Avon and saw Hall’s Croft, Harvard House, and my favorite, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. Anne Hathaway’s Cottage was my favorite because of the beautiful gardens and despite not many flower being in bloom, it was still breathtaking and I could see how it was an ideal courting location for The Bard. After visiting Anne Hathaway’s cottage, it was off to dinner and to see a performance of Love’s Labour’s Lost performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company. My Shakespeare was a bit rusty but I still remembered how much I appreciated Shakespeare’s tools to create an entertaining play.

The next day, it was off to the Butterfly Farm and to row ourselves on the River Avon. Rowing for ourselves was an interesting experience, especially after it started to rain on us. Still, we managed to enjoy ourselves and admired the numerous swans that inhabited the river. I then ended my trip to see Shakespeare’s birthplace. It was an interesting idea that I started the trip by seeing first Shakespeare’s legacy, then where he lay, and finally where he was born. It was an interesting way to see someone’s life and it kind of symbolized rebirth to me. The rebirth of a great literary powerhouse.

The next weekend I participated in HOSTUK and stayed with a lovely host in Doncaster. Doncaster wasn’t a huge touristy town, but that didn’t matter to me. I wanted to be more culturally immersed and I was. I saw the Lakesides of Doncaster where swans and other waterfowl lived.  I saw my first Red Nose Day and the adverts definitely tugged at my heartstrings. I had to hold myself back from crying. I was happy to see an organization like Comic Relief do so much good around the world. I visited Brodsworth Hall and saw a quintessential Victorian home and garden. The flowers were starting to bloom and it was a lovely afternoon. Afterwards, I went home with my host, Mary, and we watched The Voice UK and Dad’s Army together. It was interesting to see an older British show and see how the humor differed and remained the same for me. We also watched a documentary about David Hockney and I fell in love with his beautiful usage of color, time and space. On my last day, we enjoyed a quiet morning and afternoon before I left for London. I learned many things about Doncaster, such as it being the home of Louis Tomlinson from OneDirection and how it was an industrial town. I loved just being able to talk with my host and learn about things. I learned not only a lot of facts, but also a lot about appreciation of the small things in life.

I also visited Hyde Park once again and was happy to see flowers blooming and how there was a place to enjoy little things in life away from the big city of London. It was peaceful to walk along the lake and see families, friends, and couples enjoy each other’s companies.

Now with Easter Break at my heels, I can’t wait for all the traveling I have the opportunity to do. I can’t wait to see all the things I dream of and learn about the world around me. I can’t wait for the adventures ahead, in big cities and little towns.

Do You Believe in Magic?

We like to explain things that are amazing and good as magical. Sometimes the littlest things can be magical. After a month filled with essay after essay, I got to experience magical moment after magical moment.

First, I experienced my first city-wide Lunar New Year celebration. I first hit up Trafalgar Square to catch some of the main performances and then off into Chinatown where I got to see some lion dances throughout the streets and into shops and finally got the street food I had been dreaming about.

Second, I hopped on a mini-bus, that could be referred to as the Hogwarts Express, and experienced The Making of Harry Potter studio tour. Hogwarts and Harry’s world came alive to me as I walked through the Great Hall and watched as Harry, Hermione, and Ron all grew up before my eyes. I walked into the Potions classroom, Hagrid’s Hut, the Gryffindor Common Room, Dumbledore’s office, and of course Diagon Alley.I also got to have Butterbeer, for real and not the Ground Zero milkshake. It was different than what I thought. More carbonated and the sweetness came afterwards. I saw Buckbeak come to life and how much work, detail, and heart went into the beauty of making a universally beloved world come to life. I took home with me a Chocolate Frog, which I’m still working on eating right now, and Helga Hugglepuff was the witch I got on my card. Kind of fitting since I’m a Hufflepuff.

Third, I got to experience the magic of reuniting with an old friend from high school. It just felt nice to catch up with an old friend  We walked through Camden Market, Brick Lane Market, Spitalfields City Farm, and found the magic of markets and good food. Not to mention, cute ponies and pygmy goats.

Fourth, I journeyed to the olden days of Stonehenge. It is a mystery to see what the purpose of the monument was and interesting to listen to the different theories. I imagined what each scenario might have been like. I imagined these on the bus, however, given how windy it was that day. It was estimated the winds were at least 70 mph and I believe it. Stonehenge was beautiful nevertheless with a blue sky and sunny days and a peek into the past. After Stonehenge, I then travelled to the city of Bath that had an interesting history that stays with the city even to this day. Bath was beautiful and I loved it. I loved walking down the streets and seeing the buildings and feeling like I had been transported back to early-Victorian ages. I visited the Roman Baths and it was interesting how it still remained to this day and again, imaging the politicians that would have been here discussing policies and decisions.

Fifth, I saw Once the musical and it was beautiful. Ronan Keating as the lead was a great experience. Going up to the stage and watching the ensemble perform before the show began was an great experience as well. The music and story touched my heart and I am forever in love with this show. I am so happy I got to see it before it goes out March 21st. The soundtrack is now on repeat on my Spotify, unfortunately, not the Ronan Keating versions.

I am so excited for Stratford-upon-avon this weekend and Yorkshire next weekend. And with Easter break approaching, I know the adventures and magic will only continue.

The Simple Pleasures

When you prepare to go abroad for six months, they show you this culture shock curve of how you go up and then you go down. You get upset and mad at things and you just don’t understand because you’re in a new country where the things you know don’t necessarily apply anymore. For me, some days I do get a little annoyed at how buses are running late.

Not every day of study abroad is a new life-changing adventure either. The process feels more gradual. Each day adds on and accumulates into one big adventure. Some days, the simple things are the most beautiful. The other day, it rained in London (very typical). But it was different this time. As I was walking back home from grocery shopping, the sun started peeking out and you could see all of the rain drops coming down. As I rounded a corner, I saw just an amazing, tranquil scene. With the sunlight so overwhelmingly across the sky, lighting up all the colors around me and the rain drops coming down. The picture I took doesn’t do what I saw justice.

In addition to the rain, a rainbow came out at the end of the day. The first rainbow I had seen for a while.

These were just simple scenes, but it just reminded me of how beautiful the world is and how lucky I am to be here in London. It really made me reflect on myself. I came home and opened my windows for the first time and I breathed in new fresh air after the rain. I felt free and connected to nature and my surroundings. It was thrilling and reminded me of the simple pleasures.

I also was able to go on some bigger adventures as well. I went off to Cambridge and explored the city. I was definitely on information overload that day with all the things I learned about the city and its many colleges. I learned about King Henry VIII and his history with Cambridge. I learned about the Oxford-Cambridge rivalry. I learned about famous alumni, such as Sir Isaac Newton. I learned about student life. I went on a biking tour of the city and learned how to use handbrakes on a bike. I was able to go punting (or sit while someone else punted. Punting is actually really difficult from the two seconds I spent standing on the boat.) Although it was cold that day, it was definitely an amazing experience. Cambridge was a quaint town and it definitely made my imagination come alive.

I also went to Ascot for the races. It was an amazing cultural experience to see everyone so into horse-racing and how exciting the sport can be, especially in the crucial last leg of the race. I had always wanted to see horse races when I was younger. After Ascot, I was able to check a childhood dream off my bucket list.

I’ve already been in London for a month and a half and time is definitely going by more quickly than I thought it would. I am looking forward to many more adventures to come. I am going to embark on more and more adventures. I’m going to soak in what life has to offer me, both simple and grand.

Monthiversary

Happy monthiversary to me! It’s been one month since I’ve been in London. And I am now 20 years old so happy belated birthday to me. It’s kind of awesome knowing that I’m going to be starting off my twenties in London.

Since coming back from my day in Dover, I have tried Nando’s for the first time and it was delicious. Although it was a little spicy at times for my tastes, it was still delicious. Their sauces are delicious and not to mention nato is delightfully, but not overbearingly sweet. I really want to try more Portuguese food now.

I have spent time around Strand campus. I decided to take upon a little experiment this week. I decided to walk on the other side of the street, just to see what it would be like. I loved seeing how the street, buildings, and shops looked different. They shifted a little bit and it seemed like there were new stories that were waiting to be written and read.

To celebrate my birthday, I had tapas with a few new friends and it was delicious. It was great to just spend dinner with people and get to know about all the different countries people are from and how the world is so diverse. It was an excellent and perfect way to get a start on my twenties.

I’ve also checked out Shoreditch briefly today and found it to be the hipster part of London that I’ve missed in Los Angeles. I really need to go back again soon and check it out in detail.

So here I go diving in again, waiting for my next adventure.

Blue Dover

One of my favorite things to do is to go hiking, or tramping as my new friends from New Zealand would say. Although I get to do a lot of walking in the metropolitan that is London, I miss being able to walk through nature and getting to the top and just seeing all the beauty and awe that the world holds. And this time while hiking, I got to see another country from across the English Channel.

This past weekend, I went on a day trip to Dover where I got to enjoy and explore this quaint little seaside town. I was lucky to get such a beautiful day with blue skies during the day and gentle breezes. I loved getting to listen to the water just lap along the shores of the beaches that were filled with stones. I loved hearing the water run over the rocks. It was all just so calming and a different pace of life from the hustle and bustle of London. Dover is a little seaside town but it was filled with history. The Dover Castle is known as the “Key to England” and it houses the WWII tunnels that Winston Churchill conducted meetings in. It was also an experience to step through the remaining aspects of St. James Church and imagine what was behind its walls. Who were the people and their stories? The White Cliffs of Dover were what drew me in though. I loved seeing the white cliffs made of chalk and walking over them to see all of Dover and past the water to see France. I actually learned that the English Channel is 22 miles wide to France. Seeing the Exmoor ponies of Dover was spectacular. I’m an animal fan and it was amazing to see them in their environment.

Aside from seeing amazing sights, I was also able to have my taste of new foods. I had my first traditional English breakfast; I’m a sucker for breakfast foods. I also got to enjoy Movenpick ice cream for the first time as well. The day after visiting Dover, I tried Nando’s for the first time, which was delicious. The nato was delightful.

Now after visiting Dover, I am excited for more adventures around England and Europe. I want to see more shows (definitely want to see The Lion King,Shakespeare in Love, and Once). I want to try more foods. I want to learn more. Being in Dover for that day really made me see that “Adventure is Out There!” and I intend to uncover it for myself.

Refresher

I guess I never really thought about it before, but study abroad is a lot like repeating freshmen year. You’re still figuring out the campus. You’re looking for new clubs to join. And you’re basically just trying to figure out how to organize all your time since you’re being thrown in this new environment. But it’s an amazing experience still.

You learn so many new things in new classes that you never thought you’d take before (Seriously, I never thought I would ever take a class called Experience of War). You meet so many new people from all over the world and get to know them a little bit. You get a little bit excited at every new experience. It keeps me grounded but also positive. There’s so much to know about the world and I want to learn more and more about it.

So yep. This week classes started and they’re all pretty interesting. Actually, most of my classes kind of take me back to AP European History, but without the Weber readings and Chambers notes. I’ve talked to more people in my classes and officially joined the Ukulele Society. I can play a C chord hooray! I’ve tasted delicious food at Borough Market. I’ve explored the beauty and happiness that is the Columbia Road Flower Market. I fell in love with the smells of ethnic food and vintage clothing at Sunday UpMarket. I revisited the British Library and its treasures. I went through Platform 9 3/4 with my proud Hufflepuff scarf. I’ve basked in the sunny blue skies of London.

I’m getting used to my routes to places and the joys of efficient public transportation. There’s something about public transportation that just makes me happy. I love seeing so many people and wondering what their story is. Just walking around in London with so many people, I wonder.

Being in London has given me a refresher course on just about everything. I’ve still got a lot to learn though and I can’t wait.

Steps

“And I would walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 more…”

This past week, it feels like I’ve logged in walking 1000 miles. It was orientation week and so in between orientations, I would just walk around. I explored the Strand area with some friends. I walked around the Tower Bridge area. I visited Trafalgar Square once again. I saw dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum, learned about who I am at the Science Museum, and witnessed the history of the t-shirt at the V&A. I found the beauty of Harrod’s at night with its 2 for 3.95 GBP zebra cronuts. I did all of this with new friends who have all taught me many new things about their home countries and about themselves. Honestly, some days I can’t pick out the one thing I learned today to write down in my journal because there’s so much knowledge coming in. My feet became best friends with Waterloo Bridge and its path. I became familiar with London’s horizons at many times of the day.

I also had the opportunity to experience some of West End’s theater. I got to see a production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and enjoyed immensely. The humor was easy to follow and the energy was vibrant and alive. I can’t wait to see another production soon. Maybe The Lion King?

Orientation week has wrapped up and classes will be starting soon. I’m excited and ready to meet more people and actually be studying abroad. Yes it’s true, study abroad isn’t supposed to be just studying but hey, I want to learn in a new country and from it. I want to see what it’s like and experience all parts of my life in London, that includes being a student.

I’ve been to London before, but clearly this city has more to offer aside from its tourist attractions. I want to eat what London has cooked up on its plates. I want to experience the story of the city as it is happening. I want to find the hidden gems of this city. My first week here has only been step 1.

Until next time,

Amy