London Spring 2020 Academic Semester Abroad

This past Spring semester 2020 I had the incredible opportunity to do a study abroad semester in London, England. I chose London as my abroad semester city in order to experience a city close to where my own mother’s side of the family originated from. London provided me the experience of traveling around to other European countries while attending school in one of the most diverse cities in the world. From the beautiful city parks to exciting different boroughs London brought me the opportunities of exploration every single day. My campus was a ten-minute walk to Hyde Park and a five-minute walk to the nearest underground station which could take me anywhere in London for a low cost.

 

I took excellent courses at Richmond University, The American University in London which included Fashion Marketing & Retail, Celebrity and Fan Culture, Museums and Galleries of London, and American Television Drama. My professors gave me incredible opportunities to learn outside of the classroom. For example, in my Museums and Galleries of London class we had one day in the classroom and the other day we met at a new museum or gallery that we had studied earlier that week. In my Fashion Marketing & Retail class we received student passes into an event called Pure London which brought retailers and designers from all over to one location as a buying show. These courses gave me the opportunity to meet incredible people, make business connections, and involve myself in unforgettable experiences.

 

I have been on a few other trips to Europe in the past however, living in a city is an entirely different experience then just visiting somewhere for a week or two. This experience allowed me to understand myself and my abilities to adapt to a time difference from my loved ones while creating a new support system in a city thousands of miles away from home. Living in London allowed me to understand the importance of just wandering and independence. It sounds cliché but London grew my independence allowing me to just “get lost” in the city to find new pockets to explore and wander my way back home.

 

Studying abroad gave me the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and experience cultures all around Europe through my weekend travels. I was able to balance planning weekend trips while taking courses in my host city. Constantly seeking the best deals for travel while doing research on other cities to figure out what parts I should explore in my weekend travels. Planning and booking all of these small trips allowed me to understand how capable and independent I have grown to become.

 

One of the largest events that occurred during my STEP Signature Project was when the outbreak of the coronavirus began to effect citizens all over the world and especially those traveling. This particular experience was unique in that the pandemic was a situation no one could control and there was almost an overload of information being shared both truthful and false. The anxieties it brought me along with many others was the stress of not knowing how, when, or if we would return back home. This experience made me learn the importance of communities helping one another along with the impeccable communication that Ohio State was providing us students abroad. Even though many future trips and adventures were cancelled and my time studying abroad in London was cut short I am so incredibly grateful for the places and experiences I had during the time I was there.

 

My time studying abroad was overall a significant experience in my life especially during the pandemic. The ability to travel the world, explore London every single day, while communicating with those back home I learned new time management skills, independence, and so much more. This experience has made me value everyday even the little adventures in life. Living abroad has made me feel capable of living abroad in the future. I am excited for my future travel experiences because studying abroad has taught me there is so much world and culture to explore in our lives. The friendships I made with students from all over along with my London professors will last a life time and the memories I will keep forever.

One thought on “London Spring 2020 Academic Semester Abroad

  1. Haley,

    Thank you for sharing about your time London and about the courses you had an opportunity to take. Overall, it sounds like an incredible experience. I know the pandemic was not a part of your plans (or anyone’s!) but I appreciate that you were able to draw some significance and meaning from this experience as well.

    Take good care,

    Caleb – STEP Team Member

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