"Woke up in London Yesterday" *

Whatever journey you are taking on should be meaningful; you shape your own life and everything you do will have an influence on your future self.  Traveling is an easy way for many people to take a journey because we are physically escaping an environment that may typically seem quite lackluster.  Being abroad for just a few days in London has allowed me to experience another culture that I may have otherwise had thought was not so different (they do speak English after-all!).  But, things like how Londoners go food shopping every few days rather than a few times a month like Americans, can make such a difference to someone like me staying here for 10 weeks.

My name is Emily and I have just recently arrived in London as part of a study abroad program with my university and FIE.  It consists of four courses divided into 2 sessions, leaving only two classes per 5 week section and a lot of free time, (so far).  I've been here about two weeks and despite the sporadic rain showers, its been a refreshing change of pace.  

We are staying in quite a ritzy area, 'Made in Chelsea' status I would even suggest, (if you don't know what that is, please get on googling that and obsessing).  Our housing is in the South Kensington area, quite close to the Royal Albert Hall and the colossal Price Albert monument.  My group's program has allowed us to explore other parts of London with a coach and walking tour which, showed so much within a few hours.  I highly recommend city tours if you are ever visiting and don't have a plan of your own.

To me, one of the biggest differences is just the pace of daily life and while I have experienced culture shock, I wouldn't say it was a bad thing :)


"Keep Calm and Carry On" *



*Lyrics to Good Life by One Republic
*You'll find an abundance of merchandise with this phrase on it in Britain as it was a phrase developed by the Ministry of Information prior to WWII as a means to lift people's spirits in the time of utter disaster.  This saying was one of three composed and it was never released until recently when it was discovered in 2000 in print and became the model for the current worldwide hardship.
Hughes, Stuart. "The Greatest Motivational Poster Ever?" BBC News. 09 Feb. 2009. Web. 02 July 2011. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7869458.stm>.