Studying in London has Enlightened Me Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

We had American teachers teaching us so it was very much like attending classes here in California. However, we were using the building with other study abroad students from across the world and local students, too. The workload wasn't really much- it just seemed like it because we wanted to be out exploring and what not instead of being stuck inside doing homework.

On-site administration of your program

The sources were really good. They were always there and really helpful. They did their best to answer all our questions and make us comfortable. Most of them had studied abroad, so they could relate to our situation. They were also a mix of Europeans (not just English) and that was really cool.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I chose to live with a host family. The house and neighborhood were really good. It was an old Victorian house- really pretty, comfortable, and safe. The only downside was that there was no shower (our host hadn't installed the shower head in yet), so my roommate and I had to sit in the tub with a really small shower hose to bathe. We dreaded bathing. Also, we thought the house was haunted but that made it even more of an experience. The neighborhood was nice and safe. Lots of people walking around and corner stores a few minutes walk away. It was about a 20 minute tube ride away from the actual city of London but I liked it. I got to see normal everyday English things that I wouldn't have got to see/experience if I had just lived in an apartment in London. The tube was pretty near so it wasn't bad at all. My host family was pretty cool. I felt a bit uncomfortable as I was the only non-white and one of the girls seemed a bit racist. My shyness also made it a bit awkward. But other than that, they were nice. They were really helpful and were used to having students in their home (almost 20 years I believe?) so they were not embarrassed about anything it seemed. They included us in some of their family events, which was nice. They weren't too hospitable either-in the sense that they really made us feel at home by allowing us to live there with no interference. They gave us space. The only downside was that our host mom did our laundry, which made my roommate and I feel uncomfortable.

English food is commonly known for being bland, boring, and with not much variety. I quite enjoyed some of their traditional meals, especially the fish and chips. There's also a really good restaurant-Nando's- that friends and I would eat at almost once every week or two. I can't remember how it's spelled-Whetherspoon's I think?- but they had really good fish and chips. Pubs have decent meals, as well. You can find pretty much any ethnic food in London with decent taste... except Latin American food; particularly Mexican. Those that claimed to be Mexican really weren't. They were like a combination of Spanish and Indian food, not Mexican. The only decent Mexican food I found was a taco stand in Camden Town called Tacos Jalisco. I think they were moving to either Bond or Borough Street though. I loved most of the groceries there. Their pre-marinated, ready to grill steaks were really good. Most fruit and veggies were cheap, bread as well. Most of the grocery stores have a large variety and amount of pre-made food, since most people seemed to get out too late to make their own food.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I loved being in London in general. It's an eye-opening and educational experience just being. The city's pretty small in general but there is ALWAYS something going on, somewhere to go, something to do. The energy and vibe is amazing. The museums are FREE!! The city's history lingers and amazes you. You can be whoever you want without people judging you/looking so harshly at you like they do here in the US. It's truly an amazing city. We did about four cultural trips: Stratford upon Avon, Brighton, Bath, and Salisbury/Stonehenge. Aside from the history of these cities, there was not much to do or see. Stratford was pretty but boring... they don't even know if that's the actual room Shakespeare was born in. I'd recommend you skip this city unless you're a Shakespeare fan. Brighton was pretty cool. Bath is also pretty historic but unless you want to see the Roman Baths, skip that too. Stonehenge is a must... I really enjoyed being there. Salisbury has a really pretty cathedral and the city had a nice atmosphere.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Safety was pretty good. The US government emailed us warnings every few weeks regarding high risks of terrorism and attacks on Americans abroad or something like that. I would recommend people going to London soon to watch out when you cross the streets. It takes quite awhile to adjust to their different roads system, so definitely look both ways before you cross. Also watch out for bikes. I got run over by one and it was pretty painful. I had to go to the doctor after that. The program helped set up an appointment and the process was pretty fast, unlike here. However, the doctor barely did anything and didn't seem too concerned. I did not need any vaccines specifically for this program, no.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Select all that apply

• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Host Family