A Summer in My Favorite City in the World Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I absolutely loved the classes I took with IES. I thought I knew a lot about British culture and history already, but I discovered so much more than I would have ever expected - and then experienced these locations and traditions for myself!

On-site administration of your program

I cannot express how helpful and accommodating each member of staff was at IES. They helped us from day one, giving us tours of the areas we lived in and were taking classes in, creating core groups, and giving us a safety orientation (which came into use when my friend's ATM card was scammed while traveling). They also created numerous opportunities to experience UK culture by creating free or subsidized field trips to places like Windsor Castle, Wimbledon, the Globe Theater, Stratford-upon-Avon, Brighton, and more. They highly encouraged getting out and experiencing more of London and the rest of the UK, giving any recommendations or help they could when asked. We all built relationships with the staff, and they were willing to help us out at any time. I could not have imagined a better organized or more successful execution of the summer term!

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Nido Spitalfields is a student living facility in a really convenient location, and I had an awesome view of the Gherkin and the Shard from my room. There were two grocery stores very close by, a daily market five minutes away, and plenty of restaurants and pubs around. It's also in one of the financial districts of London, so the vast majority of people in the area are locals. Once it started getting hot during the summer, it got a little unbearable in my room because there is no AC in the rooms or common rooms and the sun set facing my window, so it encouraged me to go elsewhere. This was pretty difficult when I was violently sick one day but was forced to go elsewhere because it was too hot in my room. Also, it was hard to do work in the lobby or upstairs Skyline cafe because they would blast music to keep a youth-friendly feel as well as welcome large and noisy groups of people pre-gaming to go out each night. At first I liked it, but it got frustrating since there wasn't a quiet (and cool) place to work in the STUDENT living facility and I had more classwork to do. When asked, the staff was generally rude and unaccommodating in this sense. Reception generally wasn't very helpful as well, so I would usually wait to ask IES staff if need be. Laundry was expensive and usually ineffective, as it could take multiple cycles for one load of laundry, but they offer a similarly-priced service in the lobby that returns your clothes (folded!) in 24 hours. Overall, it was a great place to live for the amount of time I was there, but I don't know if I would have liked living there for more than seven weeks.

English food has always had a bad reputation where I come from, and I never had a problem with anything I ordered. There were a few customary differences that I had to adjust to, but it was nothing extreme or too difficult to handle. I can't think of a bad meal I had while I was there! It's definitely worth trying the traditional dishes. There are plenty of restaurants around, and there are equally as many places for takeaway if you want to eat elsewhere.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt that I got a really good sense of what living in London was like and what the usual UK traditions are. I didn't get an opportunity to meet many locals because all of our classes were within the program itself, but it's really easy to do this at pubs or clubs around London. There's a huge nightlife scene (as expected!) in London!

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have to go to the doctor while I was there but did get sick with a 24-hour virus. My program was very understanding and offered what help they could, but I simply needed rest and hydration. I had friends who had appointments for various ailments such as knee problems, vertigo, and becoming physically ill, and each of them raved about the care they received. IES provides private healthcare insurance, so these friends got next-day appointments, instead of waiting for two or more weeks in the UK's universal healthcare system.

I never felt unsafe in London. I was always aware of my surroundings and was careful for pickpockets in areas near tourist attractions, but neither my friends nor I ever had a problem. As long as you're smart and are fairly aware of what's going on around you, there shouldn't be an issue. There are also police patrolling many areas of the city. To ensure our safety, IES did have a safety and crime awareness portion during orientation with a London police chief which made me more confident and comfortable around the city.

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

I was warned frequently before I left that London was expensive, but it didn't fully process until I started living there. I generally had breakfast and dinner in my flat, but buying lunch, groceries, and other living expenses in addition to occasional meals out, pub or club covers, and tickets to events or souvenir shopping adds up significantly. I didn't spend much money on souvenirs while I was there but spent the majority of my money on experiences. London is an incredible place, but be aware of how much money it will cost you.

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• Americans

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