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London, je t'aime.....
Recently, I started reflecting on the month that I have spent here in London; this month that seems to have come and gone in an instant. It's funny actually. When you think about school and how many weeks there are in a semester it seems like the semester will never end. And yet, at this moment I find myself wondering where the time has gone. That awkward "settling in" phase has long since been gone and the days spent in my many classrooms are tending to quickly fly by, barely being noticed.
A View of London through the London Eye...
It all began last night when I started thinking about this semester. As I sat there noticing the date, the date that told me I had been in London for exactly one month, I started to think about how I have been spending my time here in London and what adventures I had been partaking in. My first week was dedicated to making new acquaintances and starting classes. The second week was dedicated to the meticulous planning of trips with these new friends. And then the third week came along when these meticulously planned trips were put into action.
Reminiscing about my time, I came across a thought. The reason I came to London was to study and learn in a new country. I wanted to experience life from a different perspective and immerse myself in a different culture. As of yet, the school aspect of my trip I seemed to have pinned down (four weeks of classes will definitely give someone a sense of what learning in a different country is like!). But the immersion into this London culture was being taken for granted. I was spending so much time planning ways to get out of London that I barely had ignored London all together! It seemed ironic that the place I wanted to escape to for years (London) I was actually running away from. Don't get me wrong, when I say "running away from" I don't mean that literally. It just seems that I spent all this time getting to London and now that I am here I have completely disregarded it.
The only streets I know like the back of my hand are the single route I travel to get from my dorm to school. And even when I try to be adventurous and take smaller back-streets I tend to get lost! The only landmarks I have visited are places that are easily accessible through the Underground. Trips have been taken, but to places far away from the town in which I am currently living. How can this be happening?
I have decided that this behavior is no longer acceptable. How can I come to live in a city and barely know the place? Well, it all comes to a stop now. It is pointless to be given such an experience and let it go to waste. I only tell this story in hopes that no one else finds themselves in this sorry state of being. I have decided that every free moment should be spent celebrating this wonderful place that I am blessed to be living in. Think about it. There are only three months left, why not spend all this free time in exploring your own neighborhood instead of trying to get out of it. All I can say is that I will.
I feel the opposite but the same
I realized the other day that I have been in Paris for a month and I really wanted to get out. My dream is travel the world especially Europe and see and learn all that I can. First week, I met friends. Second and third, I just partied with my friends. Fourth week I got my head in the books. Fifth week, I've locked myself in room wanting to focus on school. I've walked around Paris discovering new things and visiting the typical sites, so I'm kinda almost over it. I didn't make plans for anything outside of Spring Break because I don't have the money. But all my friends are going on weekend trips and its making me really antsy I want to go Madrid, Rome, Berlin, Amsterdam, Tokyo (yea), and London esp. I want out!! and I want out now!But I also feel that I still need to enjoy the city more so that is always why i did not make weekend plans still I want to see other places
hello
I also understand what you are saying. I was scared of that happening to me during my first week here, and so I made a point of taking the tram to someplace I hadn't been yet. I still have been to so few of the sites in Prague, but forcing myself to "get out there" and wander the unfamiliar streets is the only way that you will feel as if you actually lived in a place. It is not the tourist sites and standard routes from home to school that foster understanding of a new place - it's the getting lost and discovering things you never knew you never knew.
One Month
I am studying in Florence, which is a much smaller city, and I still struggle finding my way around. I have also realized that while I have visited museums and landmarks in the other city's I have visited, I have yet to visit some of the amazing places in Florence. I am dedicated the next few weeks to really understanding Florence before I try and explore any new cities.
Arwen- I know what you mean
Arwen- I know what you mean about how quickly the time has passed since we've been here. I am always worried that I'm not doing enough to become immersed in the culture of the city where I live, but I also think it's important to keep in mind that London is huge, and it will always feel like there's more places to visit and things to be done. You've probably experienced even more than you realize! That being said, I realize it's also very easy to get so involved with your travels that once May has arrived, you remember the time spent in other countries more than that in your "home base." I'm only planning two trips before we have our spring break in April, and try to spend every friday exploring a new neighborhood. Let me know if you want to join sometime!
I think its great you
I think its great you realize the awesome opportunity you have studying abroad in London. I hear its a huge city with so much history and culture. You should definitely look to explore more and just let things happen. A quarter of your trip is already gone but you have so much more time left to fully experience a great city. Reading your post has reinforced my own goals for my journey. I have only been in Shanghai for a week and I will attempt to experience as much as possible. 4 months abroad is going to be a blink of an eye for both of us.