Learning to travel
In the spring of 2024, I had the opportunity to study abroad in London, United Kingdom during the spring break. Studying abroad was something I thought I would never have the chance to do, but through KU, I was able to leave the country for the very first time. This being my first time abroad made the experience uniquely special for me. I had to learn how to travel on my own for the first time in such a short period, and I wanted to reflect on my experience.
I remember the very first thing I noticed about London was how green it was. This was such a small thing, yet it completely shocked me to see such green grass, and quiet streets filled with flowerpots and trees in a city I expected to be so loud and urban. In certain neighborhoods, silence was only interrupted by the chirp of a bird, or the sound of raindrops falling. I took photos of the grass, and the architecture of the homes as I passed by and stared at the simplicity of the small European cars. However, by the end of the week, the things I had spent time marveling at seemed like second nature. I spent a lot of time the first few days allowing myself to soak everything in, and most of my favorite parts of London came from quiet observation.
Experiencing something foreign for the first time was exciting. Letting London teach me how to travel was the biggest thing I had to let myself learn to do on the trip. With a culture I was expecting to be so much like America, I was pleasantly surprised at all the small minute details that stood out to me as a foreigner. Things I didn’t even think I would have noticed stood out to me as interesting. I remember seeing the soft font of signs on the tube lines or how differently the traffic moved. I remember quickly shuffling to get into a “queue”, the amount of secondhand cigarette smoke I inhaled, or the way people dressed. The rain that had drenched me initially, no longer bothered me by the time I left.
I also learned how to lean on those around me. The London Review program, while structured, still had plenty of time for solo exploration. I learned how to travel with others and go outside of my comfort zone when it came to group travel. I learned that it was ok to go off and do things alone, but also never hesitated to reconvene back with a group of students. Traveling with other KU students made the trip even more special, as I was able to connect with my peers outside of the classroom while abroad. I had so many impactful conversations and experiences with the professors and students that I traveled with, all because I let myself learn to travel with others.
These were the experiences in London that made me learn the most. I expected to take away from London lots of grand experiences, but my favorite moments were from taking the time to soak everything in. This is part of traveling that I was not expecting. Every student considering studying abroad should take time to slow down. When it feels like the days are going by so quickly, take a moment to appreciate everything and everyone around you. It’s not every day you get the chance to study in a different country. Make the most of it, but don’t forget to appreciate the little things, as they just might pass you by!
