What inspired you to go abroad?
The reason why I decided to study abroad was that I knew I needed some change in my life. I was going through personal struggles right before I applied to go abroad and figured that I needed a change of scenery, and I was completely right about that.
Why did you choose ISA?
I chose ISA because their program definitely seemed to be the most ideal when it came to finances and opportunities that they offered, like excursions, close staff/student relations, etc.
What was your favorite part about England?
My favorite part about my host city and country of London, England was the number of different people that I met, and the number of places that I was able to visit just in London, itself. It's hard to pick a favorite, however, because there were so many different aspects of London that made me fall in love with it so quickly. As similar as the culture can be to ours here in America, there were a few things about the way that people acted towards one another there that just didn't match up to how I would say living in America is. Kindness, respect, and humbleness seemed to be qualities that almost every person that I met and befriended, had.
What made your experience abroad unique?
What made my experience abroad unique was that I actually had my best friend in London studying abroad as well, who went to a different school. He went to Ithaca College and was studying on their satellite campus over in the central part of London, while I was studying at a school through the ISA study abroad program in the outer zones of London. Since London was so tight-knit and easy to travel around, I was able to visit my friend multiple times a week. My experience wouldn't have been the same without him there.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
Kingston town center
The local staff supported me throughout my program by always being close by, and able to answer any questions that I had about the town, the culture, the program, or what-have-you. They were warm and kind and easy to talk to, no matter what it was about. I enjoyed that.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?
One thing I wish I could have done differently was to travel to Italy. I didn't have enough time or money to go, but I do wish I had been able to travel there while studying in London. I went to a few other destinations while abroad, but Italy was definitely one of the places I wish I had visited.
Describe a typical day in the life of your program.
A typical day in the life of my program would vary depending on which day I'd be describing. If it were a weekday, I would normally wake up for class, walk 15-20 minutes to my campus from my flat (dorm) building, which by the way was in a beautiful town named Kingston Upon Thames. Then, after class, I would either meet my friends for lunch, or go back to my flat and make something to eat, relax, do some work, have some tea, and then by dinner time I'd be eating and socializing with my flatmates and friends.
On the weekends, I would either be visiting my friend in central London or explore the town of Kingston with friends. We would check out local bars and clubs, or go to new restaurants we hadn't visited just yet. I would also go to central London in general, or be traveling to one of the few countries I traveled to.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time?
Big Ben
In my free time I enjoyed hanging out with my friends whom I made while staying at the flat in Kingston or visiting my friend at his place in central London. I also enjoyed taking walks through the town center on my own. It was very relaxing and helped a lot when I was under a lot of stress.
What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?
My accommodation was a five person flat including a kitchen and two bathrooms. Including myself, there were three girls and two boys staying in the flat. Our kitchen was very nice, it had an oven, stove, microwave, and refrigerator. We mostly congregated in there for dinner or parties. There were two toilets and two showers, considering there were five of us.
My most favorite part of the flat was that I had my own room, and in the room - there was a sink and a vanity area. It wasn't what would be normal in the states and I really enjoyed the fact that everyone had their own privacy but still was able to socialize if need be.
What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?
One thing every participant should know before participating in the program that I went on is to be prepared when it comes to traveling. In London, the travel card is called an Oyster card, just like it's called a metrocard in New York City. Online, you can register for a student pass which you can "top up" (fill up) with money to travel on the tube (subway) or the train. Depending on what zone you want to travel to, the more the rides will cost you. I made a mistake of not getting the student card. It is MUCH cheaper, and saves you a lot - so don't forget about that!
Buckingham Palace
Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?
Now that I'm home, my time abroad has impacted my life tremendously. If I had not gone abroad, I would not have gotten to experience the things I did, and I would not have grown as a person the way I did because of it. I met amazing people who I still talk to to this day, and without them, I wouldn't be who I am now. I learned a lot of things about myself while I studied abroad over in London, and I think that regardless of where someone goes to study abroad - they come back a better and more well-rounded person.
Would you recommend ISA to others? Why?
Yes, I would definitely recommend my provider, ISA, to others. Like I mentioned before, their program is very accommodating when it comes to costs, and the staff is incredibly down-to-earth and helpful. The excursions that are included that students get to go on while studying abroad with this program are absolutely amazing, as well. Without a doubt, I am so glad that I chose ISA because if I hadn't I wouldn't have had the wonderful experience that I did.
