What inspired you to travel abroad?
I had never traveled abroad before. All semester-long programs at my school were getting canceled due to COVID-19. My school and IES were able to make the trip happen within safe conditions, and the timing was perfect.
I knew it might be my only chance to study abroad, and I had to experience it. I'm from a relatively small town, so getting to experience something so different and learn about myself was really important to me.
With everything going on and the amount of things my age group had missed out on because of the pandemic, I felt like I needed to push myself to do this, to give myself an experience that I knew would change my life and stay with me forever.
At the Roman Baths museum!
Why did you choose IES Abroad?
I found that the 2 month time period of this program was perfect for me. I was able to work an internship program before my departure date to get some work experience under my belt, and I was abroad long enough to feel immersed in the culture without getting really homesick at all.
The London location was great because I didn't feel like I had enough time to get comfortable communicating in another language, so going to an English speaking area was important to me, and it is a world-renowned city and cultural hub I have always wanted to visit. I wanted to go with IES because I was able to speak with several IES Abroad alumni and they gave great reviews, so I trusted them to make the program a great experience.
What was your favorite part about the United Kingdom?
The food! Everyone told me how gross the food was in the UK, but I was able to try so many different and amazing things during my time abroad. My classmates and I visited countless markets full of unique, delicious food.
Every place we went we found ourselves trying something new and pretty much always enjoying it. Yet it is similar enough to the US so that there was of course still food we were used to having. It was a great way to push myself to try new things, and made some of the best memories.
Watching the Wimbledon finals at a viewing party!
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
The people I was with and met while abroad. The other students in the program were all so wonderful, we had an amazing time exploring London together, and a lot of them are still very close friends of mine that I talk to every day!
We were all incredibly lucky to meet the coolest locals while there. We stayed in a more residential area, and got to see the same workers and neighbors almost every day, so we got really close to all of them, and they shared tips and memories from places around the city!
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The IES London staff were all so kind and genuinely cared about our experience abroad. They were extremely knowledgeable about the city, providing information and advice on planning trips and activities of our own.
On top of that, the IES staff had planned trips for our program to places outside of London that would have been harder to get to and experience by ourselves. They were also really helpful in organizing class schedules and making sure we were all learning a lot from our classes as well as experiencing London.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish I would have done more weekend trips! We spent a few weekends visiting other areas like coastal cities and the capital of Scotland, but I still feel like there was more of the UK left to see. London is such a vast city with so many different areas, all incredibly unique, which makes it hard to experience all of it, whether you're there for 2 months or 6. We spent some weekends just going to different sections of London, or revisiting some of our favorite spots, which was an incredible time, but for such a historic and worldly area, it's hard to feel like there wasn't more to see.
With classmates from my program at Westminster
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
I'd first wake up to the sun rising outside my window and get dressed and ready for the day. Then I would walk down the block and around the corner to one of the cafes or shops near us to pick out something to eat. Then I would come back, do my class readings while I ate, and then head downstairs for my class that day.
Our classes were about 2 hours long with a break in the middle, but they flew by because of the fun discussion and field trips. Then my classmates and I would pick a fun new place to explore after class, usually centered around a restaurant or pub we wanted to try out that evening.
We'd take the tube(metro) together and explore the area, try some new food, do some shopping, chat with locals, and just have a great time. It was such a new setting each day but the routine felt so normal because of all the amazing things I got to see and the wonderful people with me.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
I enjoyed sightseeing around London. I have always loved looking at architecture. London has some amazingly historic buildings along with an incredible mix of modern structures. It is such a blend of styles and every street corner feels like a different world. I never got tired of just seeing all of it. Taking walking tours with my friends and learning the history behind each building and area was a wonderful way to learn about the city and to get acclimated to exploring it.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
IES put our entire program in an apartment style living space called The Stay Club. We were all on the same 2 floors, so we got to know everyone in our program really well. We stayed in Kentish Town, which I really enjoyed because it was a more residential area and away from the crazier parts of London. However, it was still close enough to take a 10 minute tube ride right into the heart of all the fun.
One of the things I liked best about The Stay Club was that it had wonderful lounge areas where we could all spend time together and classrooms where our courses were taught. It was extremely nice to not have to travel to a different center for class each day. Instead we could just walk downstairs, learn, and run back upstairs to change before going out for the evening.
Visiting the Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, where Mary Queen of Scots lived for a time
What is one thing every future participant should know about IES Abroad London Summer before their program begins?
Every participant should know that while two months feels like a long time when you're planning and starting out with the program, it flies by in the blink of an eye. There are so many incredible things about London to experience while abroad, and you have to make the most of every day there. While it's fine to have some relaxing time to yourself some days (resting is important after venturing around), don't waste any time there. Once you are back home you will miss it so much.
Would you recommend IES Abroad to others? Why?
I absolutely would recommend the IES London program to others, and in fact, I have already! The people at IES, both headquarters and in London, were so helpful in planning the trip, answering any questions no matter how silly, making sure I felt comfortable, and having a good time while abroad. Everything was well thought out. If we had ideas about changes or feedback, they were incredibly open to it. They also offered great scholarship opportunities, which was immensely helpful in making my journey abroad possible.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
I feel like I learned a lot about myself while I was abroad. I learned how to really live by myself for the first time, and how to adapt to a completely different environment relatively quickly.
I thought I knew how to live on my own from my time in college, but it was nothing compared to my experience in London.
It was daunting at first, but ended up being a wonderful learning experience. The biggest benefit of traveling abroad for me was the confidence it gave me. Now I know that I have the skillset to live in new environments on my own.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
While being home with my family and friends is wonderful, I miss my time abroad so very much. Hardly a day goes by where I don’t think about something, someone, or somewhere from my time abroad.
The things I learned and experienced in London have changed the way I view almost every aspect of life. I think it's important for everyone to spend time in other countries to broaden their worldview and open their eyes to new possibilities, as it has done for me. Because of my time with IES in London, I am now looking to pursue a career in international business consulting working abroad, something I had not seriously considered before.
Touring Hampton Court Palace, where Henry VIII lived
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
To me "meaningful travel" means exploring new areas and learning valuable information about the world's cultures. The most important kind of travel is more than just an adventure, but something that opens your eyes to all the different things the world has to offer, and challenges you to learn about yourself as well. A lot of people aren't lucky enough to live in or even visit other countries, so I think everyone that has the chance to expand their view in such a way should jump at the opportunity.
Did your program provide specific pre-departure Covid support? If yes, tell us what kind of support you received.
The IES staff hosted multiple virtual meetings with us to discuss pre-departure plans and covid regulations and requirements. They made sure to give us ample support in determining the proper tests to get, as well as how to handle covid precautions abroad, and all flight requirements surrounding covid. I felt really informed going into everything, because they were always available and excited to answer my questions pre-departure. If things were ever unclear, they were eager to help. I felt like I really developed a relationship with the IES staff who were involved.
How did your program help you stay (and feel) safe abroad amidst the ongoing pandemic?
My program guided us through the UK mandated quarantine period, helped us test to get out of quarantine, provided us a pack of 7 tests to take throughout our stay, gave us lots of information about how to test prior to our flights home, and made sure to check in on us throughout our time there to see how we were feeling and adapting.
The IES staff also put on introductory meetings upon arrival in London to help us acclimate to the culture, and learn how to navigate the city safely. They informed us of what to expect and how to handle things on our own, but made sure we knew we could come to them with questions and concerns.
