Alumni Interview with Rachel

What inspired you to go abroad?

Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by all things British, especially British popular culture. Meaning all things music, celebrities, and fashion. In 2013 I took a step to live my dream of visiting England by going on a trip with my High School's history department with ACIS (AIFS's sister company for high school programs) and went on a ten day tip throughout England. That sparked my interest to live there someday, so the next step was to study abroad in London, which I did four years after this trip in high school.

Why did you choose American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS)?

It had been my dream to study abroad in London for as long as I can remember. I definitely did my thorough research for which program best suited me. Two years before I went abroad I found AIFS and new it was the right fit for me. AIFS's London program offered everything I could have ever imagined. The Richmond campus is located in the Royal Borough of Kensington, just steps away from Kensington Palace and Hyde Park. Because of its location I knew it would be safe. Also, it was located in Zone 1, making travel around London incredibly easy, specially with two tube stations right around the corner.

AIFS also provides things that others did not, like an on-campus meal plan during the week, housing and on-site staff. Because of AIFS's all inclusive package, I didn't have to find my own housing in London like I would have if I went through a different program. Everything was done for me which made pre-departure planning a lot easier and stress free. AIFS also includes an optional flight package, this was extremely helpful for me. If you choose this package AIFS books your flights for you and even gets you transportation from the airport to your new University. As a first time solo traveler this was a very nice feature that made traveling a lot less scary. The University also provides bedding, laundry and garbage services daily. This way as soon as I landed abroad I didn't have to worry about finding bedding and I could nap jet lag away.

The one thing that I didn't have to organize on my own was my classes. Since AIFS is an affiliate program you have to take a few extra steps to get things approved by your home University. The main thing being classes, I had to get them approved by my school's department head to make sure the credits transferred back smoothly.

What was your favorite part about London?

My favorite thing about London was the diversity, it's walkability, and the public transportation. To my surprise, you do not actually hear very many British accents while in London. I loved how you could walk the streets for five minutes and hear as many as ten different languages! Even in the non-tourist parts of London, you can hear so many different accents and see so many different cultures. It is so eye opening to see so many people from different backgrounds all in one city. By studying in London I didn't only get an English experience but many other cultures as well. London may be a massive city but it was very walkable.

While abroad I averaged 8 miles of walking per day, and it was such an easy and efficient way to get exercise. Sure the Tube can get you anywhere in London, but to get to hidden gems and favorite little coffee shops it requires a little extra time on foot. I miss being able to walk five minutes to go get groceries or to go shopping, driving now is such a pain to me. I also fell in LOVE with public transportation. I was amazed by the efficiency of the buses and the underground. Coming from Minnesota I haven't been exposed to much public transportation, but I found London's amazingly easy to figure out. With bus stops and tube stations around every corner it was so easy to get around the city. Now that I have been back in the States for about 7 months I miss public transportation more than anything.

What made your experience abroad unique?

One thing that made my experience unique was most definitely my anxiety and how that made things more difficult for me. My whole life my anxiety has caused extra hurdles to arise while doing normal everyday things. Before going abroad I knew that it could flare up again and make things difficult, but I thought I had it all under control. Once I arrived things seemed to be fine but once classes started my anxiety came at me at full force, causing me to almost buy a plane ticket home. But I knew that I couldn't let this defeat me and my dream of studying and living in London. I dreamt of this my whole life, I was determined to make it through the entire program. Battling my anxiety while abroad was hands down the most difficult thing I have ever done, but that makes the whole experience that much more rewarding. I don't know if my anxiety makes my experience unique or not, I just know that my experience was not that of the average participant, as I needed more time to myself to reflect and to breathe.

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

The real question is what didn't the local staff do to support me!  AIFS had the most incredible on-site staff, especially the two resident directors Anderson and Nicki. They helped me with everything from switching classes, finding the best tea or even with needed hugs. Their support and genuine love was so essential for me and making it through the entire program. The professors were all amazing, and were genuinely there to help you learn, especially Dr. Dille. She taught our History Of London course where we went on field trips throughout London and her knowledge amazed me. She was so kind and loved talking about the city.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

One thing I wish I had done differently was how much time I spent in my room and watching Netflix. That stuff could have waited for me when I got back to Minnesota. I had so many opportunities that I should have just gone for instead of staying in my dorm if I was afraid. I wish I had gone for even more walks just to explore even more corners of the city. Another thing I wish I did differently was I wish I didn't compare myself to other people on my program. I wish I had kept telling myself that it was okay to not travel to a new country every weekend and that it was okay to stay in England.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

A typical day in the life of my program started off with getting breakfast in the dining hall, with many choices including traditional english breakfast foods like beans and meat or a typical American breakfast foods like cereal and pancakes. After breakfast I would head out on my daily walk in Hyde Park, the largest of the Royal Parks in London. Being only blocks away from 350 acres of green space in Central London it was a great place for me to escape to. After three to five miles I would then head to my class of the day, after class I would head out to lunch with a few friends either in our neighborhood or we'd venture to a new borough of London to find a new place to eat. After exploring we'd head back to Kensington for dinner in the dining hall. The evening either consisted of a night class or more exploring the night life. Often times we'd end up at a pub for a pint or two with the locals.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

In my free time I mainly just walked, normally with no destination in mind. Plug in your headphones and walk for miles. I found that walking with no destination was the most fun way to find unique places off the beaten path. It was also a good way to stumble across local places that aren't well known to tourists, this made me feel like I was a true Londoner. Me and a few other friends also loved to visit new coffee shops, not the chains, but ones owned by single families. It was a cool way to meet locals and try different kinds of drinks. Another friend and I were also into thrift shopping and record hunting. There were many cool finds that you can't get anywhere but London.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

On my campus there were two housing options available, one way more like an apartment (without a kitchen) where you'd have your own bathroom with two or three other people. In the other building it was a traditional dorm, where you share a room with one other person and share a bathroom with your entire floor. What I like most about my accommodation was it's location. In the richest neighborhood in all of London I never felt unsafe. It was beyond beautiful. Even though the quality of the rooms weren't all that great, it didn't really matter, because if you're in London for a semester are you really going to be spending that much time in your room? It was good to get out and about away from the dorm.

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

I think every participant should know that AIFS provides the best deal for the amount that you pay. The program fee is so small if you take into consideration of where you'll be living. Where neighboring flats start at two million pounds a month for rent. The location is so amazing, being steps from the Royals at Kensington Palace and multiple museums, it couldn't get any better.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

Not a day goes by that I don't think about being abroad. I have learned so much about myself in those short five months than I have during any other time in my life so far. My time abroad has impacted my life more than I thought possible, it has taught me many things including how to keep an open mind, how to take it one day at a time and how to live in the moment. Since being back I have learned how to live my life in a more positive way. Being abroad has also made me realize that I am capable of anything and everything. I am not afraid to travel alone anymore and I know my dreams are reachable if I try and put in the effort.

Would you recommend AIFS to others? Why?

I would most definitely recommend both my program and my provider to others. I would recommend my program because of its amazing location in London and the accessibility to travel. The local staff and professors are also all amazing and will motivate you to learn and be your best. AIFS is such an amazing provider because of all of the things included in the price. Housing, meals and transportation are all covered and it feels like the staff actually cares about you and your experience. Everyone is so kind and helpful with making your experience as seamless as possible.