London, baby!

I’m here to keep all you newcomers informed of my time abroad this summer. I will be spending my time at an internship with T H E U N S E E N, which I cannot wait to start on Monday.

If there’s anyone out there that happens across this that is also going to study abroad in London, England I will provide my list of “best spots” and such. Hopefully, this will be more helpful than just telling you to pack a capsule wardrobe and all that jazz.  

                  So, I’ll start from the beginning…

Whatever you do – start EARLY! Whether this is research, the application process, or, most important, applying for a visa or passport make haste! It costs a lot of money to speed things up and that’s not something anyone wants. My own troubles with this consisted of: paying $643 for priority service (recommended for my program), doing a walk-in biometrics appointment, sending my visa application to New York via UPS Next Day Air, panicking about not receiving it in time to leave (which led to many phone calls), contacting UPS to have my package delivery changed to a Saturday delivery, and finally picking it up at the UPS hub.  This is something no one should ever have to go through and almost everyone from my program has. It adds unnecessary stress because most of the time there’s nothing you can do about it.

Utterly relieved with my passport in hand, I began packing for the two months I would spend abroad. It’s hard to decide the adventures you’re going to go on and what you’ll need for them when you haven’t even stepped foot in the city yet. My best bet was to pack light (as if that’s really possible). I figured anything else I desperately needed could double as a souvenir. In short, you need to pack layers, pants, comfortable and stylish shoes, and a large bag or backpack to carry.Once you officially cross the pond, there are a handful of things that will benefit you during your stay. First is a phone. For my situation with AT&T as a provider, I went with a burner phone of sorts. I turned off my regular iPhone’s data and use Wi-Fi to contact others or use social media when it is present. This typically occurs at random, unless I’m in my residence hall where I’m living for the duration of my trip. The phone I use to contact the advisors in my program or for emergencies was free with the £10 Everything Pack (service provider EE). It allows me 1GB of data, 250 minutes of calls, and unlimited text messages.The second item on the list is an Oyster card. This allows you to ride the tube or Underground as well as use the bus system. We were advised to get the  £34.10, 7-day travel card that allows you unlimited use for that week. Riding the tube, or “chube” as they pronounce it here, is honestly my favorite part of London. Public transport around the city isn’t just how you get from point A to point B. It’s a part of the journey and great for people watching!Another is tennis shoes, otherwise known as trainers. So, don’t bring your most athletic ones – but do make sure they’re comfortable. You’ll be doing tons of walking and nothing is worse than traveling with a grump. Lots of people wear trainers to work and bring shoes to wear in the office, so you won’t be the only one!Lastly, if you’re planning on staying a while it’s important to recognize that you can’t eat out or have take away every night. That means some grocery shopping must be done! It’d be smart to pick up a durable, reusable bag to take with you. They often charge extra for a sack to carry your food. While it’s not much, think of what you could save if you bring your own – money, time, not to mention the planet!I’ve sprinkled lots of helpful links and will continue to share my journey of where I’ve been and what I recommend. I’m no expert by any means, but I will help where I can.