Emma’s Semester Overseas in London

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Wanting to step into the footsteps of a school scholar who’s experiencing life in London? We not too long ago caught up with AIFS Overseas scholar Emma from Marywood College. She spent a spring semester learning overseas within the capital metropolis of London at our very personal World Schooling Heart!

Learn on to be taught extra about her examine overseas expertise with AIFS Overseas and the affect of being a world scholar in London.

Lexi: Hello everybody, and welcome again. My identify is Lexi. I studied overseas in fall of 2022 at Maynooth College in Maynooth, Eire. And at present I’m right here with Emma. So Emma, why don’t you introduce your self slightly bit and speak to us about who you might be and your program.  

Emma: Hello everybody. I’m Emma Devlin. I’m going to Marywood College in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the place I’m a Communication Sciences and Issues main. And I studied overseas in London, England with AIFS within the spring semester of 2024. I simply bought again about two months in the past.  

Lexi: Superior. Yeah. So, fascinated by your program all the way in which again to earlier than you went, was there like a set second the place you determined that you just had been going overseas and also you had been like, that is what I’m going to do. I’ve determined that is what’s going to occur. And what was that feeling for you?  

Emma: So I had all the time loved touring since I used to be youthful so I all the time knew going to school I wished to do one thing of a program whether or not it’s like a examine overseas or a Disney Faculty program or one thing alongside these traces as a result of when else would you have got a possibility to go someplace for 3 to 4 months and do stuff you would by no means do once you’re sometimes in faculty so I had all the time identified I wished to do this. And at college, I’m in a five-year program. So I needed to know in my freshman yr that I wished to review overseas so I can speak to my advisors and plan all of it out. So as soon as I had my schedule deliberate out, I did a lot analysis into all of the completely different packages. As soon as I picked AIFS, the London particular program, I did that the autumn semester earlier than I went, it was so thrilling. Now that I knew the place I used to be going, I might do all of the analysis into London, into the realm I used to be residing in. And I used to be relieved to know the place I used to be going, however I used to be additionally actually nervous as a result of I used to be going on my own. Nobody else in my faculty was going to London and I didn’t know anybody else in this system, so I used to be not solely nervous about going someplace I had by no means been earlier than, but additionally not understanding anybody, however I used to be extra so excited simply to get there and to discover a brand new place in order that trumped all of my different fears of being afraid of going. 

Lexi: Yeah, undoubtedly. While you first make the choice, it’s numerous completely different feelings and emotions since you’re excited, however on the identical time, you’re like, oh, that is actual now. It’s not only a dream that I’ve been having after which you need to undergo the entire means of every part and yeah, it’s numerous feelings all through the entire expertise, I really feel. So now pondering forward to once you had been in your program, being in London, was there any form of particular give attention to local weather change or inexperienced initiatives in England?  

Emma: London may be very progressive and local weather pleasant. I’m from New York Metropolis so it’s very comparable in the way in which we’re…like, we don’t have any of the plastic luggage. So in London, they don’t use plastic luggage…when you do, you would need to purchase them, however they provide numerous the reusable luggage. They usually additionally don’t have plastic straws or cups, so that they have paper for all issues like that, which took slightly getting used to, nevertheless it all labored out. They usually use the public transport… it’s an enormous factor there. So the tube is unbelievable, numerous Londoners use it. Many individuals there don’t drive, so there’s not as many automobiles on the highway, and it helps with reducing gasoline emissions, so it’s actually a win-win.  

Lexi: Yeah, I do know that as a result of I went to London for a shorter journey with my faculty, and we had been capable of take the tube, and it’s simply, it’s very straightforward and environment friendly, and it’s undoubtedly very completely different from what I’m used to the place I’m from in America, the place you need to drive to get anyplace, there’s not likely public transportation allowed. Yeah, it’s a really huge change, however I feel that there must be extra public transportation simply accessible in the US.  

Emma: Yeah, one hundred percent. Lots of people, after we speak to among the locals, they’d say how you are taking the tube all over the place. Once we went to class within the morning at 9 o’clock, you’ll see children going to high school and happening class journeys all holding palms utilizing the tube. So, it was actually nice. And it was straightforward to make use of.  

Lexi: Yeah, that’s the most effective half is how straightforward it’s. It’s simply so easy. You simply, it’s so environment friendly and a lot better than driving all over the place, having to determine how you can drive, particularly in England, because it’s on the other aspect of the highway. In order that’s undoubtedly a profit, not having to take care of that. So how did you’re feeling being in England as an American? How did you’re feeling like about your self, like in your id? Did you undergo tradition shock or was it simpler to modify over to the tradition in London?  

Emma: Yeah, undoubtedly. At first I skilled some tradition shock. The time distinction alone, it took slightly used to stepping into that. And such as you stated, driving on the opposite aspect of the highway, little issues like that.  Typically, it was all advantageous. It’s very comparable. Lots of people I met had been in regards to the U. S. They discover it fascinating. They wished to listen to about the place me and my buddies, every state that we had been from, and so they wished to listen to our opinion of the U.Okay. So yeah, they had been actually excited to listen to about that nearly as a lot as we had been to listen to about their lives.  

Lexi: That’s one thing actually nice, I feel, is simply having the ability to perceive the similarities between the 2 cultures and simply have a mutual understanding and appreciation, I feel. That’s top-of-the-line elements about learning overseas, I feel, is simply having the ability to immerse your self in a unique tradition and historical past and simply get to know the folks and every part in regards to the place you’re residing in. Though England speaks English. Did you discover that there have been any language limitations when it comes to the accent or the slang that they use, because it’s completely different over right here? And the way would you adapt and be taught the variations?  

Emma: Yeah, the accent is an enormous a part of England. I discover the accent so cool. So generally it took slightly getting used to. I had one professor in AIFS who was absolutely British. So it took slightly little bit of getting used to. I had to verify I actually listened. Yeah. However as soon as you bought used to that was very straightforward. There are some phrases that they use in a different way, like elevator, they name it elevate. Like boot for the trunk. Little issues like that, which generally I needed to similar to use context clues to determine what they had been speaking about. However in addition to that, the language barrier was straightforward.  

Generally once I went on weekend journeys with my buddies to different international locations like I went to Italy, for instance, I don’t converse very a lot Italian, in order that undoubtedly took slightly getting used to. However numerous the locals are very good and keen to assist, particularly within the touristy areas. Lots of people do converse English, and generally even the menus and indicators are each within the native language and English, in order that was actually good. And it’s thrilling to go ask an area for assist. And in the event that they do converse English, it’s actually a cool second.  

Lexi: I had an analogous expertise since I went to Eire… majority converse English there, however yeah, undoubtedly the accents had been enjoyable, however I do know generally it was slightly obscure, particularly the additional west I bought, like not close to the massive cities, is only a thicker accent which takes slightly bit getting used to, however yeah, then touring to the opposite international locations undoubtedly is loopy once you see the indicators or learn something and it’s not English and also you’re like, oh, I don’t know what that claims. Nevertheless it’s all the time good to have the ability to nonetheless converse with the locals in the event that they do converse English, to have the ability to have that form of interplay is basically nice, I feel. Considering again now, earlier than you went in your journey, like proper earlier than you went, once you had been packing, how did you put together and pack to your journey? And was there something. that you just want you had introduced that you just hadn’t and something you probably did deliver that you just had been like, why did I deliver this? I didn’t even want it.  

Emma: So my program was for 3 months precisely to the date. In order that’s actually exhausting to pack. I introduced one checked baggage after which one carry-on. So, it was actually exhausting, particularly being a woman and wanting every part to decorate for the events. So I spent numerous time going by and seeing what I might put on every single day, getting numerous garments that I can combine and match and layer. Particularly for England, it’s actually good to have numerous rain gear, clearly. So, a sturdy umbrella, rain jacket, various kinds of coats for the completely different climate, some rain boots, however I might additionally say don’t overpack.  

I attempted to depart slightly little bit of room in my suitcase in order that if I wished to deliver souvenirs dwelling and it’s thrilling to buy groceries within the shops. I went to a mall, a UK mall in the future, which I believed was tremendous thrilling and it’s exhausting to not need to purchase issues there. So you might all the time purchase no matter you’re forgetting to deliver. I introduced a type of like low cost little cameras, which I believed was nice. It’s tremendous small after which you may deliver it to the completely different international locations after which you have got 1,000,000 souvenirs and the images that you just’ve taken. So, I undoubtedly appreciated that.  

Lexi: Yeah, no, that’s a extremely good concept. I introduced my Polaroid digital camera once I went overseas. So I’ve a bunch of Polaroid footage. I had to make use of it properly as a result of I solely introduced a lot movie and I couldn’t actually discover many locations so I needed to know when to make use of it. However yeah, I undoubtedly agree bringing slightly digital camera or one thing like that offers a unique solution to doc your moments different than simply your cellphone. What’s a chunk of recommendation you’ll give anyone touring overseas or fascinated by touring overseas or simply desirous to know extra details about it? 

Emma: Say sure to every part. On daily basis is a brand new journey. You’re by no means going to know what the day could deliver. I might undoubtedly say, do every part. It’s so thrilling. You’re by no means going to have one other probability in your life the place you completely submerge within the tradition. It’s completely different than a trip. Even when you’re there for 2 weeks, you aren’t actually ever residing in a foreign country. So this can be a as soon as in a lifetime alternative. So I might say sure to every part. Journey as a lot, do as a lot. Particularly once you’re over there, it’s rather a lot cheaper. So, when you’re on the sting, I might say go discover. There’s no different time. You’re this younger. You possibly can journey and do all of this stuff. So I undoubtedly suggest to do this and to satisfy new folks. Don’t be afraid to speak to folks.  

Even I like to recommend touring within the nation that you just’re staying in. I stayed in London, however I traveled to Manchester one weekend, which was so thrilling as a result of it’s so completely different than London, despite the fact that It’s only a practice trip away, just like the tradition is completely completely different. So, I like to recommend don’t let the concern cease you. Don’t let concern ever maintain you again as a result of it’s a as soon as in a lifetime alternative. It was my favourite expertise I’ve had. On daily basis was so thrilling, and I cherished it a lot. So if I had let concern, the insane concern of not understanding folks and being some place else cease me, yeah, I wouldn’t have had these nice experiences. 

Lexi: Yeah, I completely agree. Undoubtedly simply go for it, since you’ll by no means know what you’ll get out of it, and once you’re there, I completely agree with touring each outdoors of your nation, as a result of it is vitally less expensive, such as you stated, and likewise touring inside your nation too, since you do have your private home metropolis or city that you just’re in, however simply exploring extra of the nation that you just’re residing in, I feel, is basically essential. And yeah, simply getting on the market and exploring and saying sure and doing every part you presumably can to depart with no regrets, I feel is the most effective piece of recommendation you may give. Thanks a lot, Emma, for your entire recommendation and wonderful perception. And thanks a lot, all people watching and tuning in and keep tuned for one more episode. Thanks! 

Are you a scholar who’s able to take the leap and examine overseas in London like Emma did with AIFS Overseas? We’d love that can assist you begin your journey!

Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to faculty college students and pre-professionals examine and intern overseas. Our packages are extremely inclusive, which takes numerous the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to offering issues like cultural and social actions, excursions, complete insurance coverage, 24/7 emergency assist, on-site workers, and extra, you’ll take consolation in understanding you’ll have assist all through your whole expertise overseas.