Going abroad for the first time was terrifying. When I arrived in my flat, I had so many different thoughts. I did not know how to use public transportation, who I would meet, or how my classes would go. However, time has taught me how to adapt to a new community.
Within my school, I have met many awesome people. There are students from the UK, Italy, Ukraine, France, and all over the United States at Richmond American University. This has allowed for many unique perspectives to be brought into class discussions, as well as opportunities to make friends from around the world. When on campus, I love to chat with fellow students to learn more about their backgrounds. Assignments here are more open-ended. This has led to me chatting more with my professors outside of class to improve my work, but also get to know about them more.
Furthermore, I have found community in just exploring the city. London is huge. I have went to museums such as the Tate Modern and Natural History Museum. I have visited these areas with friends, classmates, and by myself. There are many different neighborhoods to visit, such as Notting Hill, Borough market, and Richmond. These opportunities help me feel engaged with the city. I truly will never run out of new things to explore within London.
My life here has gotten very busy. I have had presentations and assignments to complete for my classes, while trying to balance meeting new people and saying yes to new opportunities. Managing my time wisely has been super important to getting the most of this experience. By exploring new areas and meeting people, I have learned how to become a part of a new community.
Below are some pictures from the places I have explored while meeting new people!
