Dinner Party!

We currently have about 10 people in our flat and invite everyone that walks by. This is why I love it here. Ahhh I never want to leave. We're carving a pumpkin for tomorrow's Halloween party in the Study Centre! It's a puking pumpkin, so creative. My IA besties and I head off to Belgium next week as well!! Yippee!!! Okay well there's a ton of people here so I can't really focus on this right now, but I'll update later!! Cheers!

Frolic

Today is quite possibly the most beautiful day we've had in London all semester. A perfect day to lay in the grass at Regents Park and listen to Coldplay all day. Like something out of a movie. Too bad I'm such a good student and am writing papers instead. At least we have our door propped open to get some fresh air, and I love the constant flow of people in our flat. It makes it feel homey. Ahhhh we also just realized that when we get back from Italy, October is pretty much over. This semester is going by unbelievably fast and I'm grateful for each and every day. But it's making me sad to think about leaving. Also Brick Lane Market this morning was INCREDIBLE. Definitely going back ASAP. Back to hw!

9 Things You Should Know Before Studying Abroad (For a Semester)

1. It is expensive. Very expensive. In fact, it may very well be the most expensive semester of your life. You must accept it. Embrace it. Love it. Stop thinking in terms of dollars and realize that Europe is pricy. Don’t feel guilty every time you purchase something, but don’t be frivolous either. Buy things you need at a reasonable price FOR YOUR CITY. You will be spending more money on a day-to-day basis, but you worked damn hard to get here, so don’t worry about it.

2. Everything feels like an adventure. Buying groceries, going to the bank, even studying seems more fun in a new city. Ok maybe not studying. But since you’re a resident, not a tourist, mundane errands of everyday life suddenly become exciting. Finding a new place to buy pita and humus (which will become staples in your diet) can make your entire day.

3. 
    3. You will learn to love everyone in your little community or study center. People who are willing to leave everything they know behind for an entire semester must all have something in common, right? You will learn to absolutely adore where you live, and who you’re constantly surrounded by.  You may even use your window as a main form of communication.

4.   

4.   There are student discounts! You just need to ask. Don’t forget to ask either, or you might miss out on a great deal. Taping your ISIC card to your forehead might help you remember.

5.  Your diet will change. It will become hard to read the nutrition label. (Thank you, metric system. ) The sheer number of sweets, candies, and other goodies will tempt you, and it is highly likely that you will become addicted to digestives. But it is possible to slowly wean yourself off of these treats, and start eating healthy.  Fruits and vegetables are cheaper, and incorporating them into meals will save you money and give you the vitamins to stay healthy. Trust me, your body will thank you.

6.   You may actually have to do work. Shocking, I know. While some people’s study abroad experience may involve very little studying, you will get the short end of the stick. At first you will be angry and frustrated at the idea of being trapped inside a room when a beautiful city lay at your feet. But then you’ll realize that what your teachers have to say is actually interesting, and you may start to enjoy going to class. Even look forward to it. With such small classes it is extremely difficult not to become best friends with your classmates. You will learn with them, drink with them, spend long hours in the conservatory with them, and may even have venting sessions with them.  Without them, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays ( or any day for that matter) wouldn’t be the same.

7.    Traveling to your top destinations actually becomes possible. Not only possible, but very likely!! When companies like Ryanair and Easyjet offer incredibly cheap flights, why not hop over to Istanbul or Rome for the weekend? If you’re worried about money, see number 1!

8.   You will get crazy. Not in a black out drunk kind of way (though that may be true too), but more of a “im-weird-and-make-harry-potter-videos-with-flatmates-late-at-night” sort of thing. But guess what? Everyone else in the study center will be weird too.  A good weird. A fun weird. The kind of environment where you may do or say something completely random or socially unacceptable, and everyone around you laughs or joins in. You will be shocked at how welcoming and friendly every single person is. Enjoy it, because people like that are hard to find (see number 3!).

9.  You will never want to go home. You will start to plan your life based around living in this city, and going home for grad school is no longer an option. You will seek citizenship when out at bars (aka British boys).  So dream big and go for it!

Well there you have it, 9 things to think about before studying abroad. I could think of 100 more, but I’m sleepy. Goodnight!