Though it pains me to be away from USC for a semester, I am studying abroad at University College London in the beautiful capital of the United Kingdom! Ranked third in the nation (behind Oxford and Cambridge) with a highly respected psychology program, the academics shouldn’t be too shabby. And being centrally located in London? You can’t beat that!
I’m living in one of UCL’s Residence Halls, and it kinda feels like freshman year all over again! Communal bathrooms, a dining hall – it’s very much dorm living. But I’m not complaining – I absolutely loved freshman year, so it’s fun reliving it in some sense! My room is on the corner of the building, overlooking Camden Road. Cars zoom by even at 3:30 AM (I was up thanks to jet lag), but I really don’t mind. The view is precious, and after living at USC for two and a half years, a little bit of noise doesn’t bother me at all.
Turns out my friend from USC is only a few doors down from – could it be more convenient?! Before I even had the chance to unpack, we went off to explore the city. We took the Tube to Piccadilly Circus and Carnaby Street, both of which were still lit up for the holidays. We wandered around the adorable streets and stopped in Hamleys Toy Shop – it’s a good thing I’m conscious of my student budget because that place has WAY too many cool things!
The best part? I got my first picture in a London telephone booth! Day one was a complete success – let’s hope London can handle me for a whole semester!