Post-London Life

December 13, 2014. One of the saddest days of my life. Leaving London after spending 4 months molding friendships, exploring 11 different European cities, and eating my way through study abroad, I couldn't believe it was over. It was the 4 most magical and life-altering months of my life. I never knew that a city could change a person until that day. The night before I left London, everyone in my study abroad program decided to spend the last night all together in the dorms instead of going out one last time in London. We listened to some of our favorite music, popped some champagne, and reminisced on the best memories of the semester.

The day leading up to our final day in London was bittersweet. Our program leader, Graham Bolton, made a reservation for all 80 students at Kensington Gardens for a traditional English Tea. It was quite literally the perfect last full day in London. The sky was covered in mysterious clouds and the air felt as if a heavy rain just finished. I sat around a table with all of my flatmates and all was right in the world. I so desperately didn't want to leave London. It almost felt as if the next day was the beginning of a long distance relationship. At the end of the tea, we wanted to take one last picture as a group.

These are all of my closest friends from London. Pictured on the top row are James, Justin, Tony, and Dave (left to right). The second row is Colum, Caroline (me), David, Sydney, and Tommy (left to right). The bottom row are Stephanie and Meagan (left to right). The three girls are my flatmates and the four boys all live in the same flat in the basement of our building. Each of these wonderful people taught me something that I will always remember.

1. James - He was the singer of the group. James always had a smile on his face no matter what the situation was. I knew who he was back at Fordham, but we never really got to know each other. Being in London with James made me realize that I should never be afraid to introduce myself and just start a conversation out of the blue. You will never know what friendships you can make with a simple "hello". 
2. Justin - I knew Justin since my freshman year at Fordham. We were in the same classes and always said hello to each other in passing, but never really hung out....until London. He is the jolliest person I have ever come across. If you ever need someone to talk to, Justin is always there. 
3. Tony - Tony the Tiger! I never knew who Tony was until I came to London. There was never an awkward conversation with this kid. If we were ever alone, he always kept the conversation going with a funny story or a random question about my life. I loved how Tony appreciated his family. He always had a set time during the week to video chat with his parents, brother, and sister. This made me think a lot about how important family is when you are 3,000 miles away. 
4. Dave - A true gentleman. Dave and I became good friends the semester before we left for London. Dave felt like a protective older brother to me throughout the 4 months abroad. He always made sure that the girls made it home safely after a night out and came to check up on us in the morning if we overslept. He put a positive spin on every situation. If it was raining on a Saturday and we wanted to just hang out inside and watch a movie, Dave would say, "We're in London! It's raining! It's the perfect combination. Let's go walk around Portobello Road Market". He could honestly convince me to do anything. 
5. Colum - One of the funniest people I have ever met. He taught me that nothing can ruin a day unless you make it ruin your day. For example, he missed his flights to Dublin and Switzerland because he overslept. If it was me, I would have been so mad at myself. Colum brushed it under the rug and just booked another flight. There could be much worse things in life than missing a flight when you can easily book another. It may cost you a bit, but memories are priceless.
6. David - A true Brit. David was born in America but moved to London when he was in middle school and lived here most of his life. He knew London like the back of his hand. David was also up for anything. He was the only boy that came to Prague and Budapest with 5 girls. He had to share a train car and a hotel room with 5 girls (and one bathroom). The calmest person I have ever met, David has become one of my closest friends since London. I believe that his personality comes from having 2 younger sisters. He is caring, honest, and won't pressure people into things they don't want to do. 
7. Sydney - Sydney was one of my best friends from Fordham. I was so excited when she decided to study abroad in London, too. We were direct flatmates (in the same room) and we never had one fight. It was truly a miracle. We traveled to every city together, had all the same classes, worked the same hours at KPMG, and lived together. Our personalities are very different, and she taught me the true meaning of friendship and loyalty. Her mindset is to always have fun and love what you're doing and who you are doing it with. She is super outgoing and is the sweetest person to anyone. She is very much obsessed with her family, and leaving them for four months was very difficult. When she was homesick, I was always there for her because I knew how hard it was for her to be away for Sunday night dinners. She never let her problems affect other people, which is what I admire about her most. 
8. Tommy - Also known as "T-Grillz". Tommy is a dancing machine. Whenever we went to this one bar called "O'Neills", he would dance until they kicked us out. Any city we went to, he just had to dance. He taught me to never be embarrassed about who I truly am. You make better friendships on being yourself rather than being who you think you want to be. 
9. Stephanie - Like Justin, I've known Stephanie since my freshman year at Fordham. We were in the same Italian class. When you first meet Stephanie, she's a little bit shy and hard to open up. I knew that I had to wait for her to open up to me. A little bit into the semester, we both found a love for the BBC television drama "Downton Abbey".  Once we discovered that, we booked a day trip to Highclere Castle where the show is filmed. After that, we became instant friends. She taught me patience and appreciation for the little things in life. 
10. Meagan - Another girl that I've known since freshman year. Meagan and I lived in the same dorm building and were next door neighbors. We didn't really speak during our sophomore year and we re-connected in London. We spent many trips together because we were interested in the same things. She taught me to never judge a book by it's cover. I really knew nothing about Meagan except from her Facebook. I regret saying that because today, she is one of my best friends. We decided to live together back at Fordham for our senior year because we became so close. 

These 10 people shaped me into the person that I am today. They taught me so many things about myself that I never would have discovered without them. London wouldn't have been the same without these guys and I wonder what London will be like when I next visit. I ask myself how I will feel about London without them there. It's a scary thought, but I'm excited to see what the city will bring next time I visit. 

Coming back from London was extremely difficult. A couple of weeks after I arrived home, my grandmother passed away. I remember the last time I spoke to her when I was in London. I was walking through Notting Hill, picking up a few gifts for friends back home. I had a few minutes left on my UK cell phone plan to call America, so I decided to call my grandma. We spoke about my time in London. She said that I am thankful to have parents that give me the opportunity to travel with my friends for 4 months in a foreign country. I could tell on the phone that she sounded very different from when I last spoke to her. At that moment, I was thankful that I was coming home in a few days to see her. God granted me the last couple of weeks with her and I am so grateful for that. This made me realize that everything happens for a reason and that I was meant to come home on December 13, 2014 to have that time with my grandma before she left us. 

Studying abroad and my grandmother's death taught me that LIFE IS EXTREMELY SHORT. When I was abroad, there were some things that I regret spending money on or places that I was traveling to. But soon after the new year began, I came to the realization that we all must live in the moments and be happy. There is no reason to be upset for more than a few minutes over silly things. There are so many kids in the world that will never have the opportunity to live alone with friends in a foreign country for a long period of time. I know that I will never be able to have an opportunity similiar to "study abroad" ever again. On my flight home, I had 6 long hours to think about my semester and the things that I've done. There are some things that I wish I spent more time appreciating.  

There was so much culture and history engrained in London that I didn't fully appreciate until I came home. When my family friends and extended family members asked me about the historic locations in London that I visited, I could really only name a few. I wish I spent more time in all of the museums and historic tours that are offered throughout the city rather than going back to my favorite locations. Here's a short video on the top 10 attractions to visit in London.

Living in London gave me a real sense of self. In a previous post, I wrote about Clothing in London. It's interesting to think about myself before and after London. Yes, my style of clothing is very different. Coming back from London, I only wear black. However, in the summertime, I'm a super preppy Connecticut girl. I haven't experienced a fall/winter season in America since coming back from London. We shall see if I can successfully blend my London style and American style (check back in a few months to see what changes!). Besides my style, my personality has developed and matured drastically. Before coming to London, I was stubborn as all heck, sometimes cold, and wanted things my way. All my life I was like this. Looking back on London and the people that I created friendships with, I became extremely independent and worldly. I appreciate the travel bug inside me and the fact that things won't always go my way. I appreciate the need to spend time with family even if I am 3,   0   0   0 miles away and it has to be over video chat.  I've put together some drastic changes that I went through in London:

• dependent --> independent 
• cold --> open
• stubborn --> flexible 
• risk adverse --> risk taker 
• selfish --> selfless

As you can see, London changed me for the better. I've noticed throughout the 8 months that I've been home that these character traits have helped me excel not only in school, but also in my personal and professional life. Even though I miss saying "Mind the Gap" on the tube, all good things must come to an end. Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I didn't study abroad: my life at Fordham would have been much different since everyone I knew was studying abroad and I wouldn't have had a taste of different cultures like I do now. I've spent all my life in the United States. Specifically, the tri-state area in the northeast. I believe, with every fiber of my being, that spending a significant period of time abroad gives you a new perspective on life. I've interacted with 11 different cultures in the matter of 4 months. I can fully recognize the meaning of life, value of cultures, and what makes the world go 'round. 

I love you, London. Cheers! 'Til next time...

Share Your London Experience!

If anyone has had the opportunity to study abroad or visit London, please share your stories and experiences with us! I would love to see your pictures from London and read about your explorations of the city. If you have any recommendations when visiting London that I haven't already discussed, I would very much appreciate your thoughts!

Please email any stories or pictures of your London experience to caromurray23atgmail.com.

Happy sharing!

A Mother's Excursion to London: A Narrative

For this post, I want to share my mother's excursion to London. As I previously mentioned, my mother and father visited me in London half way through the semester. Here is my narrative about my mother.

March 15, 2014. That was the day I found out that I was going to study abroad in London for my fall semester of 2014. It was such a happy day for me. I was finally getting my dream of traveling abroad to a place I've always wanted to see. The moment I found out I was studying abroad in London, I called my mom. To give a little background on my mother, she was born in the Bronx in 1960. She lived with her Italian mother, father, two brothers, grandmother, aunt, and uncle. It was a small town house, small enough that she had to share a bedroom with her grandmother. She grew up in an extremely over protected home. She was never allowed to leave the house by herself and couldn't have friends come over. The only things she could do was inside the house with her family. When she turned 18 years old, she had the opportunity to travel to Italy to visit her family. She went with her Aunt Rosemary for an entire summer before college. That was her only chance to go abroad and she could only do it because she was with her family.

When my mother heard the news that I was traveling abroad, she held back some of her excitement. Growing up, my mother did not raise my sister and I in the environment that she was raised in. She protected us like any other mother would, but also wanted us to have childhood memories and experiences that we could remember forever. She was a caring and loving mother and gave my sister and I more than we could ever need. That's why I understand why she was hesitant about my living abroad for 4 months. She didn't understand the need to go abroad for 4 months when I was having the time of my life at school. She didn't know why I would want to put my life in danger and be a young girl in foreign countries. At the same time, she was raised in a very different environment than I was. Additionally, in our area, studying abroad is popular among those students whose parents give them enough money to go. My mother made it very clear that she would not finance my study abroad trip. Therefore, that summer, along with the money I would make during my internship in London, I would have made enough to go abroad.

On the other hand, my father had the traveling bug. Because my mother is so hesitant on traveling, we never went on a European vacation as a family. So when I called my father about my acceptance into the London program, the first thing he said was, "I'm booking a trip!". This made me so excited because by the time my dad wanted to come, it would be halfway through the program and I would have a solid knowledge of London. Along with my mother's issues on flying, I knew it was going to be difficult to get her on a plane to visit me. There were so many conversations about how it would be great for them to come visit because I could be homesick and the fact that they have never been to London this would be a great opportunity to see a different place. My parents, father especially, were so stressed out from work that they desperately need this vacation.

Although I wasn't home, I could only imagine what my father went through the night before their flight to London. "How could you do this to me, Jerry?! I told you I didn't want to take a 6 hour flight! How am I going to stay asleep?". That's when my father had the best idea. Fast forward to the flight the next day, 2 ativans, and a vodka tonic later, my mother was conked out for the entire flight. My father couldn't even wake her up to get off the plane. A few hours later, I met my parents at the airport and the moment I saw them, I started to cry. I didn't realize how excited I would be to see them until I actually saw them.

Looking back, I don't know how I would have lasted 4 months without seeing my family. The fact that my mother didn't even approve of me leaving made me feel terrible. Having her see the sights in London and spending 10 days with my parents away from my friends was just what I needed halfway through the semester.  By the end of their trip, my mother admitted that she understood why I fell in love with London. She didn't even want to leave at the end of her trip.

This is a picture of our first adventure in London at the Tower of London. Can you tell that just a few hours previous, they got off a 6 hour flight from New York? Look at how happy they are in this picture. To think that she didn't want to fly because she was afraid. It's crazy how the things that hold us back are just the things that we need in our life. I am so proud of my mother and the courage that she had to leave New York and see the world. I can't wait for her next excursion across the pond!

You Can Fly, You Can Fly, You Can Fly

Think back to when you were a child. What was your favorite movie? Some of my favorite movies were made by Disney. Take Peter Pan. He never had to deal with issues, such as growing up. Similiar to Peter Pan, I never had to deal with issues as a kid. For example, airports are a huge issue to parents all around the world. When I was a kid, I used to love airports. It was easy to love airports since I didn't have to check-in, weigh my luggage, print my tickets, or put everything on the belt to be searched by TSA. All I had to do was wait on line besides my parents. I didn't know how much aggravation and stress a person could be under in an airport until I left for London.

I flew out of John F. Kennedy Airport in New York. The last flight that I took before this was to Orlando, Florida from Westchester Airport in New York. At Westchester Airport, you can show up 30 minutes before your flight and still make it (a little exaggerated, but it's been done before). Driving into JFK was a nightmare. Granted, my flight was at 6:20 pm, so we had to drive in the middle of the afternoon. Honestly, it doesn't matter what time you get to JFK it's always busy. Thankfully when we got inside the terminal, it wasn't too terrible. We went straight to the weights to make sure both of my luggages were 50 lbs. or under. At that point, there wasn't much else to do with my parents and sister but say goodbye. I didn't know it was going to be hard to leave my parents. I've gone on a few trips without my family but never for 4 months. After the tears and hugs, I breezed through check-in and security. Unfortunately no one I knew was on my flight there, so I waited by myself. I made a few phone calls to family members and friends and waited for my incredible journey to Heathrow.

Heathrow is one of the most amazing airports I've ever been to.  It's clean, organized, and the people are friendly. I arrived in Heathrow at 7:00 am the next morning, and the bus to our flats was not picking us up until 12:00 pm. I ran into one of my flatmates who also arrived extremely early, so we sat and got breakfast together. I was very overwhelmed when we ordered our breakfast because everything was in pounds. It was a good thing that I converted some dollars into pounds before I left for London. There are also so many shops in Heathrow that are duty free so you don't have to pay taxes on the very expensive items you are purchasing.

Transportation to and from Heathrow is very easy. There are many ways to do it. First, there is the Heathrow Express. This is an overground train that runs from the airport to Paddington. This is the quickest way to get into central London and the second most expensive. A one-way ticket is 21 pounds, which is about $33. The next option is the tube. The tube is about 4 pounds one-way and will take you from Heathrow to many tube stations in central London. However, this will take about an hour and a half. The third option is to book a bus, either National Express or Easy Bus. Although not the most reliable, it is cost efficient and takes a little less time than the tube. The last option would be to take a cab. The most expensive option, this will take you directly to your flat and will be the second quickest way to get to your final destination.

There are other airports in London that I used to travel throughout Europe. The other airports are Stansted and Gatwick. I've never flown out of Gatwick. I frequently flew out of Stansted because it had the cheapest airlines. RyanAir is an extremely cost effective airline that flies to many major cities in Europe. My flight to Dublin was $20 on RyanAir. However, the seats are uncomfortable, the flights never depart on time, and if your bag doesn't fit in overhead storage you are forced to pay an absurd amount of money. The only way to get to Stansted is by bus or cab. Everytime we had a flight from Stansted, our cab was 60 pounds. Despite this, the cost of traveling evened out since our flights were so cheap.

My recommendation is to go flight shopping before you impulse book a flight from London. There are so many ways to get around Europe and you can definitely find cheap ways to travel if you spend enough time researching flights, trains, and buses. I took a bus from London to Amsterdam for $15 and a bus from London to Paris for $35. Although very long and uncomfortable, I got to save money! If anyone needs any specific recommendations for a trip they already have planned or for future trips, please contact me!

What Not To Do in London

All of my previous blog posts have been about my favorite aspects of London and why the city is a great place to visit. Although I believe that London is a wonderful place to live and start one's career, there are definitely ways to not act or things to not do before entering the city. I wish I knew what not to do before I left for London for 4 months. It's inevitable that in large cities, such as London, there are going to be many tourists that flood the streets. In the beginning of my study abroad in London, I really didn't know the norms of how people act. For anyone visiting London in the future, these are some ways in which you can avoid being seen as a tourist.

Transport Advice

You will definitely be spotted out as a tourist if you don't read this advice. I've mentioned this before, but I don't think I can stress it enough. You must stand on the left side of the escalator if you want to stand still. The right side of the escalator is for walking up or down. Especially during peak hours of the day when people are rushing to get to work, the locals are very adamant about this rule. There are no signs for this rule anywhere. It's an unspoken rule that has been passed down for generations. Another tidbit would be to walk away from the top of the escalator. Many tourists wait at the top and try to figure out which exit to use. It's much easier if you move to the side and discuss what you want to do in a less busy section. It's also important to note that the Tube is more expensive during peak hours. Try to plan your journey during the middle of the morning. This will allow you to enjoy your traveling instead of getting angry from the busy Tube rides. 

Walking Advice 

It's not a secret that New Yorkers are fast paced in every way possible. The lifestyle in London is very similar to that of New York. People don't like slow walkers. I know it's hard not to walk at a slower speed in a new city because you want to sink everything in that you see. If you see something that you want to stop and stare at, please move into a less crowded area. The locals treat the sidewalk like a street: walk on the side you would drive on. The city of London has very wide sidewalks, making it easy to have some room between people. I found that Londoners don't have very much emotion or like to be close to people. If you act like you know what you're doing, you'll be set! 

Eating Out Advice

The one stereotype about Americans that Europeans are completely spot on about is that we are LOUD people. When we go out to eat, we like to laugh and enjoy our company as loud as we can. London is very different from this. When my friends and I went out to eat in London, we were by far the loudest in all of the pubs. It's very awkward when strangers give you the stink eye because they know that you are American just from the decibel level of your voice. Although listening to live music in a pub in London is so much fun, remember who you are surrounded by. 

Safety Advice 

Even though pick-pocketing is more notorious in eastern Europe, it is still possible that it can happen to you in London. Keep your cell phone, wallet, and any valuable items out of sight when walking the streets of London. When you are at outdoor markets or crowded touristy areas, double check to see that everything is stored safety in your purse or your pockets. One of my flatmates was eating lunch outside on High Street Kensington (one of the more "posh" places in London) and her backpack was sitting at her feet. She looked at the waiter to order her sandwich, and when she looked down, her backpack was stolen. She lost her computer, wallet, and books within 1 minute of looking away. It truly can happen to anyone anywhere.

Although some of this advice may seem obvious, you will find yourself waiting in the middle of a Tube station not knowing where to go and with everyone glaring at you for hogging the escalator entrance. Follow the above advice and you will sail your way through the beautiful city!

Interview with Helen Walshe

When my parents came to visit me during October 2014, they stayed in a Hilton Hotel in Kensington. It was the perfect location for us because it falls directly in between my campus and my flat. My parents have never been to London before and I have only been in the city a couple of months beforehand. I wanted to show them the most famous attractions in London before they explored the outskirts of the city. Unfortunately, my parents came to London in the beginning of the week, so I couldn't take off time from class to visit with them. The woman at the concierge desk was extremely helpful in giving my parents tips on what tours to go on and such. For example, my mother wanted to go see the Cotswolds, Oxford, and Cambridge. Helen Walshe, the concierge at the time, made my parents the happiest tourists that week. She was energetic, organized, and always willing to give us restaurant suggestions. At the end of the trip, she gave us her contact information and assured us that if we were ever to come back to London, she would give us more recommendations for places to visit. I wanted to reach out to her again and ask her who she really is and find out her life story. Below is my interview with Helen Walshe.

CM: Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today, Ms. Walshe. I know it was hard to find a time to speak with the time change.

HW: Oh, not a problem at all dear! It's a pleasure to speak with you again and connect after a few months.

CM: Great! I was wondering if you could tell me a little about your life and how you got to where you are now.

HW: Sure. Well, I grew up in Ireland, actually, in a small town called Donard in County Wicklow. It's all grassland with a very small village and every single person in the town knows each other. Although my mother still lives there, I wanted to get out and live in a big city. So, I attended university in Dublin and received my degree in accounting. During this time, it was incredibly difficult to find a job in the field of accounting. I tried to see if I could make the jump over the pond to America, but my accounting degree wouldn't have transferred. I would have had to re-do my university studies, which was something I just couldn't afford. The next best thing to America in my mind was London. I moved over a few years after university and started to job hunt. Although it wasn't easy leaving my family, I needed to see for myself what was beyond County Wicklow.

CM: Wow, that's crazy. Even though I was abroad for 4 months, I really missed my family. I don't know how you did it.

HW: It was hard in the beginning, especially because I knew no one in London and had no job. That's when I started to look into hotels.

CM: Oh, that's interesting. How did that happen?

HW: It sounds really random and I'm not too sure how it happened. It almost just fell into my lap. You see, since I didn't have a job at the time, I had so much time to explore London. I had the chance to see some darling "off-the-beaten-path" pubs and shops. It was such a freeing time to not have a worry in the world. I knew it couldn't last forever, so I decided to try and combine my knowledge of the city and the lessons I learned at university from accounting. I started to walk into hotels and ask them if they had any job openings. I got my first job as an Accountant at the Bayswater Inn Hotel. I was able to use my accounting degree and still have friendly interaction with visitors to London.

CM: Honestly, the hotel business is the perfect job for you because you are so friendly and welcoming to strangers (like my parents and myself)! It's funny, I'm an accounting major at my university in New York City and accountants are known to be dry and boring. In my opinion, we contradict that stereotype. Tell me more about your experiences at this hotel.

HW: Wow, it's quite interesting that the view of accountants on both continents are similar. Anyways, I loved working at the hotel. It let me us my knowledge of accounting. As time went on, I got promoted to Manager and Accountant at the hotel. It was quite an experience because I came from having no job to managing a hotel in London. Around 5 years later, I wanted something different. I thought I could use my experience with roaming the streets of London by myself to a higher degree. That's how I ended up at my job at the Hilton Hotel in Kensington.

CM: It's really refreshing to hear that I don't have to use my accounting degree strictly for accounting jobs. I think you have a great personality to interact with visitors to London. You were great with my parents and me who really didn't know our way around London.

HW: The great part about my job is that I get to meet some unique people from all over the world. I haven't really traveled outside the UK, so I love getting to speak with Australians, Germans, Italians, Americans, and so much more.

CM: I never really thought of the hotel business to be a networking opportunity. I mean, I got in contact with you after a few months and just a few interactions between each other!

HW: Exactly! It's nice that my two daughters get to work in the hotel with me. They are able to help out with check-in. It's quite expensive to travel outside the UK, so their interactions with the world happens right here in London.

CM: That's awesome that you get to keep your career inside the family. Do you ever think of switching hotels or retiring after so many years?

HW: I think once I stop thinking of "cool" or "trendy" places to visit in London is when I'll let a younger girl take over my position.

CM: So kind of you! Well, I want to thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me. Next time I'm in London, which I hope is very soon, I'll definitely stop by to visit!

HW: Anytime! It's been so nice to speak to you and to share my experiences in London. If I ever make my way across the pond, I'll give you a ring. Cheers, then!

CM: Looking forward to it!


There you have it, folks! She truly is the epitome of a local Brit. It's incredible that she had courage to leave her family in her village in Ireland and explore the United Kingdom. She finds pride in the work that she does. Even with an accounting degree, she believes that the hotel business is where she belongs. Helen Walshe is an inspiration for all of the aspiring Accountants out there who don't think that's the career path for them!

London at Fordham

Before attending Fordham my freshman year, I was assigned a random roommate. The only characteristics that I knew about this girl was based off of the roommate survey that I took a few months before. I knew from the survey that she liked to go to bed early and that she was neat and organized. A week before school began, I received an email from Fordham stating the name of my roommate. Her name was Laura Mahmoudian. Just like any other student who was assigned a random roommate, I went on Facebook to try to find pictures of her. Unfortunately, she did not have a Facebook profile at the time. She was nowhere to be found on social media. At this point, I started to freak out. A few days before school began, I received an email from Laura introducing herself. She is originally from London and moved to the United States when she was 10 years old. Her mother is from Ireland, her father is from Iran, and they met in London at university. She has a twin sister that also attends Fordham with us. I was so excited to hear that my roommate was from London. I thought it was going to be the coolest thing that my roommate is European.

On the first day of freshman year, I met Laura for the first time. The first thing that struck me was her accent. Even though she has lived in America for half of her life, her accent was so strong at our first interaction. As she started to decorate the room, I noticed all of her pictures were from London. Her family still owns a flat in Ealing Broadway in West London, where they spend every summer. She has pictures at Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, and on the London Eye. One day, she asked me to grab her "trousers". At first, I was confused. However, in London, pants are called "trousers". At the end of each text she sent me, she replied "Cheers!". Instead of saying, "That sounds great" to going out to dinner, she would say, "That sounds grand!". In small and subtle ways, she brought the atmosphere in London to our room on Fordham's campus. Each day I spent with Laura, I learned more and more about London. She was one of the many reasons why I chose to study abroad in London. She would tell me stories of her days in the city and the magic she felt while walking the streets of London and I couldn't wait to cross the pond. 

Above is a picture of my roommate Laura and me in London. 3 years after our first day of freshman year, we became best friends. She was studying abroad in Paris when I was in London. At the end of October, she came to visit me for a weekend. It was so interesting to see her interact in London. She always spoke about the city, but I never had the chance to see her in London. Her accent was strong and she was so happy. She was truly in her element during our weekend in London.  Our dream is to move to her flat in London in 3-5 years for a short amount of time and enjoy the city in our 20s. Wouldn't that be grand? 

How To Be a Real London Local: London Survival Guide

There are many "How To" lists that I can create about living in London and experiencing the city. There are so many differences between London and the U.S. I truly don't know where to begin. The closest city in the U.S. I can compare London to is New York, but like I previously said, there are still distinct differences that makes it hard to judge which city is better. After reading this "How To" list, you will be ready to walk through London like you own it!

Oyster Card - This is a London MUST! If you are a London student, you will be able to get a discounted monthly subway card. Even if you are visiting London for just a week, I would recommend purchasing a weekly pass because you can swipe in or out as many times that week as you want. Exploring London is an easy process after receiving an oyster card

Pound vs. Dollar - And I'm not talking about "lb" pounds! When you arrive in the airport, do not take pounds out of any ATM machine. The exchange rate in airports is much higher than in a regular bank ATM machine. I took out pounds before I left for London. I recommend this because I was able to purchase a cup of coffee or a sandwich at the airport. Don't use a debit card when you are abroad because criminals are easily able to steal your information. Call your bank and tell them you are traveling abroad so they know where you are.

Go to a Sporting Event - The Brits are passionate about English football. When I was abroad, I had the opportunity to take a tour of Chelsea Football Stadium, which was amazing. In order to attend a football match, you must sign up online to be a member of Chelsea Football Club. It is a 50 pound registration fee on top of the price of the tickets. Although expensive, this is a once in a lifetime experience!

Local Pubs - As you walk down the streets of London, you will pass by various pubs that have the same exact menu. If you take a turn off the beaten path in a small town in London, you will experience a local pub with a true British atmosphere. In any pub you visit, if you didn't order Fish and Chips and there wasn't live music, did you really go to a pub?

Shopping - If you really want to act like a local, don't go to Harrods. Yes, it is a great place to visit and see during Christmas time. However, if you're not a millionaire than the only thing you will be able to purchase is a cup of tea. Go to Portobello Road Market and stop in each mom-and-pop shop. You will be sure to find unique antiques and souvenirs. Below are pictures I took from Portobello Road Market.



Dry Humor - After working and interacting with pure-breed Londoners, I now understand their humor. Don't be alarmed if they are very sarcastic in a self-depreciating way. If they are poking fun at you, that's a good sign. I would join right on in with their version of fun.

Tea or Coffee - Living in the northeastern part of the United States, Dunkin Donuts has become my second home.  Now that I am working a full time job and taking a full course load in college, coffee has become my oxygen. It was quite difficult to adapt to tea. There is no such thing as a cup of coffee in London (unless you want to pay $7.00 for a grande at Starbucks). Cappuccinos and lattes are popular, but it's no cup of coffee. Switching from coffee to tea acted as a sort of cleanse for me. This is the perfect way to immerse yourself in British culture.

There you have it! The perfect "How to" successfully make your way through London. 

British Professors vs. American Professors

Now that I am pretty deep into my blog about London, I haven't even spoken about my classes or my professors. I was so wrapped up in exploring the city of London and other European cities that I forgot about school! Even though it seems like I spent most of my days in walking through Hyde Park or shopping on High Street Kensington, I took a full course load when I was in London. Since I attended a Fordham University program, I was required to take 5 classes. I had class 3 days a week with Mondays and Fridays off for traveling to other cities in Europe. Out of my 5 professors that I had while abroad, 4 of them were British. My British professors taught Investments and Security Analysis class (finance), Philosophical Ethics, Ethics in Business, and British Writers. All of these professors had similarities and differences to American style teaching.

To start off, the biggest difference between American and British schooling is the grade system. In America, anywhere between 90-100 is considered an A, 80-89 is in the B range, 70-79 is in the C range, and so on... In England, it is quite impossible to receive an A. The British professors did not believe in office hours, where students spend extra time with the professor if they are confused about a topic or want to go over a paper. The most time that one of those professors would spend after class is 15 minutes to briefly discuss any issues or questions that the students had. Despite their lack of enthusiasm towards students, these professors were extremely passionate about the subjects they taught. I truly believe that the culture in London is geared toward history and this plays a significant role in the style of teaching in the U.K.

My British Writers professor (I won't disclose the name) was the most passionate and inspirational professor I have interacted with abroad. He spoke with such poise and pleasure when our class discussions revolved around Shakespeare that he made me enjoy reading Macbeth. Although American professors have a significant amount of experience before they start teaching, it seemed evident that the English professors in the U.K. spent time working with famous playwrights and actors, such as Judy Dench, which proved their knowledge of British writers and their influence.

Not only is there a difference between the teaching styles in America and London, but there is a difference in the students. American students want the highest possible grade they can get. They don't think about what grade they deserve. All they want is a high GPA. On the other hand, British students want to learn and spend the time studying and really getting to understand the material being tested. I'm not saying that American students don't want to learn, but I am saying that they want to learn in the easiest way possible.

After having both of these experiences, I really can't say which teaching style I prefer. I do have to say that for me, I was taught by British professors in a class filled with American students. There were many other factors that affected my view of British vs. American style teaching. For example, some students weren't as focused on our classes since we were abroad and many were interested in traveling to as many countries as possible. I would love to sit down with one of my British professors and get to know their perspective on teaching a class of American students.

Oh The Places You'll Go

When my parents came to visit me in London, we decided to take a trip to a small town in London called Hampstead. Our neighbor in Connecticut has a daughter that lives in this town, so we reached out to her and got lunch at this darling pub called The Holly Bush. The 18th Century designed pub creates rustic atmosphere on the inside. With ornate etched glass panels and authentic wooden floors, the interior design creates a traditional England experience. The real fire burning displays a local nostalgia for visitors. Hampstead is one of my favorite places in London to visit because it is a quiet, serene, and quintessential England town in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city. This town was exactly what I imagined England to be like.

I wanted to quickly talk about The Holly Bush because it is one of the many things that my favorite blogger and I have in common. Whenever I look for inspiration, I look no further than one of my favorite London bloggers A Lady in London. Her story is very similar to the path I want to take in my life. She left the corporate finance world and decided to pursue what she was truly passionate about: travelling and writing. She is an expat who uses her blog to describe her transition from America to the UK. Everything about her blog reminds me of London. The way she designed her blog, the color scheme, and the way she writes each post illustrates what life in London is actually like. When I was reading her blog and saw her post about Hampstead, a smile radiated on my face. I was so excited to see that one of her posts was about this lovely England town.

Reading her post about Hampstead has opened my eyes to what this little village has to offer. I've only visited Hampstead a few times during my time in London and spent most of the day on High Street, window shopping and grabbing tea at local cafes. I didn't know that the true charm of Hampstead was off the beaten path. She wonderfully laid out all of the enchanting sites to see that a tourist wouldn't be looking for. For example, she writes in her blog post that there is a tiny museum called the Fenton House tucked away in around the corner from High Street. Like the rest of Hampstead, the vibrant colors of the house attracts guests to walk down the classic England location. This post alone has made me wonder about all the places I didn't see during my time in London.

Overall, I believe that her blog is a great representation of London and what the city means to an American. After her first year of blogging, she wrote a piece discussing how Thanksgiving is celebrated every Sunday in London. Sunday Roast was a tradition that she had to adapt to. In the blog, she posted pictures at The Holly Bush of the Sunday Roast that she ordered. Although her posts may be short, they have detail and personality. She knows how to captivate an audience through her blog. I haven't met her, but reading her posts allows me to see a glimpse of her expat life. 

Bring Back The Beatles

Remember my post regarding The Beatles and how these amazingly talented men changed music forever? Well, I wanted to follow-up on my post We Love Them, Yeah Yeah Yeah... Everyone is always saying that Wikipedia posts are constantly being edited and revised. I wanted to see if this was accurate. I visited the webpage that had the post on Popular Music in London, and nothing was changed. It was exactly the same. Honestly, I was and wasn't surprised at this. I hoped to see some more excitement about The Beatles and some other artists that changed the face of music in the 1960s, but people in our generation don't understand the hype and hysteria over the band. Youth today can't listen to an entire song without getting bored. Additionally, music today sounds exactly the same. Take for example Taylor Swift. Originally country artist, now pop singer, sweeping the nation with her blonde hair, red lipstick, and long skinny legs. All of her songs sound exactly the same: same rhythm, music, and sometimes lyrics. This never happened with The Beatles. Every single song is incredibly unique and sends a different message to the audience. This band created a music revolution that is still going on today. I can't compare one band today with The Beatles. I may feel more strongly about this than others because my mother has been obsessed with The Beatles since I can remember. She told me stories about how their lyrics helped her get through difficult times. She taught me how to connect with the music and truly listen to the message of each song. Unfortunately, music today is raunchy and isn't really "music". My taste in music is classic rock and slow, relaxing music such as The Kooks or La Rocca. Sometimes it's fun to listen to crazy dance music. But those songs don't mean anything. I believe that music has the power to bring people back to life and happiness. If that's what The Beatles did for my mom and millions of others, I know it can happen to me one day.

This is a video of the way women and men acted when they were around The Beatles. The craziness happens at 1:20.

How can people bring back The Beatles today? Is there a way to show the youth of America how their music impacted the songs of today?

London vs. Europe

I wanted to follow-up on a previous post regarding the Pros and Cons to London. I spoke about my favorite aspects and my not so favorite aspects of the city. In addition to this, I wanted to speak about how London compares to the other cities I visited in Europe. When I was abroad, I travelled to 11 cities in 10 countries. It was quite a lot to handle in a matter of 4 months. I definitely saw differences between London and the cities that I visited in Europe. For example, the city of London is completely English speaking, while the other cities I visited were native speaking cities. Just this little difference made my experience in each city vastly unique. I had to learn how to adapt to the culture of Prague, Budapest, Paris, and Venice in a matter of a couple of days. I didn't want to embarrass myself in these cities, so I had to observe the way people acted around me to learn how they ordered food or asked a local for directions. In London, I felt like I could go up to anyone and just ask where to go and they would point me in the right direction. The city that I had the most trouble with translations was Munich, Germany. Purchasing tickets for the subway system in Munich from the airport took years off of my life. Not one person I asked knew English or even had a clue what I was talking about. That's why I loved London so much: I don't speak any other languages, so finding my way around the city was quite easy and accessible as a foreigner. Language was one of the hardest barriers I had to overcome when traveling through European cities.

Another difference between London and the cities I visited was the food. I have to say, the food in London gets quite boring and is the same in every pub you go to. I loved how unique the food was to each city. In Paris, all I ate were Croque-Monsieur sandwiches. In Venice, I had the freshest pesto pasta I could ever imagine. In Budapest, I ate goulash soup for the first time ever (and it was amazing). I think if I had one more steak and ale pie in London, my mother wouldn't recognize me. I wish the cuisine in London was more exotic and diverse. The people are certainly diverse, but the food tended to be consistent throughout the city. It was either meals that I could find in New York or pub food. Europe is great in the way that each city's food is specific to the culture, which I didn't find to be the case in London.

Although London has many amazing aspects that attract so many visitors to the city, Europe has a rustic and authentic feel that London is beginning to lose. I think that this has to do with the fact that many U.S. business firms are focusing on the global mindset. Many firms are transitioning their national office to the U.K. This blend of cultures would never happen in Rome or Prague, where there is so much history ingrained in the surrounding area. There is so much magic in the architecture and beauty of Europe that London and the U.S. will never gain.

What's Going On in London This Week?

The only people that I knew in London were my Fordham friends who were studying abroad with me. I had no distant relatives or family friends who I could ask, "what fun things can I do in London this week?". The first weekend that I was in London, I didn't know where to go or what to do. My friends and I did some research and found two amazing websites that were great for exploring the city during the day and night.

For those of you who are interested in museums, tours, and historical attractions, Visit London is a wonderful source for foreigners to use as a London guide. This website will tell you which museums to visit, what hotels to stay in, where to buy cheap tickets for Broadway shows, and what is going on in London during the week you are visiting. I would say that this website is for the older crowd who aren't into the night life scene. For those interested in night life and fun, trendy things to do in the city, Time Out London is the place for you. This website will tell you which pub crawls are the most popular, which bands are in the city and where they are playing, and what clubs to go to.

The Visit London webpage is set up for an older, more sophisticated audience and is very easy to navigate. I found it useful for visiting museums and quirky historical events happening in the city. This website is very family oriented and is a great resource to use if you are bringing small children to London. If you are on a tight budget, there is even a section for free events to do in London!

The main page describes what the site has to offer, "There are so many things to see and do in London every day. Here is our pick of the best things to do in London this weekend, including hot new shows, exhibitions, and family events". 

The Time Out London webpage was perfect for students my age because of the contrasting colors on the webpage that catches the reader's eye. This website was full of fun and exciting events for the younger generation, such as rooftop film clubs and must-do events during all the seasons of the year. Some of the titles of articles on this website include, "The Best New Bars and Pubs in London",  "London's Best Rooftop Bars", and "Ten Bars for a Quiet Tipple". This website provides fun events for any type of young person visiting London.

I would definitely check out both websites before jetting across the pond to have the ultimate adventure of a lifetime!

The Royal Baby 2.0 Christening

Today was such an exciting day across the pond! Prince William and Duchess Catherine Middleton's first daughter, Princess Charlotte, was christened. I have been following the royal family religiously since William and Kate got married in 2011. I believe that Kate is an inspiration to all women. She came from a common family, met Prince William at university, fell in love, and had to learn to walk the walk and talk the talk in Buckingham Palace. I couldn't imagine the pressure she felt from the people of England. She went from living a normal life to living a royal life. She's truly making Princess Diana a proud mother.

There are two exciting days for Londoners when a royal baby is born: the day of birth and the day of the christening. When both Prince George and Princess Charlotte were born, the way that William and Kate presented their children to the world were very similiar. On both of the days that their children were born, William and Kate came outside the hospital wing and greeted the world with their newborns for a couple of minutes and drove off in their black Range Rover to spend the rest of the day in private. As for the day of the christening for both children, the ceremonies were quite different.

Here is a video of the way Prince George was presented on the day of his christening:

Here is a video of the way Princess Charlotte was presented on the day of her christening:

As you can see, these presentation were drastically different. Princess Charlotte was christened in St. Mary Magdalene Church, 110 miles north of London, where Princess Diana was baptized in 1961 and where she was buried in 1997. Prince George was baptized in St. James' Palace in central London. For Princess Charlotte's ceremony, tourists are allowed to share the occasion with the royal family by standing near the wooden-arched gate of the church. For Prince George's ceremony, tourists were pushed up aganist the doors of St. James' Palace.

It seems like Princess Charlotte's christening was a much more intimate ceremony, located far away from central London in a place that is close to the family's heart. I'm still wondering why the royal family hasn't shown an up-close picture of Princess Charlotte like they did with Prince George at the christening. Is it because they have a girl? Does the royal family want to keep Princess Charlotte close and safe because this is the second girl related to the family by blood after Princess Diana?

Please comment below with your thoughts!

Clothing in London

Ever since I can remember, my mother has called me a "shop-o-holic". I love purchasing a new outfit for special occasions. There's a certain type of joy that comes in buying a new outfit for school, holidays, birthdays, etc....My mother was not too thrilled when I told her I needed a new wardrobe for London. If I was there for a few weeks, I wouldn't have bought anything new. However, living there for 4 months required a shopping trip. When I was packing for London, I stuffed a duffle bag inside my checked luggage because I knew that the shopping in London was top of the line.

My university was located on High Street Kensington. This is a very posh area that is known for its shopping. During my breaks in between classes,  I would walk down High Street and browse the shops. By the end of the semester, I had to pay $200 at the airport for my extra luggage that was filled with all the new clothes that I bought. The style in London is completely different from where I grew up in Connecticut. At home, my style is preppy, classic, and clean-cut. I wear bright colors like salmon, turquoise, pink, blue, and some neutrals. I bought a trench coat, hunter boots, and a Barbour Coat before I left for London because that is what I believed to be the style there. When I arrived in London, everyone was wearing black. Some people wore dark jeans, black nike running sneakers, and either a neutral or black top. Don't get me wrong, there were some people wearing trench coats, Hunter boots, and Barbour Coats. However, when I travelled to Scotland, the style there was much more of what I expected it to be in London.

The shops that I went to in London the most were Zara and H&M. Although we have these stores in America, the type of clothes in the European version of these stores are made with much better quality and are a little bit cheaper. My favorite pieces of clothing that I bought from Zara was a black peacoat and 3 fall patterned scarves. My favorite piece of clothing I bought from H&M was a black long sweater with leather sleeves from the Venice, Italy store.

When I came back to America, I incorporated my preppy style with my London style. This turned into me wearing my tall brown boots, dark jeans, the sweater from H&M, and my Barbour coat. I now believe that I found my style that I will wear for the rest of my life and one that is truly me.

Classic London in One Picture

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of London? If you asked me that question, I would say Big Ben. Ever since I was a young child, I have wanted to see Big Ben in person. I had this video game that was set in London, and one of the levels involved a scavenger hunt around Big Ben. I always saw this magnificent structure through a video game, but never in person. Another structure that came to mind was the red telephone booths. In the U.S, we have public telephones, but they do not define what makes America unique. These red telephone booths are all around London. The first time I spotted one was in one of my favorite movies, The Parent Trap.  In a few scenes throughout the movie, viewers see a glimpse of what life is like in London.  The mother's house in London, walking through the outdoor mall, the weather changing from beautiful sunny to pouring rain, and having afternoon tea with the grandfather. Therefore, Big Ben and the red telephone booths were items that I believe are what make London unique.

When I decided to study abroad, I was ecstatic that I would be able to see these two structures in real form.  I began to research typical things to do as a foreigner in London, and somehow came upon this picture:

After seeing these two quintessential London structures in person, I believe that this picture sums up what a typical day in the city is. We see the red telephone booth with a beautiful view of Big Ben in the background. You can tell from the shiny ground and the overcast sky that it had just finished raining (which happens all the time in London). On the right is the entrance to the Westminister tube stop, which has access to the District and Circle lines that can take you to many locations throughout London.  I love how in this picture, London looks very gloomy and un-appealing to the naked eye, but the red telephone booth brings the city to life. It almost looks as if the telephone booth is the heartbeat to London and the telephone booth keeps the city alive. The neutral colors in the background makes the telephone booth a striking red color. With all the experiences that I have encountered in London, the telephone booth creates a channel of communication between two people from across the world. The fact that I can call anyone and tell them that as I speak with them I am looking at Westminster Abbey and Big Ben is wild and crazy to think about.  As I look and analyze this picture, I think about all the memories had at this location and wish I was back in this beautiful city. 

Transportation in London

Now that I have discussed all of my favorite places to go in London, you're going to need to know how to get there. The only way to go is The Tube. There are 5 main tube lines in London that you are going to need to know to travel around London in the most efficient and timely manner.

The Bakerloo Line is the line I used most throughout my time in London. This is where Warwick Avenue (my flat) and Little Italy is located. From this line, you can transfer at Paddington and take the District or Circle Lines to High Street Kensington (where my university was located), Baker Street (many different restaurants located here), Notting Hill, King's Cross St. Pancreas, and Sloane Square (where Harrods is located).  From these two lines, you can go to these famous locations:

Circle or District Line ~ get off at Monument = Tower Bridge, Tower of London

Circle or District Line ~ get off at Westminster = Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, London Eye

On both of these lines, you can get off at Victoria to see Buckingham Palace.

The Victoria Line stops at Green Park, which you can exit to also see Buckingham Palace. The Oxford Circus station is where all the shopping is in London. This line has the King's Cross St. Pancreas station, which is popular for those wanting to travel outside of London and for those wanting to take the train to Paris.

The last stop I want to discuss is the Jubilee Line. This line has many stops that are popular among tourists. For example, this line stops at Westminster, St. John's Wood (a 10 minute walk to my flat), Baker Street, Green Park, London Bridge, and Canary Wharf. KPMG, where I interned during my semester in London, is located in Canary Wharf. This location is similiar to the Wall Street of New York, and has a waterfront view. As you can see, from this line, you can get to many locations such as Buckingham Palace and the London Bridge.

I will show an example of how to get from my flat on Warwick Avenue to Canary Wharf, then from Canary Wharf to High Street Kensington.

Bakerloo Line to Baker Street Station

Jubilee Line to Canary Wharf Station 

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Jubilee Line to Westminster Station

Circle Line to High Street Kensington Station 

Once you spend a few weeks in London, transportation within the city is very simple to navigate. Each line has a certain color, so when you are in the Underground Stations, you will remember that brown is the Bakerloo Line or yellow is the Circle Line. Additionally, there is an app for the iPhone called CityMapper that is extremely useful for tourists. This app allows you to type in the Current Location and Destination and it will tell you which lines to take. Happy traveling! 

There's a Place on Warwick Avenue

Now that I have written about the most famous locations in London, I want to share with you my home in London. I had the pleasure of living at 29 Clifton Gardens, London W9 1AR. Clifton Gardens was located right around the corner from the Warwick Avenue tube stop. This area is also known as Maida Vale. This area of London is known to be very "posh" because of the exquisite homes and high income families that live in this area. I loved living in this area because right down the block from my flat was a cute little village with a few restaurants, a grocery store, and a few clothing stores. It was the ideal place for an American to live since it wasn't in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city. The area around Maida Vale was quiet, relaxing, and only a 20 minute tube ride to central London. Below is a picture of Clifton Gardens taken on my last day in London.

Maida Vale was in extremely close walking distance to some of my favorite parts of London. For example, Notting Hill was only a 25 minute walk from my flat. Notting Hill is famous for the Portobello Road Market, which is mainly held every weekend. The street is completely closed off on the weekends and is a large antique market. There is a food market with fresh fruit and various types of food trucks. My last week in London, I walked to Portobello Road and shopped for cute little trinkets to bring back for my dorm room to bring back some of London to Fordham.

Another fun aspect of Notting Hill is the Notting Hill Bookshop. Any readers Hugh Grant fans? Well, Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts starred in the movie Notting Hill, where Hugh Grant is a bookstore owner and falls in love with Julia Roberts, a movie start. The bookstore that Hugh Grant owns in the movie is in Notting Hill. Below is a picture of all my friends and I in front of the bookstore.

There is no other place in London that I would rather live. I got to call Maida Vale my home for 4 months, and I wouldn't replace it for the world. On Sunday mornings, my flatmates and I ate brunch at Baker and Spice, a restaurant right down the street from Clifton Gardens. We were able to walk to Abbey Road, Portobello Road, and Little Italy from our home. I'll never have an experience quite like living in this area with all of my friends. 

You're a Wizard, Harry!

In my last post, I mentioned the Harry Potter movie series. I should have mentioned earlier than I am a Harry Potter fanatic. I have seen five out of the eight movies the night before the movie premiered at midnight. I have been to Harry Potter World in Universal Studios Orlando twice. I own Hermione Granger's wand, a Harry Potter puzzle, Harry Potter monopoly, all eight movies on DVD, and the Marauder's Map showcased in the third movie. In fact, London is the place where J.K. Rowling chose to develop the series. The series truly came to life when I visited the various places in London that were previewed in the movies. Here is a list of the various places in London that are displayed throughout the eight movies:

• Warner Brothers Studios Tour London: I felt like a kid in a candy shop as I walked through the doors. When you arrive at the Watford Junction tube stop, there is a Harry Potter bus that transports visitors to the studio. I visited during Christmas Time, which made my experience even more magical. 

The picture to the left is me walking down Diagon Alley and the picture to the right is me in front of 4 Privet Drive.

• Platform 9 3/4: Although a fictional location since it is impossible to walk through a brick wall, the workers at King's Cross Station in London make this part of the movie seem very real. Pick your house scarf and take a picture as you imagine yourself traveling from the muggle world to the wizarding world. 

The picture above was taken at King's Cross Station.

• Millennium Bridge: Featured in the sixth movie, this bridge is shown collapsing in a dramatic opening scene as death eaters attack London. 
• Reptile House, London Zoo: Back when Harry Potter was unaware of his wizarding skills, this location is shown in the first movie where Harry first discovers his ability to speak with snakes. 
• Piccadilly Circus:  One of the most memorable scenes in the first installment of the final book, which presents Harry, Ron, and Hermione rushing through London's West End. 
• Leadenhall Market: One of the oldest markets in London, this indoor market located in the middle of the city was used as Diagon Alley in the first movie. The entrance to the Leaky Cauldron, a wizards' pub, is an optician's shop in Bull Head's Passage in Leadenhall Market, which was featured in the fourth movie. 
• Australia House: The only known bank of the wizarding world, Gringotts Bank, was filmed in the grand interior of the Australia House on Strand located in central London.

Visiting all of these locations brought the Harry Potter series to life.  Harry Potter was, and still is, a large part of my life. The series spanned from 2001 to 2011. Harry Potter entered my life when I was just six years old and left my life when I was a 17 years old. I felt as if I grew up with many of the characters in the series. I have to admit, it was a bit emotional walking through the Warner Brothers Studios and seeing all of the props used in the movies. Remember this: next time you visit London, pick one of the eight movies and see what London attraction was featured and visit. Watching the movies after visiting these places is an entirely different experience that will leave you in awe. 

11 Must-Do London Attractions

Before leaving for my semester in London, I gave myself zero expectations. I wanted to be completely and utterly blown away by the places I visited and the people I met in London. I am happy to say that the experiences I had at various attractions in London made me fall in love with the city. As I was looking through my pictures from my semester in London, I compiled a list of the best things to do in London.

1. The London Eye: This is a must do twice, during the day and night. The London Eye gives visitors a birds eye view of London's South Bank. You will see a spectacular and eye-dropping view of London that you will never forget. 
2. Buckingham Palace: Need I say more? Anyone who visits London and doesn't take a selfie with a British guard needs to get their priorities in order.
3. Kensington Palace/Hyde Park: I had the luxury of walking through Hyde Park and passing Kensington Palace everyday to class. This long path of green grass with the addition of a beautiful lake allows passersby to relax and enjoy the gardens surrounding them. You might get to see a glimpse of Prince George and newborn Princess Charlotte. 
4. St. Paul's Cathedral: One of the must-see churches in London, St. Paul's Cathedral has the third largest dome in the world. You must climb the 528 steps to the top in order to see breathtaking views of River Thames and my next must-see attraction.
5. Shakespeare's Globe Theatre: Both a working theatre and a museum, the Globe Theatre is a replica of the early 1600s theatre in which Shakespeare's plays were performed. 
6. Millennium Bridge: Many scenes in the beloved Harry Potter series were filmed in London, but the most famous scene was taken at this steel suspension bridge. From the Millennium Bridge, you get a perfect view of both St. Paul's Cathedral and the Globe Theatre. This bridge allows pedestrians to walk over the River Thames.
7. Houses of Parliament and Big Ben: Another attraction that you must visit during the day and at night, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are quintessential must-do London experiences. These iconic structures are worth visiting, despite the crowds and tourists. If you are interested, you can get a sneak peak of the political process and see men with old-fashioned wigs discuss political matters happening today. 
8. Westminster Abbey:  If you are like me and are a fan girl of Prince William and Duchess Catherine, this attraction is a no brainer. Walk the long stretch that Catherine Middleton did and visit the graves of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, just a round the corner from the previous must-do London attraction. 
9. Harrods: Any big shoppers out there? Harrods is the place to go! My favorite time to visit this massive high-end department store was during Christmas time. The beautiful Christmas lights and wonderfully decorated boutiques inside Harrods brought Christmas to life. 
10. Tower of London: Located on the north bank of the River Thames, this historic castle has something for everyone. If you are a history junkie and want to learn more about the bloody tower's past, rent headphones and explore the tower at your own pace. If you are obsessed with the Royal family, take a walk through the Crown Jewels exhibition, where you will see items such as the Imperial State Crown, worn by the Queen for each State Opening at Parliament. 
11. Tower Bridge: Want an expansive view of the city? Exit the Tower of London and walk five minutes up the road at sunset to see a magical view of London.

Here are some pictures of my experience at some of the locations listed above. 

My selfie with a British guard :)

View of Tower Bridge at night 

View of Big Ben and Houses of Parliament from the London Eye

These 11 Must-Do London attractions were my favorite parts about the city. I visited these places more than three times because I could not get enough of the magnificent views and wealth of information that the tour guides offered. There are a ton more locations in London to visit, but these 11 places will definitely give first time visitors of London more than enough reasons to never leave the city. 

Top Museum in London: The National Gallery

Some of the most amazing tourist attractions of London are the magnificent museums. A few of the most famous museums include the British Museum, the Imperial War Museum, the National History Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. My favorite museum to visit was the National Gallery. The National Gallery houses the national collection of Western European tradition from the 13th to 19th centuries. The museum is open 361 days a year free of charge. It is also located in one of the most historic places in London, Trafalgar Square. 

The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square

For any readers who appreciate any type of art, the National Gallery is a must see destination. The museum is massive: you can block out an entire day to visit the National Gallery and won't be able to get through a quarter of what the museum has to offer. The National Gallery's collection contains over 2,300 works with artists ranging from medieval and Renaissance Italy to the French impressionists. The collections are broken up into four time periods: 13th to 15th century, 16th century, 17th century, and 18th to early 20th century. One of my favorite artists whose paintings are frequently displayed in the National Gallery is Claude.

Seaport with the Embarkation of Saint Ursula, Claude 

The National Gallery has wonderful placement of paintings and a great layout structure. Because the museum is so massive, the museum itself is very roomy. In the middle of the day during the museum's peak times, visitors can walk around without feeling trapped and can soak in the history of each painting. During my time abroad, I visited the National Gallery about six or seven times (still not having seen the entire museum), and I noticed that if you sit around the most famous paintings, such as Van Gogh's Sunflowers or Claude's Seaport with the Embarkation of Saint Ursula, a group of young students will surround the paintings, followed by a very informative tour guide. This is a great way to learn about each painting and see the reactions of young students to some of the most influential artists in the world. 

Because the National Gallery takes a good chunk of the day to visit, there is a National Cafe, Espresso Bar, and National Dining Room, which allows visitors to take a break and relax for a bit. Also, there is a gift shop to take back a souvenir of your favorite artist or painting. Every time I visited a museum, I would buy a postcard of a painting that was different and unique. At the end of my trip, I compiled all of my postcards from around Europe and created a book of memories. 

Before visiting the National Gallery, I highly recommend exploring the website for collections that you want to see. Plan your trip to the museum before you go so you have time to see all the paintings and collections that you are most interested in. You can spend an entire day getting lost in the art or looking for the most famous paintings. Do yourself a favor and save time by downloading a map and highlighting the places that you want to spend the most time in. Although it is free and you can always go back on a later day, there are other museums and attractions in London that you don't want to miss out on! 

We Love Them, Yeah Yeah Yeah...

As I was researching for a topic for this blog, I thought no further than to the first album my mother ever gave me, 1 by The Beatles, which is a compilation of the most powerful Beatles songs of all time. Growing up, my mother raved about her favorite band, The Beatles, from the first moment that I could say my first word. She was around 10 years old when The Beatles started to become famous. She had first hand experience to share with me regarding the changes that were happening in the world during The Beatles era (1960s-1970s). 

The Beatles recorded almost all of their albums in Abbey Road Studios, between 1962 and 1970. This recording studio is located in St. John's Wood, which is a section of Westminster, conveniently a 10 minute walk from my tube stop. Living in close proximity to Abbey Road was amazing because I was able to step back in time and feel the presence of The Beatles. This made me think of how the culture in London changed when The Beatles began recording music and gathering a fan base. The culture even extended to America, where the "Make Love Not War" slogan began to influence the way people lived. Beatles music was hypnotizing and gave people a breath of new life that the world desperately needed. 

When I was reading a Wikipedia article on the culture of London, I couldn't help but see that there was only a little blurb about The Beatles. Below is the wikipedia article.

London is famous for its rock scene, and was the starting point of some of the greatest 60s and 70s artists such as David Bowie, Iron Maiden, The Clash, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, The Sex Pistols, The Who, Pink Floyd, Queen, and popular 90s acts like Blur and Coldplay. Most major bands' tours will pass through London as well, favorite venues like Brixton Academy, the London Astoria, and the Hammersmith Apollo. In addition to spawning the bands mentioned above, London, in its capacity as the UK's cultural centre, has served as the base of a number of internationally important acts, including The Beatles, Elton John, Jimi Hendrix, as well as being instrumental in the birth of dance music. 

London is also known for spawning numerous massively successful pop acts; with The Spice Girls, Cliff Richard, and One Direction being especially note-worthy. London also has a thriving urban scene, mainly throughout the 21st century. Soul singers like Adele, Amy Winehouse, and Lemar have found themselves chart, and international success. R&B singers such as the Sugabebes, Leona Lewis, Taio Cruz, Jay Sean and Alexandra Burke are also extremely popular. London also has a strong rap scene; rappers including Wiley and Dizzee Rascal among others have helped contribute to London gaining the status of having the strongest rap scene outside of the USA. London is the home of one of the biggest underground scenes in the world. Genres include UK garage, Drum and bass, Dubstep, 2step and most notably, grime.

The Beatles had an immense impact on how music developed in London and this impact should voiced. Therefore, I decided to add to the article about my opinion regarding the band and its influence on the culture in London and throughout the world. 

London is famous for its rock scene, and was the starting point of some of the greatest 60s and 70s artists such as David Bowie, Iron Maiden, The Clash, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, The Sex Pistols, The Who, Pink Floyd, Queen, and popular 90s acts like Blur and Coldplay. Most major bands' tours will pass through London as well, favorite venues being the Brixton Academy, the London Astoria, and the Hammersmith Apollo. 

In addition to spawning the bands mentioned above, London, in its capacity as the UK's central centre, has served the base as a number of internationally important acts, including The Beatles, Elton John and Jimi Hendrix, as well as being instrumental in the birth of dance music. 

When discussing popular music in London, the first musical act that comes to mind to a majority of people around the world is The Beatles. Although the current generation of our population today were not alive when The Beatles revolutionized the world, they can still feel the effect that this group of incredibly talented men had on music and culture, beginning in London. Not only did the Beatles bring music to life, but they changed the way people dressed and how people lived their lives. For example, many young men during the 1960s wanted to grow their hair to their shoulders and wear collarless jackets because that's the fashion that The Beatles displayed to the world. McCartney, Starr, Harrison, and Lennon created an evolution in the '60s as anti-establishment acts were enacted. As The Beatles began to publicize their drug and alcohol consumption through songs such as "With a Little Help from My Friends" and "I am the Walrus", Woodstock culture became the next big thing. The Beatles were immensely influential because they started a musical revolution that is never ending. They proved to the world that love and music can go a long way. 

John Lennon once said, "The '60s saw a revolution... a whole new way of thinking. The Beatles were part of the revolution, which is really an evolution, and is continuing. We're all on this ship going to discover the New World. And The Beatles were in the crow's nest". The Beatles grasped the change that was coming and ran with it. They brought change to our world by instituting songs like "All You Need is Love' and "Come Together", showing the world that change is inevitable and all the world needs is peace, love, and community to be successful and prosperous. And to believe that this group of men met and began their careers in London...

London is also known for spawning numerous massively successful pop acts; with The Spice Girls, Cliff Richard, and One Direction being especially note-worthy.London also has a thriving urban scene, mainly throughout the 21st century. Soul singers like Adele, Amy Winehouse, and Lemar have found themselves chart and international success. 

R&B singers such as the Sugababes, Leona Lewis, Taio Cruz, Jay Sean, and Alexandra Burke are also extremely popular. London also has a strong rap scene; rappers including Wiley and Dizzee Rasacal among others have helped contribute to London gaining the status of having the strongest rap scene outside of the USA. London is the home of one of the biggest underground scenes in the world. Genres include the UK garage, Drum and Bass, Dubstep, 2step, and most notably, grime.

I truly believe that music is the most powerful tool of inspiration and influence. The Beatles were the start to the greatest bands of all time. Without these four men creating musical fusion, we would not have Aerosmith, Nirvana, or Stevie Wonder. The music that I listen to shapes my life, the people I surround myself with, and what I believe in. The Beatles were a part of that for me, and to walk the streets as Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr throughout my four months abroad brought music to life. 

To see the wikipedia page on Culture in London, click below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_London&action=submit