In A London State of Mind

by Jenna Trotta, , December 28, 2006

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Destination: London

One year ago today, I flew on a Virgin Atlantic flight to London, to begin the best experience of my life. I was heading to London to start a study-abroad semester at London Metropolitan University. At the same time, I planned to travel around the UK and see as much of Europe as I could. What motivated me to go to London was a desire to live in another country and to travel around the UK and Europe. I always wanted to travel and I thought studying abroad would be a great experience that would enable me to study and live in another country. While studying at London Metropolitan University I had the opportunity to take the following courses: Art in London, Prose Fiction, Environmental Sociology, and European Imperialism.

Studying in London: challenges and rewards

Studying in London was a very different experience from studying in SUNY Cortland. During the first class, the professor handed out a 15-page syllabus that mostly consisted of books that were suggested for the class. I soon got the message that expectations for reading were different in London from in Cortland. As I read the syllabi, I noticed there was only one test that I would take. This told me that the main method of evaluation used for courses was the final paper. After reading this, I was in a state of panic because writing papers was not my strong point! However, by the end of the semester, I managed to write the papers and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Another thing that was different was that each class was three-hours long and only met once a week. Even though classes were long, it suited me because it gave me more time to explore London and travel at weekends. One thing I noticed was that the tutors in London expected students to be independent when working on assignments and papers. I discovered this when I asked a tutor to look over my paper and provide me with feedback to improve it. He told me that tutors did not do this and that I should know myself what needed to be done. When the tutor told me this I was shocked and angered, but I later realized that he was pushing me to work independently and to be self-reliant.

Grading was another area that was different in London from Cortland. After handing in my first paper for my English class, I met with the tutor to collect my paper and grade. When meeting with him, he told me that I had received 54% on my paper and that I did a “good job!” When he told me this I was in complete shock and very disappointed. He then explained that grading in London was different to the United States, and that a 54% was an average grade of “C”. This was one aspect of studying in London that I was definitely not used to and still to this day do not understand. However, I accepted the grade, what my tutor told me, and dealt with it. However, when I returned to Cortland I was relieved to see that my London grades were adjusted and converted back to Cortland equivalents.

Personal development through Study AbroadAs I reflect on my semester in London, I cannot believe how I have grown as an individual. When I first arrived in London, representatives from the university took me and my flatmates to our flat, gave us keys, a packet of papers and said to be on time at the orientation the next day! At that moment, I knew I would have to be independent and rely on myself to find my way around this huge, foreign city. I felt as though I was just a needle in a haystack. However, I was very impressed with own determination to survive and could not believe that I was able to explore a foreign city independently and, without the guidance of my parents. I was also surprised to find myself alone in London. I traveled around London sightseeing. I saw Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar square, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, London Bridge, Westminster Abbey, Kew Gardens, many different museums and art galleries and much more. If someone asked me before I left for London if I would wander around a city alone I would have said “No”. However, once I was in London and felt comfortable, I frequently traveled on buses and the underground “Tube” by myself and took everything in. Living in a foreign city forced me to become very independent and responsible and to grow as a young adult.

Travel Opportunities
While studying in London I had the opportunity to travel in the UK and Europe. Looking back on the semester I am amazed at all the different sights and cultures that I saw while traveling. I kissed the Blarney stone in Ireland, took a gondola ride in Venice, went to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, experienced the nightlife of Cardiff, and spent a day in a medieval castle in Scotland. Having the opportunity to travel to different countries and experience a taste of their culture opened my eyes in so many ways and made me realize how much I appreciate my own culture and where I live. I now appreciate my Cortland education and the grading system, professors and classes much more. I appreciate the food in the United States because I often found myself looking for my favorite meals from home that were not served in places I traveled to. I also appreciate driving my car because living in a city forces you to rely on public transport. Sometimes, it was not the most reliable method of transportation. Another thing I came to appreciate was my family and friends. I never realized how much I would miss them and was so happy to see them at the end of the semester. When I came home I was overwhelmed with excitement and joy to see them, but I had to go away to realize how much I missed and appreciated them.

The New Me
Before flying to London I had never before been on a flight without my parents. Whenever I traveled they were always there to book my tickets, show me where to go and what to do. However, when I was in London, I traveled to Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Paris, and Venice. Looking back on all of the traveling I did, I can honestly say I became an experienced and knowledgeable traveler. I grew to take more responsibility for myself more than I could ever have imagined. Even though I did not travel alone, except for one trip to Ireland, I am very surprised how I took the initiative to plan the trips, book them, go on them, and survive to tell my story. London forced me to grow as an individual, take major responsibility for myself, and enjoy life.

As I lie in bed today I can’t help thinking about how much I developed and experienced. It changed my life. When I boarded the plane to go to London I knew that it would be one of the best experiences of my life. I was expecting to learn and see many new things, but I never knew how drastically it would change my outlook. As a special education major, I can use my study abroad experience in my future career. I now appreciate other cultures in a different way, which will help me create a multicultural classroom and be sensitive towards all students’ cultures. I can also incorporate my own experiences into the classroom when talking about different countries and their cultures. The experience of studying abroad will have an impact on my life forever. One lasting influence is that I was fortunate to be asked by The British Council to serve as a UK Ambassador. This work involves giving presentations on campus about Study Abroad in UK and answering students’ questions about living abroad. I am very thankful that I had the opportunity to do study abroad in UK. This could be the very experience you are looking for, too!

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