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Story Location: England

  • Living and Learning History in the UK OR Learning When There is No Right Answer (OR: the true story of an I, the village idiot, survived two terms Oxford)

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    Living and Learning History in the UK OR Learning When There is No Right Answer (OR: the true story of an I, the village idiot, survived two terms Oxford)

    Studying abroad entails so many things: meeting new people, trying new things, travelling to new places, and, of course, studying! Now I understand what you’re thinking – I‘m flying halfway around the world for the experiences, not to study something that I can learn right here at college. And you’re right! And also, wrong. When you go…

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  • Food and Culture: Living as a South Asian in London

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    Food and Culture: Living as a South Asian in London

    Why London? Big Ben, the London underground, and torrential downpour. The things London is well-known for are wonderful, but not all there is to the city. Home to more than 8.5 million people, London is one of the main attractions in Europe.Most study abroad organizations market themselves to juniors and seniors, but as a rising…

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  • So You’ve Chosen to Study in England: A Guide to Picking a Uni

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    So You’ve Chosen to Study in England: A Guide to Picking a Uni

    3 Pros to Ditching The “Big City” Life: UK Edition Note to the reader: Picking a studying abroad program is all about personal preference. Every country and city has something unique to offer every individual. I spent a year and a half searching the internet and various leaflets until I decided on IFSA and then Leeds.…

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  • Five Things I Wish I Knew Before Studying Psychology in London

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    Five Things I Wish I Knew Before Studying Psychology in London

    When I started my semester studying psychology at University College London (UCL), I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Coming from a school that operates under the “block plan” (we only take one class at a time for 4 weeks), I knew it would be a new academic experience. However, I was not totally prepared…

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  • Differences between classes in the UK versus US

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    Differences between classes in the UK versus US

    Going into classes on my first day in London, I was nervous to see what was in store. I knew there were differences between the grading scales, I expected bigger classes, and I heard there were less tests. All of these were true. Difference #1: Arrival times I walked into my first class about 15…

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  • Black History Month in Northern England

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    Black History Month in Northern England

    Heritage months are a time for the public to learn, celebrate and focus on various, often marginalized populations within their communities. As a cultural studies major and more importantly, an African American woman, Black History Month holds a significant place in my heart. In the UK, Black History was launched in the 1980s, not surprisingly…

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  • Yes! Extroverts Get Culture Shock Too

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    Yes! Extroverts Get Culture Shock Too

    I had been anxiously awaiting my semester abroad so much that I didn’t sleep the night before my 7 a.m. flight to London. I’ll admit I was too tired to do my normal fidgeting on the plane but once I touched down in the U.K. I felt a wash of relief and assurance that the…

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  • From Regret to Optimism: Finding Common Ground in a Foreign Institution

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    From Regret to Optimism: Finding Common Ground in a Foreign Institution

    Re-posted with consent from Lea Morin and the Amherst Global Education blog, Beyond the Bubble: The overarching feeling I’ve had since my journey to London has been one of regret. Leading up to my departure, I was on campus working and observing the start of the Fall semester at Amherst as an outsider. I didn’t…

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  • 5 Lessons That I Learned 5 Years Later

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    5 Lessons That I Learned 5 Years Later

    After first visiting London as a tourist five years ago, I returned this year to live and study in the city for the semester, and oh what a different experience it has been! Here are five lessons I have learned over the past four months living in London…Location: Along River Thames near Tower Bridge.Lesson 1:…

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  • How To Overcome First Generation Hurdles While Studying Abroad

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    How To Overcome First Generation Hurdles While Studying Abroad

    Let me start by saying that I am a first-generation college student who grew up in poverty. I have also struggled with depression and anxiety for most of my life. At one point, I started failing classes and had to drop out of college for a year and a half. Studying abroad has always been…

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