Krysten Cooper is a student at Michigan Technological University and an ISA Featured Blogger. Krysten is currently studying abroad with ISA in London, England.
In just 11 short days I will be starting to journey to study at King’s College in London, England. Of course, the adventure of a lifetime does not come without some preparation (and pre-departure jitters). To help calm the nerves, I’ve been working on two things this week.
First, I’ve decided what luggage I want to bring and have filled it with all the items off of my packing list. In choosing luggage, a “nesting” set seems to be the ideal choice. My set has a large bag for checking, a medium carry-on bag, and a small travel bag. Having the ability to nest these together as needed will make traveling to and around England simple. Through packing them I was able to look at what I need to bring more realistically—those bags get heavy fast!
Secondly, studying maps and travel guides has been the easiest way to become familiar with London. A large map of London has been the best way to learn about the city. I took a large sharpie and marked important areas on the map, such as where my apartment is, where classes will be, and the easiest routes to and from those locations. I’ve found it useful to have travel guides from more than one publisher as each gives its own perspective. For instance, “Let’s Go” is a series written specifically for students studying or working abroad.
Great to hear you’ve come to study here in the UK! It looks as though you’re up for seeing other parts of the country too, which is good because I warn you… as amazing as London is, it’s not the ‘jolly old England’ you’ll probably want to see. Good luck! :)
Thanks for your insight, Connor! What parts of the country do you recommend to see the ‘jolly old England’?
Not a problem :) Some of the very old cities such as York, Salisbury or Canterbury each have impressive cathedrals and are full of history and character that might interest you? Then there’s the classical city of Bath and of course Oxford/Cambridge, which are musts… But I think a good way of seeing England is getting out into some of the beautiful countryside in the South West or in Yorkshire, for example, and just exploring the towns and villages that are marked on your maps or served by the railways… very brief I know!
That said, there is nowhere else on Earth like London so you’d be a fool not to see it! It’s just that London often feels more like an international city than an English city, which is why it’s worth visiting some of the others
Thanks for your detailed responses! Yes I certainly think all these places sound like wonderful spots to visit when venturing away from all the excitement of London. Thanks for the suggestions!
You’re welcome, good luck :)