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.