Madeline Fitzpatrick, a sophomore SMAD major, has been spending her spring 2014 semester abroad in London! Now that she’s finishing up her semester, we asked her a few questions about her experience.
What made you interested in this program?
I’ve always wanted to travel the world, so I’d been waiting for the opportunity to study abroad! The tough part was deciding where to go…luckily JMU has some fantastic programs. I’ve always dreamt of visiting the UK, and I wanted to go to a city, so London was the perfect choice. The classes offered in London matched up perfectly with my SMAD major, and since I’m terrible with learning languages, the fact that they speak English made it a real winner.
What were some of your favorite memories of the semester?
I’ve wanted to visit Scotland since I was like 10 years old, so finally getting up there was amazing. I took a bus tour of the highlands with my mom and sister and it was the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. We were surrounded by green grass, trees, beautiful blue waters, and impossibly thick Scottish accents.
The Borough Market in London is this huge food market near the Thames River, and on the weekend it’s impossible to walk through because it gets so crowded. I think it’s my favorite place in London. There are so many different kinds of breads, cheeses, fruits, veggies, drinks, sandwiches, and so many options for a fresh lunch. My personal favorite place was the fresh gnocchi stand, followed closely by the bakery that sold cookies bigger than your face. I’ve spent a lot of happy afternoons at the Borough Market with friends, and I’ll definitely miss it.
How is living in London different from living in the US?
There are a lot of little things that differ from the United States…the different slang words, the delicious and weird snack foods and candy bars, the fact that everyone smokes. I love seeing people actually taking a lunch break and eating their sandwich in the parks, and I love seeing people sitting outside with friends and enjoying a pint after work–or any time of the day. While there might not be as much culture shock in London as there is in other cities, it’s been very interesting to learn about the English way of life.
Where else have you traveled this semester?
I’ve been lucky enough to travel to Prague, Czech Republic; Lisbon, Portugal; Edinburgh, Scotland; Paris, France; Stratford and Bath, England; and Dublin and Galway, Ireland.
What advice would you give someone who is living abroad?
Never waste a day inside on the computer! Even if you just spend an hour or two in a café reading and people-watching, it’s time you’ll remember fondly. Use your time wisely…3 months goes by so much faster than you could ever imagine.
What’s been the most difficult part about living abroad?
It’s been tough being so far from family and friends. At JMU, I’m just a 2-hour car ride from my parents, and I’m constantly surrounded by familiar faces on campus. In London, not only am I an ocean away from the all the people I love, but the time difference makes it tricky to keep in touch. Also, as amazing as the food in London is, there’s nothing like some mac & cheese and a half-salad from Panera, or a caramel iced coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts.
It’s also become apparent that sexual harassment is very much a part of life for women in Europe. It’s been jarring experiencing and hearing/seeing others experience catcalls, inappropriate touching and staring, etc. from men. While this is obviously something women deal with daily at home too, it seems to be on a somewhat larger scale in Europe.
What’s been the most rewarding part about living abroad?
Living in London has been amazing. It’s the most exciting, creative, loud, stylish, historic and beautiful city in the world. I’ve learned a ton this semester, and a lot about myself. I’ve learned how to travel on my own, what it’s like to live in a big city, that apparently art museums are way cooler than my 3rd grade self thought, that haggis is just as gross as it sounds, and that no matter how cute my new chunky heeled boots are, I should not spend 12 hours walking around Paris in them. Living in London has opened me up to so many new experiences, like attending fringe theater productions, exploring modern art exhibitions, using public transportation 6 times a day, and eating delicious kebabs at 2 a.m. It’s helped me discover that eventually I would LOVE to move back to London to work and live a fabulous tea and biscuit-filled life.