Hey HerCampus! Greetings from across the pond. My name is Pam. I’m a junior at SUNY Binghamton but am currently studying abroad in what may just be my favorite city in the world, London! And that’s a lot coming from a girl who grew up fifteen minutes outside Manhattan. I’m extremely excited to start this new chapter in my life. Studying abroad is such a great experience. You meet so many people, take so many pictures, do so many different things that I want to look my best and healthiest! It will be challenging rationing myself, watching what I eat and making sure I exercise, but this blog will be therapeutic I know with your help, it will get me through the hard times. I’m always looking for tips and suggestions. Dieting is something that is near impossible if you don’t have encouragement and support of others so I hope this blog is as helpful to you as it is to me!
London’s an amazing metropolitan city. It’s the most populated city in all of Europe. More than 250 languages are spoken here, and people from every part of the world come to visit or live here. Known for its edgy fashion and shopping, wide variety of ales, beers, and ciders, beautiful architecture, vast history, extraordinary (and free) museums, quaint traditional pubs, trade and commerce (second largest alongside NYC), and energetic nightlife, London can hardly disappoint! However, English food, to put it nicely, is terrible! With a select assortment ranging from kidney pie (yes, the body part not the pea) to bangers and mash (whatever that is), I am surprised I haven’t lost weight!  I think what I don’t make up for in food, I make up for in beer, which has resulted in a plump face and a dent in my wallet. But I am determined to come home from studying abroad looking better than ever. Its such a clichĂ© to say that it’s inevitable to gain weight while studying abroad. As someone who struggles with my weight and was a victim of the freshman 15 three years ago, I am not willing to have to go through that horrible experience again! Â
Tip of the day: Instead of grabbing the bus, walk. In cities and on college campuses, public transportation is either subsidized or free for students. It sounds tempting to just hop on the bus to go to and from class, but walking makes all the difference. First of all it wakes me up in the morning and second it gets my brain cells awake and ready to work. Walking also allows you to experience more. When I take the bus I usually read the paper or pick the nail polish off my nails. When I walk, its spent on reconnaissance and exploring. Walk down a street you’ve never walked down, stumble into a shop you’ve always passed by but wanted to go in to. Exercise should and can be fun!Â
My experience: Saturday I got lost in Kensington Park. It was raining and damp. The park was huge, and I couldn’t see the end of it. Â To be honest, I was miserable. But then I stumbled upon a beautiful pond filled with ducks and manicured hedges leading to a beautiful red brick and white building, which ended up being the Kensington Palace Orangery Room. I took a peak inside and to my surprise, it was a tea room. I made a reservation to go back on Sunday for afternoon tea with my best friend Allie.Â
Lesson Learned: I’ve learned that laziness leaves you losing out on experiences that could have happened if I were just more active. By being idle you lose out in life. I have been in London for two months and the time has just flown by so from now on I will be in charge of my life and make conscious healthy decisions that will only benefit me in the long run. So next time you find yourself waiting for the bus, think again and opt for walking, running, rollerblading, or biking. You won’t regret it!
Cheers!
PamÂ