Happy spring break! We’re halfway through the semester now and time feels like it is flying by so quickly. When reflecting on the past two months, there are a few things that I have had to adjust to that have taught me valuable adaptability and problem solving skills. Most notably, I definitely walk a lot more here than I do at Pitt or back at home. I usually try to walk to campus instead of taking public transportation, and the 45 minute walk allows me to become more familiar with the Acton and Chiswick areas as well. This helps with saving on public transportation expenses, and when it’s not raining, the weather is typically really nice for a walk. There are also some grocery stores near the Stay Club, our housing accommodation here in London, that are a 10-15 minute walk away, which is really convenient. I also use public transportation to get around if I go towards Central London or for traveling on the weekends, especially for getting to the airport.
In my classes, one difference that I have noticed in comparison to classes at Pitt is that many students dress a little nicer, and not many wear sweats or athletic clothing. Also, in-class examples typically feature UK topics, such as focusing on the economic state of the UK for both the public and private sectors rather than the US in my Public Economics class, or using the British pound instead of US dollar as a reference in my International Finance class when looking at market trends or currency exchange rates. It has been really interesting to gain a stronger international perspective through my coursework. These classes have also taught me to adapt to a new course structure, consisting of classes that meet once a week for three hours each, and consist of a midterm, a final, a project, and homework/assignments.
Beyond the classroom, it has been a challenge to adjust to the cost of living in a city like London, especially since public transportation prices were just raised at the start of the month. It also can be difficult to navigate the city and public transportation, but over time, it has gotten easier as my friends and I have become more familiar with the local areas as well as certain public transportation lines. I have found that the cost of living has helped me focus on budgeting better, especially to account for weekend travel too. Having grocery stores nearby helps with both budgeting and a routine to ensure I can get to the grocery store once a week for fresh produce and other items. Some small things I’ve had to adjust to are looking for queues/lines everywhere, writing the date in Day-Month-Year format, and staying on the left side or taking the left staircase in the Tube station instead of being on the right like I would in the US. Navigating these cultural shifts has made me aware of my own habits and taught me to be more observant of my surroundings. However, all of these changes have started to feel more normal now. I’ve had an amazing time so far, and I can’t wait to see what the second half of the semester has in store for me!
