Tag: GW England

By agoudsward

Some of the most exciting experiences in my life have been going to see my favorite teams, the New York Yankees and Giants, live and in big games. There's just something special about being there in person, cheering along with thousands of like-minded fans.

So I knew when I came to London, I had to see my other favorite team, Chelsea, (nicknamed the Blues) live at least once while I was here. Fortunately I was able to get last-minute tickets to Sunday's game against English giant Manchester United. There was added anticipation going on as the match would mark the first team that Chelsea's former manager Jose Mourinho, who was largely responsible for making Chelsea a European superclub, would return to Chelsea's home now managing one of the club's top rivals.

It was a game millions around the world would be watching and felt so fortunate to be one of the 40,000 or so who could actually see it in person. So, I arrived at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea's home ground, along with throngs of other blue-clad supporters ready for an authentic taste of English soccer, or football to be more exact. It did not disappoint.

...continue reading "Going to see the ‘Blues"

By agoudsward

The last three days I was finally able to take part in the time-honored study abroad tradition of traveling around Europe. I went with a few friends to spend the weekend in Barcelona. It is probably the most picturesque city I've ever visited.

Situated on the shores on the shores of the Mediterranean and at the foot of the Montserrat Mountain range, from virtually every vantage point the city is stunning. It has something to offer for just about everyone.

Beach people can soak up the sun on Barcelona's long stretch of beaches, for history buffs there's the winding streets of the medieval Gothic Quarter, for art lovers there's the Picasso museum and the whimsical architecture of Antoni Gudi, a huge point of pride in the city, there's hiking for those who love the outdoors, night clubs for party people and sports fans can go see F.C. Barcelona, probably the greatest soccer team on Earth. We were fortunate enough to take in a match on Saturday and see Lionel Messi, arguably the best soccer player who ever lived, score a goal.

...continue reading "A weekend in Barcelona"

By agoudsward

This week classes finally began at UCL and it felt almost strange to be back in class after a nearly five month break. Classes here feel pretty familiar, there are many similarities to GW, but something also feels different. Here are a few thoughts about academic culture at UCL and the U.K. more broadly.

First, students here have much more free time than at GW. Classes only meet once a week, one hour for a lecture and one hour for a seminar for larger classes. That means you're not really in classes a whole lot, but be prepared to spend much of that free time reading.

Reading lists for classes, or modules as they're usually referred to, are massive. As a student, you're expected to do much more independent study than in the U.S. There are always several required readings per week, but also an extensive list of optional readings some of which have to be used for papers. It's more about you as a student taking the time to read up and become something of an expert on a topic rather than a professor telling you most of what you need to know.

...continue reading "College life in the U.K."

By agoudsward

Whenever I tell people here that I'm from the U.S., there's usually one topic they cannot help but discuss: Donald Trump.

People I've encountered from Greece to China to Germany and the U.K. have all asked me with a sense of curiosity and often a healthy dose of friendly ridicule how the man they knew as a brash and boastful reality television star became the Republican nominee for president.

Without getting too political, let's just say he doesn't appear to be too popular overseas.

There's usually a similar set of questions: What do you think of Trump? Can he win? Why does America like him? Do you know people that support him?

...continue reading "The (American) Elephant in the Room"

By agoudsward

My first week in London has been a bit of a roller coaster ride. It has been a whirlwind of new and unique experiences. Each day almost feels like a week in itself.

First of all, if you're planning to study abroad in the U.K., I'd highly recommend not coming through Ireland. I did because it was a cheaper fare, but it was a mistake. If you come through Ireland, you don't go through immigration upon arrival in the U.K. which means I wasn't able to get my student visa on arrival as I planned.

It wasn't a pleasant experience landing alone in a foreign country for the first time and having customer service at the airport tell you that they "don't have a clue" how you could get a visa that you need to enroll at your new University in three days.

Luckily, after consulting with GW England staff I was able to get the visa, but only after taking a last minute EuroStar train to Paris and then returning to London the same day so I could reenter the U.K. and get the visa, the night before I had to officially enroll at UCL. I know, you don't feel bad for me that I "had" to go to Paris and truth be told the city was magical... during the 90 minutes I spent there.

...continue reading "A Whirlwind First Week"

By agoudsward

My first few hours in London have been a whirlwind. It's a unique experience landing, for the first time, an ocean away from home on a completely different continent with about 40 minutes of sleep under your belt.

Everything should be, and truly was exciting from riding the train past the post-card worthy thatched roof houses in the English countryside and riding The Underground for the first time to eating my first meal of fish and chips.

...continue reading "First impressions"

By agoudsward

This time next week I will finally be in London. I will finally be able to use this space to write about my actual study abroad experience (instead of speculating about what it will be like or writing about my dull preparation.) Next week, I will finally be able to offer impressions of England, my thoughts on traveling alone thousands of miles across an ocean and what's it has been like to live in a foreign country (at least for a night or two).

But at this point it's all still theoretical, almost imaginary.  Big Ben, Tower Bridge, UCL, my soon-to-be dorm room, all still seem like another world, a world that I've always wanted to visit, but that still feels inaccessible in a certain way.

...continue reading "The Waiting Game"

By agoudsward

This week, as most of my friends packed up and headed back to school, it suddenly started to seem real that I was about to do something very different. It was no longer a dream or a vision, in a few weeks I would actually be living in London. Choosing to study abroad wasn't an easy decision for me. Even though it was always something I knew I wanted to make part of my college experience, last spring, the end of my sophomore year, I finally began to feel like I found my place at GW. For a few weeks I agonized over whether I wanted to leave my friends, Washington D.C. and taking classes in my major. In the end, the pull of experiencing something new was too strong. I knew I might never get a chance to live abroad again in my life.

...continue reading "Confronting the unknown"