University of Wisconsin–Madison

England: Yingying Xie (“We’re not in Madison Anymore” moment)

On the taxi from Heathrow Airport to my residence hall, every scenery I see in London is different from Madison. Crowded roads, countless brands, double-deck buses, and antique architecture are the image of London.

A black truck parked on the left side of the road has red and yellow stripes on the back door and has a logo spelling "Babcock" in white letters on the back window.
A car with “babcock” written on it. Makes me miss Madison so much. Cars are driving on the left of the road.

London is a huge city where everyone is bustling. There is a sense of comfort in Madison with the wide roads and green fields everywhere. People dress comfortably, laugh with their friends, and enjoy themselves. In London, it is very common to see people dressing up in working suits or stylish outfits with a coffee cup in their hands. It won’t take any effort to find an office building, with cafés full of white collars. If Madison is like a young college student full of aspiration, London is more of a mature adult with all the concerns in real life.

In Madison and most parts of the US, cars are the main vehicle for people to move from place to place. People in London prefer to use the underground, which is a subway, to go to places too far for walking or bus. In the meantime, London people are also good at walking. A 30-minute’ walk is considered a close distance for a Londoner. However, crossing the road is still something I need to be extra cautious of since I have never lived in a country in which cars drive on the left of the road. I am more used to looking to the left first when crossing the road, but I have to look to the right here in London.

I do miss Madison as my college town with everything I am familiar with, but exploring London so far is giving me the power to push my boundaries for more unfamiliarity. I am confident that I will also make London “my city”.

Yingying Xie

Hometown: Beijing, China

Major: Sociology; Statistics

Program: London School of Economics

London School of Economics has always been my dream school and I am looking forward to it. I also want to explore London, so I got the opportunity for a study abroad program.  I am looking forward to experiencing the city life in London, go to their museums, and walk in their historical and modern streets.