England : Emily Swanson (Places: Routine & Favorite)

Places: Routine & Favorite 

With Madison being the largest city I have ever lived in prior to my semester here in London, public transportation has never been something I have had to rely on to get me from place to place. In London, however, public transportation is an integral part of each person’s life. They depend on it to get to and from work each day, adventure around the city for nightlife, and even travel from London to other cities in the United Kingdom. So the Tube (London’s form of the subway) was the first thing I needed to master when I arrived in the city. I would like to say that the Tube is easy to master, but I have had my fair share of moments where I made it to the wrong platform or just simply couldn’t find the right hallway to a certain train line. But, regardless of how easy it is to get turned around in the station, if you make a mistake (and get on the wrong train like I’m sure every Londoner has done at least once) all it takes is a 2-minute ride to the next stop where you can hop off and try again, hopefully getting on that train heading Northbound instead of the Southbound one you accidentally jumped on. While the Tube system can feel extremely intimidating, I am proud to say that after only a couple of weeks in the city I’ve been getting around pretty well – hopefully blending into the other native London travelers. Just remember, if you find yourself in London one day, plan for at least 45 minutes of travel to your destination, whether that is on foot, by bus or by train. 45 minutes is the key to London travel.

One of my favorite places I have travelled to on the Tube thus far has been Daunt Books: a beautiful bookstore in Marylebone. The store has been around since the early 1900s, and I loved being able to take a step back into history while doing my favorite thing – shopping for books!  London is the perfect place for booklovers, and I can’t wait to check out some more shops.

 

Emily Swanson

Major: Business – Marketing; Certificate in Graphic Design

Hometown: Kiel, Wisconsin

Program: IES Direct Enrollment – City St George’s, University of London

One of my personal goals while abroad is to continue to develop global awareness and competency. This means learning from individuals with different experiences than me in order to deepen my understanding of other cultures. When you acknowledge others’ beliefs, traditions, and motives you are better able to form meaningful relationships. These relationships are the foundation for achieving change.

I am in love with books, and London is a hub for some of the world’s best literature. One course I will be taking abroad is all about the history of text and the importance of this history in London culture. The opportunity to learn about the impact of books is a huge interest of mine, as I believe stories are what bring people together. One day, I hope to work in publishing and be a part of this mission to tell important stories.