University of Wisconsin–Madison

England: Gwendolyn (Gwenna) Mlsna (Daily Life in London)

Daily Life in London 

Gwendolyn sits on a wooden bench holding a journal.
This was some organizational and mindfulness time spent in Hyde Park

On weekdays I wake up around 7:30 and head to the kitchen to make coffee and breakfast. If I’m lucky Andrea will already be there brewing some delicious dark roast in the French press, but usually I’m stuck with the instant powder that I regret purchasing. The chilly days have coaxed out my inner tea-lover, so sometimes I have that instead. It’s a warm sentimental drink that many people here love, so it gives me something to talk about with the random people I meet in the Sainsbury’s tea aisle. Either way, I try to do a few productive things before class. I spend my nights going to university society meetings, indulging in new hobbies, and cooking meals for the week.

Gwendolyn stands between pillars of a stone archway at night.
This is the ancient Caterbury Cathedral where I watched a choir perform

On weekends I get up around 9 and try to get out to see or do something new. The days are growing colder here in London, and I blend in very well with my black trench coat in a sea of trench coats. Between classes I dedicate time to homework, going on walks through the beautiful manicured parks, and reading one of the many books I picked up from Waterstones (the British Barnes & Noble).

One way I have been trying to connect with the local culture is through good old-fashioned conversation. I have found many Londoners to be rather private and reserved, so I don’t spark up conversations with everybody on the sidewalk– oh sorry, the footpath. I recently started taking a Krav Maga self defense class at the Imperial College of London. It’s easy to be friendly with someone when you know they’re about to learn how to punch you in the face!

A white cat sits on the ledge of a window with white trim.
A cute cat on a windowsill during one of our class activities

On a different note, during an excursion to Canterbury I chatted with two lovely British women over a full English breakfast. One of them was a therapist with lots of wisdom about the field of psychology (which I am studying). I’ve learned to value connection in many different forms. Humans, like trees, grow and expand throughout their lives. Meeting people from all across the world has been so enlightening, and the ordinary people I meet everyday are the ones who make the biggest positive impact on my life.

 

 

Gwendolyn smiles in a brightly lit kitchen.

Gwendolyn (Gwenna) Misna    

Major (or intended major): Psychology and Spanish

Hometown: Mount Horeb, Wisconsin