University of Wisconsin–Madison

England: Libby Spier (A home away from home in London)

A red, double-decker bus drives on the road in front of the big, stone clocktower of Big Ben on a cloudy day.
the iconic red double decker buses that we used to travel from Kensington to Westminster where Big Ben is.

Moving from a small city like Madison to a metropolitan hub like London was quite a large change and learning how to adapt came with its ups and downs. A new experience that has now become a part of my day to day life is the use of public transportation. Going from a small city where the farthest possible place I would need to walk to a city where places are over an hour away drive is a big adjustment, but I have found real enjoyment using the tube and bus system here in London. Google Maps has been a true lifesaver and such a useful tool as there is a public transportation option that shows you all the different routes you could take using different bus and tube lines.

Escalators lead underground to a train platform filled with people and colorful signs.
the Canary Wharf tube station on the way back from a class field trip to the docklands museum.

It has become like second nature and I particularly enjoy taking the bus everywhere. It really makes me feel immersed with the locals. I use the bus or tube system pretty much every day whether it is to go to a workout class, explore a new area, or even for class field trips. I think my favorite spot that I am going to miss is Borough market which is a large food market with street food stands of all different types of cuisine and produce stands as well as dairy and meat products. The food there is spectacular and I get something different every time I go. There is nothing like it in Madison, the closest thing being the farmers market, but it is so much more than that. It is such a fun and delicious spot that I will most definitely miss.

 

Libby smiles on a stone pathway in front of palm trees, with the ocean in the background.

Libby Spier

Hometown: Austin, Texas

Major: Biology

Program: UW in London

Personal goal is to find interest outside of my major. So much of my academics if not all are solely focused on STEM classes. I want to use this opportunity to explore other interest that I might have.