England: Olivia Farris (A Home Away from Home in London)

A Home Away From Home in London

Coming to London for a year, I figured I would learn new routines. I would be a regular at a different coffee shop, walk different streets on my daily walk, explore new areas, and meet new people. It is amazing to see how after only being here five months how much an extremely huge and new city feels like home.

One aspect of my new life in London is how our cohort has formed such a familial bond. We always gather in our communal kitchens to chat and make meals together. We also have formed a bond sharing and discussing our ideas we have that stem from our class readings. Being all together on one floor allows us to always be in contact. Each day we walk to and from our classes together or explore part of London.

Another part of London that makes me feel at home is the bonds I have created with different staff at businesses. A few local stores on our street have learned our faces and names, loving when we come in almost daily. One store even made a change in their imports to bring our group more American foods and drinks. I love going into an establishment I love to go to and am greeted with the same excitement by staff that I have for them.

The streets of London that I walk often have now become second nature to me. Not only Kensington, but other parts I frequent often, I now can navigate with ease and know exactly where I am. This comfort allows me to feel right at home, as that is what London is for me now.

Olivia Farris

Major: Sociology

Hometown: Oregon, Wisconsin