England: Addison Peters (A Home Away From Home in London)

A Home Away From Home in London

While living in London, my everyday life has drastically changed. Back home, I would go to school, practice, and work on the weekends. Here in London, I have a much different school schedule, I don’t participate in a sport anymore, and I am not allowed to work. These differences have led to my everyday being quite free time-wise. As a result, I have filled my time up with many new experiences, some being mundane, and others being more unique. While transitioning to living alone, I have incorporated mundane tasks, like grocery shopping, into my everyday life. I have surprisingly enjoyed these small tasks quite a lot, as they give me the freedom to purchase and cook what I want while also giving me a strong sense of independence. Some more London-specific things in my everyday life constantly consist of exploring the city. This includes visiting a new café, walking through a park, or getting lost in a different neighborhood. In my extra time, I have enjoyed seeking out new areas and local businesses to visit.

Now that I’m in the last quarter of my study abroad experience, I have already started to dread leaving the places I will miss most. First, I am going to miss many of the restaurants and food spots. I have loved trying all the different types of food here, ranging from the markets to sit-down restaurants. The first market that comes to mind is the Portobello market it has a large range of different types of food stalls, and it is relatively affordable as well. Additionally, the market has super unique clothing stalls. A restaurant that I am undoubtedly going to miss is Dishoom. In Wisconsin, I have hunted for quality Indian food, and in London, I have done the same. I found the Indian restaurant, Dishoom, quite quickly and fell in love. Writing this now makes me dread the soon future when I will not be able to get Indian food from Dishoom.

As my time in London comes to an end, I know I will miss the freedom of exploring the city and discovering new places. From bustling markets like Portobello to incredible restaurants like Dishoom, these experiences have made my daily life here so special. While I look forward to returning home, I know a part of me will always long for the unique routines and flavors of London.

Addison Peters

Major: Psychology

Hometown: Oregon, Wisconsin