Much more than Big Ben - My first week in London

Posted by Logan Nawrocki on Thu, Jan 21, 2016 @ 10:00 AM

7 days. That is the amount of time that has elapsed since I arrived In London. My first week out of the US has been exciting, shocking, fun and a little bit weird. Those are about the only words to describe my journey so far, because London is a city that will leave you speechless.

If you ever hear an American talk about how similar England is to the USA, they are completely wrong. I am not talking about driving on the left side of the road. The language is about the only thing we have in common, barely. The accent can really throw you off and not to mention they have almost a whole different urban dictionary for household items. Trust me, ordering something at a restaurant that you have never had before becomes a bit more challenging when you can only make out half the words that the server is saying. However, when you do bridge the gap and put in your order, the food that comes out is delicious. It could be Indian, Ethiopian, Thai or even classic pub food, but one thing is for sure, it is going to be good.

The transportation in London is almost like a symphony. Every single part must be played in harmony for things to go right. The London Underground, or the Tube, is the most simple and enjoyable way to get around the city. More than 10 different lines can lead you to hundreds of different stops throughout London.

The culture is different. For as loud as the city can be, the people are extremely quiet. No new friends are made on the Tube, that is for sure. The adjustment to the time change has been the roughest part, but the city and all of its commotion give you little time to stop and sleep on the idea.

It seems as though time goes by a little faster from 4,000 miles away. London is so much more than Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, and I can't wait to see what else this city has in store for me.

Topics: study abroad, London, England, Saint Vincent College, Food, London Underground, Logan Nawrocki

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Paige Casario is a junior International Business major with minors in Spanish and Operational Excellence. She is studying Business and Spanish and living with a host family in Sevilla, Spain, for the spring semester. She is very excited for this opportunity and experience and can't wait to venture all over Spain and Europe.

Hi! My name is Nicole Reitz and I’m a junior psychology major at SVC. This spring, I’m studying at Edge Hill University in England.

Hi! My name is Gianna Boburka. I am an international business major with minors in operational excellence and entrepreneurship. I will be studying abroad in Thessaloniki, Greece, this summer for five weeks. In addition to taking two classes abroad, I will be exploring many different sites around Greece.

Theresa Thimons is a sophomore majoring in mathematics. She is the proud little sister to nine siblings and aunt to seventeen nieces and nephews. Theresa believes that each encounter she has with another human is an opportunity to better understand the heart of Jesus, as every person is the result of God’s love. In whatever career path she ends up taking, she looks forward to solving problems and hopefully inspiring more people to explore the world of fun that is found in math.

My name is Sam Geer. I’m from Murrysville, Pennsylvania, and I’m a junior at Saint Vincent. I’m getting my major in Environmental Science and minoring in Public Administration. I’m a work study at the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve and am a member of the Benedictine Leadership Studies Program. This summer, I'll be traveling to Bhutan in the Himalayas of Central Asia, home of the bearcat, where I’ll be studying environmental sustainability and Bhutanese culture.

Hi! Im Gabrielle Kohl, an avid reader who loves to travel around the world! I love to experience new culture, literature, people and food. I aim to make a positive impact in the lives of people with whom I interact in order to make the world a happier place.

Hi! My name is Nicole Berry and I am currently a junior studying communication and psychology. I also am minoring in children studies. I am a commuter and currently live in Delmont, PA. I am hoping to graduate in May 2017 and go on to graduate school for my Masters in Social Work and Juris Doctorate.

Anastasia Jaeger is a junior English education major with a minor in German and a minor in peace and justice. She has always dreamed of being able to travel around the world and is thankful that Saint Vincent College has these opportunities available to students. When she is not at college, she is likely working her part-time job at a local bakery. In the future, she hopes to travel more and do humanitarian work or teach high school students English.