One Month Later: An Update

I wanted to take a second and reflect on the past month I've been here, as exactly one month ago I flew into London and started my amazing journey abroad. I've learned a lot in my time, and have seen so much. It's hard to believe that time has flown by so fast! I really want to make the most of my month left and get as much experience out of this as I can!

Life in London moves so fast, everyone rushes to get somewhere and every street has a different vibe and look. Growing up in the quiet suburbs had left me unprepared for the reality of living in the city; it blows my mind that I can just walk downstairs to get a coffee or walk five minutes to visit a museum. I've also met so many cool and unique people here, everyone from my coworkers, to flat mates, to even strangers on the street. The British are actually very kind and understanding people for the most part, and I've found myself feeling comfortable navigating the streets and the Tube system.

Of course there were a few setbacks; my very first week I had some difficulty adjusting to the 5 hour time change, and I was very, very tired during the day. Or, I would get to 2pm BST (British Summer Time) and feel like I had hit a wall. The trick is to try to immediately forget about what time it is in your hometown, and adjust your schedule to fit the time zone you're in- that means not taking naps during the day!

I was not used to working from 9:30 am to 6 pm. As embarrassing as it is to admit, I have never worked a full time job in an office for such a long period of time. (You could say being a student is a full time job!) I was so overwhelmed by the long work day, and had actually considered requesting shorter hours. It wasn't until I realized how great this would be for my work ethic that I decided to suck it up and go the full mile! Besides, I get to do what I love and learn so many useful skills from a professional work environment- what more could you ask for?

I do miss home, my family, boyfriend, and friends are 3,000 miles away, and sometimes I play phone tag with them in an attempt to keep up communication. But I love talking about my experiences with them, and I can't wait to see them all next month! I also miss certain foods and my quiet home away from the noisy streets I live by here in my flat. And chai lattes, the ones here just don't taste the same.

All in all, there's has been quite a shift in my perspective of the world; I'm getting great exercise from walking everywhere, my mind feels clearer, and I just feel lighter. I'm away from the stress and trials of my everyday life, in a new city with new things to see everyday. I am more motivated to put down my phone, leave my flat and go out to museums or visit a market on Sunday mornings. Some change is good, and I really needed this time to satisfy a part of me that's been yearning to travel for years.

Thank you to every single person that has read this and all of my blog posts so far! I am inspired to write these posts when I have so many amazing people who read them, and I look forward to the next ones that come.

Cheers!

-Mikayla