Studying abroad is something I truly recommend for anybody who is considering it. My experience in London was an amazing time and is a memory that I will never forget. The only time I have traveled abroad was to Mexico and was on a resort, so I felt as though I did not truly get the real traveling experience of seeing another country. When going to London, I was there to fully indulge in the culture and tourist attractions, which is exactly what I did. 

I went into this experience with no real expectations other than to have fun with my friends, which is exactly what I did. Experiencing a different country and visiting all the tourist locations while enjoying myself was all I truly wanted. I got that plus more because the overall experience exceeded my expectations. I had the best time while in London.  

"While abroad, I was living for myself and doing the things I wanted to do. I felt free and many of my friends back home could agree. They mentioned multiple times that I looked happy and seemed like a new person."

I was able to gain some insights on London as well while spending two weeks there. Culturally, London is very diverse and no matter where you are at, there will be many different languages being spoken right next to you. This was very interesting since we are also diverse in the United States, but I would not necessarily say different languages. London is a place that focuses on brands, aesthetics, and overall quality which is something rather different than the U.S. It was very interesting to go to a place where it is nearly all name-brand stores with people dressed in stylish and unique ways in which they take pride. London is also home to many historical landmarks so there is always so much to do and so much to learn while there. It is truly an amazing place to visit and experience. 

Although London is not significantly different than the U.S., I was still able to learn a lot about myself as a person. By studying abroad in London, I was able to feel free and truly be on my own, with my flat mates of course. While abroad, I was living for myself and doing the things I wanted to do. I felt free and many of my friends back home could agree. They mentioned multiple times that I looked happy and seemed like a new person. It was the experience of living for me without a care in the world. Because of this, I was able to learn how things are not as serious as they may seem. I was in a place where the only people I knew were the other students on the trip, and I felt like I could be myself because I knew others were not watching. This mindset made me realize that even back home in Iowa City, I should be living for me and not caring about what others think even if there are a lot more people I know here. 

While in London, there were not many challenges I had to face since it is quite like the U.S., but there were a few cultural differences. One main thing I noticed was that, socially, people from London are less bubbly, loud, and much more reserved. This is quite different from Americans since we are almost always laughing, talking, and being outgoing. Because of this difference, we were often able to be picked out from the crowd as “the Americans,”, which is not necessarily a negative aspect; it just made us realize we should slightly adapt to our surroundings. Along with this, Londoners tend to be more straight to the point within customer service which we often saw as rude even though they were not actually being rude, it is just how they grew up socially. We were slightly offended by this at first, but quickly realized that it was not us; they just do not have the same customer service aspect as us. 

Going into this experience, I knew London was fairly similar to the U.S., but I did not know what exactly to expect. One thing that truly surprised me in a positive way was some specific things they do for plastic waste that I feel the U.S. should also implement. For example, at stores, they did not offer plastic bags, you either brought your own or had to pay for a reusable bag. Another specific example of less plastic usage was every place we went to either did not have straws or they used paper straws. I found this to be super unique and would love if the U.S. did the same thing to put more focus on the environment. Another thing that surprised me even though I was warned prior to going was the amount of walking we would be doing. I would walk about 20,000 steps each day, which is way more than I ever do when I am at home. It is just so shocking how much there is to do within London, and it is all within walking distance. I got a lot of exercise, that is for sure. The final thing that truly did shock me was the food. Although the food did not taste much different than at home, it felt much different. Often people go to Europe and say they feel healthier and cleaner because of the food, and I would have to agree. I would go out to eat nearly every meal while in London and my stomach would never feel bloated or hurt after eating. I genuinely feel the food there is healthier and better, which made me feel better overall. 

Reflecting on London is so much fun, because it was one of the best things that I have experienced. I would not change anything I did and am so happy I chose to go study abroad. I would recommend taking the opportunity and studying abroad to anybody who may be considering it. I loved it so much that I would go back at some point in my life just to re-experience the same feelings of being there. 

Rachael Hensley (finance major), a Diversity Ambassador Scholarship recipient, participated in International Business in London in fall 2022.

LEARN HOW YOU CAN APPLY FOR A DIVERSITY AMBASSADOR SCHOLARSHIP

The Diversity Ambassador Scholarship program provides awards to study abroad for a summer, semester, or academic year. The scholarships are intended to support the diversification of students who study abroad. Upon completion of the study abroad program and return to UI, award recipients are asked to submit a photo and an open letter to prospective students or suggest an alternate means of sharing with prospective students.

Please note that the opinions and views expressed by diversity ambassadors are solely those of the students and do not reflect or represent the views of International Programs or the University of Iowa.

International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement.  IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.