New Experiences Abroad
- Student
- Sep 4
- 5 min read
This London trip is an experience that I will never forget. From the moment we landed and walked out of the plane, a rush of emotions of excitement, curiosity, and fear ran through me. Excitement and fear for just being in a new country and curiosity for how different it would be. Walking to the Tube and getting our oystercards was an experience I will never forget since it was the moment I realized how big this underground system is and how different it is from what I’ve experienced in the Bay Area. For example, in the Bay Area, going into public spaces like parking garages or public transportation means that there are going to be a lot of unpleasant smells from trash to human waste, but in London it was very clean. I have never been in the subway so it was a new experience for me and I enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed looking out the window when it came above ground and seeing how different and beautiful the houses were was an amazing experience.
The real eye opener on how beautiful London was and the realization that we are not home anymore was when we stepped out of the station and saw the buildings and bridges and even in the background you could see a castle-looking building. The only way I can explain the feeling is by saying it was like seeing the castle at Disneyland for the first time as a little girl, who grew up watching princess movies. The architecture in London was nothing like I expected; it was much more beautiful. I'm not ashamed to say I felt like a little kid being amazed at everything I saw while we were walking around looking at buildings and taking in the energy of the city. I don't think there was any other possible reaction. One of my favorite experiences was riding the famous double decker bus. Riding on the top was an experience you can not get in America. On the top it felt amazing. You get to see how the city was laid out and are able to see buildings from a new angle. Riding the bus and listening to music by the Smiths and other artists from the UK was a magical experience. The views and the music made me feel like I was in a movie. The bus also provided headphones that talked about the history of some of the buildings we passed and it was entertaining for a good amount of time.
We saw many landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London, but Big Ben was my favorite. It looked so magical and in the sun, looked perfect and exactly like I was in a movie. We also went to the National Gallery, afternoon tea, a Jack The Ripper tour, and a couple markets that I really liked because they just looked super pretty and not really like what we see in America. The National Gallery was a very interesting experience. The art was beautiful and I got to see paintings in person that I have seen online, which was very cool. What interested me was that I learned that most museums and public areas are pay-what-you-want, meaning there was no
certain price to get in—you pay what you want, which I thought was interesting. I got to see the famous sunflower painting by Van Gogh, which was amazing. Our afternoon tea was Alice and Wonderland themed which was very cute. I have never been to tea and would love to go again. The food was decent and the desserts were delicious. There was even an interactive drink that shimmered when you swirled it.The actual tea itself was very good and the set up was very cute. The Jack the Ripper tour was my favorite activities. The tour guide was very funny and one of the best. I also just like true crime and it being in person was a fun experience.
Another thing we did was visit companies like Lloyds of London, The BBC, and Apple. Talking with the people in the companies was very interesting. I never knew about their jobs. For example I never knew there were lawyers at places like the BBC. The BBC was my favorite one. It was amazing listening to their stories and it changed how I felt about college. Their stores made me realize that I don't have to have a solid plan since life will take you where you belong. The people there all didn't have a straight path and listening to them made me feel more at ease since it was reassuring that I didn't have to have everything figured out. Hearing all of the people’s experiences and stories (not just from the BBC) was a cool experience and made me feel better about myself and what the possibilities are for my future.
Another memorable thing we did besides the bus was visiting a high school in London. Meeting the kids and talking to them about their lives was fun. I got to make connections with them and connected with them on social media. Visiting the school was eye opening since it's so different and the classes and extracurriculars they can have, in my opinion, are so much better than what we have in America.
Overall, the London trip was an amazing experience and an unforgettable one. It's something I'm glad I get to tell people I did. This trip was not what I thought it would be. Despite preparing for the trip with group meetings, you can never really plan for how a trip will hit/impact you. The architecture and experiences that I had are not the only thing that made it special but the people I shared the experience with. The other HIGH BEAM kids also made the trip more fun. At first it was harder to communicate but by the end of the trip we had all become closer. This trip not only taught me so much about how different the world is, but it taught me a bit about myself. It taught me that when I'm not in the comfort of my own home I tend to be on high alert and observe my surroundings. Now that I’m home, although I missed my parents, I'm not as happy as I thought I would be reuniting with them. I miss London and the people I have made a connection with. I miss being independent and in a place where, of my family members, only I knew.
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