Fellow students, professors, advisors, friends, and family all cautioned me in traveling abroad (e.g. don’t forget X, look out for Y, never go near Z). Each worry, fright, and delight piled up to form an ineffable entity of stress and anxiety before de-boarding.

As I walked off the plane and stepped onto the ground of a new country I took a moment to breathe in and absorb the experience. New smells, sights, and sounds flooded my senses as something completely different took hold of me and washed away my anxiety.

After emerging from the border control at Heathrow I rushed to barely make the London School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) international student orientation. Out of breath and sweaty from running to Russell Square, the exhaustion of the past few hours guided me into an unfamiliar level of fatigue.

Unfortunately, this fatigue came to define the greater portion of my first week in London. This can be most aptly elucidated by the time difference between the UK and Chicago (six hours). However, I am managing to overcome the majority of this setback as the days accumulate during my study abroad experiment and I acclimate myself to the raininess of London.

As I adjust to the time and bodily difference of a new country, the rest of my life unfurls into two categories. First, courses at SOAS. I am focusing my studies on Middle Eastern Government, East Asian Politics and the two’s intersection with economic development. This is, of course, why I opted for SOAS as the institution is renowned worldwide for its focus on these areas.

Second, the social aspect. I am fortunate enough to live in the northeast portion of central London, a mere five minute walk from Kings Cross Station (where Harry Potter filmed its train scenes). During my time here so far I have visited a couple of pubs and bars. I feel confident when I say that London, and English food more generally, is underrated to a degree. When taken at face value and not held up to an inordinately high standard, eateries in London are very satisfying and tasteful.

In addition to pub food, the night scene in London is fantastic. I went to a club on Friday night, Koko, expecting an array of socially irresponsible 18+ year olds drinking copious amounts of alcohol. This view had been bolstered from a lifetime’s worth of listening to individuals in the United States wax and wane on why 18 year olds are incapable of handling the responsibility that being able to drink legally entails. That said, I noticed very little resemblance to the chaos I had been told of while at Koko. Rather, I saw young adults learning the art of sociability. By the end of the night I felt sheerly more cultured after conversing with Englishmen and enjoying the company of my friends in a new place.

I hope to continue writing and posting these entries throughout my travels in Europe. But, I do not want to end this first post without thanking those that made this trip and experience possible. Specifically, my parents and the support of my family (especially my brothers Alex and Chris), friends (especially Theresa Adams, Ralph Van Burik, Stephen Labib, and Josh Silver), and professors (DiPasquale and Himes). If it weren’t for you all, I would never have had the opportunity and confidence to truly grow by going overseas and experiencing the unknown firsthand. Thank you all and I miss you! Next week: visiting Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, and hopefully much more!