Location:  United Kingdom
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Term Abroad: Spring Break '16

Major: Radiation Therapy

Career Plans: I either want to be a traveling Radiation Therapist in the US or work over in Europe as a Radiation Therapist. After working for a few years, I would love to attend medical school in pursuit of becoming a pediatric oncologist.

"This study abroad experience has changed my outlook on life. I found myself being much more adventurous and curious than I thought I would have. By the end of the trip, I did not want to come home because I saw how much the rest of the world has to offer. This trip even made me realize I would like to live outside of the US after graduation."

Academic Planning & Courses 

Every day while we were abroad, we started with “class.” We listened presentations from physicians, patients, and National Health System specialists on the pros and cons of the NHS. We had one group project to complete while we were there, and that consisted of taking pictures of anything promoting public health and the NHS in London. There was also one book that we were required to read before the trip called The Ghost Map, and we had a discussion about it and toured the area that the book focused on.

Initial Thought on Arrival

From the time I stepped off the plane, I didn’t want to leave. It was like I’d stepped back in time. London was the perfect combination of modern day technology with historical buildings and landmarks.

Housing

Me and a few other students traveled to London early and stayed in a hostel for a few nights. That was a great experience in itself, but we were completely blown away when we go to our actual housing for the trip. Our apartment for the week was 3 stories, had 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a common room with a kitchen.

Locals

Many of the people we interacted with in London were also traveling. Some people were there for work while others had just moved there by themselves for a fresh start. Be curious about these people and ask them what it’s like to live wherever they’re from. You might find yourself adding to your list of places to travel someday.

Leisure & Travel

My biggest suggestion for planning your free time is to make a “To Do & To See” list before you leave. That way, you can be sure to find museums, restaurants, tours, and anything else that interests you. My favorites were riding on the London Eye, eating at the Sherlock Holmes Pub, and going on the Jack the Ripper tour.

Money Matters

Do your research! Know what you want to do and how much it’ll cost. If you plan ahead and stick to it, you’ll cut down on spontaneous purchases. There’s often group rates or student discounts for attractions, so be sure to look into those as well as free tours!

Advice

Be open to doing anything. Be adventurous. Either go early or stay late to get some extra traveling time in. Take every opportunity that you can because before you know it, you’ll be boarding the plane to come back to the US.

Also, find some people to travel with. Even if they’re complete strangers at the beginning, by the end, you’ll act like you’ve known each other your entire life.