The Envoy

This past fall, I had the opportunity to study abroad at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. For three months, I was able to explore the beauty of the UK, immersing myself in all the country had to offer.

London was, initially, unforgiving. I felt deplorably American every time I spoke; I cried on the street my first day as I hauled massive Tesco bags back to my room; I fell on a double decker bus and put a massive dent in my metal water bottle and an even-bigger bruise on my ass; my phone was constantly dying; I had never felt lonelier in my life.

As someone who had never been out of the US – but had more confidence in herself than was probably warranted – I hadn’t considered the gravity of moving alone to a completely new continent. However temporary, the level of independence I was suddenly granted overwhelmed me. That isolation, I came to realize, was a litmus test of sorts, a trial-by-fire in order for me to enjoy my experience in full.

London might not be considered the best city to visit, but it was an incredible place to live – like any city, it took time to meet the right people and find my footing, but the museums, pubs, and markets quickly made it one of my favorite places in the world.

One of the things that also set London apart for me was its nature. Last year, London was ranked third in a Time Out survey of the world’s best cities for green space. The Kyoto Gardens (pictured below) are not even fifteen minutes away from the iconic Hyde Park, and yet they feel like two entirely different worlds. The Regent’s Canal spans eight miles across Central London, and quickly became one of my favorite places to take walks in the evenings – which ended, of course, with watching the sunset at Primrose Hill.

Cambridge was probably my favorite of the UK cities I visited outside of London – one night during finals, I impulsively booked a solo train ticket for the next morning. I hopped on the ThamesLink in spite of my imminent deadlines and set off to explore the town with nothing but TikTok as my guide. The gothic architecture alone is enough to make the thirty-pound ticket worth it – while London architecture is, like New York, a fascinating mix of old and new, the UK’s other cities have retained their ornate infrastructure. The result is dazzling, overwhelming and stunning in its grandeur. 

There’s a sense of the sublime in these moments of exploration, a staggering awareness of the history that’s come before and the space you take up in the present. The sweeping feeling of freedom that comes with being in a country where nobody knows you – where you can move easily between places, nearly nomadic – is immense.

This convenient travel extended not only to different cities, but different countries – one weekend my friend and I decided to book a trip to Copenhagen, once again relying on TikTokers and mutual friends for guidance. Since my flight was earlier, I had a few hours to roam solo before we checked into our hostel, exploring the iconic Nyhavn district.

We ended up at the Design Museum of Denmark, exploring the evolution of furniture and textiles in the country, before making our way to the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek; Copenhagen, surprisingly, seemed somewhat Eastern European to me with its Baroque architecture. The iconic Nyhavn houses, though, were unlike anything I’d ever seen. The culture, too, felt refreshing – despite the snow, people were sat along the river, grabbing a drink or enjoying the winter markets from sunrise to sunset. 

In the end, I must begrudgingly confirm that study abroad students are warranted in their obnoxiousness. It’s easy when travelling short-term to experience a new culture but keep it at arm’s length – you usually look, but never quite touch. Living in another country, though a definite test of character, has a different way of taking you outside of yourself; forcing you to broaden your perspective as you carve out a routine. I’m more confident because of it. 

If you’re a student interested in studying abroad, you can find more information on the Hunter study abroad page. As a Macaulay honors student, I was able to apply for the Opportunities Fund to help finance my trip, but Hunter also offers additional scholarships and financial aid to ensure that every student has the chance to travel.