Here is an overview of my experience on the England Study Abroad spring break program.

London is one of those elite cities that everyone wants to live in. It is in the same groupings as New York City, Paris and Tokyo. As I was walking down the streets it became clear to me of why London is in such a high status. The diversity and accommodations it offers for individuals from a plethora of different backgrounds makes it such an enjoyable place to live. Travelling with fellow St. Petersburg College students through the Center for International Program’s Study Abroad program made the traveling logistics much smoother and efficient for a first time traveler like myself. I was in a safe environment that allowed me to appreciate the intrinsic properties of London without feeling insecure or out of place. I would definitely Study Abroad again with St. Petersburg College.

I did enjoy the psychology-based workshops we attended including the Art Therapy session nearby King’s Cross as well as the psychotherapeutic workshop we participated at The British Psychoanalytic Society. I am not a psychology major but I did appreciate the applications both forms of therapy can be adhered to—mostly medicine. The British Museum was clotted with hundreds of tourists and after experiencing it I understand the fascination. The Ancient Greek, Egyptian and Italian center welcomed us with the first ever written recording of human language: the Rosetta stone. Now peering at it through my humanities books I will never be able to recreate the feeling I got when seeing that magnificent artifact in person. This granodiorite material was covered with ancient Egyptian (hieroglyphic script and Demotic script) and ancient Greek and gave rise to the languages we speak today.

One of my favorite towns during this England Study Abroad spring break program was the incomparable Notting Hill. As I walked down the streets I was so hoping to see a Hugh Grant-esc character walking to his royal blue travel bookstore. A few locals had mentioned that there was an exhibit of Princess Diana’s dresses on display at Kensington Palace so that was our next stop. The exhibit was so breathtaking as it walked me through her life of wardrobe, but the day did not stop here. Hyde Park was adjacent to the palace and across the street from the park was Royal Albert Hall while within the park was King Albert’s god-like memorial. There are just no words to describe this tribute Queen Victoria gave to her late husband Prince Albert—roughly 150 years old and still very poignant to the arts.  This day ended with a quick stroll through Harrods and a night in Victoria seeing Wicked.

Want to find out how to participate in something like the England Study Abroad spring break program? Click here to learn how!