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Eager to step into the footsteps of a college student who has experienced life in England? We recently caught up with Eleanor, a student from Fairfield University and an AIFS Abroad Alumni Ambassador. She spent a summer break studying abroad in the capital city of London at our very own Global Education Center!
Check out our interview with her about her study abroad experience with AIFS Abroad and the impact of being an international student in London.
Adeline: Hi, everyone. I’m here today with Eleanor. My name is Adeline, and we returned home from amazing experiences abroad this past year. Today I’m an AIFS Alumni Ambassador. I studied abroad in San José, Costa Rica during the fall semester of my junior year. Eleanor, could you talk with us a little bit about your program in London and then maybe describe the beautiful landscape you have going on behind you?
Eleanor: Yeah! So I actually had the opportunity to study abroad with AIFS in London in summer of 2023. I did the Summer I program, so it was June to July, and it was incredible. And behind me actually, I have the city skyline at night, which is I thought was one of the most like beautiful sights I’d ever seen. Like it’s just, it’s an incredible city. And then seeing it all lit up at night was just insane.
Adeline: It’s stunning. Where did you take this photo? Is this from where you lived or…?
Eleanor: No, So it was actually at this restaurant that me and my friends just happened to stumble upon. We saw this rooftop restaurant and we were like, oh, that must be like insane. So we just happened to go there and then we got there at such a good time because it was for sunset. All the lights lit up and it was just so pretty.
Adeline: Wow, that’s incredible. I think it’s really a good example of how studying abroad, we kind of just fall into like these amazing experiences. […] So just talking about amazing times, is there a specific moment that you can think of while in London that really changed you as a person or changed your life?
Eleanor: So actually, the one thing that kind of stuck out to me the most, which is kind of like a little bit strange, was like the cricket game that we went to.Obviously we don’t really have cricket here, although I think they’re trying to introduce it into the States, but like, we don’t have that here. And it was actually like either the second or third day. It was one of the first days we were there. AIFS was offering this like these cricket game tickets for free for anybody who wanted to sign up and go and I was kind of like hesitant about it because I was still adjusting. I was like really nervous because I was a very shy when I first got there. So I was like a little bit nervous about it, but I kind of forced myself out of my comfort zone. I was like going with everybody on my program. Cricket is such a big part of their culture. So it’s kind of like immersing myself, like throwing myself right into the culture. We were sitting amongst locals, people who had gone to every single game. They were being rowdy. It was so fun. I think the reason it sticks out to me is because that’s like the first example of like me kind of stepping into like this new culture and like out of my comfort zone, meeting new people. I was talking with everybody on our program and that’s kind of how I was introduced to a lot of people, which was so fun. And I loved that part of it.
Adeline: No, that’s great. I went to a soccer game in in San José, so I can definitely relate. When you look at the sports that are really popular in the host country, you can really see specific cultural avenues that you wouldn’t find otherwise. Do you still follow cricket?
Eleanor: It’s actually funny because like I said, like they’re trying to introduce it into the States, and they actually just open a cricket arena like an hour from my house, like at home. So it’s really interesting ’cause now I get to go to their games and I actually know what they’re doing, ’cause I had no idea what it was. I was talking to this one other kid in our program and he was like explaining it all to me, and it was just — it was crazy. But now I feel like I’m an expert and I can explain it to my family.
Adeline: Definitely. I mean, it’s all about those experiences that ultimately differentiate you, you know, going forward in your life — applying to careers, applying to jobs. Like, that’s definitely not a typical United States or American talking points. That’s incredible. Could you talk about how you felt as a foreigner studying abroad? Did you feel safe? Did you have any difficulties once you got there with adjusting or getting used to the host culture?
Eleanor: Yeah, that was probably one of my biggest anxieties going into the program — wondering if I’d be able to adjust the culture and really fitting in. But AIFS does an incredible job of [making] sure that you have help available. They make sure that you have access to resources. They introduced us to CityMapper, which was like this app that like literally tells you exactly where you need to go, what trains you have to take. So I think it was definitely an adjustment, like learning the city, you know, getting adjusted to that whole thing. But I do think it was helpful that London is obviously English-speaking. So it was like that barrier wasn’t as strong.
They’re also a very friendly neighborly culture. I’m from New York, [so when] I would go into the city, you keep your head down, you don’t look at anybody. It was a lot different here where like everybody’s so friendly. You could say hi to somebody passing on the street. It’s not like dangerous at all. I felt safe 100% of the time in all honesty, which was definitely helpful for me because that whole independence aspect — it’s terrifying going to a new country like by yourself for the first time. So I was like, am I going to be able to make it? But honestly, I never felt unsafe at all and I think it was a pretty fairly easy adjustment to the culture.
Adeline: Well, it’s great to hear. I mean, I was in a whole different part of the world — again, San José, Costa Rica — but I can honestly say the same thing. AIFS and the field office there, they’ll help you as little or as much as you need. So I really appreciate, I really appreciated having a backbone and that great network ultimately going forward. So it sounds like you had an amazing time. If you could talk to maybe pre-study abroad Eleanor, what would you tell her? Do you have any advice you would want her to know or give?
Eleanor: I would honestly tell her to relax because there was so much that I was just running through my mind over-thinking that never even came to pass at all. Just not to be scared of new things because again, there was a lot of stuff that was not completely different. And you don’t necessarily think of England as like completely different from America because it’s like same language, stuff like that. So I personally did not think there was gonna be that many differences, but there there’s a lot of cultural differences.
Also, not being scared to try new things and saying yes more — that was my biggest thing that I wish I told myself before, is to just say yes. If like one of your friends on the program says they’re going to go do a day trip, just say yes. You’ll never regret going. If anything, you’ll regret not doing it or not going. So that’s probably the biggest thing that I would tell her.
Adeline: Maybe a more specific question, did you pack or did you not pack anything that you wish you did?
Eleanor: So this one might be a little bit more specific to me personally or like my experience, but I didn’t realize that in Europe they don’t really have AC — or they don’t have stuff like that. So I was definitely not prepared for not having like central air. So I didn’t actually pack any like clothes for sitting around the house. I just had like sweatpants, stuff like that. And so I would be like sitting there sweating and so I had to like actually go out and buy a fan, which obviously I’m not encouraging anybody to buy a fan necessarily. Maybe like bringing like different things conducive to that because, I’m not entirely positive, but I’m pretty sure most of Europe [doesn’t] really do AC and going in the summer, that was a big thing. Like it was, it was very hot.
But other than that, I think there was a lot of pressure to bring stylish, nicer clothes because you’re always like, “Oh, I don’t want to look like a lazy American.” But, honestly, there was a lot more than you’d think and nobody’s really judging you. I think it should be like, whatever you’re comfortable in because there were days where I really just wanted to walk out in comfy shorts and a t-shirt, and I just didn’t pack that because I was just so set on wearing like nicer clothes. So I definitely would give yourself a little bit of leeway there.
And kind of going off of that — leave room in your suitcase. You do not need as much clothes as you think you do. I used maybe half the clothes that I had brought and I also shopped a lot. So I would definitely say bring a lot less clothes than you think ’cause you will do a lot of shopping there. It’s just inevitable, you see a store and you’re like, “Oh, that’s a really cute outfit and I could say I got it in London.” So definitely give yourself a little leeway with that.
Adeline: So this is an important question that a lot of students ask when thinking about going abroad. Like, how did we pay for it? How do we finance it? Could you talk about — did you use scholarships or what are some of the opportunities that your university did maybe to help pay for cost? Were things cheaper or more expensive for you in London? Maybe just in regards to that big box of finances, if you wouldn’t mind?
Eleanor: Yeah, so I did not have any scholarships or anything like that, but I know our school offered a group meeting assembly-type thing where they kind of walked you through budgeting and how to like properly budget for like studying abroad, which I thought was so extremely helpful because I’m horrible with budgeting. But like they broke it down: put X amount for food, X amount for shopping, stuff like that. I think that was also very helpful for me. And they said, “You’re going to have a kitchen. Make sure you cook, like you don’t have to eat out every single night.” Little things like that they would go over so that you’re kind of prepared for that mindset of saving money. I worked a lot leading up to study abroad, so I kinda put that all into savings specifically for London and then I would budget myself every day. I had a set budget of what I wouldn’t go over in a day, in regards to cheaper versus more expensive. It was definitely cheaper there — I wouldn’t say by like a landslide, but there were a lot of things, like my everyday coffee. [My] Starbucks drink there compared to here was like $4.00 cheaper and it was just insane. I was like, this is crazy. But in general, I think just setting yourself a budget standard and [knowing] there are resources. AIFS helps with that, I know they have some resources on that. [I think] a lot of universities do like that kind of program where they’ll walk you through like steps for going abroad and they will mention financing. So like make sure you pay attention to that.
Adeline: One thing I would say, don’t let finances be the make or break for you when you decide whether or not study abroad because there’s so many resources. For me personally, I come from like a low-income family background. AIFS has a lot of scholarships and one of the ones they actually awarded to me, and it was great. My program cost was so much cheaper than my home university. And then things in San José, Costa Rica — food, daily life, essentials — so much cheaper. So it was just an amazing, amazing experience.
Do you have any like last words or advice or last recommendations you’d like to share?
Eleanor: I would say if you’re at all considering going abroad, do it. That is the one thing that I know. I’ve spoken to people who have gone abroad, and I’ve spoken to people who haven’t, and [those who haven’t] carry regret forever. I was talking to one of my older cousins recently actually, and he was like, I regret nothing from my college experience other than the fact that I didn’t go abroad. I think that is something that a lot of people don’t really realize in the moment, because like it’s not really something you — or at least I — didn’t go into college thinking about it. I know my roommates were kind of in the same boat. But really just seizing that opportunity, because you’re never going to have this opportunity again of being able to go abroad with everybody who’s all in the same boat. You’re with this big group of incredible people from different parts of the country who are all just here for the same reason. So I think having that opportunity is something that should not be taken for granted. So if you’re at all considering it, just do it.
Are you a student who’s ready to take the leap and study abroad in London like Eleanor did with AIFS Abroad? We’d love to help you start your journey!
Here at AIFS Abroad, we know a thing or two about helping college students and pre-professionals study and intern abroad. Our programs are incredibly inclusive, which takes a lot of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to providing things like cultural and social activities, excursions, comprehensive insurance, 24/7 emergency support, on-site staff, and more, you’ll take comfort in knowing you’ll have support throughout your entire experience abroad.