How to prepare for a semester in London with ND

A few weeks ago I – and 140 of my closest ND friends – arrived in London to study abroad for a semester.

Of course, traveling from the rural city of South Bend across the Atlantic Ocean to live in the center of one of the most important cities in the world will be a bit of a culture change for us college students.

Read on to see what I have learned in just a few short weeks across the pond.

Food

As you navigate the complicated aisles of the UK grocery stores and pretend to be a seasoned adult while secretly missing the stir-fry section of SDH, keep in mind one key fact: the expiration dates are sooner than you think. Unlike in the States, food here is not packed with preservatives and unnatural chemicals, so it does not in fact last forever. Buy less at a time and make sure it’s only the things you actually want to eat. Otherwise you’ll find yourself with a fridge full of expired spinach – and an emptier wallet. This is not the time to pretend you’re going to eat salads every day.

In terms of cooking and actually eating this food that you have so carefully chosen, British people tend to eat on the earlier side of the evening, as soon as the workday is over. In England, the rule of nine to five is quite the standard. It is very much less common for people to stay at the office until all hours of the night. At 5 PM people finish with their jobs and eat dinner, often starting to drink then as well. This trend of starting the evening earlier also extends into drinking culture and nightlife in London. And for all your late night drunk snacks, be sure to check out the Waterloo Grill. Located a convenient two-minute walk from your doorstep and open for 24 hours a day, it is rather like the Reckers of the Notre Dame London program.

Nightlife

As I already mentioned, the nine to five workdays in London are taken very seriously. In addition, English people take their drinking habits very seriously. A combination of these two trends leads to people beginning their nights very early. Almost as soon as 5 pm hits people begin drinking at pubs and with dinner. And so, as you can imagine, there is not much need for many places to stay open until all hours of the morning. In many cases, places close around midnight or 1 AM at the latest, with a few exceptions. Clubs, of course, are generally open quite a bit later.

At first, it was a bit of a shock to realize that my nights out would end so early, but after a night or two I realized just how pleasant this could be. Instead of pregaming in your chosen dorm for hours before heading out at 10 or 11 PM, only to get back at 3 or 4 in the morning, you can start at 7 PM and be in bed at 12 AM, having had a completely full night out on the town and a good night sleep, as well.

Day-to-day on a budget

One of the first, and most important, things I learned in London is that it is unavoidably an expensive city. But there is so much to do each day, even on a budget! London is home to more than a few fabulous museums, all of which are free to the public.

Another great aspect of London is its system of parks – from Hyde Park to St. James Park, there are so many places to explore, go running, have a picnic, or simply enjoy the scenery. Thanks to the frequent rain, the grass is always a picture perfect green. These quiet sections of nature in the center of a bustling city can provide the perfect location for a temporary break. But even as you wander through the busy streets, be sure to keep your eyes open for some beautiful examples of street art.

For other activities, whether shows or tourist attractions, make sure you flash your student ID to get frequent discounts. In many places students can get in free, or with a substantial discount, and it never hurts to try! Also, be sure to keep a look out for fun festivals that come to town, which are often free to attend.

Lumiere light festival, Oxford Circus

Travel 

As with all major metropolitan areas, London’s public transportation is a complex web of underground trains and busses. However, unlocking the key to these systems is the key to getting around London efficiently.

The Tube in London is the underground system of travel. In order to ride you must purchase an Oyster card, which you must scan upon entry and exit, and you are then charged based on the distance you travel. Keep in mind, however, that the Tube does close quite early (usually around 12 or 1 AM) because, as I mentioned before, the nightlife does not typically extend much later.

In the case that you do party past closing time, the bus system is usually handy, and there is always Uber or black cabs to get you home safely. But unless you plan to travel long distances across the city, I have found that walking is the best way to travel throughout London. It is the best way to get to know a city, and discover local gems and beautiful buildings. If you spend all your time underground or whizzing past everything in a car, you will miss out on the character of the city, which is most evident on foot. But be forewarned: there are no rules that govern the sidewalks of this city. It is quite literally a free-for-all, so do not stress about walking on the ‘right’ side.

Strut right down the center if that is what would please you. (But don’t step on the art!)

On your days off and on weekends, don’t forget to explore the UK beyond London. There are so many places to see that are just a short bus ride or train journey away. English distances are much shorter than what we are used to in the US, and the possibilities for day trip adventures are endless!

Stonehenge

Language barrier? 

London is one of the most popular destinations for students in the Notre Dame study abroad program. One of the reasons that this is true is likely because of the seeming lack of a language barrier. Yet, I am quickly learning that different varieties of English can often be almost as hard to decipher as other languages. Not only is the vocabulary quite different, but also not all British accents are musical and proper.

However, for your convenience I have collected a series of words and their definitions below:

Additionally, it is important to note the difference in floor systems in England as H to America. In the UK, the ground floor is equivalent to the American first floor. The first floor is actually the first floor off the ground (American second floor).

Seen at The Knight’s Arms pub in Oxford. In this case, as you may have guessed, the term ‘faggot’ refers to a type of food. Specifically, it is fried piece of meat covered in bread crumbs and herbs.
Fun fact: according to Wikipedia and local lore, The King’s Arms has the highest IQ of any pub in the world, based on all of the geniuses who have eaten there.

What to bring and what to leave behind 

When packing for months at a time, it is hard to know what you should bring with you and what you can live without, or buy when you arrive. However, when in London it is absolutely necessary to have a collection of waterproof items to protect you and your things from the rain.

Carry an umbrella with you at all times because you never know when the skies will open and an impromptu downpour will start. Bring a waterproof raincoat for the days when rain is actually predicted – and therefore certain to arrive, and perhaps spray your shoes with waterproof spray before leaving the US.

Although it may seem counter-intuitive to leave your tall rain boots (or wellingtons, as they are called in London) behind, but you actually will not need them. In London people do not tend to wear rain boots fashionably, even in the rain. They only emerge in the countryside for wet and muddy days when you are frolicking about in a field or working in the garden (read: yard).