Studying abroad has by far been my best investment. However, there are definitely some downsides that I wish someone had warned me about before I packed my bags. Here is a brief outline of the things you need to keep in mind when studying abroad in London.
1. Money flies when you’re having fun
I’ve only been in London for about two weeks, yet it feels like two months. Tragically, this also means that my spending for the past two weeks has not been exemplary because the cost of actually having a life adds up. Most of us are used to the Gainesville social life that is either cheap or virtually free because of fraternity parties, which is why my switch to London came with many surprises – especially when one cocktail costs about $14. Regardless of whether you drink or not, going out in London is costly because food here is also on the pricey side if you don’t do your research. Luckily for girls, we can get into places for free or discounted if we go in a group. As for the guys? I’m afraid you are stuck paying the full price for just about everything.
2. American commodities are expensive
My search for a decently priced lint roller led me to H&M because every other convenience or grocery store sold it for about $9. I went out with lint-covered clothing for two weeks until I miraculously found a not-so-great mini roller at H&M. This minor example is just one of the many you may run into when studying abroad because the little details you didn’t think mattered actually do.
3. Currency exchange rates slash your budget
British pounds are worth nearly double the value of the American dollar. Although the value of the dollar is going up, the difference of value in the exchange rate is not something you can take lightly. I personally try to convert everything I purchase mentally, but if this seems complicated to you, I recommend any of the dozens of currency-exchange apps out there and using it with all your purchases.
4. The temptation to go out will never disappear
I go out almost three times more than I ever did in Gainesville. I don’t necessarily mean going out partying or drinking because I mainly do a lot of exploring around different boroughs (Kensington, Covent Garden, Piccadilly, etc.). There are so many places I hadn’t even known existed until I arrived in London and realized how massive and eclectic each borough was. The only issue with it is that there is always some spending involved. Whether it’s to buy a snack or a meal, souvenir or a drink, there’s always something that pops up. I never want to waste time here with downtime because I know this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. My recommendation is to cook at home before going out, take snacks and a water bottle, or pregame (carefully) at home. This seemingly minor detail goes a long way, especially if you want to travel.
5. Gyms are pricey
The least-expensive gym my friend was able to find was about $60 a month for our area. Although our housing is in an expensive region of London, the whole city is generally pretty pricey. If you are big on fitness, then by all means go ahead and invest in a membership. However, if you just want to stay decently fit, then you have other options. Lots of people go running here, and the parks are all very nearby so it’s doable. My personal option is jogging around the park or biking that only costs two British pounds per rental (roughly $2.80).
6. Everyone has their own travel agenda
The biggest hurdle I am currently facing in London is scheduling travel plans. The places I consider obvious go-to places are not for others, and vice versa. Planning to travel outside of London is very complicated and stressful, and in the end you may need to expect that you’re not going to all the places you envisioned being a must. Being open to new plans is necessary unless you want to travel by yourself, which I do not recommend. You either need to go with a big group or stay in London and go on your own adventures.
7. Your classes are as serious as they are at home – maybe even stricter
Attendance is required for all my classes or else my grades will suffer. Not to mention that if I’m five minutes late I’m marked as absent. Seriously. A lot of these strict regulations have to do with my student visa. Another reason may also be because, I would imagine, students wouldn’t take their classes seriously, so now they enforce stringent regulations. Needless to say, be prepared to study and go to class because there’s no getting around it.
8. Food portions are smaller
Unfortunately, they are not big believers in to-go bags here, and the food portions reflect that. Here they actually serve you normal human amounts rather than the usual overflow of pizza or whatever else you’re used to taking to-go in the States. Sadly, this means reheating isn’t really a thing here unless you cook your own meals.
9. Sustainability measures may take a toll on your grocery shopping
When I first went grocery shopping in London, my huge purse saved my life (but technically my wallet). As my roommate and I got up to the register they began to charge us for bags, which to our horror was a system practiced in nearly every store. Moral of the story? Save the planet and bring your own bags, or pay the price.
10. Student loans are a real option you need to consider
Tragically, I officially have student-loan debt. Before, this made me feel like a bit of a failure because I lacked the clearly necessary resources I needed to fulfill one of my most important goals. However, the reality is that studying abroad is something normal people will never have the chance to do again. Soon after college, we become real adults with responsibilities you can no longer afford to push aside, and going to Europe for a couple of months is not going to happen. So I invested in my future and myself, which, for me, has been entirely worth it.
My final note for your study abroad planning and future adventures would be that if you’re tight on money, try to make the most of what you have. Studying abroad in London has been an amazing experience so far, but it would have been even better right off the bat if I had known these tidbits in advance.
Photo credit: www.thirdyearabroad.com