Honorable Mentions

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Hailey Kindlon

<i>Home Institution</i>: Syracuse University <i>Expected Graduation Year</i>: 2024 <i>Academic Major / Minor</i>: Psychology & Creative Writing <i>Destination</i>: London, UK <i>"Hello" in your host country's language</i>: Hello <i>Demographics</i>: Caucasian/White, Hispanic/Latinx, First-Generation College Student <i>Future Career Goals</i>: Become a published author <i>Top Three Study Abroad Goals</i>: Build independence, develop a better understanding of foreign markets, create relationships with individuals from my host country

For my final blog post, I thought I would compile some honorable mentions of locations that I highly enjoyed but that didnโ€™t make it into the other posts. I had many amazing times during my semester abroad and I wish that I could write down every single detail, but really, you have to go to fully experience everything that London has to offer. And trust me, it offers a lot.

1. DIN TAI FUNG: If you enjoy Taiwanese food like I do, this is the restaurant for you. I had been hearing a lot about Din Tai Fung over the last two years and I was always so disappointed that I could try it. In the United States, only four states have this Michelin Star restaurant: California, Washington, Oregon and Nevada. And I live in New York, so I am on the complete opposite side of the country. Imagine my surprise and excitement when I found out that London was also home to their very own Din Tai Fung. For my birthday, my friend and I went out to dinner here and it was a fantastic experience. I tried the Pork xiaolongbao, the pork and prawn wontons, and the spicy noodles. The food was amazing, the service was great and fulfilling a long-lasting desire was spectacular.

2. Daunte Books: One thing to know about me – Iโ€™m an avid reader. I thoroughly enjoy reading books of almost any genre; fiction, fantasy, science fiction, thrillers, romance, etc. A friend I met in the UK mentioned this place to me and I had to check it out. It was a beautiful bookshop in Marylebone and I ended up purchasing 3 books here.

3. China Town: China Town is a must-visit location when visiting London. There are so many food stands to hit that are cheap but delicious. My friends and I all went together and we had a great time trying new foods and taking pictures. They have sushi, Vietnamese pho, dim sum, and more. Iโ€™m a big fan of Asian Cuisine so I had so much fun here.

4. Piccadilly Circus: When I went to Piccadilly Circus, it was almost 11PM and very dark outside. But, the giant neon lights and electronic billboard screens lit up the busy streets. I read somewhere that Piccadilly Circus is almost the equivalent to Times Square in New York City, and as someone who has been to both, I can say that they are very similar. It was packed with people, but I was able to take plenty of photos.

At the end of the day, I had such a great experience abroad and I know that I will take these memories with me forever. But now, my time is ending and while Iโ€™ll miss the UK, I also canโ€™t wait to see my family and share with them all that Iโ€™ve learned while Iโ€™ve been gone.