I Clearly do not Know How to Travel…

By:

Iram Camacho

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Iram Camacho

<i>Home Institution</i>: University of New Mexico <i>Expected Graduation Year</i>: 2025 <i>Academic Major / Minor</i>: International Studies & Political Science / French <i>Destination</i>: Amsterdam, Netherlands <i>"Hello" in your host country's language</i>: Hallo <i>Demographics</i>: Hispanic/Latinx, First-Generation American, First-Generation College Student, LGBTQ+ <i>Future Career Goals</i>: I plan to work with the UN in the fields of environment and sustainability, particularly in forest management. As a fashion enthusiast, I would also like to promote the use and production of sustainable clothing. <i>Top Three Study Abroad Goals</i>: Continuing work on my side project concerning sustainable fashion and the modeling industry; Getting to know more like-minded students who share the same drive and passion as myself; Learning the language! I love learning new languages and Dutch would be the sixth language I study.

Of course, I’m having the time of my life in Amsterdam, but being that I don’t see myself returning to Europe anytime soon after my study abroad experience, I do find it necessary to see as much of Europe as I can.

During the last four days of February, a group of friends and I decided to head over to London, England. Did we have a plan as to what we were going to do? No. Did we go simply because we found cheap plane tickets on EasyJet? Absolutely. Now, did we enjoy the city of London as much as we thought we would? Surprisingly not. Perhaps it was due to our lack of planning, but we felt as if there was nothing to do. Of the few things we could have done, it was either sold out, or the tickets were WAY too expensive. In fact, we saw most of the landmarks (Tower Bridge, London Bridge, Big Ben, London Eye) the same day that we flew into London.

The following morning, we went to Buckingham Palace and witnessed the changing of the guards. Let me tell you, there were SO MANY PEOPLE!!! Needles to say, getting a good view of the guards coming in and out of the palace was difficult, but I knew I needed a good view. Whether this was a good choice or not, I was able to push my way through the crowd until I got to the very front (I was able to get an unobstructed view of the entire proceeding). After the main events of the proceedings, there was still about 30 minutes left, but we got pretty bored so decided to walk around the city for a bit and get some food.

That day, we went to get some Chinese food, we visited the M&M store, and we watched the new Ant Man and The Wasp film at a local theater. One of the main highlights of the trip was going to the British Museum, and realizing that most, if not all of the most famous pieces they owned were being kept away and that only replicas were being shown.

The most difficult part of this trip was by far trying to figure out the subway systems. I am extremely thankful that I had friends with me (including a friend who actually lived in London) because I know with 100% certainty I would have been lost on my own (also the last night we were there a friend and I got separated from the rest of the group so were underground for a very long time trying to find the correct exit)

Regardless of the difficulties experienced during this trip, I still enjoyed London. Was I thrilled by it? Not really, but it was still a gorgeous city with lots of diversity. I would encourage anyone to go visit, but please please please make an itinerary with everything you are going to do and be prepared.