I can honestly say that I ate my way through all of abroad and had some of the best food in London, Italy, Budapest, Amsterdam, and Paris. While in Paris, I indulged in one of my favorite desserts… macaroons! I must have eaten thirty during my stay and could not pass a bakery without seeing them in the shop window and immediately going in. One of my favorite places to get them was Pierre Herme on the Champs Elysees. I still dream of them! In Amsterdam I got so hungry while walking around and just like in New York City, there were food vendors on the streets. I grabbed a hot dog from one of these vendors and it was so good and most definitely reminded me of NYC. In Budapest, my friends and I ate at a restaurant called Mazel Tov and we ordered almost one of everything on the menu. Not only was the food out of this world amazing, but the ambiance of the restaurant was so beautiful. There was a long wait and they did not take reservations, but the wait was worth it. I still crave the falafel and gyro from there and wish it was a chain here in America. While in Italy every meal consisted of carbs! From pasta to pizza I was eating gnocchi and or truffle pizza for every meal. My favorite truffle pizza I ate was from a restaurant called Paper Moon in Milan. It tasted just as good as the picture makes it look. For gnocchi I had two favorites one being in Venice called Dal Moro’s Fresh Pasta to Go. I ordered gnocchi with chicken and pesto and it came in a big take out container. We took our pasta to go and sat by the canals and savored every bite. My second favorite gnocchi I had was at Osteria Santo Spirito in Florence. It was a truffle gnocchi and had baked cheese on top. As soon as we all got our food all the conversations stopped for a good twenty minutes until we all finishes are huge dishes of gnocchi. Since I was living in London I had so many amazing dining experiences, but a few places that I still think about are Drunch and Duck & Waffle. Drunch is a really great brunch/lunch place with multiple locations in London. They had everything from omelets to acai bowls to pancakes to sandwiches and healthy juices. I personally loved their juices, sandwiches, and acai bowls. Duck & Waffle is an experience within itself. It is on the 40th floor of the Heron Tower with floor-to-ceiling windows. I of course got the signature dish…. Duck and waffles and I don’t even love duck, but it was worth trying it because it exceeded my expectations completely. Not to mention the views from the restaurant creating a whole dining experience.
Leaving London... ASAP!
In the past few weeks leading up to March 15th, which is when I sadly departed London to go home, abroad programs were being sent home from Italy and Spain. All of us in London felt like the end to our program was inevitable and coming way sooner than any of us would’ve liked. When I got back from Paris on March 7th my friends and I decided that we wouldn’t let any day to go to waste because everything was so up in the air and the coronavirus was spreading rapidly. At this point in time we had no clue what this virus really was, and we went about our normal day lives using the tube, standing in crowds, eating at restaurants etc.… A few things I got to check off of the bucket list right before our program was cut short was going to a Broadway show and going to this fun club called Mahiki. After spring break my classes resumed on Wednesday the 11th. So before then I went to go see the show Waitress with the lead being singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles and it was an amazing experience and I am so happy that I was able to see it, not to mention I was in the front row (great seats). My friends and I were also determined to go to this club called Mahiki which is famous for their Monday nights. We didn’t get to go any other time and were so excited that we all made time from our busy school schedules to go to THE Mahiki Monday. It was such a cool club with tiki bar vibes and I definitely recommend/ hope to be back. The last few days before my flight early on the 15th I made sure to go to my classes and thank my professors for the wonderful experience they had provided. My friends and I would meet up somewhere new after school to walk around and shop and we made sure to go to new restaurants and pubs, so we felt like we didn’t miss anything. I truly had the best abroad experience and I know that I will be back in London to see even more of it. Abroad has helped me to mature in ways that I didn’t know were possible, I made so many new friends and memories that I will forever be grateful for.
Day In The Life: Class Edition
While enrolling in classes at LCF I was given four mandatory classes that would transfer back to SU. In addition to those four, I was able to pick one class as an elective that peaked my interest. The four assigned classes were called Theoretical & Contemporary Fashion Studies (TCFS), Intermediate Draping, Fashion History & Artefact (FHA), and British Cultural Studies (BCS). The additional class I chose to take was called Start a Fashion Label. TCFS met at 9am-11am on Monday in a big lecture hall at the John Princes Street location of LCF located in Oxford Circus. This class consisted of group projects, presentations, and essays. Intermediate Draping met at 2pm- 6pm on Tuesday at the Lime Grove location of LCF which is located in Shepherd’s Bush. This class was held in a studio classroom with big cutting tables, sewing machines, and dress forms. Throughout this course I had learned new draping techniques and became more comfortable with my ability to create patterns for sewing through draping. FHA met at 1pm-3pm at different locations each Wednesday. This class was super cool to me because it consisted of guided visits to historical sites and museums in London. In this class and BCS, we were told to keep a journal, not only for a grade, but for inspiration and creative purposes. BCS met at 10am-12pm at different locations every Thursday. This class was more like a walking tour of London we went to different cities in London and learned about the history and current reputations of each place. This class was very much about the social lifestyle and trends we would see in the different cities that make each part of London so unique. Lastly, Start a Fashion Label met on Thursdays from 1pm-3pm in a smaller classroom at the John Princes street location of LCF. I chose this class because as a fashion design major with an entrepreneurship minor, this class incorporated both aspects of business and design. In this class we paired up and created our own businesses from scratch by creating business plans and financial cost sheets. All of these classes I took were taught by professionals who were/ are in the industry. Each professor was so knowledgeable and incredible in helping me learn in different ways than I was used to.
Paris
LCF took us to Paris for the week from March 3rd to the 7th. We all met at St. Pancras station at 5:50 am sharp to take the Eurostar to Paris. We arrived in Pairs at 10:30 am and took the metro to our hotel. Our professors who came with us were experts at using the metro, so it was good having them there to guides us and help us learn. After dropping our bags off we ate brunch and then went onto a boat tour of Paris where we got to see the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Eiffel tower, and a lot more from a distance. One of our professors had a connection at Makeup Forever so we went to the flagship and got 40% off whatever we bought. I of course made good use of this and bought like five products. The next day we went to The Marais which is the Jewish quarter in Paris. We walked around, shopped, and ate amazing falafel. We then when vintage shopping and walked around all day because we needed to find outfits for the night because we decided to go to this club called Duplex. Duplex is located right by the Arc De Triomphe and it was super fun. After a later start the next day we went to the Champs Elysees to walk around and see the Arc De Triomphe during the day. We ate at L’occitane x Pierre Herme and we got lunch and dessert. We then walked around more and went to dinner. The next day we ate at Café de Flore which is a historical and famous café known for Picasso and many other celebrities dining in often. After that we were able to go to the Louvre Museum even though it was temporarily closed due to the beginning of the corona virus. We made sure to spend the whole day there so that we could try and see everything we could. So much walking we were exhausted and starving so we got a quick bite and then went back to the hotel to hang out. In the morning we grabbed croissants from a bakery next to the hotel and called an Uber to go see the Eiffel Tower closer up. Since it was our last day in Paris we walked around and took pictures by the Eiffel tower and then went back to the hotel and headed to the train station Gare Du Nord. The train ride was about three hours and then we were back in London.
Nightlife
During my two and a half months stay in London, the night life played a HUGE role in the overall abroad experience. Since the legal drinking age is 18 in the UK and Europe me and my 20-year-old American friends were excited to be able to go out. Like they say, work hard play hard right? Going out at night allowed me to make more friends and meet new people who I would have never met. Since I was studying at the London College of Fashion through Syracuse University, I was able to blend my friends from SU with the new friends I had made during my first few days of orientation at LCF. This allowed me to balance out the time I spent with all of my friends and create a nice crossover between the two friend groups. Anyways, the more the merrier! Especially when going out in London a big group is more fun and definitely safer. I definitely met new people from SU who I had never met on campus in the U.S. and my small friend group at LCF expanded a lot once we all made new friends in our classes. Three places that we all frequented a lot (like probably way too much) were The Roxy, O’Neill’s, and Café de Paris. The Roxy is a smaller night club located right outside of the Tottenham Court Road tube station. When you approach it on the street there is a little light up sign attached to a doorway. After walking down about two and a half flights of stairs, you enter into the main room which is lit up in pink with a big bar and lounge area. The Roxy was always so much fun, and they had good music and good drinks. O’Neill’s is an Irish pub and bar with multiple locations. The location we would always go to was the one located in Chinatown. The bar was three floors with each floor being a completely different vibe. The first level in which you enter is more like your typical London pub. The second floor is where we spent most of our time since it was set up like a bar with a DJ and a stage for people to dance on. The third floor also had a bar and there was a live band playing music on a stage. O’Neill’s was always the place on Thursday’s because there was a student discount. And lastly, Café de Paris was very comparable to the night clubs we are used to here in the U.S. You typically had a club promoter to set you up with a table and drinks. This night club was two floors where the first floor had a bar and a stage where performers would breathe fire and dance. The second floor also had a bar and the tables it had a wraparound banister so no matter where you were you could always see the first floor. Going out in London was the absolute best especially after a long week of classes!
Camden and Portobello Markets
Camden Market
Portobello Market
Whether it’s for food, shopping, or just walking around, two indoor/outdoor markets that are an absolute must are Camden and Portobello markets. Camden market has over one thousand shops selling art, fashion, music, and food. Camden is a more structured market in the way that it has indoor and outdoor shops in a general area with many vintage shops and food vendors. There is a canal that runs through the market because in earlier times during the industrial revolution that was how textiles were brought into Camden. The market played a huge part of the regeneration of Camden and it is one of the biggest attractions in London. Historically and in present day a lot of bands and artists perform in Camden because it is a huge music scene. Camden market is definitely a must-see thing to do in London. Even looking at what the vendors are selling and the people walking around it helps to get a good glimpse into the street fashion of London and how differently each person dresses. Portobello is another massive market that is set up to be more like your conventional street market. This market is located in Notting Hill which is a popular and known area in London for having colorful houses. At Portobello you can find things from vintage clothing and antiques to little souvenirs to food. Mostly each vendor has a tent and a table, and it stretches all along Portobello Road. Both of these markets are extremely packed on the weekends because locals go to meet with friends, shop, and get inspired. I went to both of these markets at least twice because it is a lot of walking, eating, and rummaging through things. To see everything, you definitely want to spend a lot of time at both or go back multiple times to see different selections.
Spring Break
Milan, Italy
Venice, Italy
Florence, Italy
Barcelona, Spain
For our week-long spring break a few friends and I planned to go to Milan, Venice, Florence, Italy, Barcelona, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal. In that exact order, we flew from London to Milan and stayed there from February 21st to the night of the 22nd. While in Milan we did a ton of shopping and eating. We were able to see the Duomo and get good prices on designer goods as well as eat as much truffle pizza as we could! We then took the train from Milan to Venice and got there around dinner time. We took a boat from the train station to the Airbnb we were staying at, dropped our bags, and then headed to dinner because we were starving. After having a huge bowl of gnocchi (my favorite), we walked around and digested until we saw a gelato stand and knew we had to try it. When in Italy, right? While we were in Venice we went to St. Mark’s Square and it was during Carnival where everyone was dressed up in costumes and it was packed. We went on a gondola ride which was one of my favorite things because it is so different from what we are used to here in the U.S. So far, I was loving Italy for the food and scenery. We were in Venice from the 22nd to the 23rd because this was the first we really heard of Corona virus and the cases in surrounding towns of Venice were growing rapidly. We were worried we would be trapped in Venice, so we fled to Florence via train a night earlier than expected. We stayed in Florence from the 23rd to the 26th. We got to our hotel late on the 23rd went to sleep and were prepared for the next day full of activities. On the 24th we did a lot of walking around and went to the Gucci Garden Galleria which is free for students and an amazing exhibit. We also went to the Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio bridge. For dinner we ate at this restaurant called Zaza and then went to a bar called Lions Fountain and met up with friends from the Florence abroad program. On the next day we went to the Galleria dell ‘Accademia where we saw Michelangelo’s David and a lot of other artwork. WE then walked around and shopped and went to Piazzale Michelangelo which is a lookout point where you can overlook all of Florence (absolutely stunning). We then went to a rooftop bar called View on art and were eye level with the Duomo and had the best views. On our last day we went to the Galleria degli Uffizi which is another museum with beautiful artwork from people like Michelangelo and Da Vinci. That afternoon we took a pasta making class and learned how to make three different types of pasta and we of course got to eat what we made! (so fun and such a great experience). After consuming my last bowl of Italian pasta, it was time for the airport. My friends were headed back to London, but I was headed to Barcelona to visit a friend for a day. I landed at about 7 pm and headed straight to his apartment where we immediately got ready and started pregaming for this club called Razzmatazz. This club was multi floor, multi room and massive. It was so much fun and way bigger than any other club I have been to. The next day we went to La Barceloneta which is a beach area and we ate at a restaurant called surf house which was a good change of pace from being in Italy all week. We then walked around the neighborhood and walked all the way to the Arc de Triomf which was beautiful architecture. After that we walked to the Sagrada Familia which has been under construction for years and it was absolutely beautiful and very detailed. After that we went to a roof top bar that overlooked the Sagrada Familia and we hung out there until we had to go back to his apartment for me to pack my things and head to the airport.
Arsenal Stadium and London Eye
London Eye
Arsenal Stadium
On February 15th I decided to go take a tour of Emirates Stadium which is home for the Arsenal football club. I was unable to go to an actual football (soccer for us Americans) game, but the stadium tour was the next best thing and honestly very cool to see. It was a rainy day, but majority of the tour was inside of the stadium. Right when you enter you are given a handset so that you can go through the tour on your own pace. You go through the player’s tunnel that leads onto the field and you go into their changing rooms/locker rooms. They were amazing to see with state-of-the-art facilities and amenities. You got to see the conference room and the interview rooms as well as the rooms with all of their trophies and history. We were also able to walk around the VIP club dining area and box. The tour took about an hour and half and it was so cool to see how amazing the stadium was and where the players spend a majority of their time. Another place a tourist must go see is the London Eye! I have been once at night and once during the day. At night the London Eye is lit up in purple and during the day the London Eye is just white. The London Eye is in Jubilee Gardens located right on the River Thames which is right by the Waterloo tube station. From the Eye you get an incredible view whether it be at night with all the city lights or during the day with the ability to see for miles and miles. It really is a 360-degree view of London and some well-known landmarks I spotted were Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and Buckingham palace.
Victoria & Albert Museum and the British Museum
Tim Walker Exhibit at the V&A Museum
British Museum
Two of my favorite museums in London that I went to with my classes as well as on my own are the Victoria and Albert Museum as well as the British Museum. My first FHA class met at the V&A Museum and we went to the Fashion Galleries exhibit where there were all of these vintage pieces from different designers and time periods. During this first class we were challenged to draw the pieces we saw in unconventional ways like: using your non-dominant hand, using both hands, and continuous drawing. Another exhibit we went to with FHA class was the Tim Walker: Wonderful Things exhibit. Walker is a British fashion photographer and the exhibit was about him and his work as well as other famous fashion photographers and collaborations with work from famous fashion designers like Alexander McQueen and the talented set designer Shona Heath. This was one of my favorite museum exhibits I had ever seen because the way in which it was set up was so successful for the viewer to follow. Each room was set up to mirror the collection of photographs and fashion garments and accessories. Other than these exhibits the V&A is an amazing resource to gather information and inspiration. My second FHA class met at the British Museum which is located in Bloomsbury right by the Tottenham Court Road tube station and it was the first time I had been there. The exhibits we went to were the art and culture, Egyptian influence, Ancient Greece and Rome, and the Age of Enlightenment. We also quickly saw the Rosetta Stone and there was a huge crowd surrounding it. These exhibits were super interesting to me because I have always been super fascinated by ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. The way these exhibits were set up was very successful because it brought you through a timeline. Both of these museums are absolutely fascinating and immaculate. The design and layouts are impressive, and you could spend days to months going through all of the exhibits available.
Amsterdam
My friends from SU and I took a weekend trip to Amsterdam from January 31st to February 2nd. We got there early Friday morning and I remember the airport being huge. We took a taxi to the hotel, checked in and dropped our bags, and then hit the city. The first place we went was Bulldog Café which was a typical coffee shop in Amsterdam, but a normal coffee shop for them is one where people can purchase and smoke marijuana inside and around the property. I actually got a coffee because I had been traveling all morning, but we met up with a group of our friends there. After we finished our business up there we walked through the streets and over the canals to get to the Van Gogh Museum. We bought our tickets at the door and headed right in. Inside we learned so much about Van Gogh’s history and saw many of his early paintings as well as self-portraits. After that, we were lucky enough to get tickets for the Anne Frank House. Usually, people would have to purchase these tickets in advance, but if you keep refreshing the website you can get lucky and tickets will become available later in the day. At around 4pm we showed up to the Anne Frank House, which I was truly very excited to see. As soon as you enter you can feel the history in the house. Guided tours were included in the ticket price and you were able to hear the whole story from start to finish. I spent about an hour and half walking through the house, up to the annex on a steep staircase and was able to see where Anne Frank and her family had hidden during WWII. It was an eye-opening experience and I felt very fortunate to be able to learn more about the Holocaust and Anne Frank’s story. The museum was one of the best Holocaust exhibits I have ever been to. After an emotional experience at the Anne Frank house we went back to the hotel to freshen up for dinner. We went to dinner at Casa di David and it was fabulous. After dinner, we headed over to the Red-Light District. This experience was something like no other. We went to Moulin Rouge in the district and it was quite the experience (I will leave this to your imagination). The next day we ate a lot of cheese at the cheese museum and went to the tulip museum. We then walked over to an outdoor market where we ate Stroop waffles and shopped. At around 3pm we went to the Heineken Museum which was so cool to see the behind the scenes of making Heineken beer. After the tour we were sent downstairs to enjoy the bar and get free beer (we spent a decent amount of time there of course). Dinner that night was at this tapas place called Happy Happy Joy Joy! Which was so fun and yummy. The next day we stuffed our faces with pancakes for breakfast and then headed back to the airport to go home to London.
Shopping: Harrods, Selfridges, and Liberty
The fashion in London is known to be unique and break rules. Mixing styles, patterns, colors, and more! There are absolutely no fashion rules and it is all about self-expression. While in London I noticed as time went by my personal fashion had changed so much. I was able to get out of my comfort zone and wear literally whatever I wanted as an outfit. Just like we have here, the department stores in London are unreal. The three main ones are Harrods, Selfridges, Liberty. Here is my opinion and reviews on each of them. Harrods, which is located in Knightsbridge, is a massive, seven floor, retail space. It is most definitely the most well-known and visited department store by locals and tourists. Harrods is not only synonymous with luxury, but the art nouveau-inspired food hall located on the first floor has different types of cuisines and the food is absolutely delicious. Harrods is an absolute must even if you cannot afford anything but the souvenirs! Selfridges is located right on Oxford Street in Marylebone. Selfridges is named after the founder Harry Gordon Selfridge who was actually American. It’s a big department store, but not as big as Harrods. Selfridges is home to a lot of pop-up bars and restaurants as well as designer brands. With that being said, the food at Selfridges in their food hall is also spectacular. Selfridges is set up in the way I am used to when I walk into a department store. It almost feels a little more inviting whereas Harrods feels like a museum exhibit because it is so pristine. Liberty, last but not least, is located on Regent street in Soho. If you talk to any local, they will one hundred percent tell you to come here. They sell everything from high-end fashion and luxury to their own fabric line. The store front is made out of timber from two ships and gives off a historical vibe. All three department stores are worth a visit.
Budapest
My first weekend trip while abroad! A few new friends I had made at LCF and I went to Budapest from January 24th to the 26th. During this time, it was even colder in Budapest than it was in London! So, we had a later flight and landed at around 11pm in Budapest. It was such a culture shock because we were so used to everything being in English from the U.S. of course as well as London. We quickly adapted and found a taxi stand to take us to the Airbnb we had rented prior to getting there. During the taxi ride we were all mesmerized by our surroundings staring out the window and pointing things out to each other. We were staying about thirty minutes from the airport and arrived at our Airbnb at about midnight. Our Airbnb host was running late so across from our Airbnb we saw a beautiful hotel and decided to get a quick drink while we waited to be let into our apartment for the weekend. Once we met up with the Airbnb host that’s when things took a turn for the worse. We open up the door to a disheveled apartment with dirty sheets and towels in the bedrooms and bathrooms and a hired maid who had two men with her. We immediately felt unsafe and called the Marriot to see if we could have two hotel rooms that would fit three people each. Luckily, they had availability AND Airbnb refunded us and paid for our two-night stay in the Marriot a few blocks away. We did not let this put a damper on our first trip experience, so we went to bed and woke up for our jam-packed day. On Saturday we walked all over Buda and Pest, but our first stop was this indoor market called Váci Utica market. They had everything from butchers to food stands, to stands with little souvenirs. We then traveled to the Danube river and crossed over the chain bridge which connects Buda and Pest. In Buda we went to the castle district and took a shuttle tour where we could hop on and off to get closer looks at each castle. After that we grabbed a bite to eat and continued to explore. Later that night we went to dinner at a restaurant called Mazel Tov which is very known for the amazing food (it was seriously the best food I had ever had). After dinner we went to the ruin bar which is typical on a Saturday night. The ruin bar was super grungy with an underground feel. It was covered in graffiti and was multi leveled with each floor having its own bar. On Sunday we visited the Dohany Street synagogue which is the biggest temple in Europe. After that, we went back to the Danube river to see the shoes on the Danube bank memorial which represented how many Jews were rounded up and killed there. This memorial brought out a lot of emotions from me. Later that day we traveled back to the airport and landed home in London.
Traditional Afternoon Tea & Ballie Ballerson
Sketch
Ballie Ballerson
While in London I had to take part in the tradition of afternoon tea at least once! (well, maybe a few times). One of my most memorable and fun teas I went to was at the well-known restaurant and cocktail lounge, Sketch. Sketch is a super popular place for afternoon tea not only for the delicious tea sandwiches, mini cakes, and of course the tea, but for the beautiful ambiance in the tea rooms and bathroom. Before I got to London I knew I was going to go to Sketch at least once for the overall experience and to snap a few pictures in the super instagrammable bathroom. Sketch is located in Mayfair which is a very fun place to be in London. Right when I entered with my two friends the hostess greeted us and showed us to our reserved table. The whole entire tea room was covered in pink from the tables to the chairs to the walls. It felt like an absolute heaven! The waiter came over after we looked through the menu and explained that we could get refills on whichever teas we wanted or whichever tea sandwiches we liked. There was also a boozy tea option, but we stuck to the classic afternoon tea option. The tea and food were absolutely amazing especially for the price in comparison to other afternoon teas. After we spent about two hours shoving our faces with all the tea and food we could, we took a trip to the bathroom. The bathroom had two wrap around staircases and the ceiling was made out of multicolor light up tiles. The bathroom was all white except for the ceiling and the bathroom pods were in the shape of eggs. After our thirty-minute photoshoot we left Sketch and wandered around Mayfair to shop. Another super fun and instagrammable place we went to was Ballie Ballerson in Shoreditch. Shoreditch is known to be a very hipster area with great vintage shopping and fun bars. Ballie Ballerson is a bar/nightclub that doubles as an adult ball pit. We went with a big group of people and played in the ball pits and of course took photos.
Winter Wonderland
I was told by people who went abroad in the past that if it were possible, I HAD to go to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Winter Wonderland is open for 6 weeks from November to early January, so I made it just in time. My friends and I went on a Sunday night and everything was lit up with sparkling lights. Entry into winter wonderland was free and right when I walked through the gates I saw a huge array of attractions, holiday markets, food stands, restaurants, and bars. It was so huge and overwhelming my friends and I had been walking around for hours and probably only scratched the surface of what was there. Since it was a brisk January night, I wore black jeans, a black turtleneck, black Dr. Martens platform boots, a leopard print puffer coat, and accessorized with chunky jewelry. This kept me equally as warm as it did stylish. After first entering through the main gate we walked through for about ten minutes before stopping at our first food vendor. We started with churros filled with Nutella and caramel and they were absolutely insane! The best churros I have ever had. We then moved onto the street food which included bratwurst, fries, burgers and more. Very interesting combination of food, yes I know, but we shared everything and it was great to have a little taste of everything. We also all tried mulled wine for the first time and in my opinion, I did not love it. After being completely stuffed with food, we bought tickets to go on the rides and we went on the Ferris wheel and this machine that involved a lot of spinning (probably not one of my best ideas). Once we had our fill of fun on the rides we continues to walk around the little markets looking at all the holiday souvenirs that were being sold like clothing, jewelry, decorations etc.. Winter Wonderland is an ABSOLUTE must to go to and I was so happy we just made it in time before it closed for the season!
Just Touched Down in London Town
After my overnight 6-hour flight from Newark airport, New Jersey to Heathrow airport, London I went straight to my dorm room at the Costume Store in North Acton, London. During the car ride there, I remember looking through the window and taking in everything I could. The thoughts in my head being: I AM IN LONDON AND THIS IS MY NEW HOME. A different type of excitement rushed through my body even while enduring extreme jetlag. After checking in and setting down my overweight luggage, me and a few friends decided to explore. We needed to get all the necessities for our rooms and immediately found a place called ASDA which is like a Walmart here in America. After getting the necessities and a much-needed shower, we decided to go check out Oxford Circus and Carnaby Street in Soho. For our first night out on the town I wasn’t completely sure what wear or how to do my makeup. I put on a basic outfit being black jeans a cute slinky blouse from Zara and a shearling jacket paired with my trusty dr. marten platform boots. To get to these places we had to take the tube for the first time! After purchasing our oyster cards which are like metro cards in New York City, we plugged in our destination into an app called Citymapper (this app became super helpful when navigating through London). The app showed us what stops to get off at and what line on the tube we should be taking and if we had to make any transfers. We hopped off of the tube at the Oxford Circus station which happened to be on the Central line where North Acton was on. Emerging from the tube station I immediately feel like I am in New York City. Lights were flashing, crowds of people were rushing down the sidewalks, and street performers were everywhere, as well as club promoters approaching people and inviting them places. We were absolutely starving at this point and decided to try out one of the first restaurants we saw which happened to be this cute Thai restaurant. After stuffing myself with pad thai and two mojitos, we continued to walk around. While walking around, I was actively people watching the trendy Londoners all around me. Each person looking so unique and trendy with intentions on standing out in a crowd.