europe-travel-writing

[europe-travel-writing]

Inquiry into London

Museums:

One of the first things that caught my eye when arriving in London is how all the museums are free entry. I wanted to look into how the museums stay maintained and neat. The London museums generate income from grants, fundraising, and some other sources of income. I looked into sources online and one blog explained how a mother always wanted to take her kids to the museums but could not afford it. So when they became free it allowed her to attend the museums. When walking into the museums they do ask for donations as well and that's where people can donate when visiting.

[europe-travel-writing]

Service Learning

I am working in a Royal Trinity Hospice. It is a charity shop that sells quality second-hand clothes. Money goes to support charities and the workers. I found it interesting that all clothing is useful even if it has holes the item can still be sold. I was surprised that some of the items in the charity shop were expensive, but the customer was then able to donate more. I am used to second-hand clothes being cheap. At times it's not just about buying the item, but because it was more pricey more money was going to charity. The Royal Trinity Hospice is helping the public find better quality clothes at a cheaper price and also supports and raises money for parent charities. I help with organizing the clothes and making sure that the store looks presentable to the public. I enjoy working in customer service so if anyone needs help I'm ready to interact and try to solve the customer's problems.

[europe-travel-writing]

Traveling Abroad

Traveling abroad has definitely been a life-changing experience. I was nervous at first and feared the future knowing that I would be completely living alone for a little while without a car and other resources that I was used to. With time and getting to familiarize myself with the city and the culture I started to feel comfortable. Throughout the time I have been in London I have visited other countries and met new people. If I can go back to the first day here and compare it to two months later a lot has changed. I have become more independent and enjoy my alone time. I have been able to reflect on myself and become a better version of myself by traveling and trying new things. I realized that I put a lot of limitations on my life and now know that with hard work a lot is possible and because of studying abroad I have opened a new door in my life and know that I want to continue to explore.

I never thought that I would travel to a different country alone, but when the opportunity came I took it. Then when I came to London I made two more trips happen. I went to Spain and will be going to Africa in three days. Doing new things out of my comfort zone has allowed me to grow and learn more as an individual and become more confident in traveling.

[europe-travel-writing]

Psychogeography Drift

On a Saturday I hopped on a bus and just let it run for a while. It was not as exciting as I thought it would be due to not really seeing anything interesting. I was more just seeing the same grocery stores and fast food places. Surprisingly I have not used the bus that often here. I have been using the tube and after riding the bus I would say the tube is a more enjoyable experience of transportation for me. I ended up stopping at a bus stop and then entering the nearest tube station. I got off at a random exit to find a McDonald's, I was starving so I ended up eating there. I knew that I wanted to go on one more drift experience that consisted of walking and more exploring. I realized that when I go to school and service learning I am forced to take the tube. Also, when going out at night and during the day the tube is pretty much needed to get around. I wanted to explore the area I am currently living in. So I took a foot out of the apartments and just started walking. I was a bit nervous because I didn't know where I was going, but I ended up loving my alone time at night exploring the area that was around me. I walked over a bridge and got an amazing view of all the buildings. I then turned left to a nice walking path along the water. I continued to walk straight for thirty minutes and got a good view of Big Ben and the London Eye. At first, during my walk, I realized I was speed walking and pacing really quickly. I realized that I am always in a rush even when not knowing where I am going. This drift allowed me to reflect on myself and I then slowed down and really enjoyed my alone time while viewing the amazing views in every direction. I then went around the water and stood on a grass area while some fireworks came out of nowhere. I got to enjoy the fireworks and when they were done I walked back to the apartments.

[europe-travel-writing]

Scotland Trip

This weekend I went to Scotland and went from place to place on a tour bus to visit different parts of Scotland. I was a tourist due to me traveling to another place for pleasure. I went sightseeing and really enjoyed seeing different landscapes. Having an interest in the land, culture, and environment made me a tourist as well. I was interested in visiting the different towns and food places I was curious about what different foods the towns had to offer. Being a tourist in a different country is fun and adventurous, but also a bit scary due to the unknown. I would walk through the different towns and go into food places and sometimes feel a bit off because I want to make sure I am fitting in with everyone else. I tend to talk loud and forget and I get people staring at me at times. As I was visiting a different place I got to experience what it was like to be a tourist and explore a new area.

[europe-travel-writing]

The National Gallery

I went to the National Gallery museum and had a great experience. As soon as I walked in I noticed the amazing architecture. As I was walking around I continued to look up due to the structure of the dome and the colors. The colors of the building made my experience more enjoyable as I was able to look at all the different art. I went room from room admiring all the different art pieces and reading the context behind them. I felt happy, relaxed, and calm while roaming through the museum. I was able to focus on the art and at times when I looked away for a second and then looked back at the art piece I always spotted something different. At times I wanted to look at another art piece, but felt like I was missing something from another so because of this I really took my time with each painting. The noise level in the museum allowed me to really focus on each individual piece and the significance behind them. I was able to learn a bit about myself on how I am always in a rush and being at the museum allowed me to stay at peace with myself and be in the present.

[europe-travel-writing]

The pilgrimage

London is a big city with many things to offer and I hope that while I'm here I get to experience a lot of different places. I went to the Market Place to get food. As soon as I walked in I noticed a lot of people and the many different foods you can get. I enjoyed walking in and roaming the area then enjoying a meal with friends. So far this place is important due to the wide range of foods and convenience of it being very settled. The area is comforting and nice to enjoy. It allowed me to ease into London and be open to trying out new places.

[europe-travel-writing]

Getting Ready For London

As I am preparing for London my emotions are a rollercoaster. I am very excited and nervous at the same time. I am looking forward to my stay and experiencing new adventures. I am looking forward to getting out of my comfort zone and learning about the culture of London. I have packed a lot of warm clothes and necessities that I will need for traveling. I'm excited to go on an excursion to Scotland, possibly go to a soccer game, and sightseeing. I would like to see the London Eye Ferris wheel and visit Covent Garden. I am excited to try desserts in London and try different restaurants. Overall, I am looking forward to my stay and hope for a smooth flight!