Student/Alumni Testimonials
Anna Yahn
West Virginia University – Interior Design
Memorable Experiences
Studying abroad was the most rewarding experience of my life. I learned so much about London's culture and about myself while I was there for only 3 months. Bedford Place was where I called my home right next to Russell Square.
However, when I first got to London I did not find it that easy to get around I just could not seem to get my bearings and my sense of direction was completely gone. That was scary at first because I knew where I needed to go but had no idea which way to turn. Finally, Tony from AIU told me go and get yourself lost in the streets of London and find your way back paying attention to what is around you. That is exactly what I did, I started walking, and walking then turned around and tried to find another way home. All the while taking pictures making notes on my map, and taking in all the local culture that I might not have seen if I had not taken a different route. As Robert Frost states "...I went down the road less traveled by and that made all the difference..." This is so true I met some interesting people and found little shops that were not run over by tourists and received a true cultural experience.
As time went along, I became so acquainted with the streets of London that I was starting to take it all for granted. That was however until one night after I had just got done running around Russell Square and stopped to watch the water fountain that I had an epiphany and realized how lucky I was to be jogging around the street of London like I had been there forever. I sat down, took a deep breath, and then took a mental picture of how perfect that moment was and I will never forget it. Just sitting there watching the fountain with the sounds of the big red buses, the black cabs, and the people walking around the streets will be etched in my mind forever. From that moment on I looked at things a little differently. I took the time to stop and see what was around me and appreciate the differences, some of which I truly miss today.
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