It’s official, I’ve been in London for over a month, and to say time has flown by is the understatement of the year. Days and weeks pass by seamlessly as I juggle between classes, work, travelling, and exploring London. Getting into a routine has undoubtedly helped me adapt to my new life in one of the biggest, most dynamic cities in the world, a city so rich in every facet.
I feel at home in my classes, where I’ve gotten to know my classmates and teachers. My internship at The Independent is finally shaping up. The first couple of weeks I found myself frustrated, staring blankly at a computer for 8 hours while everyone replied “thanks, but not at the moment” when I inquired for tasks. I decided to wait it out, and the wait paid off. I theorize that my colleagues were “testing me” in some sort of way before deciding what to do with me. In the last weeks I have published several articles for the i-Newspaper, have been officially allowed to edit the “foreign news diary” on Google docs, and have helped different teams across the editorial floor, such as the travel and A&E desks.
While a routine-oriented life is key to my sanity, it’s impossible not to be a spontaneous across the pond. Weekends consist of travel and exploration. This past weekend I went to Geneva, Switzerland, which was amazing and picturesque, but also very quiet. London is a city constantly buzzing, constantly moving and I found myself craving that commotion so characteristic of a city that has become my own. Before coming to London I daydreamed of plane hopping every single weekend, making my way from city to city for quick Instagram-worthy getaways, so my desire to stay in London has become an unexpected but pleasant surprise. On our days off we embark on adventures around the city and its surroundings, visiting landmarks such as St. Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge, and going on to other parts of England such as the beautiful seaside town of Brighton. The more I get to know London the more I love it and the more I realize I haven’t even scratched the surface of all that it has to offer.
