“My time in London helped teach me about so many different cultures, places, and people that I would not have been introduced to otherwise.”
Bloomsbury Bedford Square (ACCENT Center Neighborhood)
My name is Madeline Ulloa and I’m a Senior earning a bachelor’s degree in Communication and a minor in Marketing. What drew me to spend the spring semester of my junior year studying abroad in London was my interest to immerse myself in a city that is so well connected to different cultures and individuals from around the world. London leads the world as a central cultural hub for global business, communication, and truly embodies this in all aspects of life, food, people, music, religion, fashion, sports, entertainment and media. I knew that in choosing London, each day would bring me a different experience and perspective of all different cultures. In addition, I see myself pursuing a career in the field of global entertainment, digital media, marketing and advertising, and therefore, I felt it was the best city for me in terms of opportunities to build my network and establish relationships across the globe.
Considering I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, where the sun is more than generous, you can imagine my fear when I was greeted by cloudy skies and heavy rain upon my arrival. Though this didn’t come as quite a surprise to me given that I was warned by multiple individuals, nevertheless, it was still a concern of mine those first few days. It was eye-opening to see the London locals carry on with their day amidst the pouring rain since, in Los Angeles, this type of weather would lead to uncontrollable chaos. I learned to love the rain and embrace the weather each day as a new adventure I lacked back at home. I loved seeing how no one was phased by a little drizzle. Though the weather was one of my biggest challenges in adapting to life in London, I was proud of myself for overcoming this setback and not letting it affect my daily activities and desire to explore the city.
Annenberg Double Decker Tour
What I didn’t foresee before crossing the pond back in January 2020, was that London would soon become a second home of mine and a place where I could one day see myself settling down. The liveliness of the city and constant opportunity to experience activities outside of my comfort zone helped keep me busy and entertained. Though I traveled with friends I had already known back at USC, there is no doubt that settling in a new city around the world is a difficult process. However, the adjustment wasn’t as difficult as one might fear due to the fact that it is impossible for you to get bored in the city. Every moment I wasn’t in class or studying for my academics, I was out exploring the city even if that meant just walking around and observing sites and embracing the culture. I was grateful that Annenberg had provided us with the weekly opportunity to absorb London’s culture through various events such as plays, trips to the museum, day trips to towns outside of the city and experiences that pushed me to get out of my comfort zone in those first few weeks. My friends and I had a great time traveling on the double-decker bus that took us on a tour of the city which the school had setup since it was an opportunity that I might not have done on my own. After the first week in which Annenberg helped us assimilate into the city and get our groundings, I felt comfortable navigating the city on my own and did much exploring with friends but also independently.
It only took a couple of weeks before I felt confident navigating the public transportation system in London, commonly known as the London Underground, or The Tube. My daily routine consisted of grabbing a coffee and pastry at our local coffee shop underneath our apartment building, then heading over to the underground to catch the first leg of my commute. This part of my morning routine is one that I miss every day. Being able to establish that connection and build a relationship with the baristas and employees at our local coffee shop provided me with a sense of familiarity and comfort in a city unknown to me. Though this connection seems little and insignificant, it allowed me to feel at home which I really valued. I highly recommend visiting Mouse Tail and trying the yogurt parfait, one of my favorites around the world. After navigating my way through the underground, I came out where our school was located in Bloomsbury, right next to the British Museum. Our school was very centrally located and made walking to destinations before and after class incredibly convenient. I’d usually grab a second, yes second, coffee on my way to class at another local cafe called Gail’s. Gail’s was another favorite cafe that we would visit before class, during breaks and after class. After class, my friends and I would usually plan some new activity whether it be exploring a new neighborhood, going to a museum, attending a cooking or pottery class, going to a show, visiting a new art exhibit, or lounging in one of the city’s many parks. We truly experienced as much as we could in those few months and made it a point to be in our flat as little as possible in order to utilize every moment we had in London. After our activity, we would either grab dinner out or head back home to make dinner and then go right back out into the city to continue our exploration. We filled our days with nonstop movement and though I’m grateful for the time that we had in London, there’s so much more I wish I could have experienced.
Victoria Embankment Gardens
Waterloo
Camden Market
As aforementioned, my adjustment to the city took time much like everybody else. However, once I established comfort in navigating the city and finding my way on my own, there was nothing that could stop me. Many days I would take time to explore on my own away from my friends so that I could truly immerse myself in the rich culture. Being able to venture between neighborhoods by foot and passing by so many shops, restaurants, parks, and theaters along the way is something that we lack here in Los Angeles due to how widespread this city is. My experience in London truly helped me grow into a more independent and adventurous version of myself which I am so grateful the city helped transform me into. My time in London helped teach me about so many different cultures, places, and people that I would not have been introduced to otherwise. I miss the city each and every day which is why I’m applying to the Annenberg Global Communication Dual Masters Program so that next year, I will hopefully have the opportunity to immerse myself in the city once again. I’m looking forward to the day I can be back in my element, taking on the city, one missed train ride at a time.