My name is Anushka Joshi and I am a Communication major. Studying abroad was never a question for me––the opportunity to study in another country in my 20’s, explore, and immerse myself in a new culture felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. While Annenberg has programs to offer all over the world, I narrowed the options down to being in Europe. I excitedly proclaimed that I would be studying in Rome. Between that program and London, I knew I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone, engage with a different language, and experience local Italian culture. However, when I visited London during my Sophomore spring, I immediately felt a sense of identity. This place, I decided, was where I belonged.
I was drawn to London for the unparalleled multicultural experience. When I sat down for my first meal during my first short visit, I was surrounded by different languages on every side of me. When you walk outside you’re faced with progressive and inclusive advertisements. Spending my time in East London, I was infatuated with the small shops that represented art, progress, and community. Thus, I plotted for my return––to study there my Junior year.
Upon my second arrival, I was ready to aimlessly wander the streets as I had done so for four blissful days, but I quickly learned that living somewhere is different than vacationing somewhere. Rather than completely writing my own script, I had to acclimate to my new home and school. There was a beautiful trajectory of growth that I experienced up until the time we had to return home due to COVID-19. Even then, I felt like I was just getting started.
The two biggest challenges for me were our accommodations and academic situations––but they soon became my favorite things. My initial disappointment was due to my own expectations. I planned on coming abroad and being immersed in London––and by that I mean the London that I thought I knew. My second wave of disappointment was the fact that I expected to rely on my school and housing to give me an unconditionally immersive experience, rather than rely on myself. We attended school with the 45 USC Annenberg students, and lived among each other in the developing neighborhood of Canada Water. Canada Water––which we affectionately coined “The C-Dub”––was unfamiliar compared to Central London and East London. While I knew going into the program that it was just Annenberg students, I quickly felt isolated, rather than immersed, from young London.
I did not dwell on these facts, but rather quickly came to a realization: these are the cards I was dealt––how would I play them? I changed the narrative in my head from my abroad experience to our abroad experience. I embraced the fact that 45 of my peers and I were living in London together. It was an opportunity to make new friendships and connections that I’d be able to take home with me. I fell in love with our beloved C-Dub. Going to the Super Tesco and getting lost, cooking dinner together, creating community at the local wellness studio The Lodge, Leadbelly’s Trivia Night, and laughing the whole way with my new friends on the quick Overground journey to Shoreditch.
While we were having so much fun together parading through the city, I knew that there was still some learning in London left for me. Someone once told me, “when you are alone you approach the world differently, and the world responds to you differently”. I thought that my experience in London could be either “I” or “We” but not both––which in hindsight is foolish that I even entertained this concept. I found plenty of time to weasel my way into London communities that I was interested in. A local yoga studio became my personal sanctuary, I would go running in the surrounding parks to explore the neighborhood, and I joined the local library. But even more than that, I took it upon myself to find the things I idolized about London, and to enter those communities. As London Fashion Week approached, I found a list of emails and blasted emails saying that I was a visiting student journalist from Los Angeles and asked if there was any way I could attend the show. It worked! I sought out community events, and even attended a Zine-makers meeting. It turned out to be a Zine-makers meeting for Anarchists, and I learned so much about the world that day. My favorite way to get to know the city was through So-Far Sounds––attending concerts in secret locations. When I went, it was a sustainable fashion design studio that transformed into a cozy space with tons of locals. Had I spent more time in London, I’m sure I would have felt comfortable enough to start chatting with the folks around me.
My abroad experience would not be complete without factoring in the experience that COVID-19 had on it. From the time that our friends in Italy were sent home, to the time that we were advised to return home, we anxiously awaited for a notification of bad news. While yes, our semester in London was cut short, there are larger things at stake. What I’ve learned during my experience, is that it is not a once in a lifetime opportunity. I will take it upon myself to return sometime again. I learned how to push myself outside of my comfort zone and seek opportunities in London. I came as an American, and left as a budding Londoner––and I can’t wait to go back.