While I was studying abroad, getting to class was just part of my day to day activities in order to be in class. But, looking back, getting to class was part of the adventure as well. You don’t consider the small details until you reflect on your time abroad. Although it took me almost an hour to get to class, I had come to really enjoy my commute because I was able to exercise, spend time outside, and meet new people. So don’t fret if you end up living in a different area of London! It's doable, and a very interesting journey.

The Shock

When I first learned how far away the school was from where I was staying, I was a little nervous. A few days in London and I had to figure out how to get from my room to class across a major city that I just moved to...talk about stress. My home university was located in an area together, so it wasn’t too difficult to get around - and the dorms were located on campus. Going to school in London was the complete opposite of everything I had known. I wasn’t living in a dorm on campus and it wasn’t a ten-minute walk to class. What did I get myself into? 

Routine

Although the first few days were shaky, I eventually was able to get into a routine where going to class became an unconscious effort and I started to enjoy the time. Unlike in the states, riding the tube meant you could read or talk with people around you. There was no stressful traffic. Looking back, that experience was pivotal in helping me feel more independent and being able to work on my problem solving skills, not to mention my map reading skills. By the end of my time in London, I really tried to take in my last few walks to class, knowing I was about to go back to a completely different world. 

My Route

I enjoyed my route to school so much that I took the time to document it so I could show everyone back home, plus I could look back and still be able to see small details that I may have forgotten. I hope to return to London in the next few years and take the same pictures again to see how much my route has changed in 5 years. Here's my route in 47 steps:

1.    Leave International House

2.    Go Right

3.    On Lambeth Road

4.    Continue Walking to Corner

5.    Use Crosswalk to Go Left Across the Street

6.    Walk Down the Street

7.    On Kennington Road

8.    Continue Walking Past Mailboxes

9.    Continue Down the Street

10.    Past the Church on the Other Side of the Street

11.    Cross the Street to Lambeth North Tube Station

12.    Enter Lambeth North

 
13.    Scan Oyster Card

14.    Take the Elevator Down

15.    Walk Down the Hallway

16.    Arrive on the Platform

17.    Lambeth North Sign

18.    Bakerloo Line Map

19.    Get on the Tube and Mind the Gap

20.    Arrive at Regent’s Park

21.    Regent’s Park Tube Station Sign

22.    Follow Way Out Signs and Take the Elevator Up

23.    Go Up the First Flight of Stairs

24.    Go Up the Second Flight of Stairs

25.    Come Out of the Tube Station

26.    Take a Right

27.    Walk by Regent’s Park Across the Street

28.    On Marylebone Road

29.    Cross the Street

30.    Continue Walking Down the Street

31.    Pass by JFK

32.    Cross the Street

33.    Continue Walking

34.    Walk Past Great Portland Tube Station

35.    Cross the Street

36.    A Church Across the Street

37.    Continue Walking

38.    Turn Down Cleveland Street

39.    On Cleveland Street

40.    Continue Down the Street Past the Houses

41.    Continue Down the Street Past the Shops

42.    Cross the Intersection

43.    Go Past the Graffiti Wall

44.    Continue Walking

45.    Turn Right Toward the Building

46.    Walk Up the Steps

47.    Enter the Building

Getting to class or just getting around London can be an adventure of its own. Don’t worry if you get lost a few times, I can admit that I did. I hope I’ve been able to provide insight into what it is like to get from point A to point B since you don’t hear much about it until you are trying to do it yourself. Enjoy your adventure! 

Have you recently traveled by any of my spots on the route? Have they changed? Let me know!

Heather Robinette is the London Study Abroad Editor for Wandering Educators. She notes, "During the summer of 2011, I studied abroad for six weeks in London at the University of Westminster with Academics Programs International. I graduated from Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS in December 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. I currently work as a marketing analyst for a small company in central Texas. I currently work as a marketing coordinator for a real estate firm in Las Vegas, NV. I am also pursuing my MBA. While I was abroad in London, I was able to create many unforgettable memories that I will never forget! My study abroad experience helped me gain various skills, but above all else, it helped me to learn more about myself and the world around me." You can find her online at http://www.heatherrobinette.com/

Click here to read more of Heather's articles about studying abroad in London.

All photos courtesy and copyright Heather Robinette, except word photo, creative commons