When I studied abroad in London, I submitted my application late and therefore had little to no time to get organized before taking my first transatlantic flight.  These are some things I wish I had known before I left:

There are such things as flexible student air tickets.

Most students who study abroad might not know right away what their plans are after their programs end.

Since I was franticly dealing with the logistics of moving abroad, my dad jumped online and booked my flight for me.  This ticket, however, could have been way cheaper and a lot more flexible if I would have known about the STA Travel Blue Ticket.  When my program came to an end, everyone else was changing their return dates to the end of summer so they could continue traveling and I was stuck with my original flight.  Bummer.

It is a good idea to find out how the locals dress and pack accordingly.

Strolling The Large Red Carpet

At home in the U.S., I pretty much live in hoodies, t-shirts and sneakers.  Therefore, that’s mostly what I packed.  However, I realized quickly that wearing these things in our posh London neighborhood made me stick out like a sore thumb.

Making minor changes to my wardrobe allowed me to adapt to the style of the city and made me feel less like a tourist and more like a resident – without losing my identity. If I would have done a bit of research beforehand, I could have saved some much-needed space in my suitcase.

Know your U.S. politics

The number one topic that was always brought up when speaking with locals in London was politics.  It never ceased to amaze me how informed the Brits were on our government and how uninformed I was.   Make sure you know enough to hold an educated debate or discussion and it will be easy to make new friends.

Acknowledge and respect the local etiquette.

Get to know what the culture is like before you go.  Just because London is an English-speaking country, does not mean they act the same.

For example, the first week I was studying abroad, we did not understand how to use our ‘inside voices’ on the tube.  We’d hop on and just yell to one another, being completely oblivious to those around us.  Then we began to realize that nobody else talks on the tube and this is a quiet time for commuters. I wish I would have known that before annoying everyone around us.  It is not a bad thing to have fun and talk, but make sure you are respecting others in the process.

Make sure you have everything you need before you go.

There are certain things – like a Eurail pass – that you can only get in the U.S.  I was not aware of this and could have saved a bunch of money having a rail pass when I traveled around Italy instead of buying a lot of point-to-point tickets.

Living abroad is the experience of a lifetime so make the most of it by doing a little preparation before going!

Thanks for reading,

Lindsay Juley
STA Travel Expert

London Photo Credit: doug88888 on flickr