Life After London

I got home from London last Monday, and after 12 hours of flying, it was great to see my family! However, I admit I miss my London family. I made some great friends and learned a lot. One of my favorite things that I learned on my trip was respect for other people. I loved learning about different cultures and seeing the way people on the other side of the world live.

London is such a great city to explore because it offers so many different views of life. There are so many ethnicities and cultures in various parts of the city, and I love that. I learned the history of London and of England, as well as the history of other people and places. India has a huge influence over England, so the Indian culture is prevalent in London. And I discovered Indian food, and absolutely loved it!

London was a great experience, and I loved it. I would recommend a study abroad program to anyone! You learn to get outside of yourself and see how different parts of the world work. I absolutely fell in love with London, and I'm counting down the days until I can go back!

Scotland!

Last week we spent 4 days in Edinburgh, Scotland. And I absolutely loved it! It was probably one of the highlights of the trip. The 4 1/2 hour train ride was pretty uneventful, but once we got to Edinburgh I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. It's definitely a city like London, but a lot smaller and more manageable. And everything is so old, but in a really beautiful way.

When we arrived we hiked up to Arthur's Seat, and after some slipping and sliding, we made it to the top. It was SUPER windy, but the panoramic views of Scotland were incredible. We also toured Edinburgh castle and walked the Royal Mile, which I loved. Bagpipe music was pouring out of each store, and there are kilts everywhere. Seriously. I loved it! I love that heritage and culture is still such an important part of the Scottish lifestyle. Men still wear kilts, and each family name has its own tartan, or style of plaid.

My friend Laura and I on a boat in Scotland.

One of the many guys in kilts!

The Edinburgh castle. So cool!

The famous Royal Mile.

The view from Arthur's Seat.