As the reading week comes to an end and as we get closer to the end of the semester, I’m bracing myself to get back to the grind. I have to admit, it has indeed been a relaxing week, and I feel a little reluctant to go back to school, but at the same time, it makes me happy to know that we’re halfway through it. As you may or may not know, I am one of the freshmen on the global quest program’s London cohort for the spring 2022 semester, and as you read further, I’m about to give you a little peek into what a typical week in the life of a freshman studying in London looks like. Keeping in mind that everyone has a VERY different combination of classes and other interests, this insight reflects my schedule and how I usually navigate my week when school is in session.
A little background about myself, I am a first-year economics and finance combined major, and I’m taking an exciting mix of classes this semester, including calculus, marketing, sociology, and intercultural communication. The opportunity to study and live in London was the major driving force behind my decision to enroll in the Global Quest Program, and I love it so far. Global Quest students and students from other Northeastern programs are housed at a beautiful high-rise in the center of London – Chapter Spitalfields. Although Chapter Spitalfields is quite a walk from the New College of the Humanities, a good walk has become a part of my life because of it.
Mondays
Fortunately, my Mondays are pretty laid back, with only a marketing lecture scheduled in the afternoon that gives me plenty of time in the morning and evening to complete assignments and catch up on readings due ahead of that week. As a healthy habit, I try to keep the time I wake up and go to bed consistent through all weekdays to avoid oversleeping on days I have early classes.
Although there is no meal plan for students in London, we have a fully equipped kitchen. As a result, I often spend my Monday mornings cooking a filling brunch for myself before heading out on the 30-minute walk from Chapter Spitalfields to Devon House.
Tuesdays
With an early start to my day on Tuesdays, beginning with a 9 am communications lecture, I snack on some cereal and grab a coffee from Pret (Dunkin equivalent) to wake me up as I make my way to school. After my lecture, I often walk back home to unwind, maybe catch a nap, and have my lunch before heading to school again for my second and last lecture for the day – Calculus at 3:30 pm. By the time I am done with my calculus lecture, the sun has already set, and I’m all set to go home and cook myself a delicious dinner, or at least attempt to before I sit with reviewing materials from the lectures.
Wednesdays
Like Mondays, my Wednesdays are relatively unhurried with only a marketing class at 3:30 pm, which gives me ample time in the morning to run some mid-week errands, make myself a meal, maybe catch up with friends and family, or spend some time doing something I like. As is the case with Tuesdays, I get done with my class at dusk, which on a good day, allows me to catch some fantastic views of the Tower Bridge (which is on the way to and from NCH) under beautifully textured skies. I tend to take it easy on Wednesday evenings as I have a busy day coming up and tend to hit the bed on time to get good quality sleep.
I can’t emphasize how important it is to get good sleep during weekdays. An improved sleeping pattern has yielded positive effects and helped me optimize my productivity throughout the following day.
Thursdays
I’m not too fond of Thursdays – so close to the weekend yet so far. Thursdays are the busiest days for me, with three classes scheduled. Kicking off the day on caffeine, I have a 9 am sociology class immediately followed by communications. For a much-needed reboot after two back-to-back lectures, I head back to my dorm and catch a power nap before getting a headstart on my readings due Friday. My final lecture for the day is calculus at 5 pm, making it a lazy walk to school. As I get done with calculus when it’s pitch dark outside, and I have no energy left, I look forward to reaching my dorm and having a filling dinner, which I also prepare for in the afternoon.
Since Thursdays use up a lot of my energy, I tend to stay away from any assignments or readings in the evening and often unwind with an uplifting sitcom.
Fridays
Finally, the beginning of the weekend. Friday is a much-awaited day for me (and I’m sure that’s the case with many others), mostly because I look forward to the weekend, quality sleep, some sightseeing, and generally being out of the routine. Luckily, I only have one 9 am sociology class on Fridays, which leaves me with an excellent day to either have fun or catch up on assignments due next week so that I can have fun over the weekend.
My Fridays are usually fun-filled, even if I choose to do homework in the afternoon and head out to explore the city in the evening.
Saturday and Sunday
Like many others, I tend to head out as much as I can over these two days and explore as much of the city as possible. I often indulge in touristy things throughout the day and catch a good dinner at a restaurant, hit the bar, or explore the well-known nightlife of London with my friends. Often, Global Quest students are invited to local excursions over the weekend. So far, we’ve had visits to the famous Madame Tussauds, a chocolate museum, and the London bus tour, to name a few that make the weekends even more enjoyable.
While it can be overwhelming trying to keep up with everything while studying abroad, I’ve found it helpful to take a day at a time and make the most of it. Although different people have different schedules here, everyone tends to have enough time during the week for themselves; it all comes down to how you plan your days and breaks. Global Quest students also get an opportunity to go on day trips around England with the school, especially when I go on my first day trip in March to Oxford and Blenheim Palace!
