Angels Abroad!

MD Gamma has a few sisters abroad this semester! Junior Emily D. is currently attending University College of London and shares her experiences so far.

This semester, I'm taking some time away from Hopkins and my MD Gamma sisters to study abroad at University College London.  I've been across the pond for almost three weeks now and so far it's been a great experience.  Studying abroad is giving me the opportunity to take courses that I wouldn't have had access to at home, such as Art History in London, in which class is held in galleries around the city, and Politics of the European Union. 
    In addition to my academics, I've had ample opportunity to explore the city and soak up the culture and history.  A few new American friends and I have adopted the tradition of Cultural Wednesdays.  Since class schedules tend to be particularly light on Wednesdays, we use the day to pick interesting sites around London to visit.  On the first "Cultural Wednesday" we climbed The Monument to the Great Fire of London, and last week we visited the Tower of London and Tower Bridge!
    Over the next few months I will continue to explore London, and I will also venture out to other places in Europe.  I already have plans in the works for trips to Spain, Scotland (where hopefully I will see MD Gamma members Pearl and Nicole, who are studying abroad at the University of Edinburgh), and Ireland.  I also have a couple of friends from Hopkins and my hometown visiting over their spring breaks, and my parents are visiting in April!  It will be nice to be able to show everyone around my temporary home as I become more and more familiar with the area.
    Thus far, most of the people I've met here are Americans also studying abroad.  Coming in mid-year makes meeting people challenging, but I'm looking forward to meeting more full-time British students as time goes on.  One thing is for sure, I miss my Pi Phi sisters!  I wish MD Gamma all the best during the upcoming Sisterhood Week and Spring Recruitment and I can't wait to meet our fabulous new member class when I return.