When one thinks of “study abroad”, glamorous Instagram pictures or scenic Facebook albums usually come to mind. Prior to coming to London, I had the idea that I would be traveling almost every weekend, utilizing the location of London in order to obtain the cheapest flights possible to other countries in the U.K and the E.U. While I certainly have loved traveling and have seen my fair share of beautiful locations, it’s also important to remember an aspect of study abroad that is often overlooked: the “study” portion.

While trips usually take place over the long weekend or when QM has a break, it was very important for myself to obtain a routine when at University during the week. Here is a look at a typical weekday at Queen Mary:

9:30: Wake up. Make breakfast in my flat (overnight oats with chia seeds, banana, and peanut butter!) and prepare for class at 11.

11:00-13:00: Class: Text, Art, and Performance—One of my favorite classes that I’m taking this semester. I have enjoyed the out-of –class excursions we have done as a portion of the curriculum. Today we’re talking about the Guerilla Girls art exhibit that is at the Tate Modern art gallery.

13:00-15:00: Lunch at the Curve, where I meet two of my friends from my Cultural Inequalities class. We had a lot of reading assigned for the week and we meet to discuss the readings, catch up with each other, and discuss future travel plans.

15:00-17:00: Class: Cultural Inequalities—This is definitely one of the more difficult classes I’m enrolled in at QM. The reading list is quite extensive and the professor expects quite a bit out of his students. I was originally very intimidated about this course, due to the sheer workload but have figured out how to get all of the mandatory readings done in order to participate in class discussions.

18:30: Cycle Class at QMotion—Ensuring that I get at least one hour of exercise each day is something that has always been very important to me. Thus, one of the first things I did when I got to QM was purchase a gym membership. With the gym membership, I am able to get complete access to the gym and all of the group fitness classes. During the week, I usually go to either the 17:30 or 18:30 cycle class. I love having the same instructor each time I go and have enjoyed speaking to the other people in the class!

20:00: Dinner! While I usually try to cook dinner in my flat during the week—in order to save money for eating out on trips—sometimes my friends and I will venture into London to try a popular restaurant or a cuisine that has been recommended to us by friends. Tonight we go to “Sweet. Mile End”, an INCREDIBLE dessert restaurant that is only a fifteen-minute walk from Queen Mary!

23:00: FaceTime my family: As the five-hour time difference between London and Michigan occasionally proves difficult to stay in contact with my family, I try to make it a priority to FaceTime them at least a few times a week. It’s so fun to hear about everything happening in my hometown and I’m able to speak about my experiences in London as well!