Thanksgiving. A yearly holiday celebrated across America. Many of my friends went home to their families; my surrogate family and I, however, decided to stay in the city for Friendsgiving. Family traditions are an inherent part of Turkey-Day festivities and ours was no exception. My Thanksgiving Day fittingly commenced with a considerable amount of food; … Continue reading Friendsgiving – Shola Lee
Category: International Exchange Programme
Small Town Girl Takes Over The Big City [Part 2] – October
Breathe in...2...3...4...hold...2...3....Exhale...2...3...4... Hold on, I’m just... 2... 3...4... Meditating... 2... 3... 4... Oh boy, it started a month and a bit in and now I’ve turned into some pretentious artist. I’m so far up in the clouds I turn to meditation to ground me. Not very convinced by that statement? Fine. It must be … Continue reading Small Town Girl Takes Over The Big City [Part 2] – October
Broadway – Jaz Manville
A queue stretches along the carriage hardened pathway that curls from Mother Goose to Samuel F B Morse. The drizzle reminds me of home but does little to dampen the expectant crowd’s enthusiasm. Organisers almost skip along the line collecting waves, quotes and cheers. Eventually, the queue begins to move forward - this is the … Continue reading Broadway – Jaz Manville
Small Town Girl Takes Over the Big City [Part 2] – September
New York. Showtime. Bright Lights. Spinning. Times Square. And the smell of pie tickles my senses… wait, what!? Pie? You bet, my very first Broadway show and the auditorium smells of pie. I’m at the matinee viewing of ‘Waitress’. A new modern, flashy and female empowering musical. And then –flip the switch- I find myself … Continue reading Small Town Girl Takes Over the Big City [Part 2] – September
A new normal – Jasmina Manville
This is repetition, a new normal, and I love it. Each revolution persuades me, certain as a clock, that I am at home here. At the airport, constantly checking my back pocket for my passport is second nature. In the yellow taxi from JFK into the city, my eyes swivel from window to window, obsessed … Continue reading A new normal – Jasmina Manville
Studying Abroad at University of Texas – Danial Naqvi
My name is Danial Naqvi and I should be a second-year Human Geography student at QMUL. I say that ‘I should be’, because although for all intents and purposes, I am; I’m currently sitting in the United States of America, in Austin, Texas to be precise. Why? I’m on a study abroad semester at the … Continue reading Studying Abroad at University of Texas – Danial Naqvi
Small Town Girl Takes Over The Big City [Part 2]
Small Town Girl Takes Over The Big City Part 2.[1] Brunette. Svelte. 5’4. And we’ll keep it at that. For now, all that’s important to know is that I’m embarking on this amazing new journey. A journey that I’d like to take you on as I conquer the Big Apple. I’m an idealist and the … Continue reading Small Town Girl Takes Over The Big City [Part 2]
Arriving in New York – Shola Lee
I spent all summer wondering what life would be like in New York; the city is so infamous that before you arrive there’s an innate sense of familiarity. I researched: restaurants, museums and societies, I wanted to see and do everything. During the months leading up to my arrival I had concocted this romanticised version … Continue reading Arriving in New York – Shola Lee
Returning Home – by Charlotte Jones
The two most FAQs I’ve had since returning to the UK are probably: 1. ‘How was America?!’ and 2. ‘Is it weird being back?’ My response to #1 always feels limited. ‘America was good! How was your New Years?’ – It just doesn’t feel suitable. I don’t know how to describe the last four … Continue reading Returning Home – by Charlotte Jones
American Celebrations vs British Celebrations: Halloween – by Charlotte
The most exciting things about Halloween in Britain is the return of Starbucks’ PSL and the turn of weather that makes binge-watching Netflix an acceptable pastime. Even as a child, I remember sitting at home with my family, curtains pulled tight, as we watched films like Bewitched and the Halloweentown series. I believe I went … Continue reading American Celebrations vs British Celebrations: Halloween – by Charlotte
QMUL Partner Summer School and IEP Gallery
The Return – by Ariana
I boarded the Piccadilly Line out of Heathrow on New Year’s Eve and headed east into central London. Over a year ago, I took this ride away from Queen Mary and remember the route through the blurry vision of my teary eyes. This time, I took in my surroundings while sitting on my luggage, and … Continue reading The Return – by Ariana