It might be quite difficult to live in London and not spend thousands of pounds on food alone - the money you could otherwise spend on city exploration and travelling (trust me, I spent around 200 dollars on groceries in my first week). But it is also important to stay healthy by having a good … Continue reading Tips for eating healthy on a budget while abroad -Bak Baitan
Probably one of my biggest fears when going abroad to study in the US 3 years ago and again upon my arrival in UK was that I would not be able to stay true to my culture and values held by my people. Kazakhstan, being a country of only 17 million people, does not have … Continue reading Retaining my Kazakh identity while studying abroad – Bakdaulet Baitan
I have been abroad for nearly two months now and finally feel like I have a handle on how things work around here! I arrived thinking I would be taking three science courses—Physiology, Basic Biochemistry, and Electric & Magnetic Fields—and one drama course but overlap in my timetable required that I drop Physics. I chose … Continue reading How I’m Surviving 2 Sciences in the UK – Sierra DeAngelo
Recently, I spoke with several male friends studying in London, either full-time or with IFSA-Butler, to discuss how masculinity is interpreted and presented here, and how that differs from where they’re from. I was surprised to find so much overlap in their responses! Alex, who attends Pomona College in California but is studying at University … Continue reading Does Toxic Masculinity Exist in London? – Sierra DeAngelo
The prospect of studying abroad might be quite daunting especially if you are not sure that you will get support and help that you need. I am here to tell you that with a good amount of research and timely communication with IFSA staff, you should be able to avoid possible problems and get the … Continue reading 5 Things Students with Special Needs Must Know about Studying Abroad with IFSA – Bak Baitan
As an education major, I have spent a lot of my time in different schools learning different teaching styles. Coming to the UK has shown me a new and more focused style of teaching and learning. These are the 5 main differences I found and how to get used to them. Liberal arts do not … Continue reading 5 Differences Between US and UK Academic Systems – Isabel Lohr
Welcome to the city that has a “tube” and monstrous looking buses. The first thing I realized after taking my first trip by tube was how expensive the public transportation can be. Specifically, in relation to New York, since that’s where I’m from. I will break this up into ways to save money on public … Continue reading Saving Money on London Transportation – Jahmir Duran
As I connected to more students I began to gather ways students play sports, whether on a team, or just for fun, and balance their workload at Queen Mary. Queen Mary can be rigorous at times, but there are multiple students who manage to balance it with many different commitments. Commitments on campus are a … Continue reading Balancing Sports and Classes at Queen Mary – Jahmir Duran
My first question when I arrived in London was: Where am I going to get my hair cut? I usually go to my local barbershop in Brooklyn, so as someone new to the neighborhood, I had to ask around before I found a barber I could frequent. Thankfully, London is a diverse city that offers … Continue reading How to take Care of Afro Hair in London – Jahmir Duran
London has a large population of immigrants from the continent of Africa as well as the Caribbean. As such, it can be easy to make yourself feel at home as an Afro-Caribbean person in London. Nigeria, Somalia and Jamaica are just a few countries a part of the African diaspora that have a noticeable presence … Continue reading Easy Ways to Connect to the Caribbean in London
Four months ago, when I just arrived in London, I was shy, scared to make friends with others, and also anxious about whether I would enjoy my time here. I remember clearly that I wouldn’t even go out of my room as my social anxiety hindered me from meeting with other people. Now, as my … Continue reading Goodbye London, Or: It’s a New Beginning
It was a shock to me when I first knew the fact that men are the minority among those who study abroad, making up only 35% of all study abroad students. I thought more men would study abroad in U.K. for its travel adventures, sports teams, things that are usually related to masculinity, but the … Continue reading Men Learning New Perspectives Abroad – Unique Xue
Queen Mary Global Bloggers 