Spring Break in lovely.... LONDON!

Unlike most everyone else on this trip, I am spending my spring break in good ole London! No I didn't go to Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, France, Monaco, or any of the other fabulous places around Europe but I decided to stay in my study abroad country. It may sound silly of me to not go to those places as I live so close by, but I believe I made the best choice in staying right in London!

To be honest, I haven't traveled out of London at all during this study abroad program. I figure, I am in London so I need to explore London properly. In doing this I have been to more places around the city, explored outside of the main city, and have been to places beyond the square mile interior of the city that most students of this trip have never set foot in, except for when traveling to international airports.

I believe I am truly getting to know this city properly. These is so much more to this city than Oxford Street, Tower Bridge, Abbey Road, the London Eye, and all the very central, very obvious places to go. I've been out of zone 1, to places like Hackney, Shoreditch, Brixton, Chalk Farm, Camden, Shepherds Bush etc. and I have explore so much more and I can truly say I have really enjoyed ALL London has to offer.

This spring break I also joined a couple meetup groups and clubs in London, went out for drinks with locals as opposed to other students in my program and I had a great time. I also went to an Easter service at a local church and met wonderful people there as well. I joined a running club/boot camp an met locals and new friends who like being active and fit as well. Its a great break because I wake up and walk out my flat, and I literally hop on random buses/trains to see where they go and find neat places outside of the main city.

I feel like I am really living in London and not having a short visit to London/Europe. I'm exploring "real" London, meeting "real" Londoners, and living the "real" London life.  The way I look at it, I have almost a month after classes end to explore/tour Europe and I'd rather get to know London now properly while I have the chance.