Anyone who has spoken to me this semester knows one thing; I miss London. It's not that I'm not enjoying my time here, because I am. However, my time in London was special and can never be replicated. At what other point in my life will my parents say to me "I hope your classes are going well Danielle, but remember that's not the point." They were right, because there was so much more to my experience. My semester at Goldsmiths College allowed me to gain knowledge and confidence, build relationships, and make memories of considerable value. Studying abroad, no matter where it may be, is an experience that is only offered once in a lifetime, and I am sad that my time is over, but grateful that I experienced it

Of course, I was scared. I'm always scared of the unknown, and this experience was foreign in every sense of the word. I remember thinking how I still got lost in NYC, how would I handle Europe? I began this experience how I begin every new experience, with a phone-call in tears to my parents. However, the fear subsided quickly and by nightfall I was enjoying myself with my flat mates at the student union around the corner. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what was so wonderful about London. Was it the once in a lifetime escape from everyday responsibilities, pressures, and bullshit? Yes. Was it the interaction with foreigners, their countries, and obstacles that are surprisingly easy to meet overcome? Yes. Was it the introduction to a different way of thinking and learning that extends beyond the classroom? Yes. Was it a chance to breathe, look around you, and appreciate what you are doing right at that very moment? Yes. Was it so much more that I can begin to explain in this article? A resounding yes.

One of the benefits from studying in London is the home base is provides for exploring other parts of Europe. Juniors who studied at Goldsmiths last semester found themselves in Italy, Ireland, Scotland, France, Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, and Greece. I'm personally disappointed that I missed out on Denmark, but all the more reason to return. Cynthia Van Wert '05 puts it best when she says, "I learned more about myself and the world around me than anything I've ever learned in a classroom. I never thought I had the courage to go to distant lands, where everything would be foreign to me, but I ended up going to Berlin and Paris alone to see if I could do it by myself. I proved a lot to myself on those journeys and realized I was much more capable of things than I gave myself credit." Becca Lindsey '05 agrees that "figuring out what to do once you've gotten off the plane in a non-English speaking country is one of those things that you can feel pretty proud of yourself for afterwards."

Of course, you will miss out on things at Muhlenberg while you are abroad. You won't be able to star in that main stage, but you'll see an abundance of theater productions, some of which will truly make an impact on the way you view theater. One of the best things about London is the live theater at your fingertips. Not only is it available on every corner, but also it is cheap, which is especially refreshing because the city itself is so expensive. However, the government values theater as an important component of society, so they subsidize it, and it is therefore, available for the general public (student discounts!) to attend. Sure, you'll miss your roommate and friends, but you'll live with new, interesting people from all over the world. While I lived with British, American, and Japanese students, Becca Lindsey had the privilege of living in a flat with Israeli, Indian, French, British, Mexican, and American students. Also, you probably won't be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with your family, but last Thanksgiving while most Americans enjoyed Turkey and family, we performed Shakespeare scenes on the stage of the Globe Theater. I don't mean to sound inarticulate, but it was pretty awesome.

From day one, we all knew that we only had a short period of time in London, so we took advantage of where we were and appreciated what we were given. Perhaps the greatest gift this experience gave me was the knowledge of knowing that what I was experiencing was special and the appreciation of each day. Now, will your experience be the same as mine or anyone else's who has attended Goldsmiths or studied abroad? No, because the experience will be your own and perhaps that's what makes the journey truly worthwhile.