If you haven’t traveled much, but you want to, a semester abroad is the perfect way to start! Most of the trip details are planned for you: flights, ground transportation, housing, weekly tours. Some of the tours are included and some you have to pay extra for, but the ones that cost extra are optional. There’s also plenty of time to explore on your own. One of my favorite things to do was sit in the park and paint or draw. It made me feel like a local. You’ll also meet great people who probably have similar interests and love to travel.
In a way, this is were Travel, Tea and Me began. I started this blog after I ran away with the circus, but before that I spent a semester abroad in London with these amazing girls going to museums, eating the best Indian food I’ve ever had and, of course, drinking tea.
Side note, I did not actually like tea before this trip, but afternoon tea in London changed that. I love the whole experience – the pretty plates, beautiful tea cups and the fabulous tiny food. Some how the tea tasted better too (although it may have been all the cream and sugar I added). In London afternoon tea isn’t always the fancy set up you see in hotels in the United States. Sometimes it’s just a small meal to hold you over until dinner, but it’s always best served with friends.
I started thinking about doing a semester abroad before I graduated from high school. So the minute I heard about it on campus I knew I had to find a way to to go.
I have always wanted to travel. I joined choir in eighth grade because I knew they were going on an out-of-state trip. Side note – I cannot sing, but guess I managed to carry a tune on audition day. I didn’t even know where they were going, but I was in. I grew up in a college town in central California surrounded by farming communities. By the time I left home at eighteen I had managed to travel all over the country including San Francisco, Chicago, New York City, and Washington DC. I was ready for more.
The Doctor Who Experience
Our Last Night in London.
A semester abroad is very reasonable. When I went in 2013 it was roughly $8,000 through AIFS Abroad which cost about the same as tuition plus room and board for one semester at one of the state universities. So for the same price you could spend a semester in some old dorms in the states or a semester hanging out in London – no brainer.
Plus this might be the only time in your life you can just take off for three or four months to live abroad.
If you’ve ever heard stories about 20 somethings backpacking through Europe and assumed that’s only for the wealthy —- not true! Travel is encouraged for college students throughout Europe and the United Kingdom. Many of the museums are free, there are special rates for the Eurorail and reasonably priced hostels. After the semester ended I extended my trip for a few weeks to travel through France and Italy with two of the girls I met during the semester.
FRANCE
I realize I am wearing the same beanie in a lot of these pictures. In my defense, 1) I made it myself 2) I was pretty proud of that 3) everyone looks back and high school / college pictures and says I can’t believe I wore that.
ITALY
I met a wonderful group of girls while I was living in London and we have kept in touch. We try to meet up once a year for afternoon tea, a day at Disneyland, or a weekend at the the lake. Even during Covid in 2020 when our trip was postponed, we got on Zoom to catch up. Every time we get together it’s like a reunion. We talk about where we’re living now, what we’re doing and our shared memories of London. I don’t know if everyone makes life long friends during their semester abroad, but for me it was the best part.
Travel, Tea & Me 