Before London

Hi, my name is Analise.

 I am a rising senior from the University of Puget Sound where I am double majoring in Sociology and English with a creative writing emphasis. As an added bonus of being on this trip, I get to blog about the experience. Over the course of the seven weeks, I will write at least one post a week sharing my journey with you. These posts will reflect not only my experience but my identity. I have been chosen as an IDEA blogger (IES Abroad's Initiative to Diversify Education Abroad), which means I will describe how my identity is shaped by my excursion abroad. 

As far as my diversity goes, I identify as bisexual and non-binary. I was born in India and adopted by a family in Minnesota, so I’ve had many experiences that have shaped and in return been shaped by my identity. I have learned to balance the Scandinavian background of my family with my own cultural heritage, embracing both as part of my own identity. I expect London will be no different, and I’d love a chance to capture that essence and then be able to share it with others. While I am not sure how my identity will impact my studies and vice versa yet, I have a natural curiosity to find out and explore it.  

This summer I am studying abroad in London! This will be my first trip to London, and I am very excited. In fact, I don't feel nervous at all. I have traveled internationally before and studied abroad before, which I think helps ease my nerves. I cannot say for what I am most excited, other than to experience British culture in the present moment and not through my TV screen. 

While I'm in London, I will be studying British Youth Culture in the 50s and British Film and Literature in the 40s. I'll be living near King's Cross Station (Harry Potter fan dorking out), and I will have the opportunity to visit other places outside of London. 

My parents will fly out with me a week early, so we can have a bit of a family vacation before classes start. While I am perfectly capable of flying on my own, it will be nice to have them there with me since I find the actual traveling part a bit stressful. Plus, it allows for a little extra packing space, which might prove to be helpful. 

I am very excited and grateful for this opportunity to study abroad, and I cannot wait to experience London and share it with the rest of you!