Exploring Oxford!

Author: Aidan Bhargava | Majors: Business Management, Organizational Leadership | Semester: Summer 2023

This summer, I studied abroad at AIFS Abroad in London. I chose this program because I was interested in learning in a large city, and London is one of the largest cities in the world. My program advanced my personal and professional goals by improving my interpersonal skills and my ability to organize and travel alone. I enjoyed my schedule because we could travel on the weekends, which forced me to grow as a young adult. While abroad, I took Luxury Brand Management and British Life and Culture. While my classes allowed us to explore London, my professors needed to be more organized and qualified to teach the classes. The courses differed from those at the U of A, as the professors did not seem to care about what we were learning and didn’t cater the lessons to what we needed to know.

However, while studying in London, I learned a ton that attributed to personal growth. One of the things that I found most beneficial to my personal growth was learning about London’s transportation system. London has an extensive and well-connected public transportation system, including the underground, buses, and trains. When first coming to London, I was incredibly overwhelmed. However, once I learned to use City Mapper, traveling around the city to explore various neighborhoods became relatively convenient. However, with the increased opportunities because of not needing a car, there is tons of congestion during rush hours, which can result in delays and longer travel times. This impacted our hour-long daily commutes and required careful planning.

By the end of the month, I can adequately travel around the city, whether underground or by bus. I also learned how to travel alone efficiently. Before studying abroad, I had never traveled alone, so this month was full of many learning opportunities. Overall, I am thankful for what I learned throughout my time here.

I would recommend something other than AIFS Abroad in London for other students. The program could have been more organized, having us housed an hour outside of London, with sub-par professors. If I were to study abroad again, I would pick the UARK program. I also wish I had known that cultural norms and customs can vary between British and European societies. European cultures may exhibit different social norms and etiquette, differing significantly from one country to another. When I was in Italy, I experienced many people who were more rude than British people and seemed annoyed by the tourism.

Similarly, I experienced the same behavior in Amsterdam, where the people did not appreciate American tourists. I have not felt this way in London and have seemingly been welcomed by the citizens here. When I returned home, I had water with ice in it and drove my car for the first time in over a month. I enjoyed my time in Europe but was ready to return home.