Studying Abroad in London: My Class, Shopping & Typical Tourist Things!

Here's some more things I've been doing in London during this second week. I've already started my classes, shopped around a little bit and visited some other sites and typical tourist attractions I had to see before I leave soon! I would definitely recommend visiting these museums if you decide to go to London. The best part is, they're all free!

My Class- Media City & Cultural Capital 

My class at Roehampton was called Media City & Cultural Capital. It was an introduction to the arts and culture scene and the British Library’s archives. I believe its also given me a greater appreciation of museums and understanding the ethics and responsibilities of cultural and educational institutions. My class consists of museum and library trips everyday including the British Library, the Victoria and Albert Museum (my favorite & a must-see if you're in London!) as well as Tate Britain. 

Above is a picture of me before one of our trips to the National Portrait Gallery (also another one of my favorite museums in London). There was a cute street full of bookstores and antique stores I feel we don't really have and aren't around anymore. They were the cutest little stores! We also saw a play the day called 89 Charing Cross Road (another great book + play!) It's about woman who bought books from a bookstore in London where her and the bookseller, who only spoke over written letters, become great friends. We actually went to the actual address in the picture above. Unfortunately, its a McDonalds now. 

Above is one of my favorite pieces from the National Portrait Gallery. It's a self portrait of painter and stage designer Doris Zinkeisen (1897-1991). Her realist artistic style led her to a very successful career as a painter. She also produced posters for railway companies and was a war artist in World War II making drawings of the concentration camp, Bergen Belsen, after its liberation. I thought this painting was so beautiful, the colors really attracted me. 

We also went to the Victoria & Albert Museum. My favorite exhibit was the fashion exhibits. I saw so many pieces from different designers including Christian Dior and Valentino. The exhibit showed fashion through the years and how history affected what people wore. For example in WWII because of the war rations, women's skirts were limited to knee length, no pleats or fold and were only allowed a maximum of three buttons. 

Above is the Imperial War Museum. I had to take a picture of the entrance because the huge guns and cannons really juxtaposed the growing surrounding garden. I thought it was a really funny sight. Below was a piece of the actual Berlin Wall which was knocked down in 1989 after the end of the Cold War. It's always good to travel to another country to see how they covered certain events unlike looking at it from on the United States point of view.

The photo above was from the Tibetan Peace Garden. It was so beautiful! The garden incorporated the different elements, fire, wind, earth and water. 

Above is a model of the typical uniform a woman from the war would wear at her service job. The government started hiring women as a result of the men heading to fight in the war and people needing to fill in the service jobs like working in the ambulance, organizing clothing exchanges and assisting in the evacuation of children. By 1941 during WWII, the service had over a million women working. 

Shopping!

Now you know I HAD to shop out in London. I was super excited to see the great things I could find in this country. If you were to come out here, Primark has EVERYTHING. They have great clothes and the cutest accessories and home goods. Its based in the UK, they have some stores throughout the US as well.  

Another good store if you're a fashionista like myself is River Island. I knew they had a website but it's always so much better to go inside the store. It's a little more pricey than Primark but they have a great selection of cute and trendy clothes. 

Typical Touristy Things! 

I made it to Buckingham Palace! It's a really beautiful attraction. London honestly has so many historical buildings and landmarks.

 I tried an Italian called Franco Manca. It was super Italian. My friend ordered a vegetarian roasted courgette and mozzarella pizza and I got a chicken and bacon salad. I felt like I was really in Italy it tasted to good!

Thank you to everyone who has supported my London trip so much! I really appreciate it. I will have more London content coming really soon!

xo, Ash