Before the trip even began, we knew it was about more than Shakespeare. We expected to learn something from studying abroad, even if we did not know exactly what that would entail. While we were in Stratford-upon-Avon, other people took care of a majority of our needs. We stayed in a hotel, our breakfasts and dinners were provided for, and we had relatively small amounts of free time.
Since we have arrived in London, things have been going a bit differently. Now, we are living in flats and have not had anyone preparing our meals for us or making our beds. I did not fully appreciate these things while we were in Stratford. While we are by no means suffering now, we are far more independent.
As crazy as it seems, I have never really been forced to go grocery shopping for myself or been entirely reliant on myself to plan what to do in a large city. At school, I have also had a meal plan, and I’ve always had my parents to provide for me while I am home. I greatly appreciate having meal plans and cleaning services at school, but I found the experience of buying my own groceries empowering rather than a nuisance. It was nice to choose a budget for myself and then pick the food I intend to eat. It is a weirdly selfish act, and I definitely enjoy it.
Another independent act I found exciting in London is using a key to open the doors to our flat. Because of the honor code at Washington and Lee, I never get to use an actual key. I use a swipe to get into the house whenever no one else is around, but ultimately I know that even if I forget my swipe, someone will be there to let me in. Here, no one can hear me when I knock and no one else in the building knows me well enough to trust that this is my building. While I would never want to lose the honor system, I am definitely enjoying the sense of responsibility I have gained from its loss while here.