American Girl In An English World
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I remember leaving for the U.K. as if were yesterday. After months of waiting, preparing, and stressing, I was finally on my way.
I remember being dropped off at Dulles Airport.
I remember handing the security guard my passport – using it for the first time.
I remember staring at the KLM aircraft and wondering how it could carry 300 people across the Atlantic without crashing to our deaths. […]
Reykjavik - Day 2: Hallgrímskirkja
After my visit to the Perlan, I headed back into downtown Reykjavik to find this gorgeous church. Of all the churches I have seen in Europe, Hallgrimskirkja was the most impressive (followed closely by the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona). I love the large windows because it takes advantage of Iceland’s long daylight hours during the summer. Unfortunately, I visited during the winter so at around 3:00pm the sun was already setting.
![Around the U.K.: Durham Cathedral, Durham
On a Saturday morning, a friend and I took a train to the neighboring city of Durham. The ride is about 20min and is a great option for a day trip from Newcastle. You can buy train tickets in advance [EastCoastTrains] and pick them up at the station.
Durham Cathedral was used as a filming location in some of the Harry Potter films. That may or may not have influenced my decision to visit. Yes, I am a Potterhead.
The original blog post on my visit can be found [here]. Also, here is a link to Durham Cathedral’s website.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/bae571a40ba3b42c24c7e55fc7c828cc/tumblr_moeu9hYLWk1qd7pvpo1_500.jpg)
Around the U.K.: Durham Cathedral, Durham
On a Saturday morning, a friend and I took a train to the neighboring city of Durham. The ride is about 20min and is a great option for a day trip from Newcastle. You can buy train tickets in advance [EastCoastTrains] and pick them up at the station.
Durham Cathedral was used as a filming location in some of the Harry Potter films. That may or may not have influenced my decision to visit. Yes, I am a Potterhead.
The original blog post on my visit can be found [here]. Also, here is a link to Durham Cathedral’s website.
Harry Potter’s effect on society. I like it.
Reykjavik - Day 2: Perlan
After starting my morning at Kringlan in search of souvenirs, I walked 20 minutes or so to the Perlan. It is a famous building in Reykjavik and is a ‘must see’ if you ever find yourself in the city. I took an elevator to the viewing deck at the top of the building and was greeted with gorgeous views of Reykjavik. It was extremely windy but I managed to snap a few photos before finding shelter inside. Also, I ran into a girl who was staying at the same hostel I was - in the same room. Small city, indeed.
There is a restaurant, museum, and a small gift shop inside the building as well.
[Note: Not much happened on the first day in Iceland, so I decided to skip to day 2]
I visited Reykjavik in December but I never properly blogged about it. For someone who has a college degree, you would think I would be able to describe my trip in a more educated manner.
I can’t.
That place is ridiculously cool.
Anonymous Asks:
wannabegradstudent Said:
The U.K. student visa only applies to the U.K. If you go to other countries, they are not going to look for it.
That being said, your passport determines whether you need a Schengen visa. As a US passport holder, I did not need to apply for a visa to enter the countries I visited (France, Italy, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, and Germany). If you are a non-US passport holder, I recommend checking the embassy websites of the countries for travel requirements. I have friends from China and Indonesia who had to apply for a Schengen visa before they were able to travel.
Anonymous Asks:
wannabegradstudent Said:
Yes, I did.
As for repayment, I am currently on deferment and have not started payments yet. I have undergrad loans as well, so we are in similar situations. I am not sure how to properly advise you, since I am not a finance expert, ha. I recommend going to this website and checking out the options for those who are having trouble repaying their loans.
At the end of the day, I believe it is up to you to decide whether it is worth the investment. ;)
Pinning is very addicting.
An article that I wrote about my study abroad experience was published today by NUS (National Union of Students). Feel free to take a look!
