Update From Abroad – Arrival!

Spotlight:  CAS Success doesn’t just happen in Charlotte–we take our curiosity abroad, too!

I first set foot on the Regent’s University of London campus jet lagged, exhausted, and thoroughly ready to take a nap. The daunting idea of making new friends or even meeting my roommate was the furthest thing on my mind as I hauled all 51 lbs of my luggage upstairs – the dorm doesn’t have a lift and I found that I’m on the the top floor. But even running on four hours of sleep and pure willpower, I couldn’t help but watch the sunrise over the London city streets with awe.

a city street near Holland Park

History flows down the streets of this city like the rain – from the statue of Sherlock Holmes right in front of the Baker Street Station to the wide, gilded gates that lead to Queen Mary’s Rose Garden that sits feet away from the entrance to Regent’s. Even the university has a history of its own, as one of the only private universities in London, one that’s owned and maintained by the crown.  Some of this history we were told during the fast-paced introduction to London that was Induction Week. Other bits and pieces you had to find on your own wandering London, or even just taking a stroll around the surrounding Regent’s Park. It was fascinating to actually walk the streets of London, as I recalled the description of the city I read in a course at Queens on Modernism. The novel in question was The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad, an author that I’m also exploring here in a Literary Theory course. In it, Conrad paints late 19th, early 20th century London as foggy and mysterious, dense with people and nefarious plots. I find that there are far fewer ominous fog clouds, but probably even more people than Conrad imagined.

The gates to Queen Mary’s Garden

One of the Regent’s Park Trails

One of the more evident sources of history, and my personal favorite, is the British Museum. My favorite excursion off campus on my own was to this treasure trove of culture – I spent three hours alone in the section about ancient Egyptian history. I plan on making a semi-weekly visit, to ensure I can peruse at my leisure and make the most of the free attraction. And it doesn’t hurt that there’s a dessert place or two nearby.

This is just a sneak peak at my adventures here, ones made possible through the Queens Study Abroad program. I’m ecstatic to see what else London and the UK have in store for me in the next few months.

Nia Murat

Note:  CAS student and staff writer Nia Murat, a junior Creative Writing and Literature double-major and Music minor, will post periodically about her experiences abroad–letting us all live vicariously through her!