I came to study abroad in London this fall semester with the high hopes of learning from esteemed professors and traveling to European countries with my friends during my extended weekends. It was going to be the best semester ever – I would work hard during the week, and then explore Munich, Rome, and Barcelona during the weekends.
Everyone said that studying abroad was something every student should do, especially with a global university like NYU. Only after coming here did I realize that I couldn’t travel with my friends every weekend because my visa only allowed travel within the UK, and not to the rest of Europe. (First world problem? Most definitely.)
At first it was fine; a few friends would leave each weekend but I would have homework to keep me busy and I could still explore the local area with other friends who stayed on campus. But now it’s Fall Break and NYU London campus is basically a ghost town. I’ve always enjoyed my alone time and being with my thoughts, but that feeling is only enjoyable for about two days at the most.
After that, you start to need human interaction. All of my friends are in Italy, and these ten days without people who I have been spending all of my time with for the last two months are not with me. And I now begin to truly feel the difference between being alone and being lonely.
Homesickness was only an issue for the first month of freshman year. Who actually gets homesick sophomore year right? I guess that’s a side effect of having too much time on your hands. But that’s just it – I have so much time. And I can use that time to be more comfortable with myself and become more independent. For anyone who is feeling lonely and missing home, there is a way to be alone and content.
1. Go for a run.
If you don’t fancy the idea of sweating, then even a walk in a nice park can really help. You get to be around other people while also being by yourself. The alone without the lonely, with an added perk of aesthetic pictures and exercise.
London: Regent’s Park, Hyde Park
New York: Central Park, Battery Park, Washington Square Park
2. Visit local museums.
Museums are places that you can spend the entire day just looking at exhibits and reading about the stories behind different art forms. You don’t need to go with friends, but you may certainly leave after having talked to new people who are admiring the same things as you. Good conversations with people you don’t know that well can significantly improve your mood.
London: The National Gallery, Madame Tussaud, Science Museum, Tate
New York: The MET, MoMA, Guggenheim, Natural History Museum
3. Go to a local café.
Food is always an option, but it may feel somewhat strange sitting down for an entire meal alone in a restaurant. Coffee is always safe go to if you just want to people watch while sipping on a hot beverage and listening to music.
London: There is a Pret, Caffé Nero, Costa on every corner. Try Patisserie Valerie if you're feeling adventurous.
New York: Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and Think Coffee are everywhere. There are plenty of local coffee shops as well, especially in Brooklyn.
4. Cook something new.
Adulthood is closer than it appears (like objects in the sideview mirror of a car); you’ll need to learn how to cook at some point to feed yourself. There is no better time than the present to improve your chef skills.
A person can only stay miserable for so long. Instead of spending a week watching Netflix and moping around in my room, I decided to push myself out of my comfort zone and go see some more parts of London by myself. I realized that once you are comfortable being on your own and content with simply existing amongst others, you can do anything. And what better place to come to this realization than in a big city with so many opportunities?
