By: Lizzy Staugler

This London trip was one of my first times actually leaving the country, and my first time traveling without my parents. Leading up to the departure date I didn’t know what to expect, what to bring, and what to do beforehand to prepare. Now after being here for some time I know what I would plan to do for future trips, and what I wish I could change before leaving for this trip. 

     There’s the obvious things that everyone wishes they were more prepared for when they travel to a new country, bringing different clothes, booking more activities in advance, and just general things that you can do without. The main thing I would love to tell my past self in order to prepare for this trip is to just relax. I’d tell myself to live in the moment, to not be afraid or stressed when things don’t go to plan, to go with the flow. I’d tell myself that it’s okay to go and do activities on my own, I don’t alway have to be with a big group. I don’t need to rush around everyday trying to fit so much into it, but instead I should take the time to walk around and enjoy the sights, to sit down and people watch. 

Luckily I still have sometime before we travel back to the United States. I have time to take in the day, and see the sights. I have time to let myself relax, maybe sit in a park with a nice book and people watch. This trip may be a little over half way over, but there is still plenty of time left to enjoy all the exciting activities to come. Even during the days I have things planned, it doesn’t mean I still can’t find the time to stop and take in the moment, to look around and commit everything to memories that I will always look back on.