Hi my name is Claudia Brelsford and I am currently a GW student on exchange studying abroad at University College London (UCL) for the Spring semester. I have been here for a little over a month and it has been a great but mentally exhausting month. I am not going to say that it has been the best month of my life but I have truly had a great time exploring, meeting new people, and learning all about London. I definitely struggled when I first got here because I was pushed into a new environment where I knew no one but as time has gone on I have been able to connect with people that I knew before coming here and with people that I have never met before.
Over the course of this first month I have been able to settle into UCL and create my new routine here. While at GW I prioritized both my mental and physical health by working out, specifically by being a part of both club field hockey and women’s club lacrosse, and by taking time to read everyday. In order for me to feel comfortable here I knew that I needed to keep those things a part of my routine. Unfortunately I am not able to join UCL’s club teams because of time commitments and the trips that I have planned for the semester but I replaced that with training for a half marathon, which I am doing in April in Wales! However, I still prioritize reading and make time for myself every night. Doing both of these things have helped me to create a sense of normal here like what I had at GW.
I am also really enjoying my classes, even though they are somewhat different from the ones at GW. What I have realized since I got here is that the university here functions differently and it is much more independent than what I am used to at GW. I am taking 4 courses (modules) while I am here which are all centered around my minor, Classical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies. I am a little bit of an exception because my major is Biology but I am only taking my minor classes while abroad which has been really cool because I have been able to focus on an area of study that I haven’t been able to prioritize as much before. My modules happen once a week for two hours and are predominantly lecture based, which is similar to my GW courses, however, I only have one or two big assignments for each of my modules that determine my grades here, which is very different from GW and has been a huge adjustment for me. I am used to having homework assignments each week that are a part of my grade but here my homework is readings which we then discuss the next week. This has required me to adjust and really plan out my semester because there are no short term assignments for me to do that keep me on track so I need to plan out when exactly I am going to write my essays, requiring me to be more independent. I have liked this so far because it has required me to adjust and change my study habits and pushed me to be more independent and less reliant on outside pressures/due dates.
Other than studying and going to my lectures, I have been able to explore London, which is truly an incredible city where you could never get bored. I am living really close to Regent’s park which is a perfect place to run, especially in the morning (included is a picture from Primrose Hill which I took during one of my morning runs)! Even though most days it is really grey there are still so many places to explore and things to do. However, London doesn’t feel that different from DC which I was really afraid of and I actually feel like going to GW has prepared me for living in a city like London.
I have also been able to take a few trips since I have been here which have been so cool and really incredible experiences. I have been able to go to Cologne, Germany which was such a cool city and it was the first time that I had ever been to Germany (included is a picture of my sister and I in front of the Cologne Cathedral). I also went on a day trip to Oxford, which was actually so beautiful and it was so peaceful (my favorite place so far). I really enjoyed it because I was able to see where they filmed a famous scene in Harry Potter and I totally fangirled (included is a picture of me there). One other trip that I was able to take was a trip to Seville, Spain, which is where one of my best friends from home is studying abroad. It was such a beautiful place and the nice weather was incredible because it has been pretty chilly in London. It was also my first time in Spain and I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to visit and experience their culture (included is a picture I took at the Plaza de Espana).
Overall, I have had such an incredible time so far and I am so grateful for this opportunity that GW has given me and I can’t wait to visit so many more places and experience everything that London has to offer. I am also excited to be challenged by my modules and create connections with people while abroad.
Claudia Brelsford
Spring 2025
GW Exchange - University College London
Columbian College of Arts and Science
Biology Major