Hannah Rabinowitz, Healthcare in British Context Summer 2024
Hello! My name is Hannah Rabinowitz and I studied abroad through the Healthcare in British Context program in London this summer. Prior to arriving in London, I was very nervous about what the housing would look like, but it ended up being an amazing part of my abroad experience. My study abroad program was through CEA CAPA, and the company provided housing for all students studying in London. There were many different apartments that students on the program were placed in. I lived in a slightly smaller apartment building, which housed about 20 students on the program. In addition, there were other students in our building, along with several London locals. The apartment building was brand new and modern, and we were even told we were the first people to live in it. I lived with 3 other girls in my apartment, all of whom are students at University of Pittsburgh. My roommates and I had two bedrooms and two bathrooms in our apartment, so I only needed to share a room and bathroom with one other student. Our rooms were not super big, but our living room and kitchen were very spacious. Additionally, we had a very large porch that overlooked the city, which served as a great place to relax and get some fresh air. I loved the size of our apartment and our patio, because it was easy to find personal space during an experience that can be very overwhelming and tiring. Our apartments came equipped with dishes, silverware, pots, pans, and some other cooking supplies. It was very nice to have a full kitchen, because cooking meals was a great way to save money while traveling abroad. However, there are some differences in the usual kitchen appliances between the United Kingdom and the United States, so making meals took a bit of getting used to. My overall favorite thing about my housing in London was the location. My apartment was about a 45-minute commute to my classes and internship, which is very reasonable for such a large city. Additionally, my apartment was close to multiple train stations, which made it very simple to travel all over London. The location of my apartment was also amazing because there were a lot of activities right in our neighborhood. Every Sunday, the street next to mine had a market with food, art, and thrifted clothing. Additionally, the neighborhood is famous for having amazing vintage shops, restaurants, and more, so there was always something fun to do just a short walk away. One struggle of my housing location was the noise. There were a few train tracks right outside of our window, so we needed to adjust to the sounds of trains going by all night. However, this is a very common experience in London, so this was just part of living like a local. Overall, I am so grateful for my amazing housing in London, and it really enhanced my experience studying and living abroad.
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