Travelling and Student Life in London

The Student Life

Summer of 2012 I finished my high school and it was time for college. But where? The question is quite common in a teenager's life especially when you live in a country where you choose the college first and the course of subject later. I was in the same situation. I didn't know what city I would go to and what college I would choose. But never had I ever imagined in my wildest dream that I'll end up in the city of London. So thank god I have an elder sister. To be honest she did most of the work for me. I was just... riding along, and so it began. 
A new country, new culture, new university and new... well you know the rest so I'll skip that part. The student life in London can be summed up in 5 simple words; best time of my life. It is the best student place to be especially if you have an amazing campus with rich culture like Brunel University, and no they did not pay me to write this. It truly is one of the best campuses in London. I have had very very special moments here, words can't express the utter calmness and joy felt whilst on-campus. It was not a complete student dreamland,  some of the faculties were annoying but some  were absolute gold, but hey there are always two sides of a coin. Here are some photos expressing what words cannot. 

New Year 2014-15

The very common house parties

And the British weather year round!

The Student Traveller

Fast forward 2 years later, March 2015. This is how my travel experience began. I knew I'd finish exams by the end of May but what happens after? Since past 2 years I was rushing home like a child but not this time. My flatmates had been planing various trips in Europe but it never really happened. So we dedicated ourselves this time and I committed myself to a solo trip to Prague. The plan was to tag along with my friends in Paris and Amsterdam after. But who knew I'll catch a travel bug forever. Back in the months of March and April I had to submit my final year project, give my exams in May and also work to save enough to travel. 
Those were long nights, finishing work at 3am, reaching home by 4 and going to bed by 5, and attend a lecture at 10! But when the shifts finished at The Marriot, I knew I was a step closer to Prague because pay day was near.

Image Source| Traveller Chris

The After Effects

I spent hours and days and months in this entire process and all those hours can be summed up into 3 golden rules:
​1. Organize
Every time I'm having a chat with a fellow traveller and have to pull out my blue plastic folder with a bit of organised paperwork I hear from the other end "dude you are so organised" and "I wish I was as organised as you" No jokes, these are real comments people pass at me. Here is why I do it.
In May 2015 when I landed in Paris for the first time past midnight, there was no help. My friends booked an apartment on the highest floor they could find in Paris with a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower. Sounds cool right? But here's the catch. When I landed in Paris I had no sim card or internet to make a call and the apartment building had a passcode. 

So I scroll through my email booking which has the passcode and just when I want it the most, random touch screen shows it's magic and deletes the email!
But thanks to smart me, I pre-printed all my booking emails organised in that blue plastic file of joy. Viola! traveller Chris was saved! If I did not have the passcode my friends would have never known I had arrived or at least for a while because my flight was already delayed and they didn't know when exactly to expect me. So yeah, long story short: organise organise organise, it's no harm never.

2. Pre Plan
If not days before at least a few hours before. But plan before hand if you really want to travel longer. I know travelling without plans and being spontaneous sounds fun and daring but don't you want to make the most of the time on road? Then grab a paper and make a  dotted trail through the map, marking your way through a city, country or the world. But don't just stop here, when you are travelling you will meet other people who have been exotic places already. Share your route plans and see if you and your fellow traveller share similar destinations. Its always better to know a thing or two from someone who has been in the same boat before you.

3. An Open Mind

Sunset at Angkor Wat while Tuğba opens her mind with meditation at this eternal spot. | Photo by Traveller Chris

No matter what happens, keep an open mind about everything that comes your way. A new culture, language, food, people or weather. An open mind can get you through anything and at the same time show you the best of everything. So open your mind, let the light through because “A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open.” 
― Frank Zappa