Tschüss Berlin! My Study Abroad Reflection
December 14, 2018
And just like that my time studying abroad in Berlin has come to a close, and oh has time flown by. It seems like just yesterday I was saying good bye to my mom as I was boarding the gate at Newark Airport. I have had such an amazing experience and I met some incredible, inspirational people who I’m going to never forget.
At the beginning of my semester, my program director gave us an aspiration: “I hope you transform from mirror people into window people.”
At first, I didn’t believe that I would be able to see the world in new perspective in such a short time, however, it ended up being true! I've had transformed into a mirror person. I have been able to integrate myself into a society where I at first didn’t know the language and the culture. As someone who had lived in Connecticut her whole life, studying abroad has been such an eye-opening experience.
Studying abroad has helped me expand my knowledge in ways I didn’t think were possible. Going abroad taught me experiences that being on campus simply can’t. Regardless of what your interest are, going abroad will give insights on different cultures and you will grow to not only love and enjoy new interests, but it also makes you more appreciative of your culture.
Going abroad has given me a new sense of independence I wouldn’t have without the experience. It's less about school work and more about being on your own and finding your own way, whether it be through your career, or literally, through the country you stay in. It's a learning opportunity in more ways than one. There is so much to learn about the world around us and studying abroad helped me see that.
I would recommend studying abroad in some type of capacity at least once in your life. I just started my 20’s and I’ve already studied abroad twice: in Montpellier, France last summer and now Berlin! Going abroad was one of the best experiences of my life for so many reasons. You get to travel everywhere, try new foods and meet new people. I even got to learn German while I was here, and that’s an asset I can carry with me for the rest of my life.
I would even recommend going abroad even if you’re hesitant. Put yourself out of your comfort zone! You don’t want to look back on something you wish you did!
Berlin, you have been so good and have blessed me with experiences I will never forget. Goodbyes are not forever, are not the end; it simply means I’ll miss you until we meet again.
“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard” -Winnie the Pooh
Tschüss!
-Jenna
Warner Bros. Studio Tour: Do's and Don'ts
December 3, 2018
Hi everyone! Sorry for the long writing break; school has been taking over my life here in Berlin (yes, that means I haven't had a lot of time to travel on my own). However, I promised you all a blog post about my recent trip to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London! Here, I will provide you with some "do's and don't" to make your day extra MAGICAL!
First, I want to start off by discussing how amazing my day was. I'm a huge Harry Potter fan so I paid extra to get the VIP Deluxe Ticket and it was 110% worth it (I'll talk more about what my ticket included below). I spent a solid 7 hours at the studio and I wished I didn't have to go back to my airbnb that evening! I also did A LOT of shopping! We can say that I had to take a break from spending for a little bit after that trip!
What to DO at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour: London!
1) Buy your tickets ahead of time!
This will help you avoid so many long lines that would take away from the magic on the day of. If you are getting your tickets online, remember that the earlier/later your time slot is, the less busy it will be. The afternoons are usually pretty crowded!
2) Dress for the weather!
There is a section of the studio tour called The Backlot. The Backlot is OUTSIDE and includes a lot of cool features, like Privet Drive, the Hogwarts Bridge and the Knight Bus! You're going to want to grab a Butterbeer and spend time talking it all in! You don't want to be too cold or too hot. Make sure you're dress appropriately!
3) Make sure you watch all the movies again before the trip!
The studio tour is all about how the movies are made! What's the point of going if you haven't rewatched the movies! You’ll need to re-familiarize yourself with all the facts and figures, the sets and storylines, the characters’ names! It will definitely help in the end.
4) If you're able to, GET A DELUXE TICKET!
Getting a deluxe ticket was the best choice of my trip to London. As a major Harry Potter fan, I had access to things other people didn't. For example, my package included 4 professional pictures and 1 video. I got 2 photos in front of the Hogwarts Express and 2 on a Broom Stick. For my video, I got one filmed of me flying over London! (TIP: If you're a Slytherin, make sure you ask about your robe in advance because the green on the robe may match the green screen...and you don't want that!) Next, I also got a free Studio Tour book that reminds me about my special day. I also got a complimentary Butterbeer and a private lunch, along with my private tour! I think my favorite part about having VIP was that we could go through the tour as many times as we wanted to, while other people could only go through once. Also, we got access to sets when groups weren't there. For example: I got to go into the Great Hall without a swarm of people! It was such an amazing experience, if I ever go again, I am doing deluxe! The ticket information is attached with the following link: https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/tickets.
What NOT to do at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour: London
1) Don't show up in the afternoon!
I talked about this a little bit above, but if you don't want a crowded experience, make sure you either show up early in the morning or later that evening. Most people tend to go in the afternoon and it gets very crowded and hectic. Especially because I was doing a lot of shopping later and wanted less people, I set my tour time for 10:00. It got busy toward the end of my day but for the beginning it was fine!
2) Don't feel as though you have to rush through the exhibit!
If you do attend the tour at a later time, there tends to be people rushing through the exhibit and pushing their way through to the front. YOU PAID FOR A TICKET ALSO so you should be able to take your time to see everything YOU want to see! This is your magical day, you want to make it count and memorable!
There wasn't much that I wouldn't do at the Studio. This was the day I gave myself permission to splurge on. Even though I did spend a good amount of money on the Deluxe tickets and at the gift shop, every memory I made I know I will cherish forever!
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