#luip

Just Another London Weekend

Weekends in London, there is always something to do. Always. Coming up on the home stretch of the school year, it’s normal for students to get super stressed, lock themselves in their rooms, and do nothing but worrying about studying (which has been witnessed in both myself and quite a few classmates.) So we’ve come to realize that it’s really important for us to get out of our rooms for at least…

Row, Row, Row your Boat, Gently down the Thames

Between classes, and field trips, and family visits, it’s been an insanely busy few weeks, hence the unintended hiatus.  But, in the midst of all of that, I did get to spend one very relaxing day out on the Thames thanks to LUIP and City Cruises.

It may have been a windy day, but that didn’t stop us from going to the top deck and taking in the amazing views along the river! So of course, we got…

The Science of forensics, medicine made into art, and a massive collection of historical medical equipment. Those are some of the many things happening at my most recent stop of seeing science for free in London: The Wellcome Collection. Conveniently located in West Central London right near many of the University of London buildings, The Wellcome Collection has enough available that I would have…

Recently, I got the opportunity through London Universities International Partnership to visit the Google offices in London. We got to check out the coolest working environment I’ve ever seen, and also got to learn a lot about what makes them such a successful company as well, along with all of the cool up and coming projects they’re working on.

This was the first impression we got of the office:…

Last Saturday, on November 8th, our group of Study Ambassadors got the opportunity to participate in a treasure hunt all over Westminster, and we had a blast! First, our team ended up dressing very similarly, so we called ourselves the Collared Button-downs. ↓

Photo courtesy of Chenyi Liao

Our team had to take on three challenges during this treasure hunt including: Deciphering clues to bring us…

I have to admit, I am still feeling a little skeptical about me writing a blog! (I have always kept a paper-pen analog diary after closing my first online blog back in junior high…and consider myself more of a write for myself type. Anyhow and thanks for bearing with me.)  I recently joined a semi-secret program called London Study Ambassador Programme as an ambassador. This programme is organized by LUIP (London Universities International Partnership), and designed to enhance the experience in London for international students! Documenting the experience is also a part of the programme.

Coming up with a blog name was a time-consuming task for me. I googled song names that are related to London. Even though the song titles did not work out, for someone who just moved to Battersea area in London, the song Meet Me In The Battersea Park is a delightful and fun discovery! If you wish, the 100 London Songs from Timeout covers more, including the famous West End Girls from the Pet Shop Boys. Many songs devoted to flavourful auras in different parts of London. I love the idea of being an anonymous in a big city. Instead of feeling small or unimportant, I feel free! This is also the reason this blog is called London Plus One—I consider myself as a plus one, another more. And hopefully, my experience, and this blog could transform from a “plus” one into an alternative one, informational one, being additional in a good way in this information-overloaded world.

 LUIP had organised the last event of the ambassador programme, the closing reception.

It was our last get together as ambassadors where we were presented with our awards and certificates.

We shared our experiences as a student and ambassador for London with the people who had come. We also did short interviews for them. 

It was really sad when we came to the end of the London study ambassador programme.The fun and opportunities we got in this programme was just amazing.