Transformative Travels
Exploring London: Part Two
Season 2 Episode 2 | 26m 12sVideo has Closed Captions
The travelers continue their tour and we meet several American students in London.
While reflecting on personal and professional aspirations, Catie learns fashion and friends are among the cornerstones of her London experience. Also, talking with several American students in London, Dr. Jason highlights what makes these students special.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Transformative Travels is a local public television program presented by KET
Transformative Travels
Exploring London: Part Two
Season 2 Episode 2 | 26m 12sVideo has Closed Captions
While reflecting on personal and professional aspirations, Catie learns fashion and friends are among the cornerstones of her London experience. Also, talking with several American students in London, Dr. Jason highlights what makes these students special.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipGREAT TRAVEL STORIES ARE SET IN THIS CITY.
THIS IS A STORY OF THREE TRAVELERS.
EMMA, KATIE AND ARIZONA, AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY WHO ARE SPENDING THE SEMESTER LIVING AND LESCHING LEARNING.
>> HI, HOW ARE YOU?
>> BEFORE THE SUNRISE TODAY I GOT UP.
IT'S REALLY PRETTY AND CALM IN THE MORNINGS.
>> EVERYTHING IS SO DIVERSE AND THERE IS JUST SO MUCH TO DO.
>> THIS IS TRANSFORMATIVE TRAVELS, EXPLORING LONDON!
ARIZONA, KATIE AND EMMA ARE AMONG THE 40,000 AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO STUDY ABROAD IN THE UNITED KINGDOM DURING A TYPICAL YEAR.
MY WIFE, ELEN, HAS BROUGHT ALONG 35 UNITS OF HER OWN FROM CENTER COLLEGE IN DANVILLE, KENTUCKY.
WITH SO MANY AMERICAN STUDENTS IN LONDON, ARIZONA, KATIE AND EMMA EASILY MAKE NEW FRIENDS.
SOME OF THE TIME WITH THEIR NEW FRIENDS IS SPENT TRAVELING SINCE IT'S SO EASY TO GET FROM LONDON TO OTHER EUROPEAN CAPITOLS.
WHILE IT'S EXCITING TO EXPLORE WITH NEW FRIENDS, MOST OF OUR DAYS ARE MORE ROUTINE.
>> WE ARE JUST TALKING TO THE TUBE STATION RIGHT NOW AND GOING TO CLASS.
>> LONDON QUICKLY BECOMES OUR HOME.
>> I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE HERE.
WHEN I'VE BEEN TRAVELING AND I'M HEADED BACK TO LONDON, IT FEELS LIKE I'M HEADED HOME.
>> FEELING AT HOME LEADS TO MUNDANE EXPERIENCES.
>> DAY FOUR AND A HALF, I HAVE A COLD AND THAT'S HOW MY DAY IS GOING.
TRYING TO GET HEALTHY AGAIN.
>> ILLNESSES PASS QUICKLY.
>> I'M UP AND ALIVE AGAIN.
>> THANKFULLY BECAUSE IN LONDON, HISTORY IS HAPPENING.
>> I'M OVER BY PARLIAMENT IN LONDON RIGHT NOW AND I DECIDED I WOULD CHECK OUT PARLIAMENT TODAY BECAUSE TODAY IS MARCH 29, THIS IS THE DAY THAT BREXIT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE PLACE AND THE U.K. WAS TO LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION.
SO BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS IN PARLIAMENT AND THEY COULDN'T, BREXIT WAS DELAYED.
I THOUGHT I WOULD CHECK IT OUT TODAY.
THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON AND SO MANY PEOPLE HERE.
SO INTERESTING.
>> A GEOPOLITICAL SHIFT IN EUROPE IS ON THE HORIZON.
PROTESTS AND COUNTERPROTESTS ARE COMMON, LEADING UP TO MARCH 29 AND AFTERWARDS AS THE BREXIT WITHDRAWAL AGREEMENT CONTINUES TO BE CONTESTED.
>> IT'S DEFINITELY ALL ANYONE TALKS ABOUT.
ANY PERSON YOU TALK TO HAS A STRONG OPINION ON IT, SO IT'S VERY EASY TO GET EDUCATED ON THE TOPIC BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS VERY WILLING TO SHARE THEIR OPINION.
>> AND SEEING LIKE SIGNS, YOU CAN PUT STICKERS EVERYWHERE LIKE ANTI-BREXIT OR THEY WANT IT TO HAPPEN SO YOU SEE BOTH SIDES EVERYWHERE.
>> WE ARE, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, A LITTLE ANXIOUS.
>> HE SAID LIKE THE UNITED KINGDOM COULD SHUT DOWN TONIGHT BUT YOU WILL BE FINE.
AND WE WERE LIKE... >> THAT WAS ONE OF OUR FIRST CLASSES, BEFORE WE KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
SO THAT PROBABLY SCARED US.
>> BILL BUT THEY HAVE ETCH EACH OTHER TO LEAN ON AND AT THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH HOUSE WITH OTHER COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE UNITED STATES, THEY MAKE FRIENDS FOR LIFE.
>> WE ARE SITTING ON THE STEPS OF THE...
RIGHT NOW, AND WE HAD TO WALK UP A TON OF STAIRS TO GET HERE BUT IT WAS SO WORTH IT.
THIS HAS DEFINITELY BEEN MY FAVORITE MOMENT OF EUROPE SO FAR.
IT IS JUST SUCH A BREATHTAKING VIEW AND THE SUN IS ABOUT TO SET.
SO I JUST WANTED TO KEEP YOU GUYS UPDATED.
>> SITTING THERE WITH ARIZONA AND CLAIRE, LIKE IT WAS THE PEOPLE THAT MADE THE EXPERIENCE AND IT JUST MADE ME REFLECT ON MY TRIP SO MUCH MORE.
OBVIOUSLY IT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL VIEW AND NOTHING LIKE I HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE.
BUT THE PEOPLE MADE IT SO MUCH MORE WORTHWHILE.
I ALSO THINK STUDY ABROAD SETS YOU UP TO BE MORE WILLING TO GET DEEPER WITH FRIENDS BECAUSE YOU ARE SPENDING SO MUCH TIME WITH THEM AND YOU ARE KIND OF SHELTERED IN THIS PLACE AND YOU WANT TO TRAVEL WITH PEOPLE AND ALL THAT.
SO EMMA AND I HAVE DONE A LOT OF TRIPS TOGETHER.
SHE HAS BEEN ON EVERY TRIP I'VE GONE ON SO FAR AND WE HAVE DONE A LOT JUST OURSELVES.
AND THAT GIVES US A LOT OF TIME TO HAVE REALLY DEEP AND MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS.
>> MONTE CARLO.
>> WE LOVE MACHINE MONICO SO FAR.
MONACO.
WE ARE A MINUTE AWAY FROM WHERE WE ARE SLEEPING AND THIS IS OUR VIEW.
UNREAL.
>> I HAVE A HARD TIME STAYING IN THE MOMENT AND BEING GRATEFUL FOR WHERE I AM.
I REALIZE THAT NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, IF YOU ARE NOT GRATEFUL ABOUT IT, YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO BE SATISFIED.
>> I LIKE GOING OUT AND HAVING FUN WITH MY FRIENDS BUT NOT ALL THE TIME.
>> SHE WILL WANT TO DO BRUNCH OR WALK AROUND SOMEWHERE AND GO TO THE MARKETS AND I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THE EXPERIENCE AFTER.
IT IS 10:30 ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND ANNA HAS DRAGGED ME OUT WITH HER FROM MY BED TO GO SING AT A TRAIN STATION.
>> TELL YOU I'M SORRY.
♪ DON'T KNOW... THAT NIGHT WAS REALLY SPECIAL SO IT MEANT A LOT THAT KATIE GOT HERSELF OUT OF BED SO LATE AND CAME WITH ME BUT REALLY REALIZATIONING THAT WHO YOU ARE WITH AND LIKE WHAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP IS CHANGES THE DYNAMIC OF THE TRIP COMPLETELY.
I'M HONESTLY GOING TO REMEMBER THE TRIPS WE'VE GONE ON AND ALL THE MEMORIES WE'VE MADE.
BUT I THINK THE THING I'LL TAKE AWAY LIKE THE MOST AND LOOK BACK ON IS PROBABLY OUR FRIENDSHIP.
>> I'M GOING TO CRY.
>> WE ARE TOO SENTIMENTAL FOR THIS.
>> I JUST FEEL LIKE THAT UP UNTIL THIS PAST SEMESTER, I HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN SUPER AUTHENTIC WITH MYSELF.
REALITY IS REALLY STRETCHED WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE PRESENCE IT HAS CURRENTLY.
MULTIPLE TIMES I'VE THOUGHT, I SHOULD GO OFF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR A WHILE BECAUSE YOU ARE CONSTANTLY BEING FED STUFF TO YOU LIKE PLACES TO GO, THINGS TO EAT, THINGS TO BUY.
AND IT KIND OF ALTERS YOUR MIND SET TO WANT WHAT THE ENTIRE WORLD WANTS AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING TO BUILD OFF THE AUTHENTICITY TOPIC, THAT WAS I WANT MIGHT NOT EVEN BE AUTHENTIC TO MYSELF BECAUSE I'M CONSTANTLY SEEING IT BLASTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND I THINK THAT HAS AN EFFECT ON TRAVELING AND SEEING THINGS BECAUSE WE WANT TO GO TO THESE PLACES BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO, BUT THERE IS BEHIND THAT WANT, THERE IS THE EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT IT IS GOING TO BE LIKE BECAUSE OF ALL THE EXPERIENCES WE'VE SEEN OTHER PEOPLE HAVE.
AND IT'S HONESTLY REALLY LIKE-- IT'S AFFECTED ME AT TIMES WHILE I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING BECAUSE I THINK HAVE I TO GET A PICTURE.
IT'S NOT STRESSFUL BUT DISHEARTENING TO ME BECAUSE I'M LETTING MYSELF BE SO AFFECTED BY IT.
>> GOT A GREAT VIEW GOING ON OVER HERE AND THAT'S IT.
NO, THAT'S NOT IT.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BREAKFAST I HAD THIS MORNING.
I HAD A THEORY THAT U.K., QUOTE UNQUOTE AMERICAN PAN TAKES ARE BETTER THAN PERSON PANCAKES AT HOME.
THEY'RE FLUFFIER, 2: SWEETER 3 THEY TASTE BETTER.
YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST FOLKS.
I WILL NOT STOP EATING PANCAKES UNTIL I GET HOME.
>> I AM SO OBSESSED WITH THE FASHION SCENE IN LONDON.
I SHOP THREE TIMES A WEEK IF NOT MORE.
AND IT'S JUST SO COOL BECAUSE IT REALLY IS A FASHION HUB OF THE WORLD.
>> KATIE HAS MORE THAN A CASUAL INTEREST IN FASHION.
HER MAJOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY IS MERCHANDISING APPARENT PAIRL-- APPAREL AND TEXTILES.
>> FASHION IS ALWAYS CHANGING AND IT'S SO COOL AND IT TRULY IS FOR EVERYBODY.
EVERYBODY WEARS CLOTHES, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, AND I LOVE THE DYNAMIC THAT IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO REALLY JUST EXPRESS THEMSELVES.
EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN STYLE.
AND I LOVE JUST FINDING LIKE LITTLE STATEMENT PIECES THAT YOU CAN THROW TOGETHER WITH ANY OUTFIT AND IT JUST MAKES YOU STAND OUT AS A PERSON.
MY FAVORITE SHOPPING AREAS IN LONDON HAVE TO BE RIGHT HERE IN COMMON GARDEN.
OXFORD STREET IS PROBABLY WHERE I GO THE MOST, JUST BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF STORES THEY HAVE.
BUT ALSO HARRODS.
I'M SORRY, MOM.
I'M SORRY, DAD, BUT YOU GOT TO DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO.
IT WILL PAY OFF IN THE LONG RUN, I THINK.
>> STUDYING RETAIL AND FASHION MEANS MORE THAN JUST SHOPPING.
ONE OF KATIE'S ASSIGNMENTS IS TO INTERVIEW A RETAIL ECONOMIST AT THE BRITISH RETAIL CONSORTIUM.
>> A TRADING ORGANIZATION FOR THE RETAIL INDUSTRY.
RETAIL HAD A FEW TOUGH YEARS ALREADY.
AT TIMES, COMPETITION OF DEPRESSED DEMAND AND TECHNOLOGICAL SHIFT TAKING PLACE.
>> HOW ARE RETAILERS IN THE U.K.
REINVENTING THEMSELVES TO DEAL WITH THIS SHIFT?
>> THERE IS A RESTRUCTURING OF THE BUSINESS WHERE WE TAILERS ARE REASSESSING THE NEED THEY HAVE FOR PHYSICAL SPACE.
NOW WHAT RETAILERS ARE TRYING TO DO IS MEET THEIR CUSTOMERS WHEREVER THEY ARE.
THE SHOP THESE DAYS IS ALSO A FULFILLMENT CENTER.
AS IN ONE COULD GO ONLINE AND COLLECT IN THE STORE OR GO IN THE STORE AND ORDER SOMETHING THAT WOULD THEN BE DELIVERED AT HOME.
>> SOME PLACES HAVE PERSONAL SHOPPING AS WELL.
LIKE THEY HAVE SOMEONE DO IT FOR YOU IN THE STORE LIKE SO STRANGE TO ME BUT SO COOL.
>> ONE WAY TO COMPETE IS TO COME UP WITH NEW SERVICES.
THERE ARE NEW NICHES WHICH ARE BEING DISCOVERED BY RETAILERS.
THIS TRANSFORMATION, I FIND IT PERSONALLY VERY EXCITING.
AND IF ONE IS WILLING TO ADAPT AND MOVE WITH THE PACE OF CHANGE, THEN IT CAN ACTUALLY, YOU CAN BE PART OF THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE INDUSTRY.
AND AGAIN, THE INDUSTRY IS INVOLVED IN TREMENDOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT.
SO IF YOU ARE WILLING TO CHANGE, TO ADAPT, TO LOOK FOR NEW IDEAS, TO CONTINUE REINVENTING YOURSELF, THEN IT'S THE RIGHT PLACE TO BE.
>> VALIDATED ALL OF WHAT I HAD THOUGHT WAS GOING ON WITH THE CONSTANT CHANGING IN FASHION.
REALLY LIKE SHOWED ME HOW THAT IS A GLOBAL TREND AND NOT JUST IN AMERICA.
>> ONE OF THE STUDENTS ASSIGNMENT IS IS TO DESIGN HALF DAY EXCURSIONS FOR THE FOUR OF US.
THEIR TASK IS TO DISCOVER MEANING IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOT THE TYPICAL TOURIST SPOTS.
LOCATIONS FOR THESE MYSTERY EXCURSIONS ARE SELECTED AT RANDOM.
WE START BY CUTTING UP A BIG LONDON MAP INTO SMALL PIECES.
TO AVOID THE TYPICAL TOURIST SPOTS, WE REMOVE ZONE 1 FROM THE MAP.
THE LONDON UNDERGROUND, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE TUBE, IS DIVIDED INTO SIX ZONES RADIATING FROM THE CENTER OF LONDON.
MOST LONDON VISITORS DON'T EXPLORE BEYOND ZONE 1.
ZONE 1 IS LONDON'S BEATEN PATH.
SOAPS BEYOND THE FIRST ARE MORE ROUTINE, A MIX OF EVERYDAY LIFE WITH RESIDENTIAL STREETS, COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS AND PARKS.
I BELIEVE HIDDEN GEM GEMS CAN BE FOUND IN ANY PLACE IF YOU ARE EXPLORE.
AFTER CUTTING THE MAP, ARIZONA, KATIE AND EMMA RANDOMLY SELECT LOCATIONS FROM THE PILE OF PIECES.
THESE ARE OUR MYSTERY EXCURSION DESTINATIONS.
ONE TAKES US TO I GO LESS AT THIS NATURE PRESERVE.
THE 8.4-ACRE NATURE SPOT IS TUCKED BETWEEN TYPICAL LONDON TERRACE HOUSES AND IS SITUATED IN THE SHADOW OF THE 60,000 SEAT EMIRATE STADIUM, HOME OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB.
ON TRIP ADVISOR, GILLESPIE LOCAL NATURE PRESERVE RANKED 1200th AMONG THE MOST POPULAR THINGS TO DO IN LONDON.
>> THE RANDOMNESS OF IT KIND OF ADDED TO THE EXPERIENCE FOR SURE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT AND GO TO THE PLACE, MAYBE EVEN WITHOUT A PLAN, JUST EXPLORE IT.
>> IT WAS LIKE A NICE CHANGE.
>> THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS MEANINGFUL FOR ME.
>> IT IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU THINK YOU WOULD EXPERIENCE IN LONDON BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE ARE NOT SITTING IN FRONT OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE RIGHT NOW.
IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC BUT IT WAS FUN FOR SURE.
>> WHILE VISITING THE RESERVE, WE LEARN ABOUT LONDON'S ABUNDANT GREEN SPACE.
WITH 47% OF THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT SET APART FOR RECREATIONAL USES OR ESTHETIC PURPOSES, LONDON IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST URBAN FOREST.
THE CITY HAS ONE TREE FOR EVERY RESIDENT.
THAT'S EIGHT MILLION TREES, MORE THAN 13,000 TREES PER SQUARE MILE.
IN ZONE 2, WE DISCOVER A SMALL BUT ICONIC PLACE.
THE ZEBRA CROSSING OUTSIDE OF ABBY ROAD STUDIOS.
ALL DAY LONG, TOURISTS HOPING TO LIVE THEIR BEATLES MOMENT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, SLOW DOWN MOTORISTS.
AND WE ARE NO EXZ WE ARE NO EXCEPTION.
VISITORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO LEAVE GRAFFITI MESSAGES ON THE WALLS.
SO WE DO.
I'M ALWAYS CURIOUS WHY MORE COLLEGE MEN DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATION ABROAD OR TRAVEL EXPERIENCES FOR CLASSES.
IN TRANSFORMATIVE TRAVELS, EXPLORING KENTUCKY, OUR 10 TRAVELERS: ALL WOMEN.
WHY IS IT THAT MORE COLLEGE MEN ARE NOT INTERESTED IN COURSES THAT INVOLVE TRAVEL AND TIME AWAY FROM CAMPUS?
I POSED THIS QUESTION TO SOME CENTER COLLEGE MEN AND OTHER AMERICAN STUDENTS WHO ARE STUDYING IN LONDON.
ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL TREND, YOU GUYS ARE RARITIES, 2-1 WOMEN VERSUS MEN.
JUST IN GENERAL, WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?
>> I KNOW THAT SPEAKING TO SOME PEOPLE, THAT HAD CONSIDERED STUDYING ABROAD THAT DIDN'T, THEY JUST DIDN'T WANT TO MISS OUT ON THE TIMES AT THE CENTER.
I FEEL THAT MIGHT BE PART OF IT.
MAYBE GUYS ARE JUST COMFORTABLE STAYING IN THEIR COMFORT ZONE WHILE THEY'RE BACK AT HOME AND THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE THIS STEP TO GO OUT.
>> NOW THAT I'M HERE, I CAN'T SEE ANY REASON WHY GUYS WOULDN'T BE BEGGING TO STUDY ABROAD FROM ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
IT'S INTERESTING.
>> PART OF MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN LEADING EDUCATION ABROAD PROGRAMS AND THEY'RE OVERWHELMINGLY WOMEN, I'VE TAKEN 29 STUDENTS TO FRANCE AND THERE WOULD BE ONE GUY.
I TOOK 22, OR 23 TO GREECE AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE GUY.
THESE ARE ALL WHO ARE SIGNING UP.
ALL WHO WANT TO DO IT.
IF THERE WERE MORE BUYS, THEY WOULD BE WELCOME TO DO IT, THE GUYS WOULD BE WELCOME.
>> MY MOM TELLS ME, SHE ALWAYS WISHED SHE HAD DONE IT.
THAT'S MY THING.
DO IT AND YOU WON'T REGRET IT.
YOU WOULD ALWAYS BE WONDERING WHAT IF.
WHAT I'M FIGURING OUT HERE IS THAT THERE IS SOMETHING COOL EVERYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE HAS A STORY THAT CAN BE APPRECIATED.
AND THE MORE STORIES YOU COLLECT, THE BETTER INFORMED YOUR WORLD VIEW IS.
I THINK IN 10 YEARS I'LL REMEMBER THIS EXPERIENCE AS KIND OF WHEN I FELL IN LOVE WITH TRAVELING.
WHEN I REALLY APPRECIATED TRAVELING.
>> I LOOK BACK AND THINK IT IS AN AMAZING TIME.
VERY FUN MEETING NEW PEOPLE, GOING DIFFERENT PLACES.
BEING ABLE TO VISIT DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, GO TO DIFFERENT MUSEUMS.
SEE DIFFERENT SITES, JUST EXPERIENCE THE WORLD IS SOMETHING THAT I'M NEVER GOING TO FORGET.
>> MY BEST FRIEND FROM BACK HOME IN BOGOTA, HE WAS HERE IN LONDON SO I WANTED TO SPEND A SEMESTER WITH HIM AND FOR SOMEONE INTERESTED IN FINANCE LIKE ME, I THINK HAVING EXPERIENCE WORKING AT A FINANCE GROUP IN A FINANCIAL CENTER, OF COURSE, IS ALWAYS GOOD TO TALK ABOUT WHENEVER YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT INTERNSHIPS OR GETTING A JOB OR ANYTHING CAREER FOCUSED.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO GIVE ME AN EXPERIENCE THAT I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE LATER ON IN MY CAREER.
>> I THINK BACK ON MY FRIEND GROUP AND I THINK THEY ALL WANTED TO DO IT.
THE PEOPLE WHO JUST COULDN'T DO IT, JUST BECAUSE THEIR SCHEDULE WOULDN'T ALLOW THEM TO, IF YOU ARE DOING PREMED OR ENGINEERING, YOU WOULD PROBABLY FALL BEHIND AND END UP HAVING TO DO ANOTHER SMESSER.
AT LEAST THAT WAS THE SENSE I GOT WHEN I WAS TALKING TO MY FRIENDS.
>> I THINK A LOT OF BOYS IN COLLEGE, THIS IS TOTALLY A GENERALIZATION, BUT A LOT OF THEM I THINK MORE SO THAN GIRLS, BY DEFAULT, DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO OR DON'T HAVE LIKE SPECIFIC GOALS.
AT LEAST A LOT OF THE BUYS I KNOW AND I'M FRIENDS WITH AT HOME, THE BOYS I'VE MET HERE ARE JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING MORE LIKE I SORT OF KNOW WHAT I WANT TO DO.
LIKE I HAVE A DIRECTION THAT I WANT TO GO IN OR THEY'RE MORE INDEPENDENT OVERALL JUST LESS LIKE I HAVE TO RELY ON MY FRIENDS TO MAKE MY DECISIONS.
I RELY ON PEER PRESSURE.
SERIOUSLY, YOU LOOK AT THE GUYS HERE AND YEAH, THEY MAKE DECISIONS WITH EACH OTHER, BUT NONE OF THEM CAME IN TOGETHER.
LIKE I THINK THAT'S A BIG STEP THAT MOST GUYS DON'T WANT TO TAKE.
I THINK IT JUST SAYS A LOT ABOUT A GUY IF HE CAN LEAVE ALL OF HIS FRIENDS AND BE COMPLETELY ON HIS OWN AND COME TO A DIFFERENT COUNTRY, JUST LIKE IT DOES GIRLS, BUT MOST PEOPLE THAT I KNOW WHO STUDY ABROAD ARE GIRLS.
SO I MEAN YOU SEE THAT IN THE PROGRAM HERE LIKE SO MANY MORE GIRLS THAN GUYS.
I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S JUST REALLY COOL FOR ME TO SEE BUYS STEP OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE.
THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT.
THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
THEY KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING.
THEY'RE INDEPENDENT.
THEY'RE COOL.
SELF ASSURED, SELF RELIANT.
SOMETIMES THAT'S PROBLEMATIC BUT THEY'RE INDEPENDENT AND I LIKE THEM.
>> IT'S NOT EASY TO GO ABROAD.
IT'S NOT EASY TO SPEND A SEMESTER ABROAD, YOU KNOW THAT.
IT TAKES A SPECIAL KIND OF STUDENT TO DO THAT.
I GUESS I KNEW THAT BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I HAD WITNESSED THAT OR PAID ATTENTION REALLY TO THE KIND OF STUDENTS WHO ARE SPENDING THEIR SEMESTER ABROAD AND THEY'RE REALLY SPECIAL STUDENTS.
>> I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT RECENTLY, THE FACT THAT IT IS SO EASY TO CLICK WITH SOMEBODY WHILE YOU ARE ABROAD OR EVEN IN KENTUCKY BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE THE INITIAL INTEREST IN TRAVELING IN GENERAL AND I REALLY DO THINK THERE ARE CERTAIN PERSONALITY TRAITS THAT PEOPLE HAVE THAT MAYBE IT COMES FROM TRAVELING OR TRAVELING MAKES THEM THAT WAY IN A SENSE.
>> SOME OF THE CHARACTER TRAITS THAT YOU OBSERVE IN PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF.
>> WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO BE PRETTY OUTGOING BECAUSE IF YOU ARE-- YOU CAN BE AN INTROVERTED PERSON AND WANT TO BE IN YOUR ROOM ALL THE TIME IN ANOTHER COUNTRY DOING THAT.
BUT I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE OUTGOING ENOUGH TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE WHILE YOU ARE HERE TO GET YOUR FULL EXPERIENCE.
>> TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO DO THAT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
>> REFLECTING ON HER OWN EDUCATION ABROAD EXPERIENCE, ARIZONA TALKS WITH CENTER COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MEANING OF SPENDING A SEMESTER IN LONDON.
>> HOW DO YOU THINK THIS EXPERIENCE WILL CHANGE YOU PERSONALLY AFTER LEAVING LONDON?
>> I THINK I WILL BE MORE OF A SELF SUFFICIENT PERSON.
I THINK I'VE KIND OF, IN SOME WAYS, COME INTO MY OWN AND I'M WAY MORE COMFORTABLE BEING BY MYSELF AND DOING THINGS ALONE AND EXPLORING, WHICH I REALLY LIKE.
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET TO THAT POINT.
>> LEARNING TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT AND ALSO TO ASK QUESTIONS.
LIKE WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
HOW IS THIS SIGNIFICANT?
THAT'S SOME NOTHING I REALLY DID BEFORE.
I KNOW THAT I WANT TO BE A LAWYER AND SO IT'S BEEN REALLY COOL, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR POLITICS CLASS, LEARNING HOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS HERE AND IF I END UP IN POLITICS, EXPANDING THE WAY I SEE WHAT I CAN DO WITH MY FUTURE, WHICH IS PRETTY EXCITING.
>> SO MY PLAN IS TO GO INTO TEACHING.
>> I THINK THE MAIN WAY IT WILL AFFECT ME IS THE KIND OF THINGS THAT I WANT TO TEACH AND THE KIND OF DIVERSITY I WANT TO PULL IN.
>> 10 YEARS FROM NOW, HOW DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD REFLECT BACK ON YOUR EXPERIENCE HERE IN LONDON?
>> I THINK THE FIRST WORD THAT COMES TO MIND WOULD PROBABLY BE WILD.
BUT IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT KIND OF WAYS.
SO WILD IN THAT IT IS JUST LIKE AN INCREDIBLE GROWING TIME, WHERE I LEARNED HOW TO BE AN ADULT AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO LIVE IN A LARGE CITY.
BUT THEN ALSO WILD IN TERMS OF THE TIME THAT WE ARE HERE WITH EVERYTHING HAPPENING POLITICALLY AND IT'S JUST A CRAZY TIME TO BE IN LONDON AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT LOTS OF TIMES.
AND THEN ALSO JUST IN TERMS OF LIKE IT'S CRAZY THAT I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SPENT THREE MONTHS IN LONDON JUST LIVING HERE.
IT'S PRETTY AWESOME.
>> THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST MOMENTS IN COLLEGE WHERE I REALLY FEEL LIKE I'M HAVING TO BE A COMPLETELY GROWN PERSON.
I WAS REALLY, REALLY NERVOUS UNTIL I GOT HERE.
BUT BEING LEER IS SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND IT'S SO REMOVED FROM WHAT YOU USUALLY DO, NOT IN A SCARY WAY ONCE YOU GET HERE BUT IN A CONTINUALLY EXCITING WAY, I THINK.
>> AND BEING ABLE TO EXPERIENCE LIFE AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES THERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS JUST CRAZY, WILD YOU MIGHT SAY.
AND JUST LIKE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY.
>> I THINK I WAS JUST REALLY IMPACTED BY THE IDEA THAT I AM ABROAD RIGHT NOW, DOING IT WAY EARLIER THAN I HAD EVER ANTICIPATED DOING IT AND JUST HOW COOL IT IS THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO TO FRANCE TO AMSTERDAM, TO BARCELONA, JUST ALL THESE PLACES AND LIKE LIVE IN LONDON WHILE I'M STILL 18 IS JUST SO CRAZY TO ME FOR SOME REASON.
AND IT'S JUST SHOWING ME THAT I'M CAPABLE OF SO MUCH AND I REALLY AM THANKFUL FOR OBVIOUSLY YOU AND THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY FOR PROVIDING ME THIS OUTLET.
BUT I WAS JUST SO IN AWE OF HOW COOL THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY ABROAD REALLY IS.
>> SO WE ARE GETTING A SNACK BEFORE WE HAVE TO HEAD TO THE AIRPORT TO LEAVE ICELAND AND WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE A VIDEO AND TALK ABOUT HOW THIS IS MY FAVORITE-- DEFINITELY MY FAVORITE PLACE THAT I'VE BEEN SO FAR.
>> MY FAVORITE PLACE AS WELL.
SEE NEW LONDON.
-- SEE YOU IN LONDON.
>> ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF TRANSFORMATIVE TRAVELS, EXPLORING LONDON, ARIZONA TAKES A SOLO TRIP TO ITALY TO COMPARE FASHION MUSEUMS TO COUNTRIES.
>> WHAT HAVE YOU LOVED ABOUT FLORENCE SO FAR.
>> SHE MEETS UP WITH ANOTHER BATCH OF UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY STUDENTS ON A SHORT-TERM EDUCATION ABROAD PROGRAM.
AND WE REFLECT ON OUR TIME ABROAD BEFORE WE HEAD BACK TO AMERICA.
>> I'M THINKING ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.
I'M GOING TO START CRYING.
HOLD ON.
>> PLUS, THE TRAVELERS RECAP THEIR LONDON EXPERIENCE AFTER ARRIVING HOME.
NEXT TIME ON TRANSFORMATIVE TRAVELS, EXPLORING LONDON.
YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT DOING A TV PRODUCTION IN LONDON.
>> I THINK IT IS VERY INTERESTING TO WATCH THREE PEOPLE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES WHILE LIVING IN ANOTHER COUNTRY.
>> FINDING THINGS FOR EACH OF US TO DO AND THAT MAKES IT THAT MUCH BETTER.
AND I THINK IF WE WEREN'T HERE DOING THE PRODUCTION, HE WOULD ALSO BE INVOLVED IN-- LIKE BE THAT INVOLVED WITH US AND WANT US TO WORK ON THINGS LIKE PROFESSIONALLY OR DOING THINGS THAT JUST LIKE, THAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN.
>> I THINK HE REALLY DOES ENCOURAGE US TO PUSH OURSELVES OUTSIDE OF OUR COMFORT ZONE.
NOT IN A CRAZY WAY LIKE STANDING IN FRONT OF A TRAIN.
I THINK ESPECIALLY THE MYSTERY EXCURSIONS THAT HE HAS HAD US PLAN, I DON'T THINK WE WOULD HAVE DONE ANY OF THE STUFF THAT WE HAVE DONE ON THOSE.
AND I THINK HE HAS HAS ALSO BEEN ACCOMMODATING WITH SCHEDULES WHICH HAS ALLOWED US TO TRAVEL AND DO THESE AMAZING THINGS AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF WE HAD CLASS ON MONDAYS OR SOMETHING OR WASN'T WILLING TO CHANGE THINGS FOR US.
>> I THINK IT'S REALLY COOL TO HAVE THAT SAFETY NET, BUT I ALSO THINK HE PUSHES US TO DO THOSE THINGS AND HAVE EXPERIENCES KNOWING THAT LIKE HE WILL BE THERE GET US OUT OF ANY SITUATION THAT WE MIGHT GET PUT INTO OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
>> HE HAS JUST BEEN SO WILLING TO HELP IN ANY SITUATION.
LIKE WHEN I WAS SICK A FEW WEEKS AGO, I TOLD HIM I WASN'T GOING TO COME TO CLASS BECAUSE I WAS SICK.
HE SAID DO YOU NEED ANYTHING.
CAN I GET ANYTHING FOR YOU?
I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY OTHER PROFESSOR WOULD HAVE DONE THAT FOR ME.
IT WAS REASSURING TO HAVE HIM AROUND AND I THINK IT ADDS TO THE EXPERIENCE.
>> HE ENJOYS NOT JUST US BEING HERE BUT THE CENTER COLLEGE STUDENTS BEING HERE, TOO.
I THINK HE LIKES TO SEE THE DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES BETWEEN OUR EXPERIENCES.
SO AND LIKE WITH THE PRODUCTION, I THINK LOOKING BACK ON IT
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