The 2018 London trip was certainly one to remember. For the first time in SIA history, the largest freshman class traveled across the pond. It was certainly a new experience for all of us, and for many, it was the first time away from home. Getting off a 6.5-hour flight and heading straight to our first destination was exhausting. However, the adrenaline of being in another country with all of your classmates overpowered the fatigue. On the first day, we were lucky enough to witness Armistice Day, which is their version of America’s Veterans Day. We were silent for 2-3 minutes, intently watching the guards walk and commemorate the people who served their country.

After a jam-packed day, getting to the hotel around 9:30 was certainly a relief. As the days went on, we saw places like Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Shakespeare’s home in Stratford-upon-Avon, The Globe, Tower of London, The London Eye and other breathtaking cornerstones of London. Learning about the history and background of all these places was interesting and being able to understand how they still play an important role in London today was even better. . We came into this trip as a group of eager freshmen, hoping to find our “people” for the next four years. We left the trip as a family. The days were long and I can confidently say I will never do that amount of walking ever again in my life, but I would do it all over again with the people I love most.

Hailey V. ’22