Mergenie Fleurimond ’26 is a psychology student minoring in business administration. Eager to form connections with students from across the world, she studied in a three-week program in London over the summer.

This summer, I embarked on a 3-week study abroad program at the University of Westminster in London, England. I gained meaningful insight into London culture and history through the Psychology of City Life course led by senior lecturer, Dr. Bryan Bonaparte. The course covered different topics within social psychology related to stress management, wellness and loneliness, while also examining how living within a diverse urban environment, such as London, affects cognitive functioning and behavior. My experience abroad was highly successful because I extended my professional network, earned academic credit and positively represented my home institution while overseas.  

At the Marylebone Campus, my flatmates and I spent our mornings before class enjoying tea and porridge at the student dining hall, while conversing with London natives. Through their guidance, I learned how to properly navigate London’s underground railway system and found authentic Indian cuisine at Daakoo in West Hampstead. Over time, I grew accustomed to city life through daily social excursions to The National Portrait Gallery, Camden Market, Notting Hill, The Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and Tower Bridge with students across the United States, Brazil and Australia. Most notably, during a class trip to the London Museum Docklands, I entered a bunker constructed to withstand bombings during World War II. We also walked through the Transatlantic Slave Trade exhibit, which detailed England’s involvement in the sugar cane industry and slave trade during the 1600s.

Lastly, at the end of the program, I led a group presentation on the effects of childhood poverty on development and wrote a research paper discussing individual and environmental factors related to gang membership among London youth. In my presentation, I analyzed data from the Child Poverty Action Group and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund to measure the average disposable income among two-parent and single-parent households within the United Kingdom. The Psychology of City Life course at the University of Westminster taught me how factors such as annual household income, urban environments, overcrowding, and lack of social interaction can affect an individual’s mental health and emotional well-being.  

For students who are also interested in international travel but are unsure about where to start, the Global Education Office is an incredible resource. Through one-on-one meetings with the Assistant Dean and Director of Global Education, Dr. Marisa Atencio, and financing study abroad sessions with the Director of Financial Aid, Chris Summers ’03, I found a study abroad program that best aligned with my schedule, interests, and financial needs. In those sessions, Dr. Atencio shared that understanding why I wanted to study abroad was an essential first step in my journey because it helped refine my list of potential study abroad programs. Therefore, I am very thankful for the support provided by the Global Education Office because I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that has given me a newfound appreciation for international studies.