30
IMPACT
WORDS BY SHERRY WANG
ILLUSTRATION BY DANIEL NORMAN
WHEN LONDON IS CALLING Our beloved capital through the eyes of an international exchange student
I went to London with my friend Sabrina on a November weekend. Although I had been in the UK for around 2 months, it was a shame that I hadn’t been to its great capital. Applying for the France Schengen Visa meant a visit to London and therefore gave me a great chance to explore. For me, London is a city of combined styles. It is definitely a city steeped in history and culture. Many scenic spots are well-known around the world: Hyde Park, the London Eye, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and so on. I could feel its history while riding the Underground, which has some lines probably dating back to several centuries ago, which can be seen from the appearance of trains. Despite a little grumble about the puzzling lines (the tube map looks like a maze to me), the tube felt very cool and historic. From another aspect, London is a metropolitan of great vigour and vitality. Infrastructures are complete and modern, facilitating the daily life of citizens there. I found a series of coffee chains as well as many independent ones and heard that London has a coffee festival, which is a must to check out next time. For a foodie, considerable joy must be had from discovering great restaurants. For international tourists who want to check out British afternoon tea culture, I would recommend Scoff & Banter Tea Rooms,
located just behind the Disney store on Oxford Street. The well-decorated surroundings, comprehensive menu and the attentive waiters will definitely give you a lovely experience you won’t forget. Having filled up my stomach, it was time to explore the city. Before visiting, I had heard the rumour about the cold personality of London people. But this wasn’t true according to my experience. When I appeared to be a little bit hesitant or lost on the tube or the street, someone would immediately come and ask me if I needed help. I don’t know whether I just met kind people or I just looked so in need of help, but I found people in London were surprisingly helpful and friendly. Unfortunately, for sight-seeing, because I had my visa work to do, I was limited to time and did not get to see all of the main tourist spots. Nevertheless, it seems to me that evening is a better time to appreciate the beauty of some famous places, like Big Ben and the London Eye. I hung around from 3 pm until it got dark and saw how Big Ben revealed its charisma more and more when its lights glittered in the moonlight. Even though my trip was short and unfortunately not as productive as I would have liked it to be, London has left her effect on me, with her history, fashion and food, and I know it won’t be long until I return.