Maisoon Chowdhury on COLLBREF 2011

We ran through the streets of London taking photos of every street corner, breathing in the clean air, ready for the rain to pour down—ready to take on the world.  Spending my summer in London was an experience that is very difficult for me to put into words. I have been struggling to find a way to express my four weeks there. To compress them into a few short pages seems almost impossible, but I will try my best, so bear with me.

I left Arizona with one goal in mind—to leave London able to understand the beauty and romance that people have written about and to find this renowned diversity and allow myself to become completely immersed in it.  It did not take long to become comfortable with the Westminster area. I noticed the culture the second I walked off the plane: vibrant, yet very accepting. People from all walks of life were comfortably enjoying their lives without any nonsense.  There was such a strong sense of community and pride which I have not experienced anywhere else. The lifestyle was also very refreshing, with people walking everywhere, enjoying their environment, and appreciating the city. 

During my four weeks there, we all had the opportunity to take a course at the University of Westminster. I took a physiology course and loved every moment of it. There were only six of us in the class and it was exciting to be able to become so close with my classmates; the professors were also extremely entertaining. One of our professors, Val Bullen, was very enthusiastic on the topic of homeostasis. She explained that homeostasis is the ability of an organism or cell to maintain internal equilibrium by adjusting its physiological processes. Looking at London as a whole, I feel that homeostasis is found throughout the city. It is a definite balance of the beautifully preserved old, with an eloquent upkeep of new. Modern technology is embedded into daily life, a wonderful feedback loop, where everything is kept at the perfect balance.   

In London I was able to explore myself, enjoy the city, and even venture into my father’s past by visiting places he had spent time in when he lived there, as well as my grandfather’s past from when he had attended the London School of Economics. I was able to spend a good amount of time by myself, which gave me the opportunity to listen to one of my favorite pianists at the Queen Elizabeth hall right off the South Bank, visit Benjamin Franklin’s house, and take in the artwork at the National Gallery.

I did not intend to fall so deeply in love with London. I am very much missing every single coffee shop and the friendly faces at my favorite bakery right beside International House. I miss dancing the night away at the Piccadilly Institute, the delectable cheeses at Borough, the late night pub-crawls with new friends, movies in the gardens of the Houses of Parliament and the overwhelming diversity of Camden. These are experiences that I cannot ever forget. But I did not leave London feeling bitter to be coming home; I left quite content with my time there, knowing that I would be back soon enough. One of my good friends wrote to me while I was there. She wrote, “Memories fade and it seems we just need to be content in knowing that at some point—it happened. So make your personal history book a rich, delectable pie, you can consume when you’re a grandma.” I am most certain that I achieved this to its fullest potential.

I have left London not only with a suitcase full of memories, but a new sense of belonging. The friendships I have made through this experience, and my new view of not only the world but of myself is a blessing. I am more than thankful to the COL/LBREF for giving me this opportunity, and to my wonderful friend Maggie for encouraging me to apply to this life-changing program. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

To those who are fortunate enough to experience this scholarship next year, I encourage you to go to London with an open heart and I hope that you are ready to take the ride of your life.