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Amanda Bourbonais is a current intern at FOX CITIES Magazine. She is a Lawrence University student who was able to study at LU London Centre last year for spring term.

Hello! My name is Amanda Bourbonais, I’m a senior English major at Lawrence University. I’ve been working as an editorial intern at FOX CITIES Magazine for about a month now. We’ve been so busy that I haven’t properly had time to introduce myself!

So, what should you know about me? Let’s see. I’m originally from Milwaukee and moved to Muskego when I was 10; I went to middle school and high school there, but now I’ve just moved again to Menomonee Falls. When I’m home, I only live a few blocks away from my grandparents and my uncles, so we’re one big (weird) happy family.

As I mentioned, I’m a senior at Lawrence; I’ve been at LU for all of my college education and I love being there. I can’t believe it’s my last year! It seems like welcome week freshman year was not so long ago. In addition to my academic responsibilities, I’m the student leader of Tropos Literary Magazine, a writing and Spanish tutor, and a member of Viking Chorale.

For spring term last year, I was able to study at the LU London Centre and I had a great time. I lived in South Kensington, only blocks away from Hyde Park, The Natural History Museum, The Science Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Living in the city was amazing and made me realize that I want to live in that kind of environment after I graduate from Lawrence.

I was able to do a few day trips and weekend trips as well: Paris, Versailles, Stonehenge, Salisbury, Bath, Brighton and a few other places. After my term ended, my mom and aunt came to visit and we were to embark on a two-week journey through Venice, Florence, Lucerne and Amsterdam. Venice was excellent; we spent a few days seeing glorious Italian art and eating delicious food. Florence was … not so good. A day after we arrived my mom had to go to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy. In Italy. Needless to say, I don’t recommend it. About a week and a half later, we were finally flown home after a grand ordeal of hospitals, doctor visits and general disbelief at our situation. But, we all made it back alive and well, and for that I am grateful.

Still, I was robbed of Swiss Alps and the Van Gogh Museum! My sense of wanderlust is strong; I have already vowed to return and see the places I missed. Except … I won’t be returning to Italy anytime soon.