Legal institutions and governance are about the people they represent. I came to the George Washington University passionate about exploring how governance operates. As I learned more about U.S. foreign policy, I decided it was time to learn by doing—by going out and seeing the world instead of just reading about it.
When I decided to study abroad in spring 2023, I felt overwhelmed by where to begin. Still, after meeting with Senior Academic Advisor Lauren Phillips and several others in the GW Study Abroad Office, I realized that getting outside of my comfort zone was the first step to understanding who I am and how I view geopolitics.
When I arrived in London, I remember being struck that there was no half and half in the grocery store, Sainsbury’s, but then I learned that there was more to half and half in my coffee. My coffee addiction came to a head when I realized that espresso was vastly different in every European country I had the privilege of traveling to. Beyond the borders of London, I had the opportunity to travel with my friends, all GW students who came to visit me, to Copenhagen, Denmark, where I immersed myself in the Danish culture and cuisine. We explored the historic canals and had even more cinnamon and cardamom rolls!
But my study abroad experience was about much more than coffee and rolls—it was about me. I was immersed in another country with its distinct culture for the first time.
Moreover, it wasn’t just about the beauty of English culture but about the beauty of learning about governance structures from another perspective entirely. Initially, I approached all geopolitical dynamics with the “American” perspective of focusing on legal structures and institutions. However, learning from professors at the University of London forced me to think outside the box about how I view politics in other countries.
Legal institutions are a significant factor in the rule of law within a country, but a class in Japanese Buddhism that I took in London taught me how to embrace the whole of the government rather than the sum of its parts. These Buddhist teachings inspired me to keep learning about the world around me in political science and pushed me to learn about culture in conjunction with politics. After taking that class, I appreciated the cultural nuances within security dynamics governing legal institutions.
Not only has my #OnlyAtGW experience studying abroad in London made me a better student with more holistic thinking regarding geopolitical issues, but it also gave me the needed perspective to pursue a career as a lawyer.
All things within law, regardless of where you are in the world, are about the most good you can do, and my time at GW has taught me that I, a future law student, can champion human rights one voice and one person at a time.
Alanna Moskowitz has been an intern this semester for the GW Office of Communications and Marketing editorial team.
