Today was one of those days that perfectly combined everything I have loved about studying abroad. Great weather, exploring a new city, spending time with friends, and experiencing things I never imagined I would get to do. It honestly felt like one of the best ways to spend one of our last full days in London. From exploring London to seeing my very first theater performance at Piccadilly Theatre, the entire day was packed with memories I know I will never forget.
Our morning started at the Florence Nightingale Museum, which was especially meaningful as a freshman nursing student. I have learned about Florence Nightingale in classes before, but hearing about her life in much greater detail made me appreciate her influence on nursing even more. Before visiting the museum, I mainly knew her as “the founder of modern nursing,” but I did not realize how much she sacrificed and overcame during her lifetime. As we walked through and listened to her timeline, one of the first things we learned about was Florence’s childhood and family life during the Victorian Era. We talked about how she came from a wealthy family and how women of her class were expected to marry and focus on social status instead of careers. It was interesting learning about Victorian society and the different social classes, especially because women during that time had very limited opportunities. The museum explained topics like the British Empire, transportation, science, medicine, germ theory, and the overall structure of Victorian society. Seeing how healthcare slowly evolved during that time really helped connect what we learn in nursing school to real history.
I also learned about Florence’s education. She was first educated at home by governesses, but eventually her father, who was university educated, took over teaching her when she was around eleven years old. This stood out to me because education for women during that time was not always prioritized the same way it was for men. Florence clearly had a love for learning from a young age, and she traveled throughout Europe visiting museums, attending concerts, and exploring different cities. Even while doing all these upper-class activities, she constantly felt called toward nursing and caring for others.
Something that really impacted me was hearing about how strongly Florence believed God was calling her to become a nurse. The museum included many of her writings and journal entries where she expressed frustration and sadness because her parents strongly disapproved of nursing. At the time, nursing was not considered respectable work for wealthy women. I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been to feel so passionate about something while having your own family reject the idea. As nursing students, we talk so much about compassion and dedication, and it felt inspiring seeing how Florence followed her calling despite all the obstacles in her way. We also learned about many influential people in Florence’s life, including Charles and Selina Bracebridge, Sidney Herbert, Pastor Theodore Fliedner, and Mary Clarke. These friendships and relationships helped shape her career and gave her support throughout her journey. It reminded me that even influential people still need encouragement and mentorship from others around them.
One of the most important parts of the museum focused on the Crimean War. Learning about this part of history was eye-opening because it showed how terrible conditions were for soldiers and patients at the time. We discussed how newspapers during the war allowed the public to finally read about the true suffering soldiers were experiencing, which shocked many people back in Britain. Florence read about the disaster facing the British Army while she was at home and realized that military hospitals desperately needed proper management and sanitation.
When Florence and her team arrived at the military hospitals in Turkey, they found overcrowding, filth, poor hygiene, and terrible patient care. As nursing students, we constantly hear about infection prevention and sanitation, so it was honestly shocking to imagine how unsafe hospitals once were. Florence understood that cleanliness and organization could save lives, even before germ theory was fully accepted. She also fought for her nurses to be respected by doctors and soldiers, which I admired so much. She was not only advocating for patients, but also for nurses as professionals.
After the Crimean War, Florence returned to Britain under the name “Miss Smith” because she wanted to avoid publicity. I found that surprising because today she is viewed as such a famous historical figure. Although she struggled with illness after, she continued improving healthcare by helping design healthier hospitals and writing notes on nursing, which educated ordinary women on how to care for their families. Seeing how much of modern nursing traces back to her work was honestly inspiring. She truly changed healthcare forever. Learning that she lived until age ninety and even received the Order of Merit showed just how respected and influential she became.
One fun part of the museum was getting to see and even try on old nursing uniforms from that time period. It was really interesting comparing them to modern scrubs because the uniforms looked so formal and complicated. It definitely made me grateful for comfortable scrubs today.
After the museum, our scheduled programming was finished, so we had free time to explore London before the theater later that evening. There was a stressful moment when Reagan realized she had lost her wallet, but thankfully everything eventually worked out and we problem solved. After calming down a little, we stopped at a café for a break before deciding to walk all the way to Camden Market.
The walk ended up being one of my favorite parts of the day because the weather was absolutely perfect. There was no rain at all, which honestly felt rare for the UK, and it was sunny with temperatures in the 60s and 70s. Walking through different parts of London allowed us to see so many interesting stores, neighborhoods, and little hidden spots along the way.
Once we finally arrived at Camden Market, it completely lived up to the hype. There were so many unique shops, food stands, and people everywhere. I finally got to try the famous strawberries covered in chocolate that I have seen all over social media, and they were honestly worth it. My favorite store in Camden was probably Lyna London, where Reagan and I customized our own London-themed charm bracelets and had them fitted perfectly to our wrists. It felt special getting something personalized that we can keep forever to remember this trip.
We also stopped at a photo booth where Reagan and I took some really cute pictures together. We spent way too much time walking through shops that all started to look similar, but it was still fun shopping for souvenirs and gifts to bring back home for family and friends. Later, we met up with Ella and Allison and grabbed dinner at The Porcupine before heading to the theater.
That night, we went to see Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre, and honestly, I was blown away. This was my very first time seeing a theater production in person, so I did not know what to expect at all. The entire performance was energetic, emotional, colorful, and incredibly entertaining. The music, costumes, dancing, and stage effects were amazing. Every scene felt so exciting, and I could not believe how talented the performers were. It completely exceeded every expectation I had and ended up being one of my favorite experiences from the trip.
After the show, we walked back through London for one final night in the UK. It felt bittersweet knowing the trip was almost over, but I also felt so grateful for everything we had experienced. By the time we got back, I was exhausted but very content. We packed up our things and got ready for bed, ending the night feeling thankful for such an unforgettable day abroad.