Week 3 LIA in London! Typical Day + More Exploring!

A typical day in London usually starts with me waking up, showering, and then rushing out the door. Depending on how much time I have, I either take the bus or the tube. The bus is definitely nicer because I get to actually see Hammersmith and West London, but the tube is much faster, so that usually wins when I am running late.
When I get to Maggie’s, I usually start by helping clean up the kitchen area and making sure the space is ready for everyone coming in. One thing I have mentioned before, and still really love, is that Maggie’s refers to the people who come in as “people” rather than “patients.” That one word changes the feeling of the whole place. It makes the centre feel less clinical and more like a home that people can walk into when they need support.
During the day, I usually sit in on different sessions. This has been one of my favorite parts because I get to learn about so many areas of cancer support that I did not even know existed before. Some sessions are art therapy. Some are about getting started with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. There are also sessions about wigs, which are actually so important because hair loss can affect people in such a personal and emotional way. I also learned about Nordic walking, which can help increase bone density. I honestly had no idea that would be part of cancer care, but it makes so much sense now. In between sessions, I help tidy the upstairs area, prepare pamphlets, support the staff with small tasks, and sometimes help design posters for upcoming events. Around lunch, I usually go somewhere local. Most of the time it is falafel because vegetarian options are a little limited around here, and I am slowly accepting my fate! After lunch, I come back and usually continue helping with similar tasks until around 5.
After I leave, I take the tube or bus back and usually meet up with Wiann or another friend. Some nights we try to go to a comedy club. Other times I go solo exploring because I feel like I need to take advantage of being in London while I am here. My work has narrowed since the beginning of the project because I am much more comfortable now. At first, I was mainly trying to understand the space and figure out how I could be useful without getting in the way. Now I feel more confident sitting in on sessions, helping with daily tasks, and observing how emotional support works in a real community setting. This experience has also introduced me to fields I had not thought much about before, like psycho oncology, grief support, art therapy, and the design of healing spaces. For my media submission, I attached a photo of Maggie’s from the internet because the architecture is genuinely so beautiful. We are not allowed to take photos inside, which I completely understand. People deserve privacy when they come in for support. I also attached a photo from this week when I went to Primrose Hill and painted, which was such a cute little London moment!