Spring Break
The Daily OrangeInfectious awareness
Professor Andrew London's research puts the AIDS epidemic under the microscope
By Eric Meyers
Posted: 10/2/07, 10:04 PM EST Section: Feature
While on these trips, his parents would often stop to take the family on college tours whenever they were nearby. Emphasizing education was important to them, he said.
It was on one of those trips that he discovered McGill University.
"I got accepted to NYU, Berkeley, and McGill University in Montreal," he said. "I just loved having this experience of living outside the U.S. I knew New York City pretty well, and I had a lot of friends who were going there, but I just decided that I wanted the opportunity to be in a different culture, even though it was still close to home."
And as an out, gay 18 year old, choosing University of California, Berkeley, in San Francisco seemed like the logical choice to London. But that was a long way from his Massachusetts home.
"San Francisco might have been a dream come true," he said. "But committing to being that far away for the whole four years seemed too far."
London is fully aware of the ironies in his decision. As a high school student, London took a semester abroad in Morocco, living with a family in Tangier.
And one could argue that Morocco is a lot more exotic than Montreal.
But family was a priority then and it remains a priority now.
His family has been a tremendous source of pride for London. His brother is two-and-a-half years older, his sister is five years younger and all three siblings have gone into education and are currently teachers.
"I've been close with both of my siblings," London said.
London acted as an officiant for his sister's wedding to her partner. He said that he, his sister and both of their partners are very close.
"They were the witnesses at our wedding in Montreal last year," London said. "And I was the officiant at her wedding this year, which was nice."
London said he wouldn't be the same person without the environment provided by his family experience.
"It was foundational to the person I've become," he said. "I think that it gave me a taste of diversity. Diversity in experience, diversity of different cultures and languages and ways of expressing yourself."
It was on one of those trips that he discovered McGill University.
"I got accepted to NYU, Berkeley, and McGill University in Montreal," he said. "I just loved having this experience of living outside the U.S. I knew New York City pretty well, and I had a lot of friends who were going there, but I just decided that I wanted the opportunity to be in a different culture, even though it was still close to home."
And as an out, gay 18 year old, choosing University of California, Berkeley, in San Francisco seemed like the logical choice to London. But that was a long way from his Massachusetts home.
"San Francisco might have been a dream come true," he said. "But committing to being that far away for the whole four years seemed too far."
London is fully aware of the ironies in his decision. As a high school student, London took a semester abroad in Morocco, living with a family in Tangier.
And one could argue that Morocco is a lot more exotic than Montreal.
But family was a priority then and it remains a priority now.
His family has been a tremendous source of pride for London. His brother is two-and-a-half years older, his sister is five years younger and all three siblings have gone into education and are currently teachers.
"I've been close with both of my siblings," London said.
London acted as an officiant for his sister's wedding to her partner. He said that he, his sister and both of their partners are very close.
"They were the witnesses at our wedding in Montreal last year," London said. "And I was the officiant at her wedding this year, which was nice."
London said he wouldn't be the same person without the environment provided by his family experience.
"It was foundational to the person I've become," he said. "I think that it gave me a taste of diversity. Diversity in experience, diversity of different cultures and languages and ways of expressing yourself."
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