Overall Experience

        These past three weeks have taught me many things: how to act British, which tube station not to get off on, the proper way to eat fish and chips, and, most importantly, I learned A LOT about British history and literature. I had no idea just how many writers that are so commonly studied in English are from England. The Brits have provided us with William Shakespeare, John Donne, William Wordsworth, Lord Bryon, Jane Austen, William Blake, and Oscar Wilde. Just to name a few. Not only writers and poets, but scientists such as Issac Newton and Charles Darwin were both Englishmen. Many of these names came up frequently throughout my trip. In Westminster Abby many of these writers were memorialized. In several of the smaller cities we visited that were home/the study place of a famous writer, you could see the pride of that city for being known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare or the location for Canterbury Tales. 

      Along with my studies, I believe I made my time abroad worthwhile. In three weeks, I saw four cities outside of London. I also went and saw the northern coast of Ireland as a side trip. In London, I saw Big Ben, went inside of Parliament to see the House of Lords and House of Commons, went to Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Oxford Street, and Camden market. 

Funny story when I was at Parliament, trying to take a picture of Big Ben there were these two construction workers that were kind of in the way but I didn't want to say anything. I tried to move to get a better angle. At this point one of the construction workers shoved the other one and said, "Hey move! She wants a picture of Big Ben not Big Gary!" He died laughing at himself and then offered to take the group's picture. Now you have to imagine himself saying this in a British accent because it makes it ten times better. 

During my time abroad, I also saw four plays (Titus Andronicus, Henry IV part II, Phantom of the Opera, and Mousetrap). I rode the London Eye, went on a Thames River cruise, visited Buckingham Palace and walked through St. James' Park.

We went through that park on our way to the Queen's Parade where hundreds of guards in red uniforms marched to the sound of drums and trumpets as the Queen was pulled in a carriage along with several other members of the royal family.

I saw one of the seven wonders of the world: Stonehenge. We were able to go way closer to the stones that I thought.

Through this journey, I made a lot of friends that I wouldn't have otherwise. Though I came to take classes, I gained so much more than just knowledge. I believe I am a more well rounded person and more culturally astute because of my time abroad.