Tag Archives: alnwick

Landmarks.

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Landmarks.

By: Jack Newman

Why should you use landmarks?

Whether you plan to travel on foot or by car, using landmarks is a great way to not get lost. When I traveled around England and Scotland I mostly walked to my destinations. I did not have an international plan on my phone so I tried to use my data wisely as it was quite expensive to turn on. I was able to make my way around by using landmarks around the city. These can be both large and small structures – the key is to find something that helps you remember your path. I use large structures to get a sense of where I am in the city or town.

Jack studied abroad to St. Cloud State at Alnwick during the Spring 2020 semester.

For example: Edinburgh Castle. In Edinburgh, it is very easy to see Edinburgh Castle from wherever you are. Just look up! You should see the castle in the city center. From there, I could roughly see where I was in the city. In the case of Edinburgh, the train station is very close to the castle so following it will lead you to transportation.

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A Tea Lover’s Top 3 Teas from around the World

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A Tea Lover’s Top 3 Teas from around the World

By Rachael Gardner

The problem with coffee? It’s just not tea!

I know a lot of people are super into coffee. Coffee smells great, don’t get me wrong, but the taste and caffeine levels have never jived with me. My hot beverage consumption was pretty much limited to hot chocolate and apple cider until the fall of 2012. This thankfully changed through travel and exploration. As a part of my study abroad experience in Denmark, I traveled to the UK with two of my friends. It was on this trip that my love of tea was born. Not just the beverage itself, but the different cultural norms and values that come with tea.

A photo of me at my happiest – with a big cup of tea.

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Others.

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Others.

By Jacob Hurajt

___

Across the world, over the waves,

Right next door, or very far away,

People are living life, like you or me.

They simply live life a bit differently.

Some live in castles, ornate and old.

Some live where its hot, some where its cold.

Some move around from year to year,

Others stay put to build their career.

 

Everyone, everywhere, is totally unique.

So why do some feel the need to critique

The lifestyle of those they know nothing about?

They stare and pry and laugh and shout

“Look, they’re different, oh what shame!”

As though all of them were exactly the same.

Humans are humans, that’s all that matters,

So everyone should simply mind their manners.

 

But the things some people do to those ‘others’,

They would never do to mothers or brothers.

And our families are the same as them,

When seen through the eyes of those we condemn.

So why treat anyone any differently?

Treat them the way you would want to be,

And then, just maybe, if we’re lucky,

The world will become a little more lovely.

Study Abroad as an Introvert

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Written by: Belinda Lee

I am a self-proclaimed introvert who enjoys traveling internationally. My strong personal preference for peace and solitude helped me understand myself more when I study abroad in Alnwick, England. One misconception about studying abroad is that only extroverted students participate. Or that studying abroad is for white students from financially supported backgrounds. It is not always the case. When you go abroad, you will meet other international students and connect with domestic students. You will engage in community events, talk about yourself during ice breakers (shivers), and participate in group discussions (double shivers). This is all part of the study abroad experience (Yay, me!).

Students who study abroad are not split between extroverts and introverts. They move between the extroverted/introverted spectrum throughout the course of their study abroad program. Some students may pace themselves on one side, while others might move from one side of the spectrum to the other. On the Alnwick-England program, we all built different relationships with one another. By the third week in, we fell into a routine and surrounded ourselves with individuals whose company we enjoy. When we go out as a group, I knew when I have had enough time socializing and want to return back to the castle. It is about creating and establishing a balanced social and self-care network.

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The Things I Miss from Being Abroad

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The Things I Miss from Being Abroad

By: Jacob Hurajt

Studying abroad is an amazing opportunity that college students have. Having that sort of experience while still a young adult can teach so many things about culture, independence, national identity, and so much more. Its hard though, because sometimes you get accustomed to people, places, or options that are simply not available back home. I went to England for a few months and had a ton of amazing adventures throughout the country and beyond. I’ve walked on Hadrian’s Wall, the largest structure the Roman Empire ever built, my group and I got into a snowball fight with locals in Amsterdam, none of us speaking each other’s language, and I’ve been kicked out of the tallest building in London because I wasn’t dressed well enough.  These were amazing experiences and great stories to tell, but they aren’t what I miss about being abroad.

I miss waking up on a Sunday morning and walking downtown with friends to our favorite restaurant. It was a small hole in the wall tea shop called Grannies that mainly sold candy, tea, and cakes, but happened to sell freshly made paninis as well. I swear they were the best sandwiches I’ve ever had, cheap and fast too. I loved the atmosphere, happy and calm, with my friends around me.

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The Best Experience Ever!

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The Best Experience Ever!

By: Belinda Lee

Most people you meet in college will tell you to study abroad. They tell you that it’ll be the best time of your life and that there won’t be another opportunity like this after college. They will also tell you that studying abroad will look great to employers and on resumes. And what can I say? They’re right.

No matter the length of the study abroad program, I’ll always roll into the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport with an over-packed luggage (which I repacked about 4 times already that day and pray that it’s at most 50 lbs!), my backpack of miscellaneous electronics and snacks, and my dark blue U.S. passport in my hand. Like always, I start off my journey on this high of excitement- greeting my fellow study abroad peers, getting through security, going to my gate, finding my seat on the plane, and finally taking off to another country! I have to admit, I have a love-hate relationship with travel days. You literally travel all day; airplanes, buses, trams, trains, transfers, in, out, walk, run, sit and wait, and wait, and wait. It’s all worth it once we landed in the United Kingdom. As the coach bus drives around the bend of the hilly Northumberland road, we catch the afternoon sun gleaming onto Alnwick Castle. This is our home.

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The World is Your Oyster

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Ashlee Gibson

If I am being honest, I never thought that a person like me would end up having this incredible opportunity. Not only have I been able to travel to a whole new part of the world I have been fortunate enough to live for 3 months in a castle! I grew up in a single parent household living below the poverty line, yet here I am. I don’t want to take a single day in Europe for granted because this is an opportunity of a lifetime and I want to make the best of it. The world is your oyster after all.

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Images in this post are courtesy of Ashlee Gibson

The few days of packing before leaving for Alnwick were exciting yet difficult if I am being honest. I remember stressing over what to bring because I wanted to bring everything yet nothing at the same time. I was excited but it just didn’t feel real to me yet. I was excited to start my semester abroad knowing I will be with other students who are in the same boat as me and that I will have professors and faculty from Minnesota going on this journey with me, but also to help me along the way. I am going for elementary education and I have completed my generals and so none of the classes that were offered at Alnwick were required or could apply to my major. I am however learning a lot from my British professors and Saint Cloud State professor about the UK and its history but also its current events such as BREXIT, the shutdown of the Thomas Cook Firm, the plans of renewable energy at Alnwick, and the future plans of Newcastle. I came to Alnwick for the experience and to develop more of a global perspective and the experience has been phenomenal so far!

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