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Tag: England (page 8 of 9)

Loch Ness Sunset

Loch Ness & Learning to Travel

February 8, 2012 / / 1 Comment

Loch Ness Boat Ride

Destination of my first student-organized trip:  Inverness, Scotland and nearby Loch Ness.  After a nine hour train ride 8 of us arrived in the thoroughly Scottish city on the mouth of the River Ness by the North Sea.  By the time we arrived it was time for dinner (haggis!) and a visit to a few local pubs before Saturday, our only full day in the area.

Early Saturday morning I set out with a friend and the goal of finding the nearby Culloden Battlefield.  I hadn’t really done any research on ‘how’ to get there; all I knew was that it was too far from the city to walk to.  I started by asking the student hostel staff how most tourists get to the battlefield.  They told me City Bus 5 was the one I wanted, and they said it departed from the Inverness city center. I borrowed a bus schedule from the hostel too, and sure enough Bus 5’s route had “Culloden” marked on it.  I boarded Bus 5 and watched the city roll away as we headed into the countryside. However, judging by the one road sign I saw for Culloden Battlefield, Bus 5 was not the correct route. So, after a conversation with a very friendly driver I was instructed to get off, board Bus 2, and then get on Bus 3 which would take me where I wanted to go. Sure enough, I was able to follow these directions with a little help from the driver of Bus 2. However, in the instructions nothing was included about which direction to take Bus 3 in. I took a guess and loaded the next Bus 3 that came through.

Culloden Forest

Unfortunately, it was headed back to the city. This driver wasn’t as friendly, so at the end of the route I hopped off, walked back to the city center, and caught the next Bus 3. Once again, it bypassed the turn I needed. Even worse, the rest of the route was rolling through hills, towns, and along the coasts of the sea in such a twisted route I couldn’t tell how close I was to the battlefield. So, as the bus turned towards the city again I decided to get off and just walk around the area.

Although I never made it to my goal, I walked through the beautiful Culloden Forest, a place I would have never seen if my day went according to plan.  I was on top of hills overlooking the North Sea and the city, so I had great views of the surrounding glen.  Also, when time began to run short and I needed to get back to the city I walked through picturesque residential streets that I would not have seen otherwise. I continued until I found a bus stop heading back into Inverness. This stop was fairly close to the sign post directing tourists to the battlefield. At that point I was probably as close to my original destination as I ever was… and I was still 4 miles away!

Overlooking Glen Mhor

Upon getting back into the city, I went to the bus station to pick up our ride for the Loss Ness tour. However, I went a little early to find which bus I should have taken that morning.  As it turns out, Culloden is actually a nearby town, so numerous buses stop there. The answer: Bus 3 was correct, but only at specific times during the day. I hadn’t been able to board one of the few buses in that direction, and there were none left that I could take before going back to Cambridge.

Although I’m not likely to go as far north as Inverness again, and will likely not have a chance to see Culloden Battlefield, my unplanned adventure was still the highlight of the trip.  I had a chance to see things I never would have had a chance to see otherwise.  Also, I learned a lot about how to plan for trips.  In the States, I can afford to be impulsive because I have a car, and therefore I can transport myself anywhere so long as my navigation skills and patience hold out. However, when relying on public transportation planning ahead is very important.  The tour bus/boat trip we took to Loch Ness (unfortunately, no monster) and Urquhart Castle was very touristy, but having someone else plan everything for us was the best way to see the attractions.  At the same time, allowing for spontaneity is the best way to create great experiences and memories to take with you.

Loch Ness Sunset

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Union Jack and Loch Ness

Where am I again?

February 2, 2012 / / 0 Comments

War Memorial in Inverness, Scotland

I have noticed one of the most stereotypically American mistakes to make is to think of England, Britain, and the United Kingdom as synonyms.  In the States, we tend to think of ourselves as more “United” than otherwise.  However, over here this isn’t necessarily the case.

Not long ago I was in Inverness, Scotland, which is very near to Culloden Battlefield.  It was at this location that the Jacobite Rebellion was crushed in 1746.  Following this date, the British government incorporated all of Scotland into Great Britain.  Although this battle was fought not long before the American Revolutionary War, in Scotland this battle is still discussed as if it happened just out of living memory.  This is hardly how the American Revolution is discussed in the United States.

Support for this topic of independence is far from limited to a few individuals.  Very recently the subject of Scotland breaking away and becoming an independent country has become a major issue.  Nor is this way of thinking present in only Scotland.  On Thursday, February 2nd the insert cover of The Guardian read, “Could Wales be next?”  Granted, most polling data shows the majority of residents in Scotland and Wales would prefer to remain part of the United Kingdom.  However, the topic of independence is certainly far from dead.

Map of the British Isles

To avoid confusion throughout the rest of my blogs, I thought it might be helpful to describe what some of the terms are referring to:

Britain – the name of the largest island

England – the southeast part of Britain (red)

Great Britain – the political union of England, Scotland, and Wales (red, orange, and blue)

The United Kingdom – includes Northern Ireland with Great Britain (red, orange, blue, and yellow)

British Isles – geographical (not political) name that includes independent Republic of Ireland

British Commonwealth – loose association of possessions and former colonies including Canada, Australia, and India that have a symbolic loyalty to the Crown

Union Jack and Loch Ness

 

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Settling Into Cambridge

January 25, 2012 / / 0 Comments

Welcome back!  Now that I’ve been in Cambridge for nearly a week I thought I’d check back and update you with what has been going on.  Much of the week has been spent exploring the city and getting acquainted with living in it.  Luckily, the weather has been very abnormal so far.  Instead of the quintessential English wet, there have only been two or three days of rain so far.  Another thing to keep in mind when walking around the city:  daylight is limited in Cambridge.  The sun comes up around 8:00 and sets around 16:30.  While Cambridge is a very safe and nice place at night, the lack of sunlight was really a surprise for me.

The Student Centre: Our home in Cambridge

The city of Cambridge has an extremely rich history surrounding it.  Central to this history are the colleges, 34 in total.  Personally, my study abroad program is affiliated with Anglia Ruskin University.  Anglia is one of the newer colleges situated on the eastern side of Cambridge and away from the River Cam like many of the older establishments are.  The older and larger colleges have beautiful grounds adjacent to the river and are tourist attractions in themselves.  The history of Cambridge goes further back than the famous colleges though.  One of the few high points in town, Castle Hill, has history from long before America had even been discovered.  As the namesake castle is now long gone, today the hill is a popular spot for taking pictures of the town.

St. John's College

Getting to know the local stores and brands is a large part of moving into another location.  Some US things, like Zip-lock bags, are nonexistent in the UK.  On the other hand, some things are very comparable.  For example, Boots is a chain of stores very similar to Walgreens.  One of the more noticeable differences is the lack of a completely consumer-driven attitude.  Store employees here are happy to help you, but you have to approach them first.  No one will ask if you need assistance finding what you are looking for.  Generally I prefer this.  However, when you’re looking for something not common in Britain (like most things related to baking) it can be a pain (although there are entire isles of mushy peas).  Also, stores close very early.  The largest mall in the area completely shuts down at 17:30 – weekends included.  These differences can be difficult to straighten out occasionally:  it took 5 of us over an hour to choose a phone service for our time here.

Some of the most noticeable changes in culture are related to technology.  In an afternoon of walking around Cambridge you will only see 1 or 2 people at the most on their cell phones.  Internet service is generally slower than in the US (at the time of writing this the Student Centre has had no Internet for a day and a half).  However, this lack of persistent technology really adds to the relaxed atmosphere.  There are no people continually checking their phones for a text, no cacophony of yelling into phones, and a lot of simply hanging out and having a good time with friends.

The River Cam near Jesus Green

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Arriving and London

January 17, 2012 / / 1 Comment

Hello, and welcome to my blog!

All 17 of us in front of Big Ben

My adventure started last year when I switched majors from engineering to nursing.  With the change came the opportunity to study abroad.  I’ve always loved English culture, and because a nursing professor had recently filled the position of director, I selected the Cambridge program.

So, I am officially in Cambridge, England!  Technically, I’m on my 5th day here, but at this point I’ve spent nearly as long in London as in Cambridge, so I have a little catching up to do.  Packing was an adventure in itself.  However, I was able to stuff everything in my suitcase and not only stay under the weight limit, but also leave myself a little room for souvenirs on the return trip.  All 17 Valpo students studying at Cambridge this semester flew out on the same flight.  The flight itself was very smooth with no major turbulence or delays, and we weren’t even out of the London airport before being bombarded by the change of culture:  the crosswalks are painted with “LOOK RIGHT →”!

After somehow fitting 17 students (each packed for 4 months!) into an extremely small coach, we arrived at the Valparaiso University Student Centre in Cambridge.  One of our first meals on English soil was at The Eagle – the famous pub where Watson & Crick discussed the structure of DNA.  We were barely unpacked and acquainted with our new home before all 17 of us left to spend the weekend in London!

 

Buckingham Palace

After catching an early train through the fog into the city, we checked into our hostel and set out.  During the following two days we attempted to hit as many major landmarks as we could.  We started out at the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.  Although the sun was in my eyes making it difficult to see the actual ceremony, I was able to get some good pictures of the palace itself.  Afterwards, we continued towards the Horse Guards Parade, which will soon host volleyball during the upcoming Olympics.  We stopped for photos at the ever-popular Big Ben, saw the beautiful Westminster Abbey, and had lunch in Trafalgar Square.

Going to Hogwarts from Kings Cross

That afternoon we took a bus tour around the city and saw The Mousetrap in London’s theatre district.  We soon discovered getting restaurant or pub seats for all of us on a busy night in London would be impossible, so we split into smaller groups to eat and wander around the city.  The next day we started with a cruise down the Thames River.  The cruise stopped at the Tower of London, where the rest of the day was spent.  Then, we were on our own to find our way back through the Underground to Kings Cross and catch a train back to Cambridge.

The journey back was really one of the most memorable sections of my London trip.  Instead of being told what to do, or at least given step-by-step directions, it was up to me to take responsibility for finding routes back through London and to Cambridge in time for a speaker at 19:00 that night.  It was kind of intimidating having not even been in the country long enough to get over my jet lag.  However, it was more than a little exhilarating too!  I am really excited to continue this feeling during the next 4 months.  I hope you’ll continue to follow me for more of my upcoming adventures!

 

 

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Luckiest Girl in the World

April 25, 2011 / / 0 Comments

One Example of Breathtaking Scenery: Wicklow

According to ABC News, “More than 85% of the American public flies infrequently if at all. More than seven in 10 can be described as infrequent fliers, flying once or twice a year or less; and 14 percent have never flown.” I, however, have boarded 9 flights in 2011 alone and will board one more to return to the US in less than 3 weeks. Also in 2011, thus far, I have been in 12 different countries or territories and have been in 14 my whole life. I know that I am lucky. Throughout my travels I have had amazing times and more difficult times; but throughout it all, traveling around the UK and Europe has challenged me to see life through a different lens. I have loved learning the different ways people have lived life throughout the past and how they continue to differ today. In addition to the people, I have also really enjoyed seeing so many breathtaking buildings and landscapes. A lot of people will never get the opportunity to say they’ve seen as much of the world as I have and I’m only 20. I’m so blessed.

Is this a trick?

My most recent expedition has been to Ireland! Thursday after class we took a taxi to London Stansted and got on the shortest flight ever (ding, you can turn on your electronics… two minutes later… ding, please prepare for landing). When we got there we had no trouble finding our hostel and getting settled in. Then we ventured over to the Temple Bar area which was just bubbling with music and excitement. After wondering the streets for a short amount of time we noticed signs pointing to the Leprechaun museum! Hanna insisted we find it, but sadly all the signs pointed directly into buildings! I started to wonder if perhaps this was a joke being played on us innocent tourists; but alas, after some Googling later on we found out that it was real.

Eating at "Hannah's" Yay!

The next day while Hanna and Chelsea enjoyed the giant furniture at the Leprechaun museum, Lauren, Mike, and I did some shopping because Dublin had a Forever 21! Now this is a HUGE difference from England, Forever 21!! I was ecstatic. I ended up only buying some t-shirts to accommodate England’s surprisingly warm weather of late, but the shopping was just amazing. The rest of the day we wondered around Dublin, hitting the spots Murphy recommended to us. We did have some troubles because a lot of things were closed because it was Good Friday. We couldn’t go in most places, but we scoped out the sights from the outside and made plans for the rest of our time there. How the Irish celebrated Good Friday and then Easter two days later, is a good example of the different importance of religion to the Irish as opposed to the English. Religion was much more prominent in Ireland than England.

Our "Easter Egg Hunt" Beach

The next day was my favorite day in Ireland by far. We took the train from Dublin to the small coastal town of Wicklow. The town was perfect and quaint with the main road leading you directly to the old castle ruins which stood on high cliffs plunging into the ocean below. Unlike the cool overcast weather in Dublin, the sun was bright and shining in Wicklow and it was just lovely. After lunch at “Hannah’s”, we spent our afternoon climbing cliffs, castles, and canons. In honor of Easter we did an “Easter Egg Hunt” on the beach where we all looked for sea glass and cool rocks. On that same beach we got attacked while we were lying out by a very friendly puppy that happily covered us with his muddy paw prints. Then we found the perfect spot of land overlooking the ocean and it was covered in plush grass, so we laid down and took almost an hour long nap. It was just spectacular. We grabbed a pub meal before heading back into Dublin and hitting the hay.

The Most Perfect Napping Place in All the World

Easter Sunday

The next morning we got dressed up as nicely as we could in our traveling state and went to Easter service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The service was really nice, opening up with one of my favorite Easter hymns ever (“Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia. Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia.”) It was nice to hear something so triumphant and familiar, it was an amazing reminder that across the world people can be joyful and grateful for the love of Christ that surpasses all distances.

After church we got some food and then went and visited the castle. It was interesting that it was closed on Good Friday but open on Easter, but we took advantage of the situation and got a good tour of the Dublin Castle. After that, we went back to the hostel to get our stuff and change into more comfortable clothes for the flight home. After experiencing the one and two week trips, this weekend did seem to go by pretty fast. However, I was so grateful to get to spend one more weekend abroad seeing something completely new. It was especially nice to spend Easter in such a glorified place, it truly is a blessing to see a huge cathedral filled with people to come hear the same glorious news that I came there to hear. We even got to hear the choir boys do a short rendition of The Alleluia Chorus.

Alleluia!

Our trip home was late, but we got back. I’m tired but again, can’t help but believe I am the luckiest girl in the world. I didn’t have to go to Ireland to get the luck I have! I have a God who rose for me, a family at home who loves me, friends here that have come to be like a family, and I’ve had the ability to see so much of God’s creation and the people inhabiting it. I hope that travel is always a major part of my life, because even though having a home isn’t something I would give up for anything, there is so much of the world to see! This semester has given me the chance, the unique opportunity, to see so much and know that I am not wasting a second of this precious life that I have been given. Alleluia!

Enjoy the rest of my pictures and keep checking back for my last couple blogs before this world traveler goes home!

Life of a Blogger

April 19, 2011 / / 0 Comments

So here is the most interesting thing about being a blogger: the more you have to blog about, the less time you have to blog! Thus is my life lately, but since I have loved every minute of it, I am not complaining. Since I have last reported, I have been to 7 castles, 3 countries, and countless new cities. I have also taken on the task of cooking another common meal (5th as a cooker and 3rd as an organizer, not that anyone’s counting), this one being an Easter feast for 17 people! And with finals right around the corner, I’ve been fairly busy. However, I’m going to try to give you the highlights of everything I’ve seen and most likely the majority of that will be through pictures because I have seen and done so much! But hopefully, through a little explanation of each one you can see about some of the most amazing places I’ve ever been. If you have any more questions about any place or anything about studying abroad while at Valparaiso or in general, feel free to email me at Hannah.Bauer@valpo.edu.

Castle Numero Uno!

Kenilworth Castle in England was the very first castle we visited on our group trip. The castle fit the stereotype of an old castle because it was mostly in ruins. By far, the most interesting part of the castle’s history is that the majority of it was built for Queen Elizabeth I by Robert Dudley for the Queen’s visit where she planned to stay for less than one month!

Warwick

Second Castle: Warwick

Next we visited the Renaissance-festival-esque castle of Warwick. With (sometimes very attractive) people in costumes and various shows running throughout the day, it’s hard to beat Warwick. I got to see four HUGE birds up very closely and I saw a flaming trebuchet get fired. Now that’s what I call a day at the castle.

Bath

The Roman Baths of Bath

The city of Bath is famous for, wouldn’t ya have guessed, the old Roman Baths! What makes these baths different from the public baths located in many old cities is that this water came from a mineral hot springs. The water was such a gift to the city, that the Romans believed the spring to be a gift from Athena, goddess of wisdom and war. There was a temple erected and a huge bath facility set up, all with huge religious significance. It gave me a very interesting view into daily and religious life of the time period. Also, for Jane Austen fans, the Bath house is connected to the famous pump room where her characters came to drink the famous water!

Valpo Students at Stonehenge

Although mysterious and interesting, Stonehenge is mainly a glorified photo-op. But as you can see here, we took advantage of the situation to pose for Valpo!

Windsor: the Queen's OTHER Castle

Windsor Castle, the part time residence of the Royal Family, was lovely to see. It is large, lavish, and lively yet also retains its iconic castle-ness. Although we were pretty wiped out by this part of our trip, it was still pretty cool to see a place where the Queen may have been just down the hall… probably not, but you never know.


The Beach in Keri

Overlook from Keri Lighthouse

The Greek Ionian island of Zakynthos was Hanna and my little slice of heaven for three lovely days! We were literally the only tourists on the island and stayed in the only open hotel and were the only guests there. The owners were AMAZING and acted like our foster parents. It was fantastic. I got a tan. Go me.

Athens: I Spy the Parthenon!

Beachin' It!

Temple of Poseidon

Athens. What to say about Athens. The Acropolis/Parthenon is cool. The Temple of Poseidon is REALLY cool. Plus, it had the advantage of having a beach (pictured right above it) right next to it! I continued to tan and it was lovely. Really, if you go to Athens, it is worth the hour bus ride out of the city.

My Family in Cambridge!

The final week of my two week break, I had the wonderful honor of spending with my mom, dad, and younger siblings touring the United Kingdom country side. We covered London, Hampton Court Palace, Cambridge, Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon, Bath, Cardiff, Caerphilly, Raglan, Lacock…. I know, I’m just listing now. But every new place was a new discovery. I finally got to see Wales, which I’m glad I didn’t leave the UK without seeing. Their castles were fierce (they had moats, what else could you need!), their culture was unique (who knew that Welsh was still a spoken language? Not me!), and the land was just lovely. It was hard to see my family leave, but I know that I will be home and missing Europe far too soon. But for now, just wish me luck on cooking Easter dinner for 17 people!

I've already finished the adorable Nest Cookies!

Look at the rest of my pictures and I look forward to telling you about Ireland when I return to prepare for a Royal Wedding!

Maybe I’m Nowhere Close to Cathedral-ed Out

February 4, 2011 / / 0 Comments

Ely Cathedral Outside

Mark told us not to expect too much, we saw the cathedral at Glasgow, this would be about the same. Wrong. From the second the cathedral came into view we could tell it was massive, and from the second we walked through the (very) large doors we could tell that it was stunning. We wondered the premises for about 20 minute (waiting for our tour guide), the whole time delighting in the way the stone was bathed in warm late afternoon sunlight spilling in through the stained glass.

Inside Ely Cathedral

When our tour guide arrived, I could When our tour guide arrived I could tell right away we’d lucked out. Not a performer, John knew his stuff and could not have been happier to be sharing the information with us. He was thorough, interesting, and even funny. He took us around the main floor, explaining the columns and the windows and the intricate roofs that towered above us.

And then we entered the first stair case. The first of four, tiny staircases winding up the inside of the building, after one flight we landed on a balcony overlooking the main floor. After the next flight we emerged from what appeared to be a hobbit door on the roof of the main building. From there the city spread out below us and the cathedral huddled us in tightly. We entered another (ridiculously) small door and went up another (unbelievably) small staircase and what we saw there was frankly kind of boring. Huge wooden beams held up what was obviously the center tower we had seen from down below. Wooden panels covered in graffiti circled around, but what happened next took my breath away.

John reached in front of me and lifted up a huge metal latch and the wooden panel swung open revealing an angel on the other side and angel panels 360 degrees. Far, far below us the cathedral floor sprawled out covered in pews that looked like caterpillars they appeared so small. Directly above us we got a close up view of the ornate roof of the cathedral. It was so beautiful I just couldn’t stop smiling, like when you know you’re in the presence of something great and wonderful and you just can’t believe you are lucky enough to be there.

View Inside Tower

And as if I needed more of a reason to be blown away, John led us up another staircase that was even smaller than the last! At the top of this one we came out on the roof of the tower with the stained glass windows being the only thing higher than us. I knew God was on our side that day because right as we got up there the sun started to set over the city and the building and it was just gorgeous.

Sunset on Roof

I hope you take a while to check out the whole album from this mini-trip, maybe you can get  a glimpse of the beauty I was blessed enough to take pictures of for you!

The World of Beatles and Potter

January 30, 2011 / / 0 Comments

The Great Hall Christ's Church

Four day weekends are a magical thing. This week we decided to use them to our advantage in a new way. Instead of traveling from the second classes ended Thursday to late Sunday night, we left Friday morning and got back Saturday night. Only staying one night in a foreign city instead of three really cut back on expenses and having some down time in our beautiful “home” city of Cambridge really cut down on the brain damage. We were still able to see a lot of Oxford and Liverpool, even though we only spent one day in each location.

The Staircase from Harry Potter

On Friday we caught a train early in the morning, even though Thursday’s late night had us begging for more sleep. Luckily, trains aren’t horrible locations to catch up on some lost shut eye. We got into Oxford right around noon and had lunch at a pub called The Grapes (turns out there is one in Liverpool and in Cambridge too!). Then we walk to Christ Church where they did some filming for Harry Potter. Being a big fan, it was kind of awesome to see the staircase where the first years line up and the dining hall that the Great Hall was based on. After looking at the rest of the campus and walking around the town a bit we decided we were happy to be “from” Cambridge and could start calling Oxford “The Other Place,” like the Cambridge locals do.

After deciding we wanted to wait until Liverpool for dinner, we got on the train. BAD idea. By the time we got into Liverpool and checked into our AWESOME hotel, it was almost ten o’clock and we were sooooo hungry. We finally decided on a little Italian joint because most of the pubs’ kitchens had already closed. The food at the Italian restaurant was really good, albeit a little expensive. We splurged a little, but aw well. Then we went back to our hotel for some much needed cuddling, snuggling, and sleep.

Our Beautiful King Bed

The next day I reluctantly tore myself from my center spot in the comfy king bed and got ready for the day. We went to The Beatles’ Story which is a museum dedicated to– you guessed it– The Beatles. After learning as much as possible about the four biggest rockstars, um, ever, we went to go find lunch. With the help of our own personal map reader, Lauren, we went into The Cavern where The Beatles supposedly played the majority of their show. Ok, it was only a replica built from the same bricks as the original Cavern, but it was still cool. Sadly, they didn’t serve food so we ended up eating a couple doors down at another Grapes! Now this was pretty cool, they had pictures posted of The Beatles sitting in the seats of that very pub! Plus the food was cheap and tasty, my kind meal.

At The Beatles' Story

After a little more walking and another museum, I was glad to be on another train heading for King’s Cross and before I knew it, I was out. Before too long we were back in our temporary home, which is starting to feel like a real home more and more every day. My seven comrades and I had figured out that Oxford shied in comparison to it and the Liverpool(ians?) were extraordinarily kind. Then Sunday I slept in til noon and made myself crepes. Man I love studying abroad.

Be sure to check out the rest of my album here!

Truly Embracing a Culture

November 23, 2010 / / 0 Comments

Traveling is great, as is seeing all the extraordinary sites each city and each country has to offer, but in order to truly experience a culture, you really have to socialize with the people. I’ve found that the times spent conversing with locals are what really helped me get the most out of any trip I’ve made so far this semester. I may have been at awe at numerous sites I visited across Europe, but it was my conversations with various locals that helped me embrace the culture and ensure my travels were a memorable experience.

I remember being in Munich all the way back in September for my first visit to a country outside England. I had felt slightly overwhelmed at the notion of being in a foreign country and not knowing a single word of their language. Luckily I was with four of my friends from the Cambridge group, but I soon discovered there was not a whole lot to be apprehensive about if I accepted that sometimes things might go wrong and if I was willing to ask for help when I needed it. Without any clue of how to get around Munich, we approached the manager of our Bed and Breakfast. To our delight she gave us everything we needed: A map of the city, a train map and bus routes. Along with those items, she also gave us a friendly face to talk to when we needed it most. She was helpful and was willing to answer any questions we had about the city (which was a lot). I found the same to be true for most people I talked to that weekend and I really can’t count the number of people who I found myself conversing with over the weekend. Almost everyone was friendly and it was because of people like them that I was able to gain a greater understanding of German culture and be able to consider it a successful trip.

Hanging out with a group of Americans I met before a football match in London

The same has been true for every place I’ve visited. While at Gatwick Airport in London and waiting for a screen to announce which gate I needed to go to, I decided to strike up a conversation with a random man standing close by. As it turned out he was headed to Madrid on the same flight as me! Javier’s English was very limited, but I was still able to converse with my own limited knowledge of Spanish. Before even landing in Madrid I had learned so much about the city and received advice that only a local could possibly tell me. He even pulled out his iPhone and showed me how to use the Metro (subway) to get to every site I intended on seeing during my stay. When we landed he helped me buy train tickets and then gave me his number in case I needed any more help while I was in Madrid. Wow, what a huge help. It’s amazing how approaching a complete stranger can end up improving your visit so much.

To some this may not seem like important information, but in my opinion, it’s some of the best advice I can give anyone before they travel to a new place: Converse as often as you can with the locals. No matter where I went I found that my conversations with the local are what really helped me to not only appreciate but also learn the most about a city or country’s culture. It may be intimidating approaching strangers at times, but the truth is people in Europe are generally friendly almost anywhere you go. Of course you may meet a few people who aren’t, but it’s worth the risk when you bump into someone and are able to have a wonderful conversation with them about almost anything. Sometimes you have to remember that they are just as interested in your own culture as you might be in theirs!

Seeing all the beautiful sites and exploring the city is great, but in order to really get a feel for the place you really do have to talk with the people who actually live there. As strange as it may sound, some of my best memories are all the conversations I’ve had with strangers in the various places I visited across England and the rest of Europe. Although I may never see some of those people again in my life, they helped give me a good impression of their country and hopefully I was able to do the same for mine.

A Deeper Look into History

November 18, 2010 / / 0 Comments

When touring London and visiting all of its magnificent sites, it’s hard to believe the city was once the victim of six straight weeks of bombing during World War II. Referred to as the “Blitz”, Londoners suffered intense bombing by German forces which killed over 43,000 civilians and left more than a million households destroyed or damaged. And that was all in London. Granted a huge part of Europe suffered similar if not worse devastation, it’s incredible to think about what people had to endure around 70 years ago.

A common sight in London during the ‘Blitz’ in World War II

On Tuesday I had the chance to visit the Duxford Aircraft Museum, which lies nine miles south of Cambridge and is considered to be one of the most important air bases during in Britain during the World War. The museum, which contains the largest collection of historic aircraft in Europe, is one of the best ways to really get a grasp of the atrocities and devastation caused by both World War I and World War II. The aircraft on display was astounding. The Spitfire, Concorde, Messerschmitt, Hurricane, you name it, and there’s a really good chance they have it.

Messerschmitt BF 109E – most famous German figher in WWII

One of seven hangers at Duxford Aircraft Museum


After learning about World War I and World War II in our British History course here in Cambridge, it felt appropriate to view the planes and a lot of the weapons and vehicles used by many of the countries involved in the war. I was able to learn a lot about the hardships the soldiers and pilots fighting faced, as well as the women and children on the home front. It’s crazy to think that around 7.5 million women were recruited for war work between 1939 and 1945. It’s even more shocking to think that around 100 million people died from both wars.  Visiting Duxford Aircraft Meseum was a very enlightening experience and it emphasized how much the world has changed and how fortunate I am not to have had to endure living in such a difficult era.

The U.S. Air Force’s F-15 Eagle

And for Americans like me and the rest of our group, the American Air Museum provided the perfect opportunity to admire the largest collection of U.S. aircraft outside of America. They had an impressive collection, housing famous aircraft such as the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (once the fastest jet in the world), P-51 Mustang… to name just a few. It was especially significant for me as my Uncle is a retired Major General from the U.S. Air Force and flew some of the aircraft on display, such as the F-15 Eagle. It was a special experience to be able to see up close and touch the same type of fighter jet he once flew. As a kid I was always fascinated by jets and to finally be up close to some was extremely memorable, to say the least.

Throughout the entire visit I learned a lot about European and American history. I considered myself to have a decent knowledge of past and current events, but I soon realized there was a lot of information I didn’t know. The museum taught me a lot, but it also helped open my eyes up and take a deeper look into history. It’s amazing what you can discover if you’re actually looking.

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