My name is Sedona Cady, and I chose to study abroad in England and Wales for the last two weeks of May. This class focused on the construction and history of castles and cathedrals in these two countries. Sites that we visited included Stonehenge, Old Sarum, Salisbury Cathedral, Chepstow Castle, Tintern Abbey, Harlech Castle, Caernarfon Castle, Conwy Castle, Peveril Castle, York Minster, the City of York, the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and West Minster Abbey. My project involved researching Old Sarum and giving a tour on the site.
Before enrolling in this course, I had never been across the Atlantic Ocean. My first experience in the United Kingdom opened my eyes to distant traveling. Endurance was essential while traveling abroad, for we had to stay engaged while covering a lot of ground during the trip. Although I felt exhausted at the end of each day, I also felt fulfilled and happy about the memories I made. Planning this trip carefully helped to create smooth traveling, and for future vacations, I hope to make itineraries and budget lists to organize my temporal and monetary budgets.
Additionally, I noticed that learning the background information about the sites made the experiences so much more meaningful and memorable. Each student that presented displayed enthusiasm about their project, and I also felt motivated to learn as much as I could about my site, Old Sarum. Researching the site online and looking at pictures excited me about the trip, but seeing everything in person caused me to connect my readings with the actual place. While traveling through the castles and cathedrals, I made more connections while listening to my peers speak about the histories. I tried to compare my own experience living in a house under the modern American government with the medieval governments of England and Wales. I feel grateful for the freedom and protection I possess in my life today.
During this trip, we talked about how and why castles and cathedrals we visited were constructed. Castles served to intimidate, whereas cathedrals were to showcase grandeur of the church. The stone of the castle could span 12 feet thick, and the entrances would have various traps to prevent invaders from entering the structure. Comparing this to my own dwelling, my family does not have these protective measures. Today’s technology allows for more sophisticated locks and other protective mechanisms. It is interesting to imagine living in a castle with a fear of other people overpowering my family or overthrowing our government.
Salisbury Cathedral
Walking through the cathedrals, I could not help but imagine what it would be like to design the intricate carvings and beautiful stained glass within the structures. Patience and perseverance radiated in every detail of the decorations. First walking into Salisbury Cathedral took my breath away, for its size was daunting yet gorgeous. Despite extreme weather, natural deterioration, and the added weight of the spire, the church still stood tall above the little town of Salisbury. Careful preservation methods are taken to keep the cathedral running, but it was engineered to retain beauty and power against natural elements. The local people of Salisbury appreciated the building regardless of their attendence because it symbolized the origin and community of Salisbury. They felt connected because long ago this daunting structure united people together and stimulated the growth of Salisbury. I wish that my community had a landmark like this, to unite my neighbors together with a common history. It seemed like community members here preserved the local history much better than where I grew up, in Illinois. This idea gave me the hope to one day look more into my own community’s history, in both Chicago and Columbus.
The friends that I made along the way made this study abroad program special. Experiencing the locations with others allowed me to discuss more about what the structures meant to me and how they compared to each other. Laughing along with new friends created stronger bonds between us, and we all appreciated having other students to relate to. After returning to campus in the fall, I hope to continue to build these new relationships.
After studying abroad, I realized how traveling unravels excitement. In the future, I would love to incorporate traveling into my life, either through vacations or through my career. Before traveling to a certain location, however, I plan to do basic research on the location’s history to get an idea of its importance. This background information could help me to make more connections to new places, thus understanding the current culture more as well.
London Bridge
I have lived in a suburban, American community for my entire life, and sometimes it feels as though I do not have enough perspective on other cultures. My trip to England and Wales gave me a new sense of how people embrace pride: pride for a country and pride for roots. I appreciate the patriotism in America, how my friends and family all feel proud to be Americans. However, many other Americans do not hold family or local history close to their hearts like many from the United Kingdom. Someday, I hope to learn more about my family’s roots as well as my local town’s history. This would create a new, more appreciative view of where I grew up and how it can be improved.
Overall, I really enjoyed this travel experience, and I know my peers did as well. As an aspiring engineer, I understand that I was lucky to have traveled to England and Wales, given my personal time and money constraints. Second-year Transformational Experience Program has helped me to step outside of my core engineering classes and finance a study abroad experience, opening my mind to new cultures; for this, I am grateful. Someday, I hope to attend grad school for neural engineering, and I understand that my life will be stressful. After experiencing this trip, I have an increased desire to have a well-balanced life, and I hope that I can find a way to learn about other subjects in addition to science and research. I hope to travel to new places and learn about cultures that differ from my own. I hope to meet new people and not fear trying something new. I hope to learn as much as I can and be grateful for every opportunity.
Chepstow Castle