Two students who participated in Dickinson College’s Humanities Abroad Program at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England share their stories about their time abroad, and what it’s been like to readjust to living in America. Listen to them discuss their favorite memories from their time in England, the difficulties of returning to America, and what they miss most about England, in this special video interview.
My Cuppa Tea: An Ode to Biddy’s Tea Room
As I trudged to class through the chilling rain and gusty winds this afternoon, I wanted nothing more than to sit down and have a piping hot cuppa. But I didn’t just want a cup of English breakfast tea from the Quarry, a café on my college’s campus. I wished that I was back at the University of East Anglia, so I could simply take a ten minute bus ride into Norwich, and stop by my favorite tea place, Biddy’s Tea Room, for a delectable afternoon tea.
A cupcake and a pot of tea. One of the many options available for afternoon tea at Biddy’s Tea Room.
Interview: One Brit’s American Adventure
It’s time for a perspective change. So far, these posts have focused solely on the experience of an American anglophile, and have included reflections of an American’s time in England. Today, I decided to mix it up. I interviewed a charming Brit named Matt, who had the opportunity to travel in America this summer. Matt is a second year economics student at the University of East Anglia. Here is what he had to say about his time in America, as well as his thoughts on the differences between British and American cultures:
Matt during his visit to New York City
London Calling
Parliament Square, London.
After returning to the United States in early June, I was immediately thrown back into the chaos of an American metropolis. This summer, I had the incredible opportunity of working at a medical publishing company in the heart of New York City. Readjusting to the congestion, the cacophonous roar of sirens and car horns, the questionable smells, and the lack of red telephone booths and double-decker buses, among other things, proved to be rather difficult. Yet, it was my daily commute that made me especially reminiscent of London life. As I rode on the train into the city every morning, I stared out the window at the distant skyscrapers, realizing just how much I missed the London cityscape. Watching as the towering buildings loomed dully in the distance, I thought about how vastly different the skylines of these two major cities were, and I couldn’t help but flashback to my time in London… Continue reading
A Journey into Jane Austen’s World
The beautiful Chawton countryside, and St. Nicholas Church (where Jane Austen’s mother and sister are buried).
On an overcast Friday morning in the middle of April, I found myself wandering down the main street in an English village named Chawton. There were no sidewalks, so I walked along the side of the narrow road, constantly checking over my shoulder to ensure I didn’t get clipped by a passing car. My anxiety was short-lived; I was only accompanied by the occasional car, driven by residents who all smiled and waved. Continue reading
Back Across the Pond
A winding cobblestone street in Norwich.
My black riding boots clacked against the cobblestone streets, as I tried to avoid injuring myself on the lethal combination of wet leaves and slippery uneven stones. The echo of my boots rebounded off of thirteenth century buildings, and traveled down the narrow, vacant street. It was a typical Sunday afternoon in mid-October in Norwich, England: gray sheets of clouds blanketed the sky, hinting at the possibility of another rain shower. The quiet air was trapped beneath the clouds, forced to face the bothersome disturbance of my loud footsteps. It’s hard to believe that this was my life roughly one year ago: exploring Norwich on my year abroad, knowing that I still had eight months of adventures ahead of me… Continue reading
Mind the Gap 