December 17, 2024 by

This past summer, I had the wonderful opportunity to study Shakespeare’s life and works in London, England, for two weeks as a part of Cedarville’s CU in London study abroad program. On this trip, I learned so much about myself, Shakespeare (of course), and working hard toward a dream. I’m excited to share all about my journey and help you decide if studying abroad is the right option for you! 

Preparing for the Trip 

When I first applied for this program, I wasn’t sure how I would pay for it. This might be a barrier for you as well, but I encourage you not to let this stop you. Even before I was approved, I immediately began saving money I earned from my job on campus and my job back home. I also asked my family members for money toward my trip for Christmas instead of asking for presents. Saving my hard-earned money taught me what it means to work toward a dream. Yes, I had to make a lot of sacrifices and hard choices, but in the long run, it was well worth it.  

If you want to stay for a few extra days before or after your trip, it is encouraged, but you are responsible for paying for your own lodging, food, etc. for those days. For more information, please visit the “Paying for Your Program” page on the Study Abroad website. Note that your regular financial aid can offset some of the cost, and there are a few scholarships specifically for study abroad opportunities. 

Coursework 

Once I arrived in London, my class had the opportunity to visit The Globe Theatre four different times, the first of which was for a tour. They had a golden throne, pictured below, that some of us took turns sitting in. Two of the other three times we went to the Globe were to watch the plays we read, Richard III and Much Ado About Nothing. 

During the first week, we spent a night in Oxford, and while we were there, we attended a lecture by a Shakespeare lecturer and went on a guided tour of Oxford. 

We went to Stratford-upon-Avon during the second week to tour the cottage of Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway, and see Shakespeare’s grave. Our bus got stuck on the highway on the way back, but it was well worth it to visit Shakespeare’s hometown.  

Jillian Basner poses for a photo in a golden throne at the Globe Theatre.

Anne Hathaway's Cottage.

William Shakespeare's Grave.

If I had chosen to take Shakespeare this fall on campus, I would’ve read many more Shakespeare plays. However, I wouldn’t have had the firsthand experiences of watching a couple of Shakespeare plays performed at the Globe, visiting Shakespeare’s grave, touring Oxford, or seeing some of the popular tourist spots in London. 

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you do not want to miss, and going on a study abroad trip is the perfect opportunity to experience exciting opportunities like this. It can be more challenging to carve out time to travel later on in life, so studying abroad reserves a time for you to explore the world and visit a place you’ve always wanted to travel to.  

Fun Stuff 

Although the main purpose of this trip was to study, there was still time to be a tourist and cross things off my bucket list. My favorite things that I saw were Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and Big Ben.  

Tower Bridge in London.

Buckingham Palace in London.

Jillian Basner poses for a photo by Big Ben.

My class also went punting in Oxford. Punting in Oxford involves three people in a long, skinny wooden boat. One person stands at the front or back with a long metal pole, someone sits behind them with a wooden oar, and the third person sits along for the ride or switches with one of the other two people if needed. We were fighting the wind on the way back to the dock and had to be towed in, but it was a fun experience that I’ll never forget.  

Students from Cedarville University punting in Oxford during their Study Abroad trip in London.

Some of us also went to the British Museum and saw famous artifacts like the Rosetta Stone. We also went to the National Portrait Gallery and saw paintings of famous figures like Shakespeare (of course!), John Bunyan, and the king and queen of England. Then we went to the National Gallery and saw The Arnolfi Portrait and many other famous paintings.  

On the last day, we attended a high tea, and then some of us went out to explore one last time. We ended up at a Lego store that had a Lego Big Ben and a Lego William Shakespeare! 

A large figure of William Shakespeare made of Legos at a Lego Store in London.

Can I Study Abroad If I Have Dietary Restrictions? 

One concern that I had when considering studying abroad was accommodating my food allergies, as I have not one, but three allergies. Let me reassure you that it was absolutely doable for me on this trip. Whenever I ate out in London, I didn’t do a lot of online research, and instead informed a restaurant staff member of my allergies. If they had options for me, a staff member would help me navigate the menu and inform me of their cooking processes. I have a little bit of social anxiety, so I was nervous about speaking up for myself, especially considering I relied on online menus and restaurant websites in the U.S. However, these experiences taught me that I can and should be my own advocate and stand up for myself, especially regarding my health.  

There were a couple times my friends asked me to look at the restaurants in the area to find one that had options for me. In these scenarios, I either picked out the restaurant that everyone went to or went to another restaurant or grocery store near where everyone else went. To be honest, I don’t always like to be the center of attention, so I felt awkward at times having everyone plan around me. However, I also felt grateful at the same time because it showed they were willing to do whatever it took to make sure I had something to eat, even if that meant eating pizza when they really wanted fish and chips.  

Side note: I created a guide that lists all the restaurants and grocery stores I went to in London, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Oxford, and I shared it with the Study Abroad office. If you contact them here, they’d be happy to share it with you. 

Random Tips 

Here are some other random tips for studying abroad based on my personal experience, my classmates’ experiences, as well as from Dr. Andrew Wiseman, Director of International Programs. 

  • If you need to update to a new cell phone the year you go on a study abroad trip, make sure you do it more than three months before the trip or after the trip is over. My parents decided to update my phone a couple weeks before my trip, and our phone company told us my phone would be locked from international use for 90 days. I could still use WhatsApp on WiFi, so it wasn’t the end of the world for me, but it did end up adding on to the cost of the trip. Every phone company has a different policy, so check with yours for details on this.
  • Make sure you have either Visa or Mastercard credit cards. Discover cards are not generally accepted in the UK. Also, the UK has recently transferred to the tap on/tap off system, so make sure you have Google Wallet or Apple Wallet set up on your phone with your credit cards on there. 
  • On that note, make sure to notify your bank/credit card company of your travel plans so they don’t flag a transaction as fraudulent.
  • Apply for a passport early! I would suggest applying for your passport around the same time you apply to study abroad in the fall. Then, closer to the trip, make several copies of the passport page with your photo and signature to stick in various places (carry-on, checked bag, etc.) and keep your physical passport either near you or hidden in your hotel room.
  • While on your trip, I’d highly recommend the buddy system, especially if you’ve never traveled internationally before. And, if possible, book a flight with another classmate so you don’t have to travel alone.
  • If they give you permission, consider giving your parents or guardian the phone numbers of a friend or two who are going on the trip with you and your professor just in case of an emergency. Also vice versa. 
  • Don’t Forget to Pack…
    • A laundry bag! 
    • Your student ID! You might need it for some class outings. 
    • Rain jacket and appropriate rain shoes. It rains a lot in the UK.  
    • Comfortable walking shoes. You’ll be doing a lot of walking in London! 

I hope this post has given you a glimpse into what studying abroad in London is like. If you’re even remotely interested in studying abroad, I encourage you to apply. This experience was worth every single penny, and I would highly encourage you to study abroad if you have the time, money, and even just want to check another location off your travel bucket list. No matter what you are studying, there is a study abroad program for you! Schedule an advising meeting with the CU Study Abroad office to find out more. 

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