Roommates Take On England!

Today I am so excited to interview two of my very best friends, roommates, and travel buddies. This past summer, my friends Mia Parise, Ella Mills, and I were lucky enough to have the opportunity to all study abroad together in England. I wanted to interview them today and give them  chance to relive the short but sweet experience!

Thank you guys for sitting down and talking with me! Don't you miss being in England? Let's go back for a second before reminiscing on the memories.

Why England? What about “medieval England” interested you when applying for this program?

Mia: "We learn so much about England because of its connection with American history as well as the influence England had on the world. Medieval England was interesting to me as a history major because l felt like I only knew surface level information about it.

Ella: "I had never been to England before and had always wanted to go, so when I heard there was a trip to England, I was very interested. I also did not know much about the Medieval times in England, so I was interested to learn more and experience that part of the world."

        It's always good to keep learning! I think that's what this trip was about for all of us.

What was the best part of the trip? Favorite city? Favorite memory? I have mine, but I would like to hear yours. 

Mia: "My favorite city was York because it felt like stepping into a Time Machine and going to the Middle Ages. The York Minster was stunning and the shops were so cute."  

Ella: "The best part of the trip for me was visiting all the different cathedrals in each city and seeing the different architecture and styles of the buildings. It was so interesting to learn about all the history of each city and get to see it first-hand. My favorite city was York, it was so beautiful and unlike any place I have been before. The cobblestone streets and little coffee shops and restaurants all fit so perfectly. One of my favorite memories from the trip was going to Bettys High Tea and sitting with people on the trip and getting to know them better and talking about our experiences so far!"

I can attest to that...York was amazing. I have to say, though, my personal favorite part was going for a day trip to a smaller town where we were really able to see a different side of England and immerse ourselves in the culture.

Do you feel like this trip taught you anything?

Mia: "The trip taught me that traveling doesn’t have to be about relaxing, but about learning new things and immersing yourself into a different culture."

Ella: "This trip taught me so much about the history of England and taught me so much about the History of the Cathedrals there. I learned so much about the way the cathedrals were built and why they were built that way. I also learned about the Vikings that settled in York and got to see where they used to live!"

I completely agree! I learned so much, and I don't think I can travel again without making sure I'm experiencing the culture. Would you go back to England? Where do you want to travel next?

Mia: "I would go back to England, I think I could use some more time exploring cities or visiting new cities there. In the future I would love to travel to Italy, Germany, France, Japan, and many more."

Ella: "I would love to go back to England and see the rest of the country and I would even go back to the places I visited during this trip. I want to travel to Japan next and see Tokyo and Kyoto!"

That all sounds amazing! Maybe we'll have to do a trip to Japan next.

Thank you both so much for helping me share our experience!

What do you recommend for people studying abroad in England/in general?

Mia: "I recommend that they take lots of pictures, travel outside of the major cities and visit smaller cities and towns, and that they dress for inconsistent weather!"

Ella: "I would recommend enjoying every second of it because it goes so fast! I would also recommend keeping a journal of what you do every day. I did this in England, and it has helped me remember so many little details that I would have never thought about again!"