From Etown to England – My Experience Studying Abroad

Digital Media Productions major Layla Murphy ’25 studied abroad in England in May 2022.

In May 2022,  I went on the Regional Writers of England trip, which was a two-week faculty-led trip in Oxford, Bath, and London. This was a trip where I learned about Western Heritage by visiting historical sites, such as Jane Austen’s house, Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stonehenge, and the Glastonbury Tor. In the time leading up to the trip, I was learning the material the trip would cover, so it was very fulfilling to be able to stand in the places where famous authors once stood and to experience being in such significant places, rather than learning about them solely from a lecture or a book.

My Favorite Activities Abroad

Globe Theatre

The Globe Theatre in London is a theatre that was reconstructed to look and act like a theatre used in the Renaissance era. I found it very interesting that from the theatre’s architectural details, anyone in any seat could hear the actors on stage without any technology. I saw the Shakespeare play “Much Ado about Nothing,” and it was such an amazing experience. I have always read and viewed Shakespearean plays; however, I have never seen a live play of his in person, let alone one of his comedies, and I was finally able to!

Warner Bros. Studio Tour, The Making of Harry Potter

Since I was a kid, I have been a huge Harry Potter fan, so being able to go to the studio was a dream come true. I really loved seeing the famous locations like Diagon Alley and the Great Hall. But something that also really caught my eye was seeing the different stages of set and costume design. From clothes to monster masks to different mechanical effects, it was incredible – from a fan and film lover’s perspective – to see how this magical story came to life.

The Sherlock Holmes Museum and Touring the Streets of London

After being so immersed in British culture and the many different parts of it, I really enjoyed getting to explore it on my own during my free day in London. I love mystery and have been a fan of the BBC Sherlock series, so it felt “essential” for me to go to The Sherlock Holmes Museum, especially given the opportunity. Despite going to a place I obviously liked, a large reason why I really enjoyed my free day was because I appreciated the independence and the opportunity to control the trip on my own and in my own way.

Advice

Based on my experience on the trip, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• While you may have to work on assignments like photo journaling or writing reflections from time to time, do not let the “homework” part of your trip take away from what you are experiencing. 
• If there are certain things that you want to try to do or see and you have some time to do them, try to accomplish that! No matter how small of an activity or thing you might want to do, I definitely encourage that, because that will be the chance to try that while you are there. 
• Make the most of your trip and be sure to be present in whatever you’re experiencing! Even though you’ll be doing many fun activities during your time, don’t think about what comes next; treat every moment as a special one, because it will be! 

I think about my time in England every day, and I’m so glad I was able to go there, even as a freshman. This might be the trip for you to take, too!