United Kingdom: Journalism & Contemporary Media

I had an amazing time on the study abroad trip in the UK with the Experiment in International Living organization. I have gained skills such as, learning how to navigate a subway, or "the tube" as they call it in London. I have also learned how to spend money wisely when shopping, as well as making sure I had enough room to pack all the souvenirs I brought back. I also learned quite a lot about journalism such as how to set up a camera, how to do street interviews, how to work the individual mics, etc. I also learned a lot about Britain, as well as current events such as Br-exit, the cutbacks in the National Health Service, and so forth. I also learned the language difference and cultural difference between each city. Such as the Scousers of Liverpool and the Londoners of London. On top of that we did lots of site- seeing, things like the London Eye, the London Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and Westminster. Another thing that made my experience so amazing was my group. There were 15 of us all together plus 3 leaders. The group was so caring and kind of each other, we always looked out for one another, and we still keep in touch till this day. Memories of us singing and dancing in the rainy streets of London still permeate my brain. It was the best summer of my life.

Similar to what my peers have said, this experience was so unbelievably incredible. In our time in London, we worked with a nonprofit media organization called “WORLDwrite,” where we learned to use professional camera equipment, conduct interviews, and direct news shows. We even took our skills to the streets and interviewed Londoners on the cost of living in London. It was an amazing experience! In the evening, we were given a lot of free time and a bunch of us spent it going to Shakespearean plays, dining in Italian joints, drinking tea, exploring the scenic parks, visiting museums, or shopping in bookstores or music shops. It’s safe to say we spent a lot of time riding the tube. We also visited Bradford, which was unlike any other place we had gone to in England. It is a very multicultural city with old, vintage architecture and a growing immigrant population. More specifically, religion plays a huge role in the city and we got to visit a Hindu temple, a Sikh temple, and a Mosque which was so transformative in the way I view religion. I felt like this because the people of these religions were so kind and welcoming and accepting of us: they answered our questions with an open mind, they took us inside where they do their prayers, and even fed us their holy food. It seems like a common trend in the trip (as well as one of my favorite aspects of it) was having in-depth conversations with people we met over there, in terms of American and British political and social issues. While the "What do you think of Trump?" question was very common, the conversations were much more complex than that due to our perceptions of England as well as their perceptions of America. Ultimately, as a wise person once said: positive experiences are the best form of diplomacy and I’m so grateful I got to experience what I did with the people that I did.

Regarding the group leaders, if there is only one thing I could say about this trip with absolute certainty, is that I felt one hundred percent supported by my group leaders. From the very start, I grew to trust them so much without any fear of judgment or punishment. They stood up for us, they listened to us, and they always reminded us that if we needed absolutely ANYTHING, they were there. I miss them so much.

I'm still processing the significance of this trip and how to move forward with everything I have learned and with everyone I have met. I feel different. I feel less anxious and more confident in my ability to lead and exercise the values I have. I have a better idea of what I want from this world and it definitely includes traveling and telling people's stories.

So the experience was outstanding. From the food to the people I got to meet, every moment was memorable. Honestly, I never thought I'd enjoy being so out of place. At first, it was like Woah... I'm actually in the U.K. A country I've been wanting to visit ever since I was a child. A truly jaw-dropping thing for me. Now, of course, there was sightseeing, roaming London, enjoying the local food, all that good stuff. However, this was a study abroad program, not a casual visit and thank God for that. What we studied over there, Journalism and contemporary media really struck me. I learned not only awesome things like how to properly handle a camera, But I also learned what other countries think of America. Yes while there we were bombarded with questions and thoughts about Trump but that showed how intriguing we were to the English People. It was cool in some ways. A bit repetitive but cool. In the end, the program consisted of a bunch of cool people getting tightly knitted and becoming a big family while learning about themselves and the country they live in. Also, did I mention the custard creams? they're a biscuit full of custard cream and I can confirm me and the rest of my group give them a 10/10. This trip can truly alter someone's life in a positive way and I am 100% grateful for the opportunity. I will never forget the memories and will only further develop the person I have become(I am actually more into leadership roles and overall outgoing now because of this trip.). Yeah, there's not much else to say. The trip overall, 10 out of 10. Would recommend.

Where do I even begin? Every single moment of this trip was phenomenal. I met people who became my family during our four weeks in the UK, and I met people who exposed me to new things. I learned about cultures and communities I hadn't been immersed in before. I went on this trip knowing very little about journalism, and not necessarily wanting to be a journalist, just being interested. I left knowing so much more about what I want to do with my life (and I thought I had it pretty clear), and knowing more about myself. One of the biggest things I learned is that journalism isn't just for journalists, it's for anyone who wants to tell a story. I don't want to be a journalist, but I feel that much closer to being able to tell people's stories. This trip has made me want to travel so so much more, since I have never really had a chance to before. In fact, I'm hoping my next trip will be to see all of the incredible people I met on this trip! Do I recommend this? 100%. I don't think I've quite mastered how to talk about this trip, or put all my memories and experiences into words, but I can tell you that even if I could, it really is something you should experience yourself. I'd be happy to share the more logistical aspects of the trip (exactly where we went, what we did, where did we stay, group leaders, free time, and how it all went, etc.) with you if u want on instagram (@anna.ees). There's some shameless self promotion lol, feel free to ask me any questions about the trip!

My experience with the Experiment has taught me a lot about myself. I now realize not only do I love traveling and exploring, I need it. Before I would be okay with wasting a weekend stuck inside, but now I’m pushing myself and those around me to get out more. I’m only now fully appreciative of the city that I live in and am dedicated to exploring as much of it as I can. I’ve also learned more about my leadership style and expanded my problem-solving skills through my experiences.

I've said this before to so many people and I'll say it again; this trip was life-changing. Although I had to jump through a few hoops to get to the UK, I'm never going to stop traveling. This trip was the domino to set off my fervor for travel even more. Ever since I was little I've always wanted to travel and I finally had the chance to do what I dreamed of. We learned about journalism in a way so unlike any others. We were immersed in it and got to feel what exactly it took to be a journalist. I know now that I don't want to be a journalist but I am so grateful that the Experiment gave me the opportunity to figure out what it is I do or do not want to do. Not only that but I met some amazing people and I learned some amazing things about myself and the world.