Tamara McGough
Host Institution: University of Chester -- United Kingdom
Home Institution: Whitworth University
Period: Spring 2009

Near the entrance to the University of Chester “She’s Leaving Home” Before leaving for England it was hard to envision what my life so far away from home might be like. I’d look at a globe and couldn’t imagine how far away I was going to be for so long. Questions filled my mind; would I feel like an outsider? Would people treat me different? Would I fit in? These questions were answered almost instantly when within the first few hours of my arrival a rambunctious group of British 20-somethings were inviting me to eat with them and excited to discuss the “funny” words Americans use for sweets, a torch, and how crisps are chips, and chips are fries. It didn’t take long until my friends had helped me to feel less like “that crazy new American girl” and more like any other student trying to soak up and enjoy her time at uni.
	Sitting near the edge at the Cliffs of Moher “Ticket to Ride” The first school break came surprisingly quickly. I had just begun to adjust to the differences in the English classroom style. We only had class once a week, and instead of weekly assignments or multiple papers, we would turn in one piece of accumulative work at the end of the course. After trying to keep up with a new system, I welcomed the late winter break. Traveling was one of the newest and most challenging experiences of my time abroad. Prior to this trip, I had ridden a train once, and had never traveled great distances on my own. Now, I found myself with another American girl, taking trains, ferries, and buses all over Wales and Ireland. My Irish vacation really taught me about looking out for myself and staying safe while traveling in new and strange places. I experienced a surge of independence while absorbing Ireland’s breathtaking landscapes and castles.
The famous clock, observed on an exploration of downtown Chester “A day in the Life” After our first break, life in Chester became regular, and it really felt like home. I would go to the store, order take-out, attend lectures, watch Britain’s Got Talent, and I quickly became used to the cute and different accents. After a time I came to realize that the other girls on my hall, like me, hadn’t really explored Chester. I found this unbelievable, but took the opportunity to spend a great day out with my friends exploring a place that was new to us all. The differences in the way that we each saw the same things made for interesting reflection and conversation. I would see a castle and become daft with enthusiasm, while they would witness the same and think nothing of it. It made me think about all the beauties of my own home that I might have overlooked in the past.
	On a field trip in Wales at a Medieval Cathedral “Get Back” Although I was learning a lot outside of the classroom I was also having new and challenging experiences in the scholastic realm. One of the most interesting parts of my academic journey was my medieval archeology class. Having never studied archeology or medieval history much, I was very excited for this new experience. One of the best parts of this class was the field trips. Our class ended up seeing the sights on a snowy and cold afternoon. My American friend, and I had dressed not quite as warm as would have been desired. However, the beauty and history of the structures we were able to examine made it worth the cold toes and runny noses. Our professor instructed us on what had happened in the old buildings and how they had crumbled. I would close my eyes and try to get back to the time when monks were roaming the then complete halls. We were also able to view churches that had remained intact, and were lucky enough to receive a personal tour by the vicar of a small church on the Welsh, English border. My academics abroad ranged from American History, to Living and Dying in the Middle Ages, and I am very glad to have had the opportunity to learn about history from another cultures perspective.
The Beatles Story in Liverpool “Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da” Apart from field trips I did a lot of personal exploration around England. I found it easy, cheap, and quick,to travel almost anywhere in the country that my heart desired. I visited Liverpool frequently, not only because of its close proximity to Chester, but also because I am a huge Beatles fan. I found I had this in common with my American History professor. She offered to give my friends and I a personal tour of Liverpool focusing on famous sites having to do with the “Fab Four”. London was also a frequent get-away, and I enjoyed the cultural experiences that came with this beautiful historic city. It was like nowhere I had ever been before, and even after multiple trips, I still had not seen all the city had to offer. I know that even in my further travels to England, I will always leave with a desire to see and learn more.
	A lasting view of one my favorite places on earth “Across the Universe” By the end of my time abroad I felt as though I’d traveled across the universe. Experiencing the English culture had been more wonderful than I ever could have imagined. I was at home. Through friendships, trials, exploration, and a willingness to learn I had grown attached to and comfortable in my English home. This journey has sparked in me an even greater desire to travel and become more familiar with all that our wide and beautiful world has to offer. Yet, wherever my life may take me, England will always be a place I consider a true home away from home.