Over the past spring semester, I studied abroad in the English town of Canterbury. While there I was able to take classes focused on interesting subjects, such as “History of the Ancient Celts” and “Victorian Literature.” It was very interesting to visit the locations that were the settings of the books we read, such as London. I got to eat fish and chips on the same street as Oliver Twist ran down in the Dickens novel.

The experience of studying abroad enhanced my academic pursuits as it gave me a chance to think about the topics I had been learning about from a more global perspective. I also learned more about the English educational system, as I was immersed at the university. The experience helped me both to appreciate the American system but also to see things I could do differently upon returning to Michigan State University.

Beyond academics, the experience of studying abroad impacted me on a personal level as well. I learned to be more independent and to exist without many others to help me.

The experience of studying abroad also impacted my career goals, as it ended up in me reflecting on whether or not I wanted to work in the U.S. or abroad. The University of Kent was focused particularly on independent study outside of class time as a lot of the learning was completely self-taught.

Overall, I loved my experience studying abroad. Canterbury is incredibly rich in history, home to the famous Canterbury Cathedral. It also proved to be a great point to travel to other parts of the United Kingdom (as well as the rest of Europe). I was able to visit Edinburgh, the Cotswolds, Dover, Rye, and many countryside towns which helped to enrich my understanding of English culture.

Name: Cate L.
Status: Junior
Major: Political Science – Pre-Law
Program: University of Kent in England