The Tower Bridge on our first day in London!

Author: Lucy Sholma | Major: Food, Nutrition, and Health | Semester: Summer 2023

I have spent years planning my escape. Okay, that sounds dramatic, but I am being honest when I say I have been looking forward to leaving the country to study abroad since middle school. One of the reasons I chose to go to the University of Arkansas was because of the opportunities the Honors College offered for going abroad, and I am pleased to say that the time I had in England was even more life-changing than I could have imagined. London is one of the greatest places in the world, and although months of research on the enriching history, diverse food, and endless possibilities for learning proved worth my while, it never could have prepared me for how much I fell in love with the city.

The program that I chose to go on was an external program through Arcadia University, which offered a four-week class located in the city center. I ended up taking a course on theater in London, which gave me credit towards my core graduation requirements. The topic of theater is definitely outside of my comfort zone, as I am a Food, Nutrition, and Health major on the pre-medicine track, but I ended up learning so much about how theater has both influenced and been shaped by British culture. Through the course I was able to see three different performances at three very different but very influential theaters including Shakespeare’s Globe, which was a surreal and exciting experience as I got to learn about Shakespeare’s career as a playwright as also as an agent of change and influence on society during his time. I also was exposed to forms of theater that I had never heard of before, such as theater of the absurd and Brechtian theater. My professor was a London local, which made the course extremely insightful as she was able to integrate her experience with nearby companies, productions, and the social and creative climate of both the West End and in smaller civic spaces. Our lectures were set up to support and give context to the performances we were seeing, and what was even more exciting is that every show is new to the course, so no two terms are the same! We spent the first half of the week discussing theatrical forms, background information, scripts and casting, and other helpful information to build a well-rounded foundation for that week’s play. Then after seeing the performance, we had a seminar style class to discuss our opinions, dissect meanings and themes, and explore anything that was missed during earlier lectures. Through the course, I was able to explore a topic that was outside of what I was used to, but I can proudly say that I gained invaluable experience with such an integral part of British history and society. Theater has been a powerful tool for challenging society and presenting new ideas, and through the class I was able to gain new perspectives on the diversity and rich culture that London has to offer.

Although theater pushed me outside of my comfort zone, something that was definitely up my alley was the food scene in London. It is easy to think that all London has to offer is fish, chips, beans on toast, and high tea, but because of England’s history of colonialism and contact with many different people groups, the city is full of cuisines from around the world. I was able to introduce my roommate, who is also an honors student at the U of A, to various new foods such as Indian lamb saag, Vietnamese pho noodle soup, and Scottish haggis. If you were to be dropped off on any street, it would be nearly impossible to not find a delicious restaurant, street food stand, or bakery serving anything from fresh sushi, warm croissants, or big, greasy, delicious pizzas. I found it fascinating that historical events from hundreds of years ago still influence what food is offered in London, such as imperialism in Asia, trade routes across the Middle East, and even current ties with the Americas. All in all, there was not a day that went by that I didn’t try something delicious, and loved that I was able to learn and grow from even the simplist experience of eating.

If I had any advice for someone thinking about studying abroad, I would first say do not hesitate to go. Escaping my hometown and my country, although slightly uncomfortable at times, was one of the best decisions I ever made for my growth and personal development. I learned so much through my studies, but also just through meaningful participation in London’s culture, transportation, food, history, and city life in general. I would definitely recommend planning ahead, especially going to one of the most urban places on Earth. Transit proved to have a larger learning curve than I expected, food and activities proved to be more expensive than I prepared for, and just the act of leaving behind what is familiar can have its challenges. I found that knowing some of the best restaurants to go to, the must-see museums and monuments, and how to access public transportation beforehand eased some initial anxiety and made the acclimation process a little simpler. However, I would lastly say to just embrace wherever you end up going. All of the research and preparation I did was extremely helpful, but nothing beat the feeling I had of just immersing myself in the bustle and excitement of London and embracing its quirks for what they were. I would give anything to be able to experience England for the first time again, and am eternally grateful for the opportunity I had to study such an exciting facet of London’s history while also getting to enjoy the endless possibilities the city had to offer.