Me trying the famous chocolate-covered strawberries.
Author: Amelia Gutche | Major: English | Semester: Summer 2023
Summer of 2023 I enrolled in the Medieval England study abroad program as a capstone to my Medieval Renaissance history minor. I have always had a love for old buildings, and the stories that they can tell. The architecture and décor I saw throughout England did not disappoint. The Medieval England trip was based exclusively in England, beginning first in Durham, before moving to York for a few days, and finally to London. However, I also took separate trips to Edinburgh, Scotland, as well as Paris, France on the weekends.
Throughout the many cathedrals we toured you could see beheaded statues, many damaged in the reign of King Henry VIII when he ordered the destruction of catholic imagery. Many murals showed signs of whitewashing from the Victorian era when efforts to preserve stripped away elements of history. There were shrines to saints, with their effigies and decorated tombs rich in wealth and symbolism. The wear and tear caused by hundreds of years of pilgrimage to these places made me feel like I was a part of something much bigger. I learned that some of these revered locations were once commandeered, sacred spaces used as stables and prisons, and the effect that this destruction had along with the redefinition of what it means to be a sacred space. The effort that was put into preserving these buildings, these artifacts, and the value that they hold even to the point of death left a lasting impression about the perseverance of humanity.
Classes were relatively short, with the first couple of weeks having class from 9 am to 3 pm before breaking up to have the rest of the day to explore. After leaving Durham, and travelling south to York, and then London, we no longer had formal class time, but instead focused on site visits and guided tours. It was exciting to be able to apply what we learned from class to real sites. The funniest thing was that when the student group had learned a fact, and heard that same fact repeated by a guide during a tour, we would all look at each other in recognition and laugh. Several times the poor tour guides were confused as to why our group knew all the answers to the (mostly rhetorical) questions they would pose. Among these fun facts was the value of the pineapple. In medieval England, the pineapple was quite a rare and prized fruit. Owning one displayed a family’s incredible wealth. Because of this, pineapples were often carved into furniture and onto banisters with wealthy families sometimes even renting a pineapple for display during social events. However, because pineapples were so rare, many of the carvers had never seen one, resulting in some ridiculous “pineapple” carvings throughout England that ranged from looking like an artichoke to an acorn.
My favorite thing that we studied was courtly love. The class was prone to debates between the cynics and idealists as they pertained to Marie de France and tales of King Arthur. We also studied Beowulf, with many members of my group adapting the story of Beowulf into plays, poems, or retellings as their final projects. As the project could be either creative or research, many chose to create original stories that were inspired by our studies. After learning about Eleanor of Aquitaine in class, I decided to do my presentation on her legacy. I was intrigued by the woman that had been both queen of France and England, even taking part in a civil war against her husband Henry II. I saw mentions of her family and family trees in multiple locations throughout England, but often I was disappointed by the conflation of her husband, Henry’s, contributions over her own. Often, she was simply listed as “Henry II’s wife” rather than her own individual.
Participating in the trip helped me to get a better idea of time, and the much deeper history that surrounds the world. One of Dr. Quinn’s favorite lines to say on the trip was that “British people think 100 miles is a long distance, and Americans think 100 years is a long time.”
While abroad, I encountered people who had a disparate view of America from myself, and never being outside of the country, I was shocked by the prejudice against us. It helped me to see that other counties struggle with similar social issues as we do. Notably, an Uber driver we had in Paris spoke on the racism that he and his wife face as Muslims in France, along with the hate speech that she was a victim of. His story was incredible, he had lived in several different countries, and knew upwards of five different languages, and was constantly searching to learn more. He even helped my roommate and I practice our French and Spanish and was incredibly kind and understanding of how difficult it can be to learn a new language and to feel like an outsider. It opened me up to how I can appreciate others’ stories more, as well as look for opportunities outside the US where I am comfortable. Hearing this man’s inspiration to continue and never stop learning, while also facing more prejudice than I would likely be able to comprehend, makes me more confident in my ability to survive and take on situations that I might be afraid of.
As a self-proclaimed foodie (and former culinary school student), I was most looking forward to trying new foods while abroad. My peers quickly discovered my love for fine food, and my high standards for it. I tried almost everything England is famous for: bangers and mash, fish and chips, cream tea, and English breakfast. As well as shepherd’s pie while in Scotland, and crème brulee and croque monsieur in France. There were a few dishes that met my standards, but my absolute favorites were partaking in high tea, trying the famous Borough Market chocolate-covered strawberries, and enjoying a slice of Victoria sponge cake. My peers, who had gotten used to my scowling at the lack of seasoning and abundance of mayonnaise in British cuisine continually teased me over the genuine smile that I had upon receiving my simple cup of perfectly ripe strawberries.
I could go into detail, but there is no way to quantify the experience that I received from the opportunity to study abroad. From a pop-up salsa dancing ring in Paris at midnight to the Globe Theater and watching sea lions off the coast of Lindisfarne, studying abroad offered me the opportunity to have new experiences and to be more confident in myself. The group setting allowed me to take on as much or as little responsibility as I wanted, secure in the knowledge that I wouldn’t have to be alone unless I wanted to be. For students interested in studying abroad, I recommend budgeting for more than they anticipate spending, as well as getting in touch with at least one member of the group before departure to coordinate side trips. Now that I am home I am looking forward to eating food without mayonnaise and maybe taking a salsa dancing class.