Life in Harlaxton - Travel Study 2023

      This past summer I had the pleasure of studying abroad at Harlaxton Manor, in Grantham, for an international business course. We started our journey in Edinburgh, Scotland. After two short days seeing what Edinburgh had to offer, we traveled by rain to Harlaxton. As someone who gets carsick easily, the hours we spent on the train were by far my least favorite part of the whole ordeal but were certainly worth it. The grounds of the manor itself were breathtaking, complete with a mysterious history as to who the owner Gregory Gregory truly was and what kind of life he led.  Once we settled into our rooms, which were dorm style complete with four twin beds and a sink, we set out to explore the area. The back gardens overlooked the manor and the land that it sits on. Everywhere I turned there was a beautiful view awaiting me. The grounds had several walking trails, each with their own unique sight. My favorite was the Bluebell Woodland trail. I had the pleasure of going when the flowers were still in bloom, causing a sea of blue on the forest floor as far as the eye could see.

     

     One of my biggest hurdles was adjusting to the food while abroad. As a true southern girl through and through, coming from a world of biscuits and gravy for breakfast to one of beans and black pudding was certainly a rude awakening. However, as expected, the fish and chips were to die for. While some of England’s local food was not my cup of tea, I made it a point to try everything in order to fully submerge within the culture. The dining hall of the manor was made up of a few long tables that fostered a sense of community as people from my class and others were able to engage with each other, a privilege we rarely got throughout the school day. This sense of community was also present at The Bistro, a small cafe on the bottom level of the manor. The Bistro hosted game nights every night, our favorite being karaoke night. The cafe sold a few food and drink items to satisfy any late-night cravings. The manor served as our home base as we went on several day trips to the surrounding areas to get a better understanding of how other places live and operate on a day-to-day basis. Each trip brought a new lesson with it and I was able to walk away from the experience with a newfound appreciation for the little things in life. 

          One of my favorite trips was to Belton to visit the Belton House. This country home was also a filming destination for the show Bridgerton, which was an added bonus.  The house was complete with exquisite artwork and libraries, as one would expect, but it was nothing compared to the exterior. The gardens were unlike anything I had seen before. This trend of amazing gardens carried on throughout our trip to every destination we visited. While England is known for being gloomy, it was warm and sunny on every day of our trip, which only added to the enjoyment, as we spent a majority of our time walking from place to place. The walkability of each city was another factor that I thoroughly enjoyed. Many of the cities within the U.S. are not designed for pedestrian traffic, which can lead to more of a sedentary lifestyle. This is not the case within the United Kingdom. While walking everywhere has obvious physical benefits, it has added mental benefits as well. Both of which I felt the full effects of by the time I went home. To end the trip, we spent our last two days in London. While I enjoyed the scenery of our other destinations, I loved the nightlife that London had to offer. Unlike the other smaller cities we had visited that were slow paced and peaceful, London was full of life and had the hustle and bustle that I was accustomed to back home. Known as the world’s melting pot, it certainly earned its name as I was able to take part in various cultures and histories. When we were not riding the hop on hop off bus tours of the city, we were exploring the various markets, bridges, and palaces. I could not think of a better place to end our experience as London had a little bit of everything that we had seen. While three weeks was hardly enough time to truly see what all of Scotland and England had to offer, it was certainly enough to get an even greater appreciation for other cultures and experiences. I cannot wait until I am able to venture abroad again!

Overall, I had several key takeaways from this experience that will live with me forever. One of takeaways being a newfound appreciation for the ability to go with the flow. When traveling, everything does not always go according to plan, which is why it is so important to be able to handle such inconveniences with grace. Another important takeaway to note is to always be open to trying new things. While it may be uncomfortable at first, opening yourself up to new things and opportunities will ensure that you are capitalizing on every possible experience while abroad. If you are considering spending time abroad at any point in your future, doing a study abroad is something that I would highly recommend whether that be just a May term or a full semester.

- Olivia Seale