“It was important for me to go abroad because I feel that it was a great opportunity for me to learn more about the world and the people in it. Even though it was difficult adjusting to a new environment, those experiences gave me an understanding of the world's diversity and beauty that I wouldn't have gotten if I had stayed home,” reflected Anna Pike, an English major on the Literature and Culture of London program.
Led by the Department of English and Ohio State Libraries, students spend a month engaging with London’s rich cultural history, atmospheric locations and archival spaces to explore the mid-to-late nineteenth century when the popular press was growing and capturing the Victorian public’s imagination.
“What made my experience memorable was knowing that I was walking on streets and seeing sights that have survived and evolved through so much history. Being able to interact with the city physically rather than reading about it in a book or watching a video made me feel like I was witnessing history itself with my own eyes.”
Students participate in faculty-guided tours of the city as well as museum settings, a developing an understanding of how mass-produced popular literature both reflected and stoked Victorian concerns and met public demand for accessible entertainment.
“I have learned that it is possible for me to make it in another country all by myself and it was not as intimidating as I thought it would be. Having been to Costa Rica and Panama with a group before, it was scary knowing that on this trip I would have to do some things alone. However, once I got the hang of it, I could navigate the streets around where I lived as well as the bus and Tube system without any help - and it turned out to be really fun,” said Pike.
“This experience will help me in my future by giving me both the insight of someone who is completely new to an environment and someone who is familiar with one, as I will understand how to adapt to a new place and help others do the same. Going to London also exposed me to a beautiful culture that has allowed me to appreciate the world I live in even more.”