On Wed., Sept. 16, eight Concordia students arrived in Cambridge, England, ready to begin their study abroad program at Westfield House. Lasting until December 20, the three-month program gives students the opportunity to continue their university studies on the other side of the globe, experiencing history firsthand amongst the changing leaves and cool temperatures of a British autumn. 

The students are studying abroad through the Concordia Cambridge program, which is through an established partnership with Westfield House, a small Lutheran college associated with Cambridge University’s theological federation. At Westfield, the students, alongside students from Concordia Wisconsin, Concordia Nebraska and Valparaiso University, are taking classes in various subjects from Shakespeare to Astronomy to the New Testament. 

The students started orientation week by sitting in sessions on British culture and what to experience during their time abroad before taking a tour of their host city. The city of Cambridge, which is an hour northeast of London, is one of the most historic cities in the country and is home to one of the most famous universities in the world, Cambridge University. 

In Cambridge, the students visited King’s College Chapel, the second largest chapel in the world, as well as one of the most beautiful. Other historic sites included the outside of the science laboratory where the electron was discovered and a British Air Force pub with messages handwritten on the walls from soldiers fighting in World War II. Beyond the historic sites, the city is full of natural beauty, from the river Cam that runs quietly through it to the leafy trees as they begin to shed their leaves. 

Audrey Kaufman, a sophomore Marketing major, said, “I’m looking forward to experiencing the seasons again. Coming from South Dakota, I realize that I’ve really missed the change of seasons!” 

The next day, the group toured London. Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London were all stops on this trip and gave students the opportunity to be tourists and explore some of the most famous sites in their host country. 

After two more days of orientation, classes started at Westfield. The British education system is different from the American one, allowing students to experience their studies in a new light. Heavily focused on reading and note-taking, the classes are designed to prepare students for intensive final exams at the end of the term. Though challenging, this method of studying is yet another way for students to integrate into their host culture and further understand British culture. 

Studying abroad is an amazing opportunity because it allows students to experience much of what they are learning firsthand. Students taking the Shakespeare class will be able to go to see Stratford-Upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace, as well as the reconstruction of the Globe Theater, which is where Shakespeare’s plays were intended to be performed. Similarly, students taking Christianity and the Arts have the opportunity to visit the various cathedrals and museums nearby, witnessing historical artifacts and architecture for themselves. They also have the opportunity to travel to places of interest during weekends and see even more of Europe.

Sophomore Patrick Mercier noted that he was excited for the opportunities presented by studying abroad in Cambridge, saying, “I hope to get out of my comfort zone and experience my Christian faith in other countries…By flying to several different countries, I cannot wait to experience how the family of believers lives and worships in a different culture than mine.”

Studying abroad is a time of challenge and growth, excitement and change. Kaufman said, “I hope to get out of this experience some life experience and understanding of how other people live, seeing the similarities and differences and noticing the things I want to incorporate into my own life, but also recognize places of improvement.”

To follow the students’ journeys abroad as they begin their semester, follow @cui_programsabroad on Instagram. To learn more about Concordia’s opportunities to study abroad, visit https://www.cui.edu/admissions/undergraduate/academics/programs-abroad.

Tags: Travel, study abroad, Cambridge

---

About Kayla Reed

More articles by Kayla Reed