I’ve been back in the US for almost two weeks now, and I miss Lancaster so much! My experience at Lancaster University (UK) was truly amazing. Lancaster University sits outside the city of Lancaster, a beautiful historical city within the Lake District. I lived with all British flatmates which allowed me to immerse myself in the local culture. It was a relatively easy transition, as there was no language barrier. I also got along with my flatmates very well, forming a bond I’ll always cherish. Nevertheless, there were a few cultural adjustments I faced.
As with any program you decide to choose for study abroad, you will face a different culture with different behaviors, values, and attitudes from the one you are familiar with. That is the nature (and beauty) of studying abroad!
I would say my biggest adjustment at Lancaster was to the British education system. Each of my courses (called modules) met once a week as a lecture and once a week as a seminar. Lectures were large and featured no discussion, while on the other hand, seminars were small and hands-on. Unlike Rollins, I had no weekly assignments, homework, quizzes, or even exams. Instead, I had one or two essays that counted for 80% or 100% of my course’s grade. Learning was very self-guided, which required a higher level of attention.
This change was challenging at times. The first time I stepped foot into a lecture hall, I was a bit overwhelmed by its size! I quickly adjusted to this change and was thankful that my lectures were recorded, so I could go back and check anything I may have missed. I was also thankful that my courses met later in the day, so I could explore the local area during the day!
Another adjustment was using public transportation, which I really enjoyed! Public transportation made it easy to travel and explore the local area, as well as explore UK cities like Edinburgh, Manchester, and London! Because traveling by bus or train is customary in the UK, my host culture may have been surprised that I had never used public transportation before. From their perspective, public transportation is a quintessential part of everyday life.
Overall, I really enjoyed experiencing British culture by living and learning with other British people in a University setting. From learning the delight of a Greggs sausage roll to watching our weekly British Bake Off episode together, these are special memories I will treasure forever! I can’t wait to go back.