Group of the Oxford 2025 students
Photo courtesy of Riley Fleming
BY: SADIE KAZACOS, ALANNA REISENBERGER AND STEPHANIE VANCHERI, CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
This summer we had the privilege of studying abroad in Oxford. Although only 6 weeks of our summer were actually spent in the city, the memories will remain with us forever. Since returning to the United States in mid- August, we have had several months to reflect on our once-in-a-lifetime experience.
We find ourselves reminiscing about this trip frequently, as so many good times were had; we remember the people we met, the laughs we shared, and all the memories that we will keep close to our hearts for the rest of our lives. One of the best decisions that we made during our time in Oxford was spending time each day keeping journals and vlogging, from small details in class to the weekend trips across the United Kingdom. They’re preserved for us to look back on forever, making them something truly special and meaningful to us.
When we signed up for the trip, we knew we would have to be independent. We had to navigate international airports, subway systems, public buses, and the sidewalks of the city. This gave us the opportunity to see what we wanted to see, when we wanted to see it. There were no parents tracking us or siblings to compromise with, as we were all used to.
Upon our arrival in Oxford, we were immediately struck by the beauty, culture and history around us. Everywhere we looked we saw a building older than the United States. We spent a lot of time shopping in the Covered Market, which was established in 1774. We ate at Bag O Nails in London, established in 1775, and we lived at Trinity College established in 1555. These places are just a few of many historical beauties that we were absolutely honored to experience.
We visited museums and public libraries to immerse ourselves in the culture of locals. There was always a plethora of things to see, learn and enjoy. The historically significant Blackwell’s is a library that is a mere few steps away from the Trinity’s main entrance, yet the inside carried a mystical feeling, like it was straight from Hogwarts. Some of the best foods we’ve ever had were from Oxford: gourmet meals served at high table dinners each week at Trinity were incredible and the endless international food carts at the Gloucester Green Street Market were something special. The produce was exceptional, the chocolate immaculate, and the ice cream was decadent.
Traveling within Oxford and out of it was extremely accessible; the public transportation system was efficient, making day trips to other cities doable. We took several trips as a group, including to the city of Bath and London and even more trips in smaller groups. Some of the places that some of us went to were Italy, France, Ireland, Malta, Türkyie, and more. Each city has its own culture and nuances, despite being close geographically. We talked to so many different people from so many different walks of life, both internationally and in the local pub.
Some of our peers on the trip shared their experiences with us.
Chloe Wilson, a graduate student in the occupational therapy (MSOT) program, said her favorite parts of the trip were “meeting new people and having a new life-long experience that [she] will cherish forever.” She said that “all of the food was amazing, especially going and getting tiramisu flavored gelato almost everyday with some of [her] friends on the trip.”
Lauren Neyman, a junior inclusive childhood and early childhood education student, said her favorite parts of Oxford were “drinking coffee in the gardens at Trinity in the morning and going to the markets everyday to get a sandwich for lunch.” One of her most memorable experiences was “waking up with [her] new friends at 2a.m. to find our way to Wimbledon.”
We spent our last days attempting to fit everything that we had brought originally with us, as well as purchases along the way, back into our suitcases. Some sacrifices had to be made, but there’s something about bringing home a 50 lb suitcase of dirty laundry, trinkets you don’t need, and a camera full of the good times we had that made it all worth it. On our last day, we went punting down the river through Oxford on little boats– which is harder than it seems– and, despite almost falling in after bumping into a tree or another boat, had the absolute best day together. We finished with a nice dinner as a group and said goodnight for the last time as the sun set over the beautiful Trinity garden.
This experience has given us the opportunity to make lifelong friends and gain life skills that will help us in our futures. We met the most incredible people who were complete strangers just six weeks prior. It took traveling overseas to meet fellow Bonnies who had lived just a couple hundred feet away from us originally. These people were such a big part of our adventure and will be part of our lives forever. We can truly say the worst part of this trip was having to leave. Everyone deserves the chance to travel to Oxford and make memories that you will never forget.
