University of Wisconsin–Madison

England: Kyra Northway (Learning on Excursions)

Hello (again) from London! A couple of weeks ago, as part of my program I took a trip outside of the city to visit Bath, England, and Stonehenge—and it really was a cool change of pace. I’ve really gotten use to the fast-moving pace of London, so being surrounded by the quiet countryside and ancient Baths felt like I was in an entirely new country.

A pool lays in front, green with algae. It is in an intricate Roman-era building with statutes all around the top
A view of the Roman Baths in Bath, England from below

Bath was absolutely beautiful; the buildings were all so unique with that centuries-old old-fashion charm to them, and the Roman Baths were even more impressive than I had anticipated. It was hard to believe that people used to gather there over 2,000 years ago, and how I was literally visiting these same spaces today. It made me realize how relatively young the US is compared to England, and how rich and full of history these attractions are.

This excursion also included a visit to Stonehenge. I’ll be completely honest: I wasn’t as in awe of it than what I thought I would be. After about 15 minutes, I felt like I’d seen all of what there was to see, especially since Stonehenge is quite literally located in the middle of nowhere and you could really only get within 50 feet of it. But it was cool to think about how these huge rocks ended up stacked on top of each other, especially since no one really knows why or how it came to be.

Even though this excursion didn’t directly connect to my classes since I’m a marketing major, it did give me a better sense of England’s history, and it reminded me that learning doesn’t always happen through a lecture or textbook. Sometimes it just happens through observation and experience.

Kyra, a female student, smiles at the camera with her head tilted to the side. She is wearing a brown, fuzzy jacket and has long, straight brown hair. She is smiling from the back of a boat with water visible in the background.

Kyra Northway

Hometown: Minnetonka, Minnesota

Major: Marketing

Program: IES Direct Enrollment – City St. George’s University of London

One of my goals I have while attending this program is to grow a global network. Whether that be professional/business connections, or friendships with fellow students across the globe, I hope to be able to meet new people, which will help shape my remaining college career and beyond. I look forward to learning about the history of London! London is such a historic city filled with so much cultural influence and I hope to learn more about it while I’m there.