Thirty Students Study Abroad at Oxford University - A Weekly Report from England

Thirty Westminster College students and two faculty members arrived in England to begin a semester abroad studying at Pembroke College, part of Oxford University. Instead of living in dormitories, students are living with host families among the outskirts of the city to experience British culture.

 The students are taking a variety of courses ranging from travel writing to modern philosophy. The majority of the classes will be taught by Westminster professors Dr. David Goldberg, assistant professor of philosophy, and Dr. James Perkins, professor of English. The course "Britain in the 20th Century" is taught by an Oxford professor.

 Upon arriving, the students received a walking tour of Oxford, which included three of the main colleges and many historic landmarks. Unlike a typical American college campus, Oxford University is a collection of 39 individual colleges that form the University as a whole.

 This study abroad program is a first for Westminster. Students pay their Westminster tuition and have classes with other Westminster students. The program also includes weekend trips to London, Bath and York, plus many optional trips students can select. A mid- semester break will allot them the opportunity to explore the rest of Europe.

 These students have the unique opportunity to experience the British culture through their host families who can also take them to different events throughout the city. They also interact with other British students through college activities, such as rugby games, dance classes, or cricket lessons.

 The scholars are experiencing the culture daily by walking through the city and relying on public transportation.

"It's reliable and expeditious," said James Sharcot, a junior business administration and economics major.  "The operators are generally pleasant too. It is a big transition, but it's one of the easiest to make here. I prefer walking to enjoy the scenery, but that's really an option because of the distance.  There are a variety of restaurants serving food from multiple cultures such as American, Indian, and Chinese. Host families prepare traditional British meals for the students nightly like quiche, jacket potatoes and steak pie."

 Jessie Goldie, a sophomore political science major, said, "I was pleasantly surprised with the food; it's really delicious! The main courses consist of the same type of meat in the United States, but it's prepared differently and always much better. And yes, I have tried afternoon tea."

Written by Ashley Beaver, a sophomore exploratory major from Sidman;  Janis Butcher, a senior Christian education major from Liverpool, N.Y.; and Kerri Campbell, a sophomore business administration major from Coraopolis.

More Stories