What Students are Saying

Reflections from students on the 2019 trip. (Trips were planned for 2020, 2021, and 2022, but were cancelled due to the pandemic.)

“From the moment we arrived in Scotland, I was surrounded by new languages, accents, and cultures. Lines were changed to queues, and fries were chips and chips were crisps. At moments, it felt as if I was learning a new language. It was refreshing to become a part of something so new, yet so old at the same time.”

“Possibly my favorite part of the entire trip was the Ceilidh. I had never been to an event where everyone was so excited to dance with one another. In the States, if you go some place where there is dancing, most people won't get out of their chairs, let alone ask someone to dance. It wasn't even five minutes from the moment I walked into the ballroom that someone was dragging me onto the dance floor! If that had happened back home, I probably would have felt threatened!”

“I had so much fun in Scotland! I think that choosing to come on this trip was one of the best choices I made during freshman year.”

“Never before this trip had I been to the United Kingdom, specifically Scotland. While I was reading the Scottish Play, I tried to imagine what it would be like to actually see the vibrant green rolling hills and the towering castles. My imagination did not do it justice. When we visited the Kingdom of Fife and drove near the battlefields that were in the play, it became clear to me how Shakespeare gained inspiration from taking in the beautiful environment.”

“I know that the high cost and the idea of overseas travel frightens people, but I strongly suggest participating in First Year Experience Travel. These trips are not for the weak; they require endless effort and self-control of complaining—your feet will ache until they become numb from all of the walking. You will only get out of it how much you put into it, so I believe that a student should be fully dedicated to the course. Take the risk and explore a brand new territory; if you are too afraid, then someone else might take your place. Who knows? You might return or end up living there in the future.”

“My favorite part of the trip was probably either the cèilidh or Arthur’s Seat. Arthur’s Seat had the most amazing view; and the cèilidh was immersive and so different from any dance to which I had been.”

“Seeing the differences in our culture and Scotland’s culture was a great experience.”

“I have always looked forward to traveling, I had a fear that I would hate traveling, but I loved almost every minute (except customs), and now all I want to do is travel, and learn and experience different things, and different people.”

“Our Spring Break study abroad trip very quickly became one of the best experiences of my life…Originally, my purpose for joining the trip was to follow the connections of my Scottish ancestors and to learn more about the country that my family emigrated from. This trip allowed me to learn more about my family, as well as to make my own memories of Scotland.”

“Scotland was absolutely stunning. I did my best to take pictures, but they do not compare to seeing it all in person…One of my favorite experiences was the night we went to the Ceilidh. A Ceilidh is a traditional Scottish gathering that involves a lot of dancing. I am not much of a dancer, but that night I danced like there was no tomorrow…Being surrounded by everyone there was fulfilling, like chicken soup for the soul. Everyone put their phones down and lived in the moment. We were all filled with joy, and present.”

“One of the main parts of the trip I loved was being able to see the history of Edinburgh and Scotland. Scotland has so much history that we don’t have, and it influences so much of their current landscape, social and political structure…Hearing Onya tell so much history of Scotland: the Jacobites, William Wallace, the boarder wars-it is so different and such a long history compared to our own.”

“While I loved being a fangirl at filming locations and soak up history, it was just as fun attending the Ceilidh and dancing and going to a traditional Scottish pub. Being able to dance and laugh and have fun at the Ceilidh was definitely one of the highlights of my trip.”

“…my absolute favorite experience was the climb up good old Arthur’s Seat…The view was incredible: on one side you could see the city and the ocean, and on the other mountains and rolling fields, just beautiful.”