Studying Abroad in London with the Honors College

Nina Gallo, a junior in the Portland State Honors College, majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a minor in Spanish, had the opportunity to travel to London with other Honors students on an Honors College faculty-led study abroad program. Along with twenty other Honors students, Nina spent a month exploring London and the surrounding areas in the bustling city. She was first intrigued by the program, because she had never left the country before and thought it would “be a fun way to earn credits and explore new things.” When applying for the program, the expense of the program had Nina worried. Luckily, Nina received a $2,000 Honors scholarship upon acceptance into the program, which was able to alleviate her worries.

Nina found traveling abroad as part of a school sponsored program to be very supportive. “It was surprisingly helpful. It felt good to be in a group that aimed to help one another, especially when going through the airport. I remember being comforted when we landed that we all took the same Uber to our destination. Having a group meant I didn't have to do anything alone,” stated Nina. For someone who has not traveled extensively before, being part of a group helped alleviate some of the stress and fear of being in a foreign country. Nina and the other Honors students stayed in Kentish Town, an area in northwest London.

On the study abroad program, Nina took two Honors courses and received eight upper division credits. She took one class taught by Dr. York on medieval history. The course forced Nina to think critically about stories and who told them. With London and Great Britain’s history with colonization, she learned analyzing the perspective of the author was key, especially when it came to power dynamics. During this class Nina reflected on the history we are often taught in school. During the class, Nina often thought about who was telling the story, and how that influenced how the story was portrayed.

She took a second course taught by Dr. Glascott. This was a literature course which also involved watching many musicals and plays. The class examined the various methods a story can be told. Mediums such as plays or novels can be interpreted in a myriad of ways. The interpretations of a text or other work can be as diverse as its audience. The students read London-based literature such as Canterbury Tales which changed the way she viewed the city, as she was able to read about the culture and history of London, while also being able to live in it after class had ended.

In her free time away from the classroom, Nina loved exploring London and nearby cities. She recalls spending time in countless museums and the joy of being lost in a new city. Even simple tasks such as grocery shopping felt fun and exciting. As part of the program, the students got to take a day trip to Canterbury. While in Canterbury, they saw the famous cathedral. The cathedral was a central point in the novel they read as a class. She recalled the serene feeling of exploring an area that she had read about for weeks.

Nina had absolutely no regrets about going on the trip. “It made me feel more confident in myself, ” she shared. Studying abroad was one of Nina’s biggest dreams, and she was able to achieve it through the Honors College.