There’s certainly a reason why the Semester in Europe program is so popular among Lee students. Between the fun activities and the constant travelling, you can find yourself falling fast for the beautiful views and the quaint atmosphere. If any trip fulfills Lee University’s rightful insistence that you have a “global perspective,” it is most definitely the Cambridge program.

Having only travelled to places like Belize, Haiti, Jamaica, and Mexico, I really wasn’t sure what to expect when going to Europe. Sure, there are all the clichés that you read about in the movies, but they never really tell you what’s really important. For instance, hardly any sink has one faucet – there are two, one hot and one cold, both to the extremes. Even in sinks that have one faucet, you can feel the difference in the stream of water. The best way to get the perfect lukewarm blend is to completely fill up the sink with both faucets at the same pressure and to simply emerge your hands in the water. It takes longer, but it saves you from scalding or freezing your hands.

Professor Alan Wheeler stated to our group before we left that he experienced more culture shock upon entering the United Kingdom than Mongolia. Perhaps that’s a bit extreme, but I can definitely see the difference. The things you expect to be different, such as driving on the wrong side of the road, don’t faze you as much as you think it will. You just have to be careful crossing the street, because you’ll look the wrong way to see if a car is coming. I almost witnessed a girl get run over in our first few days here.

The most amazing thing, I think, is how much you actually do on this program. I’ve been in Cambridge for a solid week upon writing this article, and I’ve already drank the water from the Roman baths in Bath, eaten fish and chips, sang “The Star Spangled Banner” at the American Cemetery, seen a Shakespeare play, attended classes, and seen several cathedrals and colleges. Yet, there still feels like there’s enough free time where you’re able to complete the homework and hang out with your group.

I’m not sure what to make of the experiences I have. I almost feel as if I’m in a daze, moving from magnificent historical building to amazing natural wonder continuously, unable to take it all in and really reflect on it. But I know that God has me here for a reason. I know that this trip has a purpose. And hopefully, I can help accomplish it.