School’s out, scream and shout!
By Abby M.
Published May 29, 2026
May has been quite the month! After coming back from an extended spring break, there were two weeks of class, and now the “final” waiting period. In Manchester, finals are done quite a bit differently, in which the school has an entire month to give out finals after classes are over. Even after your finals…
The Harry Potter bridge
By Ada N.
Published May 13, 2026
If you've seen “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” you probably remember the part where Harry and Ron have to fly Mr. Weasley's car to get to Hogwarts. In this scene, they follow the Hogwarts Express as it travels over a bridge. This is a real bridge, and I got the chance to visit…
Spring break (from the UK)!
By Abby M.
Published May 1, 2026
Spring break has officially finished here in Manchester. At the University of Manchester, spring break is three weeks long, two weeks for Easter break, and one week for the non-teaching period. I did quite a bit of exploring during this break and enjoyed every moment of it. I took a break in Edinburgh, Scotland, where…
Johnnie Walker Scottish Whisky
By Ada N.
Published April 7, 2026
Whisky is a major part of Scottish culture. The word for whisky in Scottish Gaelic literally means water of life, and Scotland’s primary crop is barley, whisky’s main ingredient. I recently got to experience the significance of whisky in Scotland at the Johnnie Walker Journey of Flavor Tour. Johnnie Walker is the most popular Scotch…
Missed trains and memories
By Abby M.
Published March 30, 2026
It’s another month abroad, and it still feels like I just got here a few days ago, and it's hard to believe it's only a few months until I come back! This month has been a nice blend of hardcore studying and traveling to new places. While studying film and theater here, I have been…
Colinton Tunnel
By Ada N.
Published Feb. 27, 2026
I recently visited Colinton Tunnel in Colinton, Scotland. This tunnel is filled with vibrant murals that cover the tunnel walls and ceiling. Along with the artwork, the poem “From a Railway Carriage” is painted on the walls and can be read as you walk through. This poem commemorates the steam train that once ran through…
Merry ole Manchester
By Abby M.
Published Feb. 27, 2026
It has officially been almost a month since I arrived in Manchester, UK, and if I had one word to describe it, it would be: adjustment. Don’t get me wrong, I have really enjoyed it. The welcoming environment, the wide variety of activities around the city and the cultural diversity surrounding every corner make it…
The delicious Scottish breakfast
By Ada N.
Published Jan. 28, 2026
Scottish people have a lot of pride for their culture and especially for Scottish food. During my first week in Edinburgh, I had the pleasure of trying a traditional Scottish breakfast. The Scottish breakfast is a hearty meal that includes tattie scones, sausage, sliced haggis, fried egg, toast, fried tomato slices, baked beans, and fried…
December in Manchester
By Sasha O.
Published Jan. 2, 2026
I always forget that the U.K. is an island, but the weather here is not exactly like Hawaii or the Bahamas. Instead of breezy sunny days in the 80s, we have very steady weather in the worst way possible. Most days are windy, cold and rainy, hovering in the 40s. It has been like this…
Departing from Edinburgh
By Tom W.
Published Dec. 10, 2025
As I reflect on the time I've spent in Edinburgh, I'm surprised to see just how much has changed in a short 3 months. I've gone from being intimidated about taking public transit to it feeling more normal than driving somewhere would be. I've gone from not knowing what food to buy and eat to…