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…
November in Manchester
By Sasha O.
Published Dec. 1, 2025
One Wednesday evening, Nov. 5, my friends casually invited me to come watch fireworks. To me, it felt random: no major holiday, no special occasion, just a regular weeknight. Once again, I quickly realized I was missing important context. That night marked Bonfire Day, also known as Guy Fawkes Night, a uniquely British tradition that…
Settling into a traveling lifestyle
By Tom W.
Published Nov. 10, 2025
As I wrap up my second month at Heriot-Watt University, I’ve started to feel truly comfortable with the lifestyle that studying abroad encourages. Over the past month, I visited London, several cities in Norway, Amsterdam, Fort William, Glasgow and Stirling. https://flic.kr/p/2rE5StJ Stirling Castle It was disorienting at first to spend so much time in different…
October in Manchester
By Sasha O.
Published Nov. 3, 2025
The first time I received a grade back, it definitely made me pause. It was for my Chinese class, where we were asked to write an essay about our language-learning journey. When I submitted it, I felt confident that I had met the expectations, so seeing a 75% initially surprised me. Wanting to understand how…
Finding balance in Edinburgh
By Tom W.
Published Oct. 3, 2025
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been a month since I arrived in Edinburgh. The weeks have flown by in a blur of classes, and I’m still getting used to the rhythm of life here. One of the biggest challenges so far has been learning how to juggle my classes while also enjoying all…
September in Manchester
By Sasha O.
Published Oct. 1, 2025
The very first sentence spoken to me in the U.K. caught me completely off guard. Standing at an airport Starbucks, the worker looked up and asked, “Are you alright?” I hesitated before answering, slightly confused. “Yes… I’m alright,” I replied, wondering if I looked distressed after my flight. In the U.S., that question usually checks…
My time at Oxford University
By Nick H.
Published Aug. 6, 2025
https://flic.kr/p/2rkYkif This is me in front of Big Ben. There are many important statues in this park I am standing in. For the month of July, I spent my entire time studying at the University of Oxford with the Kinder-RAI program. This was an amazing experience, as I got to eat so many different foods,…
London Tube
By Lily P.
Published Aug. 5, 2025
When it comes to getting around London the underground transport, otherwise known as the Tube, was probably the easiest public transport I’ve ever come across. Coming from the U.S. where, at least where I’m from, the only way to get around really is having a car, I had no clue what using public transport will…
The friends I made along the way
By Audrie S.
Published Aug. 1, 2025
When I started this program, I was nervous about making friendships. However, I have found some of the most amazing people who have changed my life for the better. Even though some of these people I only knew for a short amount of time, the love I have for them can never replicated. Staying here…