{"id":20575,"date":"2024-12-16T16:11:20","date_gmt":"2024-12-16T22:11:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/?p=20575"},"modified":"2024-12-16T16:11:21","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T22:11:21","slug":"beyond-london-reconnecting-in-bournemouth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/2024\/12\/16\/beyond-london-reconnecting-in-bournemouth\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond London: Reconnecting in Bournemouth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, it feels like the perfect time to reflect on the incredible opportunity I had this past summer to intern abroad in London, England, through IES Abroad. As one could expect, this experience was nothing short of transformative, offering professional growth, cultural immersion and unforgettable connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve ever considered studying or, as in my case, gaining professional experience abroad during your time at Mizzou, let me be another voice among the choir: do it.<\/em> For me, it was a pivotal step toward aligning my major with my career aspirations and building a network that I wouldn\u2019t have gained otherwise. Though programs come with additional costs, the investment in yourself is worth it. With proactive planning, scholarships, financial aid, additional jobs (thank you, T\/F Film Fest) and the support of my church families at Harvest Baptist Church of Blue Springs and Faith in Columbia, I was able to make it happen. My journey to this experience, however, was set on the rails of expectant prayer and a loose hand, allowing Christ to have full reign over my plans and expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And \u2013 whew \u2013 did He exceed them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, I\u2019d love to kick off this reflection series with one of the most memorable parts of my summer: my trip to Bournemouth, England. While many encouraged me in droves to explore other countries during my time abroad (and I had visions of castles in Dublin, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and strolls in Amsterdam), the Lord had different plans for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Change of Scenery<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before leaving for London, I only knew one person from England, my family friend Oshy, as we affectionately call him. Oshy lives in Bournemouth and had invited me to visit long before I knew London would be my internship location. It turned out to be the perfect opportunity to gain a more comprehensive view of England by exploring life outside the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"IMG_2365\"<\/a>\n<\/div>
Oshy and I at the Camden Lock Market<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The two-hour train ride to Bournemouth was an adventure in itself. The train was significantly overbooked, though I was able to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with fun, chatty locals the entire way. My twin sister, Aris, had joined me for the weekend, visiting from Mizzou\u2019s Trulaske study abroad program in Alicante, Spain, where she worked as a Student Manager. Her company made the journey even more special, and we traded stories and laughs along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we arrived, Oshy greeted us with the same humor and hospitality he\u2019d shown earlier that summer when he toured me around London. This time, he gave Aris and I a glimpse of his hometown, starting with a grocery store run to stock up on chocolate and other British snacks for our upcoming road trip. As we drove around, there was an immediate sense of comfort \u2013 something about Bournemouth felt deeply familiar, reminiscent of my own hometown, Kansas City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Durdle Door: Nature\u2019s Perfect Getaway<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After meeting his parents and grabbing some sweatshirts, we headed towards our main destination: Durdle Door. And what can I say \u2013 it was absolutely captivating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"IMG_1651\"<\/a>\n<\/div>
Durdle Door in its glory<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\"IMG_5201\"<\/a>\n<\/div>
Aris, Oshy and I taking in the views<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This breathtaking natural arch overlooking the Jurassic Coast glowed with turquoise waters, though its iciness deterred all but the most adventurous spirits. This was exactly the getaway I needed after working a month in the \u201chustle and bustle.\u201d We spent our time soaking in the beauty, scratching our names into the limestone, mulling over where the Lord was taking us in our lives, talking to other visitors, and even racing back to the car \u2013 a comical feat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later, over dinner with Oshy\u2019s family, I gained valuable insight into life in the UK. We discussed everything from England\u2019s housing crisis and education system to the current elections and the biracial experience in Bournemouth, which contrasted the town\u2019s hyper-diverse neighbor. These conversations were incredibly insightful, offering a side of England I wouldn\u2019t have seen otherwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Taste of English Life<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"Screenshot_202024_11_22_20at_2011.10.57_E2_80_AFPM\"<\/a>\n<\/div>
A proper English breakfast<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The following morning, we enjoyed a traditional English breakfast (British bacon is an absolute win, but I\u2019ll pass on the sausage!) and tea (which I do prefer to coffee) before catching the train back to London. There, I finished showing Aris around before her flight that evening. Although the trip was short, it was full of cherished memories and meaningful conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standing outside of London gave me clarity and perspective I hadn’t realized I needed. It affirmed that, while I can enjoy city life for a season, my heart belongs to quieter, more peaceful places. Much like someone from New York or L.A. visiting the Midwest, I saw a side of England that felt grounded and familial. It was beautiful to see a different lifestyle and engage with a family unit, an intimate and illuminating experience students may or may not get the chance to participate in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always More to Explore<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though traveling to other countries may be a potential part of your itinerary while abroad, I can\u2019t urge you enough to explore your host country in every way possible. Exploring the underrated gems within your host country can be just as rewarding. For me, Bournemouth wasn\u2019t just a new spot on the map \u2013 it was a warm reminder of what matters most: faith, family, and finding joy in the simplicity of life. This trip left me with a deeper understanding of England and a new appreciation for its culture. These memories are now a treasured part of my journey, and I\u2019m grateful for every moment that brought me closer to the people and places I hold dear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn more about this blogger\u2019s study abroad program: Global Internships<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, it feels like the perfect time to reflect on the incredible opportunity I had this past summer to intern abroad in London, England, through IES Abroad. As one could expect, this experience was nothing short of transformative, offering professional growth, cultural immersion and unforgettable connections. If you\u2019ve ever considered studying […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[195],"class_list":["post-20575","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","tag-united-kingdom"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20575","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/56"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20575"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20575\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20582,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20575\/revisions\/20582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20575"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20575"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20575"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}