London trip pushes student out of her comfort zone and into adventure

IRONTON, Ohio – Strolling down old city streets, sipping afternoon tea and perusing art collections at prestigious museums sounds more like a vacation than a college class. For students like Stacy Griffing, though, these experiences are one and the same. 

 

Griffing was one of ten students chosen from a pool of applicants to study abroad during Ohio University’s “Exploring Art in London 2017-18” trip. The experience is open to all Ohio University students who are in good academic standing – no prior knowledge of fine arts is required – and students can earn up to three course credits.

 

The program began on December 28, 2017 and lasted until January 7, 2018. Most of the activities and sightseeing opportunities took place in London. Students visited several museums; attended a show at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre; enjoyed a traditional high tea at Fortnum & Masons; and rode the London Eye. One of Griffing’s favorite attractions was the Harry Potter Exhibition. 

 

Griffing brought home more than memories and souvenirs – she also picked up the tea habit, “I used to be a diehard coffee lover, now it’s English Breakfast tea every morning and afternoon.”

 

Participants also took a day trip to Stonehenge and the city of Bath. Griffing gushed, “I fell in love with Bath almost immediately. It’s an absolutely beautiful city.” 

 

For Griffing, the most interesting part of the trip was the trip itself. “It was a great learning experience to be immersed in a different culture – the accents, the food, the tea, the architecture. I could walk for hours and never run out of beautiful buildings and streets to look at.” 

 

The experience has left a lasting impact on Griffing and inspired her to pursue a career that allows for travel. Griffing states, “I definitely caught the travel bug; returning to London yearly is at the top of my to-do list after graduation.”