My (Chaotic) Off-Campus Study Abroad in Europe

Over the summer, I had the amazing opportunity to study economics at the University of Cambridge, England through one of Carleton’s many great Off-Campus Studies (OCS) programs. My treacherous tale across the lands of Europe has it all: fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles. Okay, it wasn’t The Princess Bride levels of adventure, but it was still action-packed with fun excursions, classes, and cities to explore!

London, England

A great aspect of this Cambridge program was the plethora of cities we experienced. For example, we spent a good chunk of our time in London, England. We started the program with the typical tourist traps: London Eye, Big Ben, Parliament Building, National Gallery, Stonehenge etc.

Sprinkled throughout these pitstops at London’s overly-populated landmarks were our program’s economics-related events. One such event being an exclusive tour of Lloyd’s Bank, a major banking company in England. We got to meet the CEO (Carleton alum!) John Winters.

Even with all this hubbub, there was still plenty of personal free time. I used these opportunities to explore almost every museum and bookstore in the city. I even had enough time one weekend to do a solo trip to Bath and Bristol.

The University of Cambridge Experience

The bulk of the program’s time was spent studying at the University of Cambridge. We stayed in Hughes Hall, each with our own single dorm. Every term-long OCS program through Carleton has three classes, like a usual academic term, and this program was no different.

One class, taught by Professor Solomos Solomou of Cambridge, was all about the modern British economy. Professor Michael Hemesath, the program advisor, also taught fascinating classes. With him, we studied cases of multinational enterprises, re-evaluated the Industrial Revolution, and explored the turbulent history of the Bloomsbury Group.

My time at Cambridge was very similar to regular Carleton life: school, study, gym at the local fitness center, and long strolls in the park. The campus was incredibly walkable, and we often went on expeditions to discover new restaurants to eat at. Even with all the homework, we still enjoyed the many fun activities Cambridge had to offer: punting along the Cambridge River, Shakespeare in the Garden, and more bookstores (of course).

One memorable tradition created by the program was our “All You Can Eat Sushi Competition.” In total, I ate about 200 pieces of sushi…

So Many Cities…

This program’s hook, for me, was the breadth of countries and cities we travel to, a number unlike any other OCS at Carleton. Through the program, we explored too many cities to count: Brussels, Ghent, Leuven and Bruges in Belgium; Manchester, Liverpool, and Salisbury in England; and Edinburgh in Scotland. To talk about every activity would take another essay, so instead, here’s a quick summary of a few of my favorite moments:

Fringe Festival, Edinburgh

Coincidentally, our time at Edinburgh lined up exactly with the start of the city’s globally-famous Fringe Festival! The festival is the largest performing arts event ever, where artists in theater, literature, and music come and share their talents. The city’s atmosphere was incredibly lively, and I got to peruse many local shows.

The National Beer Museum, Brussels

Yes, Brussels has a National Beer Museum. Yes, we went to it. Located only a short walking distance from the Grand Palace (so, so beautiful), myself and a few classmates had a great time there. We learned about beer’s surprisingly rocky history, how it’s made, and had a hands-on experience with some of the drinks. Such an unforgettable visit!

Countryside Biking Tour, Ghent and Brugges

As a fairly active person, my favorite planned excursion was our biking tour around the borders of Belgium and the Netherlands. This tour had us biking along a beautiful river on our left and past the vast countryside on our right. We ended the journey at a beach in the Netherlands to cool off and swim.

Mid-Term Break in Paris and Geneva (The Infamous Lost Wallet)

Since the program stretched almost the entirety of the summer, we were given a Mid-Term Break: a free week to travel and explore the world on our own. While some of my classmates went to Morocco, Portugal, Serbia, and more, I chose to travel to Paris, France, and Geneva, Switzerland.

Paris, France

At Paris is where the tragedy of my story takes place: pick-pocketed! If you’re ever near the Eiffel Tower, hold onto your fanny pack TIGHT. It was a tremendous loss. I can’t bear going into further detail. So tragic.

A Retrospective

Should you go on this program? YES. Should you go on any OCS program? YES. The food, culture, and especially the classmates I met are experiences and people I will never forget. Beyond that, living and learning in a completely different country pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best possible way. I gained new perspectives and independence. Carleton’s OCS’s aren’t just about academics: they’re about growth, adventure, and memories that will stay with you long after the program ends. If you want to further explore out antics, check out the program’s Instagram!

Nick (he/him) is a sophomore from Seattle, Washington, and serves as the blog’s editor. He plans to double major in English and Economics with minors in Creative Writing and Chinese. A member of Carleton’s Varsity Soccer team, he also enjoys staying active at the Recreation Center and running through the fields of the Arboretum. When not working out, he can often be found reading by Lyman Lakes if the mosquitoes choose to leave him alone that day.

On campus, Nick works as a Writing Consultant in the Academic Support Center, where he enjoys helping classmates with their papers. He serves as a Program Director at Project Friendship, where he also interns and hopes to expand the program’s reach. Additionally, he’s part of the Manuscript Editorial Board and volunteers (naps) at the Record Library.