Student Reports: Emily Beckman, University of Manchester, Spring 2016
I had always assumed that I would not be able to study abroad for more than a summer because I had always been told that it is nearly impossible to accomplish during a normal semester for an engineer. However, thanks to the support of the UT engineering program and the encouragement of my best friend and roommate, I was able to spend the spring semester of my sophomore year studying abroad at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom.
I took two engineering classes, thermodynamics and circuits, and three elective courses. The class structure was a lot different and took quite a bit of time to get used to. In the United Kingdom, you are expected to learn more independently than we are in the United States. Because of that, the final exam is typically worth 80-100% of the course grade. I had to adjust to the fact that I needed to spend time studying even if I had no assignments due for several weeks and the exam was months away. Although I learned that I prefer the structure in the US better, I think it was a very valuable experience to have to be responsible for keeping up with my own studying throughout the semester without reinforcement assignments.
I lived in a university flat and had seven flat mates from all over the world including China, Canada, Italy, and the UK. Because of that, we were able to learn all about each other and even cook each other meals from our own countries (some had never seen mashed potatoes before!). I had originally assumed that most of my friends would end up being students from England, but Manchester was a very international community and I ended up making friends with people from all over the world, not just from my host country. There was an International Society which served lunch every day, hosted cultural exchange events, and even organized weekend trips throughout the UK. I ended up making quite a few of my friends through the International Society.
On weekends I took advantage of the opportunity to visit many places throughout Great Britain. I was able to see Welsh castles, eat fish and chips in a small fishing village, visit Stonehenge, hike through the peak district, and have many other adventures. I could go on for days about my travels in the UK but my two favorite trips were probably to Edinburgh, where my friends and I hiked Arthur’s Seat and explored the beautiful city, and Stratford-upon-Avon, where I was fortunate enough to be able to celebrate the 452nd anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth and the 400th anniversary of his death in his hometown.
Over the Easter break, which is three weeks long at the University of Manchester, I was able to travel to Spain, France, Italy, and Germany. In Spain, we joined in the Holy Week celebrations, enjoyed a Flamenco show, and marveled at the architecture. I met with my mom and sister in Paris where we saw the Eiffel Tower and my sister practiced her French. In Germany, we visited an old castle, learned about the history of Berlin, and I was able to spend some time with some extended relatives who live in Cologne. I met back up with my friends in Rome where we ate one too many gelatos and saw the ruins of ancient Rome. My last stop was Venice where I attempted to navigate the winding streets and was able to ride a Gondola through the canals.
Even though I spent quite a bit of time traveling, Manchester was a wonderful city and felt like home by the time I had to leave. One of my favorite places was down by the Deansgate Canal where I could watch the people, the little boats, and enjoy the sight of Beetham Tower in the background. Although I have never been an avid sports fan, I have never had as much fun at a game as I have a Manchester United football game. In addition to all of the great modern activities going on, Manchester was also a place full of museums, history, and great achievements. Many famous people called Manchester home, including Alan Turing, Ernest Rutherford, Neils Bohr, and John Dalton. During my last couple days in the city, I spent some time just walking the streets of Manchester and thinking about how much the city had become a part of my life and how much I was going to miss living there. It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Studying abroad at the University of Manchester was definitely a life changing experience. I was able to meet lots of wonderful people, not just from Britain but around the world, and was able to travel to more places than I thought I would ever be able to see. I learned to be more independent, traveled on my own at times, and learned to deal with not having access to a personal car (something I have been appreciating much more upon my return). I have been exposed to many more cultures, viewpoints, and opinions, and now I have friends from around the globe. There is nothing that could replace the friendships I have made or the experiences I have had. Hopefully, someday I will be able to go back again to see the place which has influenced me so much.