Matthew Jacobs and other Engineering in London study abroad students stand together in front of a historic building in London.

Study Abroad Student Report: Matthew Jacobs

Posted on by tceweb

My name is Matthew Jacobs, and I went on the Engineering in London trip. One of the things I loved about this trip is how I got to see how our classes related to the excursions that we took outside of class and the world around us. As we were taught thermodynamics, the class got to go on excursions to Key Bridge and the British National Science Museum. There we got to see old steam engines run, to put a perspective on the theoretical steam engines we learn about. Our circuits class also got an excursion to Bletchley Park and the National Museum of Computing where we got to see the practical value of our circuits class. The computers at Bletchley, which in part were designed by Alan Turing, were used to crack German military codes.

Outside of the course work I was able to experience the sights, sounds, and culture of England and Wales. I was able to go through the halls of the Victoria and Albert Art Museum, which is free to the public, and see the art that has been produced in England. The marble and lead statues were beautifully crafted and the paintings stunning. I also got to experience the Borough and Greenwich Markets which had cuisine from all over England’s former colonies. The tube was an experience that will be very hard to forget. It is unlike any public transportation system back in the United States, the tube was a uniquely British experience. I also got to explore Key Gardens and the hiking trails of Wales, where the beauty of the English and Welsh countryside really shone through. I was able to see the rolling hills of Wales and the exotic plants in Key Gardens.

This trip allowed to me see the growth that I have achieved and how to embrace change. With this trip I was able to truly see and experience a new country, all while furthering my degree. Before I went on this trip, I never would have imagined going on a subway by myself to get to a place I had never been before. This trip helped to give me the confidence to go and explore a foreign environment. I will always cherish this trip and hope I can do another program like the Engineering in London program soon.

Additional Photos

Matthew Jacobs wearing glasses and dressed in a black hooded sweatshirt, stands on Key Bridge with a river flowing beneath it. The "Big Ben" clock tower is shown in the background.
An aerial scenic view of a grass-covered valley, photographed from the perspective of a mountain top. Gray and white clouds cover the horizon.