Arcadia England

In her latest instalment, intrepid blogger Emma Wonsowicz heads to Brighton and Oxford (but still makes time for culinary adventures.)

Another week has sped by impossibly fast, so thank God I have these blogs to help me recall everything that transpired! This week brought a couple of exciting field trips, some much needed sunshine, and, of course, more food!

Monday was a typically English rainy day, but it provided the perfect opportunity for a breather day to catch up on homework and laundry. One of the benefits of staying in another country for a longer period of time is that you’re afforded the chance to visit some sites more than once. In between classes, I took a quick detour to the British Museum, which I have explored a couple of times prior. However, I’m a firm believer that it takes at least three trips to a venue before you can really soak it in; the first time you’re too overwhelmed just trying to figure out directions, the second time is really your first chance to take it all in, and the third time allows you to simply enjoy the experience.

Tuesday culminated in another football match—a victory for England (could football possibly be coming home again?). We celebrated Wednesday’s warm weather with a class field trip to Abbey Road...only to find that the iconic crossing itself was under construction. On the bright side, I was able to make my mark on the white wall outside (bonus points to whoever can guess what Beatles song this quote comes from). I took advantage of the sunshine by spending the rest of the day at Camden Market, then Hyde Park. I returned to Hyde Park on Thursday to check out the very popular Royal Style in the Making exhibit at Kensington Palace, where I took plenty of pictures of Princess Diana’s wedding dress to send to my mom. At night, I participated in a “Pub Club” meeting hosted by Arcadia at Ye Olde Mitre, one of the oldest pubs in all of England.

Friday consisted of another class field trip, this time to the seaside town of Brighton. After a brief walking tour explaining the town’s liberal roots, my classmates and I got brunch, rode a rollercoaster on the pier, checked out the local markets, and walked along the (very rocky) beach. My flatmates and I ventured out on another train ride the following day to explore Oxford’s historic campus, where I took a self-guided audio tour around the Bodleian Old Library and bought probably one too many books at some nearby shops.

As always, I sought some delicious meals throughout my adventures. One of my top recommendations from this week is an Indian restaurant called Dishoom; it’s an upscale local chain, and the chicken ruby is to die for. Other honorable mentions include the Knickerbocker Glory (a raspberry infused sundae tailormade for hot summer days), afternoon tea at the Mock Turtle in Brighton, chicken doner and baklava from a kebab shop near our residence, and a traditional Sunday roast.

This seems like an opportune moment to discuss one of the harsh realities of study abroad: spending money. No matter how strictly we try to budget, my flatmates and I constantly find ourselves giving our credit cards a hefty workout. Between souvenirs, cool vintage finds, train tickets, food, and drinks at the pub, it is impossible to not overspend. As someone who prides myself on being financially conscious, I can’t help but wince every time I check my bank transactions. However, I try to remember that studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and certainly not one you want to skimp on. I also reassure myself that I worked hard leading up to this trip to save money, and I’ll work hard when I get home to repair my savings...but that’s a problem for another day!