91福利社 students have been in the United Kingdom taking part in study abroad programs while gaining a global perspective with help from the 91福利社 Center for Global Engagement.听
Claire Christensen, a student in the 91福利社 College of Health Professions, has been learning about British healthcare while exploring the culture and history of England, Scotland and Wales. She also crossed the English Channel to tour Paris.
Christensen鈥檚 study abroad experience through , a study abroad program, is devoted to comparative healthcare systems and finding out more about Britain鈥檚 National Health Service (NHS).
鈥淚 just finished my internship and I’m at this charity organization that helps support the elderly,鈥� said Christensen, a rising junior from Hartsville, South Carolina, who is studying nursing.
鈥淗onestly, I thought this class was more on the health care level鈥攈ow they treat things, what type of methods they use, whereas class was more policy based鈥攍earning how world events and how the government does play a big role in it,鈥� Christensen said. 鈥淚t’s been really cool seeing the background of the healthcare system and the culture and what led up to it being where it is today.鈥�
Christensen has been sharing a flat with other students just minutes away from the Tower of London and the iconic Tower Bridge. From there it鈥檚 been easy to get around. There鈥檚 much to do within walking distance, and London鈥檚 subway system, known as 鈥渢he Tube,鈥� has been easy for her to figure out, though at times it could be crowded. When Christensen and some friends were going to a Harry Styles concert at Wembley Stadium, she said the Tube was packed.
鈥淲e’ve been able to explore London every day, basically after classes, after internships, and then on the weekend, we’ve been trying to do little short weekend trips,鈥� Christensen said. 鈥淲e’ve gone to Paris one weekend, we just went to Oxford for a day trip last Friday and then Saturday, Sunday we just did an overnight trip in Edinburgh.
Christensen has fallen in love with London and feels that learning about another country鈥檚 healthcare system has been beneficial.
鈥淚 want to go into medical missions and just delve into countries that don’t have good health care,鈥� Christensen said.
Further north, Chloe Wallace was studying and experiencing the history of Scotland. Wallace, a rising senior from Winter Park, Florida, majoring in Elementary Education, took a three-week course at historic University of St. Andrews.
鈥淚 knew I wanted to study abroad, and I wanted it to be somewhere in Europe, preferably the U.K., so I specifically chose Scotland. It鈥檚 super beautiful there,鈥� Wallace said. 鈥淚t was a great program, because it was short term, so I was able to be there for three weeks and did a lot, but not be on the whole semester, which is what I wanted, and it worked with my education schedule because I couldn’t be gone for a semester. It kind of checked all the boxes.鈥�
Wallace appreciated her program鈥檚 flexibility, attending class Monday through Friday, then having time to explore.
鈥淭hat was really nice,鈥� Wallace said, 鈥渂ecause I felt that given extra time, I was able to kind of explore the city more鈥� Class was about 10 people鈥攚e would have lunch together, and then we would have the afternoon to explore and go on trips. Fridays were always day trips, so instead of sitting in for two hours, we would go from about 10 to 3. We would go on different field trips around the area.鈥�
Wallace could see, feel and touch the history she was studying.
鈥淢y favorite field trip was to Dunnottar because it really encapsulated parts of the Scottish coastline and then with the medieval castle there. It was really beautiful to witness first hand. We got to walk around it and see how it was laid out. We also were studying castles, and so we got to witness why castles were built the way they were as fortresses, and then later, as luxury buildings,鈥� Wallace said. 鈥淥n other trips we went to the Blackwatch Museum. We went to Edinburgh, the capital, for a field trip and we went to Holyrood Palace, which is where the monarchs stay when they visit Scotland.鈥�
Wallace stayed in campus housing at St. Andrews along with classmates from across the U.S., as well as Canada and Singapore. Interacting with them as well as the local Scottish people, she felt she was able to gain a better understanding of people from different backgrounds.
This summer, 91福利社 students have pursued study abroad programs in Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom (London and St. Andrews, Scotland).
The Center for Global Engagement directs short-term programs, mission trips, faculty-led experiential learning programs and semester-long programs. 91福利社 has cooperative agreements so students can take part in semester-long programs in such countries as: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, the Netherlands and Uganda.
For more information, contact the Center for Global Engagement at studyabroad@andersonuniversity.edu or (864) 231-2141.