Sunset over Swansea Bay from Mayhill Feb 11. Once a major port and industrial city in South Wales, Swansea is now home to Swansea University, a destination for Colorado State University's Education Abroad programs.
Studying abroad has been the most incredible adventure of my life. I naively thought I knew what to expect in Swansea, Wales, having previously visited London and several other cities, towns and villages in southern England. However, there is a noticeable culture shift when you cross the Welsh border — Wales is a country of quaint villages, castles, rolling hills, lush valleys and stunning natural beaches. It has a unique national culture and heritage that its people are fiercely proud of.
While life moves much slower here than it does in English cities, I was quickly won over by the warmth and kindness of the Welsh people, and I have felt incredibly welcome since the second I arrived on campus.
Although I've thoroughly enjoyed my time in Swansea, some of the greatest highlights of this experience have been visiting other cities. My world has grown so much larger this semester and I am incredibly fortunate to have had this opportunity.
While I'm excited to see my friends again, eat at all the restaurants I've been craving for months, and return to my position at CSU's student newspaper, a large part of me isn't ready to leave. To anyone considering studying abroad, my advice is to take the opportunity while you can. Keep an open mind and throw yourself into experiencing the culture of your host city. You won’t regret it and you’ll come back with so many stories to tell.
Sunset over Swansea Promenade June 3. The promenade stretches five miles along the coast of Swansea Bay and forms part of the United Kingdom's National Cycle Network and the Wales Coast Path.
The Radcliffe Camera in Oxford, England Feb. 12. Built from 1737 to 1749, the Camera now houses a reading room for the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Library.
All Souls College at the University of Oxford Feb 12. Founded in 1438, the College has no undergraduate members and all members are automatically made fellows.
The sun sets on Bay Campus Beach in Swansea, Wales March 4. The Swansea University Bay Campus opened in September 2015 and has direct access to the beach.
The London Eye March 14. The London Eye was the world’s tallest Ferris wheel when it opened in 2000 and is the United Kingdom’s most popular paid tourist attraction.
The London Eye at sunset March 14. The London Eye was the world’s tallest Ferris wheel when it opened in 2000 and is the United Kingdom’s most popular paid tourist attraction.
Three Cliffs Bay March 21. Located in the Gower peninsula, the United Kingdom's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Three Cliffs Bay is six miles southwest of Swansea University.
The Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, England March 26. Opened in 1864, the bridge was constructed as a monument to famed Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who won a contest to design a bridge in this location in 1829.
The Eiffel Tower from the Trocadero Fountains April 22. Opened in 1889, the Eiffel Tower has become an iconic symbol of Paris.
Sunset over Paris from the top of the Montparnasse Tower April 22. Public outcry after the tower's construction led to a ban on buildings taller than seven stories in 1973, which has since been overturned in outer parts of the city.
The Eiffel Tower and the skyline of La Défense April 22. Opened in 1889, the Eiffel Tower has become an iconic symbol of Paris, while La Défense is located approximately two miles outside of Paris and is the largest purpose-built business district in Europe.
The Canal Quarter in Birmingham, England June 8. Birmingham is the second most populous city in England and has more miles of canals than Venice.
Cannon Street in Birmingham, England June 8. Birmingham is the United Kindgom’s second-largest city by population and the largest city in England’s West Midlands.
The poppies sculpture at the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester, England June 10. Manchester is a major former industrial city in the North of England and the IWM North is dedicated to chronicling the human impact of war.
Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, England June 10. The stadium has a capacity of 74,140, making it the largest in the English Premier League.
Liverpool Lime Street Station June 11. Opened in 1836, Liverpool Lime Street is the world's oldest operational train station and is the main station serving Liverpool, England.
A man spray paints a section of the Belfast Peace Wall June 16. Constructed in the 1970s in an attempt to control violence between Belfast's primarily Catholic republican neighborhoods and its primarily Protestant loyalist neighborhoods, the peace wall is covered in messages of peace, love, and hope left by people visiting from around the world.
The Parliament of Northern Ireland June 16.
Edinburgh Castle and Castle Rock June 17. Built on top of an extinct volcano overlooking Edinburgh, Scotland, the castle is Scotland’s most-visited paid tourist attraction.
The London skyline from the top of Greenwich Park June 21. Greenwich Park is home to the Royal Observatory, where Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian were established.
Brussels, Belgium from the top of the Brussels Atomium June 24. Built as the centerpiece for the 1958 World's Fair, the Atomium features an observation platform and temporary exhibition spaces.
The Damrak Waterfront in Amsterdam June 26. Damrak is a major street in Amsterdam, linking Amsterdam Centraal station, the city center and Dam Square.
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This story originally appeared in an abridged form in The Rocky Mountain Collegian, Vol. 132, No. 1.
