Hirschy Highlight: HAGS!

For the past two days, we have left lovely London and have been exploring the heart of Stratford-Upon-Avon. The two locations, while being in the same country, are vastly different. The bustling atmosphere was left behind after our two-hour commute to the quiet and quaint town of Stratford. Within the time we’ve been here, we have visited Shakespeare’s Birthplace and his wife’s cottage. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, that I will always be shocked to realize that I’m walking in the same place as many have hundreds of year ago.

Stratford-Upon-Avon is like a town frozen in time. The streets are cobblestone, and the buildings look like melting cheese. A lot of the buildings are still the original buildings and have just been updated or supported over time. The shops inside the buildings are all new, so seeing a Subway next to Shakespeare’s Birthplace was a very silly sight.

The biggest difference between London and Stratford that I have noticed is for SURE the lack of public transportation. I never thought I’d miss the tube so much, even though it makes my nose turn black. After having to walk twenty-five minutes (or more) to Anne Hathaway’s cottage, I really missed having the tube to rely on. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to survive without having some form of transport that’s as easy as tapping in and out.

This trip so far has been absolutely amazing. It’s the first time I’ve been fully on my own and independent and able to make decisions based on my own scheduling. I went to Italy for a week when I was in eighth grade, but every minute of our lives was planned. But on this trip, we’ve had so much time to go out and explore and follow the interests we had. I’ve seen probably around sixteen shows, and most of them I probably wouldn’t have seen if I didn’t have that opportunity. I saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button only because everyone had talked about how amazing it was. I wouldn’t have seen it without those influences.

I have also challenged myself to try new foods while I’m here. We’ve all become accustomed to using the term “When in Rome” even though we’re in England. I have tried a chicken schnitzel, butter chicken, and whatever “Real California Style Tacos” are. I’ve never been the type of person to really branch out and usually just stick with what I know or am familiar with. But being abroad encouraged me to try new things and experience everything I could.

I have made so many friends here as well. I came into this trip only knowing a handful of people and was very worried that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the experiences as much. But because we are all here together and because, naturally, everyone is so nice, I have never felt alone. And when I got a stroke of homesickness, I had so many people to turn to and feel better. And I got to spend my birthday here! And when I came downstairs, everyone had signed a birthday card for me. It was a sweet gesture that made me feel so happy, and it was within our first week here!

This experience has just been amazing, and I got to learn in such an immersive way. I was able to have so many self-guided tours of museums and the city and it was my favorite way to take it all in. Not to mention, I met at least 3 celebrities and NARROWLY missed being in the same theatre as Zendaya and Tom Holland (WHY UNIVERSE WHY). London has been a dream and I would love to come back someday (maybe even live here for a while). I hope to have an experience like this again and I will never forget the memories I have made here.