<!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073711037 9 0 511 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} Hello! My name is Grace Schmidt, and I am a senior Schreyer Scholar and Paterno Fellow majoring in English and minoring in Psychology. This summer I was extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to study abroad in London, England, for 4 weeks as part of the English department’s “Mystical London: English Nondual Traditions.”

Two Penn State English professors, Rich Doyle and Bob Volpicelli, led the program. Our classes centered on the history of mysticism and literature, as well as Ezra Pound’s role in the English Avant Garde. Each morning my classmates and I discussed our readings for three hours of class, and then we were free to explore for the rest of the day. Our class took weekend trips to Stonehenge, Bath, and the Lake District, as well as various shorter field trips during the week, such as to Sigmund Freud’s house and the Tate Modern Museum.

Settling back into my usual summer routine and re-acclimating to American culture for the past week has presented me with the opportunity to reflect on my experience abroad and what shaped it the most. Studying abroad in England definitely helped contextualize my education as an English major and also enhanced my understanding of a different culture.

One of the reasons I miss the U.K. so much already is that I enjoyed seeing how my adventures in England intersected with my studies in Happy Valley, an uncanny experience that occurred again and again. For instance, during the Lake District trip I visited Romantic poet William Wordsworth’s humble abode, Dove Cottage, which I found exciting because I read his poem “Daffodils” in my “What is Literature?” class freshman year. Surrounding myself in Northern England’s beautiful landscape allowed me to see the spaces that sparked his famous writings. Additionally, I saw his official portrait at the National Portrait Gallery and then read his original handwritten version of “Tintern Abbey” at the British Library. Ultimately, these experiences continually built upon one another and widened my understanding of Wordsworth’s works beyond my initial introduction at University Park.

One of my favorite London venues was the British Library because it houses original manuscripts of groundbreaking authors – I even got to see Jane Austen’s writing desk and early copies of William Shakespeare’s plays! A special exhibition called “Writing Britain” explored how literature portrays various spaces and places throughout England, ranging from scenic pastoral landscapes to the dirt and grime brought on by the Industrial Revolution. This showcase was absolutely incredible because it brought together various great authors’ works, such as Charles Dickens’ Hard Times and J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

I was also lucky enough to be in London during the Diamond Jubilee, which marks the sixtieth year since Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. The Jubilee occurs once every twenty years in the order of silver, gold, and diamond. Queen Victoria is the only other monarch in England to have hit this milestone. Needless to say, it was a huge holiday and extravaganza!

I witnessed the River Thames Boat Pageant, one of the major events, from the Waterloo Bridge along with thousands of other onlookers. I also watched the Carriage Procession, in which the Queen, Prince William, Prince Harry, and other royal family members processed from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace. Feeling the energy and pride in the crowds was indescribable!

Being in London for the Diamond Jubilee allowed me to see how monumental Queen Elizabeth II’s reign has been and opened my eyes to English culture, such as the deep history of the monarchy. Because of the Jubilee, I had the privilege of viewing exhibitions honoring her, such as “The Queen, Art and Image” at the National Portrait Gallery. It contained images of her organized by decade. I learned that because of the rise of mass media, the Queen became more familiar than any other monarch previously. A consequence of this familiarization is that artists feel freer to express their opposition or to challenge the monarchy. At Westminster Abbey I viewed the “Queen and Her Abbey” exhibition, which contained pictures of her in the Abbey, from when she was a little girl to as recent as Will and Kate’s wedding. Ultimately, I appreciated the timeliness of my visit to London and learning more about different governmental and cultural practices.