The UK Soccer Experience FYE spring break trip was an amazing opportunity that I am so glad I took. Before going to college, I always dreamed of studying abroad in Europe. Upon starting my freshman year, I didn’t expect to get that experience so soon. One of the great things about The College of Charleston is that they have great study abroad programs. When I learned that I could study abroad for a week during spring break, I couldn’t have signed up faster! In the two months leading up to the trip, we learned a lot about English football in class. The most exciting thing was getting to experience it first hand. The first game at Nottingham Forest was an absolute thrill! The atmosphere was incredible as fans cheered in support of their team. The highlights of the trip are definitely getting to experience a different culture. From the outside, the UK may not seem as different from the US considering they are both English-speaking countries, however I enjoyed observing some differences. My favorite part of the trip was getting the opportunity to talk to local college students and have a conversation about differences within our countries. Two hours were spent talking about sports, politics, and slang, and I felt like I learned a lot from the conversations I had with people my age. Being able to exchange cultures and ideas is very beneficial to a college student because it helps us become more aware of the world around us. The most exciting thing was getting to experience it first hand. The first game at Nottingham Forest was an absolute thrill! The crowd was loud and cheering. One thing that I love about sports games in the UK that is different from America is the energy in the crowd. The fans were non stop cheering and singing their songs and chants specific to their team.

Although traveling to four different cities within two different countries, I can’t lie, it was very tiring. The first night was the toughest after traveling overseas and adjusting to the local time. And by the end of the 2 trip I was exhausted and yearned for my comfy bed back home. But I absolutely would not trade that experience for the world. Getting to go abroad for a week got me really excited about eventually going abroad for a whole semester. Visiting the University in New Castle opened my eyes to the possibilities of studying abroad and gave me a look at what it would feel like to be an international student. This trip made me realize how many options I have for study abroad in the future. Prior to this trip, I had already declared my major as marketing. Being a marketing major, some of my career goals are to work in sports and work abroad. With the internship in Nottingham Forest, I feel as though those goals could be fulfilled! Without this trip, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to apply for an internship abroad with a direct connection to the college.