Traveling abroad was a time for embracing the cultural changes that came with a new country. Students attending Harding University in England realized that the travel experience was shaped in part by the variety of means of transportation available in England. Common means of transportation were double-decker buses, bikes, trains and the London Tube, the subway network that covered the whole city. Senior Kalvin Graham said that the systems made touring England easier. "The primary difficulty of traveling in London is just acquiring confidence in navigating the city," Graham said. "Once one has learned that a Tube map is man's best friend, everything grows much easier." HUE Director Lauren Knight said that public transportation was an interesting way to experience and meet different types of people. "You get up close and personal with all walks of life," Knight said. "Most days, you'll find yourself sitting next to people you would probably never interact with otherwise." Adjunct professor Dr. Dennis Organ taught two courses in the HUE program and worked with his fourth HUE group in the fall. According to Organ, the transportation differences transformed the entire experience of England. "At HUE, if you have an hour or two, you can visit a great museum or historical site,'' Organ said. "If you have only 30 minutes, there's time for a walking round trip to Covent Garden or Trafalgar Square for a cup of tea. It's possible to pack so much into your time in London." As long-time HUE participants, Organ and his wife, adjunct professor Sherry Organ, were assets for students with their extensive knowledge of traveling in England. "[We] can point them to places, pieces of literature, works of art and music that connect with the history and culture we're studying," Organ said. "They're not half a world away. They're half an hour away." During their semester abroad, students visited the British Museum, toured cathedrals, and viewed many famous works of art. That exposure, made possible through the variety of travel options, broadened the students' perspective and appreciation for other cultures. "This experience has certainly reinforced in me a respect for culture and for history that I believe we oftentimes lose sight of in the United States," Graham said. Bethany Nicholson "We were truly awed by the beauty of God's creation from sunrise to sunset." Senior Kalvin Graham 41
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