70FALL INTERNATIONAL Five countries and 19 locations are added to the HUE program in the fall 2021 semester. HARDING UNIVERSITY IN ENGLAND (HUE) expanded its borders in the fall 2021 semester to include five countries and 19 locations, with a total of 20 students on the trip. The students began their journey with an 11-day stay in Iceland and enjoyed opportunities to explore the country’s natural beauty. “While we were in Iceland, there was a day that we went to a waterfall in one of the national parks, and it was the first experience of the trip that truly took my breath away,” junior Claire Cunningham said. “I was in awe of the power and strength of something so beautiful. I was mesmerized by the wonder of God’s creation.” The HUE group traveled from Iceland to London, England— a city they made home for six weeks. “I picked this trip because it was the perfect balance between constant cultural exposure and getting a taste of being a local,” junior Ashlyn Nutt said. After their stay in London, the students enjoyed a fiveday trip to Scotland before joining the Harding University in Florence program for a stay at the villa and a short trip along the southern coast of Italy. Junior Lily Stebbins recalled one of her favorite experiences from the trip to Italy. “Riding bikes around the surviving medieval walls in Lucca, Italy [was my favorite],” Stebbins said. “It was the most beautiful fall day, and we spent hours whirring in loops around the city, stopping only for cappuccinos and pastries at a nearby coffee shop.” HUE ended group travel with a week and a half in Spain, traveling to five of its major cities. However, for many students, this wasn’t the end of their journey as they traveled in small groups for a week. “Including free travel, I was able to go to seven countries: Iceland, England, Scotland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and France,” Cunningham said. “I’ve never had so many varying experiences in such quick succession, and even though it was stressful at times, it was entirely worth it.” Though classes were taught throughout the trip, the variety of experiences and cultures offered lessons of their own. “Each location was culturally unique in more ways than just their various dialects,” Stebbins said. “Observing the differences in methods of transportation, eating habits, fashion and so much more made me realize just how big and complex the world is.” WRITTEN BY GRACE HURT PAELLA PALS The Harding University in England group sits in the My First Paella kitchen. The group of abroad students took a cooking class in Spain, making paella. Photo courtesy of: Tim Westbrook SUNS OUT, TOURS OUT Harding University in England students tour Scott Monument in Edinburgh. The students visited five more countries than previous programs. Photo courtesy of: Grace Hurt HUES NEW
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==