Category: 2024-25

It is easy to Imagine that moving to another country or university would be difficult, however Strathclyde University offered support at every step of the process from navigating the application process, to applying for housing, to moving in. I always knew I had a mentor I could turn to with questions.

Despite University of Strathclyde being a large school, I never felt like “just another number.” After requesting quiet housing and having my request met tenfold, to borrowing professors personal copies of textbooks, to conversations with maintenance personnel, I always felt seen and heard.

Academics at Strathclyde are rigorous and the information is engaging. I have learned so much over the five months spent there! So if you are looking to study abroad, I would definitely recommend Strathclyde!

Isabella

One of the longer tours I took was a two night, three day trip to the Isle of Skye. The drive from Glasgow to Skye was an adventure itself with many stops along the way. And it was on this drive that I finally fulfilled my life-long dream of seeing highland cows!

 

 

 

 

 

 

One stop was Eilean Donan Castle, an iconic castle used in various films and featured on postcards. While here, I learned  the reason that the majority of Scottish castles are in ruins. There was a time period where Scotland and England were engaged in warfare, and the English armies would destroy the castles they left behind  so that the Scott’s couldn’t use them as defense later. It is a shame to see such magnificent structures in ruins, but the history contained in these locations is awe-inspiring.

Skye was beautiful. We stayed in Portree, the capital town of the isle. While there, we visited souvenir shops, ate too many fish and chips, and hiked the Old Man of Storr. We were lucky enough to have good weather on the day of our hike-  it wasn’t cloudy or foggy – so we were able to see for miles in every direction. It was a bit of a steep hike (so make sure you’re ready for it), but the views make it more than worth it.

On our way back to Glasgow, we stopped at Kilt Rock. Some say the rock is shaped like a  kilt (hence the name), but I couldn’t see it. However, it was a pretty rock with a gorgeous waterfall.

Participating in tours is a great way to meet new people and make new friends. It was on this trip that I met the girls who would become very good friends and future traveling companions.

– Isabella

I recently had the chance to sit down with Shannon Hersage, the Study Abroad Manager at the University of Strathclyde, to learn more about her background and what brought her to Scotland. Originally from the Bay Area in California, Shannon’s journey to the UK began during her junior year of college, when she spent a semester abroad in Ireland. She loved the area so much that she returned to the UK when she decided to pursue her master’s degree.

With lower tuition and one-year programs, European universities offered a faster, more affordable path than those in the U.S.  Remembering her positive experience in Ireland, she focused her search on the UK and ultimately enrolled at the University of Edinburgh. Since then, she’s built a life in Scotland and worked at various universities before taking on her current role at University of Strathclyde.  Scotland has been her home for the last twenty years. Over time, Shannon has fully embraced her life in the UK. She’s adapted to the culture, picked up a Scottish accent (at least on most words), and built a career in international education.

Located in Glasgow, the University of Strathclyde presents a bit of a commute from her home in Edinburgh. We chatted about the cost of intercity travel—surprisingly, a forty-five minute train ride can cost upwards of £30. However, Shannon pointed out that traveling during off-peak hours can cut that cost in half, which helps manage the commute. This was good information to have as I had noticed that the price for public transportation was a bit expensive for a university student and had been trying to find the most efficient way to utilize it.

One particularly interesting topic of our conversation was about the people of Glasgow. Shannon described Glaswegians as friendlier than elsewhere in Scotland – as if rather than being simply polite they go the extra mile to be kind. We talked about how Glasgow’s working-class roots may play a role in this strong sense of community and empathy This story about the kindness of Glaswegians is similar to what I have heard many times.

Talking with Shannon reminded me why study abroad can be such a life-changing experience. It opens your eyes to different ways of living and helps you realize that, while people around the world may have different customs and cultures, we all ultimately seek the same things: stability, fulfillment, and connection.

There’s no single right way to live a good life, and being exposed to diverse perspectives makes you more open-minded, adaptable, and grounded.

Isabella

 

 

One of my Favorite ISTours was the Outlander Castle Tour.  Even if you aren’t a fan of the show, I would recommend going on this tour because the castles are absolutely gorgeous.

First, we visited Dean Castle, which featured as Beaufort Castle in the Outlander series. Dean Castle is one of the rare castles in Scotland that is still in one piece – many of the others having been destroyed by British armies.

After Dean Castle, we traveled to Dunure Castle. Dunure Castle and the surrounding area served as three separate settings in Outlander. While the castle itself is in ruins, the grounds are well cared for with an outdoor maze and miniature bee farm.

Our final castle stop was Dunskey Castle which is set right on the edge of a cliff with beautiful views of the ocean.

On the way home, our tour guide surprised us with a stop at the beach right as the sun began to set – a perfect way to end the day!

Isabella

Continuing my journey across the Highlands, I visited Kilchurn Castle, Inveraray, and Oban.

Kilchurn castle was cool because we hopped a fence and waded through marshy areas to get close. Make sure to wear water-proof shoes or hiking boots when venturing into the Highlands- you never know where you’ll end up!

In Inverary, we visited Inverary Castle where the Downton Abbey episode Into the Highlands was filmed. It was an honor to walk in the shoes of the great Dame Maggie Smith.

On our way to Oban, we stopped at Saint Konan’s Kirk. It’s a little church built in the middle of a forest by Walter Campbell so that when his mother became sick,  she could have a church nearby. Despite its humble origins, a chapel was built for Robert the Bruce and a bone fragment of his is interred here.

 

Our final stop on this journey was Oban. Oban was super cute. Here I found a little chocolate shop where I now order boxes to be delivered to my flat.

All in all a pleasant way to spend a weekend!

Isabella

ISTours Scotland provided an affordable way to travel around Scotland, and I went on every trip offered during the season, which amounted to seven trips across three months. The first trip took me on a journey through the Scottish highlands from Loch Lomond to the Glenfinnan Viaduct.

While visiting Loch Lomond, I learned about the tragic history behind the song On the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond. It tells the story of two young Jacobite brothers captured during the Jacobite Uprising. Both were taken to England, but at the end of the conflict, only one was released—while the other was condemned to execution. Before his death, the condemned brother is said to have written the haunting lyrics:

You’ll take the high road and I’ll take the low road,
And I’ll be in Scotland afore ye.
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.

In Scottish folklore, if someone dies far from home, the faeries carry their spirit back via the “low road,” the path of the dead, while the “high road” is the one taken by the living. The song is a poignant farewell from one brother to another—a beautiful and heartbreaking goodbye set against the backdrop of Loch Lomond.

Next, we drove through Glencoe where we learned more history about the Jacobite uprising told through the lyrics of The Massacre of Glencoe, which told the story of the Campbell Clan being instructed to massacre the MacDonald Clan for their failure to pledge allegiance to the monarchy by the date demanded. Scotland has a dark and captivating history, and a drive through the Highlands reveals only a small part of it.

The final destination was the Glenfinnan Viaduct which was picturesque on its own, but I was there to see the famous bridge that the Hogwart’s express crossed on the journey from King’s Cross Station to Hogwarts.

Our tour arrived at just the right time, as we ran into a man who lived in the area and had been involved in filming. He shared stories about how when filming was happening he had to keep all the lights off in his house so he didn’t impact the lighting on set – an impressive feat with five and seven year old boys in the house. For his efforts he was given tickets to the London premiere of The Chamber of Secrets.

In addition to the bridge, the location used to film the Black Lake was nearby, and despite it being so cold, we were caught in a hailstorm and I dipped my hand into its waters. For the first time leaving Glasgow this was a truly magical experience!

Isabella

Excursions to the Highlands:

Strathclyde partners with ISTours Scotland to provide students affordable options to explore the Scottish Highlands and parts of England. Every weekend from the beginning of January to the end of March, IsTours offered an excursion or two. I went every opportunity a trip was offered and got to see places such as:

   ~ Lochness

   ~Inverness

   ~Glencoe

   ~The Isle of Skye

   ~Various Harry Potter filming locations

   ~Various Outlander filming locations

Because many of these locations are not easily accessible by public transport from Glasgow, the ISTours excursions allowed me to see more of Scotland than I thought possible.

These trips are a great way to make friends from around the world. Several girls I met on the Isle of Skye Tour became quick friends, and a week later we were planning our own trips across Scotland, and a bigger trip to Denmark! I would highly recommend doing as many of these excursions as possible during your time studying at Strathclyde.

Isabella

  

Life at the University of Strathclyde

It has been three months since I headed to Scotland for my final semester of university. I want to share my experience in registering for Strathclyde, flying to Scotland, and attending classes here.

The Registration Process:

The registration process for Strathclyde is very straight-forward and easy to follow. It is set up so each step follows consecutively after the previous one. This is helpful because it ensures the applicant does not miss anything. However, this also means that if the applicant is missing any required documentation, they can’t simply move on to the next step. This can add unexpected time to the process, so be sure to start your application process early! If any problems arise, the point of contact at Strathclyde (currently Shannon Hersage), is easy to contact, and I have yet to encounter a problem she could not solve in more than 48 hours. The one thing I found a bit frustrating about registration, is that when you request the courses you’d like to take, you are not provided a time table, so you have to request your courses and hope they do not overlap. A full course load at Linfield is three classes at Strathclyde. Two of those three classes have to be from the same department. For example, I took two law courses, and a history course. I was lucky in that my courses did not overlap, so I do not know what would happen in that situation. Overall, registration was a smooth process.

One thing I want to mention, which was so important for my mental well being, is the housing application. I am the kind of person who can go all day long and be around people, but I cannot function if I do not have a quiet, private place to come home to. When reading about the housing options at Strathclyde, I was very nervous because the descriptions of housing options ranged from flats of four to seven occupants. I have never had a roommate, so this made me nervous. However, on the housing application they ask if you want to be in a gendered dorm or a mixed dorm, near the athletic center, or in a quieter area. There is also a place where you can provide extra information regarding  your housing preferences. I believe I wrote something along the lines of “please put me in the quietest location that you possibly can.” And as a testament to the fact that at Strathclyde you are more than just a number, I was placed in a flat with two other girls who had also indicated that they wanted a quiet accommodation. We actually live in a four person flat, but there are only three of us. Being in a quiet flat has drastically changed my experience of living in Glasgow. It also doesn’t hurt that my flat is right across the street from an award winning fish and chips shop!

Flying to Scotland:

With a U.S. Passport, flying into Europe is relatively easy, and Scotland is no exception. There are a couple things to keep in mind though. First, the UK now requires that U.S citizens acquire an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). The easiest way to do this is to download the UK ETA App. From there, it is a ten minute process to upload all your information. My ETA application was approved within five minutes, so in terms of obtaining permission to travel, this was a very speedy process. The ETA is tied to your passport (so there is no extra paperwork to keep track of) and lasts two years.

The second thing to keep in mind, is that U.S citizens don’t always receive passport stamps, especially as airports continue to install electronic passport checkpoints. This is important to note, because to finish registration for Strathclyde,  they request a photo of your passport stamp. However, when I arrived in Heathrow, I did not have a long enough layover to wait in line to speak with an agent. So, I followed all the signs for passengers with pre-printed boarding passes (which I had obtained at the first airport), and ended up at one of these electronic kiosks. Luckily, Strathclyde allowed me to upload photos of my boarding passes, because what they are truly looking for is proof of arrival in Scotland. The moral of this story is, get your passport stamped if you have time, but if not, keep your boarding passes!

When you arrive at GLA it is a long bus ride, or moderate Uber to campus. If you arrive outside of business hours, there are plenty of hostels in the vicinity of Strathclyde, and you can pick up your keys the following day.

Studying at Strathclyde:

At Linfield, my major was International Business. I loved the international business program at Linfield, but I have always been interested in law. As I had finished all my degree requirements before attending Strathclyde, I decided to take law classes here. During the registration process, Strathclyde restricts international to students to year two and three courses. After three months here, I can see why. The courses are a lot of information and a lot of work (something for future students to keep in mind when considering Strathclyde as an option). However, the information is comprehensive and interesting.

Isabella

 

 

 

When I was in high school I participated in a service trip to Central America. While there, we were told that we should avoid throwing toilet paper into the toilet as the plumbing could not handle it. Of course, it took a couple days to get in the habit of throwing our toilet paper away. But any mistake meant having to fish it out so as to not clog the plumbing, and that served as a powerful reminder.

After two weeks abroad, I flew back to the United States. I was in the JFK airport and I threw toilet paper in the toilet because there wasn’t a trash can in the stall. When I realized what I had done, I started crying because I thought I was going to have to fish it out. After I remembered I was back in the United States, I started crying harder because it felt so ridiculous to be crying over toilet paper and I felt overwhelmed because I couldn’t orient myself to what country I was in and what culture I should be conforming to. That’s the first time I experienced culture shock – alone in an airport bathroom.

My second experience with culture shock came four years later during a month long study abroad experience in India. One of the most profound moments was driving through the slums of Kolkata, where I witnessed firsthand the challenging living conditions that many people face in lower-income countries. It was a powerful reminder of how fortunate we are to have the lifestyle we do in the United States. With my first experiences with culture shock being triggered while living in less developed countries, I naively believed that I would not experience culture shock during my time in the United Kingdom. I assumed that the culture would be very similar to that of the United States. And while in many ways it is, Scotland has surprised me with the cultural differences I have had to adjust to.

All these adjustments have been minor, but so constant that they are noticeable in my day-to-day life. Scotland is the first place I have seen where drivers drive on the left. Just as they drive on the opposite side of the road as Americans, so too are their steering wheels on the opposite side of the car. Because of this, the first time I ordered an Uber, I very nearly confidently climbed into the driver’s seat. Since then, I have adjusted to the different traffic and pedestrian rules. Thankfully, I haven’t tried to get in the drivers seat on any more Uber trips.

The second instance of culture shock hit me the first time I used a sink in Scotland. The faucets are split, with hot water coming out of one and  cold water coming out of a different one, so you have to decide if you want to wash your hands in ice cold or scalding water. I am still trying to wrap my mind around this design.

The final adjustment I have had to make is remembering that every individual outlet  has an on/off switch, so I have to remember to turn them on before use. It only took me one time waiting 30 minutes for a burner to heat up before I realized that I forgot to turn on the outlet for the stove, to always double check my outlets. Despite these daily occurrences, I believe I will adapt quickly.

My experiences in Central America, India, and the United Kingdom have taught me that we can’t control what will trigger culture shock and when. We must remember to be open to new experiences and be gentle with ourselves when the seemingly little/insignificant things set us off.

~Isabella Dixon

It was an interest in Scottish history at the age of eight that inspired my desire to live abroad and experience as much of the world as I could in my formative years. In my senior year at Linfield University, a partnership was formed between Linfield University and University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. I was so excited for the opportunity to spend my final semester of university studying and living in Scotland and fulfilling the dreams of that eight year old girl.

Everything about living in Scotland excited me – the history, the people, the culture – except for one thing. I grew up in a small, rural town with a population of 75,000 and went to university in a town half that. As the biggest city in Scotland, Glasgow has a population of 1.3 million. I had no idea how to navigate a city that size. Not only was the sheer number of people overwhelming, I also had to make the adjustment from a rural lifestyle to an urban one.

I have been here for a little over a month now, and integrating into Glasgow culture ended up being a lot easier than I expected. I learned to guard my valuables, I easily picked up traffic patterns, and I learned to enjoy grabbing a quick cafe lunch of a toastie and tea during the short breaks between classes. Other adjustments I had to make included elevating my sense of fashion – in Glasgow in January cozy sweaters, knee length coats, and flared pants are very popular. I also had to invest in a sturdy pair of walking shoes as the city and the campus are composed of hills and stairs.

I don’t know if I will ever adjust to the large number of people I see on a daily basis. It still boggles my mind that so many people live in such a small area, but everyday I feel more comfortable in my new environment. I look forward to exploring more of the city I get to call home for the next several months!

~Isabella Dixon