Building on the success of LBCC’s Study Abroad program, Laura Jones and Scott McAleer led another trip to London this summer, offering programs in history and psychology.
This summer’s trip included stops at numerous museums and cultural landmarks, including the British Museum, the Imperial War Museum, the Royal Air Force Museum, the Victoria and Albert, the Benjamin Franklin House, and the Freud Museum.
LBCC’s History Co-curricular already is making arrangements for Summer 2027 Study Abroad in London. It’s tentatively set for 10-12 nights in late June and early July. The cost per student will be between $2,000-$4,000 on a sliding scale. Other costs not included in that fee are class credits and fees, lunches, dinners, meals on travel days, and transportation to and from the airport and transportation costs in London.
Important dates to keep in mind: The application deadline is Feb. 16. If selected a $500 non-refundable deposit is due by March 9. Full payment is due on April 6. Pell Grant eligible students can apply for a scholarship. However due to deadlines and award dates students need to commit and pay for the trip before they would be notified of a potential scholarship.
McAleer, history faculty, and Laura Jones, psychology faculty, led this year’s trip. Meanwhile, faculty Brian Keady and Liv Gifford led LBCC students on a trip to the Monteverde region of Costa Rica, where they experienced living and studying in a lush rainforest through the Monteverde Institute.
The Commuter spoke to LeAnne Trask, Pollywog director, about her London trip. She went as a student. Pollywog connects parents, grandparents, and caregivers to support, services, and resources they need to help their children.
How did you hear about this trip?
I’ve been working on a history degree this last year, and I received an email from Scott McAleer, a history faculty member, announcing the trip and what you needed to do to apply for a spot on the trip. We had to fill out an application, interview with Scott, provide a downpayment on the cost of the trip, and sign up for a summer term independent study class. I understand that there were a large number of people who applied, and I was so happy when I found out that I had been selected to go.
What helped make it possible for you and others to experience a trip like this?
There are people in the community who make donations to the college that are earmarked for this trip, and rather than have to pay the full cost, we were able to make a much smaller payment to be able to go. I am very grateful to those donors!
Were there any hiccups along the way?
One of our students was a bridesmaid in a wedding on the day we were leaving, so she came a couple of days later and had some travel hiccups while trying to meet up with us in London. She finally arrived, safe and sound, but a little shaken up by traveling by herself and getting flights canceled. Also, one of the other students on the trip got pretty sick and had to stay in her dorm room recovering for a couple of days before she could continue the trip …
Who were the leaders of this trip?
Scott McAleer, history faculty, and Laura Jones, psychology faculty. Each department brought along five students (I think that’s correct), and we traveled to and from England together and stayed at the University of London dorms together, but some days the psychology people went to different museums and events than we did.
Have you been overseas before and any first-time overseas goers?
Both of the faculty advisors had been to London several times for the Study Abroad program, and they knew their way around London pretty well. I lived in England for a couple of years in my early 20s, so it was wonderful to go back and see some of the same places but with the eyes and experience of an adult.
One of the things that Scott and Laura did that I think was so smart was to have one of the students lead the group to our destination each day so that we would gain an understanding of how the buses, trains, and tube system worked and be able to get around by ourselves, if need be. It gave some of the first-timers a real confidence boost to know that they could handle themselves in a very chaotic city.
For the majority of the students, this was their first time leaving the States, and to their credit all of them seemed excited to try everything! There were so many opportunities to try different foods, and watch and listen to people from all different cultures, not to mention all of the information we gained at the museums and galleries – it was definitely a learning experience!
What did you do there that you’ll take with you the rest of your life?
A couple of things stick out in my mind. One of the best parts of this trip was that we were given three full days to have our own adventures, as well as all of our evenings to do as we wished. On our first free day, I went with a tour company to visit Stonehenge. We had studied Stonehenge in one of my history classes, and I learned that Stonehenge was not originally built in Wiltshire, but the giant stones were actually dragged from Wales to its current location in Wiltshire. As our tour bus was whizzing down the M3 freeway on a foggy June morning, I looked out the window and there was Stonehenge rising out of the fog – it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen – I kept wishing my husband was there to see it with me. I loved the time that I got to explore Stonehenge and I came home with a beanie from the gift shop that says “ROCKS.”
Another experience that I had was going to see “Hamilton” in the theater district in the Westend of London. I have been wanting to see it for years, but never had the opportunity, so I took the opportunity while I was there. For those who haven’t seen “Hamilton” before, there is a scene where Mad King George comes out on the stage – crown, sceptre and cape – and sings a song called “You’ll be Back.” When King George stepped onto the stage, the British in the audience jumped to their feet and started singing “God Save the King” and cheering and stomping their feet for their ex-monarch. Then King George began to sing about the violence and death that he was about to rein down on the American colonists, and the crowd sat down and got very quiet. It was a gentle reminder to me that we do not all look at events the same way. So many of the things that we did left an impression on me like that.
How much study time was there compared to free time?
Well, that kind of depended on how brave you were … The Independent Study course that I signed up for included a two-page report on each of the museums, galleries, etc. that we visited (10 in total), as well as a 10-page paper addressing the repatriation of artifacts from museums around the world back to their country of origin. Thank goodness we didn’t have to give our opinion, but rather all the pros and cons of both sides of the argument.
You had the choice of working on your homework while you were there each evening, or you had 10 days to complete the entire workload when you got home. I am a glutton for punishment so I came home and scrambled to get it all done. I did take lots of pictures and made notes on my phone of things I wanted to remember, so it wasn’t a horrible task, but it was a lot to postpone until the last minute. Probably not my best idea.
Last thoughts on your experience in Study Abroad?
Thanks for giving me this opportunity to share! Scott and Laura were wonderful and patient, and the kids were great. The boys made sure that I could get my luggage into the overhead compartments, and pulled it off of the conveyor belts for me. The girls made sure that they didn’t lose me in a crowd and that I didn’t wander away when I saw something shiny.
I will probably never again in my life have the opportunity to do nothing but visit museums for 10 days, and I am so grateful that I was included (and accepted!) by this group of people.
For more information on the next trip in 2027, you can visit: sites.google.com/linnbenton.edu/international-studies/london-2027
