The British Experience 3

University of Leeds

Amy Wilson went on exchange to the University of Leeds in the first semester of 2011. 

There are few things in life that compare to the experience of being thrown into an environment entirely unfamiliar to you; into a context so vastly different from your own. My semester exchange to Leeds University, U.K was a profoundly altering episode in my life. Of the things which stand out, it is the resilience and adaptability which I had to learn which have stuck with me.

Leeds is a big city in West Yorkshire – probably one of the coldest regions of the United Kingdom. It’s a cultural beacon – hosting one of the best Repertory theatres in the country, as well as a throbbing jazz, hip-hop and live comedy scene. This was perfect for me, as I had come to study Drama and Shakespeare (as well as to experience an entirely different way of life, to meet some wonderful people, and to travel). I would never trade the experiences I had in my six-month exchange: from the fantastic English literature department, to the diverse circle of friends I made, to the fantastic month of backpacking around Europe. I was also able to immerse myself in the world of theatre – I made regular visits to the sparkling London theatres (cheap trip on the bus!). Through the University of Leeds community engagement programme, I was also able to connect with a group called WAST (Women Asylum Seekers Together) – a group of refugee women seeking asylum in the U.K. I facilitated drama workshops with the group for the duration of my stay in the U.K, which culminated in a public performance at ‘City of Sanctuary’ Asylum-Seekers’ Festival. My exchange experience taught me the value of flexibility, perspective, and self-motivation.