Walking through the legendary streets of Oxford, England, I could not wipe the smile from my face. This university is home to significant history, amazing architecture, and gorgeous libraries. If you had told me when I got to UT that I would have the opportunity to study at such a prestigious university, I would have simply stared at you in shock.
Experiencing Theatre in Oxford and London
Everywhere you look, there are hundreds of posters advertising live music, plays, and musicals. I had always wanted to see more live performances but did not know where to look. In Oxford, it was easy to see the posters advertising Shakespeare and orchestral park performances. Studying contemporary drama allowed me to experience different genres of live performance, and my location provided even more opportunities to see live shows. For class, we watched an outdoor play, an opera, a post-dramatic production, a National Theatre production, and a dance performance.
Outside of class, I watched two Shakespeare plays, Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in Oxford parks; saw Twelfth Night at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre; got to be part of the interactive A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the London Bridge Theatre; and watched the musical Hadestown. These experiences formed core memories of my time in the UK and have inspired me to see more live shows here in Austin.
Traveling Across the UK
Many of my favorite activities were made possible by the ease of travel within the UK. All of the shows, except for the park performances, were in London. I also completed 12 miles of the Seven Sisters hike and hiked up a mountain to see Highland cows. Both of these were difficult, but incredibly worth it.
Nature and Self-Reflection
Another aspect of my trip I want to bring to Austin was my connection with nature and meditation. Exploring the various green spaces throughout Oxford and London made me feel more relaxed and connected to my experiences. It was the self-reflection from meditating that encouraged me to start journaling. I have continued both of these habits and began hiking and journaling in Austin.
Learning and Connecting with Others
As this was a faculty-led study abroad program, all of my peers are also students at UT Austin. At first, I was nervous about making friends while in another country, but I formed connections that will last a lifetime. My friends and I competed in pub quizzes, traveled to new cities, went on challenging hikes, watched numerous live theatre productions, went punting on the river, and explored several museums.
While I learned so much from the new environment I was in, I also learned a lot from the people I was with. Recently, I have been taking more STEM-focused classes, so taking two English classes was a big change. I was able to identify the connections between my academic plan and the literature we were analyzing, and I learned a great deal from hearing everyone’s perspectives.
This open-minded perspective translated into my experience abroad, and it was exciting to meet people from different places and learn about them. My favorite live show, the interactive London Bridge Theatre performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, was a consequence of my conversation with a study abroad student at Shakespeare’s Globe.
If you have the opportunity to study abroad, take it! Every experience carries memories and lessons that will stick with you forever. I have made friends I will have forever and learned lessons I am excited to apply. I am thankful for this experience and am excited to travel in the future!
This post was contributed by Roopa Bindingnavele, a Global Ambassador for Summer 2025. Roopa is a College of Liberal Arts senior who participated in a faculty-led program in Oxford, England.
