Reflecting On My Time Abroad

"Oh The Places You’ll Go" - Dr. Seuss

Karly Knutson 

30" x 40"

Watercolor, Adobe Indesign, Adobe Photoshop

Everyone has a unique story that is shaped throughout a lifetime. While each story is very personal, stories are meant to be shared. It is through these shared experiences that communities are created.

In the Spring of 2014, I studied abroad in Coventry, England. I met some of the most intriguing people, traveled around England and to 7 other countries, immersed myself into the culture and fell in love with adventure. Like many others who have studied abroad or traveled the world, the experiences made a print on my life and became a new chapter to my story. This mixed media image encapsulates this chapter of my unique story but also welcomes a shared meaning with others.

Each rain drop stops at a location I traveled or runs off the page to signify the 7 other countries I traveled to besides England. There are are a lot of hidden gems, you have to look close;)

Knutson Euro Trip '14

Throughout my life I have grown to realize how fortunate I have been to grow up in a family that cherishes time together and loves to travel the world. While I have never been one to be homesick, I can't express enough how amazing it was to reunite with my family in London just over halfway through my study abroad experience. We made sure to update each other about the details of our lives, make fun of one another (especially mom and grandma), and take in the world around us. Our week was filled with so much laughter and incredible memories that will last forever!! As Grandma Linda would say, "It was a splashing time!"

Tyler, Myself and Kyle at the London Eye

Day 1: Reunion in London
 My dad arrived early for work and we were able to get together for dinner the night before the whole gang arrived. The next morning my dad and I took a train from Coventry to London and eventually found the condo we were staying in after a few bumps in the road. After checking in we decided to get a bite to eat and go grocery shopping for the week with a few hours to kill before my mom, 2 brothers, and grandparents on my mom's side would arrive. Not realizing how much food we bought, we ended up having to push our grocery cart about a mile across cobblestone roads back to our place. We looked ridiculous and got a few stairs, but it got the job done! Don't worry we returned the cart!

The rest of the family was very tired and jet-lagged from their flight over, but they were troopers! After getting them some food, we ventured to the London Eye for an evening ride and beautiful view of the city turning on their lights.

The Knutsons with a beafeater after our London Tower tour

Day 2: Touring London
 Our first full day in London was absolutely gorgeous!! We purchased tickets for the Hop On Hop Off Big Bus Tour (or the "Hip Hop Bus" as Grandma Linda calls it) and made our way over the Tower Bridge to take a tour in the London Tower. After a relaxing lunch in a park, we hoped on the Big Bus towards The Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. We then made our way through St. James Park to Churchill's Bunker. In the evening we found our way to The Ship & Wale near our condo for dinner. After dinner the grandparents went back to the condo, while the rest of us found The Wibley Wobbly Boat Pub.

Celebrating Mum's Day with Grandma and Mum

Day 3: Mum's Day in London
Our second full day in London was Mum's Day. We made sure to find some gardens for grandma to enjoy! We also thought Kensington Palace would be an appropriate thing to do. Turns out, it was not worth the money. The women in the family had high expectations. Oh well! We walked around a bit more and enjoyed our afternoon on the Big Bus seeing more of the city. For dinner we had our minds set on finding one of the oldest pubs in London. In only took getting a little lost to find it. We also managed to find a chocolatier where we tried a chocolate beer and chocolate martini. We also purchased chocolate covered coffee beans!! I think I ate most of them...

Fam at the White Cliffs of Dover

Day 4: Canterbury and Dover
Our day trips in England with our private tour guide were incredible! Our guide was very friendly and knowledgable!

We began our first day by making our way to Canterbury and remembering the Canterbury tales. The small town, partly enclosed by castle walls, was so quant and had a lot of history! We had the opportunity to tour the Cathedral and afterwards we were lucky to stumble upon a grand opening and we all received free pulled pork sandwiches!

The Butcher's Arms restaurant in Priors Hardwick

Our tour guide then brought us to the White Cliffs of Dover. I wish we would have been able to hike them more, but there was so much to do and not enough time! We then went up to the Dover Castle and Dover bunkers. It was amazing how much more I learned about WWII in the Dover bunkers besides just the American history.

Day 5: April Fool's Day in the Cotswolds, Coventry and Priors Hardwick
April Fool's was no doubt my favorite day of the entire trip! We all had our attempts at pulling pranks, but Grandma Linda was definitely on a mission to prank everyone. :) We began our private tour in the Cotswolds. Absolutely stunning! It was the picture perfect area that I imagined England to be like. We had a picnic in Upper Slaughter then made our way to Kenilworth Castle. This castle was completely run down, yet the most beautiful! When roaming the ruins we had to imagine everything from what was still standing. After a quick stop in Coventry to show the family where I am attending school, we set off for The Butcher's Arms restaurant in Prior Hardwick where we met up with the Porter's for dinner. This authentic Portuguese restaurant will forever be my favorite place to eat! Our night was filled with great company, lots of laughter and stories, delicious food and such welcoming staff. Or as Tony Porter would say, "Besides the food and service, our evening was fantastic!" Definitely a night to remember!

The Knutson siblings pose + tourist pose = perfection

Day 6: Last day exploring London
Our evening before turned out to be a very late night, so it was great to sleep in! Once everyone was up and ready for the day, we made our way to a local farm for brunch. All of their food in their cafe was fresh from their animals and crops on the farm.

We then made our way back to the Westminster Abbey for a tour. It was absolutely incredible! The aspects that I really enjoyed was understanding the royal customs within the church as well as recognizing all of the historical figures buried or commemorated within the church. My senior year of high school I woke up at 3am to watch the marriage between Prince William and Kate. It was very cool to see where it all happened! Also, with the historical figures, I was almost at a loss of words realizing I was standing above the tomb of Charles Darwin and other important figures I have learned so much about throughout my years in school.

Day 7: Windsor Castle, Bath and Stonehenge

Our last day in England was spent traveling with our private tour guide again. Our first stop was Windsor Castle. By this time, we all felt like we had seen so many castles that any more would just be too much.. Yet, we were all pleasently surprised! Upon arrival we found out that the Queen was not only at the Castle at the moment, but they were preparing for the first official meeting in England between the Queen and Ireland's Prime Minister since the split. Therefore, we had to opportunity to watch a dress rehearsal of the parade including horses, bands, guards and two empty carriages where the Queen, Prime Minister, and other important personel would be the following week. Furthermore, inside the castle there was preparation already occurring for the dinners and celebrations.

After Windsor we made our way to Bath and Stonehenge. Both had amazing history and beautiful sites! It was great to have a private tour so that we could gather a little extra information that isn't necessarily picked up anywhere else. Now that I have seen them both, won't be needed to return any time soon.. 

We then made our way to a night ferry taking us to Cien, France.

The Family and the Eiffel Tower

Day 8 & 9: Normandy Beaches & Paris
Upon arrival in Cien we got picked up by our Normandy Beach tour guide. Our first stop was Sainte-Mère-Église where the parachute memorial for John Steele and other parachuters stood. We then toured the American conquered Utah Beach, Pointe Du Hoc and Omaha Beach. I remember learning about these areas in school, but actually being there was much more impactful! There is so much history and detail beyond what people learn in class! After our Normandy tour we made our way to our hotel in Paris for our last night together. We had a wonderful meal and said our goodbyes to the Grandparents as they were leaving in the morning for their Rhine River Cruise. With the five of us left, we spent a day in Paris enjoying what the city had to offer and each others company. We had the opportunity to see the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Love Lock Bridge, and had lunch outside the Louvre. It was a very relaxing day in a beautiful city! That evening my mom and I said our goodbyes as we left for the train station to begin our Italian adventure.

23 Days ~ 5 Countries ~ 1 Backpack

Packing for my current semester-long study abroad experience at Coventry University in England was difficult enough! In the past I have been known to completely over pack. Yet, I am very proud of myself that I was able to leave for the airport in January with one large checked bag, a backpacking bag as a carry-on, and a normal backpack as my personal item. I have managed extremely well with the items that I brought over. There are very few items that have not been used to their full potential. Furthermore, I am very thankful that my parents were not only able to bring a few summer essentials to Europe on their visit, but they were also able to bring home many winter essentials.

At the end of May, I had to pack for a 23 day backpacking adventure across England, France, Italy, Austria, and Slovenia. 23 days!!! 5 countries!!! 1 backpack!!! This felt impossible at the time considering the various weather conditions I was expecting and planned activities ranging from hiking to fancy dinners. While I accepted the challenge and managed to survive throughout the trip, there are aspects that I would have changed about my packing decisions. Most importantly, I wish I would have condensed what I brought knowing the shopping that was going to occur. On my flight back to England I had to pay an extra 60 euros because my bag was too big to carry onto the plane... oops...

Below is all of the items I managed to fit in the backpacking bag, thanks to the vacuum seal bags!!

1. Deuter Aircontact women's backpacking bag, waterproof backpacking bag cover, tote, satchel, vacuum seal packing bags

2. 2 long sleeve shirts, a quarter length shirt, 3 t-shirts, 4 tank-tops and 2 blouses *should have condensed!!!

3. A dress and 4 cardigans/cover-ups *should have thought to bring thinner layers

4. A pair of jeans, navy blue jeggings, black leggings, maxi-skirt and 2 cotton skirts *should have taken out the black skirt and navy jeggings

5. Cosmetic essentials

6. Workout leggings, shorts, athletic zip-up, 2 t-shirts and 2 tank-tops

7. NorthFace zip-up, rain jacket, and peacoat *Should have left the peacoat, way to bulky!

8. Hat, gloves, 3 scarves, belt, 3 headbands, sunglasses and umbrella *should have taken out warm scarf and hat

9. Ipad, travel pillow, bike lock, chargers and converter, passport, cards and camera with extra battery

Oh the Places You'll Go!! Royal Leamington Spa

Spring has officially sprung in England! The weather was absolutely gorgeous this weekend!

Saturday morning, Bailey and I began our girls weekend by hopping on the train for Royal Leamington Spa. The trip only took about 10 minutes! For the next few hours, we roamed the Jephson's Garden and streets of Royal Leamington Spa. We even made our way to the historical Royal Pump Rooms where people visited the various spa baths during the 18th and 19th century for leisure or medical purposes. After a little bit of shopping, we sat down at the Fat Birds Cafe for a late lunch. We then decided to take a little break in our hotel room and drop off bags after a full afternoon or walking, shopping, and eating.

Bailey and I on our paddle boat adventure

Bailey and I then had the opportunity to connect with my father's co-workers's daughter and her friends from the area. They were extremely friendly and they were able to point us in the right direction for a great dinner spot.

Sunday brunch at the BandStand Tea Room

After a quick stop at a Caribbean restaurant for a Margarita on the rocks, we made our way to a pub to watch the championship game of Ireland vs. France in Rugby 6 Nations. Can't say I knew what was going on, but it was a great atmosphere to watch the game! I was amazed how physical the game got and the injuries looked so awful! Yet, I can say I actually enjoyed the game!

For dinner, we ate at Copper Pot. I enjoyed a delicious Steak & Ale pie with mashed potatoes and peas. Yum! The place became very packed with locals celebrating St. Patty's weekend. We were able to stay and enjoy some of the night before heading back to our hotel exhausted.



Sunday morning, we awoke early and helped ourselves to a free breakfast at our hotel. We then made our way to a boat hire on the river where we hired a paddle boat out. It was the perfect morning to soak in some sun and get a little workout in.

Once our time was up we made our way to an American shop that held a variety of food and sweets that aren't normally available here in England. It was expensive though, so I only treated myself to a blue gatorade.

To end our wonderful weekend, we met up with Tony and Sue, my fathers coworker and wife, for a Sunday Brunch at the BandStand Team Room. Here I had my first traditional English tea and scone. It was great to catch up with them!

Center Parcs Elveden Forest

Today I returned back home to Coventry from a week at Center Parcs Elveden Forest. It was a wonderful week, but I am exhausted!

Elveden Forest is set in over 400 acres of forest in Suffolk, England. Being at Center Parcs was a wonderful glimpse of home, Minnesota. We even saw a baby dear! Beyond the beautiful outdoor landscape, Center Parcs included a Village Square, Subtropical Swimming Paradise, Sports Plaza, Golf Course, Adventure High Ropes Course, and much more!

This trip was run through the SEM (sport & event management) department as a requirement for third year students. The five of us American exchange students had the opportunity to join in on the fun! There were about 70 students on the trip. Each morning the students received tasks to be completed and on the last day there were presentations summarising the weeks results. There was also a career development aspect of the trip.

But don't worry, it wasn't all school work! In our free time we enjoyed the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, exploring the hiking trails, and meeting new friends within the SEM department. Bailey and I even took on the challenge of the high ropes course and zip line. There were also a few planned events as a large group including a badminton tournament, a 3 course meal at Cafe Rouge, and bowling. It was a blast!

As the SEM department intern I had the opportunity to help plan for the week. I designed a ten page booklet for all of the students and faculty that included information about the week including accommodations, the weeks schedule, and much more. Also, during the week I didn't complete the tasks, but instead I graded them. That was a nice perk!

Oh The Places You'll Go!! Liverpool

Bailey, Chris, Zane, Joey, and I hoped on a bus with the 17 French international students and a Greek MBA student from Coventry University again this morning. This time, our adventure brought us to Liverpool in the United Kingdom. 

Our first stop in Liverpool was Anfield Stadium. Here we had the opportunity to go through their museum and go through a group tour. Within the group tour we explored the press room, various press boxes, as well as the home and away team rooms. We then had the opportunity to sit in various areas of the stadium learning about the history of the team and the stadium. I've seen a few Liverpool games on the television, but I can't imagine what a game in real life would be like!!

Our next stop was The Beatles Story Exhibition, Beatles Mania. It was amazing to learn more about each member of the band and their history! Now I need to go to Abbey Road and take the legendary picture walking across!! That will be another London trip.

My new French friend, Peter, and our coloring of the Yellow Submarine

Oh The Places You'll Go!! Stratford-upon-Avon

"I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it" - As You Like It by William Shakespeare

This morning Bailey, Chris, Zane, Joey, and I hoped on a bus heading to Stratford-upon-Avon with 17 French international students and a Greek MBA student from Coventry University. Here is where I finally got to experience the real world of Shakespeare instead of attempting to learn history by the books or read his Old English works of art in high school. It was great to tour and learn about this world with other international students. It was a bit difficult to communicate with the French students due to their broken English, but it was a blast!

We began our adventure in the center of Stratford-upon-Avon in Henley Street at the Birthplace of Shakespeare.

Our next stop was Nash's House, a well preserved Tudor house. This site is right next door to the ruins and traditional knot gardens of William Shakespeare's final residence.

After Nash's House we made our way to Hall's Croft, the home of Shakespeare's daughter Susanna and her wealthy husband Dr John Hall.

The final touring destination was Anne Hathaway's Cottage, Shakespeare's wife, about a mile from the center of Stratford.