Studying abroad at Harlaxton has been an amazing time. However, there are some things about Harlaxton that I wish I had known before getting here. Some of this stuff you can probably find online, but if you are like me and didn’t think about looking this stuff up, this article is for you.
I was surprised when I went into my room for the first time, and there was a sink in it! It makes it very convenient for morning and nighttime routines.
You don’t have any choice in what you eat at Harlaxton if you want to try to only eat the food in the refectory (cafeteria). They make one main dish and a couple of side dishes, and that’s all there is. If you don’t like what is being served, you can buy something at the Bistro.
When I talked to friends about their time at Harlaxton, a lot of them said that they decided which school trips they went on while at Harlaxton. I do not advise waiting! The weekend trips get full quickly, and some have deadlines before school begins. I was hesitant to book trips before getting to the manor, because I wanted to go with people I knew, but that meant I missed out on some of the trips I wanted to go on.
I had gotten tips about public transportation before coming to Harlaxton, but it really is a different beast in the UK. You have to Uber or take a taxi (Uber is cheaper, but the taxi is more reliable) to get to Grantham. Grantham will have the nearest shops and is where the nearest bus and train station is. I suppose you could walk too, but it would take about an hour, and you have to carry all of your things. Grantham trains do not go directly to most places (at least not the places I have booked), so you will have a short period of time between getting off one train to get to another. Trains are also not as reliable as I thought they would be, considering that many people use them daily in the UK. There was an instance where the train I was on got cancelled, and we got dumped off at a stop that wasn’t ours! Always give yourself plenty of time in case issues arise with public transportation to places (because it’s likely there will be an issue).
Thanks to one of my professors, I did know this information beforehand, but many people did not know this before coming to Harlaxton, but there are apps you absolutely need while here. You need a railcard, so you need the railcard app. A railcard helps you to get cheaper train tickets. To book trains, everyone here suggests Trainline. Citymapper and Rome2Rio can help you get around.
I knew I had to pay to wash and dry my clothes, but I didn’t expect there to be only three washers and three dryers in the manor! The carriage house also has its own washers and dryers.
Trust me, you’ll need it.
I got to know some of the history of Grantham during a clinical experience I had. Grantham has ties to Issac Newton and many important points in history, including the World Wars!
My best friends did not come with me to Harlaxton, and I was so scared that I wouldn’t find friends and travel buddies. However, I became fast friends with some amazing people. I chose to get random roommates, and that really helped me in getting to know people!
Being away from the US and trying to do things the “UK way” has definitely been a learning curve. The biggest surprise I have been having lately is how secluded Harlaxton is. It makes planning travel just a tad bit more tedious, but the benefit is how beautiful the area is. There are so many trails and pathways to explore. Studying here is as good as UE, the professors, and your friends say it is. I hope this was helpful to those of you who are planning to study at Harlaxton, and for those who are not, I hope you liked this glimpse into what life in the manor is like.