Today was an enriching and inspiring day spent learning, connecting, and exploring in Birmingham. Our first stop was Joseph Chamberlain College (JCC), where we had the opportunity to tour the facilities and get a feel for the learning environment. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by faculty and students alike, which set…
Tag: Plus3 United Kingdom
How to Love Birmingham in 10 Days – Day 8
We’ve officially been in the UK for over a week, and today—Day 8—might just be my favorite yet. It began on the right note: I slept a whole night and didn’t have to wake up until 8:10 AM. A rare luxury on this packed itinerary! By 8:45, we were on the bus and headed to…
Birmingham Day 8: Black Country Edition
Today was our eighth day in Birmingham! This morning started out great, the night before I was able to get plenty of sleep and I did not have to wake up until 8 in the morning. We caught the bus at 8:45 and headed to our touring destination, Black Country. When we got off the…
Day 8: Black Country
Today, we got up and caught the bus to drive to the Black Country Living Museum. After walking down a little, we approached the coal mine, where they would be giving us a tour. We all got our hard hats on and our torches, which they called ‘candles,’ because the torches were so dim to…
Fun with a Side of History in Dudley – Day 8
Today we had a somewhat later morning which was nice to sleep in. However, the day started off another day with a bus delay, except it was the public buses. The bus was about 15-20 minutes late, but once we got on we were able to sit on the second level which was nice to…
Day 8: Black Country
Today, I woke up and got ready to ride the bus with everyone. We traveled to the Black Country to learn about coal mining and life in the 1960s. The Black Country was built on coal. In the nineteenth century, local industries burned coal for heat and power, creating thick black smoke that gave the…
Birmingham Day 8: Coal Mines, School Lessons and Fish and Chips
This morning, we go to sleep in a little bit before catching the bus to the Black Country Living Musuem. This museum is a historic replica of Dudley that depicts what life was like as coal miners. It has an open-air concept that utilizes a more hands on and interactive approach (it kind of reminded…
Half Way Through- Black Country Living Museum
I can’t believe that it is already about half way through our trip already! This past week has been so much fun and very educational. Today we spent our afternoon at the Black Country Living Museum and we all had a blast. This weekend was their 60s themed event and they had music and dancing…
Birmingham Day 8: Black Country Edition!
Today was day 8 of our trip. We have officially been here over a week! Today we got to sleep in a little before taking the bus to Black Country Living Museum. When we got off the bus, we had to walk 20 minutes to actually get there because we missed the connecting bus. We…
Coal Mines and Carnival Rides
Our trip today was to the Black Country Living Museum, and it was like walking straight into the pages of history. The museum is a living, breathing recreation of life in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it truly felt like we entered another time. With cobbled streets, costumed characters, and detailed reconstructions, it offers…
Beauty at Blenheim Palace and in Oxford – Day 7
Today marked a little over halfway point in our trip. We definitely have been super busy these past few days, but we were all extremely excited to get to see Blenheim Palace and Oxford. Getting to explore these places a little bit with the help of Tim, our amazing tour guide, as well as on…
How to Love Birmingham in 10 Days – Day 7
It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through this incredible journey! Time has flown by, and although each day has been packed and sometimes exhausting, the memories I’m making feel like they’ll last a lifetime. Today’s adventure took us to the breathtaking Blenheim Palace, followed by an afternoon exploring Oxford. We had a bit of…
Palace Walls and College Halls
Today was another unforgettable day on our journey, as we met up with the amazing Tim again for some more fun tours! We began the morning at Blenheim Palace, and from the moment we stepped through the gates, it felt like we had entered a world of grandeur and history. The palace is absolutely massive…
How to Love Birmingham in 10 Days – Day 6
Today was our seventh day in Birmingham, and it was among the most insightful so far. We went on a Black Heritage Walk led by the excellent Marcia, who was easily one of the most knowledgeable and entertaining guides I’ve ever had. She knew much about Birmingham’s history and made the most minor details meaningful….
Day 7: Blenheim Palace and Oxford University
It is crazy to believe that we are already half way through our trip! It has really flown by. While the days have been long, I have definitely made memories that I will never forget. The day started early as we were catching a bus to Oxford. Apparently, our group has terrible luck when it…
Day 7 in the UK
Today, I woke up almost an hour earlier than usual because we had to catch the bus. However, when we arrived at the designated spot, we discovered that the bus was scheduled for a different time and would arrive 45 minutes later than expected. When it finally arrived, we all slept for the entire ride….
Black Heritage in Birmingham – Day 6
On Day 6, we had the opportunity to go on a Black Heritage Walk with the lovely Marcia. She was very knowledgeable on the history of Birmingham. She had seemingly unlimited knowledge about how it was built up, important figures, statues, and lots of random yet interesting facts regarding the city. She took us into…
Day 6: A Look to the Past
Today was a bit of a late start, which was refreshing! We walked over to BCU and met Marcia, who was a part of the Black Heritage Walk Network, and spent her time talking to us about the history of enslavement in Birmingham and just the overall history regarding the black population in Birmingham. A…
Day 6 Back in Birmingham
Today, we visited BCU’s City South campus once again. We settled into the same classroom and prepared for the day. A kind woman named Marcia came in to educate us on Black heritage in Birmingham. We learned about Manilla bands, which were used as currency in Africa. Once the British realized their value, they made…
Birmingham Day 6!
Today we met up in the lobby at 8:30 to walk over to BCU for our lectures. We got coffee at Starbucks before going to the classroom to meet Marcia. When she got there, we previewed what we would be learning about on our walk and talked about the history of Birmingham. We learned about…