Day 4 // From a small farm to the big city

Well when I said yesterday that I thought today would be exciting, I was 100% correct!

The day started off with a drive to Writtle University College.

Located in in rural Essex, it was established in 1893.

Set on 220 hectare estate (543.632 acres) with landscaped gardens, animal units, a working farm, sports facilities, research laboratories and design studios.

Our group was led on a tour of the farm facilities by Jane Hart, a lecturer in Equine programs specializing in performance and training as well as veterinary physiotherapy.

We were able to see cows, sheep, pigs and horses!

I actually had the chance to put on a pair of boots and coveralls and venture into the pig units and see piglets ranging from a few hours old to 6 and more weeks old!

We met several other employees who were happy to share their knowledge about the practices they use as well as discuss differences between agriculture in the U.K. and agriculture in the U.S.

(I am sure you are seeing a theme here in terms of the conversations we have with the people we visit with. Everyone has been so friendly and curious to hear about U.S. agricultural practices. Just as we have been asking so many questions about agricultural practices in the U.K.)

Once we finished our tour, we ate lunch provided by Writtle before heading back to the hotel. It was so interesting to watch the scenery change from quaint homes and green pastures in Essex into apartment buildings and busy streets in London.

After taking a long nap on the coach bus, a few of us ran to our rooms in the hotel to freshen up before we set out again. This time we headed to visit Buckingham Palace!

It was just as amazing as I thought it would be! We actually got there just as people were leaving one of the three Garden Parties The Queen hosts during the year. It was quite a sight to see people dressed so fancily as sprinkles of rain fell from the sky.

Once we took a million pictures, our group split up as some decided to go see the London Eye and the rest of us decided to go visit Harrod's, London's most famous department store. While we explored a couple of the many floors we looked in wonder at the variety of designer goods available. (I do believe I will have to make another trip back to Harrod's when I come back to London in a week and a half.)

After leaving Harrod's, we made a couple more stops at various shops finding small souvenirs.

We then attempted to find our way back to our hotel via the underground tube.

While it may have taken us a little (okay maybe more than a little) bit of time to get going in the right direction, we all agreed that it was an adventure and we made some great memories!

Once we finally made it back to the hotel (just in time to order food from the kitchen before it closed), we laughed about our day and enjoyed our delicious dinner. (I really do think the food was good, but I think it was even better because we were so hungry and tired from walking all over London for 6 hours!)

Then it was time to go to our rooms and get our bags packed and get a good nights sleep because we leave early (on the road by 7 a.m.) tomorrow morning to head to Bath!

Today was a wonderful day, not just because of the sights I was able to see and experience but also because of the bonds being formed between us students on this trip. Someone made a comment today saying, "We are all gonna get so close and then we are gonna go home and never see each other again!" While this may or may not be true, I am very thankful for the people I am spending my days with and the memories we are making. And I know that I will treasure this experience for the rest of my life!

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"If you never go, you will never know."