From Berlin to the Andes: Students discovering Language, History, Philosophy and Art through College-supported travel

'I completed a month-long Portuguese language course at B2 level at the University of Lisbon. During the month I stayed in Lisbon, I also visited historic and cultural sites outside of the city, for example Belém, Sintra and Cascais. I also saw many places of interest within the city such as the Casa de Fernando Pessoa museum, the Botanic Gardens, the Praça do Comércio, and the Gulbenkian Modern Art Centre.

I was able to improve my Portuguese greatly, not just through the language classes but also through my day-to-day interactions with people on the streets of Lisbon. Being able to immerse myself in the language and culture of Portugal or indeed any foreign country was an experience that I have never had before, so the month was filled with firsts for me. Furthermore, living abroad for an extended period of time like this has given me independence, confidence and life skills that I wouldn't have gained otherwise.

The support I received gave me an opportunity that I have never had before, and for that I am very grateful. The trip was definitely transformative in terms of my progression in learning Portuguese, but also in my understanding of Portuguese culture and history which has greatly enhanced my passion and my sense of connection to my degree subject.'

'I was able to travel to Peru, a bucket list destination for me as I am particularly interested in South American art and culture! Over my two-week stay I managed to exhaust the numerous museums and churches of both Lima and the old Incan capital, Cusco. It was fascinating to see artworks produced during the colonial period. Indigenous artists were able to imbue their works with non-European easter eggs while maintaining a distinctly European style, I had never seen a Last Supper painting where the Lamb is replaced with Chinchilla! While research into Peruvian artworks was a large part of the trip, the Peruvian landscapes were unmissable. On a four-day trek, with Machu Picchu as the final destination, I experienced the most incredible views and met some incredible people, having immersed myself in Andean culture.

It was an utter privilege to be able to travel to such an amazing destination. I was also able to complete research towards my final thesis which will be centred around art in Colonial Latin America. It was immensely useful to be able to see objects in person, which otherwise would have proved impossible. The trek left a lasting mark on me, I have never been so overwhelmed and impressed by natural landscapes, nor so physically challenged! I realise it may sound cliche, but it truly was the trip of a lifetime!

It would have been impossible for me to have gone without the travel funds I received. I had never been so far from home before, nor do I expect to be able to any time soon! It was a life-changing experience and I am tremendously grateful.'

Conor:

‘Over 15 days, I and a fellow St Peter’s student, Frank, travelled between New York and Toronto. In between, we visited Oxford friends at 7 universities in 7 different cities (our favourites were Boston and Montréal), passing through 6 US states and 3 Canadian provinces! Although our visit to New England & Canada was a ‘whistle-stop tour,’ it was valuable to slow down and spend time with old St Peter’s friends (some of whom had been on semesters abroad and who we may not otherwise have seen). Tours around their campuses gave us a deeper appreciation of student life outside of Oxford - and the UK - which may have been impossible once we graduated.

Aside from the social aspect of our trip, the historical sites we visited developed my understanding of my own undergraduate thesis topic. At Yale’s Beinecke Rare Book library, we viewed sixteenth-century Christian missionary documents, and an object handling session at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was valuable. Without this travel grant, our trip would have been impossible. Thank you for making our adventure a reality, we are truly grateful. From eating (a lot of) new foods, to meeting new friends, to experiencing different cultures, this was a trip of a lifetime that was made possible with your support.’

Frank:

‘With this award I visited various different universities across the United States and Canada, meeting friends and familiar faces who had previously been visiting students at Oxford, many at St Peter's, and uncovering the different university lifestyle and culture from across the pond at institutions such as Yale, Harvard, McGill and Brown. I visited cities such as Boston, Montreal and New York, exploring their histories through activities such as the Freedom Trail and 9/11 Museum, as well as engaging in the local culture and food, as well as sites such as Niagara Falls.

During my visit, I saw different libraries and exhibitions they were hosting, some of them relevant to my upcoming thesis. Overall, it was a fascinating insight into American cultural and political life, visiting various state capitals and even seeing important international sites such as the UN, which will assist me in my politics studies in US government and international relations. Ultimately, it has been the experience of a lifetime and has allowed me to see so much previously I never would have imagined seeing. I wouldn't be able to express the gratitude I have, as it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I would never have been able to take such a long and packed trip without this support, and I will always cherish the experience.’

'During this trip, I and two other art historians spent three days trying to take in as much of Berlin’s vast art collections as possible. From ancient statues to modern paintings, outdoor mural art and even the architecture of the city itself, Berlin has so much to offer. While scratching the surface of these art collections, we also sought to improve our understanding of the German language. Having taken a German module in first year, we joined a German speaking tour of one of the collections. My understanding certainly wasn’t thorough, but I did feel that exposure to native conversation, as opposed to translating paragraphs in a classroom, was beneficial.

I’ve always felt that seeing art in person is incredibly important for true engagement, and this trip provided me with a unique opportunity to encounter the world class collections across Berlin’s many museums. I felt that I came away with a renewed appreciation for works previously seen only in print or on the internet, notably the East Side Gallery which surpassed all my expectations. Meanwhile, I was also able to discover new art; there is something so magical about stumbling across a piece which you never knew about but immediately come to love. For me, this was the chance discovery of Jeppe Hein's installation ‘You Are Never Really Alone’.

I’m so grateful for the opportunity that the travel fund provided. This chance to engage with such an incredible city and its art felt really exceptional and wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of so many kind people.'

'For five days in August, I got the opportunity to visit Edinburgh during the Edinburgh festival and got to experience the cultural capital at its best. I saw comedy shows and intense and dark theatre. I went to an exhibition on Cosprop, a company which has provided costumes for countless films, as well as seeing a tapestry being worked on which expresses the number pi by colour coding each digit, a fascinating cross between maths and crafts.

I also visited the amazing museums and read up on the history of Scotland and the philosophy of the enlightenment. Connecting the history of the place to more abstract and complicated philosophical ideas I had come across in my degree was enriching. It was an extremely enriching experience, which I feel very fortunate to have had. I got to explore both sides of my course, as well as my hobbies all in one place, and see how they could interconnect.'

We know our ambitious students have the potential to change the world, and we are dedicated to helping them achieve their best, at University and beyond. With support from our alumni and friends, St Peter's students participate in research projects, field trips, archaeological digs, internships, sport, drama, music, debating, art, entrepreneurship, volunteering and much more besides. Our students are thriving in their studies and in their lives, and this is only possible through College support.

Learn more here or give today at the links below.

• Give now
• Give now (US donors)