International student Hongshen Shi's experience in York
Hongshen Shi
International Student
School of Education and Professional Development.
When hearing about the school's trip to York, I was really eager to join. After finishing the final dissertation, I had nothing to do, while most of my Chinese friends in the UK decided to go home. I felt pretty lonely and bored until the School held this trip.
This was a perfect opportunity for me to meet other students from different countries. I saw a few Asian faces when I gathered in front of the bus. I thought they were Chinese, but they were actually from Vietnam. I received lots of support from the organizers, and I found it really relieving and warm-hearted to know that I'm not alone.
The weather in York on that day was perfect when I arrived by coach; this improved my mood a lot. Since I'm quite reserved and shy, I was afraid that no one would accompany me. Fortunately, a group of Vietnamese friends welcomed me with open arms, which made me so happy. We first went to the museum to witness the history of York's development and the evolution of clothing, including a visit to the prison, which significantly broadened my mind.
We had Thai food at a nearby restaurant for lunch, which was very delicious, despite the leaky environment. I really enjoyed the food and my new friends there. After that, we went to the Harry Potter shop inside the York Shambles. Many people were there, but I'm a big fan of Harry Potter, so I think it's worth coming here and experiencing it myself. Then, we went to York Minster, the largest Gothic church in Europe, but we couldn't go in since it was closed for maintenance. This magnificent building looks stunning from the outside. Then we travelled to the York City Wall. The twisting city wall allowed us to appreciate the scenery of York. I also took pictures of the York Minster from many angles on the city wall.
I found this trip really enjoyable. In the end, I also made a one-minute vlog to record my trip. I am very grateful to the school for the journey that allowed me to meet many friends from other countries and explore the historic city of York.
