I’m now back in Lancaster. Thinking back on this trip it’s still a bit unthinkable all the things I’ve just experienced. We got to do so much during these ten days. Travelling to New York and Boston as a tourist would have been great, but we got to do so much more than that.

Of all the people going on this trip I only new who three of them were. From the shared bathrooms in the hostel in Boston I learned that even though the ability to speak any words of meaning between 6 and 7 am might be challenging to some, there is no bonding like the one taking place while brushing your teeth and getting ready in the morning. Small talk is inevitable. Even though people from the PPR and IEED departments to some extent has different activities planned, we still spent a lot of time together, and I’ve gotten to know some great people from PPR as well. We for sure all have something in common. For one we’ve made some similar decisions; we’re all a part of one of these two departments, signalling that we have some common areas of interests. Secondly, of all the people in these departments we are the ones that chose to apply for this trip, and were lucky enough to experience this trip.

We have had the chance to meet some very innovative, inspiring, entrepreneurial businessmen and women. Great people I’m confident I would not have met and connected with if it wasn’t for this trip. The idea and importance of networking and creating my own personal network has become even more interesting. Even though it sometimes seems as they are a part of a different world than I am, they are really not. At this time I can probably benefit more from them than they can from me, but some day that might change, or maybe some day someone will find me a beneficial contact. By traveling with not only my own department, but with PPR, I’ve had the chance to network and get to know some people I most likely wouldn’t have met if not for this trip.

We’ve had talks that relate to my course in entrepreneurship, but also my minor; design and my major; management and organisation. We’ve met people for whom concepts as business plans, start-ups, crowd funding, business models, angel investment is a part of their daily working life, not just something you read about in a book or an article. But it’s not just relevant to me academically, but to me in general, to me personally. Being a student, every activity I do, whether it’s directly linked to my studies or if it’s doing sports, or travelling, it’s all a part of who I am.

All the events and happenings have given me such inspiration. I sit here now back at Lancaster University with ideas; ideas and thoughts that have turned into plans for what I want to do in the future or with my future. It makes me see what I need to do now to make those plans happen. I don’t necessarily need to do everything that I have planned to (written or non-written), but being aware of some of the things I want to do, and to dream, for me leads to the act. My plans may change as I go. It does not mean that my initial plans or planning was bad, just that things happen and things change and no matter how much we try to control different aspects of our lives we will never fully be in control.

This is how I feel right now; free and ready (not green) to make my dreams come true. It’s cliché, but true.

To travel and experience new things in general makes me realise all the opportunities I have here at Lancaster University – everything from attending different talks and events, to meeting new people, to networking and in general gain new experiences. Also all the opportunities they offer for me to be able to step outside of campus to gain new experiences to travel, just like this trip. Money and time spent has been a more than worthy investment (included shopping).

I’ve met some truly wonderful people, and this trip will stay with me as long as my memory may stay intact.

Finally, New York! I’d be lying if I say I’m not excited to be here. Not just the fact that I personally have gotten to experience “The Big Apple”. We’ve been behind the scenes; visited companies, interacted with people living and working here and experienced and seen more than we would if coming here as tourists.

We stayed in Hotel Pennsylvania, just across Madison Square Garden and a short walk from Times Square. It’s strange to personally see and experience this city, as it’s a city I as so many others have seen and experienced only through different media. Some girls and Iwent on a guided bus tour, Uptown, Downtown and a ferry out to see The Statue of Liberty. It took a couple of hours, or more like a day, but we got to see a lot more of New York, geographically speaking, than we would’ve by walking. The view from the ferry was magnificent! You got to see the city from a distance and see how all the buildings just were set on a perfect line with the water right below. Still walking around is one of the best ways to get to know a new place.

As in Boston we’ve been very lucky with the weather, so sunny, and perfect for walking. Before going back to Lancaster we had some free time. I decided to take it easy and solely enjoy the city, walk and have good food. My favourite thing is the High Line, a public park built on an old rail line elevated above the streets. The special view, you get to walk through the city in a different way, with a industrial feeling surrounded by trees and spots of grass and flowers. Also a trip to Central Park, and pancakes on the steps of Metropolitan Museum of Art made my trip complete. There is still so much I could have done, but I don’t think it’s possible to get though all the things you plan to while in New York, there is so much to see and do. Even though I tried, there would not have been enough time, and there might never be. Surprisingly enough I did very little shopping, for the same reason as just mentioned; there was so many others things I’d rather do.

We visited some more companies; Kaneka, a producer of chemical products, comScore an Internet technology company, paid a gratitude visit to Santander and went to a event with alumni from Lancaster University now in New York. Still the companies and people delivered. I love the way we get an insight into the world that we in not too many years could be a part of. We also had some more “touristy” activities planned, as the 9/11 Memorial and to the United Nations Visitor Centre.

Our days in the US are coming to an end. I’ve seen some great buildings, met some great people, had great food, experienced so much I never thought I would, and best of all I got to share all this, all these moments, with the great group of people I travelled with. Coming to a city as famous as this comes with some expectations, and New York definitely delivered!

We’ve now spent 5 whole days in Boston. It has been a great couple of days. It’s been busy; all the planned activities, all the places we’ve been, and last but not least all the things planned to get through during the set free time. Looking back the hassle is definitely worth it.

I was a bit concerned about the seven hours long flight. Even though it was split up because we went through London, it’s still the longest flight I’ve ever been on. To be fair I enjoyed it. Got time to do everything I usually try to fit into a normal 2-hour flight. I slept, ate, listened to music, did some schoolwork, watched the halves of some films, some TV episodes of ‘Friends’ and ‘Live at the Apollo’ (a small screen with a choice of media did help the time pass by). To not seem too antisocial I should mention that I also had time to get to know some of the other people going on this same trip.

The view from where we stayed; 40 Berkeley; a hostel in South End, Boston, fairly centrally located. The rising sun at 6am.

My favourite activity so far is definitely our visit to Dyn and Acquia, both companies working in a sector dealing with web content management/ infrastructure. We were given some insight into how they ended up where they are today, some individual stories, entrepreneurial ups and downs, also into the sector and how the companies are run. One of the offices felt like being inside a small scale Google workplace. It was set in an old industrial building in Manchester, New Hampshire. Free, unlimited amounts of coffee, innovative and creative working space engaging the employees, a gym, a small indoors golf court, a corner showing off the newest of the company’s newest merchandise, and the next upcoming thing; a meeting room with a climbing wall. What is there not to like? Now there is hope for the existence of the workplace of my dreams.

One day we did a guided tour around Boston University, including a very delicious lunch in their big cafeteria. 2 stories of food and people; think I’ve never before seen so many different foods and people in one place at the same time. We also paid a visit to Worcester Polytechnic Institute, about one and a half hour bus ride from Boston. They focus on science and engineering, but also mixes it with entrepreneurship, which is a very interesting mix. Got to see some of their on-going robotic projects as well. In the end we had a nice lunch with talks from staff and also got introduced to the president and vice president of the entrepreneurship club (as student societies in the UK).

During our stay we also had a formal dinner and networking event with alumni from Lancaster University. A great way to see where we might be some years ahead. Have had some time to be a tourist here as well – seen some attractions, visited parks, done some shopping, visited a food market, and last but not least paid Harvard University a visit. The weather has been lovely too. It’s been cold; as in mittens and down jacket, even though some felt a t-shirt would do! But the sun’s been out most of the time, and I wore sunglasses for the first time this year! Our visit to the Cheesecake Factory should also be mentioned. A lot of cake in one piece! Some of us also went to a basketball game, Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat. There is a lot going on and it’s a great experience, even for those not to fond of watching “normal” sports.

I have met so many fun, lovely people on this trip. Before going I’d only met three of them, and now I have gotten to know so many more. The staff and business people we’ve had the chance to meet has provided me with more theory and practice relating to my studies, but also for me personally. The places we’ve seen, all the nice buildings, everything has been very good. It has all inspired me very much, and now on my way to New York I’m eagerly scribbling ideas and future plans. I can’t wait to see what this famous city has to offer.

Tomorrow I’ll be taking my first step on the American continent; a small (invisible) step for mankind, one big step for me. The trip goes under the name ‘Your Global Exploration’, and is arranged by Lancaster University Students’ Union at the beginning of the Easter vacation. I’ll be traveling with a group of other students from the Management School and the Departments of Politics, Philosophy and Religion, to Boston and New York, taking advantage of the contacts Lancaster University has to offer as a global university. Yes, it does not get much better than that.

I have never been presented with so many opportunities as I do here at Lancaster University. I remember being overwhelmed by this the first term, but at the same time I see how a great thing it is, that I get the chance to try basically anything I could dream of. This opportunity was one of those that just lit up. Straight away I knew; I needed to get on this trip. This is an amazing opportunity for me as a first year student, the chance to get real life insight and experience within my academic department to enhance my academic experience in the company of fellow students. I’m excited to experience the country, the people and the cultures(s) (food, shopping, and the list goes on). Even just going to a place like New York, which you so many times have seen on the screen, it seems unreal. It’s like when you meet a celebrity on the streets and you’re reminded that they live amongst us. Now I get to see and make up my own opinion about the city and all that comes with it.

I have been on a similar academic related trip before, to Brussels. I remember how inspired I was, how it fuelled me; gave me further insight into business life, international companies, and made me realise the importance of communication and connections (international network) across borders. The insight I gained back then also helped me with making decisions regarding my choice of future studies and carrier. This is what I expect this trip will do to, that it will let me peek into the world of business people and their businesses. I can already picture myself, all excited and bubbly after returning to Lancaster. (Hopefully the buzz will energize me through summer term revision and exams.) Before I’d think: yes, I might go to the US some time during my lifetime, but most likely no time in the near future. Mostly because of the expenses like the flight and the shortage in nulls displayed on my bank account, but the fact that the trip is sponsored (by Santander) changes the whole picture. It makes this an affordable trip, not forcing me to live on oats for the next year.

Packing and planning is to some extent a necessary phase to every trip. I started the day before; not my best idea so far. Because I leave straight from Lancaster Uni, there’s certain things that’s just gonna be more of a hassle than usual. Had I planned a bit more in advance the chances for a functioning luggage scale and money saved on a cabin bag, would probably been increased. Still the hassle is worth it. When the biggest downside is living in the unknown of how many kilos I can add to my suitcase on the way back from the US, without crossing the 23kg limit, I would say I’m doing all right. Note to self: start packing and planning before the day before. Same rule applies to coursework.

Very much looking forward to these next following days of my very own ‘Your Global Exploration’, and to share these with the group I’m traveling with.

United States of America; here I come!