Every term at Leicester University international students arrive to sample life in another country and another way of life. | "I had found an Anglophile with a curiosity that left me wondering whether I was the one doing the interviewing or not. " | | Matt Keighley |
I wondered what it would be like as an international student and with that in mind I asked Ashley Harbers, an American studying English at Leicester to tell me about her experience of Leicester. When we first discussed the interview I found out that no one had given her a proper tour of Leicester yet.Ìý Despite having travelled up and down the country as well as visiting Ireland trying to take in all the experiences she could, the city was still somewhat unknown to her. Before I knew what I had let myself in for I offered to show her round as part of the interview.Ìý I soon discovered upon meeting up with Ashley that she was not the typical US exchange student. I had found an Anglophile with a curiosity that left me wondering whether I was the one doing the interviewing or not. The Grand Tour
 | | Jewry Wall |
We met outside Leicester University and meandered down New Walk and into the Shires, took a look at the Cathedral and then went over to the Jewry Wall, the great towering remnant of the Roman Empire right next to the Leicester ring road, the grand example of the peculiar dichotomy of living in any city with such history. After immersing ourselves in local history I took Ashley along to The Orange tree for cocktails and questions. Ashley told me that she had enjoyed being immersed in English culture, particularly being surrounded by so much history. She said seeing the Cathedral and the Jewry wall was, "Another moment where the weight of English history just hits you". She told me that, "Actually talking to people had been the most meaningful experience" of her time here. While many students don't immerse themselves in local life away from campus it seems Ashley had no such problem, as she even took part in St James the greater church's Harvest festival, reading out a piece to the local congregation on her first visit there. Leicester: A Real English City Even though it was obvious that Ashley had taken up every opportunity of her time I was still curious why she chose Leicester.
 | | Ashley Harbers |
Of all the places she could have gone I was curious to find out why the Midlands? Ashley told me what kept her from following many students to London was that she, "wanted to come to a real English city". She told me, "I didn't want to go to London, it's too isolated'. London it seems would have offered her a real experience but not the genuine English experience she had been looking for. Ashley told me that, "I'm really thankful I had this opportunity [to come to Leicester]" but it would be strange as, "I'll be a different person when I go home". This is really what the exchange programs are all about, challenging yourself and experiencing something outside of your normal life; a chance to see another part of the world. What better place to do that than Leicester then?ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý | 
