I arrived this morning around 10a.m. tired, yet glad we finally were in England. The flight to England was wonderful, I had four seats all to myself to relax on.

Shortly after I arrived to the Gatwick Airport in London, the other 13 students were all gathered near the North Terminal Curb Side where we met Dr. Pat Terrell and Dr. Fred Rhodes. The ride on the Neal Bus to Cambridge was at least an hour and a half long, but who was counting. We all fell asleep on the way over to our destination.

As we arrived, I was shocked by all the beauty at Cambridge. People were walking and riding their bikes on the streets. The streets were mostly filled with college students and/ or young adults. Their were small shops and pubs at every corner. It was chilly when we arrived, but it only rained for about 5 minutes while we were inside.

The University of Cambridge is an old prestigious school. It was founded in the mid 1400's and is very historical. We were assigned a dorm room once we arrived. We were each fortunate enough to have our own bedroom/bathroom.

At 5p.m. all the students met in the courtyard and walked to the conference room where our first session was held. Here we were introduced to one another and were given an outline of what we should expect to accomplish in the next few days. We were also introduced to the faculty members who were in charge of the program, Dr. Pat Terrell, from University of Kentucky, Dr. Fred Rhodes, from Bellarmine University, and Nancy Johnson, from the University of Kentucky.

I enjoyed the first session very much because I was able to talk to other students from all over the United States and even a few from different countries. It was a comfortable atmosphere because the faculty made the session relaxing and appealing. Dr. Pat Terrell said we are the inaugural class, meaning we are the first students from the United States to be a part of the Student Leaders Study Abroad Institute. This meant so much to me because I am able to experience the start of something fantastic.

Later in the evening all 13 students adventured the roads of Cambridge. The city is exactly what I imagined, small stoned roads, with castles and old buildings. Mostly everyone either walked or rode a bike from one place to the next. We ended up eating at a pub down the road from our dorms. The food was good and the atmosphere was fun. Finally about 11:00p.m. we called it a night.

I love the trip thus far and am looking forward to more fantastic experiences.