BYU-Idaho English professors Scott Samuelson and Vaun Waddell would agree with Miriam Beard’s quote that, “certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.”
With this concept in mind, Samuelson and Waddell created BYU-I’s British Literary Tour (BritLit) which takes students to England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The tour started in 1991 and is still popular among students today.
“I have wanted to travel to Europe since I was a very young girl, said Lara Smith, a BritLit participant. “I grew up watching the Jane Austen movies Sense & Sensibility and Emma. I also fell in love with books about Europe, especially anything to do with Shakespeare.”
On the tour, participants are transformed into “pilgrims.” Waddell said one definition of a pilgrimage is a trip with a religious destination.
“[What the students get out of the BritLit Tour includes] stronger testimonies, deeper love of literature, and travel, and life. [They take away] new friendships—with fellow pilgrims, with new literature, and new places,” Samuelson said.
Rather than plane hopping and seeing as many sites as possible in ten days time, the BritLit Tour spends time at the sites to discuss literature with the idea that “less is more.” Sites include homes of famous British authors.
“It is helpful to learn something about the life and times of the author,” Waddell said.
Among favorite places visited, a rainy day Ireland stood out to Smith.
“On Innishmore, we biked around the whole island and it poured rain the whole time,” Smith said. “No, it did more than pour, it showered upon all of us! But it is still one of my favorite days ever. There is nothing like biking alongside ancient grey stone walls and vibrant green fields with the grey seas in the distance and having rain pour the whole time. I wasn't unhappy at all that day, it was glorious!”
In his travels with student pilgrims, Samuelson values their energy and spirituality.
“Travel with serious minded (and fun loving) young Latter-day Saint travelers can be as rewarding and education (and spiritual) as any experience I have had, Samuelson said.
$3,500 (not including tuition) may appear expensive for the Tour, but Smith said it was worth it.
“It may seem like a lot of money to a poor college student, but in the real world, you could never make this trip for that little amount of money,” Smith said.
Rain or shine, the BritLit Tour offers new perspectives and adventures to its pilgrims.
“Each day is a new adventure, savor every moment,” Smith said.
February 20, 2010
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