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Now in
Italy, after having travelled through more of the United Kingdom,
France, Germany and Austria, my appreciation for home and Sheffield
has grown. I now realize that I belong in a mid-size city, not a
metropolis like London or Paris. It is a challenge to pull myself
away from exploring the Dolomites outside my window to write this
blog post but I’ll give it a go. It is fitting given the nature of
the study I have undertaken that my last glimpses of Sheffield were
of Park Hill looming over the train station. The focus of my group
presentation was on public housing in the U.K. In London there are
many examples of public housing models similar to Park Hill. It is
a strange thing to notice on a holiday but I can’t help myself now.
My friend (Aussie ex-pat) who I stayed with in London has never
visited Sheffield and has contempt for the Northerners.
It is a shame about the technical issues with the presentations.
Fortunately for my group, everything fell into place nicely and I
am quite satisfied with the finished product, which featured
historic videos of Sheffield found on an online archive database
and a local soundtrack including The Arctic Monkeys. I enjoyed the
interdisciplinary aspect of the subject and learning about a
variety of historical figures including the architect Le Corbusier,
the entrepreneur Henry Lever, the artist John Everett Millais and
the all-rounder John Ruskin. The morning lectures enhanced my
experience and understanding of the places we visited. It was
obvious that visiting the United Kingdom was more than just a study
tour or a holiday for many students, but rather a pilgrimage to
their ancestral home. I commend the lecturers for their
organisation of the trip and I will cherish my memories of
Sheffield and the lifelong bonds with students formed
there.
- Angela
Plazzer (Bachelor of Urban, Rural and Environmental
Planning)
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