Stratford upon Avon has been classified as a hidden gem masked within English territory. The buildings are identically red and brown, the peaks are non-existent, and the town can only be characterized using the British euphemism “quite quaint."

Indeed, it is not miraculous because of its beautiful architecture, breath-taking views, and expected tourism. Instead, It has a simpleness about it that long ago left the modern world.

As you stroll through Stratford, you will see little nooks and creaks with beautiful white swans, green parks filled with the smell of damp grass and old couples swooning over Shakespeare plays while sipping hot wine. While here I visited Shakespeare’s birthplace, strolled around his city seeing how and what inspired his ageless literary works, and finally I visited Mr. Shakespeare himself at his burial grounds. This was an amazing feeling! It is every English major's dream to stand at the foot of greatness, and receive a glimpse of their lives. During this trip I saw two Shakespeare productions at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Yes, I’ll say that again: at the royal Shakespeare theatre. As I sat there and laughed, grimaced, and experienced all the various emotions a Shakespeare play can bring, I realized how surreal this experience was. Not only was I in Stratford sitting in Shakespeare’s theatre, but I was writing for a journal, I was studying abroad, and I was doing all the things I never could have imagined when I was sitting in Mrs. Orlowski's ninth grade English class.

Surreal Stratford was authentic, allowing me to see real english people living everyday lives, going to school and working. To see a small city hundreds of years later was impressive and undeniably inspiring. This trip was one of my favorites ,while abroad, I got to fulfill a lifelong dream while also accepting anything is possible.