Travel and experiencing our world is one of the foundational pillars of this company, and each of you have incredible journeys to inspire us, and knowledge that we hope to learn from. Through this series, we hope to share insights from women like you as they travel our globe bolding pursuing their daring life adventures.

Today’s contributor is Jessi Rogers. Jessi is an Alabama native currently residing in Cambridge, UK while she is working towards her PhD. In this interview, Jessi shares some of her favorite Cambridge eats, trivia, and travel tips!

WELCOME ABOARD JESSI!

Tell us a little about yourself.

JESSI: My name is Jessi Rogers and I currently live in Cambridge, UK! I am pursuing my PhD in Education with a research focus of applied theatre. I love photography, singing, and exploring! My goal is to one day work for a theatre or university as an educator or artistic director. My research highlights not only the importance of theatre as an artistic medium, but also as an educational method. I would love to move to London after I graduate to work at a local theatre before moving back to Alabama ( but we shall see what happens!)

TAKING FLIGHT:

What trip are you sharing and why did you choose that destination?

JESSI: I am sharing some of my adventures in Cambridge! Before the pandemic I was here working on my Masters at Cambridge, but because my time got cut short I decided to apply for the phD programme. Now I'm back! So the real purpose of this trip is for school, BUT it has been really fun thus far!

I chose Cambridge because I really wanted the quintessential British school experience (and because I really wanted something Hogwarts-esque). Also, Cambridge has a lot of Masters programmes that are unlike anything we have in the States. My MPHIL was in Arts, Creativities, and Education- a programme that really leans into Arts Based Research and allows all artistic methods to be considered. I got to work alongside students researching traditional Indian dance, classical music instruction in Trinidad, and the purpose of artistic play in the classrooms in Singapore. It was a really wild blend of professions and personalities and that's what made it so wonderful!

TOURIST ATTRACTION:

Favorite thing you did or saw on your trip?

JESSI: I absolutely LOVED viewing all the old colleges on campus. Some of them are gorgeous- they really make you feel like you're at Hogwarts! Each one is unique and has different amenities and views. My favorite is definitely St. Johns because it is one one of the older ones, but it is still accessible to those who do not belong to the college. Quick tangent- Colleges here are like your Hogwarts house. You can eat, sleep, and study there and you get to be a part of all their teams! For undergrad students, what college you are a part of is very important because you will also attend all your classes there. For graduate students that is not the case, so your college is mostly there for social aspects and accomodation. All that being said, some colleges will not let you unto their campus unless you are a member or with a tour group. St. Johns was always easy for me to get into and the grounds are lovely! John's also has the Cambridge Bridge of Sighs, named after the Oxford one because a long time ago someone said they looked alike!

Anyway, exploring the different colleges is such a fun experience because they are all so incredibly different. Some colleges were founded in 1441, and some were founded in the 1960s! They are an interesting glimpse into student life of the past and present.

Another one of my favorite spots in Cambridge is Kettle's Yard. It is an art museum in someone's old home (similar to the Gardner Museum in Boston, but much smaller). It is such a lovely experience to see how everything was placed and view the wide variety of art. They also have a rotating exhibit section that is usually amazing! They also host a ton of artist events that you are allowed to partake in!

LOCAL FLAVOR:

Food/snack/beverage we shouldn’t miss from your travel destination?

JESSI: Fitzbillies is a Cambridge staple. They have two locations close to the city center and are famous for their Chelsea Buns (think cinnamon roll minus the frosting). The best part about them is their history though (although their breakfast menu is delish). They were founded in the 1920s and have overcome many hardships, from their first bankruptcy in 1991, to a fire in 1998! Then in 2011 they faced going out of business again until a young woman with fond memories of Fitzbillies decided she would revitalize the store! They are now thriving and continue to be a busy spot in Cambridge for brunch and tea!

If you are looking for a great latte, look no further than Bould Brothers. They have 2 locations, although my favorite is on Regent Street because it has way more seating! They are a cozy and cute spot to take a walking break. They also have little cakes and snacks available.

For the best Cheese Toastie of your life (yes this is basically a grilled cheese but BETTER) then you have to check out the Locker Room Cafe. Truly it is my go-to treat yourself sandwich (and it isn't even expensive). Their coffee and tea are also very good, I usually get an Oat Milk Dirty Chai! They've also got a lot of seating options, which can be difficult to find in local Cambridge cafes.

MILEAGE CLUB:

What are your go-to travel hacks, packing tips/tricks, or items you never leave home without?

JESSI: If you are going to another country I highly recommend investing in a UK/EU safe simcard! You can get these at the airport or order them to arrive at your hotel. This way, you can still use data and message people without having to constantly hunt down wifi or pay the crazy international fees. I use gifgaff but there are tons of sim cards available. Seriously, this is such a lifesaver! When I was traveling around Switzerland I would have gotten hopelessly lost if I didn't have data.

Now for some packing tips- if you aren't using those space bags to fill your luggage you absolutely should! They shrink all your clothes down so you can pack a ton of things. Or better yet, you can use the extra space in your suitcase for souvenirs. I also recommend packing as light as possible if you are wanting to travel around the EU. There are some crazy cheap flights for traveling within the EU and UK via discount airlines, but they only let you have a small backpack of duffle. These airlines are a great way to see a lot in a short amount of time, but know that you'll have to pay extra for a suitcase! Some cities do have places that will hold your luggage for an extended period of time, so you could always book one of those in whichever city is your homebase and go from there (London has them and so does Paris!). If you're worried about packing light because you won't have enough clean clothes, you could always opt to stay in an airbnb instead of a hotel. Many of them have laundry machines and other amenities that can save you a quick buck. Plus, you get a more realistic view into life in that area!

Last but not least, investing in a Powerbank when traveling is essential! I never leave for a trip without it. With so many tickets/maps/amenities being online these days, it is very helpful to have access to your phone while travelling. With a powerbank you never need to worry about your phone dying and getting lost!

TRAVEL DREAMS:

What is your dream vacation destination and why?

JESSI: I would love to go to Holland! Maybe it is because I saw Hannah B's Season of The Bachelorette, but I must see those gorgeous tulip fields one day. I've heard so many beautiful things about Holland/the Netherlands in general and have never been anywhere like it. I think it would be a great experience to explore a country that is very different from the US!

QUICK FIRE ROUND:

What’s your biggest plane etiquette pet peeve? I cannot stand the people who turn their lights on- especially their phone lights- during the sleeping portion of international flights! (It is so difficult to sleep on those but when you get an iphone light to the face it becomes impossible!)

IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT? For overnight flights, podcasts, for anything else definitely movies!

Nervous Nelly or Risk Taker? Nervous Nelly — I usually get precheck and I STILL get there 3 hours early just in case!

Do you plan everything down to the date, time and place where you will be each day on your journey, or are you a more of a “fly by the seat of your pants” traveler? I really wish I did plan but usually I am just going with the flow!

TAKE HEART. TAKE FLIGHT.

Our motto - Take Heart. Take Flight. - calls us to courageously search for who we were meant to be, to break free of the fears holding us back, and to boldly pursue the daring adventure set before us. Tell us how you are living this motto in your life.

JESSI: During my undergraduate work at Auburn, I began to realize that one of my big goals in life is to positively impact Alabama- specifically our educational curriculums and policies. However, I knew that before I could do that I needed to not only legitimize myself in the educational world but also gain the language and tools needed to create impactful change. When I came across the MPHIL programme at Cambridge, it seemed like the perfect next step. However, I was incredibly nervous to move to the UK by myself! From living so close to family, to being miles and miles away did not sound like a good idea to me. All that being said, I knew that I needed to do this to not only better myself, but to gain a new perspective. Even though it was terrifying, and I did get lost quite a few times, I would not trade it for anything and it has led me down the path to my phD!