What’s in Your Suitcase?

Travel Abroad With Two Wroxton Students

By Kenna Caprio

A jumble of items from a suitcase, including clothing, shoes, a camera, a book and more, sit on a wooden desk.

(Photo: Alexis Peterson)

Alexis Peterson
Senior, Communication Major (Florham)

“I lived my best life in England. Taking incredible day trips with friends was so exciting and brought me such a sense of joy,” says Alexis Peterson, a senior communication major at the Florham Campus. Her semester abroad at Wroxton College allowed for a lot of “inner reflection” and personal growth. And, of course, cultural exchange, teatime and Shakespeare.

A selfie of a young woman.

Alexis Peterson

‘The Merchant of Venice’

“I read ‘The Merchant of Venice’ for my Shakespeare course with English tutor Lucy Clarke, and we were lucky to see several performances over the semester! ‘Hamlet’ and ‘The Merchant of Venice’ at Shakespeare’s Globe theater in London, and ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford.”

Passport

“I started a travel blog on Instagram, at @adventurewithlex, to match my YouTube channel travel vlogs. It was a way to journal the semester abroad. Previously, I traveled abroad to Paris, France, with my Nana and my mom. The most surreal places I’ve been are Stonehenge and London — seeing Big Ben and the London Eye took my breath away. The whole experience was exciting and enlightening.”

Coat and Glasses

Layers and outerwear are essential to travel comfortably in the United Kingdom — no matter the season. “The climate in England is a lot damper than I’m used to, so bundling was helpful, especially with vests and a raincoat.” Her fluffy cheetah print coat and sunglasses were must-haves, too.

Camera

“I’ve had my Canon camera for about five years, and I adore it. I love photography, especially taking shots of nature and portraits.”

Band Shirts

“I’m into just about all genres of music. My dad was a disc jockey, so I grew up listening to so many artists — everyone from Johnny Cash to Metallica.” She brought T-shirts featuring The Beatles, Greta Van Fleet, Harry Styles and Pink Floyd with her to Wroxton.

Walking Shoes

“The best way to explore a place, in my opinion, is to research things to do in that area ahead of time. I find it incredibly difficult to enjoy my time if I’m just wandering around aimlessly. Even if you’re a ‘go-with-the-flow’ type of person, I still recommend having at least one activity in mind.” And of course, it’s important to have the right shoes, stylish and comfortable, to walk around in!

 

A jumble of items from a suitcase, including clothing, shoes, a teddy bear and more, arranged on a wooden desk.

(Photo: Karen Ordonez)

Karen Ordonez
BS’22, Business Administration Major (Metro)

After study-abroad experiences in China in 2019 and at Wroxton College in 2022, alumna Karen Ordonez, BS’22 (Metro), is considering an international career. “Experiencing new cultures opened my mind to the possibility of working abroad. I just learned so much personally and academically. It was an unforgettable experience, making new friends and going on adventures.”

Selfie of a young woman. Her desk is visible in the background.

Karen Ordonez

Clothing and Water Bottle

Sightseeing requires lots of comfy and cute clothing options, and a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated. Going to Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey, “because of their history, their amazing architecture, and just being in the same place where royals are crowned and where Prince William married Kate Middleton, was so exciting.”

Hufflepuff Bear

“I made my Hufflepuff bear at Build-A-Bear in Cardiff, Wales. Yellow’s my favorite color.” Cardiff, along with London, Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford and the West Country were semester highlights. “My favorite was the weekend trip to the West Country. We went to Tintagel Castle in North Cornwall — the views are just absolutely stunning.”

An assortment of cosmetics and first-aid supplies.

(Photo: Karen Ordonez)

Skincare

“For my daily routine, I don’t wear makeup, just moisturizer. However, on the weekends I tend to use a little foundation and mascara.”

First-aid Kit

A first-aid kit, medical tape, Wet Ones antibacterial wipes and face masks kept Ordonez safe and healthy while abroad.

Photos

“The Polaroid snapshots on my desk are of my family — one with my dad, my mom, my sister, my puppy and I, and the other of my parents and my puppy.”

Study supplies, a laptop, and Polaroid snapshots sit on a desk.

(Photo: Karen Ordonez)

Electronics

“The electronics I used most were my phone, laptop and AirPods. I used my phone to communicate with family and friends, to navigate around and for social media. Mostly, I used my laptop for homework and in class, but I also watched movies and soccer games on it. My AirPods were critical for the bus rides on our day trips, so I could listen to music.”