Cambridge: Travel and Safety Tips

August 2, 2017

I have had a relatively safe travel experience. I’ve made trips to Barcelona and London and never really felt unsafe. Taking public transportation in Barcelona and London presented some dangers, but no more than in Boston. Someone tried to pickpocket me in Barcelona on the subway, but the same has happened in Boston. As long as you stay aware and alert, and don’t go flashing your wallet or phone, there’s really nothing to worry about.

Travel issues, though, I have encountered. Not having an EU passport makes going through passport check in the U.K. an ordeal, especially since I’m a student. Upon my return from Barcelona, I had to wait in the non-EU passport line which took about an hour and a half to get through. Once I made it to the agent and informed him I was studying in the U.K., he asked that I provide documentation. Luckily, I had brought the official University of Cambridge letter with me on this quick two-day trip. After checking my passport, it seems the original stamp I received upon entering the U.K. was the wrong one, but luckily the agent believed that I wasn’t trying to deceive him or sneak past on false pretenses.

I recognize that that experience is extremely unique and that I am very privileged in it not turning into something bigger. Given debates and discourse in the U.K. (and in the U.S.) concerning immigration, any slip up like this (even though it wasn’t my fault), easily could have landed me in a detention center and subject to questioning. That I wasn’t treated as suspicious very much displays my privilege.

Written By

Nicholas Napolio

At Northeastern, I study political science with a particular focus on American public administration, public law, and queer politics. While abroad in Cambridge, I plan to immerse myself in British politics and further my understanding of American politics by comparison. I am taking courses on European legal history, British criminal law, and gender & sexuality informed by British culture. These courses are similar to courses I have taken at Northeastern but will allow me to study the differences between American and British conceptions of each. In addition to coursework, the University of Cambridge offers social and cultural opportunities such as pub tours, trips to London, and weekly banquets.