Henry does the time warp

The rise of Hitler, the Vietnam War, and the searing heat of America's deep South; all of these were explored by Henry Walker during his BA (Hons) degree in History at the University of Teesside. In his final year, Henry, 21, from Abbots Leigh, Bristol spent six months studying at the University of South Carolina in America's Deep South as part of an established exchange scheme.

Henry came to the Middlesbrough-based University after leaving St. Katherine's School with 'A' levels in History, English and Biology. His 'A' level grades were disappointing and Henry looked around the country for a suitable History course. Henry said: "I looked at the Teesside prospectus and liked what I saw. When I arrived there was a very friendly atmosphere and it was easy to get to know a lot of people. The Students' Union was good as well.

"Through the course I was able to look at modern European History which I've always been interested in, such as the rise of the Nazis, how did such an extreme regime get into power? There was a good range of primary Historical sources available, not just in textbooks but through the Internet as well." Henry signed up for a semester at the University of South Carolina after hearing about the exchange scheme from the University's International Officer. Upon arrival in August, Henry immediately noticed the difference in climate. He said: "It was so hot you could not go outside. There was a hurricane at the end of September which devastated nearby Charleston, with quite a lot of damage. It was exciting, I was staying on the sixth floor of a tower block and we were told to fill our bath with water in case the supply was cut off. Luckily it wasn't."

South Carolina has a strong sporting ethos, with a huge weekly American football match at the Williams Bryce stadium. Henry said: "Many of the students are on sporting scholarships and they're treated like big stars. It's the equivalent of seeing Middlesbrough FC player Juninho in a lecture at Teesside."

Despite these differences Henry found his American semester a positive experience: "I learned a lot about the History of the Middle East and Asia, which helped my general historical outlook. I also made friends with other international students and travelled to Mexico."

Henry aims to return to Mexico after graduation for further travel and then train for a career in journalism. He is the son of Martin and Nicola Walker.

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