In 2021, Anna Moore moved more than 5,362 kilometers away from her home in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland to Wheaton, Illinois, surrounded by strangers and a new culture. Three years later, Moore seeks to celebrate British culture on campus with one of the campus’s newest clubs, British Club — colloquially called “Brit Club” by its members.
When she first got to Wheaton College, Moore was introduced to a small, tightly-knit group of British students who also called America home for their next four years.
The United Kingdom includes England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. While distinct in many ways, the countries share a unique sense of culture that binds them. Moore said the British students at the college immediately feel a sense of camaraderie when together.
The group that Moore connected with met weekly to talk about British culture, speak in their accents, reminisce about home and discuss the ways they were adjusting to the United States.
Moore said she slips into an American accent when she returns to the U.S. every year. When she does shift back to her natural accent, her friends are often shocked to hear her speak.
“When I’m around other British people my accent comes back without me even realizing it,” Moore said with a laugh. “I like when this happens and I can call my friends over and be like, ‘This is my real voice.’”
Moore, a senior studying political science, is now one of the older British students on campus. After receiving a stream of questions about life in Northern Ireland, she realized there was an interest in British culture on campus, which sparked her idea to start the club.
In their mission statement, the club expresses its desire to “create connections between students who are from the U.K. and to encourage the student body to engage in British study abroad opportunities.”
Melissa Doogan, the office manager at the Marion E. Wade Center, is the club’s faculty adviser. She said the club aims to give “students who are feeling a little homesick for the U.K., already love all things British or are curious to learn more about Great Britain’s culture, a place to be.”
Doogan encourages any interested students to engage with this unique community.
“Britain and America have this special relationship — we are very different and very similar in many ways,” said Moore. “But I think what seems to fascinate many Americans about the U.K. is our sense of history.”
She mused that her small school back in Enniskillen is older than the United States, having been built in the 16th Century. She said it is sometimes strange to be in a place where the history is much more recent.
“I never thought about how historic the U.K. was until I moved to Wheaton,” said Moore. “So one of the things we really want to emphasize is the amazing and rich history of the U.K.”
Moore said the club is hoping to introduce British culture to the campus in a way that is not intimidating. She described her vision of the club as “relaxedly British.”
“We want to be representative of the culture, but not to the point where it’s not inviting to the students of other nationalities,” said Moore. “I love seeing different cultures merge and making the space to appreciate what makes those cultures up.”
Last Thursday in Anderson Commons, the club had its first dinner meeting. Off in the corner, a table, draped in the red, blue and white of the Union Jack, was occupied by over 30 students.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, the students began asking one another about why they were interested in Brit club. The table soon grew loud, with excitement brewing as different students discovered they were from similar areas in the U.K.
Some students spoke in their respective accents while others, like Moore, naturally started speaking in American accents, which began when they came to college. They spoke about their favorite teas first and then moved to deeper topics such as the challenges of living in a different culture and being away from home.
When the meal ended, there was a sense of relief among students, with some having their first opportunity to talk to others from the U.K. since coming to college.
The club has already attracted 18 new students who signed up to be members following that first meal. Many of the members are students from the U.K. and others are students who studied abroad in “Wheaton in England” or “Wheaton in Oxford.”
Grace Bolton, a freshman from Northern Ireland, is one of the new members of the club.
“Adjusting to college and life in America has been overwhelming,” said Bolton. “Getting involved with Brit Club has allowed me to share my culture and sense of pride in my country. I am excited to see how the club expands and envisions itself as a safe space for British students.”
The campus has about ten other undergraduate students who are from the U.K. according to Moore. She hopes that these students will find the same solace she did with other British students throughout their time in America.
“British culture can be very different from the U.S.,” said Moore. “Sometimes we can be really formal, awkward and reserved, but we also understand each other in a way that’s hard to explain.”
Moore hopes Brit Club can be a way for Wheaton students to understand and experience the culture for themselves as they share the experiences of a world so similar — yet so different — to their own.
