Memories of Alnwick
Lisa Virden Coleman ’95, Woodbury, Alnwick 1994
 Looking back, I’m very surprised at my decision to
attend the Alnwick study abroad program. It was definitely
outside my comfort zone. I am very close to my family so
going to another country was a huge step for me. Additionally,
I didn’t know a soul going on the program. However,
something was driving me to take this adventure. I had listened
to recruiters talk about their experiences. I knew I wanted
to take advantage of such an eye-opening opportunity. I
surprised everyone, myself included, and enrolled in the
1994 spring/summer program.
Little did I know that my six-month study abroad experience
was going to give me a lifetime of stories to tell. On April
Fool’s Day, just a couple of weeks after arriving
in our new Alnwick home, a group of us decided to get our
first taste of the English pub scene. Although the professors
had warned us to stay clear of the pubs around the bus station,
that was where we headed. And that is where I met my husband
– Martin.
As you can imagine, our courting tale is long and complex.
We had our first date on Easter Sunday – walking along
the shores of the North Sea. Hours later, Martin was off
to southern England where he was living and working. (He
had just been in Alnwick for the weekend visiting his parents).
With Martin living six-plus hours away by car, our relationship
was long-distance from the very beginning! Over the course
of the next few months, we saw each other periodically and
talked by phone. In July, Martin was back working in the
area and we were seeing more of each other. However, it
was nearly time for me to head back to SCSU to finish my
senior year. I couldn’t stop wondering what would
happen to our relationship.
In early August, Martin brought me to the airport and we
said our tearful goodbyes. While waiting for the plane to
take off, I opened the letter he gave me. Inside was a St.
Christopher’s pendant and note that read, “What
will the future hold? My tenet is that life is too short
to give up easily on someone you really care for. They say
distance makes the heart grow fonder . . .” From that
moment, I knew I would see him again.
The saying held true – the 4,000 miles separating
us did make our hearts grow stronger. After writing stacks
of letters, making countless long-distance phone calls,
taking periodic visits, and obtaining two work permits,
Martin and I moved from England to Houston where he secured
a job in finance. After another move, this one to St. Louis,
and a six-year dating relationship, we married in Captiva
Island, Fla.
Martin and I will celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary
in May. We have two beautiful, energetic boys ages 4 and
3 who love pretending to be knights and watching English
football with their daddy. We live in the Twin Cities and
visit Alnwick annually to visit family and friends.
I feel so fortunate that I attended the program. I met
an amazing, patient and caring individual to share my life
with. As well as meeting my spouse, attending the program
made me a stronger, more confident individual.
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