Dr. Rachael Sumner, Department of English and Linguistics
My trip to La Laguna University, Tenerife was a tremendous opportunity to meet with colleagues and students, to discuss the way contemporary British culture and literature is currently perceived from a Spanish perspective, and of course to visit an incredibly beautiful place with a rich history. During the two-day seminar organised by my colleague Maria Del Pino Montesdeoca Cubas, we exchanged views and ideas concerning the current polarisation of political and social discourse, and counter-narratives of union. I met and talked to colleagues working in areas as diverse as contemporary Irish poetry, political podcasting and media studies. We also managed to squeeze in a visit to the UNESCO heritage site of La Laguna itself, as well as to the Teide National Park. It was a stimulating and enriching experience.