Our jaunt to Oxford

was beautiful!

Crossing the bridge from the train station into town

We mostly just walked around campus (or at least parts of it) and had dinner in this little cafe (Cafe Bar Cafe?). We finally got our Oxford sweatshirts we'd been wanting so bad, and then on the way home we had our train car all to ourselves! So naturally, we had a dance party.

The town was wonderful; not surprisingly, we got a little excited every time we saw groups of people who were obviously students... just imagining what it must be like to go to school there, to live there. 

In a few hours we're leaving for Paris! I'm very excited, and just a wee bit nervous. We're going as a group, though, so no worries. This will be the first place I go, on this trip, where English isn't the primary language. And I know no French! (Take that back, courtesy of my roommate, I can say, "It's cold.")

Until then, cheers!

Americans and Australians in Scotland

Our first night in Edinburgh, we shared a room with three girls from Sweden and a girl from Australia. We didn't spend much time with the Swedish girls, but the girl from Australia is 18 and has already spent a month and a half traveling around Europe (by herself) on a "gap year," which is apparently quite common in Australia. (She'll begin "university" in West Australia the coming school year.)

In our hostel in Edinburgh

Talking to her, we discovered that both Texans and Australians use the phrase "Tell you what" as a complete sentence. (And as a phrase in general.)

The view of part of the Royal Mile from our hostel window

I'm sure it depends on the expectations, but our hostel was above my expectations! We had a great location, not far from the train station, right along the Royal Mile. We didn't directly interact with many of the other people there (we weren't in the hostel that much), but the mix of personalities and nationalities was obvious. 

The Jack-the-Ripper Tour

was pleasant.

We began outside the Tube stop near the Tower of London, and proceeded to cover most of the East End, notorious in the Victorian period for its poverty and crime.

Our tour guide explained in great detail not only the murders themselves, but also the various jurisdictions involved, the suspected murderers, conspiracy theories, etc. It was very interesting, but I literally came extremely close to getting sick around the third stop. (I really think I had just locked my knees, because I was fine after that. But still - the details of the murders are beyond gruesome.)

I'm not really going to go into detail, but here are a few random pictures from before and toward the end of the tour...

The Tower of London, in all of its intimidating glory.

Our tour guide, speaking to us on the East side of the London Wall.

Walking down one of the last alleys of the tour (one of the few alleys remaining exactly as it was in the 1800s).

First Test Down!

My first test here is down, and it was a success! Tomorrow the whole group is going to the Globe Theatre to see Henry V, and then Friday morning everyone is splitting up to go out of town for the weekend, primarily Scotland and Amsterdam.

After class I walked around the Bloomsbury area trying to find the post office, which I eventually did (after some help by a local). I then wandered into an incredible antique bookseller's shop. Every volume in their was one of the early (if not original) prints of novels from Dickens to Thackeray to Austen. (Put it to you like this, the smallest, single volume books were a couple hundred pounds.) It was beautiful.

We have a test in my second class tomorrow, but it won't be bad at all. A group of us is thinking about taking the Jack the Ripper tour tonight; if it happens, I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. I'm pretty excited. And a little nervous.

Until then!

(For your viewing pleasure, I'm just adding a few more pictures from around the procession yesterday.)

We saw the Queen!

Today after the test, Kelsey, Morgan, Erinn, Heather, and I found our way to the square of statues right outside Westminster Abbey where we were able to spot the Queen's carriage!

This feat was extra extraordinary in that at every stop along the way we were turned away by barricades and policemen. Kelsey continued to lead us with the use of her phone's map and a picture of the procession route. In miraculous fashion, after several sprinted blocks (and I do mean several), we found ourselves outside of one of the most incredible buildings in the world - with a slim, eyeline shot of guard-lined streets. 

After all of the physical exertion, we decided to stop for a pint at The Geencoat Boy (or something like that). While there, we were able to join with the locals to watch the Royal family wave from the balcony. I think they were amused at our perceptions of the Royals and the Jubilee festivities as a whole.

We met some lovely Brits along the way - a couple near us that took our picture in front of the flags and a man on the Tube with whom we compared notes of the procession and wave. 

Lights, Tests, then Action!

Last night I blew the fuse in our bedroom, so we were without light (really power, in general) for about half an hour. Two of my flatmates were busy studying for our upcoming test, and another was in the shower. I felt terrible, but we ended up having a wonderful time during the much-needed study break!

Fortunately, one of the girls on the trip celebrated her 21st birthday the night before, and we all (mostly) still had our light-up rings that her mother had given to everyone as part of the lavish celebration.

We couldn't seem to find a solution by examining and fiddling with the circuit breaker, so the next logical step was to ask the boys, who live several floors below us. Unfortunately they were too busy booking their hotel for their trip to Amsterdam. (Needless to say, we were a bit disappointed at the apparent lack of chivalry. And masculine know-how.) So then we contacted maintenance, and our lights were back on in no-time.

The wonderful ladies of Flat E, from left to right Morgan, me, India, Kelsey, and Erinn.

Now, our main focus is on the two tests we have this week. Research & Evaluation is tomorrow (and guaranteed to be tough), and Media in Britain is on Thursday. Thursday evening the fun begins. We're going to see Henry V at the Globe Theater in the evening, and then Friday morning Morgan, Erinn, Kelsey, Gage, Heather, and I leave from Kings Cross (I know!) for Edinburgh.

I must also add a note that contrary to one of my more recent posts, I'm beginning to feel more comfortable with those on the trip. At the Jubilee celebration and over the course of the past day or so, I've come to really enjoy spending time with my flatmates and the girls that I'm going to Scotland with this weekend. I'm not feeling like such the outsider/loner anymore!

Moving beyond the Questions

One of the obstacles I have found in acquiring any true sense of British culture or day-to-day norms is the size of the group with which I am traveling, though this is by no means the only inhibitor. At times I attempt to reflect on the lessons I’ve learned since arriving in London and the experiences I’ve had; I ask myself what stories I’m going to share with my friends and family back home to give them a glimpse of life in London. I wonder if so far I haven’t just transplanted an American existence – granted, a more urban existence – into a prettier, less familiar scenery.

I wonder what I can do to get to know the “natives” around me better. What enhances familiarity? Should I talk to the nice man at the café each morning? Should I simply sit and observe others in restaurants? Should I spend time studying in the park rather than in my flat? I’d imagine, not surprisingly, the answer rests in the mix of these (and other) behaviors.

Cultural submersion does not simply entail changing locale. We must make conscious decisions throughout each day to go out into the culture. Make no mistake, this requires a bit of courage. My curiosity about various random facets of British life won’t be assuaged by remaining in my flat and/or around other American college students.

Finding differences alone will not broaden my cliché “horizons;” similarities are also essential. 

We’ve already spent some time making observations, and from those observations we’ve constructed questions, mostly for class but not entirely. The longer we are here, the more excuses for not seeking out those answers diminish. I, for one, am excited (though nervous, of course) to begin interacting with the international community around us in research.

Jubilee with the Masses

Well I lied a bit this morning. We did have plans for today - the Diamond Jubilee flotilla! While we didn't actually see a single boat (the Brits really love their Royals), we had a blast walking through the crowds and trying to see the river.

Snap-happy Morgan...

We still want our own Royal masks. I called dibs on Kate Middleton.

India, Gage, and me

We weren't quite that dedicated. Actually we just didn't think of it first.

I also got a legit Diamond-Jubilee scarf with the Queen's face on it. I have to say, I rather think I appreciate the British expression of patriotism. Because they're so generally understated, their love for their country and its symbols and traditions seems all the more sincere.

Weekend Update

Sorry for the teaser - Oxford didn't happen after all. I'm still planning on going, but probably on the Monday that Dr. Coleman is canceling class. Instead we just stayed around the apartment most of the day, and then we celebrated one girl's 21st birthday last night.

Her mom and several friends flew in from Texas and took all 25 of us out for dinner, dessert, and drinks. (I know.) Everyone else was going out for the night from there, but I wanted to head back to the apartment, so I caught a taxi. Well, I attempted to catch a taxi, and fortunately a nice man also waiting outside the pub hailed one for me.

It's been an interesting trip so far, I must admit. I've really had to evaluate my comfort zone and examine everything I say and do. And though there are several people in the group that I enjoy hanging out with, I feel very alone most of the time.

On the bright side - and I know this will thrill my mom - I feel a very new sense of independence. The fear that I had going into this trip of traveling alone, the what-ifs, etc. have vastly diminished. One of the blessings of that flight delay in Philly, I think. Once the fear became reality, it became manageable.

Anyways, all that to say it's been a pretty uneventful weekend, so I'm looking forward to all of the remaining weekends. Today will probably consist of a lot of studying for our first test and hanging around the apartment and the surrounding neighborhood. Cheers!

The Changing of the Guard

Today we witnessed the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace! Above all, the music (particularly the bagpipes) was incredible. As were the crowds. Happy Jubilee weekend!

In addition, we are making a day trip to Oxford tomorrow, which I am very excited about!