Hello, Missouri, this is London

Coming to a close

2006-12-05T14:59:00.000Z

While it is incredibly hard for me to believe, this semester abroad is almost coming to a close. In the beginning, I found myself thinking I had an abundance of time to wander about and become acquainted with London and Europe in general. Nearly four months later, I find myself struggling to fit everything in. I haven't gone to nearly as many shows as I once hoped I would. There are still several presentations at the theatre which I would like to go see. I am going to miss some of the food over here (I swear it's not all bad!), and I am going to miss Sainsbury's, my favourite local grocery store. While squeezing six girls in to a two-bedroom flat may not seem like something one would miss, I think I actually will. Of course I'm longing to have my own room, my own space once again, but I will miss the our Sunday dinners and late night conversations.
Most of the things I have experienced and the things I have seen have not quite sunk in yet. I know a year from now, I will look back on all I did here and be amazed. I've been more places than most everyone I know, and seen things I never thought I would see---Stonehenge, the beautiful Greek Islands, the Eiffel Tower, Edinburgh Castle, the Guinness Storehouse. Already I've been able to begin to look at cultural references in a new light---while watching Harry Potter the other day, I noticed so much more about the story because I understood more of the cultural references. I watched a commercial the other day for Guinness and saw the St. James' gate for the storehouse and knew exactly how to get there. I've met people from all around the world, and now have friends as far away as New Zealand and Australia.
While my world has expanded, it has also brought my focus back closer to home. While here in London, my sister moved her wedding up to the first weekend of December. I made sure I got there, even through the first big snow storm of the year. While I have always said my plans were to move away from home, one of my worries haunted my decision: what if something happened back home? My family means the world to me, as do my friends. If I were to miss some monumental event---a marriage, a birth, a death, anything---I think I would be racked with guilt. However, this little trial in a way gave me permission to move away. It reassured me that, even though I was thousands of miles away, I was still able to be there for my sister. As the song goes: "Ain't no mountain high enough." With enough determination and a bit of flexibility and creative thinking, anything is possible.
So...that's about it. I have a total of fourteen days left here in London. After this coming Friday, I no longer work in London. I plan to take advantage of the things I will miss the most---the views from Parliament Hill at night, the Diana fountain in Hyde Park, the pub 2 meals for 6 pounds deals, the plethora of theatre opportunities, times with the flatmates, among other things. While some times have been hard here, I know that for the rest of my life, I will look back on my time here in London with certain fondness, and a desire to one day return.
Until next time, London...

"... when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life;
for there is in London all that life can afford"
...Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784)

-Erin Boeck

World Travel Market

2006-11-09T16:05:00.000Z

The World Travel Market (WTM) 2006 took place at ExCeL London, November 6-9. According to the official website, "WTM brings together worldwide buyers and sellers from every sector of the industry. A record breaking 48,211 travel industry professionals participated at WTM 2005 representing 202 countries and regions."

As an intern at a travel magazine (Business Traveller), I was able to visit this extraordinary event that only happens once a year. Other countries hold their own WTMs, yet London's is by far the largest. It seemed as if every airline, hotel, car rental, country and city worth visiting was their representing themselves.

Here are a few photos that I took while there. Sadly, I couldn't get up high enough to get pictures that would illustrate the enormity of the event was, but I hope the images I did capture help everyone understand.

It may seem as though the Maldives went all out for their display with palm trees and grass huts, but this was actually the norm.

Cuba's stand

Courtney Schultz

Oxford and Blenheim Palace

2006-11-02T07:20:00.000Z

The lake at Blenheim Palace.

Part of the gardens at Blenheim.

Waiting to get inside the Palace... brrr -- was it cold!

Blenheim Palace -- built by Queen Anne built for the Duke of Marlborough for defeating the French 4 times.

Stay off the quad! Don't know what will happen if you do, but according to our guide it would be similar to stepping onto an electric fence. OK -- not so much, but these green parcels of space are the pride of every college at Oxford University.

Watch out for the bikes in Oxford! Apparently they have no qualms about running you over and then blaming the incident on the pedestrian.

The round building in the background is of the theater in Oxford, England. A back entrance was created so that gowns (people associated with the university) could exit safely away from towns (people living in Oxford not associated with the university). Apparently, when the theater was built, the gowns and towns did not get along so very well.

Tube Life

2006-10-20T21:46:00.000Z

tube /tub, tyub/ Pronunciation Key - [toob, tyoob] noun, verb, tubed, tub-ing.

–noun

1.a hollow, usually cylindrical body of metal, glass, rubber, or other material, used esp. for conveying or containing liquids or gases.

9.the tubular tunnel in which an underground railroad runs.

10.the railroad itself.

-Idiom

18.down the tube or tubes, Informal. into a ruined, wasted, or abandoned state or condition.

17:30, Friday, Angel Station, the train comes rolling up to the platform. The doors open, revealing a full load of people, but only a few get out and more pile in. Having stepped onto the edge of the cabin, I soon quickly jump off to avoid being smashed between the doors. Three minutes later, another train and the same situation, except this time I push my way through the people into one of the few small clearings in this sardine can of transportation. At least it is only for one stop, I tell myself.

Just about everyday I am living part of my life in a tube. It is nearly impossible to escape this vast underground network of rail that has stood and grown for close to 150 years. While traversing between Earl’s Court and King’s Cross, I sit (or more likely stand) and contemplate what those 150 years have brought to this strange world. It is weird to think about women in big Victorian dresses traveling underground in a train pulled by a steam engine. What strikes me more is the thought of thousands of Brits flocking down here to escape German bombers during World War II, and then the brutal irony of becoming a place targeted by terrorist bombers last year.

The Underground, which ironically enough sports a majority of its 253 miles of track above ground, is sufficient for sightseeing on its own. Every station has its own design and character from the smooth businessy Angel to the quaint blue Russell Square. The ads are another subject entirely. They are strategically placed in the areas where you have nothing to do but look at them: beside the escalator, on the platform walls, and above the windows inside the trains themselves. Of course the experience isn’t complete without the music of licensed buskers, sending their voices out from the likes of guitars, harmonicas, saxophones, keyboards, and harps.

What parts of their lives do people bring down here? I saw a man practicing a song on one empty ride. I’ve seen couples kissing non-stop for the seeming entirety of a packed ride. Mostly though people just sit there silently, maybe reading one of the three free papers pushed into their arms by importunate paperboys (and girls). When you hear people talking it is usually not in English, or at least not spoken with an English accent. It is a stale environment most of the time.

But that’s tube life.

Land of the Preening Hipster

2006-10-08T19:31:00.000Z

There are a lot of people back in Missouri who I might go so far as to characterize as "hipsters". You know, the sort of people who would never be caught dead looking as though they actually enjoy a band or a movie. They're the people who stand in the crowd with an impudent look on their face and don't do anything other than (maybe) nod along to the beat.

The Brits make this look like nothing. The snobbish, effete crowd at the Art London opening exhibit was about the same as that at the concerts I've attended, if better dressed. A lot of people seem to wander around terrified of being seen as passé or, god forbid, eager. It would seem that perception is incredibly important on this side of the Atlantic; it might be merely that I have reconciled myself to always being behind the perception 8-ball (read: I'm kinda lame and people have started to catch on) but even so it seems an extreme reaction to something that's really not that big of a deal.

This could, without too many leaps in logic, be linked back to the Victorian prim-and-proper repression that kept brazen strumpets like the one on the left going from around with their ankles all on display as if 'twere the sordid centre some heathen meat-market. Her usage of the seemly Hooped-Skirt kept the magistrates from having their terrible lusts enflamed, though her espousal of the demon-ethos Suffrage likely unbalanced their Spelenetic Humours.

That doesn't even make sense. I apologize.

Moving on. The overly self-conscious nature of the British is not a bad thing per se. Thanks to this, strange things happen that would never occur in a place less obsessed with image. For example, people on the subway apologize to you if they step on your foot. In New York this wouldn't ever happen; it might even get the aplogizer (which is probably not a word) beaten up.

In any case, it's an element of culture here that's going to take some getting used to. It's a bit of a drag to go to a good show and be the only person who's making a fool of himself. My fumbling attempts at dancing have only drawn snide looks so far, as the cultural reticence has prevented them from deigning to criticize a philistine such as myself. I'm being hyperbolic here, I know; I just think it's at least a bit funny to be surrounded by people who seem to take themselves so seriously.

The strangest thing is trying to reconcile this with British humor, which takes such pleasure in mocking the same sort of thing. Perhaps this is a cultural reaction to what I'm talking about. Or maybe I'd just feel better if everybody else looked as goofy as I did. In any case, it'd do me good to see someone out there who seemed to be really enjoying themselves. Watch out for me: I'll be the one who just spilled his drink all over himself. Or all over Courtney's head. Both good.

Lecture and a little V&A

2006-10-08T17:24:00.000Z

For the first week in October, the Fall Londoners went Victorian. No, they didn't convert to horse drawn carriages, hoop skirts with big back ends, or top hats for the gents. The British, Life, and Culture class welcomed Professor Dominic Janes who was more than a little excited to educate the waried Americans with a crash course in Victorian London life. Complete with overhead projections and tip toeing around risque topics, Dr. Janes explained there was more to Victorian Britain than a holier than thou attitude.

Britain was entering a new age of success: industrial, religious, financial, and in it's bustling imperialistic empire. With no threats from France who was enduring a revolution, Britain was well on it's way to becoming a leading world power. The Industrial Revolution occured with the Great Exhibition occuring in Hyde Park (which is a short hop, skip and a jump away from the flats the students occupy). This event was a foreshadowing of the great power Britain was harboring and the great financial success that was soon to come.

Looking back on Victorian Britain, people usually remember fabulous gowns with huge skirts and dashing men in classic suits with proper top hats. In all actuality, only 5% of the population fit this description. The rest were middle and working class people. Usually they wore whatever they could get their hands on. Fortunately enough, the working and middle class won in the end by getting to wear comfortable clothes that probably came with their own individual scent. The upper class had to walk around with tight collars and basketball hoops around their legs with a corset harnessed around their waist. In this case, I think I would go for comfort. The working class consisted of those whow orked with their hands while the middle class was comprised of those who handled office work. Just think, in Victorian Britain, this journalist would be considered a part of the middle class since I'm a writer dealing with paper work (perhaps that is actually a compliment for my meager journalistic salary). The upper class owned property or were part of artistocratic families. Unfortunately, people's views on history sometimes cut out the unwanted and ugly aspects of life.

After this lecture, the class was able to see artifacts from the Victorian age at the famous Victoria and Albert Museum. Clothes were a large part of the display and helped to tell the story of this strange and glorious age. Men's clothing was fairly ignored since there are only so many high collared suits a person can look at. There was an amazing display featuring different clothes from Britains ages. The dresses were gorgeous but looked like they would be difficult to sit in let alone dance in or even walk through a door in. Not only were the clothes ornate but the furniture and artwork of the age had its own kind of pure and untouched radiance. Everything had a great attention to detail and it looked like those in that time focused primarily on the beauty of things even though they may not have been that beautiful at the time.

Closing upon the lecture, Dr. Janes touched briefly on how the Victorian age has impacted Britain today. Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher used its philosophies in her right wing politics. You can see some of it used in the United States political atmosphere as well. The pure, wholesome family life that everyone in America strives for. Not necessarily the woman dealing with the servants and housework, but a perfect family with a perfect social life, in a perfect community. Leaving out the class system, religious fantasies, and radical dogmas, the Victorian age might be making a come back. As Dr. Janes said, "Cultures and politics don't appear and disappear, they influence."

Pictures from the trip!

2006-10-06T12:17:00.000Z

The outside of the library... it was a quick picture because a taxi was about to hit me.

Karina, Sara, and Sarah after the library, proudly displaying their homemade papers.

View of the V & A from the courtyard.

A dress worn by Princess Di and another designed by Stella McCartney... sort of lame, but I thought they were pretty.

Really cool plaster casts of tombs and such.

Fleet Street

2006-10-04T18:34:00.000Z

"It was as if the combination in one city of too many printing presses, a bloody and perpetual atmosphere of Party Malice, and an infinite supply of coffee, had combined in some alchemical sense to engender a monstrous prodigy, an unstaunchable would that bled Ink and would never heal."
- Neal Stephenson, The System of the World

2006-10-02T16:33:00.000Z

Cromwell Statue

We saw a yellow bus on the way to see Little Miss Sunshine. It was meant to be. And the movie is HILARIOUS!

Differences in Work Environments

2006-10-02T12:30:00.000Z

It's 1:00pm in London, do you know where your co-workers are?

I think it's fascinating that the British workforce literally drops everything at one o'clock to go out to lunch. It's as if a silent bell has rung, signalling the time to take a break from the daily grind. I look around my office, as I sit dutifully working through my lunch (as any self-respecting American workaholic would), amazed that the bull pen has completely cleared out. The spectacle is reminiscent of hastily vacated high school classrooms after the lunch period has started.

The British really take time to live. They go to the theatre on weekdays, take long lunches and leave early on Fridays, make up for overtime with extra days off, treat themselves to tea and galaxy bar mini-breaks, leave at 5:30, take long weekends and two-week summer holidays and don't understand why Americans do things differently. My boss just told me a sad story about working too much. An American was working at a London company seven days a week, utterly obsessed with her work. When she was told she couldn't come in on Sundays anymore (because no one else could keep up), she jumped off the roof of the building. This happened last year. I was doubly sad to hear it, not only because I think working too much is a waste, but because this woman was American.

What is it about the American work-ethic? The idea of the self-made man (or woman) is an intoxicating one, to be sure. "Why, you could be President if you wanted to! All you have to do is give up free time, friendship, the prospect of true love, sleeping and about 30 years of your life. This is America, dammit!"

My father once told me that no one on their deathbed has ever wished they had spent more time at work. My mother told me that even when I die, my inbox will still be full. Even when I'm back in America, I'm going to model my work-life after the British example. I think they're on to something.

2006-10-02T07:46:00.000Z

This is for the week of September 25: Bob's Walking Tour at the Cutty Sark.

Apparently, Blogger hates me. This is the only picture I could get to actually upload.

Parliament and Politics

2006-09-30T13:19:00.000Z

On Sept. 26 the International Enrichment students developed their knowledge of British politics and the Parliamentary system with a lecture by Dave Eyde. Edye gave a lecture that spanned nearly 1000 years of British politics in just an hour, from the Middle Ages to Tony Blair’s impending exit as Prime Minister.

The next morning at 9:45 a.m. the students, droopy-eyed and yawning, poured out of Westminster tube station, swarmed the sidewalk in front of Westminster palace, and waited for the tour of the Houses of Parliament to begin.

After passing through security, the students were split into groups of about 20 and taken on guided tours of the building. Among the many pieces of artwork, students saw portraits of a young Queen Elizabeth II, her husband Phillip, Henry VIII and his six wives. Paintings of famous English battle scenes also lined the corridors. In the room where foreign heads of state often give speeches, there are two depictions of French defeats, which, according to the tour guide, caused late French President Charles De Gaul to demand an alternate accommodation. Tudor roses adorned the walls of the stately rooms, and statues of notable Prime Ministers such as Winston Churchill and Lord Asquith filled the antechamber to the House of Commons. Unfortunately no photographs were allowed. Historical artifacts were also prevalent, including a box filled with sands from the different beaches in the Invasion of Normandy during the Second World War.

Students also explored the debating chambers of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The House of Lords was decorated in red, the color representative of the English aristocracy. In the House of Commons debating Chamber the students also saw gifts given to Parliament following the Battle of Britain during World War II, which destroyed much of the décor in the room. Among the many gifts were a table from Canada and the archway to the chamber from Pakistan and India.

After the tour, students gathered in a conference room to listen to Conservative Member of Parliament, Graham Brady speak frankly about modern politics in Britain. He expressed his dislike of the current Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and explained the political climate in Britain today. Brady is the Shadow Minister for Europe, and often works with organizations like the European Union. He told the students that he has very little political ambition and is content to continue working in his current capacity.

Following a question and answer period with Brady, the weary students filed out of the palace for an afternoon in the city.

Bonney's Photos from Week 3

2006-09-24T19:55:00.000Z

Ashley and Sara at Avenue Q in the West End. It was everything they said it would be... brash, vulgar, and hysterically funny!

Riding the Lions in Trafalger Square. It really reminded me of the tiger at Mizzou!

The church where Shakeseare is buried.
The graveyard was was amazing with all the graves dating from the 1800s. I could really feel the history. Anne Hathaway's cottage in Stratford-Upon-Avon. We were told the flowers were not the ones that would have been there in her time, but they were pretty none-the-less!
The ladies at Warwick Castle!! The view from the top of the towers was incredible, so we stopped for this photo-op.

From Medieval Castles to Shakespearean Theater

2006-09-22T11:08:00.000Z

On Wednesday, September 20, the BLC class boarded two busses in order to travel to Warwick Castle and Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare.

Warwick castle looked like your typical medieval castle from the outside, but inside it felt more like a medieval Disney World with actors dressed up in medieval clothing and rooms filled with waxed mannequins portraying life as medieval soldier. The students had about two hours to explore the tours, the torture rooms, and the surrounding grounds. Inside one room costumes, worn by the likes of Dame Judi Dench, from the Royal Shakespeare Company were exhibited. Another room displayed medieval armor.

After touring Warwick Castle, the students reboarded their busses to head to Stratford-upon-Avon where they visited home of Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare's wife. The students also visited the birthplace and adolescent home of Shakespeare himself. Once the tours of the tiny homes were complete, the students were free to roam about the city on their own. Many visited local shops and the Holy Trinity Church, were for 50p, students were able to see Shakespeare's tomb--enscribed with the curse: Good friend, for Jesus' sake forebeareTo digg the dust enclosed heare; Bleste be the man that spares thes stones, And curst be he that moves my bones.

One of the busses returned to London by 6:00 pm, but the other bus stayed behin to allow some of the group to see William Shakespeare's Tempest performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Many people were excited to see the play since its lead actor was Patrick Stewart, more commonly known to many Americans as Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek or Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men movies.

After the play concluded, the students made their way back to the bus and arrived in London, after an eventful day and with sleepy expressions, at 1:00 in the morning.

So you think you know English?

2006-09-21T20:31:00.000Z

One of the main reasons I chose London as my study abroad destination was because I wouldn’t have to learn a new language, or at least that’s what I thought. As soon as the group plane landed and we went to collect our luggage, words I’ve never heard before were being thrown at me.

“The luggage cart queue is over there, love.” Huh? Queue? What the…? Why are you calling me love, I don’t even know you!

It didn’t take me too long to realize that “queue” meant “line” and that “love” is used freely when talking to females. But as the days go by, there hasn’t been one that I haven’t learned something new (or been struck by a word so strange that the look on my face can’t be anything but utterly confused).

A favorite of mine is “lolly.” The Brits (and Australians I’ve come to discover) use lolly to describe candy. They think Americans are weird for using the word “candy” to describe candy. All I have to say is that as long as I can still eat it, I will call candy whatever I need to!

Some other good ones are “rubbish” and “chips.” For having very few rubbish bins throughout the city, I’ve never seen cleaner streets. In the U.S., we seem to have 6X as many trashcans, yet twice as much garbage on the streets. I still have yet to figure that one out… Chips are what we call french fries and crisps are what we call chips. Yeah, confusing, I know. However, on a trip to Manchester last weekend, my friends and I discovered an alternative to cheese fries – gravy chips! Pouring gravy over french fries is probably the most delicious (and fattening) snack I have yet to taste.

I will end this blog with a short story pertaining to my long days at work. While sitting at my desk, proofreading a story on Abu Dhabi, my coworker and desk neighbor started talking. Sadly I wasn’t paying complete attention to what he was saying until he busted out with, “They must think they’re the mutt’s nuts!” No one else in the small office seemed phased by that expression, so I tried to play it off as if I’d heard it a thousand times, but inside I was dying laughing.

So if you ever make it the U.K., remember what I’ve told you so that you’ll be prepared when you have a conversation with a native. Oh, yeah, and watch out for those humped zebra crossings, they’re killers. Cheers.

Courtney A. Schultz

All the World's a Stage

2006-09-21T07:39:00.000Z

Let me "take you on a journey... a theatrical journey," said Don Dryden to IE London's BLC class on Tuesday, September 19. Don Dryden, who originally hails from the north of Britain, is a theater teacher currently residing in Nottingham. His assignment on Tuesday was to take a group of American students through a short tour of modern British theater.

Dryden, in typical theatrical fashion, taught the students the importance of movement, acting, and voice to an actor. Dryden said that in previous years actors needed to learn Standard English (think “Shakespeare’s” English) within three months of beginning training or they would be kicked out of their schools. Not so anymore, he said, as actors are appreciated for their heritage. And so began a quick demonstration of his vocal interpretations, as he presented us with a Welsh Anthony Hopkins, a guttural Scottish man, and a quick-tongued (and utterly incomprehensible) Irish taxi driver. He then proceeded to entertain with interpretations of various American accents, including a New Yorker who talked through his nose and chewed gum.

Once he had the class’s full attention, he got down to the nitty-gritty of acting school. To begin, how do you get into acting school? “You’ve got to have an inborn talent—a reason to act. Then you have to practice… train your voice and your imagination,” Dryden said.

The competition to get into acting school is fierce here in London. The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art only accepts 50 students out of its 3,000 applicants each year. If accepted, a drama student then begins a three-year training program, which includes 30 hours per week in the classroom, plus weekends. During the first year, students learn the basics of movement and voice. In their second, they learn Greek, Shakespearean, and Restoration Theater. In their third and final year, they take to the stage.

Upon graduation, a new challenge begins: finding work. According to Dryden, of the 44,000 members in the British Actors Union, 92% are out of work. Out of this phenomena, grew fringe theater. Introduced by Charlie Marowitz, fringe theater has a history of dealing with controversial issues, as well as introducing new plays and playwrights.

Besides learning about dramatic schools, we learned that we are all food for actors’ imaginations. Actors learn to study human beings so that they can recreate humanity on stage. Dryden repeatedly told the class that theater's ability to portray humanity is its main importance.

Dryden taught that if you want to understand a society, understand its plays. In Henry VIII’s time, plays were bloody and fraught with turbulence because of religious turmoil. In our times, plays are filled with escapism. The question is why. To learn the answer, go to the theater. “If you want to understand Americans, see [American] theater. If you want to understand the Brits, see [British] theater,” Dryden told us.

When the night concluded, the class applauded Dryden, and he, in turn applauded them.

A band of Tigers

2006-09-20T21:21:00.000Z

Our first foray away from London was a bus trip to Warwick Castle and Stratford-upon-Avon. Here is part of the group in front of the the Warwick keep.

And here we are, tired to the bones, on the trip home.

Sara Coy

2006-09-14T20:52:00.000Z

Out and about, still learning the tube system and exporing the town.

In the photo is me, Sara Coy and James Sondag

2006-09-14T20:45:00.000Z

Will Ferrell on the red carpet at the Talladega Nights movie premier.

Sara Coy

2006-09-14T20:41:00.000Z

This is the 11:45 group anxiously awaiting to enter Tate Britain.

Sara Coy

2006-09-14T20:30:00.000Z

The Lady of Shallot 1888, by John William Waterhouse. This was my favorite piece in Tate Britain.

The Grand Tour Updated

2006-09-14T20:27:00.000Z

London, Week 2
Studying abroad can be both one of the most amazing and difficult experiences of a person’s life. Each time students venture out of their house, they are exposed to an entirely different world, full of new sights, sounds, smells and tastes. In London, there’s culture around every corner.
Tuesday night’s British Life and Culture lecture, led by Mr. John Ruenette, centred around British Art and what the students could expect from their trip to the Tate Britain on Wednesday. A painter himself, Ruenette spoke with ease and confidence about various pieces of art, despite the difficulties with the art slides he had prepared as visual aids.
“Once lecture began, I couldn’t stop smiling,” said Sarah Willis, an Art History minor with a passion for art that tells a story.
Ruenette spoke of the history of British Art, explaining that British Art did not really evolve until about 350 years ago. To transition into his discussion of specific artists, Ruenette spoke of the Grand Tour.
The Grand Tour, in a modern sense, is like a semester abroad. Often three months long, young well-to-do youths (then mainly males) travelled around Europe exploring and documenting their experiences. His discussion of artists spanned from Sir Joshua Reynolds to William Hogarth, the man for which one of the student residences is named.
While the youth documented back then documented their travels with paintings, watercolours, and drawings, the students in London now document their travels a little bit differently.
Most students are using photography, web logs and diaries to document their travels. James Sondag has an online blog, http://web.mac.com/jamessondag/iWeb/James%20Sondag%27s%20Website/Welcome.html, in which he documents his experiences in London, using words, photographs and movies. One cultural observation he made was about the Tube.
“When the train stopped at the other stations and men sat down in the then open seats, they would jump up and offer their seats to any ladies that were not able to get a seat,” Sondag said. He continued on to say that while this behaviour was shocking to him, Americans could learn a lot from the British.
The cultural experiences continued the next day, when the students went in three separate groups to the Tate Britain. The tours, led by Blue Badge guides, were staggered with their times. Starting at 9.25, 10.25 and 11.20, each tour lasted approximately an hour an a half, covering various famous British artists.
The Tate had several different exhibits being shown, one of which focused on the work of nature-loving George Stubbs. Two spacious rooms were dedicated to the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the painter’s death. Some students, like Shawn Finnegan, really enjoyed the work of Stubbs.
“George Stubbs‘ passion for nature is easily visible in his artwork. I found his belief, that nature is supreme to other subjects, very interesting. My favourite piece by Stubbs is Mares and Foals in a River Landscape as I share his love for horses” said Finnegan.
Others had their own personal favourites. Sara Coy and Jeff Salter both really enjoyed The Lady of Shalott, painted in 1888 by JW Waterhouse. Coy was so captivated by the piece, based on a poem by Tennyson, that she went back to the Blue Badge guide and asked her to read the poem again, going in to greater detail about the work.
With the week’s scheduled outings now over, students are left on their own to see the London they want to see. Luckily for them, there’s plenty to see.
“I’m really excited to go tour Buckingham palace,” said Sarah Beese. “I want to see the Queen’s dresses!”

view from Tate Modern, looking north across the Millenium Bridge.

2006-09-14T15:16:00.000Z

Lovely landscapes, lackluster food

2006-09-14T14:42:00.000Z

London: the city known for constant changes and reinvention. A city also known for crappy food. Don't get me wrong, I love London. The nightlife, the theaters, the museums, the architecture, the history: I eat it up! One thing I can barely get down is the food here. I've avoided the culture shock bug for awhile but it's decided to hit me in the sustinance department. One thing I love about new cultures is the food. Trying new things is one of my favorite activities. The first thing I got here was my one of my must haves: a Dr. Pepper. My mouth is salivating since all I'd had in the last 24 hours were little shot glasses of water compliments of Air India. I crack open my soda like a dehydrated man in the Sahara desert. To my dismay, it tasted like someone had left it open for a week then re-added the carbonation. I tried to get past it but as a person who drank about 4 Dr. Pepper's a day, this was a huge shock. I've been trying to keep an open mind, trying McDonalds, Subway, KFC, local chips (chip chips not chips as in french fries) but it just isn't the same. I haven't been disappointed in the sushi department though, thank god! For the past week I've been sticking with a trustworthy salad. The hardest thing for anyone to screw up! This isn't a jab to the English people, I think they just need to discover the awesome world of flavor when it comes to some of their food.

Now not all food here is entirely terrible. There have been a few exceptions. Imagine my surprise when a British friend of mine offers to buy me breakfast and returns with a sausage enveloped in a pastry. To me, this is the British attempt at a corn dog. A bad attempt at that. I graciously accepted it but threw it in my fridge and forgot about it. The other day my roommate and I were starving and it was the only thing we had that didn't require cooking. We popped it in the microwave to warm it up and divided it down the middle. That sasauge pastry was one of the best foods I've ever had in my life! Now I see them every where: at bakeries, convenient stores, grocery stores. I buy one every time. Now I don't know how I'll survive without them in the States.

One thing is for sure, this London experience has stretched my taste boundaries to the point of breaking. All in all, it's probably a good thing. I'll go home appreciating food a lot more! I'll never cast my eyes at McDonalds ever again! Oh and if anyone ever walks past a Taco Bell, alert me right away. I'm about to the point of hurting someone for a chicken fajita or taco!

Tea for Two

2006-09-08T21:39:00.000Z

No self-respecting American tourist can complete a trip to England without a proper afternoon tea.

And that's just what I did yesterday, meeting up with a London-based Facebook friend, in the drawing room of the Cadogan Hotel in Belgravia, one of the ritiziest neighborhoods in town. I felt wholly uncivilised as I slipped into my green velvet armchair, watching as the waiter poured tea into each of our cups. It was hard not to grimace as I took my first sip, thinking back to all of the times I had scoffed at my mother for drinking "dirt water." In all fairness, the English version was a much nicer dirt water - especially when milk and two sugar cubes were added.

Finger sandwiches were next on the menu. I sampled a simple chicken and mayonnaise spread, followed by the less familiar smoked salmon and cress and egg - a bit more sophisticated than the daily peanut butter and jelly that my student budget allows.

Scones were the big hit of the evening. A distant cousin of the American biscuit, each scone was fluffy, dotted with raisins and powdered with sugar. We cut them in half and added a fair share of thick butter and English strawberry jelly to each piece. I could live on them.

When the waiter finally brought out the last course of the afternoon tea, I had to raise my eyebrows. In the United States, fruitcake is only good for Christmas songs. I didn't quite believe it was real. But it was, and it wasn't bad - pieces of fruit and nuts mixed into a spice cake.

I highly recommend a leisurely English afternoon tea, and I really enjoyed mine - which is good because I'll never be able to afford to do it again.

Stranger in a strange land

2006-09-08T12:26:00.000Z

This place is strange. Not in any overt, obvious way, and that makes it all the more insidious. This place is strange because it is so similar to what I'm used to, yet tinged with something inexplicably foreign. I can only compare it to the food here, since every time I order something I am surprised by slight variations and unexpected additions.

And I am enthralled by these differences. As yet I haven't met a single person I didn't like, though others in our group have complained about people making fun of them for being tourists. I promise I won't insult them anymore.

Yesterday I went to the Tower of London. I'll admit that I wasn't going to spend £15 to get in somewhere I've already been, but even still it's a marvel to see something 800 years old in the middle of a bustling 21st-century city. Even so, the Tower held almost nothing to the small street across the Tower Bridge from it. It was one of the quintessentially English streets that are maybe fourteen feet across, but it had no less than five pedestrian bridges over it, suspended between the two buildings on either side. When I finally get around to connecting my camera to one of these computers, it's on. Despite the fact that Ryan, being a photo major, will put me to shame.

This was a post after an exceptionally long (but good) night, so please don't judge me harshly.

Putting on the pounds: London, week one

2006-09-08T10:44:00.000Z

The IE group of American students has experienced a lot so far since their arrival in London Saturday morning. IE staff greeted the students at Heathrow Airport and soon carted them off to the residences at 6 Knaresborough and 40 Hogarth, located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. After moving their luggage into their flats, some located up five stories with no lift, students found that they might have to make do with less than they are used to: little space, no cable, and poor wireless internet reception. On the other hand, the weather has been unusually warm and sunny this past week. The rainy, foggy weather which London is known for has yet to show its face.

Sunday saw a tour of the major sites by bus, with a few stops for picture taking. Places included Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, and Trafalgar Square. Classes commenced the following day coupled with orientation.

Dr. Wendy Stokes gave a lecture for the BLC class on basic UK politics and culture, covering areas such as the formation of the UK and the current big issues in the news. One of the big issues has been of the resignation of Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has made known his intention to resign for a while now. Currently, the papers (including thelondonpaper which premiered just this week) are reporting that 31 May is the date that inside sources say he plans on stepping down as the head of the Labour Party, while 26 July is the date that he quits as prime minister.

Dr. Stokes also talked about the sometimes difficult formation of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland into one United Kingdom. Though the IRA has decreased its use of violence in recent years, Stokes says, based on demographics showing an increase in the Catholic population, “Northern Ireland will probably opt out of the UK within the next 100 years.” On a related note, London has been becoming an increasingly multicultural city, something which all the students here have probably been able to observe. Other issues discussed included the monarchy, the school system, and the relationship the UK has with the US and the EU.

Wednesday’s BLC field trip served to expand on the lecture by visiting the Museum of London, a museum which chronicles the entire span of London history. Significant events include the founding of Londinium by the Romans in the first century, the separation from the Catholic Church in the 16^th century, and the Great London Fire of 1666. To communicate this history, the museum displays various artifacts from each era. The trip also provided an opportunity to get a handle on public transportation.

Class members have had a few unique experiences apart from the larger group. Ashley Dennison celebrated her 22^nd birthday on Tuesday by going salsa dancing in Picadilly along with class members Bonney Bowman, Sara Coy, and Karina Brown. Bonney noted that the pubs are different from similar places in the US in that you pay for your food at the bar before you get it and you do not need to tip.

“I'm sure we'll all get used to the minor differences pretty soon, and before we know it, some of the American ways of doing things will seem quite foreign to us,” says Erin Boeck, who also started her internship this week with Help the Aged, an organization which Princess Di was involved with. “I told my boss I would take some files home with me this weekend and look at them and she said, ‘Oh, I hope you don't. Enjoying London and your time here is really what this is all about,’” says Erin, appreciating the understanding of her employer.

Looking past this week, some students are already starting weekend trips and many will be busy with internships next week. The experience has just begun.

Lion-hearted Tigers

2006-08-28T14:05:00.000Z

I'm Clyde Bentley, an associate professor at the Missouri School of Journalism. Welcome to the electronic record of a talented group of college students' exploration of why the United States and the United Kingdom are "two countries divided by a common language.

I am the instructor for J4650, the London edition of Issues in Journalism. For the next four months, I will lead 15 students -- 14 from Mizzou and one from North Central College in Illinois -- in the Missouri London Program coordinated by International Enrichment. The program is based at Imperial College in central London and involves students from many Missouri colleges and universities. Journalism students take two high-level courses while working as interns at British media and advertising companies.

I will teach the core professional class that helps the students discover the contributions to journalism as we know it and to find out how modern UK journalism differs from U.S. journalism.

The students will also take a course in British Life and Culture taught by UK professors. The day after each Tuesday lecture, they will take a field trip to the appropriate site (Romans = Bath, politics = parliament, etc.)

Visit often and enjoy the work of Amy Becker, Erin Boeck,Bonnie Bowman, Karina Brown, Nicholas Carter, Ashley Clark, Sarah Coy, Ashley Dennison, Ryan Gladston, Sara Machie, Katherine Roehrick, Courtney Schultz, Sarah Smithies, Daniel Stellen and Ashley Thomas,