Week 12 Impressions by Julia Wilson

As the days of the program are dwindling down, and our internships have finished, I have begun to appreciate this environment more and more. Now with relief of all the stress of preparing for papers and exams, and reading, and internships gone, it’s become more enjoyable to walk the streets of London. With the freshness of spring arriving as well, everything about taking public transportation and walking, and getting around has just simply become more enjoyable. I’m no longer dreading the walk from Metrogate to the nearest tube stop. And waking up in the morning is no longer one of the most difficult tasks of the day, when the sun is shining in the bedroom window. Walking in Hyde park on an early Sunday morning has become a experience I will truly miss when I leave London behind.

It feels like just yesterday it was January 5^th and we were departing on an adventure that we had no idea where it would take us. There was an amount of tension, and fear, and excitement, and wonder consuming my mind. During the first weeks it seemed like the journey ahead would be extremely long, yet in a blink of an eye its almost over. I’ve gone from not knowing how to get back to Metrogate house, whilst I was on the other side of the block, to feeling comfortable traveling an hour on the tube to a complete different destination.

I’ve met a lot of new people that made me appreciate this culture even more. The diversity that you can observe and take advantage of here is unlike any other place in the world. Being able to go into different communities and observe the different cultural diasporas has also been an experience I probably couldn’t get anywhere else.

Before I first came here, all I could think about was how the drinking age was only 18, and I was legal to drink and go into all the clubs. I envisioned myself partying all the time and taking full advantage of the different alcohols. And yes, going out is a fun experience, but I quickly learned that I had much more to gain here than just a hangover. London is a city that has so much to offer, that there is just absolutely no way that one could leave here and not have gained some sort of insight into another cultural experience, or another way of living.

This was definitely the most valuable trip I’ve taken to a foreign country that I have ever had. There have been tons of new memories created, and lessons learned. The group of people on this trip have also been wonderful as well, and I can’t think of another group of would have rather gone with. Saying good bye to the experience that incorporated many ups and downs, will be a bittersweet one. But I’m sure, that for many years to come, I will definitely remember my time in London, the World City.

Week 12 Impressions by Maddie Eggleston

As our study abroad program is coming to a close I find myself continually in awe. Awe at how slowly the program seemed to begin and yet how quickly it came to an end, awe at the number of ways I proved to myself that I was an adult, and most of all, awe at the fact that despite for the first few months I desperately missed my home in Colorado I feel sad to be leaving this city. For three months we all called London our home. And even though I will not miss my squeaky bunk bed or the kitchen that fits one and a half people, I am going to miss feeling like a Londoner for a short period of time.

While here I have learned so many things about myself that I never would have known had I not gone on the abroad program. Adults always tell you that college is the best years of your life and its where you’ll find out who you are and where you’ll learn to be an adult. But I don’t exactly feel this way. It wasn’t until I came to London that I started feeling like an adult and it wasn’t until London that I started having what everybody calls “a college experience”. London has shown me so many things not only about myself but also about life in general. I learned not to wear a cat costume in public, because people can and will yell vulgar obscenities at you, I learned to always trust the people who work at the tube station, I learned that catching the last tube home is the BEST, I learned where to find the cheapest drinks, and I learned that Londoners don’t really hate Americans as much as everybody says.

More importantly I was able to prove to myself (and my mother) that I am in fact more capable than I used to believe. My sense of direction may not be the greatest, but for each time I got lost I also found my way. Sunday I am leaving for Croatia by myself, and although I am nervous, I am much more confident. I have no real worries about being in a city by myself where English is not the most common language. I no longer have issues eating by myself at a restaurant or traveling by myself, and this is the gift that living in London has given me. I always knew I was independent, but London has really shown me this is true.

This past weekend was probably one of the best weekends in London. Shaun and I went out one night to Brick Lane. During our visit with Stephanie Polsky to Brick Lane we saw a completely different side of Brick Lane. At night, the street transforms into a different personality. The street was crowded with so many young people drinking on the street together. The bar we went to was a café during the day, but at night there were swarms of people sitting on benches outside drinking, people inside talking on couches, and also a space for dancing in the back. After this night out, I realized that London is not always as it seems, and there are so many other personalities the city that I wish I had seen.

People from home are constantly asking me if I am ‘ready’ to leave London. And even though I am going to miss living in the UK, the truth is that I am ready to leave. London has taught me what it can and it’s time for the next adventure. I am going to miss so many things about this city though. I will miss going to out to G-A-Y and drinking pitchers of sugary drinks, buying Burger King on the way home from a night out, getting woken up Wednesday mornings by the horses walking on the street outside our window, cooking in our tiny tiny kitchen, Sandwich World, cider, getting free food from our class internships, and most of all, falling in love with another city. Until next time, London…which will be in May.

Week 11 Impressions by Megan Percell

Recounting My Journeys

Its two weeks until I go back home, and I must say it’s almost surreal. It feels as though I just got here. Every time I mention it to a classmate they burst out and say, “I know I can’t believe its over!” There was a moment about a week and a half ago where I said to myself, “okay I have had a really nice time, but I am also okay to leave” but during our last meeting we began talking about our final meeting, our final lectures and our last supper, I then said to myself “woah, woah, woah, I am not ready yet!” Since that meeting it’s really made me appreciate these last couple of weeks. Its also nice to do and enjoy these last weeks with people that I have created a bond with. This trip has made me appreciate not only others but also others personalities. There are many individuals on the trip that where I realize that if we didn’t go on this trip together then the chances of us being friends, or spending time together would have been pretty slim. I have created a bond with a group of people that I will be happy to see on campus, say hello to in passing and even have lunch with.

I can only assume that for the next several months London is going to be the topic of many conversations. Whether I am the one bringing it up, or someone is intrigued and brings it up, I am sure I will get the question over and over again, “what do you miss about London,” or, “what was your favorite part of London?” As I sit here and write my last blog I have decided to simultaneously write my list of moments that will truly be missed.

1. The chaos in the kitchen

Although it was one of the most frustrating things trying to get in the kitchen to fix yourself a nice, hot dinner, or get to the oven to warm up a pizza, it was usually the most eventful. Once you got over getting your feet stepped on, or your head bashed with a spatula, you begin to appreciate the conversations and laughs had in the kitchen.

2. Random knocks on the bedroom door

Especially in the beginning of the program, around seven o’clock it would never fail that you would hear three knocks, with someone on the other side asking, “what are we doing tonight?” Going out in big groups always brought loads of entertainment.

3. Sandwich World

A.K.A heaven for the starving college student. Besides the fact that I can swear that they put extracts of an addictive substance in the bread, Sandwich World is the place to go if you want to spend less than three pounds on a sandwich. When living in one of the most expensive areas in London, this place is considered a gold mine by FIE students. Breakfast, lunch, dinner you name it, you will most likely see an FIE student either coming in or going out. The best part is the fact that there really isn’t anything incredibly special about this place. All they do is get a baguette and ask you what pre-made filling you want. I never seemed to have the power to stray away from the chicken avocado.

4. Navigating the Tube

Although you feel like your fighting for your life, or participating in Running of the Bulls, there is something about the tube that I will dearly miss… Although, I’m not exactly sure what… Maybe it’s the satisfying feeling I get when I successfully arrive at a destination in a new country, or the endless amount of people watching that I am able to do. From witnessing interesting wardrobe choices, to witnessing a break up or even watching a woman successfully but on a full face of makeup in three stops. I’ve seen it all.

5. Thursday night karaoke

Although I have the voice somewhere in between William Hung the sound of a pig being slaughtered, Thursday nights at the Social were the most fun. This Karaoke venue was a bit different than anything I have ever seen, instead of there being booths, there is just one stage and people get up individually to sing. It’s almost as if you are putting on a concert. Definitely an act for the brave. The crowd is always great though, no mater how terrible the person might sound, the crowd is always supportive. This was always a great place to meet a diverse group of locals.

6. Camden Market

You name it, you can find it. Camden was my favorite market to go to by far. Some might find that there are always too many people, but that’s the part I like most, aside from the food. Tip? Never go to Camden Market on a full stomach, trust me, you will be very upset at yourself. The food is very eclectic and seems endless.

I thought I was going to sit here and make a list but as I write I realize that the list will go on and on. There are so many facets of London that I will fondly remember, I just don’t think it is possible to recount all of them.

London? You will truly be missed…until we meet again.

Week 11 Impressions by Iman Sebunya

Whilst navigating my way around London, it dawned on me that certain street names and train stations sounded so very familiar. It was unlikely that I could credit school for this knowledge, so I just brushed it off and thought that I must simply be so good with names. Yes, that must be it. I have no idea how I actually came to that conclusion since I am known for referring to people as “what’s his/her face” while waiting for someone to fill in the blank. Anyway I convinced myself that I was in fact good with names until it hit me that it was actually hours spent playing Monopoly during childhood that was to blame.

I grew up playing endless games of monopoly with my siblings, each of us fighting to the bitter end, trying so hard to capitalize on the dark blue and green sections that consist of Mayfair, Park Lane, Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street, none of us wanting to invest in the brown and light blue area at the beginning of the board that encompass Old Kent Road, Whitechapel Road, Angel Islington, and Euston Road.

Of course after discovering that my experience in Monopoly was responsible for my seeming in depth knowledge of London streets and stations, I consulted a London map to investigate which locations I had actually already visited. To my surprise I had visited 15 out of the 26 locations on the board. I sat there for a while, thinking of the spots I had seen and how I could finally situate these names with actual REAL physical locations, each with something different to offer. It was then that I decided to set myself the goal of visiting all the locations on the board before my time in London was up!

Over the next few weeks, I followed through with my mission and made my way to different sections of London. I felt like I was making my way around the monopoly board except my board was the tube map and I was myself and not an iron, shoe or dog! It became my own virtual game of monopoly except I had no money in the bank! I was also not looking to build houses and hotels or spend a few nights in jail for that matter.

What started off as a mere game or childish mission, actually turned out to be quite worthwhile. This quest really allowed me to see London in its entirety. It took me to so many completely different areas, each of which has such a different feel and distinct demographic. Surprisingly it showed me that those light blue and brown previously disdained areas of the Monopoly board were actually the most interesting, as they contain the whole world in a few city blocks. The journey allowed me to experience the whole social spectrum from wealth to poverty by strolling through London streets. Each area spoke to me through its own particular mix of class, race, culture, ethnicity and overall infrastructure. Through my own background and my parents' respective backgrounds each place had elements of home for me. I thoroughly enjoyed making memories in each place, whether it was eating curry, on Whitechapel Road with my old Indian friends from my Kenya days, meeting my father's relatives in Peckham, or living it up with non existing money shopping on Oxford Street or treating myself to the theater at Leicester Square or Covent Garden.

Week 11 Impressions by Hannah Noll-Willensky

As much as I love living in London, it can sometimes feel a little too close to home. The culture here is different, but not that different than what I’m used to. English is spoken everywhere and America and Britain’s pop cultures are very intertwined. Though there are key differences (namely the terrifying driving habits), the transition into living here was an easy one. There are times that I forget that I’m not in America.

That is why I want to talk about my experiences outside of the UK during this program, which have definitely been some of the highlights of my time in Europe. I have to say that before coming here I was not expecting to travel outside of England, thinking it would be too expensive or that I wouldn’t have the time. But in reality, travel here is much more affordable than in the states, mostly because of airlines like ryanair and easyjet. So, for Spring break my roommates and I decided to travel to Portugal. Best decision EVER.

We had such a good time, probably mostly due to the amazing hostel we stayed in. The weather was beautiful, we made friends with locals, and met people from all over the world. Though we liked the city we went to, it was really the people we had met that made the trip as good as it was. By the end of our time there we had met people from Australia, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, America, Ireland, Sweden, and New Zealand. Not bad for a 4 day trip. And as a result, we were invited to visit our new friends where they were from.

A few days after getting back to London, we went to Brighton to vist our friend Elin, orignally from Sweden. Then 3 weeks later, we travelled to Marseille, France to visit some friends that we met at our hostel in Portugal. I can’t tell you what a different perspective you get on a new place when you are with people from that area. With that in mind, I have compiled a list of key lessons I’ve learned about travelling around continental Europe as a guide for future students abroad:

1. It is always a good idea to learn some words in the national language, a few I’ve found helpful—“What?”, “Thank you”, and “Stop staring at me like that, you creeper.”
2. Don’t trust a man who introduces his male friends as his mother and his grandma. This should immediately strike you as suspicious.
3. Sometimes flight attendants say “this is standard procedure when flying in the hours of darkness.”
4. Always leave two hours early for an international flight, or you will miss your flight.
5. Make sure you have a stash of emergency money in case you do miss your flight. Otherwise you will get very hungry.
6. Don’t spend all of your time visitng tourist attractions. This gets boring and you will feel like you didn’t get a real taste of the culture at the end of the trip.
7. Try talking to locals, this can be very confusing, but always entertaining.
8. Seeing weird street entertainers is a guarantee, no matter where you are. If you happen to be in Marseille, I would suggest keeping an eye out for the man painted white, and balancing a cat on each arm while feeding them fancyfeast. BIZARRE.
9. Get a map of the city you are in. Being lost is never fun.
10. If you are friendly, polite, and make at least some effor to speak the language, most people will respond in the same way and be very willing to help you wherever you are.

Week 10 Impressions by Shaun Goodman

Some of you might have heard about the political rally in London over the weekend, and I want to assure you we were some of the window-crashing rioters ourselves. Okay maybe we weren’t crashing any windows, but a handful of us went to see the marches. Those of us that went saw peaceful marching and rallying over the weekend. The economy is obviously a huge topic in England, and the large march was in response to numerous government budget cuts that are putting thousands out of jobs. I went to the rally, and it was great to see so many people come together, for me to be part of the activism going on in the world at the moment, and see repercussions of something we had only learned about in class and read about in the newspapers. The size of the rally was in the hundreds of thousands and it was amazing to see that many people together.

Besides actively protesting the government, everyone is busy wrapping up our time here. People are visiting everything they haven’t have had time to see (including a few lucky ones visiting France!), figuring out travel plans after the trip, writing final papers, trying to save up a little per-diem up and trying to see our London-friends as much as possible. Last week I somehow packed two weeks worth of activities into seven days.

Last Friday I went to a Rugby game that was an interesting American-British cultural mix. It was University College London (the University I work at here) vs. King’s College (one of the Cambridge colleges). It was very British in the sense that one, it was rugby, two, the students on the King’s College side wore button down shirts and ties instead of face painted bare chests, and three, both teams cheers were long and clever instead of some classic short American cheers with profanities in them (FU LAKERS cha cha cha cha cha). Before the game I asked the professor I work with if he knew UCL’s college colors; he had no idea. Not only would a professor know his University’s colors in America, he would own 3 free t-shirts with the colors on it, his office might have college swag and the school’s website would have the colors plastered all over it. Americanization crept into the game when half time rolled around and cheerleaders, a dance team, and mascots came on the field. King’s College should not advertise this group of Cheerleaders; they were utterly horrible.

Although the game had its American moments, it was wonderful to see a Rugby live game for the first time in my life. Seeing players get tackled by four of five men and hand off the ball instead of having the ref stop the game was quite amazing. I also enjoyed the randomness of the ball thrown, then kicked, then handed off, and then caught from a boy held up by his teammates. I don’t think I will be joining this full contact-no helmet sport anytime soon, but I would recommend anyone go see a game.

Week 10 Impressions by Leah Wyllie

Life in the British Workplace

I have the most wonderful internship in all of London: I am lucky enough to work at The Kid’s Cookery School. At “KCS,” we work to encourage children--and their parents--to make healthier food choices. We work with children from all economic backgrounds and of varying degrees of mental and physical abilities. Some classes are held in the KCS building, while others occur on location. The Kid’s Cookery School has a cargo van that carries two ovens, a sink, a hand washing station, and a demonstration table to various schools and learning centers. I have been able to meet new people and have traveled to many different places that the average London tourist never gets to see.

A typical day starts on the tube. The Kid’s Cookery School is a 15-minute tube ride westbound on the Piccadilly line. As our home base at Gloucester Road is just west of the hustle and bustle of Central London, it is usually pretty quiet. The train is always littered with newspapers that have been abandoned by businessmen and women who rode the train from the eastern suburbs and alighted in the center of the city. I am not quite sure what to make of this, but have brainstormed a few of theories. The first is that Londoners do not actually read these newspapers in depth, but use them as a protective shield from conversation and eye contact with strangers. The second is that they only buy newspapers and pretend to read them in order to look more informed and posh than they actually are. The third is that they find the articles completely compelling and want to be sure that their neighbors get the opportunity to read them too. The fourth, and most likely, is that they just read as much as possible and do not want to carry the paper around with them all day. My theories do not have extreme importance, but I had fun coming up with them. Either way, I have never paid for a newspaper.

Once I get to work, there is usually a little list made up especially for me. Sometimes I prep for classes, and sometimes I get to test recipes. I really enjoy testing the recipes. I now can make tiramisu, Welsh rarebit, muffins, flapjacks (oat bars), rolls, pizza, oat biscuits, and chocolate chip cookies (from memory). The best part of testing recipes is definitely the part where I get to eat my creation.

When teaching lessons, I am assigned a table of children (usually 4 or 5) to work with. In the beginning weeks, they would ask, “Is this what it is supposed to look like?” or “Is this done?” and I would panic and think to myself, “I have no idea!” Because I am now much more confident with my cooking abilities and am more familiar with the KCS recipes, I can say, “That needs more flour,” or “Stir it a bit more.” The children have all been wonderful. Their excitement and energy bounces off of the walls. They usually have lots of questions about my accent and where I am from. They mostly want to know if I am from California or how many times I have been there. I have also been asked if I like Justin Beiber.

I have picked up two British habits because of the amount of time I spend with my British co-workers and “clients.” The first is the habit of tea drinking. I have never been a coffee fiend and have always enjoyed a cup of tea from time to time, but at work, I almost always have a cup of tea at my reach. My colleagues and supervisors have taught me how to prepare a perfect cup of tea: let it steep a bit, add in sugar (1 teaspoon for me) and a splash of milk, take out the teabag, and enjoy. Tea drinking one of the British stereotypes that I have found to be true. The second trait I have inherited from my time in England is a bit of a British accent. It is actually less of an accent and more of an issue of enunciation, but it sounds very British. Since beginning work, I have started to ask questions with the British inflection. It is the strangest thing. My roommates first pointed it out to me, and when my family came to visit, my “accent” was one of the first things they noticed. Since realizing this phenomenon, I have tried to revert back to my West Coast American ways because I always teased Madonna for having a “fake” British accent, but I really cannot help it.

Leaving London in three weeks will be one of the most difficult goodbyes that I have ever encountered. It is hard to imagine life away from London and the mostly wonderful people who live and work here. I will always have a soft spot for London.

Week 9 Impressions by Caitlyn Homer

The Language Barrier…or the American Cultural Barrier?

One of the many perks of studying abroad in London, I assumed, was being able to communicate in the same language. I was prepared for different words and phrases for basic day-to-day things (e.g. restroom à toilet or ‘loo’) but what I was not prepared for was the different style of communication I would be thrown into.

In American culture, at least from my experience and perspective, work and personal worlds tend to have clear boundaries between each other. For example, the office kitchen is an inappropriate place to celebrate a coworker’s birthday, unless of course the big boss isn’t around, in which case by all means have your cake and eat it too. If not, save it for happy hour when everyone is off the clock and not under constant scrutiny. What I’m really getting at is that casual and personal banter in an American office space is uncommon and…kind of sneaky.

Sneaky doesn’t happen here in British office spaces, it seems. My privatized American self has been questioned, cross-examined, discussed, criticized, and praised and sometimes all at once. Personal boundaries are irrelevant. In fact, they are entirely relevant and central to the working culture here, especially in the sector I’ve been placed in (or thrown into, rather).

I suppose I should give a little background on what exactly I mean by this. My internship placement is at Elfrida Rathbone Camden with the Leighton Project. The Leighton Project is an education project for young adults with learning difficulties. Upon receiving my placement, I assumed I would be working with students with learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, etc. and I felt entirely prepared for it due to my sensitive and understanding personality (or so I thought)…but boy I was wrong.

The learning difficulties I work with are severe learning difficulties, usually associated with Downs Syndrome or autism spectrum. Normally, when working with learning difficulties of any nature in the United States, I would be expected to abide by privacy laws of all sorts and sign documents protecting this. I expected to have that expectation here in the UK, but I came to find out that I was very wrong. Instead, open dialogue of everyone’s disabilities are not only encouraged but also necessitated. For example, when one of my students began to have a meltdown about a task we were doing in class, my first inclination was to remove him from the classroom setting so that he could calm down and talk about it if (and only if) he wanted to. I quickly found out that this was the wrong move when I was told to sit back down and tell the class what was going on. I found this alarming and cruel, but my student did not. He openly told his classmates what he found difficult about the task and why he was struggling with it, and his classmates seemed to appreciate this and chimed in with about their own struggles and needs. Classes here are typically run with open dialogue at all times and although it is startling to me, it seems to be extremely effective. It really does make more sense to have an open dialogue with everyone about needs and limits of disabilities rather than sweeping it under the rug and cross your fingers nobody notices. That’s another funny thing about living in the UK—it seems as though everyone notices everything, and yes, they will talk about it and sometimes will stare at you awkwardly once it is brought up. This whole “talking about everything” has been a challenge for me to both understand and adapt to, but I have come to appreciate it. Although it seems like nothing gets done in the office space, this constant (sometimes indirect) chatter is the real element to British productivity…and I like it.

Week 9 Impressions by Steph Schwartz

Since entering college, when people ask me where I live, I've developed the habit of replying (mostly in jest) by saying “nowhere.” I started replying this way mostly out of ease, especially since arriving in London. Does anyone really care that I was born in Minnesota (it's in the middle of the US, farthest north besides Alaska) but go to school in Oregon (it's right above California) and am now living in South Kensington (I know, I know, but I'd never live there if it were coming out of my own pocket!)? Not really, is my guess. But lately I've been thinking about it – do I (and perhaps many of us on this program can identify with this feeling) really live anywhere? The reason I've brought this issue up to begin with is that, no matter how comfortable I feel being in London, the people who live here seem to always see me as a tourist and a visitor. This begs the question: how long does one have to live somewhere in order to live there? If I lived in London for the rest of my life, would my mid-western accent forever brand me as a tourist?

Back up to spring break two weeks ago. Myself, Ian and Caitlyn spent three days in Venice and three in Rome. In Italy, we were tourists. In fact, almost everyone in Italy were tourists. As soon as we stepped foot within a mile radius of the Vatican we were bombarded by people shoving pamphlets in our faces, trying to get us to take this tour or that one. We were charged for extra items on our bills at restaurants because the owners knew we didn't understand what was going on. I told myself that this was just what was to be expected as an American traveling in Italy. Sure we paid a bit more and were hassled quite a bit, but it was well worth the experience, right? Since returning to London after spring break, I'm beginning to see that the way I'm often perceived here to Londoners is not extremely different from how I was perceived by the Italians in Italy. I stubbornly tell myself I've lived here for 2.5 months, dang-it! I'm no tourist! The rest of the city does not see it my way.

By some miracle I do not understand, every guy standing outside of a currency exchange manages to shove a flier in my face, but not in the faces of the Brits around me. How do they know? I didn't even open my mouth! Is it something having to do with eye contact?! I'm completely clueless. It's small things like this that make me feel like I'm some sort of American spy or something, doing a horrible job of blending in and “playing it cool.” Another example – I've been working at my internship for around six weeks now. We all have. In the building I work at there is a coffee shop with only 2 regular employees. I go to this coffee shop all the time and the employees say hi to me and recognize me every time. That being said, I NEVER get the employee discount. I have been given the 15% discount exactly once the whole time I've been working there! I take this quite seriously. What exactly do they think I'm doing there 3 days a week? They know I work there, they've seen me with my coworkers! No one else has to ask for their employee discount so I certainly shouldn't have to! Once again I feel like a fake employee. Sure, I work here, but since I sound funny I probably don't actually work here. Even today, while I was at a Tesco doing what I normally do (harassing people to stop smoking) I found that a large percentage of the people I talked to were more interested in asking me where I was from and telling me about their trips to New York than they were in quitting their deadly habit.

Despite all my whinings, I do feel like I'm doing a much better job blending in now than I was two months ago. My coworkers say my English accent is fit for tea with the Queen! (I think this means it's Hollywood-esk and fake, but I won't complain). Maybe by the time we go back I'll be English enough to fit in here. I'm guessing I'll be so authentic at that point that everyone in Portland will ask me; “where are you from? I went to London once...”