Sadly, The End of My Journey :(

My experience in the UK was rewarding and not at all what I expected. I did not think that this experience would be anything more than a vacation to London and the nearby areas. However, I actually learned how to recognize different identities and how to really observe and take in information about a location. Before this experience I simply went to a new place, looked around, and took a few pictures. Now, because of this trip, I really try to understand why something is the way it is and how it came to be this way. I have never been interested in history at all; it seemed irrelevant to my life and future. Now, though, I understand that the past really does effect us all; whether it be regarding our religion, family traditions, or the types of food we eat.

Over the course of my time in the UK I seemed to notice power and pride of place the most often. Britain is such a powerful union and has numerous ways of showing it. The British Museum, full of so many important artifacts from other countries, is a prime example of British power. The had the power and authority, in a sense, to take all of these things from other countries and not give them back. Even Windsor Castle had multiple guns and other weapons which were "borrowed" from other countries. The Queen and the Royal Family, although having no official power or ruling over what happens in the UK, certainly portray the sense of power because they are so highly regarded. When many think of the Queen the idea of power, strength, and majestic living comes to mind. The Queen is a symbol of power in the UK and is certainly treated in a manner of respect and honor.

Pride, an important aspect in many people's lives, is certainly evident within different parts of the UK. The Scottish were so proud of who they are, their history, and especially their traditions. Men wearing kilts was a common sight, something I assumed was more a thing of the past. Pubs were easy to find in Edinburgh, all of which were full of prideful and loud Scottish men. I loved the friendly hostility of the Scottish towards England; they often joked that Scotland is a whole lot better and needs to actually be out of the UK, separate from England. Scotland would like to be recognized as an independent nation whether than a part of the UK. Scotland has its own identities and wishes to be portrayed in that way, which definitely shows their pride of who they are!

I found that the British identity is hard to define and understand. I find it ironic and funny that the locals felt the same way as I did. There is not just one type of British person; not one certain way to talk, thing to eat, or tradition to follow. Britain, London specifically, is so diverse. There is cultural fusion everywhere you look. Whether it be the variety of ethnicities around or the varieties of food, fusion is evident. I feel like all of these different cultures play a role in making the British identity. Tying the East End into this thought, the Bangladeshi of Brick Lane have their own distinct culture, yet they contribute to British identity by bringing their religion and other cultural aspects into the area. Basically, British identity is not set in stone but rather a malleable, ever-changing characteristic. 

This experience really opened my eyes to America, the ways of Americans, and myself as an American. I really took the time to ask the people from London what they thought of Americans and of any stereotypes. Most of the time I was told that Americans are thought to be greedy (that American Greed!), obese, and slow-paced. It's funny, but I completely agree! The American Greed definitely affects me in my day to day actions, especially in school. I take my schooling so serious because I want to graduate and score that high-paying job. I want to live the lavish lifestyle and be able to not stress about the small things in life. I can definitely see how obesity affects America because I taste the differences between the foods in America and England. The food in England tastes so much healthier, even the fast food! Overall I feel that this experience taught me that I really do not know much about American history. I feel that the people in the UK are so knowledgeable and prideful of their history and I am not at all like that. I would really like to learn more about American history. Not so much from a history book but hands-on, just like I got to learn about the UK.

If I get the chance to come back to the UK I would love to go to Ireland. I would really like to compare the English, Scottish, and Irish. I would also love to venture into more parts of England, especially Manchester. I would like to go into Buckingham Palace and see how beautiful it is inside. Specifically in London, I would love to go to the top of the Shard and see the view and compare it to the view from the London Eye. If I came back with my family I would love to show them all of the typical tourist spots, such as Westminster Abbey and the British Museum. My brothers would love the Tower of London and seeing all of the armor inside. My grandma would love the experience of having afternoon tea and snacks. Overall, I personally don't think my family would love London as much as I have. 

The East End: Brick Lane & Leyton

I absolutely love the East End. The atmosphere once you are on the streets is completely different than Chelsea and even Central London. Chelsea is full of the posh and rather self-absorbed people, well at least in my opinion. Central London contains all of the businessmen focusing on the hustle and bustle of life; and you can't forget the wonderful tourists in the area, as well. In the East End, the people seem more realistic; more like the typical, everyday kind of people that I'm used to. They seem to be the working class or middle class people that seem, to me, more personable and friendly.

The buildings and streets are different in the East End, as well. The homes are much older and seem to be the types of homes that have been kept in families for many generations. I feel that the streets in the East End are complete polar opposites to the West End. On and around Brick Lane, for example, the walls are full of graffiti art which really bring character to the area. The types of graffiti art here all seem to tell a type of story or simply serve to beautify the area. It is not looked at as defacing property or making the area seem like nothing more than a dirty, gang-infested area. This is a huge difference that I find from American beliefs. I feel that in America people really hate graffiti and always relate it to gangs or ruining an area. On Brick Lane, it is a lot different. The locals take pride in the art and certainly support their local artists. I came across a local that knew one of the artists who had done a few paintings on Brick Lane. He really supported him and thought he was the greatest artist in the area.

Photo by Lori Herrin 

My internship is in Leyton, an area even further east than Brick Lane. On my first day in the area I was really overwhelmed because that was actually my first day anywhere in the East End. It was so different than the Center and West End; I loved it. There are a lot more people around that are my age and seem to dress a lot more like I do. There are also a lot more families and mom & pop shops. One of the first things that I noticed was that the community is full of Middle Eastern people. The stores and eateries even cater to their culture. For example, there are curry shops everywhere! Something I found funny was that the KFC chicken even tasted like it had a hint of Indian spices in it! Upon arriving to my internship I learned that even some of the workers were of some Middle Eastern decent and that the organization I was interning for specifically catered to that area. Leyton is an amazing area and I am so glad I got to have an internship in that area. I learned so much about the East End culture by being there so often. It really enabled me to see that there are so many different sides of London. London is an amazing, diverse city. I love it!

Photo by Lori Herrin

Being able to intern in Leyton and visit Brick Lane twice really allowed me to see the East End and all it has to offer. Brick Lane is full of curry shops and thrift shops which certainly cater to hipsters. It is an area of ultimate cultural fusion. Leyton is full of families and caters to their local residents. Brick Lane and Leyton both ompare to the West End drastically. Class is an obvious comparison that stands out to me. Chelsea is populated by the upper class, posh people while Leyton and Brick Lane is full of the working, lower class. It is amazing to know that London, one city, has so many different identities and communities of people.

Windsor

Windsor was amazing (both the Castle and the town!) I took this day trip on my own and do not regret it one bit. I actually find that I retain more information and am more observant when I am on my own, so I did not mind being alone. I took the train from Paddington Station in London and it was a short journey of about 40 minutes to Windsor. Once I got off the train I walked through one of the cutest, intimate shopping centers I have ever been in. The Windsor Shopping Center had a number of boutiques, restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops. It was not too crowded (which was nice) so I was able to quickly glance around before making my way to the Castle.

Upon first setting my eyes on Windsor Castle I was not too amazed. To me, it seemed extremely similar to the Tower of London. Since I have been to the Tower already I felt like I was looking at the same thing all over again. Well I was actually really wrong; Windsor Castle is beautiful! It had a whole different vibe than the Tower of London, as well. Windsor felt really cheerful and quaint while the Tower felt somewhat gloomy and impersonal. The scenery on the grounds of the Castle was beautiful. A number of flowers, trees, and even a garden were on the site. Overall, Windsor Castle was an amazing site to see and I am so glad I went!

Tradition
One part of the Castle which I found interesting was the Drawings Gallery. This room was full of paintings, drawings, sketches, and sculptures made by the Royals of the past! Queen Elizabeth I is one of the many Royals who has work on display here. The tradition of having the royal children practice painting and other forms of art has been occurring for many hundreds of years. They thought it was really important that they be skilled in the arts. This tradition came as a huge surprise to me because I honestly didn't think the Royal family would care about this. I personally thought they would just enjoy the works of others and not participate in the work.

Family 
Being at Windsor Castle I felt a sense of family. It felt like a very personal site and was not completely full of tourists. What especially made me attribute family to the Castle was that the current Queen's grandparents and parents are all buried here. This definitely shows how personal of a site the Castle is to the Queen and even how they keep this tradition going. Her family is so closely connected to the Castle that I completely understand why she chooses to spend her private weekends there. Also, Windsor Castle has been the residence of many kings and queens throughout history; basically being passed down from royal to royal. I love this tradition and I think that it would be quite an honor to have this continue being passed down in the family.

Churchill War Rooms

The Churchill War Rooms museum holds the original Cabinet War Rooms, the underground bunker that sheltered Winston Churchill and his government during the Blitz during World War II. From here, Churchill commanded his whole army, which is a truly amazing feat. The Churchill War Rooms site is an amazing glimpse into the past. Because everything has been so well preserved, you are really able to feel what Churchill and his government might have felt while being down in the bunkers. The cold, eerie feeling helps visitors remember that this was a site during one of the most important wars in world history. Rooms that are on display at the museum include the Transatlantic Telephone Room where top-secret conversations were made between Churchill and Roosevelt, the Map Room, and even Churchill's office-bedroom.

Power 
The Churchill War Rooms show how powerful Britain and, more specifically, their government really is. From these underground bunkers Winston Churchill managed to man a whole army and keep him and his government safe from the Blitz bombings. Churchill did not flee London even though it had been bombed for 57 nights straight at one point. He stood his ground and showed the world that Britain was powerful and should not be looked at as weak. I believe that Churchill's efforts and personality were really influential on all of Britain and made the people feel more powerful as well.

Symbolism
Propaganda was a huge part of World War II. Posters flooded the streets in order to encourage people to join the army and even to simply gain moral support. One slogan in particular that has stuck with Britain, and the world, is "Keep Calm and Carry On." This was a motivational slogan produced by the British government to help raise the spirits of the public after there had been numerous bombings in major cities in Britain. This slogan is still used today and even has a wide variety of alterations. This saying is a huge symbol of British identity and because it is so widely recognized, shows how influential Britain is on the world.

Reflection
I really enjoyed going to the Churchill War Rooms! The eerie, cold feeling inside really added to the whole experience. I truly felt that I was in a time capsule, something which most museums don't really make me feel. It was a harsh realization of how intense World War II was and how hard Churchill worked to protect Britain. Visiting this site gave me a huge amount of respect for Winston Churchill and I actually think that reading his biography would be really interesting.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge, located in Wiltshire, England, is one of the most famous monuments in the world. At first glance, Stonehenge seems to be nothing more than a circle of rocks; this definitely isn't the case. The true meaning of this ancient creation has been lost as the years have passed, but there are definitely many different theories. Some of these include: a temple for sun worship, a healing center, a burial site, and even a calendar!

The biggest stones, called sarsens, are over 30 feet tall and weigh 25 tons! The smaller of the stones weigh up to about 4 tons; they are called "bluestones." This name comes from the fact that these types of stones have a blueish tint to them when they are wet. How these massive rocks actually got to their current location is a mystery, although some believe that they were dragged all the way from Wales! It is truly unbelievable to think about.

Pride in Place
Stonehenge is a great symbol of pride in place. The British are very prideful of Stonehenge, even though they have no idea what the true purpose of it is. They are even going to move the road that is nearest to Stonehenge further away as to not disrupt the stones any more than they already have been. There is fear that the vibrations of the cars on the road are moving the stones from their original positions or even causing the stones to weaken in strength. I find it really great that the British are willing to go through such trouble in order to preserve Stonehenge. It really shows how prideful they are to have this amazing mystery a part of their history.

Tradition
There have been many cremation burials found at Stonehenge, which is why many people think Stonehenge's purpose was to be a burial site. Recent research has found that up to 240 people were buried here, making Stonehenge the largest neolithic burial site in Britain. This research found that the burials started taking place as far back as 5, 000 years ago. The history of burials being here at Stonehenge formed a tradition by having a long-lasting burial site with multiple generations of people being buried there. It is thought that the people buried at Stonehenge were noblemen, again showing tradition of commemorating the wealthy with an extravagant type of monument.

Reflection
I really enjoyed my trip to Stonehenge because I have always known a little about it but never thought it was a big deal. Now, though, after touring Stonehenge and learning of its history and mystery I think of it very differently. I enjoy mysteries and this one is huge! Stonehenge actually showed me that just because something seems small or irrelevant, it may not be. This site showed me that history is really important and is extremely influential.

Afternoon Tea

My group was lucky enough to experience the traditional "Afternoon Tea," a tradition dating back to the early 19th century. It was a lot of fun and definitely something that I would not have done at home, so I really enjoyed it. We had the tea and delicious scones at The Cadogan Hotel in Knightsbridge, just a short walk down King's Road from where we are living. The area was rather "posh" and the workers inside the hotel definitely contributed to the feeling of traditional, royal teatime.

Tradition: Food and Ritual 
Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford is attributed to making teatime famous because she is said to have complained of "having that sinking feeling" during the late afternoon. Back in the early 19th century people usually only ate breakfast and dinner around 8 pm, so this "sinking" feeling was bound to happen. Anna the Duchess found that her best solution was some tea and a small snack, such as a scone or small sandwich. She later started inviting friends to join her for tea time. This soon caught on with all of the posh community and soon everybody in high society was drinking tea and having snacks in the afternoon! Afternoon tea is a widely known British symbol; when one thinks of tea, one tends to think of the British. This event is not as ritualistic now as it has been in the past, though. It is now looked at as more of a special occasion or luxury.

Teatime!

The amazing scones which I loved!

Class

Back when afternoon tea was a lot more popular, you would often see people participating in "high tea" or "low, afternoon tea." This greatly distinguished class. The upper class would have the low, afternoon tea right before the fashionable walk through Hyde Park. This was a lot earlier in the day compared to high tea. High tea was served to the middle and lower classes around 5 or 6 pm in place of a late dinner. The names come from the height of the tables that the tea was served on; high tea being served at the dinner table and low tea on the lower, more elegant table. Today, I feel that there is not as big of a distinction between these two teatimes, simply because it is not as big of a tradition as it was in the past. I, personally, love that there was a distinction between the two teatimes. It makes it all the more elegant to be privileged enough to participate in afternoon tea.

Picture taken by Danielle Brown

Reflection
I really enjoyed teatime  because it was a new experience for me. I do not normally drink tea and certainly have never heard of putting milk in your tea. I absolutely loved the scones with the two different jams that were served with them. My tea was good but again, something I do not normally drink. It was a great experience to participate in the more luxurious teatime and learn about the actual history of teatime.

Hyde Park

Hyde Park is one of London's eight royal parks. Hyde Park covers 350 acres and is certainly more than just an everyday park! It is home to a number of famous landmarks including the Serpentine Lake, Speakers' Corner (a place where people are allowed to speak on any subject they want to) and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain. 

Henry VIII received Hyde Park from the monks of Westminster Abbey in 1536. He and his court had often been seen there hunting deer. The park remained his private hunting ground until James I came to the throne and allowed a limited amount of people access. Later, Charles I changed the park completely by opening it up to the general public in 1637. One fact I found extremely interesting is that in 1665, the year of the Great Plague, many citizens of London fled the City to camp in Hyde Park, in the hope of escaping the disease! Hyde Park is certainly full of history (along with more than 4,000 trees)!

Hyde Park: Serpentine Lake and Serpentine Bridge

Artistic Expression
Hyde Park is full of amazing sculptures, memorials, and landscapes that show a variety of artistic expressions. Something which may not be known to most people is the fact that the Serpentine (the lake that divides the park in two) is not natural. It was actually created in 1730 by orders from Queen Caroline to create a focal point for pathways in the park. The creation of the Serpentine displays her artistic expression of being as simple yet as beautiful as this lake.

The Italian Gardens, a site inside of Hyde Park, is a beautiful area full of water fountains and flowers created by Prince Albert in the 1860's. He was inspired to create this depiction of Renaissance Italy as a romantic gesture to the woman he loved, Queen Victoria. The amazing details and pure beauty of the fountains exhibit the grand and outrageous styles of Prince Albert's artistic style. He wanted to express his love to the Queen in a way that would last, and he certainly did it right with the beautiful Italian Gardens.

Me, wishing somebody would dedicate a whole fountain to me!

The beautiful Italian Gardens

Family
Hyde Park is an amazing place for families. Not only is it an amazing site to play sports or walk the family dog, you can even pedal boat on the Serpentine and ride horses in the special horse riding arena! Not to mention the amazing Diana Memorial Playground which provides children a place to play and explore while their parents relax at the nearby cafe.

Hyde Park is a place that families in the past have gone to for years, creating a sense of tradition. It does not cater to only English families; it is a place where families from all over the world can visit and have fun.  I believe that Hyde Park brings everybody together into a neutral and relaxing environment. It is a nice place to go to get away from the hustle of London and enjoy special family time.

Reflection
When I was walking through Hyde Park I could not get one thought out of my mind: This is certainly not just a walk in the park! It is truly an amazing place to see! There are beautiful trees and flowers everywhere., not to mention the amazing Serpentine lake in the middle. Hyde Park is full of all types of people, from businessmen taking a shortcut home after work to students going for a run. I witnessed countless people, both adults and children, feeding the squirrels peanuts! This was definitely not something I have ever seen before. I was actually more scared for the children than they were for themselves! I would love to live near Hyde Park and go there to relax, run, or even spend special family time in the future.

The Tower of London

Today a few of the girls and I went to the Tower of London. I had absolutely no idea what to expect because I have heard so many fun and interesting things about it. Some said that the Tower is absolutely beautiful, others said it is creepy and has a very eerie feeling inside. The Tower has such an amazing and interesting history that I truly did not know what to expect.

At first glance, the Tower of London is beautiful. There is not just one tower; in fact, many towers make up the Tower of London. It has such amazing architecture that I wonder how parts of it managed to be constructed as early as 1070! William the Conqueror, after coronation (becoming king), ordered that the Tower be built to prepare for his trumphant entance into the city. He even had special stones imported from his native Normandy to be used in the contruction of the Tower. The White Tower, which was the first building constructed in the whole Tower of London site, was intended to be the fortress and stronghold of all the site.

The Tower of London's history is really interesting. It has served as a prison, royal residence, armory, treasury, public records office, home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom, and so much more! As a prison, the Tower has housed some surprising people such as John Balliol (a Scottish king), two young princes, a queen, and Sir Walter Raleigh for, of all things, plotting against King James! I find it so interesting that royalty and very significant people were imprisoned in the tower. Even more, royalty has been murdered and executed at the Tower of London! Queen Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII, was beheaded within the Tower walls for adultery. The two young princes that were imprisoned, Prince Edward and Prince Richard, are thought to have been murdered in Bloody Tower, since they were never seen again soon after being sent to the Tower.

Pride in Place
The Tower of London shows how loyal and prideful the English are to their country. Built to be an ultimate fortress for England, it was often besieged and put under attack by foreign countries with the hopes of taking over. The Tower has been important to controlling England because of the many functions it has been used for, so the English take pride and protect this site while protecting themselves and their country in the process. The people remain loyal to their country by remaining loyal to their important landmarks. Even today, the English look at the Tower of London in awe and with respect to those that have contributed to its history and the history of their country.

Traditions
The Tower of London has been a site full of many English traditions. The coins of England had been made in The Royal Mint within the Tower for over 500 years. The first English gold coin (all in the past were silver) was even made at the Mint! Other traditions at the Tower have an extremely large amount of English history tied to them. One, for example, is the fact that the Crown Jewels are displayed at the Tower. The Crown Jewels are the most powerful symbols of the British Monarchy and hold cultural significance to England. The collection of Crown Jewels includes the Sovereign's Scepter with Cross, The Imperial State Crown, The Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and St. Edward's Crown. St. Edward's Crown is worn at the moment that the monarch is crowned in Westminster Abbey. Even Queen Elizabeth participated in this tradition, dating back to 1066, during her coronation in 1953!

Tower of London with a small view of Tower Bridge behind

Reflection 
I really enjoyed the Tower of London and spent a lot more time there than I had expected! It was really interesting to see all of the old towers and see that they are still standing (although they have gone through some reconstruction). To me, the most interesting and amazing part of the Tower was the exhibit "The Princes of the Tower", which told about the history of why the young princes were imprisoned, who is thought to be their murderers, and the "evidence" to why this is believed. It is even more interesting that although it is believed they were murdered because they were never seen again, there is no solid proof to this and nobody was even tried for their murders! I believe this greatly contrasts to how criminal justice works today. Here, I found a way to connect my criminal justice studies with the history of England and I feel like this was an amazing experience.

The Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen MotherSt Edward's Crown. St. 

are the most powerful symbols of the British Monarchy and hold deep religious and cultural significance in our nation’s history. - See more at: http://www.hrp.org.uk/toweroflondon/stories/crownjewels#sthash.PKfccyuk.dpuf

are the most powerful symbols of the British Monarchy and hold deep religious and cultural significance in our nation’s history. - See more at: http://www.hrp.org.uk/toweroflondon/stories/crownjewels#sthash.PKfccyuk.dpuf

Scotland

Scotland is truly an amazing place! I knew once I stepped foot off of the train that it would be a whole other world compared to England. The people, food, and complete atmosphere were so much more different. I loved this experience and enjoyed comparing England to Scotland.

On my way to the Highlands!

Regional Identity
I noticed that the Scottish are certainly proud of where they come from. Also, what I find extremely funny, is how they kind of roll their eyes or scoff when speaking about England. It is apparent that Scotland and England definitely have their differences. Scotland was much more laid-back and certainly loved their pubs! I feel like England is a lot more interested in remaining proper and maintaining a royal image. Scotland does not seem to identify as being part of the United Kingdom; rather they are their own country full of their own traditions (such as haggis) and landmarks (Loch Ness).

A bagpiper on the streets of Edinburgh

I found the Loch Ness Monster, Nessie! :p

Food
The food in Scotland was definitely different than that in England. Food in England is extremely diverse, ranging from Indian food to Polynesian food to traditional English fish and chips. Scotland, on the other hand, seemed to stick to a lot more traditional Scottish food, such as haggis. I, unfortunately, did not get a chance to try haggis, although I can't necessarily say that I'm disappointed! Haggis, made of the sheep's heart liver and lungs, is considered the national Scottish dish. Often served with "neeps and tatties" (turnips and potatoes), haggis blends traditional Scottish food with a bit of Scotland native language, as well!

Reflection
I loved Scotland and would really like to return someday! I definitely enjoyed seeing the old town Edinburgh and then experiencing the Scottish Highlands. Seeing how diverse of a country Scotland is was a great experience. Observing how prideful the Scottish are was great and really made me think about how prideful I am to be American. I enjoyed comparing Scotland to England and actually hope to travel to Ireland to make some comparisons there, as well. One of the best parts of this trip, though, was definitely seeing the many men in kilts!

Leighton House Museum

The Leighton House Museum is the former house of Frederic, Lord Leighton, an English painter and sculptor. He arranged his Victorian home as if it were a museum, in order to display his works to those worthy enough of entrance. The house was amazing; full of paintings and sculptures by Leighton and his fellow artists. Upon entrance, there are beautiful paintings, sculptures, and amazingly colored tiles in all directions. It is somewhat overwhelming to see everything, but when looking at each piece individually, it is really beautiful.

Cultural Borrowing and Fusion
This museum is definitely a symbol of cultural borrowing and fusion. Lord Leighton, although born in England, traveled all over the world to places including many places in the Middle East. He even spoke German, French, and Italian. The most evident part of cultural fusion in the house is in the Arab Hall, the extension of the house. Leighton added this extension onto the house to display all of the tiles that he collected during his visits to the Middle East. The Hall itself was inspired by La Zisa, a palace Lord Leighton saw while in Palermo, Sicily. These tiles along with much of the architecture in the house really show how Leighton borrowed from the many cultures that he experienced in his lifetime.

Artistic Expression
Leighton preferred to paint subject matter that was connected to ancient Greek and Roman mythology. One of his works that really caught my attention was Clytie, a figure of Greek Mythology. This work expressed his passion and interest for mythology while displaying his artistic skills. He very successfully portrays Clytie's feelings; just by looking at her you can understand her emotions. Leighton was successful with his color choices for this piece, using beautiful oranges and reds to portray Apollo.

The Story of Clytie

Picture from Liverpool Museum's website

Clytie, a beautiful young woman, falls in love with Apollo the sun god but is rejected by him. She goes to a remote spot and remains there, neither eating nor drinking, receiving her only nourishment from her tears. Day after day she watches her former lover drive his chariot from east to west across the sky. Eventually she becomes rooted to the ground, her limbs and body turn into the stem of a plant and her face becomes a sunflower which forever after follows Apollo as he makes his daily journey across the sky.






Reflection 
In short, this museum really made me want to travel the world. I would love to experience a bunch of different cultures and be able to incorporate them into my life, as Lord Leighton did in his artwork and house. 

Oxford

Oxford University is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second oldest surviving university in the world (not to mention a highly esteemed university worldwide)! There are 38 colleges within Oxford focusing on humanities, math, physical & life science, medical science, and social science. Aside from being an amazing university, both educationally and architecturally, even parts of Harry Potter have been filmed here!

Power
Oxford University, being one of the leading universities in the world, is a university that one would be extremely proud to attend. Being a student or graduate of this university would give a person so many advantages and opportunities in life; ultimately a huge form of power over their future. The education that one would receive from this university would be one well-respected by people all over the world. England receives enormous amounts of respect and recognition for housing this amazing university, ultimately giving England educational power over the world.

Tradition

The stairs they used in Harry Potter!

All students of Oxford University are required to wear gowns for certain occasions such as dinner, exams, chapel, and even major lectures. The specific type of gown that the student wears really depends on what they are studying and whether they are graduate or undergraduate students. To help understand, I really think of these gowns similar to those worn by the students in Harry Potter. Each student had to wear a gown, the specific type of gown being dependent on what house they belonged to.

Another tradition which I found really interesting and rather funny at Oxford was that students cannot sit on the grass until after they have graduated. This is supposed to signify a type of reward for graduating and symbolizes the fact that you can "relax" and lay on the grass after you have completed your studies. Being able to witness a few students laying on the grass was a really fun experience after learning about the tradition and meaning behind it!



Reflection
First stepping foot on Oxford campus brings a peaceful feeling, a whole lot different than when stepping foot on ASU's campus. I know that we went to visit during finals week, therefore the campus was a lot more tranquil; however, I mean that the architectural atmosphere made the university more peaceful. The old buildings allowed me to truly experience and understand that Oxford is a historical and esteemed university. Comparing it to ASU, Oxford seems a lot more like a true university, extremely dedicated to its studies. I would love to go to Oxford because of how renowned it is, however I do not think I would like the traditions and old buildings. I'm more of a modern person!

The British Museum

The British Museum is a large museum in London which houses a massive collection of artifacts dedicated to human history and culture. There are rooms (even floors) dedicated to Africa, The Americas, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and Rome, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East; nobody is left out! It is known as one of the largest and most comprehensive museums in existence, which is evident as soon as you step foot inside. A map of the museum is necessary, especially if you are looking for a specific culture!

Outside the museum

                                                        

Me with the Rosetta Stone :)

Power
The British Museum is a definite sign of power. I mean, it is home to some of the most amazing artifacts in history, including the Rosetta Stone! All of these important artifacts being housed in The British Museum shows how powerful Britain really is. They have the power to basically steal items from other countries of the world and display them in their museum. Britain certainly has a global influence which is evident in this museum. It is not solely dedicated to Britain, which many would have thought when first hearing the name of the museum; it is dedicated to the world.



Social Awareness
The British Museum makes us aware of the problems that different cultures and societies have experienced in the past. It makes us conscious of the hardships that other people have endured, as well as their accomplishments! On display are some of the most incredible artifacts from ancient times; things that one today might think impossible to have been in existence in the ancient times.

Reflection
The British Museum was a really great place, so great that I have actually been twice (so far)! I have never at all been interested in history, but this museum really changed my views and opinions. Seeing the Rosetta Stone, the key to the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, was an amazing experience and only urged me to learn more about the history of language. Seeing the human remains of Lindow Man, a well-preserved human body found and thought to have been from 2 BC - 119 AD in Europe was of extreme interest to me because of my criminal justice & criminology studies. The mystery of his death is interesting and makes me pretty curious to learn more.

The Roman Baths

The Roman Baths, located in Bath, England is a well-preserved site where the Romans used to bathe. It is an amazing site to see and being there truly enables you to imagine the Romans being there because of how well-preserved the site actually is. When you walk in you can see the amazing architecture, like the many pillars surrounding The Great Bath, which is the center piece of the Roman bathing establishment.

View from above The Great Bath. Notice the pillars

The Terrace above The Great Bath

 The Terrace above The Great Bath is a beautiful viewing spot of the area below. Here you get a wonderful view of the bath below and of all the statues lining The Terrace. These statues are of Roman Governors of Britain, Roman Emperors and military leaders.

One of the statues lining The Terrace

Ritual
The Roman Baths showed pomp and circumstance, formal ritual or celebration that was extremely important to their way of life. These community baths were not only important for personal hygiene but for social gatherings, as well. They bathed at this site religiously, worshiping their deity Sulis Minerva. The baths were a site of celebration with many people meeting their for social events or even for a nice swim. The baths were extremely important to the Romans, serving as a daily ritual for them.

Religion

Going inside of the site you find yourself in The Temple exhibit. The Temple at Bath is one of only two truly classical temples known from Roman Britain. Here, the surviving stones of the original Temple are displayed, with the Gorgon's head in the center. The Gorgon was a symbol of Sulis Minerva, the main deity that the Romans worshiped at the baths. Minerva was thought to be a nourishing, life-giving mother goddess who granted curses wished by her devoted followers.

Reflection
After visiting the Roman Baths and really learning about their true meaning and history, I see how important they really are. Before, I thought of them simply as public baths that I would never like to experience. Now, though, I see the importance of ritual of the baths. I see that the baths were important not just for bathing, but for social events, as well. It was a daily ritual for the Romans to meet at the baths and worship their deity or reflect on their lives. The Roman Baths were certainly more than just giant bath tubs!

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

We went and toured Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, which is a reconstruction of Shakespeare'soriginal Globe Theatre that was built in 1599. The original was destroyed by fire in 1613, rebuilt in 1614, and then destroyed in 1644. The modern theatre which I viewed is a reconstruction based on evidence and testimonies of how the original theatre (1599) looked. The modern building was opened in 1997 and was named "Shakespeare's Globe Theatre."

The theatre is an important part of history because it commemorates the most famous English playwright, poet, and actor. It shows just how important Shakespeare was to English history and its people.

The outside of the theatre

Artistic Expression

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre is a huge example of artistic expression. The original Globe Theatre, which was Shakespeare's own design, was the model for the modern theatre. This symbolizes Shakespeare'ls artistic expression of architecture. Also, because Shakespeare built the theatre in order to put on his plays, this is also an example of his written expression. The modern theatre encompasses Shakespeare's architectural design, writing skills, and acting skills.

Class
After hearing of stories of how the original Globe Theatre operated, I noticed that it is an example of Class (the original Globe, not the modern). Back in the 16th century, when citizens of England wanted to go watch a play at The Globe, where they say depended on how much they were willing and able to pay. For one penny, a person was allowed in the very front area near the stage, forced to stand in a huge crowd for the whole play (somewhat like a moshpit). Here, it was full of strong odors since people that only paid one penny rarely ever showered. This area was where the poor went.

For two pennies, a person was able to get a seat, although probably not in the best area for view. The extremely wealthy and royalty got the best seats in the house. The way that people were seated based on how much they were able to pay really broke up the audience by class. This is similiar, I suppose, to how people are seated in concerts today. You pay the most for the best seats in the house. However, in present days, just because you have the cheapest ticket doesn't mean that you are extremely poor. 

View from the best seat in the theatre

Reflection
Going to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre really gave me a better respect for history. I have never really been a fan of Shakespeare's work (simply because I do not understand him), but now I really have the urge to read a few of his works. The fact that people went through such hard work to rebuild the modern theatre in as most exactness as possible to the orignal taught me that history is important and valued, something I never really thought before. 

I would really like to learn a lot more about the way people were separated by class back in Shakespeare's time. The whole penny section and rich section really interests me because it is almost backwards from how we operate today. For example, if I went to a modern day concert and bought the best ticket, I would be front row. However, back in the days, people would pay the most money for the best ticket in the house, which would be all the way at the top, farthest from the stage (although with the best view, supposedly). 

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey, more formally known as The Collegiate Church of St. Peter at Westminster, is a large church in London which is an extremely important and unique part of British history. Although it was built in the 10th century, Westminster Abbey is surprisingly still an active church today. Not only is it a church, but this amazing site is also the shrine of St. Edward the Confessor, the tombsite of many kings and queens, and the memorial site for some of the most significant people in British history; William Shakespeare and Sir Isaac Newton, to name a few.

This site is extremely representative of British history because it is a large display of both tradition and religion.

Traditions in Westminster Abbey:

• Coronations- 38 coronations have taken place here, the most recent being of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
• Royal Burials- Many royals have been buried inside. So many, in fact, that there is no more room for additional royalties. Because of the lack of space, other future monarchs are buried at Windsor. 



The Royal Wedding 2011, inside the Abbey

•  Royal Weddings- 16 weddings have taken place inside, the most recent being Prince William to Catherine Middleton in 2011.

From the moment I stepped foot inside of the Abbey I knew that it was a place of extreme tradition. I noticed a few people paying their respects near the front entrance and assumed that they were locals that consistently do this.

Another tradition which I recognized (our tour guide mentioned it, too) was that at every hour on the hour everybody inside of Westminster Abbey stops where they are and says a prayer. I believe that this is most likely a longstanding tradition.

I believe that tradition is really what keeps all people very unique and makes an individual or specific group. If the traditions that have taken place at the Abbey for centuries suddenly stop, Britain would not be the same. The history of traditions, especially those so important such as coronations, is truly what makes this country unique. Tradition is an important identity quality on all levels (individual, family, national, etc.)

Religion

In 1533, during the reign of Henry VIII, England broke from the Roman Catholic Church to form the Church of England. This separation occurred because King Henry VIII wanted a divorce from Catherine of Agagon. He had asked the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church for permission, but was denied. Angry and yearning for divorce, King Henry VIII started his own church, The Church of England (Anglican). The followers of this new church were known as Protestants.

Front of Westminster Abbey

For a short time, when Queen Mary I reigned (1553-1558), the country was changed back to Catholicism. All Protestants that refused to convert back to Catholicism were burned at the stake. However, in 1558, when Queen Elizabeth I became Queen, the country was changed back to Anglican and has been that way ever since. 

The religion aspects that are shown inside of Westminster Abbey are more in the sense of tradition and respect. For example, the prayers that are said in the Abbey at certain times display traditions of the church, although directly related to religion, as well.

The high altar of the church serves not only as a place of worship but was built especially high in order to provide a "theatre" for coronations. This is, again, showing how religion is connected to traditions.

Reflection
Personally, I am not at all religious and have never even been to church. Neither side of my family is religious, either so I never really experience any type of religion. Being inside of Westminster Abbey, therefore, was actually pretty uncomfortable for me (especially during prayer). The fact that so many people are buried inside did not bother me at all, though. I feel like death is natural and bound to happen so I am not uncomfortable with it. Religion, though, is not necessarily forced so, to me, it is one of those uncomfortable topics to discuss.

My feelings about religion actually helped me learn and observe a lot while on this tour. I really noticed that religion is extremely important to many people and seems to be practiced in a very proper, traditonal way. I noticed that the people showing their respects at the front were extremely preoccupied with what they were doing. This tells me that their focus was solely in that church. Observing how serious people take religion makes me somewhat more interested in religion; however, I honestly do not think I will go out of my way to learn enough about a religion to practice it.  

"The Audience"

Today, May 20, 2013 my study abroad group went to watch a play called The Audience at the Gielgud Thetre off of Shaftesbury Avenue. The theatre was beautiful and had the old feeling of a classic theatre. The seats were very steep so everybody could see the stage from any seat in the theatre. My seat was on the upper level which I loved because I got to look down onto the stage and had a perfect view.

Personally, I really did enjoy the play although I did not understand some of the British jokes and history. The play was very focused on things that mainly a British person would know. For example, the inside jokes about the prime ministers, which obviously I had no idea about. Humor here seems to be a little dry, though!

  

Analysis
The Audience is a 2013 play by the British playwright and screenwriter Peter Morgan. The play is about the weekly meetings (or audiences, as they call them) between Queen Elizabeth II and her prime ministers. The meetings, which in real life were never recorded, are played out as what the writer assumed happened, based on British history. The prime ministers are depicted as how they are remembered in history, displaying their most famous traits or sayings.

The play also focuses on the Queen's emotions and her thoughts about being Queen. "Flashbacks" of the Queen as a little girl are shown, with the present day Queen talking to her younger self. These moments in the play really gave the Queen personality and made her feel more like an actual human being and less like simply Royalty. 

Tradition of Power 

The Queen meeting with one
of her prime ministers.

This play was a really good example of tradition of power. The tradition of the Queen meeting with her prime minister once a week is an important part to England's political history. These meetings gave the Queen and prime minister an opportunity to discuss what was going on in their country and if any actions were necessary. I believe England may not be the way that it is today without the weekly audiences that have been taking place.


Pride in Place
Watching how the Queen was portrayed in the play really showed an example of pride. She was very proud to be the Queen of England; not necessarily in a boastful way, though. In the play the Queen made statements similar to "I will do anything for my England" and "I will always serve my country." These statements show that she is prideful to be Queen but is really more in service for her country.

The Queen at a young age, however, was not really as proud to be treated like royalty. She was young, wanted to be treated like everybody else, and simply didn't understand why she couldn't be normal. The Audience did a great job of showing the Queen's transformation into a prideful and loyal Queen.

Reflection
The Audience really gave me a taste of the politics in England. I really had no idea how politics worked here so the play really helped show me in a comical way. I also learned that the Queen did not always want to be Queen and that she is not boastful. She does not think highly of herself; rather she lives to serve her country, not to have her country serve her.

I would like to learn a lot more about the laws in England and how the system works. I would like to compare the requirements of being a lawyer in England versus in the US. Also, I believe it would be interesting to compare the duties, requirements, etc. of the Queen compared to our President.

Journey Across The World

Waiting for my plane in SF

Had a long day of packing and getting everything ready for my trip. Luckily I had a night flight at 10:40 out of San Francisco so I had time to get all of my stuff situated. Out of all things to possibly forget, I forgot my phone charger! Guess I have to buy one when I get to London!

      

Current book I'm reading

Flight from The City to New York (JFK) wasn't bad at all. I couldn't sleep so just read Fifty Shades of Grey. Had an unlucky aisle seat next to an annoying old man. Once I got to JFK I had about an hour until my next flight left so I got some breakfast and people watched.

At JFK

Landed in London at about 9:30 pm on Friday the 17th (London time). Had to convert some dollars to pounds which completely sucked! Everything in London is going to be so expensive in dollars :( 

Finally got to the place where I'm staying, "The Mansion", which is actually pretty nice. Too small for my preferences, though.






By the time I got to The Mansion it was late so I didn't really do much except unpack. No roommate :)
I definitely could not fall asleep until about 6 am because of this annoying time change. London is so weird. The sun doesn't completely go down until about 10:30 pm and it gets light again at maybe 4 am. Therefore it was so hard for me to fall asleep at 6 am when the sun was completely out. Better get used to this soon!

Welcome!

Who?

Me

Hi! My name is Alyssa May and I just finished up my sophomore year at Arizona State University. I'm pursuing concurrent degrees in Finance and Criminal Justice & Criminology (pretty different, I know!).

I hope on continuing on to law school after I finish my undergraduate degrees. Ultimately, I would like to have a career in either corporate finance or corporate law. I love the idea of both career choices, I'm really just waiting to see where life takes me!

I'm from San Jose, California and a true city girl at heart. I hope to work in San Francisco or maybe NYC, but I probably won't be able to handle the weather.

Why?

London

I'm making this blog to keep the memories of my time in London and Scotland. I'll be overseas for 7 weeks through a study abroad program with ASU and I can't be any more excited!

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I will also be interning with the East London Community Law Service during my time abroad as well as learning about the culture and diversity that is in London.