Voices from Europe: May 5-29, 2008

Fifteen Shorter students are traveling in England and Russia to earn 12 hours of class credit during Shorter’s Mayterm. The courses include “Field Experience in Study Abroad,” “Directed Study in Global Awareness,” “Theatre Appreciation” and “Business and Culture”; they are led by Dr. Robert Darville, dean of the School of Business Administration and professor of accounting, and Dr. Brian Nedvin, assistant professor of music. While in England, the group is based at Regents College in London. In Russia, the group will travel to Moscow and the Golden Ring area.

Below are excerpts from student updates.

Click here for days 1-4.
Click here for days 9-12.

Day 8 (May 13) Excerpts:

I did not sleep very well last light. Why? It was because there was a group of loud, and I mean LOUD Americans on our floor last night. These people were so rude. … In contrast, I am glad that we have represented the college in a positive way. I know those people were from the States because they started shouting off the names of the states where they were born. (One was Texas.) I can see how Europeans in general don't care for Americans. I could have slept in Oxford Circus and experienced fewer wacky characters than we did last night. …

Anyway, I thought I would mention a few facts that I learned yesterday. Did you know that Turkey wants to be a member of the European Union? That is crazy! It has not made it so far – maybe because it's a Muslim country, too large, and it's not located in Europe. I also learned that some drivers must pay cash in order to drive into the city because it is heavily congested; I think it's £8, but don't quote me. We will be leaving for Stratford today. I'm not sure why we are going there; I think some writer by the name of Shakespeare was born there.

- James Jarvis, a junior history and political science major

Today, we went to Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace. I saw the house that he was born in. That was cool. The city was not what I would call a very exciting city, however. With the exception of shopping, there was not much to do. We went to the river, but there was a lot of construction going on, so it was not as pretty as it could have been. 

We then tried to find Anne Hathaway's house (she was the wife of Shakespeare). Apparently, we walked for miles in the wrong direction, so we just gave up and went back the main parts of the city. Most of the sidewalks were cobblestone, so it had a very antique look to it. I enjoyed that aspect of the city. The shops varied in type: pastry shops, fast food, antique shops, clothing shops, teddy bear shops, fudge shops, souvenir shops, a witchcraft shop, and they even had a shop with nothing but cute little Christmas tree ornaments.

The city was also home to many Shakespeare museum type things. You could actually visit Shakespeare's birthplace or go to the 'Shakesperience'. I, personally, did not go to either of these, but I heard from those who went that they were very interesting.

- Nicole Hill, a junior accounting major

  
Day 7 (May 12) Excerpts:

This morning, we had a financial lecture by an incredible professor here at Regent’s College. He discussed “Business, Brussels, Ballots, and Britain.” This evening, we went to see Les Miserables at Queen's Theatre. I was very impressed with this performance. I believe it was my favorite so far. The music and singing were incredible, especially since actors/actresses were lying down/dying and still maintained incredible voices. The acting was also some of the best I have seen this week. There were so many times that I thought, “This is going to be the highlight of this show for me,” but then something more amazing would happen. I thoroughly enjoyed this show, and I am thankful that God brought me to London to see it. :)

- Nicole Hill, a junior accounting major

I have to congratulate London for having an efficient train station that can get an individual from one place to another. There are plenty of signs and maps that can guide anyone to their destination. I must also congratulate London for having some very nice parks. Back at home, the only place we have is Ridge Ferry, and it comes nowhere close to being a London park.

If I were to tell future travelers interested in London where to spend most of their time, I would have to say Westminster, St. James, and Mayfair. Westminster has been my personal favorite because it has a rich history. The heart of London is at Parliament Square, and it is a great place to just relax and people watch. Parliament reflected in the Thames has been a highlight of the trip. St James' Park is one of London's loveliest parks. It is filled with various birds and flowers, which makes the park look very colorful. Just to give you an idea, it is located in front of Buckingham Palace and across from St. James' Palace. The third area I recommend is Mayfair, because it is where a lot of nice homes are located.  It is a very nice part of town and luxury hotels are lined up along the streets. The rubbish is limited, and there are great views of Green Park.

There are parks all over London, and at nighttime when the lampposts are all aglow, it is postcard perfect. Today we had a great business lecture that was very well put together, and then we have been sitting around and taking care of laundry. Later on this afternoon, a few of us will be returning to Buckingham Palace to take pictures now that the crowds have died down.

- James Jarvis, a junior history and political science major

Ah Westminster Abbey. My, will I have a memorable Sunday service for years to come! We left the college at 9 a.m. to get to the 10 a.m. service. We got on the jubilee line to take us to the Westminster tube station. However, the Jubilee line terminated at Green Park, which is the stop right before Westminster. We then tried to get on the Victoria line, but the Victoria line was closed for the day. The five of us who went then contemplated whether to take the Bakerloo line east from Green Park, to then get on the Piccadilly line south, to then take the Circle line west to get to Westminster… However, we decided to walk and find Big Ben (since it's next to Westminster). The problem was Green Park is at Buckingham Palace. Westminster is at the opposite end of the palace or "mall" as they call it in Britain. So, we walked from one end of the mall to the other, arriving at Westminster just as the service was starting.

Tourists are not allowed in the abbey, only people who want to worship. We entered through the back listening to absolutely incredible music accompanied by the church organ. The choir was made entirely of male voices, with young boys singing the female parts. In fact, next to the abbey is a place where young boys can go to school to sing specifically at Westminster.

After the service … we got to briefly tour the abbey – and I do mean briefly. We had been sitting in Poet's Corner, which is the right side of the church when looked upon as a cross. There, we got to see where Geoffrey Chaucer was buried. On the other side was the science corner, where Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin are buried (next to each other). To think two of the greatest scientific minds were right below our feet. However, science corner was roped off due to the service.

Today was truly a memorable experience. One more thing I can cross off my list of things to do before I die.

- John Jarvis, a junior accounting major

Day 6 (May 11) Excerpts:

(I forgot to explain how the baths worked yesterday. They didn’t have soap back then, so they would sit in a sauna type thing and get sweaty, scrape the dirt off and then sit in a cold bath to get clean.)

This morning, we got to choose between Westminster Abbey for a service or a tour of the Globe Theatre. I chose Westminster Abbey. The organ and singing were incredible. It was an all male choir, so the high voices were voices of young boys.

Later, we went to the Globe to see King Lear. It was ok. I ended up leaving at intermission (we had permission to) because there was a column obstructing my view, and it may as well have been in Spanish because I couldn't understand any of the dialect. The Globe is kind of outside, so the sun was shining on us, and we were sitting on wooden bleachers that were very uncomfortable. However, I must say that it was neat to be sitting there. That is definitely an opportunity I will not have again, and I am glad I got to witness it. :)

- Nicole Hill, a junior accounting major

Yesterday was one of our two "adventure out of London" days. We first stopped at Stonehenge (about $10 admission) and walked around the stones that were placed there in about 3,500 BC. I had always heard the stones were for religious purposes, but apparently the stones are believed to be a calendar due to how the stones line up with various locations in the world.

We then traveled through the English countryside into the city of Bath where we toured the Roman baths – simply amazing the technology these guys had (built around 75 AD). …

I just got back from the reconstructed Globe Theatre, which is on River Thames. We had the option of leaving after the first act if we didn't like it. … It was hot, boring, and most of all, it was Shakespeare. You know, if the language had been translated, it would not have been so bad. Still, the benches were wooden (there were no backs to the benches). Cushions for the benches were £3 ($6). ... We got to cross over the millennium bridge to get to the Globe (one of the 40+ bridges over the River Thames).

Tonight we are having a theatre discussion over today's play (King Lear). I won't have much to say. Tomorrow, we get to see Les Miserables. I am really looking forward to this production since it is such a staple in the theatre world.

And yet again, beautiful weather. Hotter, but magnificent. The flowers in the parks (known as the Lungs of London) were in full bloom except for the tulips, which ended their blooming season last week.

- John Jarvis, a junior accounting major

Eating out in London

We had a great tour of Drury Lane Theatre. The actors on the tour were believable and to be honest, quite scary. …

Yesterday was Bath and Stonehenge. I have seen the pictures and read the paragraphs on the subject of Stonehenge, but nothing is quite like being there in person. I was disappointed that visitors are not allowed to go near it and must stand behind the rope. The grass was very comfortable. I could have sat there much longer than we actually did. We were in a hurry to arrive in Bath on time. I did enjoy Stonehenge and will remember seeing those massive stones. I just don't know the why, who, and how questions.

Bath was great as well. … My favorite part of the Bath tour was the Pump Room, an elegant 18th century room that is very nice. I was able to taste the water and I wondered who in the world likes this stuff, because it tastes nasty. I highly recommend to anyone who is going to the Roman Baths to make there way to the Pump Room. …

Today, small group of us attended Westminster Abbey, and it was beautiful. The church was great, and I thought it was cool to see the burial locations of famous people such as Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. We sat close to Poet's Corner and were able to glance at the statues of some of Britain's most brilliant writers.  … The Globe Theatre was hot. The sun hit our section just perfectly, and it stayed that way for quite some time. I left during the intermission because I was not enjoying the play. …

Tonight was the first night that we went to Big Ben at night, and it was perfect. The sky was that perfect shade of blue, and the pictures we took had the birds flying around the clock tower. The three of us sat along the River Thames for about 30 minutes just to take part in the stillness of the evening. I hope that the weather will stay as great as it has been and that we will be able to spend time outside, especially in the evening.

I also went on a little adventure as well. I got separated from my roommate, and I went in search of the Atheneum Hotel in Mayfair. It was so perfectly English. The flats were stately and it appeared to be the kind of hotel one might find an alum from Cambridge. I have enjoyed this trip so far, except for Billy Elliot and the Globe.

- James Jarvis, a junior history and political science major

Day 5 (May 10) Excerpts:

We visited Stonehenge and Bath today! It was cool to be standing in front of something that I usually only see in textbooks; I took lots of pictures. At Bath, we tried the water (not actually from the stream, but they had a place to try it). It tasted like warm shower water and was rather nasty.

Students and faculty visiting Stonehenge


We had McDonald’s for dinner tonight. The fries tasted the same, but I had a chicken bacon deli sub (we don’t have those in the States), and it wasn't very good. The bacon tastes disgusting here, almost like a rubber tire. :(

- Nicole Hill, a junior accounting major