London 2010

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Barbie Goes to London Part Duex

My photo story features my mascot Barbie and her summer romance in London.

Yesterday

Yesterday was the last day of my so-called “not quite a summer vacation” because today I returned back to work in the Language Resource Center at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. I felt a little like Cinderella when my alarm went off this morning because there would be no five-minute walk to Starbucks for coffee and croissants for I was no longer a jet-setting, international student flitting about in London. Instead of three flatmates and four different morning routines there was only one routine, my routine, which consisted of a dog to be walked and clothes to be ironed. While those chores may not seem too appealing, there were also good things to be had: a definite hot shower, complete with water pressure and a Dunkin Donuts drive-thru for coffee and a muffin.

On Friday it seemed unfathomable to me on that Thursday, I woke up in London and went to sleep in Charlotte. Even more unfathomable to me on Friday morning was that I shared my bed with Blue, my dog, who before my departure was not allowed to sit, let alone sleep on the furniture.

While waiting for my luggage to make it’s appearance on the carousel on Thursday afternoon, a noticed a boy who was about ten-years-old standing with two flight attendants waiting for an otherwise nondescript black suitcase to appear. Michael had also taken U.S. Airways flight 733 as an unaccompanied minor. And though his bag was nowhere in sight, he was as cool as a cucumber with the steel resolve of a man three or four times his age. Even when one of the flight attendants grew impatient with the child and his phantom luggage he remained calm and did not even flinch when she abandoned the effort to locate his bag.

I admired the young traveler because hours earlier I had been a nervous wreck about taking the flight back home and here he was seemingly unfazed by the Transatlantic journey and potentially lost luggage. As my bag finally made its way around the carousel, I told myself that I would be as confident as he the next time I took a flight.

I breathed a huge sigh of relief when an airport official asked if I needed directions to a connecting flight to which I replied, “nope, I live here, I’m home.” It felt good to be home! I could not have been happier than when my best friend picked me up, but I was a little disappointed when she said, “I talked to you everyday so it doesn’t even seem like you’ve been gone for three weeks!” And she was right, I felt a little silly recounting the details of my experience since she had been getting daily updates all along. Later that evening and for the rest of the weekend, there was a constant barrage of, “How was your trip?” “Did you see the queen?” “Did you ride double-decker buses?” and so forth from family and friends. Each time I answered, I smiled as I remembered some my flatmates, classmates, and even Elvis. Three weeks went by in a flash. It was a blur, really, and I do not know how to do the experience justice by way of description without rambling on and on and possibly annoying my captive audiences.

The one thing that I have not been able to convey was the overall awesomeness of the entire experience, cold showers and all. As cliché as it sounds, there are just no words to sum up three weeks of doing, seeing, and experiencing things that I had never imagined.

Sitting in the theater with Kathryn seeing Wicked on our last night, I felt like “Defying Gravity” was my anthem. Maybe the next time someone asks me about my trip I’ll tell them that defying gravity is exactly what it felt like especially since that's probably as close as I will ever get to an accurate descriptor.

Random Musings on this My Penultimate Day in London

As I sit here among the luggage that I've packed and re-packed at least three times anxiously trying to finish so I can go to the "swing dance party" next door I'm finding it very hard to believe that The Great London Adventure of 2010 is actually over. I have literally been there, done that, and got the t-shirt.

I think it's fitting that we ended the day with a tour of the inside of Buckingham Palace since it was one of the first places we visited to see the changing of the guard. I also thought it was fitting that our final group meal was at the Hard Rock Cafe, an Americanized "pub," if you will, that was actually founded in London. We had lunch at the original Hard Rock cafe among the mementos of international music legends, past and present. Even our lunch was historical and cultural.

Following lunch I helped Kathryn to re-create pictures that she took in front of Westminster Abbey with her family when she was a child. Don't tell her, but I felt honored that she asked me to share that experience with her and I was so happy that she got her shots, especially the one that seemed impossible until the friendly Bobby allowed us behind the locked gates.

I wrapped up the evening and the trip with an impromptu outing to see Wicked, the prequel to The Wizard of Oz. The story of Elphaba and Galinda was really sweet and it was fun to see the classic children's tale reinvented to explore the events before we first met Dorthy, Toto, Auntie Em et al. The only issue that I had was that near the end something kept getting in my eye! Maybe it's the theaters because I had the same problem with Love Never Dies.

I definitely ended my London experience on a high note: palaces, burgers, and theater, there's not much more I could ask for...Well, there is the fact that I never had fish and chips! I guess that will have to be first on the agenda next time I'm in London.

Pip pip cheerio!

God's Garden

Our visit today to the Princess Dianna Memorial Playground was like a trip in a time machine to me. After walking through the gates and seeing the Peter Pan themed park, I couldn’t resist climbing aboard the pirate ship. I hung out in a teepee, said hello to an owl, and skipped across some lily pads before taking a rest on a ram. It was quite possibly the best thirty minutes of my day.
Earlier in the trip I learned to distinguish parks from playgrounds, as here in London, usually the word park is used to describe gardens. We’ve seen many beautiful gardens during our time here and each one has been very special to me.

Have you ever met a rose? In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet Juliet asks the question, “What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet…” I knew a rose. Her name was Dot and she was the epitome of sweet. She was my mother’s older sister who passed away last year after battling breast cancer.
Family is very important to me and there are a host of cousins, aunts, uncles, a mother, father, sister, and niece back home, living this experience vicariously through me, but my Aunt Dot is not. Even though she cannot see my Facebook photos or read my blog, I wanted her to be with me on my journey so I have worn a pink bracelet in her honor every single day.
The bracelet is simple, just like my aunt. It’s made of pink elastic with a silver circle that with the words “hope” and “awareness.” It also has a charm of the breast cancer awareness ribbon and two “jewels,” one clear and one pink. The funny thing about the bracelet is that I never left the flat without it and when it got too tight on my arm I wore it in my hair. It was the perfect accessory for my “librarian’s bun!” Each morning when I slipped it on it was almost as if I could hear her voice saying “Hey Alesh!” (that’s not a typo—she’s the only person who called me that) and every time I felt like I was coming undone, you know, feeling homesick, hot, cold, tired, frustrated, or lost I could her hear her voice saying “Alright!” which was her signature way of letting us know as children (and adults) that it was time to straighten up or be straightened up. Thinking of her so many miles away from home always gave me hope that things would get better. Thoughts of her also reminded me of how fortunate I am to have this opportunity and to take everything in, thus awareness.

When she died last year, my sister found a poem online called God’s Garden and during each visit to a garden, she felt so much closer to me. Gardens were as much a staple during this trip as was my bracelet. Kaitlin and I even stumbled upon a random garden in France. I was tempted to leave my bracelet behind in France attached to a bridge since it’s pretty gross and germy at this point but I could not do it. I thought of leaving it there because I thought Dot would have liked the City of Lights but I was just a little to selfish to leave her behind. I don’t know what will come of my dirty, germy bracelet when I return to Charlotte, but for at least the next two days it will be where it has been, on either arm or tangled in my hair, exactly where it should be.

Please visit the following sites to learn more about breast cancer or to make a donation to support breast cancer research:

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Feel Your Boobies Foundation

Mind the Gap

My short digital video provides an overview of navigation tube stations in London.

Library Thing

The Bodleian Library is one of the oldest libraries in Europe and serves as the main research library of Oxford University. Today, our class split into two groups to tour the facility and learn about its history. There were strict regulations for using the reading rooms. Among them, a rule stating that only laptops and pencils may be carried into the reading rooms, but no ink pens.

There was one lone book still chained to a shelf to illustrate how libraries once operated and on that same shelf, there were books shelved with their spines facing inward to illustrate the same. On our extended tour, we were able to see how books are transported through the facility using a conveyor system as well as walk through the stacks.

While I enjoyed the visit to the library I could never quite get too comfortable because I was afraid that I might break some unspoken rule, or even worse, an irreplaceable historical relic. In the back of my mind I kept thinking of the scene that follows and how I did not want to have a "Mr. Bean Moment:"

Maybe he would have benefited from a guided tour.

The second part of our day in Oxford was spent at Christ Church College. I enjoyed the tour of the college grounds, especially the asides and anecdotes about Lewis Carroll and Alice Liddell. After reading about the people and places that inspired characters and places in the Alice titles, it was fun to give them some context.

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The video included in this blog is not my own, nor is any copyright infringement intended. The video was obtained from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwOrp6Q7kCE on 2 August 2010.

Taste of Paris

I spent the majority of my Parisian weekend ambling about with various classmates and trying more types of food than possibly ever in life. I cannot reiterate enough how big of an accomplishment this is for me. During Friday's wine lunch cruise with the class I ate my entire salad. This may not sound like a big deal, but it was in fact a feat for me as this particular salad included sardines (or anchovies, still not quite sure), quail eggs, and tuna. Later that evening I had salmon lasagna for dinner and on Saturday I had a croque monsieur for lunch. The croque monsieur was basically a hot ham and cheese sandwich made on the toastiest toast with the cheesiest cheese ever! I do not usually eat ham (see I really went all out this weekend) but the cheesy goodness drowned out the ham perfectly.

I ate the croque at a cafe that could have easily been a movie soundstage for a hollywood romance. The weather was beautiful, there was a fountain, and people were bustling about. At one point a woman came up and graced us diners with "Yesterday" by the Beatles, complete with her own accompaniment on acoustic guitar.

As I was taking in the sights of people everywhere; the sounds of the traffic, music and other

cafe patrons; and the smell of strong coffee and fresh wafting from inside the cafe I thought I would surely experience sensory overload. Then a man came from nowhere and began feeding the birds near the fountain and I remarked to Kaitlin to the effect that if the cherubs in the fountain started singing that were were in fact in a Disney movie.

I hate to be stereotypical, but Paris was decidedly Parisian. It was everything that I had seen in magazines and movies and the weekend did not disappoint. The people were fashionable, the food was delicious, and the language sounded lovely to hear. I think a weekend was just enough time to get an adequate taste of Paris and I cannot wait for my next Paris adventure! Maybe next time I can spend last long enough to take a picture on the observation deck at the Eiffel Tower, because as Tara says "if you don't take a picture, then it didn't really happen!"

Big Brother is Watching

In central London, you cannot walk more than approximately 61 meters (200 feet--I felt metric would be fitting) without seeing closed circuit cameras or being warned of their possible use. Security cameras are on the streets, in shops, the Study Centre, the tube, you name it, they're everywhere. When I first arrived, I felt a little violated, if not intimidated by their presence, but after going on several tours and learning about the fires that destroyed the city as well as the ever present threat of terrorist attacks, it kind of makes me feel better knowing that someone is (potentially) watching over me.

Although I make an effort to be aware of my surroundings a second or even more sets of eyes are now a welcome part of my daily walks about town. I feel very safe navigating the city and coming in and out of the of the Study Centre. After all, the Study Centre is so secure that I have to swipe my FSU key card to not only enter, but also exit the building! Students are required to wear the key cards as proof that we actually study here and with Elvis on the night shift (nothing gets by this man...he sees everything) I feel very secure.

Not only are great measures being taken to ensure the safety of the people and visitors of London, but the librarians at both the Barbican Library and the British Library have several methods in place to safeguard and maintain their collections. The radio frequency identification (RFID) at the Barbican and the strict requirements for a Reader's Pass at the British Library help ensure that both collections are maintained.

Though the security (of the people and the resources) seems daunting at first, but it makes a statement that the things of importance are worth managing and that security is not an intrusion, but a benefit to us all.

Melting Pot? Maybe Not.

In the past two weeks I've seen a lot of places and seen many faces and well, I've seen a lot of faces in many places. The thing that has stood out to me most is the sheer diversity in the faces. In the spirit of full disclosure, I must admit that my previous experience with British culture and people comes from 4th and 5th grade social studies classes, and episodes of "Mr. Bean" and "Are You Being Served?" For examples of the modern British set, I turned to the Nickelodeon Films epic, Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging.

Needless to say, none of these frames of reference were particularly colorful, so I was quite surprised to see just how colorful British people are. Although London is a tourist destination, one thing that I particularly like about the city is that one can not readily distinguish the tourists from the locals, that is, as long as no one is speaking. I love how people here seemingly seamlessly coexist with little regard to the color of one's skin, ethnic, racial, or religious background.

Maybe it's because I'm from the south, but very rarely do I see children who don't resemble one another playing together in schoolyards. It is even more rare for teenagers to hang out with people who do not look like them, and the ones who do are the exceptions, not the rule. And perhaps because I do not live in the most metropolitan of cities I find it pleasantly surprising that here, people do not even bat an eye at interracial couples and their children, which I might add is as it should be.

It goes beyond skin color, though. On the sidewalks or in the tube it is nothing to find a man in a tailored suit next to a goth chick or a guy who looks like he just stepped out of the 80s. I've seen more than a handful of Harajuku girls and they haven't all been Japanese, or even Asian for that matter. In my city, one would have to go specifically to an area that caters to the Islamic community to find food that conforms to Halal standards, but in some London-area KFCs are now offering Halal products. In London, rainbow flags are displayed just as prominently as Union Jack.

While having lunch in St. James park last week, I would have if I could have, taken pictures of the children playing hide-and-seek among the massive trees. If it were not illegal to photograph the children, this very blog entry would feature a picture of children, dressed in blue and white uniforms, running and laughing, some of the girls with pigtails, and others with veils flowing in the wind.

This blog has absolutely nothing to do with our visit to the Tower of London today, well except for the fact that my former social studies teachers would be happy to know that I actually saw where Sir Walter Raleigh was imprisoned. Maybe it was the hoards of tourists from all over who were at the Tower today that got me to actually put into words a sentiment that has been with me, pretty much since I stepped out of the St. Pancras International Train Station, who knows? What I do know is that maybe we Americans might consider being a little more tolerant and benevolent and maybe we can become the melting pot that our nation was intended to be.

There's No Taste Like Home

My story in five pictures...

Labour of Love

It wasn't the collection, digital piano, self service kiosks, or even the "wand" that impressed me most during today's tour of the Barbican Library. It was the people. Geraldine and Johnathan, our gracious hosts and guides showed us various areas of the facility and explained many of the library's policies and procedures with smiles on their faces. They seemed very happy to have us visit, almost as if we were doing them a favor by being there instead of the other way around.

As our tour progressed we met a the children's librarian who invited us to take a seat in the story area as she told us about services for children and youth. Jonathan took a picture of our group . I'm sure that 15 adults in the story area does not happen very often in Barbican Library!

I was particularly intrigued by Bookstart, a national program that provides free bookpacks to babies born in the United Kingdom through age five. I was also surprised to learn that Dolly Parton launched a similar program, Imagination Library, that serves children in Sevier County, Tennessee in 1996. After learning about how these literacy programs aim to get books into the hands of children at a young age, we were treated to a surprise snack: tea! It should not have been a surprise, because snacks and story corners go hand in hand. We gathered in the staff area and had tea and cakes while chatting with the librarians, a great way to conclude our visit.

We then walked to St. Paul's Cathedral where our "super" tour guide, James led us around the beautiful church. Just like the librarians at the Barbican; our Blue Badge Guides Hugh and Liz ; and Robert at the Salisbury Cathedral, it was obvious that he, too, took great pride and joy in his job as a cathedral volunteer, or "working friend," as his badge

indicated.

Throughout our time hear in London, our group has been very fortunate to interact with individuals who seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs. The majority of us are library science students and I hope that as we begin for some, and continue for others, our library careers, that we too, will share their labor of love as we serve our patrons.

The Man in the Mirror and the Boy Who Could Fly (Podcast)

My podcast gives a brief overview of James M. Barrie. It draws parallels between his life and the life of Michael Jackson, the self-proclaimed "Peter Pan."

Music in this podcast is used under the guidelines for Fair Use.

Powered by Podbean.com

Music Credits

Ballard, G. & Garrett, S. (2009). Man in the Mirror [Recorded by Johann Heinrich, Jr. & St. Martin's Symphony of Los Angeles]. On Pop Goes Classical [CD]. Del Mar, CA: Classical Matters.

Silvestri, A. (1998). Practical Magic. On Practical Magic (Music from the Motion Picture) [CD]. London, England: Warner Brothers, UK.

Photo Credits

The image of the poster for the 1924 motion picture, Peter Pan is in the public domain. The image was retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peter_Pan_1924_movie.jpg
26 July 2010 .

Stopping to Smell (and Photograph) the Flowers

After trying my hand at taking a pretty panoramic photo in the gardens of Regent's Park last week, I thought I would surely be up to today's photo focus: flowers. I set out to find a flower that wasn't really a flower (i.e. a flower in a statue or portrait) and failed. So after a really cute dramatization of the events of the leading up to the wedding of Katharine Parr and Henry VIII Heather, Tara, and I headed out to the gardens to capture the perfect shot.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the day. I learned from Tara, that to get a better perspective, sometimes you have to get way up close or in an unusual (sometimes uncomfortable) position to make it happen. Note the gravel stuck to my elbow in the last picture!

Fancy That!

Ten years ago in July I was entering my sophomore year at Winston-Salem State University. I had been hired to serve as a peer counselor for the WSSU Honors Summer Advancement Program and was looking forward to my second year in college. As a counselor, I traveled with the group to New York City at the end of the summer session and saw my first Broadway production: The Phantom of the Opera. My 19-year-old self was in no way shape or form interested in seeing the show. The most important thing to me was my outfit, black bell-bottom polyester pants and a sleeveless top--the kind with the necklace attached, and clunky black shoes. I was hot stuff!

The curtain opened to the auction scene with the odd little music box setting the foundation for the story. I was less than into it and just before I dozed off the chandelier that was above me came crashing down to the stage! Now that got my attention. Sitting up in my seat, I strained to see everything and hear every note of the score. The story was beautifully tragic and heartbreakingly romantic. The sets were alive--they made a lake, on a stage, with candles! I loved it.

Imagine my surprise to learn that the sequel had opened in London's West End earlier this year! Imagine my surprise to learn that the sequel takes place approximately ten years after Phantom. Imagine my surprise to learn that other students wanted to see it, too! Imagine my surprise when our group scored front row seats to last night's performance! Like the original, the score was beautiful and the story was very romantic. The story ranged from freakishly eclectic to simple and serene.

The theatre experience had me in chills. If I had wanted to (though I probably shouldn't) I could have reached out and touched the conductor. Tara, Eric, and I chatted with a violinist during the intermission. She was very nice even though she kind of spoiled us on the ending.

It seemed as if I had come full circle from the reluctant 19-year-old seeing the longest running show on Broadway to the present day me, in London of all places, seeing a continuation of the story less than six months after the show began its first year.

The show is set to begin its Broadway run in the spring of 2011. Who knows, maybe Eric, Tara, and I will meet up in New York next year for a London/Love Never Dies reunion.

1/3 Down, 2/3 to Go

Flowers and flying kites were on the agenda today and it was the perfect way to end a whirlwind week. The historical tours, cathedral visits, and museums have been great, but after the barrage of facts and figures and learning new photo editing software, it was nice to have a more carefree day.

We visited Regent's Park which was full of lovely floral gardens and fountains and then we walked up to Primrose Hill. After a picnic lunch, we flew kites--something that I haven't done in years! Two of the top stereotypes about librarians are that we a.)know everything and b.) we're boring. Well, today's exercise refuted both points because of all the visitors to Primose Hill, our group was the most rambunctious, and several of us (self included) struggled in getting our kites to fly.

We capped off the day by walking down Abbey Road where a few of my classmates tried to re-create the famous Beatles album cover. Not knowing much about the Beatles (shocking, I know) learning about the whole Abbey Road phenomenon was quite a treat for me.

I can't believe that week one of my three week adventure is over! Even Barbie, my trip mascot, is exhausted, but we're both learning, seeing, and doing a lot and having the time of our lives!

Man (and Women) About Town

Getting around in the city of London can be achieved by several different modes of transportation. Of course, the iconic red buses and black minicabs are obvious ones, but the tube (subway system) and trains are other options. My primary mode of transportation has been walking. Today, however, we took the Thames Clippers, a ferry, to Greenwich where we visited the National Observatory, took pictures at the Prime Meridian, and visited the National Maritime Museum.

We walked to the Tottenham Court Road tube station and took the tube to the Embankment Station to get to the pier. Taking the ferry was a great way of introducing the theme of today's photography focus: traffic. I must admit that I struggled to capture a vehicle in motion in Trafalgar Square that actually looked like it was in motion, but it eventually worked out.

Like most tourists, I posed at the Prime Meridian with one foot in each hemisphere and oddly enough, my favorite exhibit at the Maritime Museum had nothing to do with ships, but rather, stained glass windows! There were four stained glass windows based on the virtues of justice, truth, fortitude, and hope. Had I not been looking for a "loo" I probably would have missed them altogether. While admiring the windows, I was drawn to something else that was on display, but not exactly an exhibit: the toilet signs! Since I've been here I've been intrigued by the informational signs. They are so different from what I'm used to seeing in the U.S. and I can't help but stare at them.

As always, I'm looking forward to tomorrow's adventures!

Why Did They Build Stonehenge So Close Road?

Stonehenge is a prehistoric structure located in the Wiltshire, UK. Construction is believed to have began around 3100 B.C. and was built in three phases. Not a lot of specific information is known about Stonehenge, and it remains one of the world's greatest mysteries.

Like most, rather all of this trip, visiting Stonehenge was not something that I ever thought I would have the opportunity to do and I did not know what to expect. Despite the crowd of tourists and the initial rush to get through the queue, it was very peaceful walking around the stones. The grounds surrounding Stonehenge were very calming to look as well.

Later we went the town of Salisbury to tour Salisbury Cathedral. The medieval church was constructed over a period of 38 years and our guide Robert Rocket spoke to us about its history. While we were there we were able to view an original copy of the Magna Carta.

The photo focus of the day was black and white images or black and white images with a splash of color. I thought I would find the perfect image to submit to our class Facebook page at Stonehenge or Salisbury Cathedral, but most of the images that I took during my day trip looked the same in black and white as they did in color. I also did not want to alter the colors of the original photos, very much, so I decided to upload a black and white picture of Robert leaving his sash in color. After we returned to the Study Center, I happened upon a double decker red bus with an advertisement that read "Another Red Bus Going Green for London" and I knew I'd found my shot. I was able to snap the picture just before the bus pulled away. For the assigment, I edited the photo so that only the bus was in color.

Culture Shock

Today we visited the British Museum, the oldest cultural and secular museum in the world. The museum is literally a block from the Study Centre and holds exhibits that range from the Prehistoric Era to Modern Times. Inside there are amazing works of art, sculptures, carvings, and exhibits. The museum is home to the Rosetta Stone, an ancient Egyptian artifact from 196 B.C. that played an integral part in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Walking from the Study Centre to the museum took less than five minutes and upon arrival our group was greeted by a wrought iron gate surrounding the massive building with its equally massive columns. Between the gate and stairs to the entryway there is a beautiful garden. All of the differing shapes and textures created for me a bit of sensory overload. Everything, including the hoards of tourists indicated that there were great things beyond the doors.

I was especially taken by The Sir Harry and Lady Djanogly Gallery, an exhibit on clocks and watches. As I think about it, maybe I was subconsciously drawn to it because I'm still experiencing jet lag, though it's been five days since I arrived. I spent a lot of time viewing and reading about the pieces that were on display, silently wishing my Aunt Minnie were there with me because she loves clocks.

After viewing exhibits on Europe, I ran into Erika and we went to the Egyptian Room where she posed as my "hand model" for today's photo focus assignment. My goal was to re-create a flickr photo from the museum and I based my photo on this shot. Unfortunately, the flash from my camera showed up in the photo with Erika's hand and I had to re-take the photo after tea. Not wanting to burden her for anymore of her time, I used my own hand instead.

Seeing all of the wonderful exhibits from all over the globe and ending the day with afternoon tea was am amazing experience. It was impossible to take in everything in one afternoon and since it is so close to the Study Centre, I'm sure that I will visit the British Museum a few more times while I'm here.

Bird's Eye View

Today we took a "flight" on the London Eye. The fairly recent tourist attraction gave us the opportunity to view and photograph the city from a different perspective, which was perfect for our first photo focus: buildings. The photo submissions of the class and can be viewed online via our course Facebook page.

After our flight, Hugh led us on a tour of West minster Abbey. Quick, what's the name of Westminster Abbey? If you went with the obvious and answered "Westminster Abbey," you are incorrect. During a tour of the historic church and burial site that was led by Hugh, we learned that the formal name is actually The Collegiate Church of St. Peter at Westminster. Contributors to the arts, medicine, and humanitarian efforts as well as political leaders are among those who human society are buried or memorialized there.

Later, we saw a performance of Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre. Although I missed some of the political undertones (the story uses the coal miners strike in County Durham in 1984 as a backdrop) at the beginning of the play, Billy's story about being himself, overcoming obstacles, and following his dreams was universal. The story hit home for me because like Billy, I had to leave behind the comforts of home and all things familiar in order to take advantage of this opportunity.

Sight Seeing

Today we went on a coach tour with Liz and Lee. I learned a lot more about the city of London and was able to experience the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. I would have never imagined that I would see that up close and in person.

Since I am studying abroad, it is sometimes easy to forget that I am also a tourist in a city that is driven by tourism so I was a little taken aback when our tour guide Liz informed us that if we hurried we would make it to the palace just in time to get a good spot on the sidewalk and beat the crowds. She was right and boy, was it crowded! I remember seeing the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery when I was a child, but I do not remember there being nearly as much pomp and circumstance surrounding that event.

As we lined the street leading to the palace mounted police rode by to ensure that no one stepped off the sidewalk. Then came the band. A band! I think it was Eric who remarked that the band was in better step than the soldiers. I was amazed by the fact that they were using sheet music! After the soldiers marched by we walked along the sidewalk to get a closer view of the palace. As we walked, Tara mentioned how difficult it was not to walk to the beat of the cadence. That's right, my roommate was also a high-school band geek who played flute and piccolo (which according to her is "such a ridiculous instrument") in her former life! As a former Bb clarinetist I literally felt our bond grow. Upper woodwinds UNITE!

After the ceremony I noticed my mascot Barbie perfectly perched and popping out of my purse giving me the inspiration for the photo below which I think encapsulates my visit to Buckingham Palace quite nicely.

All Dolled Up

This morning our group took a walking tour of historic Bloomsbury with a Blue Badge Guide named Hugh. During our tour we saw many areas including Bedford Square, the University of London, the British Museum, and Gordon Square Garden. Blue Badge Guides are members of a national guild of professional tourists who provide comprehensive and enlightening tours throughout Britain. Blue Badge Guides complete extensive training in order to register with the guild and our guide Hugh did not disappoint. He was very personable, knowledgeable, and engaging.

The highlight of the tour for me was the architecture and residential planning of Bedford Square. I found it very interesting how the residential buildings, were constructed to have a palatial look and feel. Other things that stood out to me were how the planners thought of everything, including inconspicuous entrances to servants' quarters and even boot posts to rid ones shoes of horse manure! The massive buildings have stood from the 1700s and 1800s. Even the mews (horse stables) were interesting to see, especially since some have been converted to very expensive luxury apartments.

As we were looking at other buildings Hugh mentioned that the more elaborate architectural designs were the work of Charles Victor Doll, an architect who also constructed suites a

and salons on the Titanic. Doll was contracted to improve the aesthetic appeal of buildings in Bedford Square to help modernize the area. The phrase "all dolled up" refers to Doll.

After the tour I went to Asda, a subsidiary of Wal-Mart and then I went with

Elana and Kaitlin to Harrods, talk about shift in dynamics. Harrods might possibly be the most luxurious place I've ever been, but it wasn't too high brow for a Krispy Kreme!

After an original glazed (not hot) donut, we attempted to have tea, but end

ed up settling instead

for drinks at the Chocolate Bar.

After a quick jolt of caffeine and sugar, we headed "home" to the study center to meet up with Elizabeth for pubs and pints. We found a great place in Soho called Nellie's where we met the friendliest locals, including Paul, an exuberant man with a rather large and quite detailed tattoo of the Tower Bridge, Big Ben, and the London Eye.

Though it has only been three days since I arrived, it seems like I've been here much longer and that the time is passing by too quickly at the same time.

Living It Up: London-Style

Day 2 of my big London adventure consisted of a safety orientation and a "practical" walking tour of the Bloomsbury area. Blake, our graduate counselor pointed out the pharmacy, grocery store, post office, ATMs, and other essential need-to-know type places as well as shops and good places to eat. After the tour I went to a sandwich shop called Pret and had a very tasty Italian Pizza Wrap and lemonade. Prets are more plentiful in this area than Starbucks--and there lots of Starbucks so that's saying something! After lunch, some of our group went out for gelato at a place called Scoop. I had a combination of the chocolatiest chocolate ever and mint. Good stuff. After that, we walked to the River Thames where I caught a glimpse of Big Ben and the London Eye.

While we were walking around Covent Garden, I picked up a magazine called In and Around Covent Garden and read an anecdote about Benjamin Caunt, possibly the namesake of "the world's most famous bell." Caunt, a Covent Gardens publican and boxer who was the English Heavyweight Champion from 1841 until 1845. Large in stature, Caunt was known as "a proud fighter, who'd never shirk a fight." While reading the story, interestingly enough, I learned that the name "Big Ben" refers only to the bell, not the bell tower.

On the walk back there was a little confusion as to how to get back to the Study Centre but thanks to a sidewalk map we were able to find our way back. We met our professor and the rest of the group and walked to a nearby pub called Marlborough Arms. Not feeling particularly daring I ordered a burger and chips. I did take a chance on a drink called Pimm's. It was a mix of gin, strawberries, orange slices, mint leaves, a splash of cranberry, and a slice of cucumber. Since I don't usually drink gin, it was "just ok" to me.

Both the practical tour and walking to the River Thames gave me the opportunity to take in the beautiful architecture and some sights like the National Gallery. Seeing things like the red phone boxes and double decker buses, and the black taxis make the experience more real to me. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever travel to Europe. I actually remember telling my high school Spanish teacher that I would never travel abroad because I was afraid to fly. Well, I still haven't gotten over my fear, but I am so happy that I faced it so that I am able to enjoy this experience.

The Great Passport Quest of 2010 a.k.a. Barbie Goes to London

It occurred to me last week that I had lost misplaced my passport. On Thursday, I turned my house upside down searching for it and my letter from Florida State University and came up with nothing. I couldn't search on Friday or Saturday because I was attending my family reunion, but I picked up the search again on Sunday, still coming up sin pasaporte. On Monday, my parents, BFF, and I searched for an hour and forty-five minutes before I found it on a shelf in my walk in closet. Disaster avoided.

The next major obstacle came Wednesday when I arrived at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport where security wait times were extremely delayed. I arrived to the gate at 6:17 p.m. for my 6:25 p.m. flight. Good times. Me: 2. Disaster: 0.

I arrived at Gatwick Airport at 7:05 a.m. (12:05 a.m. EST). I made it through Immigration, claimed my bags, and sailed through Customs without a hitch. There were a few slight mishaps figuring out the the train and tube maps but I eventually made it to the Study Centre at 11:00 a.m. After picking up my key, I was directed to flat 12 at the top of the stairs in building 102. I didn't think the four flights would be so tough, but that was quite possibly the steepest stairwell I've ever seen and building 102 does not have elevators lifts.

This message, left behind by previous occupants of flat 12 sums it up nicely:

"Dear Flat 12,

Embrace the attic, your legs will look great & all the cool people are up here! The stairs make 4 a great story...(free gym)"

Before I forget, Barbie is my “mascot” for my trip. She will be making guest appearances in my photos and on my blog. Unfortunately, she arrived a little under-dressed for the chilly London air but perhaps she'll find some nice new outfits along the way!

London's Calling

My name is Alesha. I’m 29 years old and gearing up to take my first European not-quite-a-vacation!

I just completed my first year of grad school in the Department of Library and Information Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I have an awesome opportunity to earn six credit hours toward my degree taking courses at the Florida State University London Centre for three weeks! Some of the places that I will visit include Stonehenge, the Brittish Museum, Westminster Abbey, Regent's Park, the Tower of London, and the London Eye. I will even spend a weekend in Paris, which isn't too shabby for a girl from Somewhere You've Probably Never Heard Of, NC.

While this is my first trip to Europe, it is a my second trip abroad, the first being when I spent a semester in Queretaro, Mexico during undergrad. Major differences between the two trips is that I'm older and hopefully wiser this time around and that there will be less of a language barrier. My 1.5 years of elementary and intermediate Spanish courses served me quite well back then, but I am hoping that going from American English to the Queen's English will not be that much of a stretch. I definitely do not want to anyone to "fancy" me a "cheeky monkey" if I happen to say something incorrectly. Translation: I do not want anyone to feel like I'm obnoxious if I happen to say something incorrectly.

My journey begins exactly two weeks from today and I couldn't be more excited, nervous, anxious, or giddy! All are welcome to read along and join me as I experience what is sure to be the trip of a lifetime!