The London Review 2026: Flânerie

flânerie / ˌ flän( ə ) ˈ r ē /

“To be away from home and yet to feel oneself everywhere at home; to see the world, to be at the centre of the world, and yet to remain hidden from the world—such are a few of the slightest pleasures of those independent, passionate, impartial natures which the tongue can but clumsily define.” – Charles Baudelaire, The Painter of Modern Life

“To walk alone in London is the greatest rest.” – Virginia Woolf, Diary, Volume 3: 1925-30

Flânerie is the act of being a ‘passionate spectator,’ a concept popularized by the 19th century French poet Charles Baudelaire and later expanded upon by philosopher Walter Benjamin, among others. A flâneur, or flâneuse in the feminine form, is one who wanders the streets of a city while maintaining a certain level of detachment; they are able to observe the world with a sense of curiosity about the people and places they encounter. They stand out by blending in, choosing to dedicate themselves entirely to the urban experience. Importantly, the flâneur can be found in any modern city: Paris, Shanghai, New York … and of course, London.

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THEFLÂNEURSOFLONDON

WANDERINGTHROUGHCULTURE

WANDERINGTHROUGHTHESTREETSOFLONDON

WANDERINGTHROUGHCUISINE

WANDERINGTHROUGHCONVERSATION

WANDERINGTHROUGHLIFE

PUZZLESANDANSWERS

GROUPPICTUREOFTHEFLÂNEURS

Alexander Figueroa

Alexanderwanderedhere fromSalina,Kansas.He isajuniorstudying EnglishCreativeWriting, Film&Mediastudies

Production,andAmerican

Ashlynnwanderedhere fromConcordia,Missouri. Sheisafreshman studyingChemical Engineeringwithaminor inWomen,Gender,and SexualityStudies.

Ava Wollerman

Avawanderedherefrom Lee’sSummitMissouri. Sheisaseniorstudying Englishalongsidea journalismminor.

Calleigh Hilliard

Calleighwanderedherefrom Bentonville,Arkansas.She isafreshmanworking towardsaBachelorsofArts inPsychologyandisonthe Pre-lawroute.

Emily Clausen Isabella Mautino

Emilywanderedherefrom OverlandPark,Kansas. Sheisajuniorstudying ChemicalEngineeringwith aminorinBiomedical Engineering.

Gabby Rock

Gabbywanderedherefrom OverlandPark,Kansas.She isaseniorgraduatingwith herBachelor’sin Psychology,withaminorin creativewriting.Shealso workspart-timeasafigure skatingcoach.

Isabellawanderedhere fromLee’sSummit, Missouri.Sheisasenior studyingEnglishwitha specialtyinRenaissance literaturealongsidea minorinHistory.

Jaspreet Kaur

Jaspreetwanderedhere fromKansasCity, Missouri.Sheisasenior studyingcommunications withaminorin leadershipstudies.

Kyanne Carlgren

Kyannewanderedhere fromOverlandPark, Kansas.Sheisa sophomorestudying MarketingandPolitical Science.

Lauren Fraser

Laurenwanderedhere fromGoldenValley, Minnesota.Sheisa freshmanstudying CriminalJusticeand Psychology.

Magnolia Foster

Magnoliawanderedhere fromHutchinson,Kansas. SheisaJuniorstudying EnglishandJournalism.

Matthew Hasson

Matthewwanderedhere fromFairfax,Virginia.He isaseniorstudying politicalscienceand environmentalstudies.

Meiliwanderedhere fromSiouxFalls,South Dakota.Sheisa freshmanstudyingfora BachelorsofScience degreeinmicrobiology orbiochemistry.

Michael Hanzelka

Michaelwanderedhere fromOlathe,Kansas. Theyareajuniorstudying LinguisticsandChinese withaminorinEnglish.

Meili Alvine Savannah Ford

Savannahwanderedhere fromEdgerton,Kansas. Sheisajuniorstudying HumanBiologyand CreativeWriting.

Sierra Quinn

Sierrawanderedhere fromSmithville, Missouri.Sheisajunior studyingVocal Performance&Theatre withaminorinEnglish.

Valeria Solis

Valeria(Val)wandered herefromGardenCity, Kansas.Sheisa sophomorestudying Journalism,Political Science,withaminorin

Taylor Doyle

Taylorwanderedherefrom Shawnee,Kansas.Sheisa seniorstudyingpolitical science,multimedia journalism,andglobaland internationalstudieswitha minorinleadershipstudies.

A special Thank you to our Co-Directors Doug and Sarah, and our program assistant, Adam!

Flâner Through London

Meili

Atthe“PlanningYourHonorsPath”freshmenorientation,IheardSarahmentiontheLondonReviewbriefly, andafterwards,Ifoundhertolearnmoreaboutthestudyabroadprogram.IwasapprehensiveatfirstasIhave nevertraveledalonebeforeandIwasonlyafreshman.However,Icanconfidentlysaythiswasoneofthebest experiencesofmylife.Londonisanamazingcitytowanderthrough–Iwenttoasmanymuseums,markets, andsight-seeingspotsasIcouldwhiletakingbikes,buses,trains,andthetubeallaroundLondon.Iwillnow bewanderingthroughthesenext3yearsofundergradandnext-hopefully-gradschool,seeingwherethe worldtakesmealongtheway,regrettingnothingandexperiencingeverything.

Emily

Londonisoneofmyfavoritecitiestovisit!SomeofmyfriendsfromStudentAmbassadorsandUniversity ScholarswentontheLondonReview,andtheirstoriesmademeimmediatelyinterestedinapplyingforthe program.InLondon,Iwanderedthroughartmuseums,castles,andBritishhistory.Someofthehighlightsfor mewerevisitingWindsorCastle,standingintheEasternandWesternHemispheressimultaneouslyonthe PrimeMeridian,andgettingafternoonteawithfellowLondonReviewers.Mydailywanderingtookmeinto variousrestaurants,coffeeshops,andevenintofourdifferentcollegesatOxford!Iwillbewanderingthrough Portugalnext,butIhopetovisitJapanandKoreasomeday.Iwillalsobewanderingthroughsenioryearand intopostgradlife,hopefullywithajobinNewYorkCityorLondonaftergraduation!

Taylor

AsearlyasIcanremember,IdreamtofvisitingEurope,especiallyduringCovid,whenmyonlysourceof entertainmentwaswatchingStanleyTucci:SearchingforItalyandtravelvlogs.Enteringcollege,oneofmy goalswastostudyabroad,butasmysenioryearapproached,IrealizedIwasrunningoutoftime.Bychance,I starteddiscussingtheLondonReviewwithDr.SarahCrawford-Parkerandendedupapplyingtotheprogram. InLondon,IlearnedtoconfidentlywanderthroughconversationswithrandompeopleatOxfordandthe V&A.Iwillcarrythelessonoftalkingtorandompeoplefortherestofmylife;infact,Irecentlypracticedthis ataconferenceinRichmond,VA.TravelingabroadhasenlightenedmeinwaysIcannotexpress,andIhave beenempoweredtoliveabroad.Asagraduatingsenior,Iamtakingagapyeartoworkfull-timeattheKU CenterforDigitalInclusion.

Alexander

WhenIfirstcametoKU,Iwantedtobeawriter,soIdeclaredadegreeinEnglish.Itwasmyonlydegree,and Iwassoinsistentongraduatingearly.Itwasn’tuntilIwasalmostdonewithmyEnglishdegreethatIrealized, inrushingthroughthecollegeprocessandfocusingonmynewlydeclareddegreesinFilmandMediaStudies andAmericanStudies,Ihadmissedsomanyeducationalopportunitiesandexperiences.Participatinginthe LondonReviewwasmyattempttogetreconnectedwithmyEnglishdegreeandcommunity.WhileinLondon, IgottovisitOxford,anditwasadreamcometrue.Iwanttocontinuetoexploretheworld,andIwillbe completinganinternshipoverthesummerinJapan.

Savannah

InmyfirstsemesteratKU,IwasfortunateenoughtotakeaclasswithMaryKlader,whostartedandledThe LondonReviewforseveralyearsandwhorecommendedthatIgoonthetrip.Londonhadbeenmydreamcity sinceIwasayoungchildreadingHarryPotterforthefirsttime,andthemomentIheardaboutthisprogram,I knewIwouldgobeforeIgraduated.WhileinLondon,Iwanderedthroughmuseums,restaurants,and attractionsandfellinlovewiththisbeautifulcity.Iwillbewanderingmywaytomedicalschoolinafew years,butstillhopetoonedaybeabletotravelandexploremoreoftheworld.

Magnolia

IhavealwayswantedtostudyabroadduringmytimeatKU.Ineverthoughtthatitwasfeasiblebecausemy doublemajorsignificantlyaffectedtheamountoftimeIhavetospend.IstumbledupontheLondonReview whilereadingtheHonorsWeeklynewsletter.Ihadfiguredthatastudyabroadwouldnotfitintomyschedule, butwhenIreadmoreabouttheLondonReview,Ifoundthatitwastheperfectlengthandfitwellwithbothof mymajors.IknewIhadtojumpontothisopportunity,andIamsogladthatIdid!Ihavefoundanewlovefor Londonandwillnothesitatetogobackinthefuture.

Lauren

IwanderedfromKUtobetterenjoymytimeinLondon.Ihavebeenoncebefore,butonlyforabriefamount oftime.IutilizedmytimebyvisitinghistoricalplacessuchastheIWMandChurchillWarRooms,whilealso blendingmydayswithvisitingdifferentareasofLondonandthepopularplacesaroundLondon.Oneofmy favoritespotswasaroundLeicesterSquare,wheremostWestEndshowswerealongsideChinatown.Imade suretotaketimeonmyowntowanderaroundthesespacesandtojustgetlostwithinLondon’svastboroughs viathetubeandbussystemsorjustbyplainlywalkingaround.Overall,IamsogladthatIwasabletoexplore Londonwithmusicinmyearsandthesunupabove,asLondonisbeautifulwhenyoufindtherightspots. Thatideaoflettinggoandallowingmyselftojustbeinthebigcitywasamazing.

Matthew

InmytimeatKU,I’vehadthefortuneoftakingmultipleclassesandparticipatinginclubswith“TheQueen”

Isabella

ThefirstEnglishclassIsatdowninchangedmylife.Myfreshmanyearofcollege,IenrolledinENGL300 whereDr.JonathanLambfirstintroducedmetoShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream.Thisencounter ignitedmypassionforRenaissanceliterature.ThisencounterwithShakespeareledmetowandertothe LondonReview.Isawthisclassasanopportunitytoenrichanddeepenmyloveandunderstandingofthe Renaissance,soItookit!Withthismotivationinmind,IwasledtowandertotheTowerofLondon,the NationalGallery,theVictoriaandAlbertMuseum,andStratfordUpon-Avon.Thisclasswasunbelievably informativeformeasatravelerandasastudent.Nextyear,IwillwanderintotheEnglishM.Aprogramhere atKU,whereIwillcontinuetopursuemyloveforRenaissanceliterature.

Sierra

IknewbeforeevengettingtoKUthatstudyingabroadwasoneofmybiggestgoalsincollege,butleavingfor anentiresemesteroranentireyearseemedtooambitiousforme.IhavealwayshadinterestintheLondon Reviewasitseemedliketheperfectintersectionofmyinterests(artsandmusic,theHonorsprogram,andmy Englishminor),andafterIwentonshort-termprogramstoVienna/PragueandKrakow,mymindwasmade up:Ilovedstudyingabroad,andIwantedtogoontheLondonReview.OnceinLondon,Ifocusedon immersingmyselfintheculture,visitingmuseums,seeingmusicalsandplays,andseekingoutBridgerton filminglocations,andIhadanincrediblyfuntime.Next,I’llbewanderingthroughmysenioryear,alongwith (potentially)graduateschoolandprofessionalopera/theatreauditions,andI’msoexcitedforwhateverother experiencesI’llhavetheopportunitytowanderthroughinthefuture.

Gabby

IhavealwayslovedtowriteeversinceIcouldputpenciltopaper,andnoneofthiswouldhavebeenpossible ifIhadn’tdeclaredaminorincreativewriting.IfIhadn’ttakenProfessorDoug’screativenonfictionclass,I neverwouldhaveheardaboutthistrip.Iwanderedthroughmanytubestations,anentireamusementparkand zoo,andmanycitystreetsatnightwiththoseIgrewclosetoonthistrip.Iaminspiredtowandertoasmany themeparksasIcan,specificallytovisitalltherollercoastersaroundtheworld.

Valeria

Ihavealwaysdreamedofstudyingabroadasafirst-generationstudent.Lastyear,Ihadtheprivilegeof experiencingCostaRicawiththeHonorsProgramtolearntravelwriting.Thisprogram,establishedbyDr. MaryKladyer,openedaworldofpossibilitiesformeasIembracedanewcultureandnewplaces.Inturn,I madeitmygoaltojointheLondonReview,alsoestablishedbyDr.Klayder,toexperienceeverythingLondon hadtoofferwhilecontributingtosomethinggreaterthanmyself.

Ava

IwanderedtoKUtobecomeavet,andprettysoonIbecameanEnglishmajor.WhenIheardaboutthe LondonReview,IwastakingacoursecalledBlackBodiesinBritishLiterature.Iknewitwasasign,soI appliedforthestudyabroadprogram.Iwanderedthroughthetube,IwanderedthroughNottingHill,I wanderedthroughWindsorCastle,andIevenwanderedthroughStratford-upon-Avon.Mynextwanderwillbe inBostontocompletemymaster’s!

Kyanne

IcametoKUfullofpassion,yetunsureofmypath.Sincesurroundingmyselfwithmyamazingpeers,taking classesthatchallengemybeliefs,andnavigatingcollegeduringatimeofpoliticalturmoil,Ihavedetermined thatmygoalistogointoLawandPolitics.However,mycurrentmajorsofMarketingandPoliticalScience leavelessroomthanIwouldliketoexploremyotherpassionsincludingart,history,andEnglish.WhenIsaw apamphletfortheLondonReview,Iknewthiswouldbeaperfectopportunitytoincorporatemorereadingand writingintomycurriculumandhavenewexperiences.InLondon,myfavoriteplaceIwanderedwasNotting Hill,andifIeverreturntoLondon,I’msureallmymoneywillbespentatPortobelloMarket.

WanderingThrough... Culture

Londonishometotheintersectionofnearly everyglobalculture,makingitahotspotforsome ofthebestmusic,food,art,andcommunities.As weexploredmarkets,museums,andreligious institutions,wewereexposedtoatypeofhands-on learningthatisnearlyimpossibletoaccessina classroominKansas.Therangeofculturesin Londonandthestructureofcommunitiesdisplayed theharmonyofinclusionandhowdiversity strengthensthelifeandoverallcultureofcities.

An Impressionism Fan Takes On the Tate Modern

ByEmilyClausen

WanderingthehallsoftheNationalGalleryand ponderingtheworksofMonetandPissarroismy idealwaytospendtheafternoon.Impressionismis pretty,bright,colorful,andeasytoenjoy.Thesubjects aresimple:asunriseoverthecountryside,aviewofa rainydayinParis,oravaseofflowers,allblurredby quickbrushstrokes.Lookingatimpressionismmakes youfeellikeyou’rethere,soakinginthesunshineand feelingthewindinyourhair.Inmyprevious experiences,contemporaryartdoesnotmakemefeel likeI’mloungingbytheseaside;it’snotalways pleasanttolookat,anditcanbequitemelancholy.It takesalmosteverythingIloveinapaintingand removesit.Infact,beforevisitingtheTateModern,I wouldhavetoldyouthatanycontemporaryartwas, frankly,dumb.Asingledotinthemiddleofahuge canvasandartmadebythrowingpaintballoonsdid notimpressme.Ijudgedcontemporaryartbyhow muchIenjoyedlookingatit,orhowharditseemed likeitwastomake,anditoftenfailedatbothmetrics.

Thankfully,theTateModernexiststochangemy mind.Itwasconvenientlylocatedbytherestaurant wherewehadourSundayRoast,soIdecidedtogive itatry.Wanderingthroughthefirstcoupleofrooms,I remainedstuckinmyways.Eventually,Ireachedthe onlyroominthegallerythatwaspainteddarkgray, insteadofthewhiteusedinotherrooms.Alongthe wallwasaseriesoffivephotographstakenatnight, whichshowedviewsofdarkmarshes,woods,anda cabin.Thepicturesseemedalmostpeaceful,butthere wassomethingunsettlingabouttheirdarkness.Ifound thenearbyplaque,whichexplainedthattheserieswas NightComingTenderly,BlackbyDawoudBey.The photosrepresentedthejourneyofanescapedenslaved personastheytraveledtoliberationonthe undergroundrailroadandwereinspiredbythepoetry ofLangstonHughes.Thisartgavemeawindowinto someone'slifethatIwouldnevergettootherwisesee, whichIfinallyrealizedwasthepurposeof contemporaryart.

IkeptthismindsetasIexploredtherestoftheTate Modern’sgallery.AseriesofphotosbyJosefKoudelka capturedtheSovietInvasionofPragueandshowedscenes ofhissubsequentmigrationaroundEurope.Otherartists usedsuitcasesandnewspaperstoshowtheirexperiencesas asylumseekers.Anotherseriesofphotosshowayoung woman’sroominIranthatlooksjustlikemychildhood bedroom.AsIbrowse,Iamgivenglimpsesintothelived experiencesofpeoplefromallovertheworld.Itisnot alwaysprettyornicetolookat,andoftenitintentionally inspiresdiscomfort,buteachpieceofartoffersa perspectiveandareactiontotheworldthatweshare.Even artthatseemssimpletomakewasagonizedoverbythe artistforhoursbeforeitwasdeemedperfect,andits meaningoftentranscendswhatcanbeshownonacanvas orwithastatue.

Iwouldrecommendthatanyonewithadislikefor contemporaryartvisitstheTateModernwithanopenmind. Readtheplaquesexplainingtheartistandtheartwork.Be opentodiscomfortasyoulearn.Takingincontemporaryart isadifferentmindsetfromlookingataManetoraVan Gogh,butitisjustasimportantandvaluable.Imaginea worldfilledwiththeunderstandingofotherpeoplethat contemporaryartoffers.I,forone,thinkthatitwouldbea muchbetterplace.

Each Flâneur’s Favorite Attraction:

Preservation and Reformation By

MeiliAlvine

OnthewaytoBuckinghamPalacetowatchthefamousChangingoftheGuards,along-lastingtradition,a womanstoppedmetoaskifshecouldinterviewme.ShewascuriousastowhatEngland’scurrentmonarchy representstothoseoutsideofthecountry,whethertherewasmuchsignificanceevenlongafterdemocracies hadbeenfavoredovermonarchies.Atthetime,Ididnothavemuchtosay.Ihavealwaysbeenpartofa countrywhereroyalsarenonexistent.TheverybirthoftheUnitedStatescamefromthepeople'sindependence fromEngland,andIneverconsideredwhatitwouldbeliketohavearulingkingandqueen.Aftertalkingwith thewomanandwaitingfortheeventtostart,Ireflectedonjusthowmuchhistorysurroundedmeinthat momentandhowthetraditionsandculturesarestillstandingtothisday,despitetheworldarounditconstantly changing.

TheideaoftheEnglishmonarchy representsthedeep,richhistoryofthe countryalongwiththeresponsibilitiesand imagetheroyalfamilyisexpectedto maintain.However,theydonothave absolutepowerastheydidinthepast.It hasbeenshowntimeandtimeagainthatan absolutemonarchywillinevitablyfail,and everycountrybornfromindependenceis anexampleofjustthat.Currently,England hasaconstitutionalmonarchywherethe KingandQueenaretheHeadofState,but

Fun Facts!

TheLondonStoneismadeoflimestoneandistheoldestlandmarkfromRomanTimes. BoroughMarketisLondon’soldestmarketfrommorethan1,000yearsagolocatedin Southwark.

RotherhitheStreetlocatedinSouthwarkisLondon’slongestroadbeing2.4kilometres alongtheThamesriver.

ThetallestbuildingistheShardspanning309.6metresandrecentlybecamethetallest buildingin2012.TheprevioustallestbuildinginLondonwasOneCanadaSquare.

Theconstantscrutinythatthemembersoftheroyal familyareunderfromthewholeworldwithstandnotonly becauseofthehistorytheyrepresentbutalsothefactthat peoplearefreetothink,say,anddowhatevertheyplease aboutthem.Thehistoryholdsbecauseitisconformingto themodernworld.Ifitdidn’t,thecurrentmonarchyin Englandmayjustnotexistentirely. We asked the Flâneurs:

WhilewatchingtheChangingoftheGuards,I formedmanyquestionsabouttheguards themselves,theirprimaryrolesiftherewasan attack,andwhythis“performance”fourtimesa weekattractssomanypeople.Ifasuddenraidin Londonweretohappen,theguard’spriorityisto protectBuckinghamPalaceandthepeopleinside. Asforthecitizensoutsideofthegates,theguards wouldnotifythecity’spoliceforthemtoprotect thepeople.Itmademerealizethatevenafter centuriesofthepalaceandtheGuard’sexistence, theirsignificanceandroleshaveneverchanged. Despitetheworldconstantlydeveloping,the historyofBuckinghamPalaceandtheirguards remainstandingstrong.Thismaybeonemain reasonwhypeoplefromaroundtheworldtravel towitnesstheChangingoftheGuards.Aswe watchedtheguardsmarch,wealsoenjoyed listeningtothebandaccompanyingthemplay. Whatsurpriseduswasthesongstheywere performing.Whilethereweretraditionalsongs, therewerealsotunessuchas“Golden”fromthe filmK-popDemonHuntersandmelodiesfrom themusicalWicked.Thecombinationofpastand

Pigeons are everywhere!

ByAvaWollerman

ItwasimpossibletoseeeverythinginLondoninoneweek.Iwasdrawntothegrandchurches,particularly thearchitectureinplacessuchasWestminsterAbbeyandthebeautifulchapeloutsideofWindsorCastle.Istill don’tfeelcompletelysatisfiedwiththechapelsincephotoswereprohibited.Londonhasthesegreatattractions thateveryoneengageswith;onecommonthemeIsawbetweeneveryattractionwasthattheywerecovered withpigeons. So my question is, what’s the history with the pigeons?

Isawpigeonseatthecrumbsunderthetable. Iwasatacoffeeshop,myfriendandIwenttoGail'sand itwasourfirstofficialpurchaseintheU.K.DENIED,said thecardreader.IheldmyicedmochainonehandasIput mysecondcardbackintomywallet.Theweatherwasnice forexploringthecityand,asformyself,Ialwaysworemy coat.ThesunwasoutandIwonderediftheconstant sunshinewasamessageforthegroup,likeawarmwelcome tothecity.Thepatiowasfilledwithpeopleenjoyingtheir company.Theambiencewasstrangelycheerful.Maybe becauseI’musedtoseeingpeoplecompletingtheirworkat coffeeshopsathome,butnothere.

Morepigeonscametothepatio.

Thepigeonswalkedwithmoreconfidencethanme.The pigeonsownedthecityandIwasanoutsider.Theydidn’t jumporflinchatthehumanmovement.Theyweresimply unbothered.Irememberthinkingtheirownhungercaused theirnonchalantnessbecauseImyself,alsoonlyfocuson onethingwhenI’mhungry:food.Theydidn’tjumpor flinchastheymarchedforward,theywerefocusedonthe breadcrumbs.Theycontinuedtocirclethetableandbop theirheadsbackandforth.

The pigeons are so fat, I thought.

Theirphysiquestartedtoconfusememore.InOxford,Idiscoveredthedifferentbreedsofpigeons.Well, I’munsureifbreedisthecorrectterm,butIdidnoticethepigeonsarenotalwaysthetraditionalgrey feathering.Therewerebrownfeathers,greyfeathers,andbluefeathers.Theytookovertheroadsign,theblack andgreypigeons,andlookeddownatus.Therewasabrownonespinningincirclesatthetopofthesignpole. Ihadalotofquestionsforthatone.Iwascuriouswhythepigeonwasspinning,whatwasgoingthroughits mind?Itookavideoofthescene.Icouldn'tstoplaughingatthesepigeonswatchingoverus.Itwashumbling. Wespentsomuchtimemovingfromplacetoplace,visitinghistoricalsites,digestingtheartandculturewhere everythingwasmemorable.Somehowmyvisitistoobigtoputintowords.

Thepigeonsarethesmallmoments.Thepigeonsdidn’tcarewhatAvafromKUwasupto.Theydidn’tcare aboutouritinerary,thehistory,ormemoriesweweretryingtomake.Thepigeonsneededfood,itwastheir survivalandtheircurrenttimeline.

EnglandwaslessintimidatingthanIhadperceived.Thepigeonsmovedontothenextsetofstrangers,not tobearoundpeople,buttotakethescrapsofpeople’sfood. It’sthesmallmomentsthatcanbethemostmemorable.Momentsthatseemassillyasthepigeonsaretheones thatpeoplewillnotfeartorekindle.

Parthenon Remains: Marbles of Contestation

ByKyanneCarlgren

TheAcropolisofAthenswasbuiltinthe5thcenturyBCE duringthe“GoldenAgeofPericles”andstandstodaywithmany structures,includingtheParthenonandTempleofAthenaNike.Part oftheremainsofAcropolisarestanding,someareondisplayin Athens,andhalfareondisplayintheBritishMuseum.Accordingto theBritishMuseum,“TheirdisplayintheBritishMuseum,from 1817,transformedtheunderstandingofancientartandprovided inspirationforartists,designersandarchitects.”Intheirsynopsisin frontoftheParthenonremains,theyexcludethecurrentdemand fromGreecetoreturnthemarblestructures.Fordecades,theGreek governmenthasformallydemandedthepermanentreturnofthe ElginmarblesfromtheBritishMuseum,withtheclaimthatwhen theywereremovedunderOttomanoccupationthatitwasanillegal siege.

JumbledhistoryconsistingofOttomanoccupation,aman namedLordElgin,andquestionablylegalpermissionslipshas createdthiscurrentlycontestedwarovertheremainsofAcropolis. MyfascinationwithAcropolisbeganearlierthisyearwhenIstarted planningasummertriptoGreecewithmybestfriends.Ibegan researchingthehistoricalsitesinAthens,andAcropolisstoodoutto measuniquelybeautifulbecausethestructureisstillstandingatthe topofAthensandbecauseofthebeautifulhistoryofthetemple.As Idoveintothehistory,Ibecamefascinatedwiththe‘6sisters’ofthe Acropolis(caryatids)thatpreviouslywerethesupportpillarsonthe southporchoftheErechtheiontemple.Fiveofthesistersareon displayintheAcropolisMuseuminAthenswheretheyare preservedandrestored.Onesister,however,the“missing”sister, hasbeenintheBritishMuseumsince1806.Thesignificanceofthe sisterswasareferenceto“womenofCaryae”inanancienttown nearSparta.Thelegendssaytheywerecondemnedtoholdthe weightofthetempleaspunishmentfortheiralliancewiththe Persians.Together,theystoodholdinguptheErechtheionuntilone wasstolenbyLordElginin1801,andafterward,itwassaidthe otherscouldbeheardweepingatnight.Asforthemissingsister,not onlywasshefirstforcedintoholdinguptheinfrastructure,butthen removedfromhersymbolicstancewiththesistersnexttoher.Now, sheholdsnothing,sheisnotasupportsystem,nordoesshehave oneherself.

WhenIwenttotheBritishMuseumtheonethingIwasdetermined toseewasthemissingsisterofAcropolis.IwalkedintotheAncient Greeksectionandwasamusedbyalltheinsanelyintricatemarble structures,butcouldnotfindthemissingsister.Then,astaffmember toldmethatshewasn’tcurrentlyondisplay.Thiswasnotonlyamajor bummerforme,butatestamenttotheentirecontroversyofthe Acropolisremains.Thesolefactthatthemarblesweretakeninthe1800s andhaven’tbeenreturnedisheartbreaking,buthidingthemfromnot onlytourists,buttheGreekpeople,completelyoutofsightiscrushingon anotherlevel.Curatedsignssurroundthedisplaystojustifytheir importanceandwhytheyshouldremaininBritain,yetasmallbarrier stoodbetweenmeandasisterdamnedtoalifeofpunishmentand secludedfromhersisters.Strippingstatuesfromtheirbirthplaceandof theirpurposeharmscultures,andnotevendisplayingthemis disrespectfultotheirhistory.Thesestatuesthatcarrysomuchweightfor thecityofAthensandthepeopleofGreecewerenotonlystolen,but largeportionsofthecollectionsarehiddenfrompublicview.

Thecomplicatedhistoryofimperialismandcolonialismincluded theremovalofartifactsstillinuse,andhasresultedinmanymonuments beingcontestedtothisday.

“EarthproudlywearstheParthenonasthebest gemuponherzone”-RalphWaldoEmerson

COYS (Come on you spurs)

ByCalleighHillard

Footballisoneoftheworld’smostpopularpastimes.Ithasthepowertounitecommunitiesbycreating commongroundandoverallbridgingculturaldivides.WhileinLondonIhadtheopportunitytojoinafamily friend,Wayne,ataTottenhamSpursgame.WaynehasbeenanactivefanoftheSpurssincehewasthree yearsold.TheSpursareapartofthefootballpremierleaguewhichisthetopleagueforEnglishfootball teamsandcontainsabouttwentyteams.Attheendoftheseason,thebottomthreeteamsaremovedtothe leaguebelowwhichleadstoaconstantrotationofteams.ThegamethatIwenttowasaveryimportant matchfortheSpurs.ItwasthesecondlegoftheUEFAChampionsLeague(Round16)!Madridhadwonthe firstlegofthematchup,soitwouldtakeTottenhamalotofgritanddeterminationtowinthesecondleg.

Thisgamewasnotonlyanimportantmomentfortheleague,butitwasalsoanimportantgameforthefans. Ihavebeentoavarietyofsportsgamesinmylife,includingfootball,butIhaveneverbeeninanatmosphere likethis.Everythingtheydidwasrootedintraditionandloveofthegame.Thetraditiondidnotstartatthe gamethough.Itstartedhoursbefore,whenWayne,hiswifeKate,andIwerewalkingthroughBorough Market.Aswewerewalkingthrough,wesawloadsofpeopledeckedoutinTottenhamandMadridgarb.Even thoughpeoplewererepresentingopposingteams,manywouldstopandchatwithtotalstrangersandtalkabout theirexcitementforthematchaswellaspassonsomefriendlybanterandtrashtalk.Itwashonestlyso refreshingtoseepeopleofdifferentwalksoflife,origins,andaffiliationsbeingsupportiveandcourteousto eachother.Itchallengedmybeliefthatwhilesupportingateamcancreatedividesbetweenyouandyour fellowman,itcanalsogiveyouasenseofcommunity.

Asthedayprogressed,wejoinedtheseaofpeopleflowingthroughoutthetubestationexcitedlymaking theirwaytoTottenham.Whenwearrived,wetookataxistraighttotheBillNicholsonpub.Thepubwas namedafterBillNicholson,whoisoneofthemostacclaimedSpursmanagersintheirhistory.Asmanager,he broughttheteamtoseveralvictoriesandintotalbroughtthem8majortrophiesduringhis16yearsas manager.AnotheruniqueattributetothispubisthatitisexclusivetoSpursfans.

Thiscreatesasafeandsupportivegatheringspaceforfanstocheerontheirteam.Theenergytherewas absolutelyelectric.Everyonewasbuzzingwithexcitementandgearinguptocheeronthespurs.

Theelectricitytransferredstraightintothestadium andIwasinaweofhowdevotedthecrowdswereto theirrespectiveteams.Itwassointerestingseeingthe differentwayspeoplesupporttheirteam.TheMadrid fanbaseusedrallytowelsandspentmuchofthegame jumpingupanddownandcheeringloudly.TheSpurs fanshadasimilaryetverydifferentapproach.Their approachwasveryorganized,andthecrowdactedasa singularentity,rallyingtheteamatthebeginningwith flagsandthecheerCOYS,whichstandsforComeon YouSpurs.

Oftenthiswasfollowedbytheentirestadium singingamodifiedversionof“WhentheSaintsGo MarchingIn”withtheword“saints”replacedwith “spurs.”Honestly,thatsongwasmyfavoritepart.

Oftenatsportingeventsyouonlyhearanindiscernibleandincoherentamountofscreaming.Butwhenthey sang“OhWhentheSpursGoMarchingIn,”itsoundedasifonepersonwassingingitintoamegaphone.The prideintheirvoicesandthecomraderyshowngavemechills.Intheend,theSpurswonthesecondlegofthe match,butitwasnotenoughforthemtoadvancetothenextround.Eventhoughtheylostoverall,theirfans stayedcheerfulastheyreturnedtothetubestationandultimatelytotheirrespectivehomesacrossEngland.

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places! You're off and away!

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know.

OhthePlacesYou’llGo

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go

Somehow you'll escape all that waiting and staying You'll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing.

Somehow you'll escape all that waiting and staying You'll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing. All Alone!

Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you'll be quite a lot.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

On and on you will hike, And I know you'll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.

So... be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea, You're off the Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So...get on your way!

Embracing the Unexpected BySavannahFord

WhenplanningthetriptoLondon,Ihadbookedticketsforseveraldifferentattractions,butIlefttimeto justexplorethecityandseenewthings.TheportionsofthetripthatIplanneddidn’tevengoasplannedmost ofthetimeand,assuch,beingflexibleandwillingtoembracetheunexpectedbecameamottoofthistrip. SomeofmyfavoritepartsofmytripweretheportionsthatIdidn'tplanfor.

TheHarryPottertouratWarnerBrosstudiowasone ofthefirstthingsIdidinLondon.Wehadbeenin Londonforallof36hoursandIwasalreadyoff exploringoutsideofthecityonmyown.Iwas absolutelyterrifiedtobealonethatfarfromthecity,but partofthereasonLondonwasmydreamcitywas becauseofHarryPotter,andtherewasnowayIwas goingtomissthetour.Betweenthetube,thetrain,and thedoubledeckerbus(disguisedastheKnightBus)that pickedmeupatthetrainstation,ittookmeabouttwo hourstogettothestudio.

Thetourwasself-guided,andthewebsitehadsaidit wouldlastaboutthreeandahalfhours.Iendedupbeing thereforalmostseven.Becausemybirthdaywasinsix days,Iwaschosenasoneofthepeoplewhogottopush openthedoorsoftheGreatHalltogetthetourstarted.I spenthourswanderingthroughthesets,takingpictures andvideosofeverything,andaskingthestaff(whowere allincrediblypatientandkind)waytoomanyquestions.

Halfwaythrough,IstoppedatthethemedcaféforlunchandButterbeer,whichwasthefirsttimeIreally stoppedtoconsiderwhatwashappening.IwashavingButterbeer,onthesetofHarryPotter,inLondon, duringButterbeerseason(whichiscelebratedaroundtheworldbyHarryPotterfansfromMarchthrough May).IfinishedthetourandendedthedaybytakingthetrainbacktoKingsCrossstationsoIcouldsee Platform9¾.BythetimeIgotbacktothehotel,IwasexhaustedbutsatisfiedthatIhadseenthesiteofHarry Potterandhadgainedtheconfidencetotravelalone.

Ialsowentandsawtwomusicals:Six,whichIhad neverseen,andHamilton,whichIhadseenoncelive andhadwatchedthemoviemoretimesthanIcould count.Bothmusicalsaredifferentfromthestandard musicalinthatSixismorelikeaconcertthana musicalandHamiltonhaslittlespokenlines.Thetwo musicalseachtelladifferentbutspecificstoryin history:SixtellingthestoryofKingHenryVIII wives,andHamiltonbeingthestoryofAlexander Hamilton’slifetwohundredyearslaterandanocean away.

Sixwasincredible,andeventhoughwewereinatheatergearedmoretowardtraditionalmusicals,the energywaselectric.Ididn’tknowawordofanyofthesongsnorthegeneralplotlinewhenIwentin,butby thetimeweleftLondon,Ihadthemusicalnearlymemorized.

Thecastwasperfectand,oncetheQueenshadtoldtheirstories,IknewIwasgoingtohavetodomore researchabouteachqueenandthestoriestheytold.Themusicalputafeministspinonhistory(orasthe queenscallit,Herstory),andtheychoosetotelltheirownstoriesandrewritetheendingtomakeittheirown. ThemusicalhasinspiredmetolearnsomuchmoreaboutthehistoryofthemonarchythanIeverdidinany ofmyhighschoolclasses,andIcan’twaitfortheAmericanlegofthetoursoIcanseeitagain.

SeeingHamiltoninLondonwasaninterestingexperience.Iabsolutelyadorethemusical,andthisshowing didn’tchangethat.Theactorswereperfect,thesongswerestillthesame,andtheyevenchangedsomelines slightlyforcomediceffect.ThethingthatsurprisedmeaboutseeingitinLondonwashowcomplicatedit mademefeel.Ittellsthestoryofsomeonewho,inAmerica,isanincrediblysignificantportionofhistory.As Americans,welearnedaboutthepeopleandeventsbeingdiscussedinthemusical,buthistoryisprobably taughtverydifferentlyinEngland.Itraisedquestionsinmymindaboutwhogetstotellthestoryofthe historicaleventsandhowlearningaboutthesameeventsindifferentcountriesmayaffecthowthestorygets told.Idon’tknowifchildreninEnglandlearnmuchaboutAmericanhistory,likeIdidn’tlearnmuchabout anyportionofEuropeanhistory,butIassumetheydidn’tgoindepthaboutAlexanderHamilton,an insignificantportionoftheirhistory.Ididn’texpecttohavesuchcomplicatedfeelingsaboutthemusicalIhad lovedforseveralyearsandhadseenmoretimesthanIcancount.

ThecoolestunexpectedthingthathappenedwhileonthistripwastheopeningofLondonBridge,which happenedwhilewewereontopofthebridge.AshlynnandIhadgoneupallthestairsofTowerBridgetowalk acrossitandseethecityfromtheiconiclandmark.Thefloorisclear,andyoucanseetheriver,cars,and peoplebelowyouasyouwalkacrossit.Wehadreadaplaquethatdescribedhowthebridgewouldopenfor shipstallerthan9meters,buttheshipshadtogivea24-hournoticebeforetheywereexpectedtocross.We werediscussinghowcoolitwould’vebeentoseeTowerBridgeopenwhenthealarmsstartedgoingoff.The tourguideannouncedthatthebridgewould,infact,beopeningtoallowaBritishnavalshiptocomethrough. Thebridgeclearedandopenedslowly,andtheguidetoldusthatiftheshipwasbigenough,theofficerswould allbeonthedeckatattention.Healsomentionedthatthebridgeopenstoan85-degreeangle,unlesstheking isontheship,inwhichcaseitwillopento86degreesasasalute.Seeingthebridgeopenfromthetopofthe towersononeofthelastdayswewereinLondonwasoneofthecoolestthingsIsawwhileinthecity.

WhileIhadplannedtogototheHarryPottertourandSix,andhadnotplannedinHamiltonorthebridge, eachpartofthetripheldsomethingunexpected.Ineverexpectedthatmy“IaminLondon”realizationwould happenatatinycaféinthemiddleoftheHarryPottertour.Ididn’texpectSixtoleadtoweeksofresearchinto EnglishhistoryorHamiltontobesocomplicatedinanothercountry.AndseeingTowerBridgeopenis somethingIdidn’texpecttogetachancetosee,letaloneseeitfromthetopofthebridge.Allinall,theparts ofthistripIwilltakewithmearethepartsInevereventhoughtIwouldhaveandbeingflexibleand embracingtheunexpectedallowedmetohavetheseextraordinaryexperiences.

The Power of Storytelling

ByIsabellaMautino

ThephysicalstructureofSt.Paul’sCathedralpresentstallandstrong,representingtheenduringcityofLondon thathasweatheredfire,war,andtime.Uponenteringthecathedral,yourheadisforcedtoangleupwards,following thelargepillarsuptotheceilingthatholdswithinitanimportantstory.WalkingthroughtheNaveandintothe Dome,thepowerofstorytellingcomesaliveinthemosaicworkoftheceiling.SittinginthecenteroftheDome, lookingstraightup,myeyesarefirstdrawntotheworkinthecenter.PaintedbySirJamesThornhill,theDome depictstheeightbiblicalscenesofSt.Paul’slife:

1 Paul,apersecutorofChristians,isstruckdownbya blindingdivinelightwherehewillhearthevoiceof Jesus,convincinghimtoembracetheChristianfaith; apivotalmomentinhislifeandintheartwork's storytelling.

2.ThenextscenepresentsPaulconfrontingthefalse prophet,Elymas,whoattemptstoturnaRomanaway fromthefaith.Asapunishment,Paulstrikeshim temporarilyblindtodemonstratethedivinepower Godhasgivenhim.

3.Inthethirdscene,Paulhealsaman,leadingthe crowdtoworshiphim.Filledwithhorror,Paultears hisownclothes,declaringhimselfasamortalman, urgingthecrowdtoturntothelivingGod.

4.Paul,imprisoned,praysandsingshymnsuntilan earthquakebreakstheprisondoorsandloosenshis chains.Thejailer,petrified,fallsbeforehim.In response,Paulsaveshimfromtakinghisownlife.

5.StandingbeforethecitizensofAthens,aPagansociety,PaulpreachesabouttheresurrectionoftheChristian God.ThisscenedepictsthemostinfluentialbiblicalscenesandmostcelebratedmomentsinearlyChristian evangelism.

6 HavingspreadthewordofGod,PaulleadsmanypaganstoconverttoChristianity.Theseconverterswho practicedpaganismbringouttheirscrollsandburntheminthestreetsofthetown.Thisscenepowerfully depictsthepowerandtriumphoftheChristianmessageoverPaganpractices.

7 PaulattemptstoconvertKingAgrippaIItoChristianity.PauldefendstheChristianGospelbeforetheking whorejectshispreching.

8 ThelastsceneinThornhill'sworkendsbydepictingthebiblicalActs27.PlacedinthecustodyofRoman authority,PaulisplacedonaboattoRomewherehewillbeheldontrialforpromotingheresy.Paulendsup shipwreckedinMaltawherehecatchesaviperthatcomesoutoffire.Thelocalsexpecthimtodie,butwhen noharmisdonetohim,theyareledtobelieveheisGod.

Thiseightsceneartistrydepictsastorywithinastorywithinastory;Thornhill'sartbeingthefirst.This monochromepaintingtellseightancientstories,relyingonlyontheuseofshape,light,andgesture;nocolor, nowords.ThelimitationstoThornhill'sartworkisitselfanargumentforhowfundamentalvisualnarrativeis. Paul'sstory,containedwithintheartwork,bringsyoualongthejourney:conversation,mission,opposition, conversion,survival,andtransformation.Paulhimselfisanarrativefigure;hisentireministrywasbuilton tellingandretellinghisownstoryofcomingtoChristwhileteachingthestoryofChristhimself.Inalmost everyscene,hestandsbeforeanewaudiencewhereheadjustshisstorytellingtofittheirspiritualneeds.

Zoomout.St.Paul'sCathedralitselfisastory.BuiltaftertheGreatFire,onancientholyground,itis Londontellingastoryaboutitsownresilienceandfaith.Thornhill’spaintingisjustoneexampleofhow London,specificallySt.Paul’s,harborsstoriesthatpreservehistory.

The magic of theater in the mind

and body

ByLaurenFraser

Introduction

WhenIwasplanningtoattendtheLondonReview,IwouldneverhavethoughtIwouldbegoingtomore thanoneWestEndshowormusical.Ididn’ttrulyknowifIhadthefundsorifIwouldenjoytheWestEnd comparedtoBroadway,andwhatIknewfrombackhome.Iwentinexpectingtowatchoneshowandleft havingwatchedsixplaysthroughouttheentireweek.IhadoriginallyplannedtowatchTheMousetrapby AgathaChristiealongsideourpre-plannedshowingofTheTempest,butIendedupaddingLesMisérables, Hadestown,Six,andParanormalActivity.ThisexperiencewasgenuinelyoneIwillneverforgetnorregret. Thesemusicalsandplayswerebreathtakingtosee,andthatiswhatIwilldivefurtherintointhefollowing sections.

Watching my Imagination Take Form

Ihavealwaysbeenabitofatheatrekidand haveenjoyed,andstillenjoy,watchingand listeningtomusicalalbumsonline,suchas Hadestown or Hamilton.WhenIlistenedto thesealbums,itsparkedmyimaginationwith wildimages,scenes,emotions,andoveralljust genuinerealismthatyouusuallydon’tget throughasimpleconcertorSpotifyplaylist. Theatrehasalwayssparkedmyimaginationas Iambetterabletoshapeideasandstoriesin myheadwhentheyparallelthesongsandthe narrative(nottomentionthesongsthemselves aregenuinelystunningtolistentoaswell).

ThesealbumstookmeintomyownmindwhereIcould freelyenjoy,interpret,andshapethesongsandnarrativeto lookandfeelhoweverIwantedthemto.Itishardtoexpress inwordshowIfeelaboutthismusic,butanyonewhohas listenedtoorseenamusicalknowsthefeelingofattachment, curiosity,andmemorizationthatashowcangivethroughits characters,thenarrative,andthesongs

Thefeelingiscomparabletosittingathomeandwatching yourfavoriteshowormovieplayinfrontofyouwithtrue emotion,drive,andpassion.Thisdrawsyouinandmakesyou thinkabout,reflecton,andinterpretthenarrativewhilebeing abletoattachyourselftoit.Thisisthesameideawithmusical theatre,exceptit'sthroughsonganddance.ThisiswhereI findenjoymentasIcantrulyallowmyselftobepulledinto thestoryandatmosphere.

Les Misérables

Itwouldbehardformetoexplaineachshowandmyown experienceswithinthem,soIwillbediscussingthemostimpactful musicalthatIsaw.ThisisLesMisérables,ashowaboutaconvict rebuildinghislifeinthemidstofachaoticFranceduringtheII FrenchRevolution.Thisshowhasalwaysbeenaninterestofmine asIamahugehistorynerdandheavilyenjoyedtherivalrystoryof purefreedomvs.thestrictruleoflawatthetime.Thisisplayedout betweenJeanValjeanandJavert.Iwon’tgotoodeepintothestory asithasalotofelements,butjustknowthatValjeanistryingto escapehisoldlifeofslaveryunderthelawwhileJavertistryingto rearresthimwhileValjeankeepsrunningfromhim.Thisstory betweenthetwoispossiblythebestpartoftheplotandisa continuingthemethroughoutthemusical.Themusicalpiecesfor thesetwoarealsoabsolutelystunningandplayverywellonthe powerstrugglebetweenthem.

Their“confrontationsong”showsthetwocompetingtheirideasbyshiftingwhohasthehigherandlouder linethatoverlapstheother,whichisbeautifulinitsexecution.Itrulyenjoythisideaofmixingthemusic, vocals,andstorytocreateatruemasterpieceofamusicalwheretheaudienceunderstandsandfeelsthestory asitprogresses.ThisishowIexperiencedLesMisérables,Hadestown,Six,TheMousetrap,andParanormal Activity.SpecificallyforLesMisérablesthough,asitwasamasterpieceofaperformance(especiallywiththe Londoncast)thattrulymademefeellikeIwaslisteningtotheoriginalsoundtrack.Alongsidethis,thesetwas magnificent!Ithadalotofmovingpieces,fromthebarricadetotheinsideofapubtooneofthemain characters’backyard.Overall,thisshowtouchedmeandmademefeelasthoughIwasapartofthestory, whichistrulyahardachievementtoperfect.

Paranormal Activities

Topreface,Iamnotabigfanofhorrorand thushadslightlylowexpectationsforthisplay beforegoingintoit.Ibelievedthatbecause everythingwasonastageinfrontofme,it wouldn’taffectmeandIwouldn’tbethat scared.Iwaswrong.Thisplayanditsstory pulledmesofarintotheexperiencethatI jumpedupafewtimesandwasgaspingatthe effectsonstage.Itisastellarplaywithan amazingstoryandanevenbettertwist!Iwon’t gotoofarintodetailasitismeanttobea secretonceyouhaveseenit,butjustknowthat itisn’twhatyouwouldexpectanditisa genuinelyscaryplay.

Walking the Line: Engaging with public art in london

Thedaybeforeweleft,Iwasperusingthe“newbooks”shelfat theArt&ArchitectureLibrarywhenIstumbledacrossabook called The Line: Public Art in East London. Itcontainedaseries ofessaysandapictureguideon“EastLondon’sfirstpublicart trail,”foundedbyMeganPiperandCliveDuttonin2015.Of course,asanappreciatorofbothmodernartandhikingtrailswho wasabouttotraveltothatverycity,myinterestwasinstantly piqued.Isatdownrightthenandtheretoplanadayonmytrip dedicatedexclusivelytowalkingTheLine.

That’showIfoundmyselfinQueenElizabethOlympicPark brightandnot-so-earlyonasunnyWednesdaymorning,readyto embarkonajourneythroughthewondersofLondon’spublicart scene.(YoucanactuallystartTheLineateitherend;Ichosetogo inthesouthbounddirectiononawhim.)Rightaway,the115meter-tallArcelorMittalOrbitbyAnishKapoor(ofChicagoBean fame)sticksoutlikeasorethumb.Intertwinedwiththe geometricalredbarsthatmakeupitsstructureistheworld’s longesttunnelslide,designedbyCarstenHöller.Unfortunately, entrycostawhopping₤17,anamountIdecidedwasnotworth40 secondsofslidingdownametaltubeonawarmsunnyday.I marchedpastthetowerandonwarddownTheLine.

Gettingtothenextartworkwasabitconfusing,asone hastowalkquiteawaywithoutmuchsignagetoguidethem. Fortunately,IhadaninteractivemapfromTheLine’s website(andAppleMapsalsopulledup,justincase)that keptmeontherightpath.Ittookmethroughaplaygroundin apark,pastthegatesofHarrisScienceAcademyandahorde ofstudentsjustgettingbackfromtheirlunchbreak,and downalongthebanksofBowCreek.Allthewhile,Ifound artworkpepperedinthemostunexpectedplaces:onthe rooftopofanoldfactorybuilding,onthesideofapedestrian bridge,evenweldedtoutilitypoles!

ByMichaelHanzelka

I stopped for lunch at a café in Cody Dock, a beautiful community garden space built on top of a now-defunct shipyard that once belonged to the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company (there is an interactive mini-museum where you can listen to an audio history of the area). The café itself had opened just a few weeks earlier, so the timing of my trip was perfect! I ordered a delicious spinach pastry and a latte and enjoyed the air conditioningforabitbeforecontinuingonmyway.

In order to get to the next area on The Line, one does have to ride the tube a couple of stops from Star Lane to the Royal Docks, where they then have the option to board the IFS Cable Car and take a scenic ten-minute trip across—or rather, above—the River Thames. The cable car is accompanied by another installment on The Line, an audio artwork by Larry Achiampong called Sanko-time that combines music with a poetrystyle narrative about colonialism along the Greenwich Meridian, stretching fromLondontoAccra,Ghana.

ThefinalsectionofTheLineonthesouthboundrouteisalooparound theO2Arena,rightontheedgeoftheGreenwichPeninsula.Istoppedto admiretheQuantumCloudbyAntonyGormley,whichlookslikea nonsensicaltangleofsteelbarsatfirstglanceuntilyourealizethatthey arearrangedtocreatetheopticalillusionofapersontrappedinside. Surprisingly,myfavoriteartworkinthisareawasnotactuallypartofThe LinebutwasanindependentsculpturecalledDemonwithBowl,a monstrouseighteen-meter-tallfigurebasedonancientMesopotamian beliefs.

IstartedmywalkonTheLineatabout10AM,andIreachedthefinalartworkat3:23PM:a signpostbyThomsonandCraigheadthatreads“Here24,859,”symbolizingthedistanceinmiles thatittakestomakeonefulltriparoundtheearth.ItislocatedperfectlyontheMeridianLineat 0°.Istoodunderneaththesignforafewminutes,marvellingathowfarI’dcomeandalltheartI’d interactedwiththatday.EverypieceI’dseenhadsomethingtoteachmeaboutthepeopleof Londonandalloftheuniqueperspectivesandstoriesfromacrosstheworldthathavefoundtheir wayintothiscityandontoTheLine.Thatdaywashands-downmyfavoritepartofourtrip,andI hopeonedayI’llbeabletoreturnandexperienceitalloveragain.

Tips from the flâneurs:

1.Do

your research on museums before going

2.Bring

3.Don’t

4.Take

a book or podcast on long tube rides

be afraid to talk to locals

advice from the locals

5.Don’t stress about food options

Women in Oxford

ByAshlynnMeyerHuffmaster

WhenwevisitedOxford,Iwasextremelyexcited.Forwhat,Iwasnotsure.Ihadheardofoneofthe oldestuniversitiesintheUK,andofthefamousandsmartpeoplethathadgonethere,butoutsideofageand celebrities,Iknewquitelittle.

Whenweenteredthetownfromthetrainstation,Icouldtellitwasoldfromtheuneven-brickedroads,the leaningbuildings,andsimplytheair.SomethingintheairmademefeellikeIwassomewhereoldandsacred. Asthetourbeganandwewalkedunderneathmagnificentarchwaysandintobeautifulsquaresandchurches,I triedtoenvisionwhatitwouldhavebeenliketoattendtoitspeak,hundredsofyearsago,beforetechnology.

However,Icouldnotenvisionit.Theideaofwalkingdownthecobblestonestreetsinthelongblackcoat theschoolmakesundergraduatestudentsweartodinnerandexamscouldnotproperlyfillmyhead.WhileI wasabletoseemyselflivinginLondon,takingthetubeeveryday,orlookinginthecorrectdirectionwhen crossingthestreet,itfeltimpossibletoseemyself,inthepast,attendingOxford.

ThiswaslikelybecauseofthehistoryofOxford.WhileOxford’soriginsdatebacktothe12thcentury, womenwerenotallowedtoreceivedegreesuntil1920,lessthan100yearsbeforeIwasborn.Evenwhenthey couldreceivedegrees,womencouldnotattendallofOxford’s“malecolleges”until1986,thesamedecade myparentswerebornin.Then,twoyearsafterIwasborn,in2008,allcollegesfinallyadmittedbothmenand women.

In1920,theyearwomenwerefinallyallowedtoreceivedegrees,AnnieRogersandCicelyWilliamswere twoofthefirstwomentograduate.Rogershadtakenherexamsinthe1870sandfinallyreceivedherdegreein 1920.WilliamsstudiedmedicineandwentintopediatrictrainingattheSouthLondonHospitalforWomenand Children.Sheisalsoknownforherdiscoveryof“kwashiorkor”whichisatypeofseveremalnutritionthatis commoninchildrenagesthreetofiveinareasofhighpovertyandfoodscarcity.In1923,IvyWilliamswas thefirstwomantoreceiveadegreeofDoctorofCivilLaw.Thoughmuchissummedup,someofthebigger advancementsintheequalityofOxfordandthepeoplebehindtheadvancements,arejustasimportant.

Thoughthesewomenwereprovinghowequalinskillandmindtheywere,in1927,theOxfordCongregation votedtorestrictthenumberofwomenadmittedtotheuniversityto840,“lessthanaquarterofthenumberofmen” (UniversityofOxford,Timeline).Thoughtheywererestricted,thewomenkeptfightingfortheirplaces.In1927, EleanorRathbonebecamethefirstwomanfromOxfordtobeelectedtoparliament.Fiveyearslaterin1932,Merze TatebecamethefirstAfrican-AmericanwomantoattendOxford.SheearnedherdegreeinInternationalRelations andlateradoctorateinGovernmentandInternationalRelationsfromHarvard.In1957,thequotathatrestrictedthe numberofwomenallowedtoattendwasabolished;however,onlyfivecollegeswereopenforwomentoattend.The restofthecollegeswereonlyformen.In1964,thefirstBritishwomanreceivedascientificNobelPrize.Dorothy CrowfootHodgkinhadworkedtodeterminethestructureofvitaminB12.Shewasalsothefirstwomantohavea familywhilebeingafellowatacollege,aswellasthefirstwomantoreceivepaidmaternityleave,somethingthatis stillhardtogetinAmerica.Onlyin1974didtherestofOxfordstartopeninguptowomen.

Oxfordhasarichhistory,andlikecountlessothergreatinstitutions,itunfortunatelyhasahistoryofexcluding people.IdonotwishtospeakpoorlyofOxfordordisregarditsamazingeducationsystem.Instead,Iaimtopointout thatitwasnotperfect,andwithoutthepassionofmanyfeminists,IcouldnotevendreamofattendingOxford.It wouldnotbeapossibilityformetoevenapplywithoutthedriveofthewomenbeforeme.Now,Oxfordisaplace whereIcanimaginemyself,orotherwomen,walkingtoclass.Thestrengthofthepeoplewhofoughtforinclusion inspiresme,asawomaninSTEM,topursuemypassionsevenifIwalkatrailalone.

To understand london, one must leave

WhatIneversawcomingwastrainsbeingapparentonmy trip.Notthetube,railroadtrains.

Imean,Ihonestlythoughtthismodeoftransportationwas aroutetogetfromonecitytoanother.Mywaytoseemore thanLondon.Thetrainshadthisrhythmbetweentheoutward andthereturn.

Itookthetrain3timestoleaveLondon.Ialsostoppedat severalstationstoswitchtrains.Beforethat,Ihadneverbee onatrain.Andno,IhadnoideawhatIwasdoing.

IwenttoWindsorCastlefirst.WearrivedatPaddington Stationearly,ourticketsboughtaheadoftime.Itwasbusy,of course.WelookedatthetrainschedulefortheWindsorstop andhaddifficultyfindingit.Atcustomerservice,theman tolduswhereweneededtoboardandthatweneededtoget offatSloughandtransfertothetrainthatwouldtakeus directlytoWindsor.

Therewassomuchmovement.Luggage,backpacks,and coffeesallmovingwithpurposetotheirnextdestination.It wassointerestingthatthetrainisanormalmodeof transportation,consideringathomeitisnot.

WindsorCastlewasbeautiful.I’veneverseenacastle.We couldn’tgoinside,butwewalkedaroundthelittleshopsand restaurants.Itfelttouristy,andtherewasanalmoststagedor progressivefeelingforwhattouristsaresupposedtodoat Windsor.

Oxforddidnotfeelsorushed.TheuniversityfeltlikeIwas passingthroughaplaceoftime.Iwasabletogotothe botanicalgardens,whichwasmyfavoritepartoftheday.To beatOxfordfeltimportant—itfeltliketimehadslowed.AsI waswalkingaround,Inoticedthewalls,thepebbleground, andthesmallroads.ItfeltlikeIwasinavillage,closedin andisolatedfromthebusycitylife.Youneedtoknowofand learnfromthehistorytofullydigestwhatOxfordhastooffer.

ByAvaWollerman

Stratford-Upon-AvonisparticularlynotsomewhereIwouldchoosetogovisit,butIdid.Itwasrefreshingto besomewherethatwasn’ta“go-go-go”environment.Thetownhadnothingtoprovetome,italreadycarried greatsignificance.ItwasinterestingtolearnaboutShakespeareinasettingwherethesettingisShakespeare’s upbringing.It’shistoricalsiteslikethiswherenoteveryonecanclaimtheysawtheOG.Stratfordwillneverbe replaced.Itmaybesmall,butitshistoryspeaksvolumestoanyotherurbancity.

Thetrainputsyouinacalmtrance.Thehumoftheengineasitglidesthroughthecountrysideisreassuring. Thegreeneryandfarmlifeyoudon’tseeintheindustrializedspaces.Thegreengoesonandon,metwith housesandcountryroads.

Fastlifeislostandeverythingelseisfound.Youcanrelaxandnotfallbehind.Therewasabsolutelynothingto dobutsit,watch,andthink.Thiswasmytime.

Takeatrainandleave.

NotbecauseLondonistoobigortoofast.TakeatraintounderstandLondonbetter.IlookedatLondon differentlyeverytimeIcameback.Youwillrecognizepatternsandbodylanguagethatoncewasn’tknown. Londonwilleitherfeelmorefamiliarorless.

Trainsarepartoftheexperience.Theyarenotanescape,butaluxuryonefeelsjustastheyfeeltowardsa destination.

Iwasn’ttravelingfromplacetoplace.Iwaslearninghowtomovethroughthem.

“Gabby!” (A poem about my experience seeing Oliver!)

“Consider yourself at home!” Well, I certainly do…

“Consider yourself one of the family…”

I’ve been a part of it since I was three, dancing to this very song.

“We’ve taken to you so strong!” Well, that’s very kind of you.

“It’s clear… we’re… going to get along!”

That makes my inner child so very happy  as she sits alongside me, watching this very musical that jump-started my love for musicals  as she watches with the biggest Cheshire Cat grin on her face while the actors in bright colors jump up and down the ladder, and she takes every  sight,  sound, and second, as she has waited  for this very moment  for eighteen years.

Exploring Parliament

ByCalleighHillard

Thefinaldayofourtripwasawhirlwind, anditstartedinthebestwaypossible, admiringthehistoryandgrandiose architectureofParliament.Tobeabletosee allofParliamentwassuchanhonor.Ibelieve Ididitinthebestwaypossible.Itookmy time,meticulouslycombingthrougheach room,listeningtoamultitudeofhistorians andthecurrentleaderoftheHouseof Commonsdescribeeachandeverydetail.

ThetourstartedinWestminsterHall, whichistheoldestsectionofparliament architecture.Whileitismainlyanempty chamber,ithasbeenhometoseveralmajor eventsinitshistory,suchasseveral coronationbanquetsandthelocationforthe traditionoflyinginstate,similartotheUS, wherewehavemajorpoliticalfiguresliein stateintheCapitol.Itisalsowhereforeign anddomesticpoliticalfigurescanaddress parliament.Onseveraloccasions,Queen ElizabethIIhasaddressedparliamentinthis space.

ForeignexamplesincludeUkrainianPresidentZelenskyandUSPresidentBarackObama.Someimportant royalswhohavelaininstateatWestminsterHallincludeKingEdwardVII,KingGeorgeV,KingGeorgeVI, QueenMary,QueenElizabeththeQueenMother,andQueenElizabethII.

Afteryouproceedthroughthehall,youheadtothenextoldestareainparliament,St.Stephen’sHall,which iswheretheHouseofCommonsformerlypresided.Thewallsofthehallsaredecoratedwithmurals,eachbya differentartist,whichfocusonthedevelopmentandcreationoftheempire.Eachartistaddedadifferentflair andstyletocreatetheirpiece.HavingdifferentartistswassuperimpactfulformebecauseIfeltthateach artist'srepresentationofeventsmatchedperfectlyacrossdifferentlights.OnceIwasdoneadmiringSt. Stephen’sHall,IwasfunneledintothechamberthatdividestheHouseofCommonsandtheHouseofLords.

Thisisoneofmyfavoritepartsofthetour.Ithadfloor-to-ceilingstatuesofmajorfiguresspanningmany centuries.TherewerestatuesoffigureslikeHenryVIII,AnneBoleyn,EdwardVI,ElizabethI,MaryTudor, aswellasothermajorroyals.Ithoughtitwasfascinatingthatoutofallthestatuestheyhad,theyhadBoleyn, consideringtherewerefivemorewives,andtwoothershadalsogivenbirthtotwoothermajorfiguresin Englishhistory.Beyondthecontroversy,Iwasalsofascinatedbythesheerscaleandintricacyofthe architecture.Everythingtherewasintentionalandperfectlycrafted.

IthenproceededtotheHouseofLords.Onmyway,IstoppedinthePrince’schamber,whichhousesa larger-than-lifestatueofQueenVictoria.Butitwasn'tthestatuethatgraspedmyattention.Itwasthe paintingsthatlinedtheupperpartofthewalls.ThesepaintingshighlightedthelineageofTudorroyalty,from LadyJaneGreytoMary,QueenofScots,toHenryVIIIandallhiswives,andendingwithQueenElizabethI. Eachofthesepaintingswasdonewithsuchcarethatitwashardnottofocusoneverybrushstroke.

IfinallyreachedtheHouseofLords,whereIlearnedwhattheHouseofLordsdoesandhowonecan becomeaLord,andmarvelattheornategildedthrone.DuringmytimeintheHouseofLords,Ilearnedallthe changestohowonebecomesamemberthathavehappenedthroughouthistory.Itwasfascinatingtoseehow progresscollideswithgenerationalaristocracy.However,therealthrillwaslearningabouttheinteraction betweentheHouseofLordsandtheHouseofCommons. OntheopeningdayofParliament,thetraditionwasfortheHouseofCommonstocomeintotheHouseof LordstolistentotheKing’sopeningspeech.However,afterCharlesIattemptedtoarrestseveralmembersof theHouseofCommons,theCeremonyoftheBlackRodwasborn.

I watched my breath escape my mouth as I gazed at the flowing water below. I trembled from the sheer cold, but the sight left much to be expected. As I stood on this bridge I marveled at the Elizabeth tower on my right and the London Eye to my left - two paths that lay before me. Both tracks carry a heavy burden of choice, a choice of answering my anticipations and desire for adventure. I look back down towards the flowing water, my thoughts filling my mind and sinking into the crevices of my soul.

Flowing Water by Figueroa-CastroAlexander

TheCeremonyoftheBlackRodiswhere theHouseofLordssendsthe“BlackRod” asaliaisontotheHouseofCommons.He thengetsthedoorslammedinhisfaceasa signofdissenttotheKing.Enteringthe HouseofCommons,Iwasimpressedbythe amountofhistoryintheroom.Itcouldhave beenitsownseparatetour.Ittookseveral firesandothermajoreventstogettowhere theHouseofCommonsistoday.The entrancechamberisfullofstatuesofformer PrimeMinisters,includingWinston ChurchillandMargaretThatcher.TheHouse ofCommonsfeltlikethetrueworkingside ofParliament,withinboxesfullandopen billssetondesks.WhileIdidnotwitnessa debateinthechamber,Icouldfeelthe changeintheair.

A Love Letter to the V&A

Withover2.8millionartifactsfromthroughoutthe world,IthinkthattheV&A’sownmarketingcampaign saysitbest:“Ifyou’reintoit,it’sintheV&A.”Hosting everythingfromthehatwornbyIdinaMenzelasElphaba inWickedtotheoldestdatedcarpetintheworld,Ifind thattheVictoria&AlbertMuseumfollowsthroughonits slogan.IcouldspenddaysintheV&Aoglingcollections ofjewelry,art,andfurniture,asevidencedbythefactthat IspentmyentiretwoandahalfhoursthereduringThe LondonReviewinjusttwogalleries.

IthinkthatasuccessfulV&Avisitstartswithaplan,so IdecidedtostartattheCastCourtsbeforeworkingmy wayuptotheBritain1500-1760andJewelryGalleries. TheCastCourtsareauniqueandincredibleopportunityto seecopiesofhistoricallysignificantartandarchitecture fromaroundtheworld.Theyopenedin1873toallowart studentsandthepublictoviewandlearnfromawide arrayofmasterpiecesthattheywouldnototherwisehave accessto.Afull-scalereplicaofTrajan’sColumnstandsin themiddleofoneoftherooms,allowingvisitorstogetan up-closelookatthe155scenescommemoratingthe Romans’victoryovertheDaciansthatadornthecolumn. Tootalltofitinsidethemuseumasasinglepiece,the columnisdisplayedintwosections,allowingvisitorsa rarechancetoviewitsupperportionupclose.

ByEmilyClausen

Thespecialpartaboutcastsisthattheyshowyouthe worldasitwasintheerainwhichtheyweremade,like3D snapshotsofamomentintime.Someofthecastsinthe V&Ahavemoresurvivingdetailthantheiroriginalsdonow andotheroriginalshavebeendestroyed,meaningthecourts provideavitalhistoricalrecord.TheV&Aalsohasdisplays explainingtheprocessofcasting,whichiscomplexand impressive.Afterseeingthepiecesinvolvedinmoldingand castingasinglestatueofaseatedwoman,Ican’timagine theworkandartistryrequiredtomakeacastofsomething largeanddetailed,likethePulpitfromPisaCathedral. VisitingtheCastCourtsisliketakingatriparoundthe worldwhileonlytravelingthroughtworooms,andIthinkit isoneofthemostamazingpartsofthemuseum.

AftertheCastCourts,IwentupstairstovisittheBritain15001760gallery.Thegalleryislaidoutchronologicallyandexplains thepolitics,religion,fashion,furniture,andcultureofeachdecade itcovers.Yearmarkingsonthefloorandpaintingsofthemonarch ofthatyearhelporienttheviewertoapreciseplaceinhistory.One ofmyfavoritepiecesinthecollectionistheBedofWare,athreemeter-widebedconstructedin1590foraninninHertfordshirethat canallegedlyaccommodateatleastfourcouples.Afterseeingit,I thinkthatwouldbeaprettytightsqueeze.Thebedwassofamous atthetimethatitwasevenmentionedinShakespeare’sTwelfth Night. Anotherfavoriteitemwasanunassumingcommunalcup withpegsmarkingeachdrinker’sshare.Ifyoudrankmorethan yourshare,youwouldbe“knockeddownapeg,”ensuringthatyou couldnotcutintootherpeople’ssharesinthefuture.While communalcupsarelonggone,thisphraseisstillcommonlyused today,whichIfindfascinating.Ileftthegallerywithathorough understandingoflifeandhistoryinTudor,Stuart,andearly GeorgianBritain.

IglancedatmywatchonmywayoutofthegalleryanddiscoveredthatIonlyhad15minutesbeforeI neededtomeetthegroupforlunch.IwalkedquicklythroughthesilversectiontomakemywaytotheJewelry Room.Despitenotbeingthereforlong,Iwasstillabletoenjoythesparklingtiaras,necklaces,bracelets,and ringsthathaveadornedpeoplefrommanycountriesandcultures Imetthegroupforlunch,havingwalkedthrough260yearsofBritishhistoryandseveralcountriesofartin sculptureallinjustonemorning.TheV&AhasmanymoretreasuresthatIcan’twaittoexplore.Ithinkthatit isoneofthebestmuseumsintheworld,anditiscertainlyoneofmyfavorites.Itisastunninglegacyfrom QueenVictoria’smomentousreign,anditismynumberonerecommendationforanyonevisitingLondon.

“Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us Sinners now

and at the Hour of

our Death”

InCatholicism,themotherofGod isbelievedtohavebecomepregnant throughthepoweroftheHolySpirit. Beingdivinelychosentocarrythe SonofGodhasledtoastrong religiousdevotiontoher.Sheisthe universalmother,anadvocatefor justiceandpeace.

ByIsabellaMautino

As I explored London's large and beautiful art scene, I began to notice a pattern: the depiction of Mother Mary was everywhere. This observation struck me as I wandered through the Victoria and Albert Museum, stock piled with marble figures from the Italian Renaissance, Medieval Austria, and late seventeenth century Spain. The artist who created these figures never shared a studio together, nevercrossedpaths,andsometimesneversharedacentury,yetallhad relationstotheVirginMary.

Her presence reminds us that we are not alone; that there is always someone to love us.As I stood in theV&A, surrounded by her image, I began to feel immersed in the power of her theological allegory. Perhaps it is this, her role as a universal mother and lover of all, that hasbroughtmanytosharetheirloveforherthroughartisticdevotion.

Armors, Artifacts, and Absences

ByJaspreetKaur

IrememberlisteningtostoriesfrommygrandparentsaboutthetimestheyusedtoliveintheUKandthings theysawwhilehere.WhileplanningtheLondontripIknewIwantedtogotoalotofmuseumsandother placesthatshowedUKhistory.IalsoknewabitaboutPunjabiandUKhistorysinceitissointerconnected. ThelastruleroftheSikhEmpireover200yearsagoactuallycameandlivedintheUKandeventuallybecame welllikedbyQueenVictoria.TheKoh-i-NoordiamondislocatedintheTowerofLondonwhichisdirectly fromhistreasury.ThisisjustoneexampleofthecomplicatedhistorybetweenPunjabandtheUKwhichhas causedalotofcurrentcontroversy.IknowalotofpeopleareupsetwiththeitemsfromPunjabthatareheldin theUKandmanypeoplehavecommentedontheerasureofPunjabfromBritain'shistory.

ThisissomethingIendedupnoticingwithinmytimehereinLondon.EventhoughItriednottofocuson this,IkeptthinkingaboutiteverytimeIvisitedamuseum.IstartednoticingthiswhenIfirstvisitedtheV&A museumexpectingtoseealotmoreSouthAsianhistoryorPunjabhistory.However,asIwasexploring,Isaw thattheSouthAsiansectionofthemuseumwasclosedduetochangesandwouldn’treopenuntilafterwewere alreadygone.ThiswasreallydisappointingtoseebecauseIwasinterestedinlearningmoreandseeingwhat theyhadinplace.IthenvisitedtheAshmoleanMuseuminOxford,whichwasunplanned.Iwasn’texpecting tofindanythingPunjabrelated,butIdidstumbleuponasectionofitemsfromSouthAsia.WhatIhadnoticed abouttheseitemswasthatbarelyanyofthemwerefromNorthIndia.Ididnoticeonepiecefrom100BC,a sculptureofagoatfromSughPunjab.However,thiswastheonlypieceIfoundfromPunjab,deepeningmy disappointment.ThankfullyattheWallaceCollectionIwasabletofindmultiplearmorandweaponsfrom Punjab.Thiswasreallyinterestingtoseeasitshowedourhistoryandfinallytalkedabouthowitconnectedto theUK.However,Ididunderstandwhymanypeoplefeltuncomfortableorannoyedabouttheartifactsbeing heldinamuseuminLondonratherthanbackinIndia.

Overall,IwasexpectingtoseemoreaboutPunjabjustbecauseofhowconnectedthetwoare,butIalso knowmoreexhibitsarecoming,sothatwouldbesomethingIwouldbeinterestedintravelingbackfor.Iknow whileinLondonIsawadvertisementsforanexhibitaboutPrincessSophiaDuleepSinghwhichfocusesonher roleinUKwomen’ssuffrage.IalsowanttogobackandcheckouttheMuseumofLondonwhichhasasmall plaquethatdiscussestheroleoftheSikhsinBritain.IalsowanttocheckouttheImperialWarMuseumbutI haveheardthemajorityofthetimetheSikhartifactsanditemsaren’tshownorshowcasedeventhoughthey holdalargecollectionofthem.IalsoknowtheBritishMuseumhassomeSikhitemsbutthemajorityofthem arenotusuallyondisplay.IhaveconflictingfeelingsaboutthewayPunjabandSikh’sarerepresentedinthe UKbutIalsoamgladtoseesomerepresentationbecausegrowingupintheUnitedStates,especiallythe

“To the

world

we dream about, and the one we live in now”

ByKyanneCarlgen

HadestowninLondonwasoneofthebesttheatreproductionsI’veeverseen: incredibleplot,sets,music,andstorytelling.Hadestownisacriticallyacclaimed BroadwaymusicalthatreimaginesancientGreekmythologythroughajazzand contemporarymusicaltheatrestyle.Auniqueaspectregardingthismusicalstyle includedtheinstrumentonstagewiththeactors,andinteractingwithboththestage andthemaincharacter.Thestagefullyopenedandpushedthebandofftotheside whenthestorywentdownintotheunderworld,whichsymbolizedthewaymusic andidentitywasdemonizedinHadestown,andmadetheensembleofinstruments feellikepartoftheplot.

Themusicalfollowsayoungman,Orpheus,ahopeful musicianwhoseloveforEurydice,astarvingyoungwoman, driveshimtojourneyintotheunderworldaftershebecomes trappedtherefromadealwithHades.Atthesametime,a troubledmarriagebetweenHades,ruleroftheunderworld (Hadestown),andPersephone,thegoddesswhochangesthe seasons,reflectsthemesofpower,climate,andemotional distance.Inmyopinion,theirrelationshipwasjustas importantandsymbolicwithinthestorylineasOrpheusand Eurydice’s,andIwouldenjoyaprequeltolearnmoreabout howthe‘devil’andthegoddessPersephonefellinlove.The heartbreakofthemusicalcomesattheendafterarepriseof themusical'smostnotablesong,“WaitforMe,”sungby OrpheusandEurydice.Thejarringending(whichIknew wascoming)stillleftmeinshockandsadnessasEurydice sankbeneaththespinningstage.Thesilence,whitelight,and lackofmovementafterOrpheuslooksback,damning EurydicetoremaininHadestown,wasajarringcontrast fromthemusical’ssignatureavantgardetheatricsleadingup totheending.

TherewereacouplemomentsthroughouttheproductionwhereOrpheusandEurydiceturnedtothe audiencetocommunicateamessageabouttheworldtoday,suchasafterthesong“WhyWeBuildTheWall.” Asfarasmetaphorsgo,thisonefeltveryblatant.Afterleaving,welookedupwhentheshowwaswrittenand firstperformed,aswefoundthissongextremelyreflectiveofmodernAmerica.Theshowfirstdebutedin 2016…andwasfirstperformedinNewYorkonBroadwayrightafterDonaldTrumpwasinaugurated.Onthe tuberidehomewediscussedhowthisrenditionofanAncientGreektragedywassymbolicandareflectionof modernissuessuchaswidespreadpovertyfromeconomicexploitation,violenceagainstwomen,and environmentalconcerns.Anothermomentinwhichthecharactersturnedtotheaudiencewasafteroneofthe firstfewsongstoconveythatnomatterhowbrokenthesystemis,it’sourjobtobelikeOrpheusandfightfor abetterworld.

Aninterestingaspectoftheatrethat’suniqueisthe differencesbetweeneachliveproductionandthe creativechoiceseachensemblemakes.Oneaspectthat stoodouttomewastheEnglishaccents.Thiswasnota creativechoice,butitdidchangetheexperienceand wasdifferentfromwhatIwasusedtowhenlisteningto theoriginalBroadwaycast.IwishIcouldbuyarecord ofthespecificproductionIsawratherthanjustlistening totheoriginalcast.PerhapsifIeverworkinBroadway MarketingI’llsuggestthat.

IwouldrecommendHadestowntoanyofmyfriends orenemiesbecauseitisanamazingtheatrical experience,butmayalsoleaveyouintears.

Wandering through the Pitch

ByMatthewHasson

Soccer,orfootballasitiscalledeverywherebuttheUS,isan integralpartofEuropeanculture.WeatLondonReviewhadthe privilegeoftravellingtoaQueensParkRangers(QPR)matchover thetrip.AfterhagglingwiththesoccerclubsofLondon,wewere givenseatsalmostbehindthegoal,onerowofpeoplebetweenusand thepitch.Aswesteppedintothestands,youcouldfeelanauratothe building.Itwasnotalargestadium,onlysittingaround18,000 people,butitroared.Thebellowofchants,whichwecouldnot understand,rangthroughthebuilding.Thesectionaboveuswas wheremanyfansoftheopposingteam,PortsmouthF.C.,were seated.

OneworryAmericanshaveaboutattendingasoccergameisthegameendinginadefensive0-0draw,butthisgame wasanythingbutthat.At7minutes,adeflectedballledtoaperfectshotintothetoprightbinofthegoal,QPRwason theboard.Theplayerdidaflipinthecornerofthepitchasweallshouted.Thestadiumwaselectric,butIwasfocused ontherightgroupoffans.Theydidnotevenlookattheplayerthatscored.TheystaredrightatthePortsmouthfans aboveus.Withtheirfingersangrilypointing,theywereshoutingunintelligiblechantsatthePortsmouthfans.Their chantsdidnotendwhenplayresumed.Itseemedasifsomeofthemendidnotevencometowatchthegame,butto talksmackattheotherteam.Itwasfantastic.

Therewasalargegroupofchildrenbehindus,noolderthan10. Thesekidswereextremelyintothegame.Someofthebestlines ofthegameswhichtheyshoutedwere“Waxhim!”“Gettheguya custardslice!”“Thisrefneedstogotoschool”“You’reMENTAL man!”“REEEFFFFF,GOBACKTOSCHOOLMATE”“ARE YOUBLOODYSERIOUS”and,whentheyfeltsupportive, “Comeonyoulot!”Onthebeautifulday,QPRcameoutswinging, scoringsixgoalstoPortsmouth’smeaslyone.Asthegameended, Iturnedtotheothersandsaid,“don’tleaveonceitends,let’sstay togetagroupphoto.”LittledidweknowthatinEngland,noone leavesimmediatelyoncethegameends.BoththePortsmouthand QPRplayerswerewavingtotheirfansonthepitch.Asongbegan playingwhicheveryonewassingingalongto.ThesongwasHi HoSilverLining,asongbyJeffBeck.Asitgottothechorusthe stadiumerupted“HiHoQueensParkRangers!”Thenextsong theyplayedwasZombiebytheCranberries.Theydidnotreplace anyofthewords,butohdidtheyloveZombie.Weleftthe stadiumecstatic.Wehadseenafantasticgame,anditreallyfelt likewehadexperiencedLondonculture.Therewasnoparkinglot atthestadium,soeveryonewaswalkingoutandbacktotheir homesnearby.ThiswasnotaPremierLeagueteam,soallthefans weretrue,ardentfans.IfyouevertraveltoLondon,getyourselfa tickettoseetheRangers!Youwillnotregretit.

Media Consumption Abroad

ByAlexanderFigueroa-Castro

ThecourseworkforthisclasswasunorthodoxtotheusualstructureofstudyIwasusedto.Iwascurious whatobjectivesIwastoaccomplishandwhatknowledgeIwastoattain.Sincethisprogramwassponsored throughtheHonorsprogram,Idivorcedmyselffromconventionalnotionsoflearningandrepositionedmy aim.

GoingintothistripIletmyintellectualcuriositiestakeover.Surethiswasagreatexcursionfrommydaily life,butitwasstillauniversityprogram,andIwantedtotakethisopportunitytolearn.Somethingthathas alwaysbeensofascinatingtomeisinternationalmedia.IntheUnitedStateswearepronetoallowing Hollywoodhegemonytoleadusawayfrominternationalmediaconsumption,sowerarelyseefilmsfrom outsidetheUnitedStatesgetthesametractionafilmfromtheUnitedStateswouldgetabroad.

OneofthefirstthingsIsetmymindondoinginLondonwas goingtowatchafilminoneofLondon’smostfamousmovie theaters.AttheRitzytheater,Ihadthechancetoobserve differencesinthesnackoptionsandstructuraldifferencesofthe location.Havingworkedintwodifferentmovietheatersmyself,I couldimmediatelyspotthesmallestdetailsthatmostwouldmiss. Themostremarkablepartofthistheateristhefactitisconnected toacafe.Iwasabletogetanicecupofpeppermintteabeforemy movie,andIevenbroughtitinwithme.Unfortunately,Iwasn’t abletobreaktheAmericancycle,andIchosetowatchSinners.It wasafilmIhadputoffwatchingforsometime,andthiswasthe bestopportunitytowatchit.Partofmedidfeelguiltfromthefact that,evenwhileabroad,IfailedtodiversifythemediaI consumed.Despitethat,itwasaverybeneficialinternational educationalexperience.WhileinthetheaterIcouldfeelthesheer excitementemanatingofftheotherwatchers.Itwasaroundnoon, andmostofthepeopleherewereelderlywhocameingroups.I couldn’thelpbutwonderifthiswasroutineforthem.Itwasso fascinatingtomehowquickLondonersweretowatchfilmsmade outsideoftheirhomecountry,andIwascuriousifthiswasan isolatedinstanceorapartofalargersentiment.

Thisalsoextendedtootherformsofmedia.Regrettably,IwasunabletostayformyfullfilmbecauseIhad torushofftotheHamiltonperformanceIhadticketsfor.Itwouldbemyfirsttimewatchingthemusical,andI hadnoideawhattheexperiencewouldbelike.Iwascertainaboutonething,whichwasthatHamiltonwas basedonU.S.history.Forthatreason,IfounditoddthatthismusicalwashereinLondon.Itisonethingfora U.S.filmtobeshown,butmediadirectlyinfluencedbyU.S.historyandculturewassounusual-especially becauseofthesensitivecontentmatterofthehistorybetweentheU.S.andBritain.Irememberbeingatthe endofmyseatinanticipationforwhenKingGeorgeIIIenteredthestage.Thetensenessinmybodywashed awayasIheardtheroomeruptinlaughterandglee.Ievenhadtheopportunitytodebriefwiththeperson sittingnexttomeaftertheshow,andshewasabsolutelyenthralledwiththeperformance.Infact,everyoneleft theroomwithfreshexcitementandthrill.

OfcoursethatisnottosayLondonhasnotleftamarkonthe filmingworld.Onthethirddayofourtrip,ValandIplannedto visittheHarryPotterStudiotour.WewerebothbigfansofHarry Potter,sowewereecstatictobeheadedthere.Ofcourse,given thatthestudiotourisapopularattraction,thereweremany touriststherevisiting,too.SomethingItoldeveryoneonthistrip wasthat,foracountrythatrecognizesEnglishasitsnational language,thereisasurprisinglackofitbeingspoken.Itwas reallyinterestingtoseethiscontrast.TheRitzytheaterwasfilled withLondoners,butthislocationwasfilledwithonlytourists.It mademerealizethatweoftenforgetthatHarryPotterisn’t technicallyaUnitedStatesfilm.Ithasanimpressiveglobal appeal.Ididtakemanyphotos,anditwasnicetoseethesetof thefilmthatinspiredmetopursuemyFilmandEnglishdegrees

Mediastudiesaresuchanintricateareaoffocus,andIam alwaysfindingnewwaystoexamineandengagewiththis discipline.IamappreciativeoftheformatoftheLondonReview toallowmetoexploremyintellectualcuriositiesandexperience whatIwantedto.

We asked the Flâneurs...

Alone in a Museum

ByAshlynnMeyerHuffmaster

Ifyougotoamuseum,youtypicallydonotseepeoplealone.Youseegroupsofschoolchildren,all wearingthesameneoncoloredshirtorhi-visjackets.Youseetired-lookingparentswhosekidsare runningaroundlookingfromglasschesttoglasschest.Youseecoupleswalkinghandinhand,staring mostlyateachotherandnotattheartifacts.Notveryoftendoyouseesomeonealone.

WhenIwenttotheNaturalHistoryMuseuminLondon,Iwasworriedaboutbeingalone.WouldI lookweird?WouldIgetlost?WouldIevenfindthecorrectentrancetotheMuseum?Evenwiththe noiseofmythoughts,Iwalkedaroundtheblockwithmyheadphonesonandmoviesoundtracks playing,andIfelttheanxietyease.Iwalkedthroughthewindingsidewalk,upthestaircase,andthrough thearchway.TheMuseumopeneduptoalargeroomfilledwithdifferentfossils.Islowlywalked aroundandfocusedonthedifferentpeoplelookingattheartifacts.Fromroomtoroomandstaircaseto staircase,IenjoyedthetimeIhadalonewithmythoughts.

Lookingatgemstonesandreadingaboutthescientificstudiesthatwereperformed,Ifeltasense ofeaseeventhoughIwasinabuildingwithhundredsofpeople.IfyougotoaMuseum,you typicallydonotseepeoplealone.Maybethereisafearofbeingbyyourselfinsuchacrowdedarea. However,afterspendingafewhourswanderingthehallsoftheNaturalHistoryMuseuminLondon, Icansaygoingtoamuseumalonewasoneofmyfavoriteexperiences.WhileIhadanxietyatthe beginning,theemotionstheMuseumbroughtupquicklyrelaxedme,andIfeltlikeIwaswhereIwas meanttobe.

Seeing Giselle

ByAvaWollerman

AftermywonderfuldayinStratford,goingtotheRoyalBalletwasoneofthebestwaystofulfillmynight.I knewtheperformancewasgoingtobegreatandwatchingGiselleinpersonissomethingthatIwillnever forget.TheRoyalBalletandOperaHouseisbeautiful.Iwalkedintoavibrantlobbyandwasimmediately showntomyred,velvetseat.Isatattheverytopbalconyafterbookingmyticketlast-minute.I’mactually afraidofheights,butIwasverygladtosecurethisticketsincetherewereminimalseatsleft.

Ihadaperfectviewofthestageandtheirorchestra.Icouldseeoverthewholeaudience.Everyonewas formallydressedforthecoldnightinLondon.Iremembermymomhelpingmefindaskirtfortheevent.Iwas sohappywithmyoutfit.Ibroughtmylongpeacoatandablacksweater.Iworeagoldenskirtthatmatchedthe wallart.Thewallsandceilinghadthemostbeautifuldetailing.Therewasthisgolden,almostcelestialdesign thatspiraledacrossthelargeroom.

AsanEnglishmajor,Iusuallylearnfromstoriesonapage,butwatching Giselle gavemesomuchmoreof thenarrativethroughthemovement,themusic,andtheartofballetitself. Giselle isaromanticandtragic genreballetwhereayoungwoman(Giselle)fallsinlove,isabandonedbyherlover,diesfromheartbreak,and comesbackasaspirit.Ihonestlydidhavesomebackgroundknowledgebeforehand,andIwanttothankthe Barbiemoviesforintroducingmetothe Giselle ballet.

Iloveballets,andGiselle’swasemotionallymovingtome.Every choreographedmovementcarriedadramaticmeaningthatwordswould normallyconvey.Ilovedwatchingtheirexpressionsandfollowingit withtheorchestra;itreallyhelpedtounderstandwhatexactlywas happening.It’sincredibletoseesomuchcommunicationwithouttheuse ofwords.OneofthemostdramaticsceneswaswhenGisellewent completelymadaftershediscoveredherlover'sbetrayal. Isawherdeterioratefromthishappywomantoafrantic,brokenghost. Sheranacrossthestageashervillagewatched,hereyeswerewide,her armsextendedintheair.Intheaudience,youcouldseeher hyperventilate.Themusicwasdramaticandplayedatafastpace.Giselle exhaledherlastbreathasshecollapsedonthestage.Hermovementsand bodylanguagewerealmostdisturbingtowatch.

Duringherrevivalscene,sheisnowaghost.Hercostumewaswhite andangelic,resemblingaweddingdress.Thescenewasinamystical forestassheforcesherlovertodancewithhertohisdeath.Giselle continuestodanceandhauntherloveroutofvengeancefortherestof theact.

WatchingthisshowinLondonwassospecialtome.Ilovedhaving theexperiencetoseethiswithmyfriendandtheaudience,whereweall hadthisliveartexperience.Youcan’taddtheapplauseorthemusictoa readinglikeyoucanwithaballet.Irealizeballetsarealsointerpretations oftheirown.Even Giselle wasbasedonfolkloreandwasinterpretedfor aballetproduction.Eachperformancefeelsdifferentforeveryone,even forartthatiswellknown,andIthinkthat’swhatmakesballetexciting.

An American at a British Theme Park

ByGabbyRock

Onedayinclass,IwasinasmallgroupthatwantedtovisitaBritishamusementpark.Ihavebeenanavid themeparkexplorer,anditisalifelonggoalofminetovisitasmanyparksaroundtheworldasIcan.While theideadieddownamongthegroup,Ibecamemoredeterminedbythedaytovisitanamusementparkduring mytimeinLondon.Ihadmanyconcernsaboutthelogisticsofthisadventure,fromworryingaboutthe weathertothethoughtofgoingalonetotheideaofgoinganhoursouthofLondonandnavigatingthe transportation;mydreamsofvisitingaBritishthemeparkseem goaltovisitathemeparkquicklybecameatestofmyindepend

OnceIfoundChessingtonWorldofAdventuresonline,withitsamusementpark,zoo,andaquariumallin oneplace,IknewIwoulddoeverythingIcouldtomakeit.OnceIknewtheweatherwouldbeniceon openingday,Iknewbetterthantowastemyopportunity.BecauseIhadkeptmyplansonthedown-low,I didn’thaveanyonetogowithmewhenIfinallydecidedtomakeithappen.Ididn’tofficiallydecidetogo untilthedaybefore,oncetheweatherlookedverynice.Igotupearlierthananyotherday,aroundfivea.m.,to makeittoPaddingtonStationontime.Iwasluckytobegoingafterourclass’sOxfordtrip,soIwassomewhat familiarwithit,butitwasscarytonavigatethestationalone.Inavigatedeverythingverywellonmyown, excitedtomakethisthemeparkdreamareality.

Imadeitintotheparktheverymomentit openedwitheighthourstoexplore.Iamfamiliar withlocalparksinKansasandMissouri,butthis parkwasonanentirelydifferentlevel.Fromthe momentIentered,therewasabrightgreenanimal topiaryofeveryzooanimalimaginable,from zebrastopenguinstogiraffes.Theparkitselfwas beautifulandverycleanwithnotrashinsight,and thereweren’tmanypeoplearoundsinceitwasa schoolday.Thequeuestotherideswereas gorgeousanddetailed.TheRoomonaBroomride haddetailedpaintingsfromthebook,aswellas well-recordedvideosguidingtheride.Iwas beyondimpressedbythelevelofdetailinthe Vampirerollercoasterqueue,withitsanimatronic Draculaplayingtheorganandrainbowlights surroundingit.Incontrast,therestofthequeue waspitchdarkexceptforcandelabrashanging everywhere.Iwasimpressedbythesceneryatthe zooaswell,becauseeveryanimalwasvisibleand easytoapproach.Iwasmostshockedtoseea skunkandaraccoonlivingintheirrespective exhibits,butitwasagoodreminderthatmy everydaylifeisauniqueexperiencetosomeone livingacrosstheworld.

MymainpurposeforvisitingChessingtonWorldofAdventureswastoridetheworld’sonlyJumanjiroller coaster.ThiswasarelativelynewcoasterattheparkthatcircledtheentireJumanjiland.Itwasasuspended coasterwithseveralloops,thenwentbackwardaftercirclingthetigerJumanjiboardgamepiece.Thiscoaster wasthehighlightofmytriptotheparkbecausenotonlydidIgettorideinthefront,butIalsosawthepark andthestatueclearly,andIgottobein“theback”forthebackwardportionoftheride.WhileIcouldhave spentmyentiredayridingthatsingularcoaster,Imanagedtorideeverymajorrideinthepark.Thecoasters weremyfavoritebecauseIlovetheadrenalinetheygiveme,butthemostinterestingtomewastheirversion oftheSpinningDragonatWorldsofFun.Iwashappytoseethattheseatsfaceoutwardratherthaninward, whichmeansyoudon'thavetofacestrangersduringtheride.Thiscoasterisa“meh”formeinKansasCity, butitwasmuchfaster,spunmore,andhadmoredrops.IhadmorefunthanIthoughtpossible,anditwascool toseehowtwoplaceswithsuchsimilarcoastersandconceptscanbesodifferent.

WhileIwassadtohaveexperiencedthisparkonmyown,itallowedmetolearnaboutmyselfandexplore myinterestswithoutbeingtiedtoanotherindividual’sdesires.Iexploredtheparkatarelativelyfastpace,but itwasrelaxinginmyownway.Itriedeveryridepossibleineighthoursandbuiltanentirerankinglistof them.TheCrocDropwasoneofthecoolest-lookingridesIhaveeverseen;thedroptowerdescends,spinning youintotheopenmouthofagiantcrocodile.ThisridewasthemostuniquerideIhavebeenon,asitisvery differentfromaregulardroptowerbecauseofitsaddedspinning.Iwaspleasantlysurprisedtoseethattheir waterridesdonotgetyouaswetasthoseinKansasCityandMissourido.Idriedupinunderfiveminutesand barelyfeltdamp,eveninthesixty-degree,breezyweather.ThebiggestcultureshockIexperiencedwhile visitingtheparkwasthatmostofthecoastersdonotstopwhenyougetonoroff.Itdependedonthestyleof coaster,butafewofthemrequiredyoutounbucklebeforeyouevengottotheloadingdock.Itwasamaddash togetupandoutsafely,butanevenfasteronetogetseated,havetheharnesssecured,andgetreadytogo. WhilethisprocessmadethelinesignificantlyfasterthanwhatIamusedto,Iwasterrifiedmyfirsttime.Iam usedtothecoasterstopping,gettingyelledatforunbucklingevenasecondtooearly,andwaitingmany minuteswhilethecrewcheckstheharnesses.Iwassurprisedbytheleveloftrustandproperbehavioramong children,teenagers,andadultsastheyexitedandenteredtheride.Whileinitiallyterrifying,itwasoneofmy favoriteculturaldifferencestohaveexperienced.

Planningandnavigatingthistriponmyown provedthatIamcapableofhandlingcomplex, unfamiliarsituations.Athome,Igetstuckina modeofsaying“Ican’t,”butthisadventureproved theopposite,andthatspendingtimealoneata themeparkisnotembarrassing,butrathervery enjoyable.Thistriphasreignitedmydesiretovisit asmanyamusementparksaspossibleand experiencethevarietyofridesIhaveyetto explore.Iamparticularlyinterestedinseeingthe differencesbetweenthevariouscountriesandtheir rules.IhopetocomebacktoChessingtononeday, whentheyfinishthePawPatrollandandtheir “secret”land,whichwillopenintwoyears.More thananything,thistriprenewedmydesireto exploreandembracenewadventuresbecausethere aresomanyexperiencesIdon’tyetknowabout andhaven’thad.Moreimportantly,Iprovedto myselfthatIcantakeonanynewadventurewith enoughtrustinmyself.

The Art of Death

Historicallyusedtorepresentandhonorthe deceased,thesefiguresshowhowtheendingof lifecreatessomethingnew.Thedetailed engravingandcraftsmanshipthathasgoneinto thecreationoftheseeffigiesrepresentsour everlastingconnectiontothecraftofart.These highlydetailedsculpturesremindusofhowour livesarepiecesofart,layeredwithrelationships, connection,belief,emotion,andtragedy.Art encapsulatesourlifestoriesandallowsforthe humanspirittoremain,evenafterhundredsof years.

ByIsabellaMautino

TheroyalburialscontainedwithinWestminster Abbeyshowcasenotjusttheremainsofthedead,but showhowdeathinspiresandcreatesbeautifulworksof art.Asyouwalkaroundthehistoric,11thcentury church,youfindthattheseroyalgravesinternally containtheirroyalbodieswhilerepresentingtheir physicalformexternallythroughtheartformof effigies.

British greenspace By

MagnoliaFoster

InoticedanaspectofBritishculturethatisseverelylackingintheUnitedStates.Itwasnotthefoodor clothesorarchitecturebutratherthegreenspace.Therewereprivate,hiddengardensscatteredthroughoutthe cityandlarge,greenparkswithinwalkingdistanceofwhereverIwas.Thequalityofthegardenswere incrediblyimpressive.IhadneverseengrassasgreenasSt.JamesPark.

IlatervisitedtheLeightonhouse,ahistorichousewhichbelongedtoLordFrederickLeightoninthemidto late1800s.WhenIsawtheoutsideofthehouse,whichboastedaverylargeandmanicuredsquareofgreenery, IrememberedtheimportanceofgardensinBritishliterature.NovelslikeJaneEyreandPrideandPrejudice featuregardenwalksinwhichthecharacterswilltakestrollsaroundtohaveprivateconversationsortocure theirboredom.ThesizeandpreservationofthegardenswereamajorstatussymbolinBritishculture,andit seemsthattherootshavenotfullydisintegrated.Idecidedtodomoreresearchintothehistoryandculture aroundgreenspacesinBritainandhowthisinfluencedBritishgardenstoday.

HistorythroughHampsteadHeath

Londondidnotsimplystumbleuponthe secrettograndiosegardens;rather,itwasthe resultofcenturiesoflegalbattlesandprotection acts.Anearlyexampleofnatureprotectionin LondonwasHampsteadHeath.Accordingto theLondonGardenTrust,thisparkwasfirst identifiedinhistorybooksin1543.Huntingand hawkingwereforbiddeninthisareatopreserve gameforKingHenryVIII.Thisbecameoneof thefirstdocumentedareasofenvironmental preservation.Formanypeople,itwasviewedas anescapefromthecity.In1821,SirThomas MaryonWilsoninheritedtheHeathfromhis father,andheappealedtothecourtstodevelop propertiesontheparkgrounds.Thiswasswiftly dismissedintheinterestofthepublic.The court'sdecisionwasalsoinfluencedbythe gentrynearbywhosemanorsoverlookedthe Heath,asrenovatingtheareawouldhave blockedtheirview.Wilsonspenthisentirelife tryingtogainapprovalfordevelopmentonthe Heath.In1865,theOpenSpacesSocietywas establishedandcontinuouslyfoughtWilsonon hisproposalsuntilhisdeathin1869.In1871,it becamelawthatthe800acresofHampstead Heathshouldalwaysbeprotected.

London'sOriginalGreenSpace

HampsteadHeathsetaprecedentforBritishParksinmodernhistory,butgreenspacerecognitionbeganas earlyasthe5thcenturywithmedieval“villagegreens.”Asearlyvillagesbegantoform,largeplotsofgrass werekeptopenforlivestocktograzeon.AccordingtotheHistoryofEnglandBlog,villagegreenswerewhere thevillageswouldholdmarketsandfairs,astheywerecommonspaces.Villagegreensarestillaroundtoday; theycanbeasmallpondorawoodedarea,andaren’tevenalwaysgreen.Theyarecommonspacesforthe peopleofLondon.Despitetheirlonghistory,villagegreensweren’tformallyprotecteduntil1965,andthey musthavebeenstandingforatleast20years.

GardensandLuxury

AlthoughthepreservationofgreenspacesinLondoniswidelyattributedtotheinterestofthepublic, London’shistoryofclassismplayedaroleingardenupkeep.Fordecades,gardenswereusedasameasureof socialstatus.Inthe17thand18thcentury,theywereusedasaformofnightlifefortheBritishgentry, accordingtotheLondonMuseum.Forafee,onecouldentera“pleasuregarden.”Thesewerelate-nighthubs fortheBritishelitetominglewitheachother.Theyoftenincludedmasqueradesordancesalongwithfoodand alcohol.Vauxhall,amoreprestigiouspleasuregarden,alsobecameoneofBritain'sfirstpublicartgalleries.By the1800s,thewealthycrowdhadmovedonfromthesegardens,andthevenuesbeganhostingmoreandmore outrageousperformers,suchasacrobatsandhotairballoons.Thesespaceslosttheirreputationandwereall closedbythelate1800s.

Londonhasalonganduniqueconnectionwiththeirgreenspaces.Thepreservationwasatestamenttothewill ofthepeopleandthedefianceofurbanization.TodayinLondon,theaveragewalktoagardeniseleven minutes.ThisishighlycontrastedwithmanyU.S.citiesthatdonothaveparkscloseenoughtopossiblywalk toinaday.Britain'sparkswerejaw-dropping,andIhopethattheU.Scanlearnhowtoprioritizegreenspace overmonetizationinthefuture.

Bridgerton Day

BySierraQuinn

Londonisfilledwithromance.Ithaseverythingsomeonewholoveslovecould want:soothingaccents,breathtakingbuildings,aestheticallyendearingshopsand restaurants…andBridgertonfilminglocations.

BridgertonisaTVseriesmadebyNetflixthatcurrentlyhasfourseasons.Each seasonoftheshowfocusesonthelovestoryofoneofthechildrenfromthe Bridgertonfamily.Italsogenerallydivesintosocialconflictsconcerningtherest ofthemembersofthefamilyandothercharactersaswellsincetheshowtakes placeinLondon’sRegencyera.Inshort,London,romance,andBridgertonareall deeplyintertwinedinmymind.

IstartedthejourneytoLondonbywatchingthenewestseasonofBridgertonon theplane.AfewhourstomyselfwithnodistractionswasexactlywhatIneededto finallygetcaughtupontheshow,andIcouldn’tthinkofabetterpieceofmediato getmeintheLondonspirit.Itwasn’tuntilafewdayslaterthatthepossibilityof exploringsomeofthefilminglocationscameupasweweretryingtoplanourfree time.Thankfully,Meiliknewmuchmoreabouttheshow’sproductionthanIdid, andshebroughtupthefactthatmanyofthefilminglocationsareactuallyin London.Shesuggestedthatwespendoneofourfreedaysvisitingthemajor filminglocationsaroundLondonthatwecouldaccessandso,forMeili,Taylor, andme,ourThursdaywashenceforthdesignatedas“ourBridgertonday.”

AfterIgotdressedinmymost Bridgerton outfitIhadwithme(alongpink floraldresswithruffles,andapinkcardigan),westartedthedaybytakingthetube totheSt.James’sSquareareaofWestminster.Wewalkedacoupleofblocks beforeroundingacornerandseeingasmallchurch.Theyardareasurroundingthe churchhadsomepop-upvendorssellingdifferentkindsoffood,althoughthearea stilllookedmostlyemptyofpeopleandoverallunassuming.Butwemadeourway throughtheyardandwalkedintooneoftheprettiestchurchesI’veeverseen.

TheinsideofthechurchwasthefilminglocationofaveryfamousSeason2 scene.Withoutspoilinganything,thescenewasofaweddinginwhichAnthony, theoldestBridgertonsiblingandthesubjectofSeason2’slovestory,hasavery significantpersonalrevelation.Thesceneisverywell-knownamongst Bridgerton watchers,anditwassomuchfuntoseethelocationinperson.

WefoundapictureonMeili’sphoneoftheweddingscenefromtheshow,andweheldherphoneuptomatchitwith thebackgroundofthechurch.Wealsostagedourownweddingphoto,withmyselfasAnthony,TaylorasEdwina(the girlAnthonyismarrying),andMeiliasthepriest.

Butwhatwasalmostmoreinterestingtomewastherealizationthatthischurchwasareal,functioning,valuedplace. Therewereafewotherpeopleinthechurch,walkingaroundthebackofthebuildingorsittinginthepewsenjoyingthe quietenvironment.Thestainedglassanddarkwoodoftheinsidecastawarmglowovertheentireinterior,andthe insidewasslightlyhazy,meaningthatyoucouldseethesunraysspillingthroughthewindows.Eventhoughwe venturedtothechurchbecauseitwasaBridgertonfilminglocation,itendedupfeelingsomuchmorecomplexthan that.Despitenotbeingreligiouspersonally,Ifeltawonderandpeacewhileinsidethechurch,especiallywiththe discoverythatthechurchismuchmorethanjustafilminglocation.

Therewereafewminorobstaclesthataroseonourwayto thenextfilminglocation.Thefirstone,thoughnotreallyan obstacle,wasthatwesawaverycute,verylargestationary storethatwejusthadtocheckout.Itremindedmeespecially ofWonderfairinLawrencewithallofthefunobjectsand cozyvibes,andIpurchasedasmallPaddingtonkeychain.Our nextobstaclewasnavigatingthetransportationtothenext location.Wespentupwardsof20minuteswanderingaround thetubestationtryingtodecidewhichlineweshouldtake andwhatthebestwaytogettherewouldbe.Ourmapapps keptsuggestingtrains,butwewantedtoavoidtakingthetrain asmuchaspossible,andwewereunsurewhatotheroptions thatleftuswith.Afteraskingsomeoftheemployeesinthe station,andsometrialanderroronourpart,wegotonabus outtoGreenwich.Despitethelargegroupofyoung schoolchildrenthatgotonthebus(andtheirteacheryellingat themtobequiet),wehadarelaxing45-minuteridetothe nextlocation.

WegotoffthebusattheedgeofGreenwichPark,andwe walkedafewminutesthroughtheparktrailsbeforewefound ourselvesrightinfrontoftheBridgertonfamily’shouse–or,at leastthebuildingtheyusetofilmtheoutsideofthehouse. TheshowusesalotofeditingandCGItomakeitlooklike theiconichouseisinthemiddleofLondon’sbusydowntown streets,butthehouseactuallystoodout,kindofoddly,asa standalonebuildinginthemiddleofapark.Westillhadfun takinglotsofpicturesoutsidethehouse,especiallygivenhow iconicthefrontofthehouseisintheshow,butweweren’t abletogoin.TheinsideofwhatweknewastheBridgerton houseactuallyholdsaprivateartcollection.Notonlywould wehavehadtopayafeetoenterandseetheart,butthe insideofthatparticularhouseisalsonotusedintheshow, onlytheoutside.

Onceagain,itwaseye-openingandevenfulfillingina waytoknowthatthebuildingismorethanjust“the Bridgertonhouse.”Eventhoughthehouseinreallifedoesn’t seematalllikethehouseintheshow,it’sstillnicetoknow it’sactuallyinuseregardless,especiallywithsomethingas interestingasanartcollection.Understandingthatthese placesserveassomuchmorethanjustafilminglocationfor aNetflixshowaddedalottomyexperienceand interpretationofthem.

Finally,wemadeourwaytotheothersideoftheparkto seeourlastlocation.Whileweweren’tabletogetclosetoit (itwasfarawayandwehadanafternoonteareservationwe didn’twanttobelatefor),wesawthesquarewheretheshow filmedthescenes

ofLadyWhistledown’sgossipcolumnbeing handedouttothe“citizensoftheton.”And, stickingfaithfullywiththethemeoftheselocations ofservingasfunctionalplacesforthepublic,the squarewaspartoftheUniversityofGreenwich. Whilewanderingaroundthecityandfeeling immersedinBridgertonwasalotoffun,Ireally feltliketheexperiencewasheightenedbyalso beingabletodiscoverwhattheselocationsare outsideoftheshow.Itdeepenedmyconnectionto thecity,andfilledmewithanoddsenseofreliefto knowthatthelocationswereallveryintentional partsoftheircommunities.Whileitwouldhave beenfun,inaway,foroneoftheselocationsto acknowledgeorembraceitsconnectionto Bridgerton,Iactuallypreferredthattheydidn’t.I hadalotoffunbecomingmoreawareofthe multiplepurposesthatmanyofthebuildingsin Londonserve,andIfinditinspiringhowthecity effortlesslycombinesparticipatinginmodernpop cultureandpreservingitsownhistory.

From Windsor to the West End: Reclaiming the Six Queens

ByTaylorDoyle

Disclaimer:CatherineofAragon,AnneBoleyn, JaneSeymour,AnneofCleves,CatherineHoward, andCatherineParrareknownasthesixwivesof KingHenryVIII.Still,if Six the Musical taughtme anything,itisthattheKingshouldnotdefinethese individualwomen.Instead,Iwillhonortheir individualityandrefertothemastheSixQueens.

DuringmytimeinLondon,Inoticedtwo prominentthemesemerge,whichIwelcomedand,as aresearcher,soughtout:theintersectionbetween genderandtheinfamousSix.Myunintentional manifestationsofthesethemesstartedbeforeourtrip toLondon,whenIwouldmentionatanygiventime myintenttosee Six the Musical (myabsolutedream musical).AsweapproachedourtriptoLondon,I foundagrouptoattendtheshowwith,andwe boughttickets.Iwasbeamingwithexcitementabout finallyseeingmydreammusicalandbraggingtoall myfriendsandfamilyaboutit.Intandemwithmy purchaseofmusicaltickets,IdiscoveredthatLondon ishometotheVaginaMuseum—andhowcouldI,a sexeducationandmenstrualhygienemanagement researcher,misstheopportunityofalifetimetovisit amuseumthatperfectlyalignswithmyresearch interests?Aheadofboardingtheplane,myintentions wereset,andmymindcouldnotbechangedabout thesetwoexperiences.LittledidIknow,Iwasabout toexperiencethemostperfectconjunctionofmy interests.

OntheMondayofthetrip,IwentwithKyanne, Sierra,andEmilytoWindsorCastle.Insidethe castle'sgatesliesSt.George’sChapel,whichisthe burialplaceofmany...

notableroyals(includingQueenElizabethII).Gettingclosetotheendofthe chapel,hungryandtiredfromexploringthecastle,Ilookdownattheblack andwhitecheckeredtiles,andtomysurprise,thereistherestingplaceofKing HenryVIII.IfeltasthoughtheKingwas“toocasually”buriedthere;people weresteppingonhisgrave.AsIlookedcloser,Isawthathewasburied alongsideJaneSeymour,KingCharlesI,and,tomyabsoluteshock,aninfant childofAnneBoleyn.Ifelthorrifiedbythisglimpseofhowwomenwere treated,especiallybyHenryVIII,whoviewedtheQueensofEngland,his wivesandthemothersofhischildren,asdisposable.Ifeeloutragedbythe disrespectforAnneBoleyn’sbody,assheisburiedinanunmarkedgrave withoutherchildrestingwithher.

OnWednesday,Isawmydreammusical, Six.Duringtheopeningact,I foughtbacktearsofhappinessandprideasIhadreachedsomanygoals, namelytravelingabroadforthefirsttimebymyselfandwatchingashowthatI haddreamtofseeingforsomanyyears.Andofcourse,Ifeltincredibly empoweredbythestrengthandgirlhoodportrayedineachcharacter.Inthe show,theSixcompetewithoneanotherandeventuallyrealizethatthevillain intheirstoriesisnoteachother,butKingHenryVIII—themusicalendswitha senseofrewritinghistoryanddefeatingthepatriarchy(yayy!).

OnSaturday,thedaybeforeweleftLondon,IwenttotheVaginaMuseum withAlexandKyanne.WithinthemostinterestingandengagingmuseumI havebeento,IsawasmallplaqueaboutCatherineofAragon.Nestledintoan exhibitaboutmenopauseisthestoryofCatherineofAragon’sinfertility journey.TheplaquedescribesaninterpretationthatCatherineofAragonwent throughprematuremenopause,whichoccursbeforetheageof40.Thebelief thatCatherinewentthroughmenopauseinhermid-thirtiesisduetothedecline inherfertility.Catherineexperiencedmultiplestillbirthsandlikelymore miscarriages.HenryVIIIdivorcedCatherineofAragonbecauseshedidnot haveasurvivingson,whichhearguedwaspunishmentformarryinghis brother’swidow.Themarriagewasannulled,andHenryVIIImarriedAnne BoleynafterbreakingEnglandawayfromtheRomanCatholicChur

BesidesaddingtomydislikeofKingHenryVIII,Ifoundmyselfthinkingof thewomenwhocamebeforeme,includingCatherineofAragon,AnneBoleyn, JaneSeymour,AnneofCleves,CatherineHoward,andCatherineParr.Yes, somepartsoftheworldhavemadeprogressingenderequality—t Englandisn’tgoingtokillhiswivesfornotproducingamaleheir—butthere hasnotbeenenoughchange.JustintheUnitedStates,womenar experiencingrightsbeingtakenawayfromthem,whilewestill thePinkTaxorthepaygap.WomenofColorexperiencedaily microaggressionsandintensewagedisparities.Transgender,non-binary,and gender-expansivecommunitiesalsocontinuetofacedisproportionatefatal violence.Globally,sextrafficking,childmarriages,andlimitedaccessto menstrualproductsareexperiencesofmanypeople.Soyes,weh verylongwaytogo.

The Streets of London

“Streetskilledme,”Alexoftenremarkedaswejoked aboutourexperiencesnavigatingallmodesof transportation,suchasthetube,Limebikes,doubledeckerbuses,andwalking.OurOystercardsallowed ustotravelthecitylikenativeLondonersandgetinto allsortsofmix-ups.Figuringouthowtogetaround effectivelyandsafelywasacoreexperienceforallthe Flaneurs,andbytheendofthetrip,wecouldwalk intoGloucesterStationbyourhotelwithmuchmore confidence.

It’s the little things BySavannahFord

Londonisahugecitybutit’sthelittlethingsthathavestuckwithme.Twoofthesimplestaspectsoflifein Londonweremyabsolutefavoritethingsaboutthecity:thepublictransportationsystemandthepigeons.My wonderatboardingthetubemadegettingtowhereIwasgoingasexcitingasbeingthereandIgenuinely lookedforwardtomytraveltime.Ispentmytimetryingtokeepmybalance,readthemaps,andlookat everythingallatonce,andtherewasalwayssomethinginterestingtoseeorsomeoneinterestingtotalkto.

Whetheritwasart,aliveperformance,orjustinteresting peopletotalkto,thereseemedtobeanendlesssupplyofthings toholdyourattentioninthetubestations.TheGloucesterRoad stationdownthestreetfromourhotelfeaturedpiecesfromlocal artistMonsterChetwynd.Whilewaitingforthetrain,Itook picturesofthelizardsandturtlesonthelilypads,andlearned aboutherresearchonGloucesterRoadandtheAmazonian waterlilythestatuesweremodeling.Lateatnightinastation outsideoneoftheWestEndtheaters,weheardastreetperformer singandplaytheguitarwhilewehurriedtocatchourtrain. ComingbackfromtheHarryPottertourinKingsCrossStation,I watchedpeopletakepicturesatPlatform9¾andspoketoa womanwho,likeme,wasn’tinterestedinwaitinginthehourlongline.Weweresimplytherefortheatmosphereand experienceofbeinginKingsCrosslikeTheBoyWhoLived.

Thetubeswerefulloftired commuters,rowdykids,and,onone occasion,amanwithfivedogstaking upwaymorespacethanwhatwas sociallyacceptable.Buttherewere alsopeoplewillingtotalkandshare experiences.Imetacouplefrom Philadelphiathatgave recommendationsforwheretostand towatchthechangingoftheguards, andalocalLondonerwhotalkedabout theWorldCupbeinginKC,what teamswehopedtosupport,andifwe wereabletogethimticketstocome andseethegames.

TherewereseveralpeoplewillingtolendahandwhenIcouldn’tfigureoutwhichdirection togoor,onmorethanoneoccasion,hadgottenonthetubegoingthewrongdirection

Myfavoritethingaboutthecity,andthethingIhavemisedthemostsincecominghome,isthepigeons.As anyonewhohadspentanytimewithmewilltellyou,Iwouldstopdeadinmytrackstosneakupandgeta pictureofapigeondoingsomethingassimpleassittingonabench.Londonhasfivespeciesofpigeons,and eachspecieshasdifferentcolorsandpatternstobefound.SomewherebetweenthefirstpigeonIsaw(agiant, grey,commonpigeonsittingonasignatthePortobelloMarket)andthelastpigeonIsaw(ararerblack speciesinfrontoftheQPRfootballstadium),Ifellinlovewiththebeady-eyedbirdsandmadeitagoalto findoneofeachspecies.WhileIdefinitelydidn’tseeeveryspecies,Ihavepicturesofpigeonsfromalmost everyplaceIvisited,whichmadeforauniquewaytorememberwhereIwas.

Londonpigeonsaredesensitizedtohumansandwillcomeuptoyoutotrytograbyourfoodrightoutof yourhand.Theyalsodidn’tseemtomindatallwhenaboycalledthem“skyrats”andtriedtoswatthem awayfromwherehesat.Atonepoint,Ievensawapigeonridingthetube.Itsatstraightuponachair, lookingperfectlyateaseandstaringupatthemapasifitwascheckingtoseewhereitsstopwas.Itwas fascinatingtoseehowthesecreatureswereabletoturnanurbansettingintotheirhome,makingtheirnests alongtheledgesofbuildingsandscavengingtheirlunchfromunsuspectingtourists.

WhilethetransportationandpigeonsareasmallpartoftheLondonexperience,theymadeahugeimpact onmytrip.Iwasdelightedbythetubeandtookeveryopportunityasachancetoseesomethingnew.No matterhowbusyIwas,IstoppedwhatIwasdoingeverytimetotakepicturesofnewpigeonslikeIwas collectingPokémon.Mywonderatthetubeandthepigeonsshowedmethatsometimesthebestpartofatrip isn'tthebiggestthingsyouplannedtodo,it’sthelittleonesyoudidn’t…evenifthelittlethingshavebeady eyesandanintensehungerforyoursweettreats.

Flowers of London

BySierraQuinn

MyfirstthoughtuponlandinginLondonwasn’t“Wow,Ican’tbelieve I’mfinallyhere,”or“Ican’twaittostartexploringthecity,”likeI thoughtitwouldbe.Myfirstthoughtwasactually“It’ssogreenhere.”

LeavingLawrencebeforeMarchwasevenhalfovermeantthatwe hadn’tquiteseenastablestarttospringyet.Thegrassaroundcampuswas stillmostlybrown,thetreeswerestillbare,andKU’sfamoustulipswere justbarelystartingtopokeupfromthedirt.ButinLondon,Inoticed immediatelythatthegrasswasalreadyavibrantgreen.Thedrivetothe hotelevenconsistedoflotsofgreenbushesandtreesthatwerealready blossoming.Iactuallyfeltanimmensereliefthatitdidn’tfeellikeitwas stillwinterthere,andImadeitmymissiontospendasmuchtimeasI couldappreciatingthenatureandgreeneryofthecity.

OnourfirstdayinLondon,noteven12hoursafterwehadlandedand whilemanyotherswereresting,Ihadtheopportunitytoexplore KensingtonGardenswithacoupleofpeople.SituatedrightnexttoHyde Park,thegardenswerealreadystunning,evenintheslightlycoldspring. Therewerebeautiful,widestretchesofgrassandtreesdottedaroundin someareas,wherefamilieswererelaxingonblanketsandenjoyingthe lastcoupleofhoursofsunfortheday,whileotherareasfeaturedpaths windingthroughdensertreesandbushes.Myfavoritepartofthegardens, though,weretheflowerwalkslocatedatthenorthandsouthends,already filledwithbrightyellowdaffodils,clustersofyellowandpurplepansies, brightpinktulips,hyacinths,andfull-bloomcherryblossomtrees.Itwas beautiful,colorful,andserene,andIwassosurprisedthatsuchacolorful andcalmenvironmentcouldexistinthemiddleofLondon.

AfterKensingtonGardens,Iespeciallyfoundmyselfnoticingbeautiful flowersandplantseverywhere.DuringmytriptoWindsorCastleacouple ofdayslater,Iwassurroundedbybloomingmagnoliatreesandwhat musthavebeenthousandsofdaffodilswithvividyellowpetalsandbright orangecenters.Practicallyeveryhillandgreenareanexttothecastlewas packedwithdaffodils.Althoughtheweatherwasparticularlygrayand drearythedayIsawWindsor,andthecastlewasalsoadullcolor,the daffodilsespeciallyaddedsomebrightnesstotheenvironment.

Thenextday,duringourtriptoOxford,Iwasstillamazedbythe brightnessofnature.EverylawnoutsideoftheOxfordUniversity buildingslookedlikeitwasn’tevenrealbecauseofthealmostsolidbright greencolorofthegrass,andmostwerelinedwithevenmorevivid, bloomingtrees.Whileexploringoneoftheuniversitybuildings,agroup ofusfoundalargegarden/lawnareahiddenwithinthebuilding.

Wewalkedthroughthegardenareaonthedesignatedgravelpath,windingthroughthetrees,andsaw beautifulwildmeadows(notedbythesignssprinkledthroughouttheareathatread“pleasekeepoffthewild meadow”),accompaniedbypatchesofsmall,paleblueflowerscoveringpartsofthemeadows.Wefounda circularbenchtositon,andallwroteinourjournalsforawhile,savoringthequietareaandbeautifulday. However,thehighlightoftheOxforddayforme,andmaybe evenoneofthehighlightsoftheentiretrip,wasmyvisitto OxfordBotanicGarden.Inthelargegardenarea,therewerenot onlystunningoutdoorplantareascompletewithallkindsof flowers,trees,andbushes,buttherewerealsoindoorgreenhou areaswithhundredsofdifferenttypesofplantsofallkinds.The greenhouseswerewarm,andeachonefeaturedadifferent environmentortypeofplant;forexample,onegreenhousewas dedicatedtotropicaltreesandflowers,andanothergreenhouse featuredmostlywaterplantswithalargepoolcompletewithlily padsinthemiddle.Ihadpickedupabrochureuponenteringth gardensthatlistedsomeoftheplantsfeaturedandinformation aboutthem,soitwasfunandgratifyingtofindeachplantin greenhousesandthenbeabletoreadaboutit.

ThedegreetowhichLondonandtheUKcareaboutplants, trees,flowers,andothergreenerywasdefinitelymoreofacul shockformethanIexpected.Walkingaroundanyareaandbeing abletoexperiencealevelofconsiderationfornaturewasnot pleasantbutalmostemotionalinaway.ItmadeLondonfeel calmerandcleaner;itwasrefreshinginawayIhadn’tanticipated andaddedtotheoverallbeautyofthecity.

We asked the Flâneurs...

Walking the City

Background

IhavebeentoLondononcebefore,butthe experiencewaslimitedandstricttoits schedule,andIonlyhadroughlytwodays there.SoformysecondtripbacktoLondon,I wantedtomakesuremyexperiencewas amazing.Forthistrip,Imadesuretoprioritize goingoutandgettinglostinthestreets,onthe tube,orwhileridingthebus.Ididthisafew timesasIhadmorefreetimeduringthistripto justwander.Imadesuretoputonsomegood musicandallowthecitytobemyguide.Isaw alotofinterestingandbreathtakingsitesin placesyouwouldneverexpect.Londonisan oldcity,anditsarchitectureshowsthroughits vibrantneighborhoodsandbusystreets.You cangofromPiccadillyCircle,withbustling shopsandmusicwithtonsofpeople,toa beautifulandquietneighborhoodwithprivate gardensandsmallcafeswithlovelycoffee. Overall,thecityhassomuchtooffer,andthis iswhereIspentmostofmytimethroughout thetrip,justwandering. Youcangofrom PiccadillyCircle,withbustlingshopsand musicwithtonsofpeople,toabeautifuland

Night Travel vs. Day Travel

TheTubesystemofLondonhasalwaysbeena centralpointofinterestforme,asitfascinated methatsuchacomplexsystemoftrainscanbe laidsoperfectlyacrossandunderalarge sprawlingcity.

ByLaurenFraser

Ofcourse,thetubesystemhasbeen runningforaverylongtime,butthe factthattherearen’tmanydelaysand thatpeopleunderstandthesystemand makesuretobeefficientwhileinthe systemjustmakestheexperiencethat muchbetter.Seeingpeoplemakesure tostandontherightsideofan escalator,asthosewhoneedtowalkor rundownorupthemgoontheleftside, issuchagreatexampleofapublic culturalpracticethatisrespectedand constant.Alongsidethis,thecultural engagementIgetfromexploringthese publicplacesmakestheexperience evenbetter,especiallywhilealone.I wasbetterabletoexploreandimmerse myselfinLondon’scultureonmyown whilepracticinghowto“fitin”asa

“There’s nowhere else like London. Nothing at all, anywhere” - Vivienne Westwood

Virginia Woolf, the Original Flâneuse

ByMichaelHanzelka

I’vegotatruelove,andhernameisVirginiaWoolf.

Myfirstencounterwithherwasinhighschool,whenIpickedup hernovel-lengthessayARoomofOne’sOwnatthepubliclibrary.All Ireallyknewaboutheruptothatpointwasthatshewasawriteranda feminist,butafterdevouringthebookinlessthanaweek,I’d discoveredthatshewasalsoapassionatehumanist,amasterofthe streamofconsciousnessprosestyle,andaqueericon.

Mostimportantly,VirginiaWoolfisconsideredbymanytobe theoriginalreal-lifeflâneuse,orthefemaleequivalentofaflâneur. Whenthetermwasfirstintroducedinthe19thcentury,women— particularlythoseofmiddleandupper-classstatus—werelargely stillconfinedtothehome.Freelystrollingthestreetswasoften consideredascandalousact,andevenwhenwomenwereportrayed insuchenvironmentsinfiction,theywereoftentreatedmoreas sexualobjectsthanaspeople.Woolfbrokeboundariesinbothher fictionandnon-fictionessaysbydaringtoassertthatwomen shouldbeallowedtosimplyroam:onthestreetsofLondon, throughthecourtyardsofuniversitycampuses,anywhere.Sheeven wroteashortessayin1927titled“StreetHaunting”,whichfollows thenarratorastheyembarkonatripacrossLondononenightona questtobuyapencil(though,asyoucanimagine,it’snotreally aboutthepencil).

SoofcoursewhenIfoundoutthatherbirthplacewasinSouth Kensington,abouta7-minutewalkfromourhotel,IknewIhadto trytofindasmanyVirginia-relatedthingsaspossiblewhileIwas inLondon.Luckilyforme,theyweren’thardtofindthankstoa websitecalledLondonRemembers,whichdocumentsthousands ofhistoricalsitesacrossthecityusingtheirtrademarkroundblue plaques(youwon’tbeabletogoanywhereinLondonwithout spottingatleastone).Iwasabletofindseveralplaquesfor VirginiaWoolfnearareasIwasalreadyplanningonvisiting,as wellasonesforotherpeopleandplacesthatcaughtmyattention alongtheway.

Myfirststopwasnotaplaque,buttheNationalPortraitGallery,whereaportraitpaintedbyhersister, VanessaBell,hangsonthesecondflooramongmanyother20th-centuryBritishlegends.It’sasurprisingly gentleandendearingpaintingofVirginiaknittingwhilereclininginanorangearmchair.Vanessaisright nexttoherinaportraitofherown—“Howsweet,”Irememberthinking,“thatthey’reimmortalized togetherlikethisafterdeath.”Aftertheirfatherdied,VirginiaandVanessalivedtogetherforseveralyears beforeeitherofthemmarried.Thehometheysharedeventuallybecamethefirstmeetingspotforthe BloomsburyGroup,acohortofartists,writers,andotherintellectualfigureswhoplayedamassivepartin shapingBritishartsandcultureduringtheearly20thcentury.

IwasabletovisittwoblueplaquesplacedbytheVirginiaWoolfSocietyduringmytrip:one,her aforementionedbirthplaceat22HydeParkinKensington;theother,aformersiteoftheBloomsbury Group,whichnowhousestheUCLSchoolofPharmacy.Iwouldhavelikedtovisithergraveaswell,but it’slocatedtwohoursawayfromLondoninEastSussex,whichIunfortunatelyhadneitherthetimenor theresourcestoreach.However,Ididgetthechancetowanderaroundsomeofthelocationsoften featuredinWoolf’swriting,suchasRegent’sPark(whichisthesettingforalargeportionofMrs. Dalloway).

VirginiaWoolfhasbeenoneofmyfavoriteauthorsforafewyearsnow.AfterfinishingARoomof One’sOwn,Ilaterreadheranti-waressayThreeGuineas(inconversationwithanotherfavoriteessayist ofmine,SusanSontag),andI’mcurrentlyinthemidstofmakingmywaythroughhercollectionof fictionnovels.Iwillenthusiasticallyrecommendhertoprettymuchanyoneforanyreason.Askme, “Who’safraidofVirginiaWoolf?”andI’llsay,“NotI!”Andifyou’resomeonewhofeelsanxietyabout gettingintoolderliteraturelikeIdo,I’dtellyounottobeafraideither.Herwritingisplentyaccessible andentertaining,andonceyougetintoabookofhers,you’ll

Finding Peace on my own

By Calleigh Hillard

OnmyfinaldayinLondon,Iwasexhausted.Ihadspentthemorningatadead run,desperatetocheckofftheremainingitemsonmylist:touringParliament, visitingWestminsterAbbey,andgrabbinglunchatthefamousRedLionpub. Despitemyexhaustion,Istillhadafullscheduleahead,includingtheChurchill WarRooms.

BecauseIhadsometimetokillbeforemyentryslot,Idecidedtotake thelongwayround,exploringthestreetsandbuildingsaroundme.AsI wanderedthroughthequietsidestreets,Iwalkedstraightintooneofthe mostbeautifulplacesIhadeverseen.ItwasSt.James’sPark.Itwasatrue oasisinthebustlingcity.Itwasbeautiful,quiet,andexactlytheescapeI needed. EventhoughIwasintheheartofLondon,thecity'ssounds vanished.ItwasasifeverycarhadswitchedoffthemomentIstepped ontothegrass. Theonlysounds werethelaughterofchildren playingandtherhythmicplipplipofducksfollowingintheir wake.

Itwasaperfectday.Thesun waswarm,agentlebreezewas blowing,andtoputtheicingon the cake,thetreesandflowers wereinfullbloom.Therewasthis beautifulwillowtreerightnextto thepondinthemiddleofthepark. Itwasmaybemyfavoritesight whileIwasthere.The delicate limbsbillowedinthebreeze.I honestlyfeltlikeIwasinascene froma90srom-com.

“Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”

Samuel Johnson, The Life of Samuel Johnson LL.D. Vol 3

IeventuallyfoundasoftpatchofgreengrasswhereseveralLondonerswere soakingupthesunshine,andIdecidedtojointhem. AsIsatdown,mymindfinallywentclear.Thegrasswassoft,thebreezefelt cleansing,andthepigeonsandducksputteredaroundme.Atthatmoment,I realizeditwasmyfavoritepartoftheentiretrip.Formostofmyyoungadult life,Ihadusedeverymomentofreprieveasanexcuseforstimulation.Iwould alwaysimmediatelyreachformyphonetoscrollthroughInstagramorcall someonejusttoavoidbeingalonewithmythoughts.

Butsittingthereinthepark,thedesiretopickupmydevicedisappeared.I didn’tneedmyphone.Theworldaroundmewasbeautiful,andstillnesswasall theproofIneeded.

Yearning For Public Transportation

Besidesflights,thetotalcostoftravelingontheLondon Reviewtripwassurprisinglylow.WereceivedOystercardsfor thetubeanddouble-deckerbuses,whichIlookedupwerearound 50pounds.Ispent6poundstogotoandfromWindsorCastle,and wereceivedtrainticketstoandfromOxford,whichwerearound6 pounds.That’satotalofaround62pounds,or84USD.Only$84 fortransportationallaroundLondonisshockingtome, consideringhowexpensiveeverythingelsewas,aswellashow muchIpayfortransportationathome.

InsteadofdivingintoarantaboutthewayAmericancitiesare designedaroundcars,Iwanttoappreciateandconsiderthefuture thatmorecitiescouldbebuilttoaccommodatepedestrians, culture,community,andarchitecture.Ican’timagineaversionof BoroughMarketanywhereintheMidwestthatdoesn’tincludea parkinglotthesizeofafootballfield(orAmericanfootball field).

Thistripgavemesuchanimmersiveexperienceintothe infrastructurethatmakeslivingwithoutacarpossible.Obviously, allcitiescomewiththeirissues,andLondonsurelyhasplenty,but thepublictransportationmakesupforsomeofitsaffordability issues.Inmyexperience,thetubeandbuseswereexciting,easyto use,andaccommodating.Now,havingbeenbackintheUSfor sometime,I’vebeenyearningforpublictransportation.Of course,Ihaveaccesstosome,suchastheKUbuses,buttheyare notthemostconvenientforthoseofuslivingoffcampus,andmy mainsourceoftransportationisstillmycar.

ByKyanneCarlgren

Always saw cute & surprisingly well behaved dogs on the tubes!

Where I spent all my money^^^

ThetubeiswhereIhadthebestandmostmemorable transportationexperiences.Onemorning,ValandIheaded downtotheGloucesterRoadStation,andatthetopofthe stairs,wenoticedourtrainwasthere.Irusheddownthesteps andremarked,“We’rewe’regonnamakeit,”justbefore hoppingonasthedoorsclosedwithValstillontheplatform. Weexchangedaslightlypetrifiedlookasneitherofushad navigateditaloneyet.Luckily,thetubeoperatormusthave seenthisandopenedthedoorsforasplitsecondsoValcould hopon,andwewerelaughingasitjoltedusforward.

Thedouble-deckerbuses,astapleofLondon,hadmuch betterscenery.Theyalsoworkedbyjustputtingyour destinationintoGoogleMaps,anditwouldtellyouwhich stop,whichbus,andhowlongthewaitwas.Wesatupstairs anychancewegot,butquicklylearnedthatthebusdrivers don'tcareifyou’restillonthestairsbeforetheystartdriving. Oneofmyscariestexperienceswasalmosttumblingdown thestairsofabusontosomenativeLondoners.

Publictransportationisnotperfect,anditreducessomeof theconvenienceofacar,butImisstheaffordability,safety, andexcitementofLondon’stransportation.Afterspeaking withmanyofmypeers,Icanattestthatthey,too,yearnfor thepublictransit.

Pastel Houses and Cinematic Stops

ByJaspreetKaur

OneofthefirstplacesIwrotedownthatIwantedtovisitbeforeevengettingtoLondonwasNottingHill.I amahugefanofthemovieandIknewIwantedtoexplorethespotseventhoughIdidn’thaveanexactplan. Themovieisacuteromanticcomedythatcameoutin1999.IhadjustfinishedgoingtotheWesAnderson exhibitandafternoonteawhenIdecidedIhadenoughtimetocheckoutspotsfromthemovie.Ihadn’treally doneanyresearchonwherethingswereandthebestmethodtoseeeverything,sowhileonthebusrideI decidedtomakeaquickplan.WhatIdidn’texpectwashowmuchwalkingIwouldhavetodotojustgetto thefirstdestination.Alotofthebuseswereclosedanditdidn’tmakesensetotakeatubewithhowclose everythingwas,whichmeantIhadtowalk.

Eventually,Imadeittowhereallthecolorfulhouseswere.ItwasprettyquietoverinthatareabutIloved seeingthepastelcoloredhouseswithpink,yellow,blue,grey,andoneevenhadapurpledoor.Ithencontinued onmywalktothenextspot:theCoronetTheatre.ThiswasthetheatreWilliamwenttointhefilmandit lookedalmostexactlythesameasitdoesinthefilm.ThenextsiteIwenttowastheiconicNottingHill Bookshop.Eventhoughitwasn’tactuallyinthemovie,itiswhatthebookshopinthemoviewasmodeled after.Asexpected,itwassuperbusyinside,butitalsohadahugeselectionofbooks.Iboughtabookand somepostcardsabouttheNottingHillmovieandreceivedareallycuteblueshoppingbagalongwiththem.It wouldn’tbeaNottingHillvisitifIdidn’tendupgoingtotheiconicbluedoor.Thiswasaverytouristyspot andabunchofpeopleweretakingpicturessoIhadtowaitmyturn.Lastly,IwenttotheNottingHillgiftshop whichwasactuallyusedinthefilmfortheexterior.IendedupbuyingtheiconicNottingHillshoppingbag andgettingsomereallycoolshotsoftheoutside.ThisexperiencewasreallyfunandIwasgratefultogetthe opportunitytovisitplacesfrommyfavoritemoviethatmanypeoplenevergettodo.

Biking For Our Lives ByMeiliAlvine

The scariest thing I have ever done in my life is bike in London, where you stay on the left side of the road instead of the right and giant double-decker buses are about to hit you in a 5-lane roundabout. However, biking in London was one of the best memories I made on the trip.

During the trip, I wanted to go with the flow of things and do whatever, whenever. When Kyanne said she was interested in riding the Lime bikes and asked if anyone wanted to do it with her, I said I would. We made the decision that we would stay off the busy roads of London and just cruise for fun. When we set up the bikes, we realized that they were electric, and we thought it would be much easier that way. However, we quickly found out that riding an electric bike through the busy city of London was more difficult than we thought. We did, in fact, not stay off the busy roads and instead went straight through them, risking our lives multiple times. Our plan was to end up in Chinatown, and the directions on Kyanne’s phone took us the worst way possible. But we did make amazing memories and got lots of photos and videos, which played somewhat of a role in us almost not making it to the end of the trip. We rode through multiple parks which were so peaceful and beautiful that I felt like I could stay there forever, but there were also moments when we kept yelling at each other to “stay to the left!” and I thought I would not survive there.

As we stood there contemplating what to do next, I saw an opening and, without looking or saying anything, I joined the roundabout, following another biker who seemed like he knew what he was doing, feeling the presence of a giant doubledecker bus right behind me. I was biking for my life. Eventually, Kyanne made it through, and we ended up in Chinatown. However, the troubles didn’t stop there; our Lime app stopped working, so we had to go into a sushi restaurant to use their Wi-Fi and stop our ride, paying for 15 extra minutes. I’m just grateful we made it out alive. A few days later after an eventful and somewhat traumatic biking experience, a person would think that they would never do it again. So, what did Kyanne and I do? We did it again.

The worst part was the giant roundabout. Five lanes of constant cars, vans, cyclists, and double-decker buses. Kyanne and I stood on the edge of the roundabout with our bikes for several minutes trying to figure out how we were going to make it to the other side. At one point, Kyanne tried to merge into the roundabout and the driver of a double-decker bus laid on his horn at her.

This time, bringing along Emily, Taylor, and Sierra. The second time biking in London, for Kyanne and I, went slightly smoother. We unfortunately had another roundabout to go through and the five of us probably went around it 3 times before we made it out to the other side. A car even rolled down their window to say “you girls need to be careful” when we were standing on the side of the road in busy traffic. We eventually made it to Hyde Park, and it became a peaceful bike ride from there, just with another rough start. Later, we split off: Kyanne stopped to journal, Emily, Taylor, and Sierra went to find lunch, and I met up with Alex to keep biking. I ended up directing us to a small area in London called Little Venice and it was underwhelming to say the least. It was a journey that took 30-45 minutes to even get there due to construction, and I kept forgetting that I had an electric bike and Alex had a normal bike. I made sure to check on him every 15 seconds. The most difficult part of riding a bike in London wasn’t just the fact that they stayed on the left side of the road instead of the right, but also that there were biker lanes one moment and then they were gone the next. It got very confusing because we didn’t know how to get to the biker lanes once they appeared again.

Although I made amazing memories biking in London, there are many things I would have done differently, starting with getting a helmet. Also, it is not a good idea to get on the Lime bike right away and try to ride it to a park through busy roads. Just simply walk it to the park first and then get on. We got ahead of ourselves thinking we were going to be professionals riding electric bikes in the middle of London for the first time, but it ended up looking like none of us have ever ridden a bike. Almost every moment of our excursion was us fighting for our lives, but in this context, biking for our lives. The parks were enjoyable. The roads were stressful. The memories are everlasting.

We asked the Flâneurs...

“London goes beyond any boundary or convention. It contains every wish or word ever spoken, every action or gesture ever made, every harsh or noble statement ever expressed. It is illimitable. It is Infinite London.”

—Peter Ackroyd (b. 1949)

WanderingThrough...Cuisine

ThecuisineinLondondidnotdisappoint;everyonein thegrouptriedfoodfrommultipleculturesaswellas traditionalBritishmeals.Somenotableexperiencesincluded SundayRoast,traditionalafternoontea,Chinatownbuns, chocolatestrawberriesfromBoroughMarket,andTesco snackslikeJaffaCakes.Wesharedthreegroupmeals:Pizza Express(aftertryingtobeatjetlagbystayinguptheentire firstday),BuildersArms(anenormousamountwhich includedbread,charcuterie,andscotcheggs),andourfinal groupreceptionatHerefordArms(adecoratedpubwherewe reflectedonthetrip).

ByMeiliAlvine

There has never been, and will never be, a trip that happens without difficulties. One major challenge I faced while on the trip was not being able to eat wherever I wanted. Having a severe shellfish allergy has never hindered my everyday life before, and I wasn’t expecting it to affect my trip to London. However, it came as a surprise to me when there were multiple occasions where I had to change eating plans quickly because restaurants could not accommodate my allergy.

The first time was when Kyanne and I went to Chinatown to get buns that had been recommended to us by Val. Before ordering, I confirmed that the pork buns did not have any shellfish in them due to my severe allergy. The worker assured me that I was fine, but after I paid, he asked if “traces were okay.” I stared at him and politely yet firmly said that there can be no cross-contamination and that I have an EpiPen if I were to have a reaction. The worker then told me I cannot have any of their food because they all had traces of shellfish. I was shocked. Not only because they told me I would be fine and then said otherwise after I paid, but they also gave me no alternative options that I could eat. Kyanne got the buns, and I had to find another choice for dinner that night.

A few hours later, we met up with some other members of our group at a sit-down restaurant called Hoppers. The waitress asked us if any of us had allergies, and I told her I have a severe shellfish allergy. She gave me a confused look, and it took me several minutes to explain to her what I could not eat, how there can be no cross-contamination, and what they would need to do to accommodate my food.

The worker checked the back and said they would be able to serve me, despite my allergy. However, when we were ready to order our dinner, a different waitress came and asked if there were any allergies. At this point I got frustrated and again, explained my shellfish allergy. The new waitress asked if traces were okay and I told her that absolutely no traces can be on my food. She told me that there was no way for them to prevent crosscontamination. After several minutes it felt like she was pressuring me into thinking I would be fine eating their food. At this point I felt bad because I hate being difficult for others. Everyone at the table just told me not to risk it and that they will help me get dinner later. After everyone ate, we went to Shake Shack and I finally got food. I was exhausted from the day as well as having to explain my shellfish allergy multiple times.

The difficulties did not stop there. Later that week I wanted to get traditional fish and chips. Taylor, Sierra, and I went to a restaurant next to Borough Market that promoted their fish and chips. Once there, I told them about my shellfish allergy and the waiter understood but told me there was no way for them to accommodate me in their kitchen. Again, I felt frustration and guilt because I did not want to ruin Taylor and Sierra’s lunch. Just as we considered going somewhere else, the waiter told me he would let me bring outside food in. Taylor came with me into Borough Market to get myself food and once we came back to the restaurant, the waiter offered to put my packaged food into their dishes, which made me feel less like an inconvenience.

Towards the end of the week, a group of us went to an Indian restaurant called Dishoom. At this point in the trip, I immediately felt apprehensive to tell them about my shellfish allergy. The waitress showed me a QR code to scan and it pulled up the menu on my phone with an option to filter out meals based on allergies. It was so easy for me to use and made everything go smoothly. I was impressed that every waiter that brought out our food was made aware of my allergy and helped inform me what I could and could not eat.

Out of all my restaurant experiences on the trip, Dishoom was the best. Not only because of their delicious food, but they were all willing to work with me and my allergy.

The difficulties I faced with restaurants on this trip were very surprising because at home, it is very normal for me to inform them about my allergy and for them to take the precautions to prevent any cross-contamination. I always thought that it was expected for restaurants to accommodate their guests, especially those with allergies, but it may depend on where in the world you are. Sometimes it is best to just expect the unexpected and stay flexible about any situation you may encounter.

We asked the Flâneurs...

BySavannahFord

While planning this trip, the biggest thing I worried about was whether I would be able to eat at the restaurants we would be visiting. I have been a vegetarian for five years, and going out to eat is always a source of anxiety. I was worried that, without a kitchen to fall back on during the trip, I would be stuck eating at the same restaurant the entire time or potentially skipping meals because there wasn’t anything I could eat on the menu. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that London is a very inclusive city, and every restaurant I went into offered multiple vegetarian options for me to choose from, with choices as diverse as the city itself. Every place I went to eat, the menu had the vegetarian and vegan options clearly marked, and the staff was always happy to answer questions. No one ever made me feel weird for asking about the options, and they even started by asking the table if there were any allergies.

On Sunday, a group of us went out for a Sunday roast meal. I went with them for the experience of being in London and having a Sunday roast, not expecting to be able to actually eat the roast. Instead, I found that the pub had a Nut Roast Wellington, a vegetarian version of the Sunday roast everyone else was eating, complete with the side dishes and all for the same price. Being able to fully partake in such a uniquely London experience was incredible. I finally felt like I found a city that allowed me to eat differently without making me feel guilty or like I was an inconvenience. After watching The Tempest at the Globe, a large group of us went out to eat at McDonald's, not only because it was late and convenient, but because they had the McPlant, a vegetarian burger option, and their fries were vegetarian-friendly. It was still McDonald’s food, so, not the best burger I’ve ever had, but not the worst either, and I was just thrilled to finally be able to eat something quick and convenient and not have to find somewhere to sit down to eat.

“London goes beyond any boundary or convention. It contains every wish or word ever spoken, every action or gesture ever made, every harsh or noble statement ever expressed. It is illimitable. It is Infinite London.”

—Peter Ackroyd (b. 1949)

The best restaurant I went to in London, and the one that made the biggest impression, was Tofu Vegan, a completely vegan restaurant down the street from our hotel. I ended up loving it so much that I went twice in the ten days we spent there. The food was Asian cuisine meant to be shared, which usually means I would have to eat my own meal while everyone else shared because I don’t eat the same way they do. At Tofu Vegan, however, I was able to share everything and really feel included in the meal. It was also the first time in five years I was able to look at a menu and order anything I wanted. I wasn’t limited to the small section of vegetarian options consisting of the same few foods I'm used to seeing.

I was able to try their specialty (fried tofu in their house sauce), and dumplings for the first time (which are delightfully addicting), along with other traditional Asian foods made vegan. Everything was warm, spicy, and delicious, and made even more enjoyable by being able to share it with others. It was the first time since I went vegetarian that I didn’t feel singled out or different; I just felt like me.

My anxieties about not being able to eat in this city were for nothing. I never went into a restaurant that didn’t have something for me to eat, and I never felt excluded from any of them. It was a wonderful feeling to finally find a city with options for me to eat that let me be part of the meal everyone else was having, rather than being separated from the group based on my preferences.

WeaskedtheFlâneurs...

BySierraQuinn MyFight For White Chocolate

My quest for white chocolate throughout the trip wasn’t an easy one. It’s almost unimaginable to most that I just “don’t like” regular milk or dark chocolate, but it’s true—anything with cacao has a strange bitter, almost sour, taste to it.

I have many theories for why this is. It could be some kind of freak genetic mutation like people who have the “cilantro tastes like soap” gene, since my mom also finds the taste of chocolate generally gross. On the other hand, my boyfriend (who has many allergies) has tried to convince me that my dislike for chocolate is caused by a mild allergy, and the reason it tastes bitter to me is because my body is trying to reject it. Whatever the cause may be, I don’t like chocolate. No matter how much I try to like it, it just tastes so... bad.

But chocolate is unavoidable. It’s everywhere, because who in their right mind wouldn’t like chocolate of all things? Most candies found in stores are chocolate. Most desserts at restaurants contain chocolate. Even the viral Borough Market strawberries only come one way: covered in milk chocolate. Despite my aversion to chocolate, though, I do still (for some reason) love a good white chocolate. So, in an attempt to feel less like a strange alien who didn’t like chocolate for some inconceivable reason, I tried to seek out white chocolate instead.

The only problem is that it’s objectively harder to find white chocolate than milk chocolate, so opting for white chocolate wasn’t always possible. Like I mentioned, I was devastated going through the chocolate-covered strawberries line in Borough Market only to discover after getting to the front of the line that there was no white chocolate option, and I definitely felt like a fool ordering a plain cup of strawberries and nothing else.

However, occurrences like these are what made actually finding white chocolate even more gratifying. I will never forget the feeling of walking next to the Thames near the London Eye and spotting a food truck that had cups of strawberries covered in white chocolate, because with all jokes aside, I felt like I could participate and be included in the whole “cup of chocolate-covered strawberries” thing, despite how trivial and ridiculous it sounds. And even though everyone I was with claimed that the strawberries and chocolate from that food truck weren’t nearly as good as the ones from Borough Market, to me they were the best thing I had tasted the entire trip.

Fun Fact!

1.London’s most popular fast food places are McDonalds and Greggs!

2 The City of London is actually split into 32 district units named boroughs. Each borough has their own local government!

3 The area we recognize as the West End is actually in two different cities! It is a highly contested topic, but the border between the city of London and the city of Westminster crosses within this area.

The chocolate-covered strawberries weren’t the only white chocolate debacle I faced, though. During our day in Oxford, a few people in the group had visited a chocolate store called Montezuma’s. I had little interest in visiting chocolate stores since, obviously, they feature mainly cacao-based chocolate. However, after I learned they also carried white chocolate bars, a group of about 10 of us decided to speedwalk through the streets of Oxford to try to return to Montezuma’s before they closed so we could all check out the student deal: five chocolate bars for fifteen pounds. We made it to the chocolate store with about six minutes to spare, and I had mixed emotions upon seeing the chocolate selection. On one hand, the bars of white chocolate were really good, and they had plenty of them. On the other hand, there was only one bar of white chocolate to choose from: a plain one of solid white chocolate. I did still happily load up on white chocolate bars of course, grabbing three in total: two for me and one for my mom.

Then, while checking out, I saw the case of truffles. There was, once again, only one white chocolate option, but it was a white chocolate raspberry truffle. It was a perfect white ball with dried raspberry pieces sprinkled on top; it felt like it was there just for me. So I asked the lady checking us out if it was possible for me to only get one truffle, and she said yes. So only 27 pence later, I had another special kind of white chocolate, and that was more than enough for me. I mean, the white chocolate raspberry truffle was amazing, and so was the white chocolate bar I opened and started eating that same night, regardless of the fact that it was plain. But it definitely tasted better combined with the feeling of belonging I experienced.

Throughout my time in London over Spring Break, I had the chance to explore a wide range of local and national food spots across the city. I’ve never been great at choosing where to eat, so on this trip I decided to loosen up and let myself wander into whatever place looked or smelled the best. Whether it was market stalls, or street food, or sit-down restaurants, I let London guide me. Doing this helped me get a better sense of the city's cultural foods, local favorites, and well-known restaurants. It was amazing to see and taste what London had to offer, I can honestly say I was never disappointed.

ByLaurenFraser

Out of all the places I tried, one stood out as my clear favorite: Flat Iron Steak House. The restaurant itself was gorgeous, with a natural, home-like atmosphere that felt somewhere between an apartment and a cozy studio. The warm, neutral lighting and soft jazz in the background made it an incredibly relaxing spot. The menu was simple, but that worked in its favor. The main entree is the flat iron steak, with a handful of sides to choose from. I ordered the steak (obviously) along with the bone marrow mashed potatoes. I genuinely didn’t know steak and mashed potatoes could be seasoned that perfectly. The steak was slightly underdone from my usual preference, but it was still juicy and full of flavor, fresh sea salt flakes, garlic, butter, and some other seasoning I couldn’t quite identify. Every bite melted in my mouth. And the bone marrow mashed potatoes? Those were on another level entirely. Creamy, smooth, and rich with garlic and bone marrow flavor, they were easily the best mashed potatoes I’ve ever had. I will die on that hill. It’s hard to fully capture what made the meal so perfect, but the combination of the aesthetic, the atmosphere, and the clear care put into the food made Flat Iron a 10/10 for me. It’s officially a bucket-list place I plan to return to, if only to experience those mashed potatoes and steak again.

A Side of Fries and a Sense of Belonging

ByArjunMohan

MysimplesearchforMcDonald’sfriesturnedintoa lessononhowmucheasiereatingasavegetarianfeltin LondonthanitdoesathomeintheUnitedStates.Before goingonthistrip,IknewthatEuropeancuisinewas generallyconsideredtobemorevegetarian-friendlythan Americanfood.Iwasdelightedtolearn,however,that McDonald’sfrieswerevegetarianinLondon.Inthe UnitedStates,theyarenotconsideredvegetarian becausetheycontain“naturalbeefflavor,”whichisa combinationofbeefderivatives,incombinationwith hydrolyzedwheatandmilk.Theideaofgoingto McDonald'swasneveranofficialplan;itwasmoreofa last-secondsidequest,thoughtoftheweekbeforethe trip.OnSaturday,IwalkedpastmanyMcDonald's,but onlyafterI’djusteatenatHardRockCaféorPizza Express,soIwasunabletogothen.Sundaynight,after watching The Tempest atSamWanamakerPlayhouse,a groupofuswerefeelinghungry.Itwasfinallytimeto gotoMcDonald’s.

Whenwereachedtheoneclosesttothevenue,Iorderednotonlythefries,butalsoaplant-basedburger, neitherofwhichwereavailableintheU.S.Forthefirsttime,Ifeltaccommodatedinafast-foodrestaurant, andIdidn’thavetoworryaboutwhetherIcouldeatwithmyfriends,especiallyatsuchaprolificchainI typicallycan’teatatintheUnitedStates.InAmerica,eatingfastfoodasavegetariancomeswithmore uncertainty,especiallywhenIgoouttoeatwithmyfriends.

Itypicallyfindmyselflookingupmenuitems andingredientsinfoodtoensurethattheycomply withmydietaryneeds.Thissometimesmakes friendlyoutingsfeelrestrictiveandeven inconvenientattimes,butwhileIwasintheUK,I couldordermorefreelywithouthavingtosecondguesswhatIordered.

Yes,Ienjoyedmyburgerandfries,butthissingle experienceshapedmytripintermsofdietary comfort.Ibeganpayingcloserattentiontothe restaurantsIwentto,noticinghowtheyweremore accommodatingandflexiblethanintheStates.It’s fascinatinghowsomethingassmallasorderingfries inaforeigncountrycanbecomeareminderthat foodculturecanvaryinwaysthatmaynotoccurto mostpeople,butstillaffecttheeverydaylivesof thoseofuswithdietaryrestrictions.

Food: The Most Important Part

ByMatthewHasson

Tome,themostimportantaspectofeverytripisthefood.WhentravelingtoLondon,Ihadmanytentative plans,buttherewererestaurantsIknewImustvisit.Londonishometomanydiversecuisinesandit’s importanttoexperienceasmanyaspossible.ThecuisineIwasmostinterestedinwasIndianfood.Ivisited multipleIndianrestaurants,aMozambicanrestaurant,andanItalianrestaurantinLondon,andIcan’tlie,they wereallfantastic.

ThefirstrestaurantIvisitedwasthisplacecalledNamaste. LocatedinHolborn,neartheBritishMuseum,Namasteisafully vegetarianrestaurantwithmanyveganoptions.Iorderedthe MutterPaneer,anditdidnotdisappoint.Withcheesesquaresina rubycurry,themealwasdelectable.

Thenextmust-visitlocationwasDishoom.Thelonglinefor Dishoomwaswellworthitwhenwesteppedintothedimlylit Indianrestaurant.WithmanylocationsaroundLondon,almost everyoneIspoketobeforetravelingtoLondonmaintainedthat Dishoomwasafantasticplace,anditdidnotdisappoint.Myorder ofChickenRubywasafantasticmeal.

AnotherplaceIvisitedwas,fromwhatIwastold,the bestItalianfoodinLondon.Locatedintheheartofthe BurroughMarketisabeautifulItalianstandcalledLa TuaPasta.LaTuaPastaprovidedmanyoptionsofpastas, sauces,andmeat,thatyoucouldcreatemany combinationswith.Weatethesamplesandknewitwasa musteat.

ThefinalplaceIvisitedwasNando’s,aMozambican restaurantwithSPLENDIDchicken.Unliketheir locationsintheUS,thisplacehadanextremelylarge menuwithmanydifferentoptions.Andthefooddidnot disappoint.

There’safamousquotebyBillMarsanoinwhichhe says:“TheBritishEmpirewascreatedasaby-productof generationsofdesperateEnglishmenroamingtheworld insearchofadecent meal.”Aftereating Indian,Italian,and Mozambicancuisines, Ifindthistobetrue.

WanderingThrough... Conversation

AdefiningelementoftheLondontripforallofthe Flaneurswastheinteractionswesharedwithbusiness owners,students,fellowtravelers,andnativeLondoners. FromgettinglostonthetubetowanderingOxfordto comparinguniversityexperiences,wefounddeep connectionswithstrangers.Learningaboutculture throughguidedtoursandcuratedarticlesisalways helpful,butauthenticityandpersonaltruthsreveal somethingdeeperwhenexploringunfamiliarfaces.It wasunanimouslyrefreshingtoconnectwithLondoners andexpresssharedconcerns,tocheersdrinks,andshare laughsaboutthedifferentpronunciations.

ByTaylorDoyle

Because of the time differences between London and back home, I primarily communicated via email in the morning to avoid waking my family back home with texts. Every morning, I would email my mom photos and a description of what I had done so far. I'm sharing these emails because they offer a more personal lens on my trip. Here are some of my favorite emails I sent.

Subject: Airplane food

Saturday, March 14 at 2:36 a.m. CT

Hi Mom,

All is well. I have 1 hour and 10 minutes left of my flight. About to fly across Ireland. Attached is the picture of the dinner. For breakfast, we had calzones and yogurt. Didn't sleep as well as I had hoped. I feel like I was in and out of sleep. Also, I didn't feel like this flight was long enough to really sleep on. After dinner, we had only 5ish hours until we landed. I kept feeling the pressure to fall asleep and was thinking about how time was passing.

I also found it funny that Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is on the plane.

Talk to you soon!

Taylor

Saturday, March 16 at 3:26 a.m. CT

Subject: Good morning!!

Saturday, March 16 at 3:01 a.m. CT

Good morning, Mom!!

I woke up at 6 am this morning and am now waiting for the bus to take me to Windsor.

Thought you would find this interesting!

At the bus stop!

Love, Taylor

Saturday, March 16 at 3:06 a.m. CT

Saturday, March 16 at 3:39 a.m. CT

Also, just a thought:

Since Dad will need a new car soon, he can have mine, and I will move to London.

I don’t know how people drive around here. There are no speed limit signs, and no one really passes anyone on the road.

Subject: Good morning, as I am going to marry a Bridgerton

Thursday, March 19th at 5:54 a.m. CT

Hi Mom!

Good morning!

At the church for the season 2 wedding. Might just marry a Bridgerton.

Hehehe!

Taylor

Subject: The most devastating morning Sunday, March 22 at 1:34 a.m. CT

Subject: First Gas Station I’ve Seen Saturday, March 16 at 3:56 a.m. CT

Hi Mom!

I finally saw my first gas station (an hour away from the hotel).

Subject: Good morning! Friday, March 20 at 5:11 a.m. CT

Good morning, Mom!

I'm waiting for the changing of the guards. Then, I'm going on a bike ride in a park.

I am planning to go to the real Abbey Road today and probably visit the V&A again.

I'm kind of annoyed that no one has asked me to be their queen.

Cheers! And love you!

Taylor

It's not a good morning. It's a bad morning. I just wanted to let you know that I am being forced to go to the airport and come home. I am on the charter bus right now.

Sorry, Dad - I really tried to make you get me to bring me home. Tell Dad to start looking at plane tickets for June. I have a whole month off to travel.

See you soon

Taylor

ByAlexanderFigueroa-Castro

There was a lot of skepticism about whether the residents of London would embrace us as Americans abroad. Given the current instability of international relationships and politics, we felt slightly ashamed of the ideals and culture we represented. The media, especially, exaggerated the disdain foreign cultures held for American tourists, and we had become infested with the fear that our presence would upset them. These fears manifested in our inability to engage with the locals. However, once we spoke to London residents,we were shown how misguided we were in our beliefs and just how welcoming they could be.

Even though we were unable to approach London locals and strike up conversations ourselves, they would approach us in excitement about us visiting from the United States. Their incentives revolved around their curiosity about our cultural customs and presence. Many of them had questions for us pertaining to what life was like in the United States. While answering their questions, it felt to me as though they were common sense. That is when it struck me that some of the questions I may have been asking them were common sense to them as well. Consider it a component of American exceptionalism, but I never stopped to consider that we were just as foreign and interesting to them as they were to us.

One of my fond moments of interacting with locals occurred while on an excursion with a group. We had traveled across London on a quest to find a photobooth, and we all gathered at a lively movie theater. The photobooth had a cooldown period of 10 minutes, so we sat down while we waited. Normally, in these environments, I would feel too ashamed to speak, but in this moment, I felt a level of reassurance with the other tourists around us and spoke comfortably without hesitation.

As my peers and I chatted while waiting, the table behind us recognized our accents as American and asked if we were from the United States. They were locals close to our age, but were still not in college. I replied yes, expecting some discontent with our answer, but they responded with immediate excitement and curiosity. They opened their bodies towards us, and it felt like the room got more vibrant. We spoke to them about the relief of studying abroad and leaving behind many of the responsibilities and worries we had back at home. A majority of our conversation lingered around our nation’s current political landscape. Through this, we had the opportunity to find comfort in a shared sense of concern for global affairs.

FunFact!

4 Many foreigners get the name wrong, but what most consider to be Big Ben is actually the Elizabeth tower. Big Ben is actually the bell nested inside the tower!

As the locals sympathized with the struggles we faced back home, they could also empathize through their own experiences and struggles that we weren’t aware of. It was enlightening to hear their perspectives, but I thought it was tragic that I was so unaware of their conditions and experiences. One of the locals even mentioned how strange it was that they knew so much about the condition of the United States while we knew so little about theirs. The way media is consumed in the United States excludes the media of foreign nations, yet these countries are extremely exposed to our current events. Perhaps this is another facet of American exceptionalism at work. The same media that had caused us to feel so insecure about our identity abroad was the same media that had failed to equip us with global awareness.

In the end, everyone left the room with a new experience and understanding. We could grasp the complexities at work and the significance of our interaction in the broader scheme of things. I realized the shame I felt from a belief that we were alone in our struggles was wrong. We were so influenced by our own concerns that we neglected to rationalize that Britain was its own country with political and cultural complexities. Even a country that to us appears well-established contains its own politics and struggles that we couldn’t begin to imagine. After this interaction, a sense of unity washed over me, as I realized that I had no reason to be ashamed of something every person feels towards their country.

WeaskedtheFlâneurs...

As a ginger, the color of my hair has always been both a blessing and a curse. Sure, I get plenty of compliments from sweet old ladies, but there’s also a lot of jokes that get thrown around about us. I’ve heard all the classics: “Carrot-top,” “Gingers have no souls,” and so on and so forth. I am almost always assumed to be Irish (I am not). As a redheaded guy, however, the most common moniker I’ve been bestowed with is “Ed Sheeran”. It’s certainly not the worst thing to be called! He is one of the most successful pop artists of all time, after all. But trust me when I say it gets kind of old after a while.

I thought that in a place like London, where there’s a much larger concentration of (actual) ethnically Irish people than back home in Kansas, I wouldn’t have this problem so much. Little did I know that the stereotypes stick no matter which country you’re in, and from the moment I stepped foot on a British Airways plane I was bombarded by strangers eager to point out the similarities between Mr. Bad Habits and me.

ByMichaelHanzelka

It wasn’t all bad, though. When we got to the National Portrait Gallery, one of the portraits I decided I absolutely had to see was the 2016 portrait of Ed Sheeran, painted by Colin Davidson. Unfortunately, it hadn’t been on view at the museum since 2023, but as we were leaving the gift shop, Adam presented me with the second-best thing: an official postcard featuring the portrait. Ed Sheeran may keep his love in a photograph, but I’ll be keeping the friendships I made in London in a painting of Ed Sheeran.

5 Twenty two percent of Londoners can speak another language other than English. This is higherthantheNationalAverageoftheUnited Kingdom!

6 London gets over 20 million international touristsayear!

Life Lessons in a museum gift shop

ByGabbyRock

As a psychology major interested in working with children and adolescents, I was curious about how childhood is experienced in London, particularly what the spaces children occupy suggest about cultural attitudes toward children compared with those in the United States. I visited the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum on my first day in London. While the art and history inside one of the largest museums I have ever visited were impressive, I believe the most impactful moment for me happened in the gift shop. I was taking a photo of a box filled with knick-knack toys when a museum employee walked by. While she did not mind me taking the photo, she was curious why I took it, as she had never seen anyone do that at the toy box before.

I explained to her that I am a psychology major and very interested in how London views the presence of its children. She told me that her name was Moji, and we discussed differences in how children are treated and viewed in our respective countries. She is Nigerian, and her culture influences the herbal medical practices she engages in, but I wish I had the time to ask her more about her influences on her lifestyle. Moji was shocked to learn how expensive healthcare can be in the United States. She didn’t understand why healthcare is so expensive in the United States when she has never taken medication in her entire life. She believes the body can take care of itself and that, on occasion, only herbal remedies are needed to assist with the healing process.

Moji went on to tell me about how she keeps her mind as young and happy as she can. She spoke about finding contentment on her own path rather than chasing the paths of others. She noted that many people spend their days trying to be on a different path that may lead to more fame, wealth, and a sense of importance, often tied to being well-known and financially well-off. I was told that she can see how passionate and caring I am for my students and future clients as a therapist, and that I need to focus solely on being the best I can be for the children I work with now and in the future. I listened to her describe her life, comparing it to a spinning top as she held a red-and-orange-striped wooden top and spun it. She told me how every day she goes home and spins a top just like the one in the gift shop, and imagines that her stressors, anxieties, frustrations, and even the positives from her day spin off the top, clearing her mind.

After that conversation, I immediately went to write it all down because I knew deep down that it would change the way I think about life forever. Before I went on the London Review, I was struggling with feeling like I wasn’t enough for my students or my future career. Moji’s kindness and message felt like something out of a fairy tale, with her soft, caring voice and eyes that could see straight into my deepest worries and biggest dreams. I wasn’t planning on making any purchases in the shop, but next to where we were standing was a print of Beatrix Potter’s sketch of guinea pigs gardening for cabbage. I saw the authority-figure guinea pig watching over the baby guinea pigs, and it made me think of my students and of this conversation that changed the way I think about my worth and my coaching abilities. What struck me more than our conversation, however, was the way she interacted with the children around her.

I will never forget the kindness she gave to the children at the gift shop. She did not hover over the children or scold them for dropping a toy. The children were given the same amount of space and trust as the adults, and they were allowed to take up the same amount of space. A little boy had lost his lucky penny near her shoe, and when he grabbed it, she didn’t scold him for bumping into her or for losing something, but instead praised him and called him a “good lucky boy” for finding it. She smiled at every child who looked her way and was very gentle and kind when helping a child find the toy he was looking for. I noticed children as young as two years old looking at the adults around them when they dropped a toy or were startled by a noise, but because the adults didn’t jump to the rescue and instead observed from a safe, close distance, the babies slowly realized what to do.

We asked the Flâneurs...

I watched one baby drop a toy a few times, and after the first time, he realized what needed to happen; by the third time, he picked it up without any distress in under ten seconds. As I observed all the children, they each looked confident and secure in their environments. They weren’t scolded for being a little noisy; in fact, the adults actually welcomed it. It seemed that many of the children were more resilient when making mistakes, more willing to admit them, and more willing to ask for help than I’d observed in America while coaching ice skating and working as an aspiring therapist.

Parents weren’t hovering over their children; instead, they appeared to be given the same level of trust as adults. Seeing children trusted in this way reshaped how I think about resilience in childhood and the kind of environment I hope to create for my future clients and children.

A Case Study on the Death of the Authentic Small Business in London

On the second-to-last day in London, I met up with two friends who were also studying in Europe this semester. After checking into their Airbnb, we began searching for a coffee shop that was still open in the late afternoon and on the way to our next adventure. After every shop nearby had closed, we eventually decided to walk out of our way to George’s Cafe, a small English breakfast and lunch spot. We journeyed to our West Kensington destination and arrived at the building 30 minutes before closing time. We were concerned that the workers would be upset at our late arrival, but upon entering, we were immediately greeted by George himself. He was a chatty, Turkish man who had spent half of his life as a travel agent and the other half as a business owner.

As the two-level cafe was empty, except for one lady working on her computer, George excitedly conversed with us about his travels. He occasionally went back to wipe down surfaces or speak with his wife, and when he did, I would take this opportunity to look around the cafe.

It was unassuming, quaint, and homey. The beige wallpaper and rustic embellishments seemed to be past their time, and the brown wooden tables and chairs were there for function, not fashion. Despite the modest presentation, I was quite struck by this place. As a tourist, I had mainly visited places that were meant for travelers- places that were meant to give the “London experience.” But Georges was different.

ByMagnoliaFoster

George was not selling me the “London experience,” he was selling me a cup of coffee and a sandwich. This coffee was meant for a shop owner on her lunch break, a student on her way to class, or a mother dropping off her children at school. This coffee was not meant for me, but while I drank it, I could put myself in the shoes of the locals, and that seemed to be an authentic “London experience” to me.

Around the time I was halfway through my meal, George had segwayed the conversation to a much less palatable topic. He shared with us that business has not been what it used to be. In the early days of George’s Cafe, 26 years ago, there were eight employees and a regular line from the counter to the door. Now, the cafe is run seven days a week by George, his wife, and a third employee that the couple can afford. There are no lines, there is no money for refurbishments, and George, as he shared, is exhausted.

He blames the continuous hits to the restaurant industry, beginning with the 2008 recession, as well as increasing operating costs and taxes. The first cuts began in 2015, when he reduced the workforce from eight employees to five. Five years later, when Covid-19 hit, the social shift occurring in the aftermath had been more damning than the event itself.

George watched a cultural evolution in his own cafe. He said that eating and spending habits, as well as a trend towards reserved socialization, have reduced the market for sit-down cafes. Coffee shops are not only meant to sell coffee but also provide a third space for socialization. In an increasingly introverted society, places like George’s Cafe struggle to stay afloat. According to Carter Collins and Myer, “One in nine UK businesses disappeared in 2023.”

The overarching reason for these closures is exactly what George cited: High operating costs and reduced consumer confidence. I believe that George’s Cafe is a case study in the broader struggles of UK small businesses. More convenient, affordable, and polished chain businesses are pushing out authentic, small dives, and perhaps this is related to the convenience of the “London experience” in our evolved society.

Visiting George’s has made me more appreciative of small businesses. This cafe was a reminder that authenticity is more valuable than convenience. I have never had such a historic, charming, and personal coffee experience at Starbucks, nor have I ever conversed with the owner of a Dunkin' Donuts. I have learned that to keep places like George’s Cafe alive, it is essential to go out of one's way to do so.

As we left and George wiped down our table, I couldn’t help but wonder if this place will be here next time I am in London. If it is, I will be sure to grab a coffee and a sandwich, and to hopefully hear more stories from George.

“London” Gabby Rock

Little steps on the pitch-black asphalt

One by one, my brown leather boots carry me further Nothing has ever felt quite like this

Do I follow the map or let the wind take me?

Onward I go, sun blinding me as I pass the Westminster Bridge… crowded, alive

New journeys ahead… the past behind me - I cross into the unknown

Oxford Chronicles: People You Meet

AseriesdoneincollaborationbetweenValeriaSolis,TaylorDoyle,andEmilyClausen

Catherine

and Keble

ByValeriaSolis

Walkingalongtheunevencobblestoneof Oxford'scampus,Taylor,Emily,andIheaded towardKeble–oneofthefewfreecollegesopen forvisitors.Thesidewalkswerenarrow,forcing ustododgeothertouristsandlocalsaswe walked,butthepathswerebeautifullylinedwith treesandbrightgreenery.IhadimaginedEngland wasdarkandgloomy;instead,thebrightskies andsightsofOxfordprovedmewrong.

Asoursmallgroupmadeourwaytoward Keble'sentrancewithnervousexcitement,Iwas leftstunnedbytheintricatebuildingsbeforeme.

TheVictorianGothicarchitecturemixedwiththealmosttoobrightgreenlawnmademerealizejusthowfarwe werefromhome.TakingineverythingKeblehadtooffer,ourgroupwanderedintothecollege'schapel.

Itstallarchesandbrightmosaicstoweredaboveus,andifitcould notbeanymoreperfect,weweregreetedwiththesoundsofastudent beltingthesong“OvertheRainbow.”Hervoiceechoedthroughthe emptychapelasthethreegirlsfromKansaswereleftinawe.

Onceshefinishedhersong,wetoldherhowbeautifulhervoice was.Oursmilesweremetwithoneofherownasshethankedusand askedwherewewerefrom.

“Kansas,”wesaid.

Herfacelitup.

“There’snowayIjustsang Over the Rainbow toabunchof Kansans,”shesaid.Herbrightandanimatedresponsematchedherred knitheadbandandfingerlessgloves.

SheintroducedherselfasCatherine,andwedidthesame.What startedasabriefexchangeturnedintoalayeredconversationabout whatshestudied(SpanishandHumanRights),whatwestudied,and everythinginbetween.Theconversationtrailedontothecurrent politicalstateofourhomecountryandhowitisdangerouslymoving awayfromademocracy.Shetoldusweneededunity.

Catherineexplainedshecamefromafamilyofimmigrantswhofoundfreedomthroughcollectiveaction.I sharedhowIalsocamefromalineofimmigrants,butfromMexico,andsoonwesharedaconversationin Spanish.Hervoicewasetchedwithsincerityandempathy.

Tobrightenthemood,shesaidshewouldsinganysongforthethreeofus.ShesangoneinSpanishthatI don’trememberthenameof,followedby“PinkPonyClub"byChappellRoan.Ourgroupcouldnotwipethe smilesoffourfaces,evenifwetried.Inagorgeouschapelhalfwayacrosstheworld,sharingthisexperience withastrangerandtwofriends,Ifeltunexpectedlyathome.

Beforeweleft,Catherinegaveusher Instagramandinsidertipsonexploring Oxford.TogointoWadham,hercollege,we weresupposedtosayweknewherandthat shehada“pidge.”Togetintoanyother college,weshouldsaywewereprospective students.Aftervisitingthreecollegesforfree, allwithgorgeousbuildingsandonewitha massiveamountofgreenspace,deergrazing ongrass,andababblingbrook,itissafeto sayherinsidertipworkedwonders.An encounterthathappenedbychanceendedup givingusthebestdayeverinOxford.

Colleges Visited by Emily, Taylor, and Valeria

Keble

OriginalAdmissionPrice:Free YearFounded:1870

NotableAlumni:ImranKhan,AndrewAdonis FunFact:KnownasthefirstOxfordCollegeoftheModernEra

Wadham

OriginalAdmissionPrice:Free,butwasclosedtovisitors YearFounded:1610

NotableAlumni:SirChristopherWren FunFact:FirstOxfordcollegefoundedbyawomanwho wasnotroyaloratitledaristocrat

Magdalen

OriginalAdmissionPrice:£9 YearFounded:1458

NotableAlumni:CardinalWolsey,OscarWilde FunFact:Hasrealdeer!

Univeristy

OriginalAdmissionPrice:OpenbyAppointmentonly YearFounded:1249

NotableAlumni:BillClinton,C.S.Lewis,StephenHawking FunFact:WidelyconsideredtobetheoldestcollegeatOxford

Oxford Chronicles: People You Meet

AseriesdoneincollaborationbetweenValeriaSolis,TaylorDoyle,andEmilyClausen Kieran and the Natural History Museum

ByTaylorDoyle

AftermeetingCatherineatKeble,westartedwalkingtowardhercollege,Wadham.Val,Emily,andItake thewalktodebriefonourconversationwithCatherine,whichIcandescribeasanoddbutintriguing experience.Betweenthethreeofus,Ifeltlikeourspiritshadchanged,becomingempoweredandconfidentat startingconversationswithrandompeople.TosayOxfordwasourdayofrandomsidequestswouldbean understatement.

Abouttwominutesintoourwalk,wedecidedwe shouldvisittheNaturalHistoryMuseumbeforeit closedfortheday.Wewalkintoagorgeousbuilding witharchesthattriangulateattheceilingandaroofof smallglasspanes,spottingdinosaurfossils.Ibelieved ittobeastarkdifferenceinthequantityandqualityof fossilscomparedtotheNaturalHistoryMuseumin SouthKensington.

WestumbledacrossPittRiversaswemadeourway backtothemainfloor.There,anoldermangreetedus. Likeallmuseumstaff,hewelcomedusandexplained themuseum'sfunction.Wetoldhimwehadabout30 minutestoexplorethemuseumandaskedforhis recommendationsonwhichfloorweshouldspendour time.Hefollowedupbyaskingaboutourinterests.As aself-identifiedresearcherinsexualandreproductive healtheducation,ItoldhimIwasinterestedin exploringgenderandhealth.Hedirectedustothe floor,focusedon“tools.”

Pitt-Riverschangedthe waythethreeofus envisionedmuseums.Instead oforganizingitsexhibitsby timeperiodorregion,the museumorganizedits artifactsbyfunction.

Unfortunately,dueto time,wehadtorushthrough thefloor.

Whilelookingatthelastfewexhibits,theworkerrejoinedus.Imadesuretonotehisname,KieranBrooks, onhisnametagsoIcouldlookhimupafterward.Iaskedhimhowlongguestsspendonaverageinthe museumbecausethenumberofartifactsblewmeaway.Theentireperimeterislinedwithglassshelvesfilled withvariousartifacts.Belowtheshelvesaredrawersthatpullouttoevenmoreobjects.Icouldhavespent hourslookingatjustonefloor.Kierantoldmethatmostpeoplespendabout2hoursexploringthemuseum,as therearesomanyobjectsthatpeopleeventuallyfeeloverwhelmed.

Then,Kieranshowedusoneof hisfavoriteobjectsinthe museum,anostricheggnecklace. Eachbead,madeofostrichegg, wasperfectlyroundandmatched theothers.AsKieranshonehis flashlightontothenecklace,he said,“Itisjustlikeyour coursework.Peopleinvestedtime onthis.”

Thethingthatstuckoutmostto meaboutourinteractionwas somethingKieransaidabouthow themuseumwasfounded. Everyone,regardlessofyear, region,orotherfactors,facedthe sameproblems.“Peoplearejust tryingtofinddifferentsolutions,” Kieransaid.

WecontinuedtotalktoKieran aboutthepurposeoftheLondon Reviewandourstudies.Weasked himaboutothercollegeswe wantedtovisit,andheseconded theimportanceofvisiting Wadham,asCatherinedid.We leftKierantoexploretherestof Oxford.

AtonepointthroughoutourdayinOxford,ItextedmyMomtosayitwasthebestdayofmylife.Itwasn’t justthisconversationthatchangedmylife,butthecombinationofallthreeconversations.Istartedtofeelmy worldopenup,unabletobelieveithadtakenme22yearstostartexploringit.Isawthebeautyofhumanity andasenseofglobalcommunityinthewillingnessofthesefourindividualstotaketimeoutoftheirdaysto talktothreeAmericangirls.

Oxford Chronicles: People You Meet

AseriesdoneincollaborationbetweenValeriaSolis,TaylorDoyle,andEmilyClausen THe Astrology Students

ByEmilyClausen

AttheendofourmeetingwithCatherine,ItypedasfastasIcouldasshedictatedinstructionsforustomake themostoftherestofourdayatOxford,includingascriptofwhattosaythatwouldallowustogetinto Wadham,hercollege,forfree.AswewalkedtowardWadham,IstartedpracticingthescriptsoIcouldsayit naturallyandwithoutsoundinglikeIhadmemorizedanything.Assoonaswewalkedthroughthedoors,however, Igotabittoonervousandendedupdefaultingtoasimple“we’reprospectivestudentsandwewouldlovetotake alookaroundWadham.”Thisworkedlikeacharm,andweweresoonstandinginthecourtyard,admiringthe statueofDorothyWadham,whowasthefirstwomanwhowasnotamemberoftheroyalfamilyortitled aristocracytofoundacollegeatOxfordorCambridge.

Wewerehopingtointeractwithmorestudents,andwe sawafriendly-lookingpairwalkingtowardusthroughthe courtyard.Westoppedthemandaskediftheywerestudents atWadham.Theysaidno,andwewereinitially disappointedbytheiranswer,aswehadbeenhopingforan in-depthtourofoneofthecolleges.TheywerebothOxford students,however,sowestillaskedthemaboutlifeat Oxford.Theywereextremelyopenaboutwhatitwasliketo studythereasgraduatestudents,andoneofthetopicswe talkedaboutmostwasthewealthdisparitiesbetween Oxford’scolleges.Somecollegeshavesubsidizedhousing, whileotherscoststudentsthousandsofdollarseach semester.Theirnumberonetip?Applyonlytothe wealthiestcollegesifyou’reapplyingtoOxford.Weasked themaboutSaintPatrick’sDaycelebrations(apparently,not manyhappeninOxford,muchtotheirdisappointment)and howtheylikedtheircollegesandtheirstudies.Wealsotold themabouttherestofouritinerary,andtheyapprovedof ourplan,givingusevenmorecouragetoattempttogetinto morecolleges.

Theywereextremelyfuntochatwith,butwehadtoletthemgetbacktotheastrologycoursetheywereona breakfrom.WemovedontoMagdalencollege,whereweavoidedtheninepoundentryfeewithourStudentIDs. Wetookinthebeautyofthechapel,cloisters,andthepastureswheretheykeepasurprisingnumberofdeer. UniversityCollegewasonourwaytothetavernwhereweweremeetingthegroup,sowedecidedtostopthereas well.Thecollegesaiditwasclosedtovisitors,butwedecidedtotryourlittle“hack”anyway,andwefoundthat whileitwasclosedtovisitors,itwasnotclosedtoprospectivestudents.WetookinUniversity’sdiningroom, chapel,andcourtyardsbeforewehadtoleavetomeetourfellowLondonReviewersatthetavern.

Wewerepracticallybuzzingwithexcitementaboutthedaythatwehadaswewalked.Theconversations Taylor,Val,andIhadinOxfordweresomeofthemostmemorablemomentsofthetrip.It’samazinghowmuch youcanlearnfrompeoplewhenyou’refriendlyandgenuinelycurious.Whilewenevergotthefullcollegetour wehadbeenhopingfor,wegotsomethingevenbetter:authenticculturalexchangeandconfidenceinourabilities tostepoutsideourcomfortzonesandformmeaningfulconnections.

WanderingThrough...Life

TheLondonReviewisopentoallhonorsstudents,regardless ofmajororyear,makingthisgroupauniquelydiverse collectionofexperiencesandpersonalities.Althoughwe wereallstrollingthroughthesamecityatthesametime,we eachviewedLondonlifefromdifferentperspectivesand internalizeddifferentgoals.Thenatureofthisstudyabroadis heavilystudent-led,givinguseachtheopportunityto prioritizeourdifferinginterests,suchasamusementparks, HarryPotterexhibits,modernart,theatre,parks,family history,andhistoricalconflicts.Thecontrastinglife experienceswithinjust10daysinLondonarewhatgiveour publicationitsdiversity,yetitisunifiedbypassion.

The People Who Made The Place

ByArjunMohan

IthoughtwhatIwouldremembermostaboutmyfinaldaysinLondonwouldbethelandmarks;instead,it wasfilmingOneDirectionmusicvideoswithpeoplewhohadfeltlikestrangerslessthanaweekearlier.

OnebrightafternoononAbbeyRoad,Meili,Sierra,andTaylorbeganpassionatelydiscussingamusicvideo theyknewbyOneDirection,whichhadbeenpartiallyfilmedinLondon.Thefilmjumpsbetweenmultiple destinations,assceneswerefilmedacrossfourcountries;however,theyseemedfascinatedbytheideaof recreatingthemusicvideoindifferentlocationsacrossLondon.

Weultimatelydecidedtogiveitashot.Whatstartedasahalfjokeideabecameanenjoyableproject.Aswemovedaround differentpartsofLondon,wefoundourselvesbondingthrough thecreationofthefilm.Wehadsomuchfunthatwe occasionallygotdistractedfromfilming,partakinginsidequests likegettingchocolatestrawberriesbytheLondonEye,actingon whimsthroughactivitieslikeseeingtheshrinkingarmtrick,and planningfutureactivitiestogether.Afterwhatfeltlike20 retakes,afewsnackbreaks,andmorefunthanproductivity,we eventuallyfinishedtheshortvideo.Ichosetofilmbecausethe videorequired5people,andwehad6inourgroup,namely Sierra,Meili,Calleigh,Jaspreet,Matthew,andme.

Ifanyonewhowentonthistripwashonest,thisdidnotfeel likeastudyabroadcourseorastructuredHonorsEnglishclass ThiscourseandexperiencemayhavebeenthemostfunIhave hadinaclass.MyfriendsandIwereinitiallyexcitedtogoon thistrip,butourclasswasn’tcloseyetbyanymeans.Before goingonthistrip,Ifeltlikemanyofuswereevenworriedwe mightnotfindourcliques.

However,inthesemoments,walkingthroughthecitytogether withnoplanotherthancreatingthisvideo,wecuratedourown fun.

Reflectingonthistrip,thesearethemomentsthatstandout morethananylandmarkIsaw.

WhileplaceslikeAbbeyRoadholdculturalandhistorical significance,whatIrememberfromthatlocationwasthe suggestiontofilmamusicvideo.

Thatdayshowedmethattravelingislessabouttheplaces youseeandmoreaboutthememoriesyoutakeandthe connectionsyoumakethatgivethosedestinationsmeaning. ThistripbecamelessaboutwhereIwasandmoreabout whoIwaswith.

Lessons from Solo Traveling

ByEmilyClausen

Ilovetoexperiencenewplacessurroundedbymyfamilyandfriends,talkingaboutartwhilewe’reatthe museum,reflectingonourdayoverameal,andchattingaboutmemoriesfromthetripyearslater.Recently, I’vealsofoundloveforsolotraveling.WhilestudyingabroadinGlasgowoverthesummer,Itookaweekend triptoDublinallbymyself.ItwasdefinitelyverydifferentfromtheothertripsIwasusedto:eatingat restaurantsalonefeltprettyawkward,anditwasweirdtohavesolecontrolofthemuseumsIvisited,howlong Iwasateachplace,andwhenItookacoffeebreak.Strangely,Ineverreallyfeltlonely.Ichattedwithlotsof differentpeople,fromakindcoupleonmytourofTrinityCollegetoagroupofAmericanwomenina restaurantwhogavemethefriesthattheyweretoofulltofinish.MytriptoDublingavemenewfound confidenceinmyabilitytonavigateunfamiliarplacesandculturesonmyownwhilestillhavinganenjoyable andeducationalexperience.Thankstothisexperience,IfeltcomfortableexploringLondononmyown,like mysolotriptoGreenwichtotakeapicturewithonefootintheWesternHemisphereandtheotherinthe EasternHemisphere.

ItooktheboattoGreenwichonanuncharacteristicallysunnyandwarmLondonmorning.Armedwithmy RickStevesbook,IsawtheCuttySarkteaship,theOldRoyalNavalAcademy,TrafalgarTavern(thesetting oftheweddingbreakfastinCharlesDickens’OurMutualFriend),theQueen’sHouse,andtheRoyal ObservatoryofGreenwich.Oneofthebeautifulthingsaboutsolotravelisthatyoucanlingeraslongasyou likeateachplaceyoustopat.Iwalkedhalfamileoutofmywaytogetcoffeeatarecommendedcoffeeshop andtookmytimeattheRoyalObservatory,lookingatincreasinglycomplicatedtimekeepingmethods.Inever realizedhowmuchofanissuetheseafaringageposedtoaccuratetimekeeping,andIgottotakemytime geekingoutwithoutbotheringorslowingdownanyoneelse.Afewdayslater,IexploredtheDesignMuseum, NationalPortraitGallery,andNationalGalleryonmyown.IwasgladtotakeaslongasIneededtofigureout howtheBritishroyallinehasprogressedfromtheTudorstotheWindsorsintheNationalPortraitGalleryand huntforImpressionismintheNationalGallery.Onthelastdayofthetrip,IwenttotheBritishLibraryand exploredSt.Pancrassolo.It’sfuntoaimlesslywander,meanderintodifferentshops,andtaketimetolookat thingsthatcatchyoureye.IlikeseeinghowmuchIcanblendinandfeelmyselfgettinglostinthecrowdsand bustleofabusycity,completelyunnoticedandanonymous,justforawhile.

It’ssafetosaythatIthinkitisworthwhiletochallengeyourselfandtravelsolo.Theworldhassomuchto placesyouvisit.Herearethemostimportant thingsI’velearnedalongtheway:

1.Mostpeoplearefriendlyandhappytohelp.Lost?Wantsomeonetotakeapictureforyoutosendtoyour parents?Confusedaboutsomething?Justask!Besafe,butitisokaytoaskpeoplepolitequestions.

2.Eatwhenyou’rehungry.Thissoundssimple,butIcangetsointoseeingeverythingthatIdon’twantto “waste”timebyfindingfood.I’vehadtolearnthatit'simportanttolistentomyself,grabasnack,andtakea seat.Takingthatmomenttoslowdownandtakecareofyourselfsavestimeandfrustrationlater.

3.Pretendyou’realocalforawhile.Withoutspeaking,myAmericanaccentcan’texposemeasatourist.I liketoobservepeoplearoundmeandbehaveabitmorelikethem.IchallengemyselftoseehowmuchIcan blendin.

4.Chatwithpeople.Inmyexperience,thisisespeciallyeasytodowithfellowAmericantravelersor restaurantstaff.AbartenderinIrelandtaughtmetopourGuinnesstheproperway,allbecauseIwascurious abouthislifeinIrelandandaskedhimaboutit.

5.Learntoliealittlebit.Thistipisespeciallyimportantifyouplan tousetips1,4,and6.Whereareyoustaying?Ican’tremember. What’syourname?ThemostcommonnameIcanthinkof (frequently,Kate).Areyoualone?No,I’mmeetingsomeone!Chat andlearn,butbesafe!

6.Joinatourgroup.Ithinkthisisanicereprievefromallthe thinkingoftravelingsolo,andthereareusuallyotherlike-minded peopleontours.Museumsoftenofferfreetoursatspecifictimes,or youcanbooksomethingonline.It’snicetogetthathuman interactionandabreakfromplanningforabit.

7.Keepajournaltorecordyourthoughts.Ithinkoneofthevery bestpartsoftravelingisrememberingitfortherestofyourlife.To me,themostfrustratingthingaboutsolotravelisthatnooneknows exactlyhowitwas,andIcan’trelatetosomeoneaboutashared experienceonatripifI’msolo.Ajournalwillhelpyoureflectwhen thereisn’tanotherpersontoreflectwithandrememberthesmall surprisesthatmaketravelsorewardingandfun.

8.Wander,linger,andbespontaneous.There’snopressurefrom anotherpersontogoanywhere,andsometimesthemostmemorable experiencesarethingsyouhappenupon.

9.Travelingsoloiscool,andpeoplethinkyou’recoolfordoingit. Trynottobeself-consciouswheneatingbyyourselfatarestaurant orwhilealoneatamuseum.It’sawesomethatyouaresteppingout ofyourcomfortzone.Readabook,lookatyourpicturesfromthe day,orjournalwhileyouwaitforyourfoodtofillsomeempty space.

10.Checkforday-ofticketsthatweresoldout.Museumsandother attractionssometimesreleaseextratickets24hoursbefore,andone ticketiseasiertofindthantwoormore.I’vegottenintoafew incredibleplaceswiththishackoflast-minutespontaneity.

Ihighlyrecommendtravelingateveryopportunity,evenifitmeansgoingalone.It’seasytobe intimidatedbysolotravel,buttheconfidenceithasgivenmehasgenuinelychangedthewayIthink andexperiencetheworldaroundme.Grabyourjournalandyourfavoritetravelguideandstart exploring!

A Big Ben T-Shirt ByValeriaSolis

WalkingintotheHouseofParliamentGiftShop,I wasimmediatelypulledawayfromthechaosoutside. ComingtofamouslandmarksaloneonaFridaywasnot mybestidea,butIwasonthehuntforaBigBenT-shirt.

TheshopwascalmcomparedtothetouristshopsI’d visitedbefore.Ihadspacetomovemyarmsandwasnot bumpingintosomeoneateverycorner.Theshelves elegantlydisplayedsouvenirsthathadevenmore elegance,withsleekdesignsandgildedgoldaccents.

AsImademywaythrougheveryshelf,myhands grewfuller.Matchingwatercolor-paintedmagnetsfor meandmyfamily.Abookonfascismanddemocracy. Anotherformyniecetitled, Little Miss in London.But stillnoBigBenT-shirt.

UntilIsawthemneatlyplacedinabasket–navyblue withgoldletters.Mygrandmother'sgentlevoiceechoed inmyhead,“IloveBigBen.Encuéntrameunacamisa conél,porfavor.”

I knew she would love it.

Astheshopclerkscannedmycountlessitemsasher colleagueretrievedtheT-shirtI’daskedtoswitchtoa differentsize,sheaskedhowIlikedLondon.ItoldherI lovedit.Then,Iproceededtogivehermoreinformation thanshemayhavewanted.IexplainedIwasonastudy abroadprogramandwasthefirstinmyfamilytocome toEurope.ItoldhertheywerefromMexicoandmy grandmotherlovedBigBen,whichwaswhyIvisited thisspecificgiftshoptogethertheT-shirtshe requested.

Thekindladysmiledandaskedmemorequestionsaboutmyexperience.Despiteknowingmeforonlya fewminutes,sheseemedgenuinelyhappyforme.Whenitwastimeforustopartways,shewishedmea lovelytimeinLondonandsaidshehopedmyfamilylovedtheirgifts.

She has no idea how much they did.

WhenIreturnedtoLawrence,mygrandmotherandlittlecousincametovisit.Shesatonthewornleather couchofmyapartmentasInervouslyhandedherhergifts.PlacedneatlyinsideanavyblueandgoldBigBen totebagsattheBigBenT-shirtalongsideamatchingmagnetandornamentwithherfavoritelandmark. HerhazeleyesglossedwithtearsasshetookouteachreminderofhowfarIhadlefthome.Sheheldupthe magnet,awedattheornament,andfinallyunfoldedthenavyblueandgoldT-shirtIsearchedhighandlowto find.Hersmilebrokefreeasshegiggledwithjoyandhuggedtheshirtclosetoherchest.Shethankedmeno lessthanathousandtimesandshoweredbothmeandtheT-shirtwithkisses. HerlaughterandsmileweremetwithmyownasIthankedherforgivingmethecouragetogo.

Experiencing London In My Father’s Footsteps

ByGabbyRock

WhenapplyingtogoontheLondonReview,Ialreadyhadabigcheerleadersittingbesideme.Myfather, AnthonyRock,isaKUalumnusandhastraveledtoLondonforbusinessandforpleasuresixtimes.Hewas veryexcitedtohearthatIwasapplyingforthisopportunitytovisitaplacehelikestocallasecondhomeof sorts,andwasevenmoreelatedwhenIwasacceptedintotheLondonReviewfor2026.BeforeIleftformy flight,hegavemeacardthatIwasnotsupposedtoopenuntilIwasattheChicagoO’Hareairport.WhenI openedtheletter,Iwastearybecausehewroteaheartfeltmessageabouthowproudhewasandsharedthefirst halfofhisstoriesfromhistimeinLondonwithme.Withinthestorywereseveralrecommendationsforplaces helovesinLondon,aphotographoftheK6TelephoneBoxesoutsideQueensgateParkthathehadnotlabeled atthetime,andanotesayingIwassupposedtofinditonmyown.Afterextensiveresearchattheairport,I foundthelocationandvisiteditonmyfirstdayinLondon.

Walkinginmy father’sfootstepsfrom thepastwassurreal,as ifIweresharingitwith his2003self.Hetook thephotoofthe telephoneboxesin 2018,buthadfirst visitedthislocation yearsearlier.HereIwas in2026,walkingdown thesamestepsoutside ofQueensgateParkto captureamomentnow rootedinfamilyhistory. Itwasaspecialfeeling, seeingthebeautiful topiaryaroundmethat

myfatherhadonceexperienced,andwatchingmyfeetplacethemselvesinthesamespothisoncewere. BeforeweevensetfootinLondon,anotherstudentonthistripgotticketstotheQueensParkRangers(QPR) footballgame.Ihadaskedmyfatherifitwasagameworthgoingto,sinceheisanavidsoccerfan,and watchingsoccerinLondonissacredtohim.Hesupportedmydecisiontogo,sincewatchingsoccerinLondon issacredtohim.Hisloveforthegamebeganin2003,whenhewasonabusinesstrip,andheandhisbuddies hadthechancetoseeagameafterwork.HetoldmeheoncehadaQPRt-shirt,butithadwornout,andthe onethinghewantedmetogethimwhileinLondonwasaQPRscarf.Ididjustthat,andonceagain,itwas surrealtoexperiencesomethingmyfatherhaddonebeforeIwasevenborn.

Ivisitedmanyofthesitesonhislist,fromWestminsterAbbeyandBuckinghamPalacetoacoupleof restaurantsherecommended,eventhoughIdidn’tgetthechancetoeatthere.MyloveforLondonwasformed duringmyvisits,butIalsocametounderstandmyfather’sperspectivemoreasIbegantravelinginhis footstepsandlookinguponthesamesightsheoncesaw.Forme,thistripbecamemorethanjustdiscovering Londonforthefirsttime;itcenteredonhowdeeplyIwasalreadyconnectedtoitthroughmyfather.Ihope onedaytovisitLondonwithhim,butfornow,Iwillcarrythememoriesofmyfather’sfootstepsthathave nowbecomemine,andmayonedaybecomethoseofmyownchildren.

London In Texture

By Magnolia Foster

Texturehuntingisapracticethatinvolvesspontaneouslycreatingmakeshiftstampstocaptureatexture andrecordit.Whiletexturehunting,thesubjectdoesnotneedtobeparticularlynicetolookatbutitmust haveaninterestingfeeltoit.Texturehuntingisoftenusedtoslowdownandtakeinminutedetailsthat mighthaveotherwisebeenoverlooked.Totexturehunt,Iusedabagofnon-dryingclayandaninkpad.I pressedtheclayonthesubjecttocollectitsprint,andthenstampeditintomyjournal.

FromaspiralstaircaseatFortnumandMason. FortnumandMasonisacandystorethathasbeen comparedtoWillyWonka’schocolatefactoryforits avantegardeapproachtocandyandlarge,luxurious stores.IaskedaworkerifIcouldgrabatextureand shesaidhersupervisorswouldsaynobutshewould guardmeifIgoquicklybecauseshe“lovesagood scheme.”

FromawaterglassatBuildersArms.Ourclass metheretocheckinandenjoysharable appetizers.IorderedaBritishbeercalledMadri andcaughtupwithmyclassmates.

FromabenchatOxford.AftertouringOxford,agroup ofusexploredanearbyopen-accessparkoutsideofSt. JohnsCollege.Afterwalkingthroughanimmaculate gardenandadmiringtheamazinggreenspace,we decidedtositonacirclebenchandtakesometimeto journalaboutourday.

FromashortpolewhichIthoughtwasafire hydrant.Onourfirstday,Iwalkedaroundthe Kensingtonneighborhood.InoticedwhatI thoughtwasafirehydrantanddecidedtocapture myfirsttextureinLondon.Ilaterlearnedthat Londondoesnothavefirehydrantsbutratheran undergroundsystemforwateraccessibility.

Fromadecorativecacaobeaninarestaurant calledBrindisa.Agroupofusdecidedtoorder tapasafterwatchingtheTempest.Westopped intoBrindisaandorderedamixofdifferent foodstoshare.Icouldnottellifthedecorative cacaowasrealorfake.

FromalamppostinSt.JamesPark.While walkingfromBigBenandtoBuckinghamPalace, wedecidedtocutthroughSt.JamesParkfora scenicwalk.Whiletakingthistexture,wesawa squirreljumponaman'sback.Wealsosawlotsof ducks,swans,andaveryinterestingbreedofbird. (Seethe“coot”onpage113)

Alone in Hyde Park

ByAshlynnMeyerHuffmaster

OnThursday,IwenttoHydePark.Itwasnotmyfirst timeseeingit,forIandseveralmembersofthegrouphad walkedpastitaftervisitingamarket.However,seeingit fromtheoutsidewithsleeponmymindandhungerinmy stomach,Ihadnodrivetogoinsidethegates.On Thursday,itwastheonlyplacethatlookedright. Iwasonmyowntoday.Aftersleepingin,eatingsome stalemuffinsmyroommateandIhadboughtfrom Sainsbury’s,andgettingready,Iventuredoutonmyown. Withmyheadphoneson,Ilistenedtoapodcast.Ihadan ideaastowhereIwantedtogo:agoodplacetobealone. Thereisananxietywhenyoufirstdecidetogosomewhere alone,especiallyinabigplacelikeLondon.Forme,I typicallyplotmycourseandmakesureitdoesn’tseemtoo daunting.Then,Ilookforrestaurantsnearby.Ialways makesurethereisgoodfoodnearby,it’sveryimportant. Thefirststepoutthehotelfeltthehardest.AsIwalkeddowntheroadlisteningtomyTwoHotTakesPodcast, IwonderedifIlookedlikeatourist.Iknowinourbiggroupsandwhenwetalktoeachother,welookedlike tourists.Butalone,IfeltlikeIwasjustanotherpersoninthestreet.

OnceIarrivedatthePark,Iwassurprised.ItwasaThursday, around1pm,andyetthelargewalkway,whichwasbigenough thatfitacar,waspackedwithpeople.Theydidn’tseemtobe takingamillionphotosliketourists,butinsteadtheywere running,jogging,biking,andlaughing.Isawafewbenches alongthewalkway.Somehadoldmenrestingandsomehada fewpeoplejustquietlychatting.Iwantedtositalone,soIkept walking.Abitfurtheron,IsawabuildingthatIlaterlearned wasKensingtonPalace.Insteadofcontinuingon,Iturnedthe oppositedirectionandwalkeddownamuchsmallerpath. Isawapondwhichhadgeeseandpossiblyswans,Isawpeoplelayinginthegrass,aloneorhavingpicnics.I decidedthebestspottorestwasatthebaseofalargetree,awayfromlargegroups.Thegroundwasslightly damp,andthewindwasabitcold,butIsatdirectlyinthesunlight.Itookoffmyheadphonesandjust breathed.

Thereissomethingpeacefulaboutbeingsurroundedbysomanypeoplewhodonotcareaboutwhoyouare orwhatyouaredoing.Thereissomethingpeacefulaboutlookingaroundandwatchingeveryone.Thewoman whosedachshundwasplayingwithacrow.Thetwomenpassingasoccerballtoeachother,onekickingit slightlyoutofreachoftheother.Littlekidsrunningoffthepathfromtheirparents,lookingforthevarious statuesandmemorialsinthepark.

ThereisadifferentfeelingwhenIsitinthegrass,againstatreethatisprobablymucholderthanme, watchingallofthesepeople.ThoughIwasalone,Iwasnotlonely.Thereisapossibilitythatsomeoneelsewas there,someonewhowasdealingwiththeirownanxiety.Someonewhocameinthroughthenorthinsteadof thesouthlikeme.Maybetheysatonabenchintheshade.InHydePark,therearehundredsofpeoplewalking around.Weallhavedifferentreasonswhywewerethere,justlikeweallhaddifferentreasonsforjoiningthe LondonReview.

London, Reunited

OnMondayMarch16thitwasabeautifulday outsidewithalittlechilltoitandIspentthedaywith myfamily.WhenIfirstdecidedtosignupforthe LondonReviewtripIknewthatIwantedtobeableto visitmyfamily.Twoofmycousinsfrommydad'sside liveinLondonandtherestofmymomanddad’sside ofthefamilyhavepeoplelivingalloverEngland.The lasttimeIwasinLondonwastwoyearsagobutIhad seenmyfamilyintheUnitedStateslastyear.Iwas reallyexcitedtovisitmyfamilybutIalsoknewthey weregoingtobeverybusysoIplannedto accommodatefortheirtimetoo.WhenIfirsttoldmy cousinsIwasgoingtovisit,theygotreallyexcitedand quicklystartedplanningwhentovisitandwhattodo.

ByJaspreetKaur

AsImadeaquick10minutewalktoKensingtonfortheV&Amuseummyoldercousin,Jatinder,metup withme.Heisbasicallylikemyolderbrotherandthelasttimewevisitedhetookoffworkfortwoweeksto driveusaroundandshowusallthespots.Wewalkedaroundtheechoinghallwaysofthemuseumwith toweringsculptures.Oncewefinishedlookinginthemuseum,weheadedtothetubestation.Thejourneyfrom thetubetoElmPark,wheremycousinlived,wasmuchlongerthanotherstationswevisited.Asthetrain movedthroughtheDistrictLineweeventuallysawaviewofthegreeneryinLondon.Aswesteppedoffthe tubeitwasinstantlydifferent.

Ratherthantheloudnoisesofbustlingactivityitwasmuch quieterandmoresimple.Itwasaveryshortwalktomycousin’s newhousewhichIhadneverseenbefore.AsIsteppedintothe warmthofmycousin’snewhouse,Iwasgreetedbyachaoticfull house.Myothercousin,Taranpreetandherwholefamilydrove fromManchesteraround3-4hoursjusttoseeme.Thelivingroom wasfilledwithJatinder’sdaughter(aged3)andTaranpreet’stwo sons(aged2and4).Theonlypersonmissingwasmy8yearold nieceAmaniwhowasatschool.Mycousin-in-lawtoldmehow Amaniheldupapictureofusataweddingtogetherandaskedmy auntifitwasmewhowasvisiting.Sheeventriedtogetoutof schooltohangoutwithmethewholedaybutintheUKthe schoolsaremorestrictsoshewasunabletoskip.Whenitturned3 Iwentwithmycousin-in-lawonashort7minutedrivetopickup Amanifromschool.

Therewasaseaofparentsalltryingtofindparkingsotheycouldpicktheirkidup.Wewalkedintothe gatedcourtyardwherethepavementincludedhopscotchandsnakesandladders.Whenthedoorsfinally opened,incameaseaofkidsinuniforms.Amaniimmediatelyspottedusandrantowardsusquicklyhugging me.OncewegotbacktothehousewehadachillhangoutwithhomemadeauthenticPunjabifoodandcaught up.EventuallymycousinTaranpreethadtodrivebackhomesincetheyhadtoworkinthemorning.The classicPunjabigoodbyestartedwith20minutesofgoodbyesandexchanginggiftstillweallfinallywent home.

Wandering Through New York

ByMatthewHasson

AsIdrovetotheairport,excitedtobeginmyjourneytoLondon,Ireceivedatext:“We’resorrythatyour flightisdelayedby11minutesandisnowdepartingat5:53.PM”Ishruggeditoff,11minutesisalmostno difference,andtheyusuallymakethattimeupintheair.But11turnedto21,21turnedto30,30turnedto 60,andanhouraddedwasenoughtomakemeunabletomakemylayover.Ihadalreadymadeitthrough TSAwhenthetextarrivedsayingthatmyentiretravelitineraryhadbeenchanged.

InsteadofflyingfromKansastoLondononFridaywithashortlayoverinDetroit,Iwouldnowflyfrom KansastoDetroit,spendthenight,andthenflytoNewYorkthenexteveningonlytoflytoLondonat midnightonSaturday.IlookedaroundthegatestryingtofindanyDeltarepresentatives,butnonewerethere. IrantotheDeltasecurityhelpdeskatthefrontoftheairport.ThereIstood,with3otherfamilies,explaining howthisdelaywouldnotwork.ThefamilytotheleftwastryingtoflytoCopenhagen.“Justgetusinto mainlandEuropeandwe’llfindatrain,weneedtogettherethisweekend,notbyTuesday.”Thedelayshad madeitsothefamilywouldbeforcedtolandonTuesday,insteadoftheSaturdaywhichtheybooked.I becameawarethatitwouldbeimpossibleformetogetintoLondonontimewiththerestofthegroup.

“IfIlandinDetroit,willDeltapurchasemeahotel?”IaskedtheDeltarepresentative.“Wecannotguarantee that,”sheresponded.AfterlookingattheflightsleavingfromKansasCitythatnight,Iaskedhertoswitchto theflighttoLaGuardia.Whileinconvenient,IhavefamilyandfriendsinNewYorkthatIknewIcouldstay with.SheswitchedmeontheflighttoLaGuardiaandthenhandedmeapaper,with7flightsonit.WhileIwas scheduledtoleaveJFKnationalairporttoLondonSaturdayat11PM,thereweremultipleflightsIcould attempttostand-byon,buttheywereallfullybooked.Theplanwasset,IwouldlandinLaGuardiaat11:45 PM,traveltomyfriend’shouseinManhattanandthenbeatJFKairportby6:30AMsothatIcouldmakeit ontothefirstflightout.

WhenIlandedinNewYork,Iwaslockedintothatplan,gettingontheM60buswhichtraveledfrom LaGuardiatoColumbiaUniversitycampus.IthenreceivedatextmessagefromDeltainformingmethatI waseligibleforafreehotelinNewYork,onerightnexttoJFK.Knowingthiswouldmakemylife significantlyeasierinthemorning,Iacceptedthehotelandgotoffthebusonthefirststopoutofthe terminal.ItwasoneandahalfhourstogettothehotelfromLaGuardiaduetotheamountofbusswitching Iwouldhavetodo,butIwasready.Istoodconfidently,at12:30inthemorning,atthebusstop.Luckily, thebusthatcomesevery30minuteswassettoarriveinseconds.Istoodthereandwavedatthebus,butit didnotstop.Iwasinatoughsituation.Ieitherhadtowaitanother30minutesorfindanotherwaytothe airport.Onthephonewithmyfriend,IwassuggestedtoaskapoliceofficerforaridetoJFK.Itwasa stupididea,butIhadbecomedesperate.Iwalkeduptothenearestofficerandasked.Tonosurprise,he declined,butwaveddownacabandtoldthecabtotakeme.AfterastressfulandaggressivecabrideI arrivedatthehotelat2AMinthemorningandIwasgoingtobeattheairportat6:45AM.

Iwokeupthenextmorningandgotontheshuttle fromthehoteltotheairport.Imovedthroughsecurity quicklyandmadeittothegateforthefirstflightIwas attemptingtolayoveronattheperfecttime.Iaskedthe manatthefrontdeskifIcouldenterthestand-by promptinghimtorespond,“Wedonotdostand-by,I wouldspeaktosomeoneattheDeltahelpdesk.”Itwas timetorun.

IsprintedtotheDeltahelpdesk,leveldown,and explainedthesituation.“Whotoldyouthatyoucould stand-byontheflight,honey?”“TheDeltarepat MCI…KansasCity.”Sheturnedtohercoworkerand laughed,“OfcourseitwasKansasCity,theydon’t knowhowinternationaltravelworks.”Sheexplainedto methatitwasagainstfederallawforflightstoallow stand-byoninternationalflights.Knowingthatthere were2openseatsontheflightbylookingattheapp,I askedhertochangemyitinerarytoputmeontheflight. ButeventhoughtheflightwasaDeltaflight,itwasa flightoperatedbyVirginAtlantic,makingthemnot evenabletoseetheflightinformation.

“Onesecond,honey”theladyatthedesksaystomeasshepicksupherphoneanddials.Istandthere for30minutesasshetriestogetthroughthedarnAIandtoahumanattheDeltaline.Shethenputsdown thephone,slidesapaperacrossthedesk,andsays,“runtothegate.”

Thepaperhadthegateinformation,butnothingaboutwhethermyflightwasupdated.Isprintedtothe gate.Theywerefinishingboarding.“I’mbackwithalettertellingmetocomehere,”Ijokedwiththeman atthefrontdesk.Hesearchedmynameinthecomputersystem,“Ah,Deltafoundawaytoaddyou,havea fantasticflightMr.Hasson.”IenteredtheaircraftonaflighttoLondon,over13hoursbeforeIwas scheduledtoleave.AsIreachedmyseat,Ifeltblessedastheopenseathappenedtobetheseatwithextra legroom!Insteadofbeinginthemiddleseatofaflightwhichwouldleaveatmidnight,Iwassittingnicely onaflighttoLondon.“WiththeJetStream,”theflightattendantsays,“weshouldmakeittoLondonHeathrowairportataround7.”Afterallthestruggle,IwouldgettoLondonandnotmissthefirstdinner!

Start Paying Attention

ByValeriaSolis

“Have you noticed how beautiful life becomes when you start paying attention?”

“Have you noticed how beautiful life becomes when you start paying attention?”

ThewordsglowedfrommyscreenasIsatonagrassyarea waitingfortherestofthegrouptomaketheirwaytothe soccervenue.TheTescochickencurrysandwichIhad earlierthatafternoonchurnedinmystomach.Theseemingly innocentandinspirationalwordsofasimpleTikTokhitme likeabagofbricks.

Somewherebetweentheendlessapplications,classes, internships,executiveboardpositions,familiarandfriend commitments,IhadstoppedpayingattentiontothelifeIwas living.Iwaspayingattentiontothestepsofahypothetical future.

“Have you noticed how beautiful life becomes when you start paying attention? Pain turned into poetry and broken hearts learned to beat again. Life is messy, twisted, unfair, but catch it at the right angle, and it's breathtaking.”

Inthatmoment,forthefirsttimeinwhatseemedlike months,Iwasabletobreathe.Adeepexhaleescapedmylips asIsatsoakingineveryounceofsunthathitmyskin.My handsslippedfrommyphoneontothegrasstofeelthe coarsenessofitsblades.MyeyesdriftedtothedaisiesI neglectedtonoticeearlier.Theywereinfullbloom.The grassyareawasnotshieldedbyhornsandsirensandhustle andbustleofcitylife,butIwasapartofsomethingsimpler. Apersonsittinginaparksurroundedbyotherswhowere doingthesame.

In my trips abroad I have found one commonality: people in other countries live life for the pleasure of living it. With London's help, I was able to notice how beautiful life can become when I start paying attention. A grassy area to sit in. A journal to write my thoughts in. A clear sky. The opportunity to visit a country no one in my family has visited before. But above all, time. The time to be a part of something simple.

Pleasure of Simplicity

ByAlexanderFigueroa-Castro

Irememberthethoughtsthatracedthrough mymindasthedaysnearedforourtrip.The excitementandpotentialofthetrip overwhelmedme,andIbegantohave trepidationsaboutmyplanningand preparement.Icouldn’tbringmyselftomake concreteplansbecauseIdidn’tknowwhatI wantedtodoorwhatactivitiesIcould discoverlater.Therewasapoolofinfinite optionsbutonlyaweektotrywhatIwanted. Aftermuchturmoil,Iendedupdecidingto notmakeplansandseewhatwouldhappen.It feltcounterintuitiveforatripwithafreeroamnature,butthatwastheonlyoptionthat couldbringmeanycomfortandlessenmy stress.Imean,attheendoftheday,thiswas Springbreak,andIwantedtorelaxalittle.

Thatisn’ttosayIdidn’thavemyhesitationsaboutmydecision.Afterall,Iwouldbeinalocationwithoutmanyof thethingsthatnormallykeptmeentertained.IhadtofindsomethingIwouldbeproudofdoing,andIcouldn’trisk wastingasecondofmytimeabroad.Whileeveryoneelsesharedtheirplansandcelebrated,Isatinthecornerwatching theirexcitementandanticipationgrow.ItateatmethatIcouldn’tempathizewiththeirthrill.However,bytheendofthe trip,Irecognizedtherewassomethingmarvelousaboutthepleasureofsimplicity,andIfeltfulfilled.

WhileinLondon,IwassoawestruckbythedailyfunctionofLondoners.EverymorningIcouldseepeoplewalk pastourhotelontheirwaytowork,shop,orrun.Icouldn’thelpbutthinkabouthowthisroutinewassofamiliarfor them.Forus,weweretourists.Weweredrawntothemostimmaculateattractionsandexceptionalhighlightsof London.ThedailyfunctionsoftheEnglishwereinconsequentialandhadnobearingonouroverallexperience,yet therewassomuchbeautyandvibrancytoit,andIcouldn’thelpbutadmireit.

ThereweremanydaysIhadnothingtodo,andIwould normallytagalongwithanotherstudentonwhattheyhad planned.Oneday,however,Iwantedsomethingdifferent.I wantedtogetabreakfromtheconsistenttouristicthrills,but Ialsowantedtoseizesuchabeautifulday.Irememberthe temperaturebeingwarmlytenderonmyskinandtheaircool asitblewthroughmyhair,soIdecidedtotakeawalk throughKensingtonpark.

Irecallleavingthehotelandbeginningmyjourney throughtheneighborhoodwewereat.Ipassedmany peopleheadingtotheirgardensorbacktotheirown homes.Ialsopassedpeopleastheyenjoyedtheirlunchor coffeeatrestaurantsandcafes.Theyallspoke,laughed, andmovedwithauniquepurposeIfeltisolatedfrom.I wantedtopeakintotheirlife,butIknewasatouristallI coulddowasadmire.

What a Classroom Couldn’t Teach Me

ByArjunMohan

Fromparticipatinginnumerousactivitieslikethewalkingtour,toattendingalate-nightshowingofThe Tempest,tofiguringoutnavigationinaforeigncountry,Irealizedthisexperienceprovidedamoreeffective wayoflearningthanwhatIamusedtointhetraditionalclassroomsetting.Insteadoflisteningtolecturesand doingimmenseamountsofhomework,ouronlyassignmentonthetripwastojournalourexperiences.We wereabletoengageinmoremeaningfulgrowththroughhavingagreaterrangeoffreedom.

Forexample,oneofthemost challengingpartsofthetripwas learninghowtonavigatepublic transportationinanewsetting.It wasslightlyoverwhelmingatfirst becauseIhadneverexperienced systemsliketheTube,sinceI’ve livedinKansasmywholelife, whichdoesn’thavemuchpublic transportation.Ieventuallybecame morecomfortablereadingmaps andbecameconfidentenoughto assistwithplanningroutesbackto thehotel.TheseareskillsIcould nothavelearnedaseffectively withinaclassroomcontextand requireenvironmentalexposure.

Thisnewlandscapeallowedmetolearnindifferentways.Ratherthanlearningaboutthehistory,traditions, andpoliticsofLondon,weweregiventhefreedomtoallocateourtimetoeventswecaredtoparticipatein. Bestowingthislevelofresponsibilityonstudentsforcedmetodevelopstrongertime-managementskillsand takeownershipofmyowndecisions,whetherthatmeantbalancingassignmentswithexplorationor navigatingthecityindependently.Forexample,abroad,IhadassignmentsbasedonthistripthroughtheUNIV 342GlobalCulturecourse,whereIlearnedin-depthculturalanalysisandhowtomakethemostofmy experience.Thesekindsofassignmentsprovidedmewithanopportunitytoreflectonthebenefitsofthis programandbetterunderstandhowindependent,experience-basedlearningcanshapemyacademicgrowth andmyperspectivesontheworld.

Combiningtheoriginalstructureoftheclass,wherewediscussedwhatwecouldseeabroadandthehistory ofwhatwewouldattendasaclass,andthenpermittingstudentswithgreaterpersonalfreedom,createdamore productivelearningatmosphere.Thistripshowedmethateffectiveeducationisnotlimitedtotheconfinesof classroomlectures,butcanbemoreimpactfulwhenexperienceddirectly,requiringgreaterindependence, personalresponsibility,andactiveparticipation.Thistripprovidesauniqueopportunityforstudentsto discovernewculturesaroundtheworld,whilealsoallowingroomforindependentexploration.

My Goodness, My Guinness!

ByEmilyClausen

IhavearuleforGuinness:youhavetotryitthreetimesbeforeyoucandefinitivelysayyoudon’tlikeit.WhenI studiedabroadinGlasgowlastsummer,oneofmygoalswastolearntolikebeer,andthenaturalintroductionto beerintheUKisGuinness.ThefirstpintIhadprobablytookmeanhourofpainedsipstogetthrough.Thesecond pintafewdayslaterwentdownabitfaster,butitwasstillabitunpleasant.Ihadalmostgivenuponmygoal,until IwenttoBelfast.LegendhasitthatGuinnesstastesbetterthecloseryougettoDublin,sowithmyfeetfirmlyon theEmeraldIsle,ItriedmythirdpintofGuinness,anditwas…perfect.Delicious.Theexactbalanceofbitterthat blackcoffeeanddarkchocolatehave.IwasfinallylivingmydreamoflovingGuinness.

AftertherestofthesummerinGlasgow,whichincludedatriptotheGuinnessStorehouseinDublin,Iconsider myselftobeabitofaGuinnessexpert,meaningI’msomeonewhohashadenoughpintsinenoughcitiestobe annoyingaboutit.Thisnotscientific,butbasedonthewholeGuinnessexperience,includingthecultureofthepub andthepersonalsignificanceofthepint.Withoutfurtherado,herearemyrankingsofthepintsIhadinLondon, frombesttoworst:

1.Any Guinness from Waxy O’Connor’s. Waxy’s has two locations in the world: oneinLondon,andtheotherinGlasgow.Withabeautiful,maze-likeinteriorthat strikes a harmonious balance between a forest and a cathedral and boasting live music almost every night, Waxy O’Connors was one of my favorite spots for dinner and a Guinness during my summer in Glasgow. Seeing the sign for my beloved Waxy O’Connor’s while walking to a show in the West End was like a homecoming. Naturally, I grabbed the girls I went to see Six with and showed them the wonder of the pub, and thanks to the music of The Cranberries and the generalperfectionofWaxy’s,Ithinktheyfellinlovetoo.

2 MyfirstGuinnessbackintheUK.Withaboutthreeweekstogountilmytwentyfirst birthday at the time of publication, it’s safe to say that Guinness is exclusively a treat when I’m travelling internationally. The only thing that can make a fresh pint of Guinness even better is the monthslong anticipation of said Guinnessbeforehand.Absencemakestheheartgrowfonder,yaknow?

3.MylastGuinnessbeforeleaving.Thispintwasdefinitelybittersweet,asitwasboththefarewelltoLondonand markedthereturntotheGuinnesslessnessofmyAmericanlife.There’ssomethingaboutscarcitythatreally makesyousavorsomethingevenmore,soafterwaitingforthepinttosettle(likeaproperGuinnesssnob),I sippeditslowly,tryingtosoakupeverylastdropofthedrinkandminuteofmytimeinLondon.

Lastplace:TheGuinnessIhadinOxfordonSaint Patrick’sDay.Itwasn’tevenputintoaGuinnessglass,so howwaseveryonegoingtoknowwhatIwasdrinking?

PuttingGuinnessintoaregularglassonSaintPatrick’sDay feelslikeaninsulttothebeverage.Whilethispubwas tuckedawayinanalleywithagreatoutdoorpatioandvery cooloverall,IwouldjuststicktociderifIvisitedagain.

ApintofGuinnesswithfriendsisaBritishritualthatIwill alwayslove.Amixofbarley,hops,yeast,water,and nostalgia,Guinnessneverfailstobringmebacktosomeof mybesttravelmemories.Slàinte!

London Review Crossword

*AnswersonPage116

London Review

Unscramble Word Game

*AnswersonPage116

Animals all around us

Squirrel-Name:Tom;Tomclimbedupthatfenceinunderfoursecondsandalmostjumpedonmy faceoutsideofBuckinghamPalace.

Raccoon-Thebest-fedraccoonIhaveeverseenandagreatreminderthatsomeone’severydaylife isanother’suniqueexperience.ThefirstraccoonIhaveeverseenatazoo-ChessingtonWorldof Adventure.

Capybara-MyfirsttimeeverseeingalivecapybarainpersonatChessingtonWorldofAdventure.

Coot-Thefunniest-lookingfeetIhaveeverseenabirdhave,spottedatSt.James’sPark. Apparently,theyaretoallowthecoottogointhewaterandgripontowetorslimyobjects.

Ardea-AgenusofbirdintheHeronfamilythatIspottedatQueensgatePark,andthemostunique animalIsawinLondon.

Clownfish-Thisclownfishwasprobablypetrifiedofmyphonebeingsoclosetohishouse,butI thoughthewasthecutestmodel.TheaquariumatChessingtonWorldofAdventuresallowedeasy accesstoviewitsaquaticanimals.

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