I can finally check off studying abroad off my bucket list! London is a fantastic city, and I would love to go back one day. One of the things I thoroughly enjoyed about this trip was the fact that before we went we learned about certain sections of London and landmarks. As example it was very exciting to learn about St. Paul’s cathedral and then actually go inside the cathedral learn even more about the churches history.

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”- Neale Donald Walsch

The quote above could not be more true for this trip. The whole trip in general was out of my comfort zone since we were in a different country and needless to say life really does begin when you get out of your comfort zone. On our free day Taylor and I traveled by train then by bus to the city of Brighton. I was so nervous to venture out on our own with only a map, and little knowledge on the train/bus systems since we could not use our phones as clutches since we did not have data. Our free day turned out so well this summer I may turn off my phone and just grab a map and take a road trip to somewhere in the states. Thanks to this trip I feel more confident in getting out of my comfort zone, which will make life more eventful in the long run.

Overall I enjoyed London and would go back again, but I would also love to explore more of the UK and other parts of Europe. I am now itching to travel and see more of this beautiful world.

London exists in my memory almost more as a person than a place. The nostalgia that I was able to develop for a city that I only explored for a small amount of time is remarkable. “There” becomes “She” as I reminisce about the intricacies of my experience: a lovely and inspiring one.

London is accessible. Being aware of my post-trip banter with friends and family, I notice that an adjective I frequently use to describe Londoners is mobile. Accessibility and the ability to efficiently commute are important contributors to the overall speed of London.

London is energetic. Coming home, I was shocked at the comparative slowness of Columbus. Living for 22 years in the quaintness of suburbia, I am pleased to find so much excitement by being in a large city. I adore the hustle of London’s beautiful working people, the excitement of the plethora of children on field trips: even the homeless were kind. It was the cleanest and classiest city I have ever been in. It has begun a stirring within me to also explore the cities that other countries have to offer. London opened her arms to me and allowed me to walk freely, more independent than I have ever felt. I know that I will see her again.

This is most likely everyones response to our fabulous trip, but for me it sincerely was one of the greatest weeks of my life. Although I have been abroad before, London was a such a unique experience compared to mainland Europe. I loved how we got a chance to explore all over the city as opposed to just staying in one place the whole trip. I also loved how we got a taste of english culture in such a brief amount of time. It feels like I blinked and the trip was over, but I do feel as though I understand English culture in depth now after the trip. I like how the city felt connected through its transportation systems also. The tube allowed us to travel all over the city in a couple hours; something we would have not been able to do otherwise. Looking back, I wish I could relive the whole trip over again. From the amazing  friends I have made to the amazing architecture I have gotten the privilege to see, I cant wait to plan my next trip back!

Days four and five of the trip were two of my favorite days of the whole trip. Stonehenge was one of my favorite things that I saw on the last trip I went on in 2007 so I was super excited to see the few visitor center that Aimee raved about. And I must say I was not disappointed. Stonehenge was just as amazing as the first time I saw it! Stourhead was also something amazing I want to talk about. I mean wow! I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did. It was so beautiful and to be able to walk into all the follies and the grotto was amazing! I had previously gone to Salisbury Cathedral on my previous trip so it was a pleasure seeing it again, I got to recreate a picture that I had taken in 2007 of the water fountain in the cathedral.  On day five I had a great time enjoying Kew Gardens. I especially enjoyed the Princess Diana Conservatory. I also liked going on the tree top canopy with Logan, Trace, Rachel and Cori. Seeing Kew from above was really cool. Afternoon tea was amazing and I throughly enjoyed it. The London Eye cruise was also a second go for me too however going in the evening and being able to see the sun set over London was an added bonus.

Zac and Logie!

Rachel, Cori and I at tea!

Stats day 5.. I forgot to screenshot that evening

Candid of Rachel and I courtesy of Logan

Stourhead landscape

Day 4 Stats

It still doesn’t feel like we’ve been to London, stayed for over a week, and came home. People will ask me how London was and I have to remind myself that we actually did go. The trip absolutely flew by but it was such a great experience. I made so many new friends that I never would have met, or become close with, otherwise. Having so many different people in different majors was awesome because it gave me a completely different perspective of London when I was just looking at the architecture.

But I loved the city so much. London was so inclusive in merging the older architecture and the modern buildings which was amazing to see since so many other cities just divide into the “old” portion and the “new”. I also thought it was amazing to see the differences in culture. We may speak the same language (or a version of it) but there are so many unique cultural differences that I never would have thought of. It was so cool being able to talk to people who lived in the UK about the differences between our cultures.

I never would have thought I would have gotten the opportunity to study abroad in my second year of college but it was an absolutely amazing experience. London is a city I will never forget and one I can’t wait to visit again.

For our free day, Adriane, Zac, Kendra, and I all went to Notting Hill market and got to experience English culture at its finest. This market is HUGE and has so many different kinds of stands to buy things from. The beginning part of the market was made up primarily of antiques. They had everything from jewelry, to old prints, cameras, and even some clothing. We had a blast looking through all the amazing history and charm the stands had to offer. I bought some wonderful prints from the 1860s that render Italian sculpture and mosaic tile. While there we also ate lunch at a street vendor that was selling German wraps. We also got jelly donuts from a elderly woman hat had a bakery stand and I have never had a better donut in my life. After the market we came back and napped and then went to dinner a bit later. We enjoyed our last English dinner at a pub and got traditional English savory pies. After diner we spent our evening visiting platform 9 and 3/4 from the Harry Potter movies and getting the classic red phone booth picture in front of Big Ben. Overall, our free day was simply amazing and I can’t believe the trip is coming to an end!

To be completely honest, I was not looking forward to our day trip out to stone henge, Stourhead, and Salisbury. I was just tried and was not looking forward to sitting in a bus all day. I am glad to say though that at the the end of the day, the day trip was one of my favorite parts of the entire trip. Even though some say that stone henge is just a pile of rocks and is doesn’t do much, I thought it was absolutely beautiful. It’s the only clear figural object for miles and it is so independently stunning. The clear difference between the green grass and the blue sky was amazing. I’m so happy we were blessed with a sunny day.
Our next stop was to Stourhead and I have never been so taken aback by a landscape in my entire life. It is truly the most natural looking man made space I have ever seen. The recreation of the Pantheon is stunning and is so much lager hat what I had previously thought. The overall ambiance and over the top nature of the pace as a whole was truly unique and incredible in its own right. The space was created and designed to be over the top and beautiful just to be enjoyed and experienced. I love that it’s purpose is simple.
The last stop of the day was to Salisbury cathedral and it was the first gothic cathedral I had ever been in. The space was magnificently huge and visually stimulating. I didn’t know where to look because everything in the space was so sculptural and vibrant. I loved the piers and flying buttresses in the space, as well as the ribbed vaults and pointed arches. The space differed from a Roman cathedral in many ways. For one, the verticality in this space was much more prevalent. I also thought that the space was more ornamental. Although I still prefer a Roman cathedral, I’m glad I got to see a place of worship that is so vastly different, but represents the culture of the English religion while serving the same purpose as the classic cathedral.

Just when I thought I was ready to go home I had another great day in London. I started the morning off how any great day starts, by sleeping in. I made my way to Notting Hill for their portabella market which made me immediately regret spending my money anywhere else. There was sooooo much to see and I was on limited funds. I quickly found numerous items for my future self to come back and buy one day. They had fabulous leather trunks full of furs and precious antiques everywhere I looked.  I ended up buying myself a teapot, an old fashion camera for my sister that came in this sick leather case and a scarf from a Scottish store. While there at the markets they also had an endless supply of street food to choose from, I got a German Doner and it was delicious. I also found the best doughnuts this side of the Atlantic.

To continue with my great day we went to a pub that George Orwell frequented at and I had my goodbye meal that of fish and chips! They were good and the atmosphere there was very alive. Next we went to kings cross and got our pictures taken at platform 9 3/4!

My my day in pics:

I’m in love, I’m in love

The one I got my sister isn’t pictured it’s so cool though. It’s a Kodak and it says United Kingdom on it.

I’ll dream of you babe!

An image of the quaint street before we arrived upon the crazy market madness!!

My younger self is geeking out hard core tonight!

For our free day I thought it would be interesting to visit the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace. I am really interested in the Tudor dynasty andtherefore believed that it was necessary to see thsee buildings that were so important at the time. Both of them closed at the same time, so I knew that this was going to be a very busy and fast paced day.

The first thing I did when I got to the towet was go on one of the Beefeater tours. It was really entertaining and pretty informative. What was really nice was that since they live inside the Tower they have some personal experiences and inside knowledge that they can share. After the tour I went through a lot of the tower, but I couldn’t see everything I wanted to because I had a long trip to Hampton Court.

Getting to Hampton court proved to be much more of a hassle then I anticipated, so it took longer then I would have like to get there. Because of that I only got to see the palace and not the gardens, but I’m not to upset because most of them were added after the Tudor dynasty. The palace was fascinating, but they made it a little cheesy and were trying way to hard to entertain people. For example, they had a soundtrack going in the kitChen so that it sounded like there were workers there. Ignoring that fact, I loved seeing the structure and how it would have been set up during Henry VIII’s reign. There were small little details representing his wives throughout the entire palace, showing the progression of when the remodeling was done.  I just love the fact that such an important part of history has been preserved so well and the attempt to show you what things actually looked like when Henry lived there. It would have been amazing if I could have seen the tennis courts, but I couldn’t find a way to get to them sadly.

Today’s festivities included visiting the British Museum, walking among the high rises of the city, and taking a boat trip to Greenwich; all culminating into a magical day. In contemplation of my experiences, I can’t help but feel impressed upon by my first visit to the British museum. It was an incredible repertoire of knowledge and record. Representing an epitome of a museum experience and a prime example of British exhibitionism, the British Museum struck me with a powerful conviction: the idea of exhibition itself. I am deeply concerned with the interesting conversation about the ethics of the British ownership of the Greek Parthenon. The world becomes a material to be collected, gathered and sorted. Worshipped, conserved and researched. Exploited, colonized, stolen. Ethics becomes relative. How do we gauge cultural and ethical responsibility?

This reminds me of the controversial work of performance artists Guillermo Gómez-Peña and Coco Fusco. Their “The Couple in the Cage” challenged these ideas as an ironic reenactment of the imperialist practice of displaying indigenous peoples in exhibition to be empirically exploited by white intellectuals. By performing “The Couple in the Cage” in various museums, Fusco and Gómez-Peña were exposing the racism, colonialism, and voyeurism of developed countries. Appearing five hundred years after Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas, they performed live in museums displayed as an exhibition of Amerindians from an island in the Gulf of Mexico that had somehow been overlooked for five centuries. They called their homeland Guatinau and themselves Guatinauis. Most important to the work includes the reaction of the audience. Filmed, their behavior reveals the racist ideology that exists among a postcolonial society that understands non-western people as primitive and objects of exhibition. Fusco relates “In such encounters with the unexpected, people’s defense mechanisms are less likely to operate with their normal efficiency; caught off-guard, their beliefs are more likely to rise to the surface.”

London lies at the heart of this debate.

It’s unbelievable that tomorrow will be our last full day in London. I’ve seen so much, and experienced so much, that I can’t imagine just going back to Columbus and continuing my normal every day routine.

My Mormon friend is in Paris on a mission trip, so he’s only allowed to communicate through email every weekend. My last email, I sent him a few pictures from London, just the highlights from the day, since I hadn’t been here that long. But when I went to right him back another one today, I was overwhelmed looking through all the pictures I had taken throughout the week, trying to pick and choose out of the hundreds which few I should send him. It really put into perspective all we’ve done on this trip and all the places and memories I captured that meant something to me.

Knowing today was one of the few days we had left, I tried to step out of my comfort zone in my free time and explore more. I ate Mexican food for the first time, and even tried to choose  some things from wagamama’s that I hadn’t had before. Even when faced with the option of taking the Tube to our location versus walking, I chose to walk to further immense myself in areas I wasn’t familiar with. Overall, I can’t wait to see what my last day in London has to offer!

The day trip to Stonehenge, Stourhead, and Salisbury was absolutely incredible. Salisbury was a quite little town out in the English countryside, which was also quite amazing. We were there to visit the cathedral, but we also got to visit the town and even a market. The cathedral was quite amazing and I found out that due to the dirt being too sandy, the cathedral actually sank a little bit causing the spire to have a noticeable bend in it.

One of the most incredible parts of the cathedral was the fan vault ceiling in the chapter house. The detail and difficulty of this vault is truly amazing and definitely worth the visit.

This picture doesn’t fully capture the ceiling, due to it being too big to photograph. However, it does show enough of it to really appreciate the craftsmanship that went into making it. Looking down the aisles to the back of the cathedral is also great. After finishing our own tour of the cathedral, we just sat down in the transepts to sketch for a little bit. Upon completion of a few sketches, we sat at the front of the nave, giving us a view from one end of the cathedral to the other. It was so peaceful just sitting there and taking it all in. 

We also stopped at a bakery in the town and got some amazing pastries and sandwiches!

We also got to see the tomb of the first person buried in the cathedral, which was truly incredible! Overall this was an incredible day!

Going to Stourhead was probably one of the highlights of this trip. It was so picturesque and it felt completely surreal being there.  All I could think about was the fact that this was someone’s backyard and how amazing it would be to have a yard like that.

We just had so much fun walking around and feeling like children again. There were so many trees that would have made the perfect clubhouses! So many looked so climbable as well! I just wanted to climb one tree and read a book, but it was not the time or place.  Hanging out within tight tree groves by the waters edge was something that was acceptable and fun though.

It felt like the grotto was a gem that you stumbled upon when you turn the corner.  The stones were so old and beautifully placed, creating a magical cave.  The windows framed the other foldies in the garden flawlessly, adding to the picturesque experience of the garden.

I also loved seeing the pantheon follie, but I wish I had seen the real pantheon beforehand.  We talked to one of the workers and he told us that the follie is exactly 1/5th the size of the actual pantheon. He also told us about the statues inside and how they represent gods and goddesses from different cultures. It was really informative taliking to him and made the experience in the gardens that much better.

We began our day at Temple, which consisted of a combination of many beautiful architectural spaces and courtyards. The history that coincides with this space is incredible, as is the history in all of London itself. I often forget how old everything is. The other day I sent my mom a picture of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and she responded “That’s older than America.” It’s something I find myself having a really time grasping.

a silly face I found in a beautiful church in Temple

We then went to Covent Garden, which was really cool. Inside the church, we watched some children having a debate regarding vegetarian versus meat diets. An odd subject, but adorable nonetheless. I could have stayed there all day, but after a while I made it outside. We spent a lot of time exploring the marketplace, and got a really nice lunch there.

Following Covent Garden, we went to Tate Modern. I was really excited to see work by my favorite artist, Salvador Dali. I also really enjoyed a couple of views that revealed the previous industrial life of the building. The recycling of this space into a modern art exhibit really interests me.

Salvador Dali work!

We ended our day of exploration with a short walk through Regent’s Park. We had intended a much more active visit, but at this point we were exhausted. We took a seat on a bench right by the water, and laughed at the various birds surrounding us all while watching the sun set.

sunset at Regents Park

We made our way back to the hotel via the tube (which is now my all time favorite mode of public transportation, and I will hate to say goodbye to it so soon). We made rush hour, which was super exciting for me. It amazed me that public transportation had a rush hour like this. Part of me was really excited that it was so popular, but part of me really wanted to not be smashed between strangers. It was interesting. I’m excited for another day filled with London tomorrow!

Green days are always my favourite, because I find a certain peace in their natural atmosphere. So I was ecstatic to get to spend a chunk of my time today exploring the vast opportunities within Kew Gardens. Throughout many of the conservatories, my appreciation for plants was well known as I constantly explored every inch of the greenery filled buildings until there was no plant I hadn’t gaped at. I didn’t have to go far to find some wondrous views, as the first breathtaking moment I had was in the Princess of Wales conservatory, walking underneath a canopy of orchids.

Having the plants hang down right above me seemed like I was in a dream, walking through a tunnel of flowers. It was an amazing experience introduced to that space in such a way that it quickly became one of my favorites. However, once again my bias towards my family’s culture came into play as I made my way over to the Japanese gateway. I immediately was taken with the zen landscape created around the gateway. I’ve always been a fan of zen gardens, and this was no exception. I’ve actually got one small zen garden in my dorm, and one I have formally resting in my living room back home. 

After some exciting moments of pictures, we went to leave and this little buddy came right up and posed for us. Not wanting to disappoint, I took on the temporary job of professional photographer for this model:

He was my favourite client to work with.

Today however, was not as nice weather-wise as the previous day, missing the sun and loathing the clouds a bit more. Especially as most of us were in dresses for the tea, we had a tough time ignoring the cold. However, a team always sticks together and we chose to stick together, LITERALLY, and create a huddle when outside.

Fortunately, we soon made it to the London eye and we were rewarded with both warmth AND a fantastic view. Blocka Flocka Flame brought more warmth to the table when we all got together and took a fire photo.

At the end of the day, good memories were made and the feeling of being cold just melts away.

Today was a walking tour. Led by our generous and adorable tour guide, it was an incredible opportunity to see such a large portion of the city in such a comprehensive way. Walking a staggering 12 miles and taking over 27,000 steps, London feels more graspable and tangible to me than ever before. However, this amount of coverage inherently takes time. Through the hurriedness of our demanding day, I began to mindlessly notice an interesting behavior amongst the group. This behavior, which existed amongst myself as well, became incredibly interesting to me. We are fervent picture takers. Whether for needing material to put on blogs, for uploading to social media or for sending as a “miss you” to mom, we maintain an incredible compulsivity to capture a moment and remember a time and place. How does photography relate to tourism?

Art philosopher and writer Susan Sontag famously coined “to collect photographs is to collect the world.” In her famous essay In Plato’s Cave, she beautifully presents us with a metaphor. She argues for the imprisonment of humanity within Plato’s Cave, a cave in which the shadows cast within the cave sourced from subjects outside of the cave are mistaken for reality. Sontag compares the allegory of these shadows to photos: they are not real. Speaking to the compulsivity within us to photograph, she writes “photographs will offer indisputable evidence that the trip was made, that the program was carried out, that fun was had.” A way of certifying experience, taking photographs is also a way of refusing it—by limiting experience into an image, a souvenir. We want to be able to go back and experience our experience over again through looking at the digitalization of a flattened world unconcerned with us. Photography has become one of the principal devices for experiencing something, for giving an appearance of participation. Fittingly, “ In end-of-the-century London, Samuel Butler complained that “there is a photographer in every bush, going about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” The photographer is now charging real beasts, beleaguered and too rare to kill. Guns have metamorphosed into cameras in this earnest comedy, the ecology safari, because nature has ceased to be what it always had been–what people needed protection from. Now nature–tamed, endangered, mortal–needs to be protected from people. When we are afraid, we shoot. But when we are nostalgic, we take pictures. Most tourists feel compelled to put the camera between themselves and whatever is remarkable that they encounter.

Thinking about the metaphors for photography and film: to load, to aim, to shoot, to take. Also, it’s the queen. Found on walk by Hyde Park

Yes, it can get rather philosophical. I think that one can’t leave London without a “Storage Full” notification, but these ideas are something to just keep in mind. When traveling to a place with the intentions of intimacy and cultural immersion, just remember the physical and psychological separation that can exist through the compulsive need to record.

Above all, soak in your experiences, live in the moment and let places inspire you.

Goodnight little birds

Usually, I’m not one for natural history museums. Though all the stuff is cool, the information surrounding these artifacts from the past overwhelms me and always leaves me in a state of anxiety, trying to read up and remember every fact so as not to see ignorant of how times have changed. However, in the Brutish museum I was excited to find many pieces that fit ,y interests. My mothers side being Japanese, I immediately sought out the rooms with Asian culture artifacts to immerse myself more into my mothers childhood lifestyle.

A Japanese Kimono and table mirror

I’ve always been interested in learning more about the culture, and by exploring these rooms I felt like I understood my family a little better. I also greatly appreciate the art style of Japan, so once again I jumped at the opportunity to go look at prints made in asia.

While my favorite pieces, one being the iconic Great Wave, if there were not found by me, this piece definitely is high up. I appreciate the stunning effect the muticolour lines adds to the picture itself, as it almost looks like an oil spill smudged across the print.

Aside from my that, I also found a connection to my dad and my other, who loved Chess. My dad even bought an extravegant marble chess set when he visited Europe once that we now have display on our dining room table. Luckily, the Lewis Chess set was on the list of “things you can’t miss” and I’m glad I didn’t.

Lewis Chess Set

Aside from the museum, I ended the day with a peaceful stroll through Greenwich with some cool people, a nice end to the day.

After visiting The British Museum and seeing all it has to offer, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that it is an AMAZING museum. It does a great job at showcasing world history in an easy-to-view fashion.  Also, most importantly, the staff take care of the artifacts with care. I do, however, think that several of the artifacts there are not where they belong. I am referring mostly to the fargments of sculpture “saved” from the Acropolis in Athens. This piece of the Parthenon tells a story. When the Parthenon was whole, the story complimented the religious place it was presented at. This story can only be whole when presented at the location intended by the artists. To put this into prospective, if Big Ben was removed from London and was brought to, for example, Switzerland, would the contex of the building remain? Would the purpose of law and justice be retained? These questions are important when concerning vital Greek culture as well. With Greece having little to no authority in the world, they may never be given back what was stolen from them. I hope one day the English government puts this into prospective!

Continue reading How about a little controversy? →

Day 2: Walking Tour

So other than my aching feet and overwhelming exhaustion, I think day two was a really good overview of what this city is all about. We walked about twelve miles and rooks almost 27,000 steps over about ten hours! The vast size of this city is truley remarkable. With London being a Roman town, it has undeniable roots. As the city has grown and changed over time, the architects, monarchs, and city planners have done a good job at maintaining the city’s true and original roots. These moments are clear when you see a 21st century building peeking over stone buildings that has been here for centuries. I especially loved the strong verticality The Shard dominates over the city. Overall, the connection between the old vs the new is very a unique element that separates it from other progressive Roman towns across the globe. London has linked the city’s history to make it part of its future and it will definitely be interesting to see how London further changes its skyline.

IMG_002

My name is Sandy Sechang and I am from the sweet city of Loveland, Ohio. I am currently a fourth year majoring in city and regional planning, which I love! I think planning is one of the greatest responses to today’s current crises. I am excited to venture off to London because I have a keen interest in green spaces and public transportation. I hope to drink dainty teas, learn, and discover all of the offbeat quirks London has to offer.

Hello All! (This picture is of my older sister and I…I’m on the right!)

My name is Megan Nerici and I am a freshman in the Architecture program. Some interesting facts about me are that I am a barista at Starbucks, I love to travel, and I LOVE The Ohio State University. This has been my dream school for as long as I can remember and I am so blessed to able to travel to such a great city with such an amazing institution. I am most looking forward to traveling to London to learn more about it’s vast history and culture and how it’s past has shaped the city into the wonderful place it is today. I can’t wait to travel with all of you!

Hello my name is Trace Martik and I am from Pittsburgh. I am a sophomore in the architecture program. When in London, I look forward to going to Oxford on our free day and seeing all of the interesting architecture that it has to offer.

Hi!

My name is Rachel Wallace, you can call me Rach! I am an Architecture major and currently a Sophomore in the Architecture program. I am minoring in Design and I am from Bay Village Ohio (Cleveland area) although I was born in South Carolina and consider that more of where I am “from”. I am interested in going to see Stourhead. It is going to be absolutely beautiful! I love to travel but have never been out of the country so the experience altogether will be fabulous! Below is a picture of my sister and me on Abby’s (my sister) first plane ride. She was panicking haha. 

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