Who: The Crown

What: The Coronation Spoon and Ampulla

Where: Tower of London

When: Tower of London construction started in the late 11th century, the Spoon was created in the late 12th century, the Ampulla was added in 1661

Why: Showcases the artifacts of the British Empire, from England and from its colonies

I illegally snapped this picture of the Spoon & Ampulla at the Tower of London. Marvel at it.

Pre-trip: Some would say the British are the greatest, most gloried group of thieves in human history. They bent and manipulated their subjects. Across their empire, they nabbed whatever riches they wished to keep. And they seem to hold the relics of the past close to their chests, even to this day. They represent the last vestiges of their once sprawling empire. They also highlight the might and promise that the monarchy holds, even though their only source of legitimacy in the present day is that the common people allow their existence. I was interested to see how the British would explain their conquests and imperialism to outsiders. Furthermore, I was curious to see what they felt about it themselves.

Post-trip: The Tower of London (as well as other structures, such as the British Museum) displayed the things the British have taken over the centuries from around the globe. This was not astounding. But I suppose what was astounding was how they justified the centuries of oppression and subjugation they carried out. They acknowledged how their attitudes towards “lesser” races changed, as they saw that they were advanced in their own right. They also seemed to acknowledge that not everything the Crown carried out was sacrosanct or justified. They are still proud of their history, however. And they still uphold traditions. The first picture shows the Coronation Spoon and Ampulla. The Ampulla, which contains holy oil, was used for the coronation of Charles II in 1661. As for the Spoon, it is believed to have been used in the coronation of King John in 1199. These practices have survived for centuries through the rise and fall of the British empire and monarchy, amongst other institutions and practices.

Never in the trip did I feel that the British offered an apology for the sins of the past. But they acknowledged them, and afterwards, chose not to dwell on them for too long and move on.

And I guess after all this time, that is enough, and we should all try our best to do the same.

Moments after this was taken, he threw down his rifle and started breakdancing.

Citation:

• “Ampulla.” Royal Exhibitions. 2010. Web. 23 Jan. 2016. <http://royalexhibitions.co.uk/crown-jewels-2/ampula/>.

Who: William Shakespeare

What: Shakespeare’s home, grave, and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre

Where: Stratford Upon Avon

When: Early 16th century

Why: He is one of the most recognizable entertainers to have ever lived…and I got to see his house.

Shakespeare and I.

Pre-trip: What is there to say about Shakespeare? I have grown up hearing about the man. He is a legend, not merely in a linguistic sense, but in a cultural one. He reshaped the way we think about ourselves. He reshaped the way we tell our stories. I must say, I was eager to see his house, not merely because it belonged to William freaking Shakespeare, but because a little over 30 years ago, my mother went with her parents and saw it. They took a picture of it from the outside, and I wanted to do the same to see how it had changed as time had passed. And while I could not upload her photograph of it on this, when I compared hers to mines, the house appeared nearly identical. Shakespeare has achieved a state timelessness, as has everything he left behind.

Post-trip: To see the home he grew up and lived in, as well as the grave he was laid in when he died, was humbling. It humanized Shakespeare for me. He was an ordinary man, like you and me. But he had a tremendous gift that he shared with the world. I was also enchanted by his hometown of Stratford Upon Avon. In America, our small towns are not like the ones in England, simply because structures so old do not exist in North America. To walk down the same antiquated streets and alleys that Shakespeare would have trekked along when he was around was mesmerizing. I also enjoyed our visit to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, as well as our group activity with one of the gentlemen who was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. And while I did not understand anything that was happening during the play we saw in the afternoon, it was wonderfully produced and acted out. The denizens of Stratford have kept their traditions alive, and Shakespeare lives on through them.

Citation:

• “Shakespeare’s Birthplace.” Shakespeare’s Birthplace. Web. 23 Jan. 2016. <http://www.visitstratforduponavon.co.uk/attractions/shakespeares-birthplace>.

Who: The English locals

What: English cuisine

Where: Pubs and restaurants

Why: An opportunity to try the food the common English folk have been eating as a staple for centuries.

I bet you can smell the fish and chips just by looking at this picture. Potent stuff.

Pre-trip: During one of the class sessions, I asked Professor Hoar what the food the English eat was like, and I remember he told me that it was actually quite bland, at least until the days of colonialism, when spices from Asian countries were imported to England, thus enhancing the local cuisine’s flavor. I did not know too much about English food going into this trip. Fish and chips was about the extent of my knowledge. And of course, it was mentioned that we would likely come into contact with sizeable amounts of “bangers and mash.” Regardless of how little I knew, I was curious to try it, and I figured that once I was in London, I would head over to the nearest pub and get my hands on some proper English cuisine.

Post-trip: Well, it is actually quite bland. In fact, aside from the incessant rain, it was the only thing about London I just could not get myself to like. But if was cheap and filling, so for half my lunches, I was getting fish and chips at the local pubs. As for the pubs themselves, they were wonderful. The drinking culture in England is significantly different from that here in the States. And while the drinks themselves could get expensive, it was nice to visit the pubs with some friends every other night and chat with the friendly locals.

As for my dislike of the food, thankfully, it was not too large of a problem. In such a large, cosmopolitan city like London, cuisine from all around the world could be found. During my stay, I had Chinese, Indian, Thai, Italian, and Lebanese food. I never went hungry. And insults/ranting aside, I must say, the breakfast food in England was quite wonderful. I grew up eating bread with jam and butter for breakfast, along with sausages and copious amounts of tea, and the Copthorne Tara’s big breakfast buffet setup delivered on all of these fronts.

Miss you.

Who: British soldiers

What: Imperial War Museum/Chelsea Pensioner’s

Where: London and Chelsea

When: Royal Hospital Chelsea has been housing veterans since 1692. The first of the Imperial War Museums was established in 1917.

Why: A glimpse into British military history, and how the British today look back on it.

Say hello to my little friend.

Pre-trip: So I wanted to visit the Normandy landing sites in France, but once I realized I could not leave the UK, I decided to find some local museums or organizations dedicated to the British armed forces. I did not really know how they treated their veterans. Here in the United States, our veterans are treated with great respect for their gallantry and service. While the VA may be plagued with a host of problems, it would be a lie to say that the United States turns a blind eye on its soldiers.

Post-trip: It seems that for the British, World War II was their last war. There are still buildings with Luftwaffe aerial bombing damage in London. Churchill remains a revered figure in British politics and history even a half-century after his death. In one of the Tube stations, I saw an advertisement for jams which had a Spitfire in the background, and a woman in uniform in the foreground. The English hold their contributions in both World Wars close to their chests. In both conflicts, they were the underdogs who sacrificed much and persevered, coming out the victors in both incursions. I went to the Imperial War Museum and it had several stories dedicated to guns, tanks, and boats from the World Wars. I also ended up taking a trip down to the Chelsea Pensioner’s Hospital on my free day, and it housed scores of World War II veterans. Now all of this is wonderful, but I also feel it is a bit much, at least in the sense that I oft felt as if the British were romanticizing their roles in the World Wars. But more importantly, I feel they forgot to mention and thank the generations of soldiers that had to fight on behalf of the UK after the ‘40s.

And I hope they receive their fair share of recognition someday. Hopefully not in seventy (or a hundred) years, when their battles become a distant, distorted, and romanticized memory.

Chelsea Pensioner’s Hospital aka Burj Al Arab of nursing homes

Citations:

• “History of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.” Royal Hospital Chelsea. Web. 23 Jan. 2016. <http://rhc.linux.hs.to/historyheritage>.
• “IWM London.” Imperial War Museums. Web. 23 Jan. 2016. <http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-london>.

Who: English commuters

What: The Tube

Where: Zones 1 to 4, subterranean London

When: Construction began in 1863. Extensions continue until the present day.

Why: A chance to get around the crowded, intimidating, and domineering city of London the way the locals do.

Your face when you realize you got on the wrong line.

Pre-trip: I figured the maps we bought would be clunky and difficult to use. So many lines. So many colors. I have only taken the subways in New York and Chicago before, and those are quite a bit easier to navigate because the train lines are quite grid-like. My head was hurting just trying to wrap around how I was going to get even one measly mile away from my hotel, let alone explore all that the great city of London has to offer. I was feeling rather apprehensive. I figured I would stick to Ubers and Black Cabs.

Post-trip: The first few times I took the Tube, I got confused, did not get to High Street Kensington, and had to walk back to the hotel from Gloucester (in the rain, mind you), which was not so fun. But I would say that after a good day, the inner workings of the Underground began to reveal themselves, and by my last day in London, using it was incredibly simple and fun. The first time I rode the underground, I went with the group. I was sick the day the group went to Westminster, so my first time on the trains was when we were off to Charlton. We had to stop at Victoria Station and get on a different track that took us there for the football match. Truth be told, for someone who is “green” to the train networks, it was good to leave London, switch trains, and do it all with a group. I would encourage newcomers to hop on and off trains and fully immerse themselves in the Tube experience. Navigation is easy, as all platforms have large maps of the train lines stuck up all over them. Plus, should you ever be in a pinch, there is a legion of helpful, well-informed personnel at the stations that can guide you to the train you must take to arrive at your desired stop. And of course, if that was not enough, there was always the map we had on us (as well as our phones… TECHNOLOGY).

Citation:

• “London Underground.” – Transport for London. Web. 23 Jan. 2016. <https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/culture-and-heritage/londons-transport-a-history/london-underground>.

Who: The British

What: Big Ben

Where: Westminster, London

When: Cast on 10th April 1858.

Why: Center of British politics and culture. Epitome of our trip and my personal experiences.

“Look, a clock. We don’t have that in America.” ~ Ron Swanson

It is nothing short of a symbol of British might and greatness. It is one of the most recognizable manmade structures on Earth. It is connected to Parliament, and within Parliament’s walls, the British government carried out a myriad of tasks over the centuries that changed the course of history time and time again. The Gunpowder Plot, the colonial taxations, Allied planning during World War II. They were all carried out here. A marriage of the old and new. A forum for nobles and commoners to come together and make plans for the greater good of the Empire. It represents a good deal of what the British people are worth. Their Queen, their military, their ambitions, their history, their traditions. They are embellished in the walls of this behemoth. And as long as the clock tower keeps ticking, the echoes of the past will meld with those of the present, and carry themselves well into the distant future.

Above all else, the London Honors trip opened my eyes to the importance of other peoples’ traditions and values, alongside respecting those traditions and values. And furthermore, it taught me the importance of being friendly, independent, and hungry for greater knowledge. It was truly a priceless experience, and I am honored to have undertaken it.

Big Ben (and the surrounding buildings) is the essence of our trip. It is the essence of the British peoples.

Parliament and the River Thames.

 Citation:

• Fox, Gy. “BigBenFacts.” BigBenFacts. Web. 23 Jan. 2016. <http://www.bigbenfacts.co.uk/facts/>.

AP Scholar with Distinction

Illinois State Scholar