It’s hard to believe that three weeks have already passed. As students fly home from London to Chicago, it’s rewarding to think back over all we did, read, and experienced, much of which never made it into this blog. Here are a few last photos and captions, know that there are hundreds of more photos, … Keep reading »
Cultural Perspectives, Fictions of Empire in London
In this immersive, London-based course, students explore the cultural afterlives of empire by reading contemporary British literature that engages the history of colonialism; interacting with London diaspora communities (e.g. African, South Asian); and completing a series of experiential, self-directed assignments in settings like the British Museum and Globe Theatre.
Course Reflections, Tea Parties, and Gandhi
Today we met as a class outdoors at Tavistock Square Gardens and discussed our favorite parts of London, what we are most excited about when arriving home, and things we will miss the most. A majority of the students said they are excited about seeing their families and furry friends! London highlights that classmates shared … Keep reading »
Hampstead Heath and a Thrilling End to the EPL
Today started a bit differently from others. We did not have to meet today as a full group for class but rather had time to rest and work on our final projects. A few of us went up to Hampstead Heath, a massive park in north London, around noon. It was the furthest north I … Keep reading »
A Visit from Daljit Nagra and a Journey to Brixton
Today we started class by briefly talking about the events of last night—the spoken word poetry event and our visit to a Sikh temple. We were soon interrupted by a visit from Daljit Nagra, a British Punjabi poet. Nagra started by introducing himself and then having each of us go around and mention a favorite … Keep reading »
Sharing a Langar Meal at Europe’s Oldest Gurdwara
To start the day, we met up for our usual class session which takes place in the basement of our hotel, St. Athans. Today’s class revolved around a poem called “Prayer for Gurdwara” by poet Daljit Nagra. We spent most of the time in partner groups, dissecting phrases and Googling unknown words. Working with Claire … Keep reading »
The British Museum: “A Fragment of Varnished Britannica”
One of the poets we’re reading for this course, Daljit Nagra, refers to the British Museum as “a fragment of varnished Britannica,” one piece of a larger ideal of Britishness. Today we explored the British Museum, marveling at its hoard of cultural objects from around the globe while contemplating the histories through which these objects … Keep reading »
London Fashion and St. Paul’s Cathedral
For me London and, in general, the continent of Europe has always been known for its sense of fashion and the importance of public appearances for the citizens of all these countries. Today, I visited a shopping center called “One New Change,” which is located on the Bread Street side of town near St. Paul’s … Keep reading »
The Long Arm of Empire
As all mornings here do, mine started out with a Pret run and a “white” Earl Gray. (It turns out that if you ask for an Earl Gray “with milk,” they’ll put the milk in a separate cup, and that’s never quite what I’m going for.) After our morning meeting and class time, we headed … Keep reading »
Ancient London, Modern Chinatown
Yesterday we visited the Museum of London. The museum was divided into sections based on the early times of London to the present. Despite there being many important time events in London’s history, I was more drawn to the evolution of the currency and the archeological findings. Coins have taken various shapes and forms throughout … Keep reading »
Oxford – The City of Dreaming Spires
Today our class took a day trip to Oxford. We started by taking a bus to Oxford, England which lasted about an hour and a half long. The route was very scenic with rolling green hills, yellow fields, and farm animals such as sheep and cows filling the pastures. Rain was pouring down over our … Keep reading »