Submitted by Dunia Tonob on the 2015 winter session program in London sponsored by the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice…
After a bit of a hellish flight due to a long delay, we finally arrived in London on a cold and rainy afternoon. Despite the weather, we were all very excited! Though I had looked at our location on a map before coming, I didn’t realize how close we are to so many amazing places! We are located right down the road from the British Museum, the Wellcome Collection and we are right on the campus of University College London.
On our second night, I went with a friend to see the ballet, Don Quixote at the Royal Opera House. The costumes, set design, and dancing was divine and I can not think of a better way to start off our time in London. Over the weekend, we had the opportunity to go to Stonehenge with a group. Though it was bitterly cold, there was something magical about seeing a monument that had been erected thousands of years ago. The entire week passed like a dream, and in fact, the only downside I can think of, is how early it is when the sun sets. There is something inherently depressing when the light begins to fade at 4:00 pm.
On the bright side, just today we solved a mystery that has been plaguing us since our arrival: why do Londoners run with backpacks? Apparently to save time and money, many commuters run to and from work, carrying their office clothes in their bags. Overall, I can not believe that time has passed so quickly and I can not wait to see what the next weeks have in store.