Submitted by Caitlin Stewart on the 2024 ENGL/THEA program in London, England…
So far our time in London has been unbelievable. I spent my first couple of hours in a nearby cafe, waiting for the hotel room and basking in the richness of the coffee here compared to the States. The group met up with our professor and followed him around the area, taking in the beautiful architecture and cyclists brushing by at rapid speeds before some of us explored the area on our own, wandering around Covent Garden and taking in some live music. The next day, we went to the British Museum and admired the different exhibits from Ancient Greek sculptures to Japanese art to hide from the pouring rain outside. After exploring some of the nightlife around our hotel, we completed our first official day of classes the next morning before a group of us ventured to the London Bridge and Borough Market for some local eats and sights, enjoying some famous chocolate covered strawberries, smash burgers, ciabatta sandwiches, and exceedingly cheesy mac and cheese. We were lucky enough to get a private tour of the stunning National Theatre before seeing their new musical The Witches, getting a look at the backstage props and set departments and seeing the inner workings and walkways of the country’s most prominent theatre. The next day we decided to get some of the tourist-y things out of the way– Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and even a glimpse of the Churchill War Rooms before getting lost in the beauty of the National Gallery. After taking the Sunday to catch up on some well-needed rest from leftover jet lag, we went to class bright and early Monday morning and followed it up with visits to the National History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. As we started to get in the full swing of classes, we watched the hilariously well done musical Operation Mincemeat on Tuesday night and walked through the beautiful Wallace Collection on Wednesday. Only a week in and it’s easy to see and appreciate how much of a cultural impact this city has on the arts. (Submitted on January 11, 2024)
