Submitted by Matthew Greene on the 2019 winter session study abroad program in London, England sponsored by the Department of Music…
Week two is in the book and what a week it’s been. On Sunday, my friends and I decided to see the changing of the guard. It’s quite amazing to know that a tradition like this has continued for decades and still hundreds of people go to see it every time. The sense of formality and how everything needs be done a specific way reflects the intricacy of the ceremony. The part that shocked me the most was when the ceremonial marching band did a performance of Elmer Bernstein’s theme for The Magnificent Seven. This blending of European and American culture was fascinating.
I took a trip to Camden Market earlier this week because I heard there are many shops to get unique gifts and how culturally diverse the area is. To call this place a giant flea market would be an understatement. There were small shops everywhere, most of them offering unique things you can’t get anywhere else. The food court had choices from every corner of the world being prepared in an authentic way. I definitely need to go back before I leave.
Finally, on the 18th , I decided to take a day trip to France with my friend because we all had a day off from class. It’s one thing to go to another country thousands of miles from home; it’s another thing to do the same, but to a country that speaks a different language. Never more in my life have I been so grateful for the English language. The craziest part is how in other countries around the world, children learn their country’s native language and English, but in America we just learn English. It goes to show how more culturally aware other places of the world are.
On Sunday, I decided to take a day trip to Liverpool because I wanted to experience a city in a different part of the United Kingdom. I am a huge Beatles fan and wanted to see various sites in their hometown. On the way north, I noticed that a large part of the country is rolling plains and farmland. This is comparable to the Midwest in the United States, but I figured that a country that has been around much longer would’ve expanded to more parts of the island. The city of Liverpool (along with a slightly different dialect from being north) is similar to that of London, but has a more relaxed feel with quaint suburban areas and a nice sized downtown. If I had to permanently live anywhere in the UK, I think I would choose Liverpool.
Finally, earlier today, I went to see Stonehenge on a bus tour. Once again, the trip took me through rolling plains until all of a sudden (right off of the highway) there was the famous rock formation. I find it so ironic with the blending of worlds how a structure that’s been around for thousands of years sits so close to a modern interstate. Another funny thing I noticed after being there for an hour is that millions of people from around the world come to this location in the middle of nowhere to take pictures of large rocks. At its simplest form, this sounds crazy, but take into effect the years and years of human evolution and how a structure like this still exists it’s pretty amazing.
