New friends and old
Sometimes the people make the place, others, the place is wonderful on its own. London seems to be both.
As I’ve settled in over the past week I’ve come to know students from all over the United States and around the world who share my passions and academic interests. It’s fascinating to think that so many people from vastly different backgrounds have all chosen to participate in the same program with the Hansard Society. What is also interesting is how easy it is to get to know new people while abroad. This is especially in a program like this, where a significant portion of learning is conducted outside the classroom. From swapping travel stories, to learning about each other’s lives on campus, our group has become fast friends and I am incredibly grateful.
While new friends are always a delight, I was lucky enough to meet up with an old one this week too. A friend from my first Northeastern study abroad experience was in London this weekend as she was traveling to the city for work. We met on the Balkan Wars, State Collapse, and Strengthening the European Union Dialogue of Civilizations which traveled to Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia, and Greece. To catch up with her in London was a welcome surprise, but also reminded me how grateful I am to the friends I have made on past trips and I cannot wait to build similar relationships during the course of this semester.
Week one of the Hansard Society Scholars Programme in London
Amidst getting to know one another this week, our group also completed a short orientation, took a tour of the Palace of Westminster, the Churchill War Rooms, the parliamentary archives, and attended lectures with two parliamentary lords.
Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are among the most recognizable landmarks in the world, and I have dreamed of seeing them in person since I was a young child. I was finally able to do so on a weekend trip to London (I was on co-op in Belgrade at the time and made the trip to visit a friend on co-op in London. Coincidentally, this was another friend I met while on my Dialogue of Civilizations). However, that was little more than a quick glimpse and I am delighted to have returned. Given the location of the program’s accommodations, I am able to see these famed landmarks just about any time I leave the building, as though there were simply a part of the skyline and not a revered symbol of England. The thought is somewhat humbling. Unfortunately, the clock tower is currently undergoing renovations, so I will not have the chance to hear its chimes while here. Though I guess that just means I’ll have to return.
After touring Westminster, we visited the Churchill War Rooms. The museum provides a free audio guide that walks you through what each room was used for and shares pieces of interviews with those who worked in the war rooms. I have always been interested in history, particularly that of World War II, so this was high on my London bucket list.
We were also able to visit the Parliamentary Archives, which is essentially a large storage room filled to the brim with rolled parchment containing laws that date back to 1497. The scrolls are sorted by the monarch under which they were enacted and stacked one on top of the other. While it seems unsafe for such important documents, we learned from two of the team members responsible for document preservation that parchment is actually made of calf skin and is therefore very strong. However, the archives office is currently thinking of ways of improving the conditions of storage while also not using up unnecessary space. They also showed us more current documents, including an official copy of the United States declaration of independence and recent laws that have come out of UK Parliament. The British parliamentary bills are still written on parchment for record keeping purposes, but instead of scrolls, they are printed into books.
Our meetings with the Lords were informative, engaging, and humbling above all else. Both shared their thoughts on current political happenings and introduced us to a new facet of parliament. Every day I come to understand more and more about the differences between the American and UK political systems. Though they are seemingly alike, in practice they differ greatly. As I continue to learn more I am only becoming increasingly excited to begin my internship in the House of Commons.
While this week was busy, my tiredness was well worth it and enjoyed my short break this weekend. Getting to know London will be a continuous source of joy, as it was this weekend. From local food to new stores and markets, London is flush with new things to try. One of my favorite finds this weekend was a weekly market in South Bank, right next to the river Thames. I found tons of books, food, and was surprised to meet so many friendly Brits, each of whom gave countless recommendations.
I returned to the South Bank at sunset and was greeted with one of the most beautiful arrays of color I’ve seen in a long time. I was also pleased to see so many others, Londoners and tourists alike, enjoying it as well.
This week, Hansard is taking us Scholars to Cardiff where we will get acquainted with the city, learn the history of Wales, and visit the Welsh Assembly. We will also observe First Minister’s Questions (if you haven’t heard of this, look it up. It’s worth it) before returning just before the week’s end for our first round of classes. As a staunch Doctor Who fan many years ago, I had heard of Cardiff often and am extremely excited to be visiting. Despite our busy schedule, I hope to explore and get a feel for Welsh culture and how it may or may not differ from the culture in London. I’ve actively avoided doing too much research as I want this experience to be a true first impression, untainted by the words of travel guides and Trip Advisor comments. Check back next week to see what I found!
