Spend a semester in London
By Allison Bethurem
The Collegian
It wasn’t until after
I returned that the initial shock of the insane adventure I experienced
hit me and the impact was hard. It was as if a freight train demolishing
an abandoned car on its tracks; sudden, shocking and mind-boggling.
London Semester spring 2005 brought 17 wide-eyed, anxious and mind driven
students together to embark on an opportunity of a lifetime.
From January through April 17 students were no longer on the flat, dull
and dry lands of the California Valley. We were posh residents of one
of London’s most recognizable neighborhoods, St. John’s Wood,
which is home to the ever so popular recording studio, Abbey Road. We
attended class at the University of London, Burbeck, where every day we
would walk past a building once occupied by Charles Darwin. We took holidays
almost every weekend to a different country to experience the history
and culture we only dreamed of.
Danielle Guzman, who participated in the London semester, said, “One
of the best parts about being in England and traveling in Europe is the
ability to wander among history. Every piece of architecture has some
character and account to it. Every delicate statue in every beautiful
park echoes the talent of an enduring artist.”
The entire trip felt like a strange alternate universe where our worlds
were completely flipped around. We had no family, friends or enemies.
Just each other and a city filled with immense history, culture and talent.
The students and faculty created a bond that is indescribable. We became
each others family, friends and sometimes enemies living in three flats
in the same building, attending the same classes and traveling alongside
one another.
“Living with five girls had been a challenge at times, but I wouldn’t
change the experience for anything,“ Brittaney Osburn said. “The
fact that six completely different personalities have come together and
gotten so close is truly amazing. These friendships don’t compare
to many others because only a small amount of people are able to experience
what we have.”
Attending class at University of London was incredibly enlightening. From
the tube, to the bus, to walking, it is a task all on its own to arrive
to campus, but once the Victorian buildings with their rustic red bricks
and stylish curves appear before you, the journey was well worth it.
The curriculum offered couldn’t have been more perfect for the everyday
culture shock we experienced. The classes did more than just teach us
basic knowledge in spelling and grammar, it took us deeper into the world
of Europeans and the way they live.
“English classes, drama, art and music all came together to really
force me to absorb the culture of this incredible, thriving city,”
Jocelyn Stott explained. “ We were required to go to concerts that
were aligned with the musical genre we were studying... what seemed like
a chore at the time is now one of my most unique memories in life, and
will forever be.”
The entire trip was just a small taste of the outside world. If I tasted
something I didn’t like, I spit it out and went right back in and
tried something new. That is what builds character and uniqueness, trusting
what you really like and enjoy.
This trip will help you find what you like, what you are passionate about
and you will remember it forever. This trip has done that for me.
Nothing can quite capture the feeling of all 17 students and the faculty
members who went on this trip together. However, Daniel Speechly may have
come the closest to saying what we all feel deep in our hearts.
“... realization that it was going to end, and it was ending far
too soon. But all things both good and bad do eventually end and the climax
is some horrible beauty I’ve only felt while in love. Maybe it was
love, maybe I fell in love with London. I know it sounds stupid, but I
never thought I’d have to break off my relationship with the city.
I never thought that it would actually break my heart to leave.”
For information on London Semester 2006, contact
Carla Miller (559) 278-3056.
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