merrillcollege-blog

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Focus on Africa 31 May 2015 London London is a gorgeous city – there’s no other way to put it. Combine breathtaking architecture, a rich, complex history and a truly international population and you three-tiered description that barely scratches the surface of England’s capital. As a Los Angeles native, I’ve always dismissed the extravagance of other competing international cities. New York, London, Hong Kong, Karachi, and Dubai are typically referenced as the world’s ideal global cities on various international rankings, while Los Angeles is often relegated further down that list as a notable mention. One can probably chalk this sentiment to an unfounded inferiority complex, but – as this native Angeleno has to admit – London is the real deal. Why, you may ask? The answer is fairly straightforward – London is home to a tremendous amount of history. Now, this isn’t to suggest that Los Angeles doesn’t have a rich history of its own, but waves of modernization have removed much of the city’s charm and diversity in favor of a newer, more polished infrastructure. London also has sparks of cutting-edge modernity as well, but the juxtaposition of these modern spaces alongside historic monuments places the city in a completely different league. Seeing the sheer size, scope and history of the Elizabeth Tower and the Palace of Westminster was an enlightening, humbling experience. And of course, seeing Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street in person further fulfilled my political cravings throughout the trip, allowing the entire class to learn about the United Kingdom’s political process. Politics aside, learning about the culture of London also proved to be a valuable experience that I hope to share with friends and family back home. While London may be portrayed as a rigid, old, and uncompromising city (perhaps due to prolific reruns of Downton Abbey), visiting the city in person allowed me to get a glimpse of London’s vast array of art, food, music, literature, architecture and people. Suffice to say, none of my cultural experiences resembled their portrayal on mainstream media – reinforcing my notion that in order to truly understand just a facet of another country or culture, one is required to experience it in person. As I’m sure all of my peers will attest, nothing can substitute the experience of travel, and this recent trip to London simply reinforced Merrill’s theme of cultural identities and global consciousness.

Jonathan Fu

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Jonathan Fu, Admiralty Arch, London

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Sterling Scott at Big Ben

[merrillcollege-blog]

May 29, 2015 London! Let me just start off by saying how incredible it is to be here. Walking around the streets, seeing the culture and all different kinds of people it was like a scene from a movie. We’ve only been here for a day, but I can honestly say this experience has been great so far. I’m having a wonderful time here. Everywhere I go I’m having conversations with people to see how different the English language is. Yesterday, Nique and I encountered some people who overheard us talking and asked us, “You have an accent. Where are you from?” Initially I took a little offensively, I thought to myself, “Accent? I’m not the one with an accent. Isn’t obvious I’m from America?” I think this was the moment I really processed I’m in a different continent and country. I had to remember that not all Americans talk the same and the image of America that most Britons have is from TV and the movies. It’s so weird to think of myself as a foreigner, but here that’s what I am. Another intriguing experience from yesterday was learning about the British traditions that have been embedded in their society for centuries: Seeing Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, The London Eye, the guards (in old-style uniforms), and taking a double decker bus. This has made me even more excited to see the rich African culture here when we go to the museum today. Because London has a strong African/Afro-Caribbean population I’m interested in how Britons portrays their culture compared to American museums. I can’t wait to go home and share my experiences with the people, the culture, and history I’ve learned with my family and friends. I think the best way to incorporate our experiences (as examples: good or bad) here and in Africa in the Merrill curriculum is teach diversity, tolerance, and what it means to be a just society. I think it’s wonderful how prideful Britons are in their government and society. For example, I didn’t see any graffiti on the buildings while walking around. To me graffiti is artistic expression, a symbol of rebellion against “the man”/government. And the lack of proves my point.

Kamaria Potier