Once Upon a Time . . .

Once upon a time, there lived a young girl named Erica who dreamed of traveling to London--a city which she supposed was some magical combination of fairyland, Greece, and New York.  (Were this an actual fairytale, Erica would probably be a blue-eyed princess-in-disguise, but since it is not, I must admit that she is a green-eyed, middle class American.)   For years, this young girl devoured British novels, wept over British movies, and pined for England’s culture and lifestyle.  (Actually, with school and extracurriculars, she hadn’t much time for weeping and pining, but admitting that sort of kills the romanticism, doesn’t it?)  At long last, when Erica was a sophomore at Arizona State University, she had the chance to apply for the COL/LBREF scholarship for summer study at the University of Westminster in London.  Her fairy godmother descended in a cloud of silvery sparkles, waved her wand, and—POOF!—Erica was chosen as one of five students to receive the scholarship. (Were this a moralistic tale, Erica would probably end up learning a valuable lesson such as “There is no place like home,” but since it is not, our young heroine discovered that London was all she dreamed it would be and more!)  The end.

            Few experiences in life end as sweetly and as neatly as a fairytale, but my trip to London this summer was no ordinary experience.  From the day the other students and I were picked up at the airport by a chauffeur to the day we shook hands with the heavily-robed Lord Mayor to the day we were invited to a special lunch with the head of the University of Westminster’s summer program, I felt like royalty.  That’s not to say that we spent all our time munching dainties and meeting dignitaries.  No—we got the complete London package:  Fish n’ chips at the pubs, flake ice-cream from street vendors, school field trips, West End musicals, rides on double-decker busses, stimulating class discussions, museums, a cruise down the Thames, BBC PROMS concerts, spaghetti nights at the apartment, art galleries, shopping sprees, tours of palaces, school socials, and so much more!  There was never a dull moment; in fact, each day held so many new delights that I found it necessary to keep a regular journal.  (I’ve posted my daily entries online, and if you are interested in reading about my trip in greater detail, please feel free to visit and browse http://ericakyree.tripod.com/london)

            So far, I’ve made only broad generalizations about my experiences in London. So much has happened in the past month that I’m finding it difficult to focus on particulars.  However, I would like to take the time to mention a few specifics that the Rotarians and future scholarship applicants might find interesting or even useful:

1.      Accommodations and Transportation.  Our rooms at the Wigram House (just steps away from Victoria Station) were more than adequate, and the apartment’s location was ideal!  I was so glad that I decided to splurge and buy a month-long Tavelcard (good on tube trains and busses; also provides riverboat discounts).  London has a wonderful public transportation system.

2.      Favorite Sights and Activities.  Being a music major, I really enjoyed the West End musicals, ballets, and BBC PROMS concerts that I was able to attend.  Standing room at the ballet and PROMS concerts is always under 10 pounds, and I managed to find some pretty cheap theater tickets at www.lastminute.com.   If you enjoy classical chamber music, the St. Martin-in-the-Fields chapel in Trafalgar Square offers free concerts at 1:00 every M, TH, and F, and if you’re into Shakespeare, standing room tickets at the Globe Theatre are only 5 pounds each.  I also enjoyed exploring London’s museums and galleries (most of which are FREE!), and my favorites included the British Museum, the British Library, the National Gallery, and the Sir John Soane Museum.  As far as sightseeing goes, I would definitely recommend a ramble through Covent Garden Plaza and a cruise down the Thames.  Cruises are cheaper and much more enjoyable than bus tours, and you can see most of the major sights from the river (Tower Bridge, London Bridge, the Tower of London, Shakespeare’s Globe, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye, Big Ben, etc.)   Or, if you really want to capture the flavor of London, visit one of its many markets (Camden Market, Portabello Road Market, Borough Market) and buy an exotic scarf or freshly-baked loaf of bread.  And finally, the blue ribbon for “Best Tourist Attraction” would, in my opinion, go to Hampton Court Palace.  With the student discount, a round trip train ticket (admission included) comes to 13 pounds, and the experience is well worth it.  Relatively few people visit the palace (compared to the Tower of London and Windsor Castle—both of which are wonderful but quite pricey and crowded), and the state rooms and palace gardens are staggering!  You could easily spend a day wandering through the hedge maze, strolling through the gardens, and following well-trained, costumed guides through the palace rooms.

3.      University of Westminster Course.  I signed up for the “Literary London: 1700-1900” module at the University of Westminster, and I couldn’t have made a better choice.  My teacher was clever and witty and passionate about the subject material, and she took the class on several field trips around London where we saw and discussed the actual sights that inspired descriptions in famous British novels (Great Expectations, Evalina, Sherlock Holmes, etc.)  I learned so much, not only about writing styles, but also about society’s perceptions and London’s evolution throughout the centuries.

            On Day 22 of my London adventure, I wrote:  “This London experience has been incredible; I've been so amazed by how good relations are between Arizona and the City of London and by all the opportunities our group has enjoyed as a result.  Things were so well organized on both the Rotary Club and the University of Westminster levels, and we have definitely been reaping the benefits.  I still sit back so often and feel completely amazed that I'm even here.  Why was I selected for this scholarship out of so many worthy students?  This experience is truly something I'll never forget, and I am so indebted to those who made it possible.”

My time in London has introduced me to people who will influence my future, given me unique social, musical, and academic opportunities, and allowed me to grow and expand in so many ways.  I can’t help feeling that, instead of ending this fairytale-like account of my summer with a “happily ever after,” I should instead head a fresh, new page with “Once upon a time. . .”