Upon entering the Imperial War Museum, I was a bit overwhelmed with the endless amounts of tanks, planes, and overall exhibits there were to see. On the ground floor, I was particularly interested in the replica of the atomic bomb that was dropped over Hiroshima, and I was surprised at how small it was. I also found the submarine exhibit to be very educational in that it allowed me to see how life was for men in WW2. It was interesting to see how mice were actually taken on board because their death would indicate low levels of oxygen. To add to this uncomfortable and dangerous environment, the beds were extremely small, and the men were only allowed to keep their belongings in a tiny wooden box. It’s interesting to see just how far technology has come to create better submarines for the armed forces.
Exploring the bottom floors was a daunting task as there was so much information! However, I spent much time looking at the events that led up to the First World War. Prior to 1914, a unified Germany became a new great power in center Europe, and tensions rose with France and Russia. Many countries were trying to gain territories, and Germany got into the imperial scramble late; however, they did manage to get a few remaining colonies in Africa and a little piece of China. Not after long, two rivalry camps were established. Germany viewed France as an enemy after the Franco-Prussian War, and eventually France and Russia formed an alliance due to Germany’s aggressive international policies. The two countries had an agreement that they would help if each other if one were attacked by Germany. Britain came into play with the 1904 Entente Cordiale, which strengthened the British-France diplomatic and military link; there was a similar Entente with Russia in 1907.
Before the war broke out, European powers began to build up their armies to millions of men, with the exception of Britain. In addition, Germany increased and improved their navy to rival Britain’s supremacy. Great Britain responded by building the HMS Dreadnought, which was the first all-big-gun battleship and ultimately changed the style of naval ships. While countries were gearing up for war, Germany developed the Schlieffen plan which outlined how they would attack France and Russia. When Germany executed this plan, they entered through Belgium, and Britain had a treaty with Belgium, which consequently caused them to declare war against Germany.
At this time, Britain only had 450,000 men in the army, including those in India and other parts of the world. Kitchener, the Secretary of State for War, saw that the war was going to be long and costly; therefore, he put out an ad for volunteers and 2.5 million men enlisted within 16 months. This commitment of men was wavering as the war progressed, and Britain had to introduce conscription for all single men in 1916 and all men between 18 and 41 months later in May. Obviously this large amount of men created an unforeseen demand for clothing and food, and there were many exhibits showing the poor conditions the soldiers had to endure. By 1918, these enormous demands brought about meat, sugar, and fats rationing because of food shortages from the German submarine campaign. It was interesting to see how women helped meet these demands by taking up many jobs at home and occupying roles within the armed forces so men could go fight. For example, women accounted for 90% of the munitions industry during the war and were also crucial in other important industries such as agriculture and transportation.
The exhibits went on to discuss the details of the battles in World War One. I found the ending of the war and the forthcoming Treaty of Versailles to be interesting. It called for Germany to admit guilt and also pay out a lot in compensation. This was far too much and almost impossible for Germany to do, which ultimately paved the way for the Second World War.
Thursday, 15 November 2007
Sunday, 11 November 2007
Bank of England
At least 5 ways in which the bank has supported Britain’s economic growth throughout its history:
1) The Bank of England’s main way of supporting economic growth is by maintaining monetary stability. The Bank does this by setting an interest rate and thus, helping control inflation.
2) The Bank also oversees financial stability, which basically means making sure everything runs smoothly. In the event of a natural disaster, strike, or anything that could potentially affect the economy, the Bank steps in to keep the economy afloat.
3) In the past, the bank has provided a lot of security for its gold reserves and deposits. While this may not seem like a big way of supporting economic growth, it allowed people to have trust in the banking system and feel safe using it.
4) The bank issued £1 and £2 notes when there was a shortage of gold in the beginning of the 19th century. Although an economic slump came about, this action by the bank ultimately kept the economy moving after war had drained its funds.
5) Although the numbers of jobs have recently been reduced due to the establishment of the FSA, the Bank of England has employed many people throughout history and was even one of the first City houses to employ women in 1894.
6) The Bank of England aims to be as transparent as possible and publishes their minutes from every meeting. The Bank criticizes the ECB for not being so transparent and sees this as potentially hindering economic growth.
7) Today, the bank contributes to discussions on strengthening the international financial system, and this benefits the citizens of the UK as well.
1) The Bank of England’s main way of supporting economic growth is by maintaining monetary stability. The Bank does this by setting an interest rate and thus, helping control inflation.
2) The Bank also oversees financial stability, which basically means making sure everything runs smoothly. In the event of a natural disaster, strike, or anything that could potentially affect the economy, the Bank steps in to keep the economy afloat.
3) In the past, the bank has provided a lot of security for its gold reserves and deposits. While this may not seem like a big way of supporting economic growth, it allowed people to have trust in the banking system and feel safe using it.
4) The bank issued £1 and £2 notes when there was a shortage of gold in the beginning of the 19th century. Although an economic slump came about, this action by the bank ultimately kept the economy moving after war had drained its funds.
5) Although the numbers of jobs have recently been reduced due to the establishment of the FSA, the Bank of England has employed many people throughout history and was even one of the first City houses to employ women in 1894.
6) The Bank of England aims to be as transparent as possible and publishes their minutes from every meeting. The Bank criticizes the ECB for not being so transparent and sees this as potentially hindering economic growth.
7) Today, the bank contributes to discussions on strengthening the international financial system, and this benefits the citizens of the UK as well.
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
Natural History Museum
On October 25, 2007 I visited the National History Museum in London. Upon arriving, I was astonished by the sheer size of the building and the amount of people waiting to go in. I also found the architecture and design to be very neat in that there were animals all over the building. It was also very spacious, and the exhibits were laid out well.
Thankfully I visited the dinosaur exhibit before the massive lines formed. I started by taking the bridge over the whole exhibit and got a full appreciation for the size of the animals. The skulls of the large dinosaurs were particularly fascinating in that they were over two meters long! Next I moved on to the T-Rex part of the exhibit. I found it interesting that paleontologists are still unsure if this dinosaur was a scavenger or carnivore. Although the replica was very fake and not frightening at all, it still served the purpose of showing the size of a T-Rex, and it was not even a full grown model. In addition, a T-Rex would have been able to swallow a human whole! Another impressive fact is the rate of growth for teenagers; in just one day they could put on many pounds of weight. Another interesting piece of the exhibit was the detailed display of defense mechanisms the dinosaurs had. For example, one dinosaur had horns all over his body to prevent being predation, and these horns were even on the eyelids! Other dinosaurs had heads that would inflate to warn others of nearby predators, and another species had large thumb claws that could be used to stab potential killers. Moreover, it was interesting to learn that these animals did not normally die of old age as it was usually fighting or disease which ended their lives. There were fossils of dinosaur feet which showed signs of arthritis, and it was almost odd to think they experienced similar problems we still have today. Finally, I gained a new respect for paleontologists because the exhibit explained the painstaking work they must go through in order to preserve these fossils. The carefulness in their work can allow people to piece together the past and make educated opinions about dinosaur’s evolution, lifestyle, and extinction.
After exploring the dinosaurs, I made my way to the marine invertebrate exhibit. At first I was surprised by how small the place was, but quickly I understood that much was contained within the room. The Mollusks, Cnideria, and sponges were very diverse and there were numerous here to observe. I found it funny that the prettiest, bright colored shelled had names which somehow incorporated royalty. On the other hand, there were also some creatures that were not so beautiful in my opinion such as the squid and worms.
Next I moved on to more complex organisms, the primates. Many parts of this exhibits explained the social hierarchy, and I found it interesting that some primates would help out another with their young if they needed a break. The children also stay with the mother for a longer period of time than most organisms. Furthermore, playing is an important part to their growth and teaches many lessons. On a more serious note, there was also an exhibit showing how humans have impacted primate populations. For instance, many species of Madagascan lemurs have gone extinct and others are endangered.
The places in evolution exhibit showed how humans have evolved from primates. There was evidence of intermediary species and the objects they used. The Australopithecus were the first group to use tools, and the Habilis used fire and had death ceremonies. These are all human like characteristics, and looking at morphological differences in the bones can allow one to create a phylogenetic tree. This provides a logical map of the relationship between organisms and how they evolved to form new ones.
Due to my interest in the sciences, I decided to end my visit by looking at the human biology section. It began by simply describing the different types of cells within the body and how they function. While I know much on the topic, there were still some things I learned such as red blood cells not needing a nucleus because they do not divide. I also found the section on hormones very interesting. There was a large bucket showing how much blood a body contains next to a spoonful of liquid which is the amount of hormones a body has. Furthermore, the exhibit allowed you to press different hormone buttons and see where they stem from within the body. Finally, there was also a large section on human reproduction which was completely fascinating. I have watched reproduction videos many times, but it still amazes me to see the different stages of development, particularly what is occurring at a cellular level.
Thankfully I visited the dinosaur exhibit before the massive lines formed. I started by taking the bridge over the whole exhibit and got a full appreciation for the size of the animals. The skulls of the large dinosaurs were particularly fascinating in that they were over two meters long! Next I moved on to the T-Rex part of the exhibit. I found it interesting that paleontologists are still unsure if this dinosaur was a scavenger or carnivore. Although the replica was very fake and not frightening at all, it still served the purpose of showing the size of a T-Rex, and it was not even a full grown model. In addition, a T-Rex would have been able to swallow a human whole! Another impressive fact is the rate of growth for teenagers; in just one day they could put on many pounds of weight. Another interesting piece of the exhibit was the detailed display of defense mechanisms the dinosaurs had. For example, one dinosaur had horns all over his body to prevent being predation, and these horns were even on the eyelids! Other dinosaurs had heads that would inflate to warn others of nearby predators, and another species had large thumb claws that could be used to stab potential killers. Moreover, it was interesting to learn that these animals did not normally die of old age as it was usually fighting or disease which ended their lives. There were fossils of dinosaur feet which showed signs of arthritis, and it was almost odd to think they experienced similar problems we still have today. Finally, I gained a new respect for paleontologists because the exhibit explained the painstaking work they must go through in order to preserve these fossils. The carefulness in their work can allow people to piece together the past and make educated opinions about dinosaur’s evolution, lifestyle, and extinction.
After exploring the dinosaurs, I made my way to the marine invertebrate exhibit. At first I was surprised by how small the place was, but quickly I understood that much was contained within the room. The Mollusks, Cnideria, and sponges were very diverse and there were numerous here to observe. I found it funny that the prettiest, bright colored shelled had names which somehow incorporated royalty. On the other hand, there were also some creatures that were not so beautiful in my opinion such as the squid and worms.
Next I moved on to more complex organisms, the primates. Many parts of this exhibits explained the social hierarchy, and I found it interesting that some primates would help out another with their young if they needed a break. The children also stay with the mother for a longer period of time than most organisms. Furthermore, playing is an important part to their growth and teaches many lessons. On a more serious note, there was also an exhibit showing how humans have impacted primate populations. For instance, many species of Madagascan lemurs have gone extinct and others are endangered.
The places in evolution exhibit showed how humans have evolved from primates. There was evidence of intermediary species and the objects they used. The Australopithecus were the first group to use tools, and the Habilis used fire and had death ceremonies. These are all human like characteristics, and looking at morphological differences in the bones can allow one to create a phylogenetic tree. This provides a logical map of the relationship between organisms and how they evolved to form new ones.
Due to my interest in the sciences, I decided to end my visit by looking at the human biology section. It began by simply describing the different types of cells within the body and how they function. While I know much on the topic, there were still some things I learned such as red blood cells not needing a nucleus because they do not divide. I also found the section on hormones very interesting. There was a large bucket showing how much blood a body contains next to a spoonful of liquid which is the amount of hormones a body has. Furthermore, the exhibit allowed you to press different hormone buttons and see where they stem from within the body. Finally, there was also a large section on human reproduction which was completely fascinating. I have watched reproduction videos many times, but it still amazes me to see the different stages of development, particularly what is occurring at a cellular level.
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
Fall Break
Traveling across Europe exposed me to a wide variety of culture, history, and scenery which proved to be not only a fun experience, but an educational one as well. Exploring new areas brought upon many difficulties due to the language barrier and different customs. From these challenging interactions, I was able to learn something new about the places I visited and myself as a person. It did not take long to figure out that your time spent traveling is completely what you want to make of it.
Looking back on the entire trip, I am glad that Paris was the first stop on my holiday. It was a bit intimidating to be thrown into a different country with a foreign language, but the city was very accommodating to tourists as almost everyone spoke excellent English. The stereotype of rude Parisians did not hold true for me, and I had some of the greatest interactions of my trip with the locals. For instance, I had the most entertaining waiters while at dinner in the Bohemian neighborhood who would jokingly scold me for not speaking French and attempt to teach me some phrases. However, one difficult aspect of the trip was being faced with a subway system in a different language where not even the information desk can understand my thick American accent. I quickly learned that simply phrases like bonjour and merci can go far and make people willing to help you. Once I was able to maneuver about the city, I saw all the major attractions such as the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and crepe vendors! As a result of my great experience, Paris will definitely be a city I visit again and get to learn about more in depth.
One city which I will not visit again is Geneva, Switzerland. There is no denying its amazing beauty or history, but I was disappointed at how commercialized it has become. It felt exactly like a normal US city with flashy stores and was not very unique. However, there were some picturesque areas in the old city and interesting attractions such as the garden clock. The next place I visited was Interlaken, Switzerland which was completely different from Geneva. Not even the language, architecture, or landscape was similar, and it made me realize how European countries can be extremely diverse just like the United States. Interlaken was a small town situated in between the Swiss Alps and had magnificent views no matter where you looked. Not only were the mountains and rolling hills beautiful but the water was even a glorious color that I have never before seen. I felt so close to nature there and aspire to one day live in a place equally as enchanting.
As the trip progressed, I was able to once again see how places within one country can be vastly different. Milan and Venice had very little in common and made two contrasting impressions upon me. Milan was very urbanized and did not have Italian feel that I imagined it would. Moreover, my time spent there was frustrating because many churches and exhibits were closed on Mondays, the only day I happened to be there. It was aggravating to think that I went to Milan in order to see The Last Supper and was unable to do so. However, I learned to better plan my trips and go with the flow because I still had the whole city to explore. The trip did eventually get better as I traveled onward to Venice. It had the true Italian atmosphere for which I was longing, and I was taken back by the gorgeous canals and delicious food! Once again I was faced with navigation issues as the city has no major roads or canals besides the Grand Canal, and it could take hours to get from one place to the next, even with the best map in hand. This layout was extremely confusing, but it undoubtedly created a unique setting found nowhere else in the world. While there are some name brand stores, most are locally run and in this way, Venice can stay true to its past.
Another thriving city full of history is Vienna, Austria. I was least excited about visiting this city, but it surprisingly became one of my favorite stops throughout the journey. The exceptionally clean streets, efficient transportation system, and beautiful architecture were not what I had expected to come across. There were grand theaters, numerous museums, and exquisite traditional dishes. After being with a large group for many days, I took this opportunity to venture off on my own and use the German language that I spent so many years learning. I quickly found out that I sounded like a three year old as many people laughed at my attempts, but I was at least able to convey what I was thinking. While off by myself, I visited the Kunsthistorisches Museum and spent time looking through the Italian Renaissance gallery. Again I was disappointed that the Titan gallery was closed for an upcoming exhibition, but I was still able to enjoy the remarkable collection at this museum. Back at the hostel I also had a great time discussing common stereotypes of Americans with people from all across the world. It was interesting to find out that they thought of our sports, school system, and politics. One Australian could not grasp the concept of lacrosse, but luckily a Canadian helped explain because it is their national sport.
The final destination of my fall break was Prague, and it was most definitely a fantastic ending. At first I was a bit apprehensive because the outskirts were very run down and not aesthetically pleasing. It was a wake up call to the vastly different lifestyle of Eastern Europe, and even the inner city of Prague had this uniqueness that the other cities lacked. The city was shockingly beautiful, and there was so much history in such a small area. This made me think of how young the United States is compared to European nations, and I was eager to learn about everything from the Thirty Years War to communism. I was fortunate enough to get a private tour with just six students for a bargain price, and we were taken around the city for four exciting hours of information catered to our interests. Monuments such as the astronomical clock, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the fortification wall, and the Jewish Quarters each had unique stories and history behind them. For instance, there is a controversial statue on Charles Bridge of the crucifixion with a statement acknowledging Christ on top in Hebrew. This was paid for as punishment by a Jew who made a joke about the statue as he walked past it. Clearly this is disrespectful to the Jewish faith as they do not believe Christ is God, and the Jewish community of Prague has fought to have a tablet next to the statute explaining the historic context. In the future I would like to return and gain a greater appreciation for the culture instead of simply visiting the tourist attractions.
By the end of my journey, I was without doubt ready to come back to a clean flat in London, but the experiences I had and the sites I saw were ones I will keep with me forever. It was a privilege to see so much of the world in so little time, and I now know where I would like to travel more extensively. I also acquired useful skills such as navigating a foreign city, working in a group for a lengthy amount of time, and being more open-minded to different ways of life. The experience made me truly appreciate that the American way of living is not the right or only way, and I can not wait to see more of the Europe in the years to come.
Looking back on the entire trip, I am glad that Paris was the first stop on my holiday. It was a bit intimidating to be thrown into a different country with a foreign language, but the city was very accommodating to tourists as almost everyone spoke excellent English. The stereotype of rude Parisians did not hold true for me, and I had some of the greatest interactions of my trip with the locals. For instance, I had the most entertaining waiters while at dinner in the Bohemian neighborhood who would jokingly scold me for not speaking French and attempt to teach me some phrases. However, one difficult aspect of the trip was being faced with a subway system in a different language where not even the information desk can understand my thick American accent. I quickly learned that simply phrases like bonjour and merci can go far and make people willing to help you. Once I was able to maneuver about the city, I saw all the major attractions such as the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and crepe vendors! As a result of my great experience, Paris will definitely be a city I visit again and get to learn about more in depth.
One city which I will not visit again is Geneva, Switzerland. There is no denying its amazing beauty or history, but I was disappointed at how commercialized it has become. It felt exactly like a normal US city with flashy stores and was not very unique. However, there were some picturesque areas in the old city and interesting attractions such as the garden clock. The next place I visited was Interlaken, Switzerland which was completely different from Geneva. Not even the language, architecture, or landscape was similar, and it made me realize how European countries can be extremely diverse just like the United States. Interlaken was a small town situated in between the Swiss Alps and had magnificent views no matter where you looked. Not only were the mountains and rolling hills beautiful but the water was even a glorious color that I have never before seen. I felt so close to nature there and aspire to one day live in a place equally as enchanting.
As the trip progressed, I was able to once again see how places within one country can be vastly different. Milan and Venice had very little in common and made two contrasting impressions upon me. Milan was very urbanized and did not have Italian feel that I imagined it would. Moreover, my time spent there was frustrating because many churches and exhibits were closed on Mondays, the only day I happened to be there. It was aggravating to think that I went to Milan in order to see The Last Supper and was unable to do so. However, I learned to better plan my trips and go with the flow because I still had the whole city to explore. The trip did eventually get better as I traveled onward to Venice. It had the true Italian atmosphere for which I was longing, and I was taken back by the gorgeous canals and delicious food! Once again I was faced with navigation issues as the city has no major roads or canals besides the Grand Canal, and it could take hours to get from one place to the next, even with the best map in hand. This layout was extremely confusing, but it undoubtedly created a unique setting found nowhere else in the world. While there are some name brand stores, most are locally run and in this way, Venice can stay true to its past.
Another thriving city full of history is Vienna, Austria. I was least excited about visiting this city, but it surprisingly became one of my favorite stops throughout the journey. The exceptionally clean streets, efficient transportation system, and beautiful architecture were not what I had expected to come across. There were grand theaters, numerous museums, and exquisite traditional dishes. After being with a large group for many days, I took this opportunity to venture off on my own and use the German language that I spent so many years learning. I quickly found out that I sounded like a three year old as many people laughed at my attempts, but I was at least able to convey what I was thinking. While off by myself, I visited the Kunsthistorisches Museum and spent time looking through the Italian Renaissance gallery. Again I was disappointed that the Titan gallery was closed for an upcoming exhibition, but I was still able to enjoy the remarkable collection at this museum. Back at the hostel I also had a great time discussing common stereotypes of Americans with people from all across the world. It was interesting to find out that they thought of our sports, school system, and politics. One Australian could not grasp the concept of lacrosse, but luckily a Canadian helped explain because it is their national sport.
The final destination of my fall break was Prague, and it was most definitely a fantastic ending. At first I was a bit apprehensive because the outskirts were very run down and not aesthetically pleasing. It was a wake up call to the vastly different lifestyle of Eastern Europe, and even the inner city of Prague had this uniqueness that the other cities lacked. The city was shockingly beautiful, and there was so much history in such a small area. This made me think of how young the United States is compared to European nations, and I was eager to learn about everything from the Thirty Years War to communism. I was fortunate enough to get a private tour with just six students for a bargain price, and we were taken around the city for four exciting hours of information catered to our interests. Monuments such as the astronomical clock, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the fortification wall, and the Jewish Quarters each had unique stories and history behind them. For instance, there is a controversial statue on Charles Bridge of the crucifixion with a statement acknowledging Christ on top in Hebrew. This was paid for as punishment by a Jew who made a joke about the statue as he walked past it. Clearly this is disrespectful to the Jewish faith as they do not believe Christ is God, and the Jewish community of Prague has fought to have a tablet next to the statute explaining the historic context. In the future I would like to return and gain a greater appreciation for the culture instead of simply visiting the tourist attractions.
By the end of my journey, I was without doubt ready to come back to a clean flat in London, but the experiences I had and the sites I saw were ones I will keep with me forever. It was a privilege to see so much of the world in so little time, and I now know where I would like to travel more extensively. I also acquired useful skills such as navigating a foreign city, working in a group for a lengthy amount of time, and being more open-minded to different ways of life. The experience made me truly appreciate that the American way of living is not the right or only way, and I can not wait to see more of the Europe in the years to come.
Versailles
Upon arriving at Versailles, I was amazed at the sheer size of the palace and could not imagine why anyone would ever need such an elaborate residence. I was also astonished to learn that only ¼ of the palace is open to the public because the government does not have enough money to restore and operate the rest of the building. Even more mind blowing was that three thousand people lived here at one point in time. All of this combined with the endless amounts of history made Versailles the most extravagant and beautiful palace that I have ever seen. The French kings certainly knew how to display their wealth, and they made palaces such as Hampton Court seem like small shacks.
The interior of the palace proved to be no less beautiful than the exterior. There were endless amounts of marble, gold, and luxurious fabrics. I was particularly taken back by the Hall of Mirrors, and it may have been one of the most beautiful rooms I have ever seen. The chandeliers, mirrors, and frescos all combined to create a one of a kind atmosphere. I was also impressed by Marie Antoinette’s bedroom. The patterns of the walls, bedding, and furniture all matched to create quite an impressive room. It was very exciting to see the door through which she fled, and I could only imagine the fear she must have had. The Kings apartments were also very grand, but they did not seem very comfortable. I could not imagine living in those quarters or in the entire palace for that matter. While it was very beautiful, it did not exude a ‘homey’ feeling where I would want to spend my days.
One aspect of the palace that I did love and would like to incorporate into my own home one day was the artwork. There were endless frescos, painting, and sculptures with incredible detail, and I could have spent the entire day just seeing these. However, I was taken back by the arrogance of the French royalty. It was almost sad to see how arrogant they were, and I could not understand how someone would commission such paintings of themselves. For example, Marie Antoinette’s elaborate dresses were like none I have ever seen before, and I was disgusted at the stark display of wealth. However, the royals did use their money to commission other great works throughout the palace. I particularly liked the chapel with gold trimmings and inspiring artwork.
With my prior knowledge of Versailles, I was convinced that the interior would be my favorite part of the tour, but I was surprised that I was most captivated by the beautiful gardens. They seemed to go on forever, and I felt as if I were put into my own tranquil world when walking through them. The long flowing pools, ornate fountains, and meticulous landscaping covered so much area, and it is nice to know that the public could now enjoy them and not simply the royalty. As if having one palace were not enough, Marie Antoinette’s own palace was situated within these lovely grounds. It was made out of some of the rarest pink marble in the world, and its smaller size makes it more of a livable environment. Here I was again disgusted by the vanity of Marie Antoinette when I saw her initials plastered all over the house. Her arrogance did not end here as she even created an entire village in which she could have a pretend life. While this village was adorable and beautiful in many ways, it was unnecessary and insulting to build while her people were starving all over France. Although the arrogance is hard to overlook, the beauty of the palace, village, and gardens can not be ignored, and it is wonderful that it is kept in such great condition for the public.
The interior of the palace proved to be no less beautiful than the exterior. There were endless amounts of marble, gold, and luxurious fabrics. I was particularly taken back by the Hall of Mirrors, and it may have been one of the most beautiful rooms I have ever seen. The chandeliers, mirrors, and frescos all combined to create a one of a kind atmosphere. I was also impressed by Marie Antoinette’s bedroom. The patterns of the walls, bedding, and furniture all matched to create quite an impressive room. It was very exciting to see the door through which she fled, and I could only imagine the fear she must have had. The Kings apartments were also very grand, but they did not seem very comfortable. I could not imagine living in those quarters or in the entire palace for that matter. While it was very beautiful, it did not exude a ‘homey’ feeling where I would want to spend my days.
One aspect of the palace that I did love and would like to incorporate into my own home one day was the artwork. There were endless frescos, painting, and sculptures with incredible detail, and I could have spent the entire day just seeing these. However, I was taken back by the arrogance of the French royalty. It was almost sad to see how arrogant they were, and I could not understand how someone would commission such paintings of themselves. For example, Marie Antoinette’s elaborate dresses were like none I have ever seen before, and I was disgusted at the stark display of wealth. However, the royals did use their money to commission other great works throughout the palace. I particularly liked the chapel with gold trimmings and inspiring artwork.
With my prior knowledge of Versailles, I was convinced that the interior would be my favorite part of the tour, but I was surprised that I was most captivated by the beautiful gardens. They seemed to go on forever, and I felt as if I were put into my own tranquil world when walking through them. The long flowing pools, ornate fountains, and meticulous landscaping covered so much area, and it is nice to know that the public could now enjoy them and not simply the royalty. As if having one palace were not enough, Marie Antoinette’s own palace was situated within these lovely grounds. It was made out of some of the rarest pink marble in the world, and its smaller size makes it more of a livable environment. Here I was again disgusted by the vanity of Marie Antoinette when I saw her initials plastered all over the house. Her arrogance did not end here as she even created an entire village in which she could have a pretend life. While this village was adorable and beautiful in many ways, it was unnecessary and insulting to build while her people were starving all over France. Although the arrogance is hard to overlook, the beauty of the palace, village, and gardens can not be ignored, and it is wonderful that it is kept in such great condition for the public.
Canal Walk
There are numerous canals and locks in London which were once used for commercial purposes but now are primarily for leisurely use. These canals must extend from high to low elevation; therefore, locks are used to hold water back or allow water through in order to raise or lower the water level. A lock consists of a chamber with two sets of gates at opposite ends of the canal and an underwater valve which can be altered to let water in or out. For example, if a boat is traveling upstream it would enter the lock through one set of gates, be enclosed inside the lock, and a valve on the opposite set of gates would open. This would allow water to rush into the canal and raise the water level until it was the same as upstream. The exit gates could then open due to the equalized pressure, and the boat would sail through. If a boat was traveling downstream, the gates would open, the boat would sail in, and the valve on the opposite set of gates would open allowing water to rush out of the canal and ultimately lower the water level. Once the lock water is level with lower section of the canal, the exit gates would be pushed open and the boat could sail through. Without this process, boats would not be able to navigate in canals that travel through varied elevation. Locks prevent the canal water from rushing downstream into the river which would render the whole system useless.
Canals were used to transport goods from the rivers into London during the eighteenth and early nineteenth century. Therefore, they became extremely important to the London economy and all around Britain because they were necessary in trade and transportation. The canals were the best option because roads of the time period were too rough, rocky, and unreliable to transport fragile goods. It was also much more costly to transport goods on roads because horses could pull larger amounts on water. Furthermore, London’s population was quickly growing and the large masses demanded more and more goods. Canals proved to be the fastest way to meet this demand. Horses were first used to drag the boats along the canal, but as technology improved, engines were widely used to move up and downstream. The economy’s dependence on canals lessened as railways began to grow; however, the canal system was heavily relied upon during World War Two due to the fear of a railway attack.
Canals were used to transport goods from the rivers into London during the eighteenth and early nineteenth century. Therefore, they became extremely important to the London economy and all around Britain because they were necessary in trade and transportation. The canals were the best option because roads of the time period were too rough, rocky, and unreliable to transport fragile goods. It was also much more costly to transport goods on roads because horses could pull larger amounts on water. Furthermore, London’s population was quickly growing and the large masses demanded more and more goods. Canals proved to be the fastest way to meet this demand. Horses were first used to drag the boats along the canal, but as technology improved, engines were widely used to move up and downstream. The economy’s dependence on canals lessened as railways began to grow; however, the canal system was heavily relied upon during World War Two due to the fear of a railway attack.
Tuesday, 25 September 2007
Meeting a Mentor
Having been the first student to meet my mentor and having never been to a true Brit’s home, I was a bit nervous traveling to Laura and Mark’s and unsure of what to expect. However, I quickly felt comfortable after being welcomed into their flat. The apartment was not what I thought a London flat would look like. It was a beautiful, spacious living room full of warm colors and a modern kitchen. I found out that the building was originally a cork warehouse, and they remodeled the place in 1995. The best part definitely was the terrace and roof top view. The Eye was on my left, the Tower of London was straight ahead of me, and Canary Wharf was on my right; it gave me a great perspective on just how windy the Thames really is.
After my tour around the flat, I was able to sit down and learn about the daily lives of Laura and Mark and how they came to live in London. I wondered how an American could be allowed to live in London for so long before being married to a Brit. Laura explained how she was granted an 18 month journalism visa and never ended up leaving. She now does investment journal writing, and her husband works at Bloomberg. It was fascinating to hear of people with real jobs that allow them to travel around Europe and made me hope that I may one day have a job that allows me to travel as well.
As Laura has been in the UK for over fifteen years and Mark has lived in England his whole life, both had great advice for places to visit in London and around Europe. They stressed the importance of traveling to off the map places in order to get a real feel of the culture. They also suggested not visiting the main tourist cities because they have lost a lot of their history and are dominated by Starbucks and McDonalds. This information made me rethink my plans for fall break, and I may now go to some remote towns instead of strictly visiting the typical cities. By doing this I hope to have great conversations with native citizens and unforgettable experiences in the true atmosphere of a country.
One of the most interesting parts of the nights was discussing topics such as politics and the Greek system after dinner. Mark and his Swiss friend were eager to hear who I was going to vote for in the upcoming election, and they had their own strong opinions such as Guiliani having too shaky of a past and Hilary being a much stronger candidate than people think. As the night continued, the conversation moved on to college life. Since there is a strong connection between Bucknell and the Greek system, the topic inevitably was brought up, and Mark wanted to learn more about it. I explained the concepts of fraternities, sororities, housing, dues, and registers, and he was amazed that such a system could legally exist. He attended Cambridge and swore that students never would have agreed to take part in such an establishment. However, I attempted to explain the wide range of fraternities and sororities for all types of people and the various commitment levels of members, but I do understand how ludicrous it may look from an outsiders view.
Looking back on the evening made me realize that I have not spent enough time getting to know the people of London and need to separate from the Bucknell group more often. The experience proved to be one of the best nights I have had so far, and I am extremely happy that Bucknell set up this program. It also made me realize that Americans can establish happy, successful lives in other countries and I am now considering spending more time abroad. Hopefully I can meet up with Laura and Mark again while I am here and learn even more about everyday London life!
After my tour around the flat, I was able to sit down and learn about the daily lives of Laura and Mark and how they came to live in London. I wondered how an American could be allowed to live in London for so long before being married to a Brit. Laura explained how she was granted an 18 month journalism visa and never ended up leaving. She now does investment journal writing, and her husband works at Bloomberg. It was fascinating to hear of people with real jobs that allow them to travel around Europe and made me hope that I may one day have a job that allows me to travel as well.
As Laura has been in the UK for over fifteen years and Mark has lived in England his whole life, both had great advice for places to visit in London and around Europe. They stressed the importance of traveling to off the map places in order to get a real feel of the culture. They also suggested not visiting the main tourist cities because they have lost a lot of their history and are dominated by Starbucks and McDonalds. This information made me rethink my plans for fall break, and I may now go to some remote towns instead of strictly visiting the typical cities. By doing this I hope to have great conversations with native citizens and unforgettable experiences in the true atmosphere of a country.
One of the most interesting parts of the nights was discussing topics such as politics and the Greek system after dinner. Mark and his Swiss friend were eager to hear who I was going to vote for in the upcoming election, and they had their own strong opinions such as Guiliani having too shaky of a past and Hilary being a much stronger candidate than people think. As the night continued, the conversation moved on to college life. Since there is a strong connection between Bucknell and the Greek system, the topic inevitably was brought up, and Mark wanted to learn more about it. I explained the concepts of fraternities, sororities, housing, dues, and registers, and he was amazed that such a system could legally exist. He attended Cambridge and swore that students never would have agreed to take part in such an establishment. However, I attempted to explain the wide range of fraternities and sororities for all types of people and the various commitment levels of members, but I do understand how ludicrous it may look from an outsiders view.
Looking back on the evening made me realize that I have not spent enough time getting to know the people of London and need to separate from the Bucknell group more often. The experience proved to be one of the best nights I have had so far, and I am extremely happy that Bucknell set up this program. It also made me realize that Americans can establish happy, successful lives in other countries and I am now considering spending more time abroad. Hopefully I can meet up with Laura and Mark again while I am here and learn even more about everyday London life!
Sunday, 23 September 2007
Hampton Court Palace
The grounds of Hampton Court Palace were awe-inspiring just as they would have been to visitors during the reign of Henry VIII. It was first leased by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, Chief Minister to the King, and remodeled in the Tudor architecture; however, Henry VIII took over the palace after Wolsey fell out of favor and proceeded to alter the original design. Although many other Kings and Queens have lived at, added on to, and remodeled sections of Hampton Court Palace, it stands as a testament to the life and actions of Henry VIII.
Upon hearing the name of Henry VIII, everyone inevitably thinks of the saying “divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived” which has caused this English King to be viewed as one of the most notorious rulers. He began his long list of wives by marrying his brother’s widow, Catherine of Aragon. However, the fact that they had 24 years of a reasonably happy marriage is often over looked by the public. The scandal began when Catherine could only provide Henry with a daughter, Mary, and not a son to take over the throne. When it became clear that Catherine could no longer have children, and Henry VIII sought an annulment from Rome.
At the same time, Henry began to desire Anne Boleyn, which only added to his notoriety. She came from a newly wealthy family and was trained in the French court. In time she gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth, and a dead male son. Due to her inability to produce a son, Henry decided to behead her on account of treason, adultery, and incest. His basis was that she was a witch and used her powers to marry him. This undoubtedly shocked the people, but Henry continued to marry in hopes of an heir. He was finally successful with his third wife, Jane Seymour, who gave birth to a son, Edward. She unfortunately died in child birth, and Edward was sick throughout most of his life.
After the death of Seymour, Henry married Anne of Cleves. She was a politically motivated individual who spoke her mind; however, she was not very attractive, and this caused Henry to be disgusted by her. He called for an annulment, and she accepted it for death may have been the only other option. Henry next moved on to Catherine Howard who was a beautiful woman with several lovers before and possibly while married to Henry VIII. This resulted in her death and a final wife, Katherine Parr. She was a very intelligent woman with Protestant views who helped make Mary and Elizabeth legitimate. She tended to her husband’s needs and was the only wife to survive him. The quick change in wives combined with Henry’s deteriorating looks as he became ill caused him to be viewed as a notorious English ruler.
Henry VIII is also looked upon as one of the most important ruler in that he ushered in the modern English state. Much can be said for this as he began the English Reformation by breaking from Roman Catholicism. He is responsible for the dissolution of the monasteries, and the changing of land from the church to the gentry. This action helped him create a loyal base of people who would support him in all of his political moves. He bolstered the role of the government and wanted to be taken as seriously as the other European powers. This caused him to invite all the countries in Western Europe and even Russia to sign the Treaty of London in 1518. This stated that the nations would not attack each other and aid others if one were attacked and ultimately helped to protect England from the Ottoman Empire. He also threw lavish parties to impress the rest of Europe such as the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Furthermore, he encouraged political arguments and continually sought ways to increase his country’s power through alliances, meetings, and wars. One example is the unification of England and Wales under his reign.
He also established power within England by silencing those who opposed him. Henry put many monks and other dissenters to death, and this lead to an extremely strong and fearful view of the crown for years to come. His shaky personal life can also be attributed to his desire to build a strong state as many of his marriages were arranged for political purposes. Such is so with his marriage to Anne of Cleves which was established to create an alliance with Germany even though he had a strong dislike for the woman.
However, it should be noted that he was not very interested in politics at first and was more concerned with his social life. This is because he was never intended to be King but was pushed into the role after the death of his brother. He also did not intend to start the English Reformation for purely religious reasons but instead for political reasons. Henry was obsessed with producing an heir to the throne and breaking from Rome was the only way to achieve this goal. He still kept many of his Catholic views and beliefs and never fully embraced Protestantism.
Henry VIII’s father, Henry VII, experienced a much calmer reign that has been coined a time of peace and prosperity. There were many years of civil war before he came into power which economically wiped out England. His chancellor came up with a scheme of heavy taxation that became known as “Morton’s Fork” because both the rich and the poor could not escape it. The basis was the rich had so much money that they could afford to pay taxes and the poor could pay taxes with their savings. He also supported trade with other countries and subsidized ship building for the navy to secure his power on the throne. Money was not wasted on fighting wars as Henry VIIs’ reign consisted mostly of political peace.
Apart from his personal and political life, many developments in modern science, technology, and economics can be attributed to Henry VIII as well. He encouraged exploration throughout the world, and many discoveries were made during his reign. He also surrounded himself with intelligent, scholarly people which undoubtedly influenced his actions. His dissolution of the monasteries also changed the economic structure and gave the middle class more power. In addition, he too encouraged trade which resulted in the acquisition of much money and substantial increase in the navy; however, he also spent large amounts and managed to deplete the £1.5 million treasury his father built.
Upon hearing the name of Henry VIII, everyone inevitably thinks of the saying “divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived” which has caused this English King to be viewed as one of the most notorious rulers. He began his long list of wives by marrying his brother’s widow, Catherine of Aragon. However, the fact that they had 24 years of a reasonably happy marriage is often over looked by the public. The scandal began when Catherine could only provide Henry with a daughter, Mary, and not a son to take over the throne. When it became clear that Catherine could no longer have children, and Henry VIII sought an annulment from Rome.
At the same time, Henry began to desire Anne Boleyn, which only added to his notoriety. She came from a newly wealthy family and was trained in the French court. In time she gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth, and a dead male son. Due to her inability to produce a son, Henry decided to behead her on account of treason, adultery, and incest. His basis was that she was a witch and used her powers to marry him. This undoubtedly shocked the people, but Henry continued to marry in hopes of an heir. He was finally successful with his third wife, Jane Seymour, who gave birth to a son, Edward. She unfortunately died in child birth, and Edward was sick throughout most of his life.
After the death of Seymour, Henry married Anne of Cleves. She was a politically motivated individual who spoke her mind; however, she was not very attractive, and this caused Henry to be disgusted by her. He called for an annulment, and she accepted it for death may have been the only other option. Henry next moved on to Catherine Howard who was a beautiful woman with several lovers before and possibly while married to Henry VIII. This resulted in her death and a final wife, Katherine Parr. She was a very intelligent woman with Protestant views who helped make Mary and Elizabeth legitimate. She tended to her husband’s needs and was the only wife to survive him. The quick change in wives combined with Henry’s deteriorating looks as he became ill caused him to be viewed as a notorious English ruler.
Henry VIII is also looked upon as one of the most important ruler in that he ushered in the modern English state. Much can be said for this as he began the English Reformation by breaking from Roman Catholicism. He is responsible for the dissolution of the monasteries, and the changing of land from the church to the gentry. This action helped him create a loyal base of people who would support him in all of his political moves. He bolstered the role of the government and wanted to be taken as seriously as the other European powers. This caused him to invite all the countries in Western Europe and even Russia to sign the Treaty of London in 1518. This stated that the nations would not attack each other and aid others if one were attacked and ultimately helped to protect England from the Ottoman Empire. He also threw lavish parties to impress the rest of Europe such as the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Furthermore, he encouraged political arguments and continually sought ways to increase his country’s power through alliances, meetings, and wars. One example is the unification of England and Wales under his reign.
He also established power within England by silencing those who opposed him. Henry put many monks and other dissenters to death, and this lead to an extremely strong and fearful view of the crown for years to come. His shaky personal life can also be attributed to his desire to build a strong state as many of his marriages were arranged for political purposes. Such is so with his marriage to Anne of Cleves which was established to create an alliance with Germany even though he had a strong dislike for the woman.
However, it should be noted that he was not very interested in politics at first and was more concerned with his social life. This is because he was never intended to be King but was pushed into the role after the death of his brother. He also did not intend to start the English Reformation for purely religious reasons but instead for political reasons. Henry was obsessed with producing an heir to the throne and breaking from Rome was the only way to achieve this goal. He still kept many of his Catholic views and beliefs and never fully embraced Protestantism.
Henry VIII’s father, Henry VII, experienced a much calmer reign that has been coined a time of peace and prosperity. There were many years of civil war before he came into power which economically wiped out England. His chancellor came up with a scheme of heavy taxation that became known as “Morton’s Fork” because both the rich and the poor could not escape it. The basis was the rich had so much money that they could afford to pay taxes and the poor could pay taxes with their savings. He also supported trade with other countries and subsidized ship building for the navy to secure his power on the throne. Money was not wasted on fighting wars as Henry VIIs’ reign consisted mostly of political peace.
Apart from his personal and political life, many developments in modern science, technology, and economics can be attributed to Henry VIII as well. He encouraged exploration throughout the world, and many discoveries were made during his reign. He also surrounded himself with intelligent, scholarly people which undoubtedly influenced his actions. His dissolution of the monasteries also changed the economic structure and gave the middle class more power. In addition, he too encouraged trade which resulted in the acquisition of much money and substantial increase in the navy; however, he also spent large amounts and managed to deplete the £1.5 million treasury his father built.
Sunday, 16 September 2007
Ireland
The Republic of Ireland was much different than what I had imagined. From the minute I stepped out of the airplane and onto the runway, I knew my experience here would be different from life in the UK. It was also my first time attempting to get from an airport to a city center on my own, and I was surprised at how easy the task was accomplished. However, life in the hostel for the next two days proved to be anything but easy.
The first problem developed when the staff would not accept credit cards due to an internet problem and they required full cash payment before they would give us room keys. After that problem was handled, I began walking to my room and was disgusted at the dirtiness of the place. The sixteen bed dorm was not any better as it had no windows and required a 2.00 euro charge for use of a blanket or towel. The bathrooms were equally dirty and simple amenities such as hand soap were not even provided. The experience of living in such a place showed me the wide range of hostels available and taught me to better research hostels in the future.
The city of Dublin was more inviting and exciting than the hostel. The Dublin Castle was much smaller than I expected and changed my views on what is considered a castle. However, the interior was simply gorgeous and filled with much history of the area. I also visited Christ Church which is where the city of Dublin began and an original Viking settlement still exists today although it is several feet below ground. These old, historical attractions fit in well with the quaint feeling of the city; however, some modern structures did not fit so well. One example is the Spire, a very tall point made out of stainless steel which was created for the millennium. While it is an impressive structure, it does not keep with the traditional theme of the city.
One tradition that the Irish seemed extremely proud of was their Guinness! Everywhere I looked I could see a Guinness advertisement, so it was only fitting to take a trip to the factory. The factory was seven interactive levels where I learned about the beer making process and the history of Guinness. The tour ended in a bar with a 360° view of Dublin and the essential free pint! The experience was a lot of fun, but it did not compare to the exciting atmosphere of Grafton Street. I was enthralled with the endless blocks of shops and took a couple hours contributing to the Irish GDP.
In the end, I once again found that the people prove to be the best part about traveling. Most people I met were extremely friendly and thrilled to talk about their great country. However, I had a conversation with a man about the change in currency to the euro, and he was not so happy with this conversion. He believed that the price of many goods drastically increased because a profit could be made, and the government did not step in to fix this problem as they promised they would. It was interesting to hear other people’s negative opinions about their government’s actions. The two days I spent exploring the historical and cultural aspects of the city were a time that I will never forget, but I would like to visit the countryside of Ireland in future travels to observe the different lifestyles of the Irish citizens.
The first problem developed when the staff would not accept credit cards due to an internet problem and they required full cash payment before they would give us room keys. After that problem was handled, I began walking to my room and was disgusted at the dirtiness of the place. The sixteen bed dorm was not any better as it had no windows and required a 2.00 euro charge for use of a blanket or towel. The bathrooms were equally dirty and simple amenities such as hand soap were not even provided. The experience of living in such a place showed me the wide range of hostels available and taught me to better research hostels in the future.
The city of Dublin was more inviting and exciting than the hostel. The Dublin Castle was much smaller than I expected and changed my views on what is considered a castle. However, the interior was simply gorgeous and filled with much history of the area. I also visited Christ Church which is where the city of Dublin began and an original Viking settlement still exists today although it is several feet below ground. These old, historical attractions fit in well with the quaint feeling of the city; however, some modern structures did not fit so well. One example is the Spire, a very tall point made out of stainless steel which was created for the millennium. While it is an impressive structure, it does not keep with the traditional theme of the city.
One tradition that the Irish seemed extremely proud of was their Guinness! Everywhere I looked I could see a Guinness advertisement, so it was only fitting to take a trip to the factory. The factory was seven interactive levels where I learned about the beer making process and the history of Guinness. The tour ended in a bar with a 360° view of Dublin and the essential free pint! The experience was a lot of fun, but it did not compare to the exciting atmosphere of Grafton Street. I was enthralled with the endless blocks of shops and took a couple hours contributing to the Irish GDP.
In the end, I once again found that the people prove to be the best part about traveling. Most people I met were extremely friendly and thrilled to talk about their great country. However, I had a conversation with a man about the change in currency to the euro, and he was not so happy with this conversion. He believed that the price of many goods drastically increased because a profit could be made, and the government did not step in to fix this problem as they promised they would. It was interesting to hear other people’s negative opinions about their government’s actions. The two days I spent exploring the historical and cultural aspects of the city were a time that I will never forget, but I would like to visit the countryside of Ireland in future travels to observe the different lifestyles of the Irish citizens.
Ironbridge Gorge
The trip began by visiting Blists Hill Victoria Town and seeing how a town may have looked at the beginning of the industrial revolution. This town was created to preserve the history of the industrial revolution, and many buildings, equipment, and artifacts are from the original time period. When I first entered the town, there was a sweet shop, old fashioned pub, butcher, pharmacist, and many other stores that helped take you back in time. However, my favorite stop on the tour was the shop where liquid metal would be molded into various decorative objects. It was interesting to see that they used sand to press the shape into the metal and more astonishing to think they did not use any protective gear while performing these dangerous jobs!
The town’s industry was clearly centered on iron, which could be made for a fraction of the price due to the new technology of smelting coke. This town proved to be an excellent location for making iron due to its closeness to the river, and the last ice age left clay, coal, and limestone all over the area. A canal was created to provide transport within the coal fields and made the process of moving heavy material much more efficient. Coal could be brought down the canal into large blast furnaces or taken to the Hay incline plane.
The tour guide challenged the class to find a way to get the coal from the canal to the Severn River some 100 yards below. For much of the walk, I pondered how such a task could be completed and was unable to think of a solution. This same challenge was presented to the people of the 18th century, but one person’s solution stood out from the rest of the competition. I was amazed to see how simple yet ingenious the winning method of the incline plane was. Without this system, 27 canal locks would be needed over a period of 3 hours to lower the coal; however, the hay incline plane allowed this to be completed in four minutes. The push and pull system took basic elements of physics and applied them in a practical way. Although it was a great idea, technology constantly improves and the hay incline plane along with the canal was deemed inefficient after the introduction of the railway.
Numerous houses were restored or brought to this location to portray the standard of living at the Victorian times. It was very clever for the toll collector to be given a nicer house as an incentive to be honest and deliver all the money he collected to the government. It was clear to see the life style distinctions between the toll house and the rudimentary squatter cottage; the squatters had one day to erect a residence and claim the area as their own. The schoolhouse also shed light on the drastically different beliefs the Victorians held. For example, they believed that each child should have 60 cubic ft of air so they created schoolhouses with high ceilings and tall buildings. They did not, however, take into account that warm air rises and the children in the back of the room were left to freeze in the cold winter months.
The canal system also helped spur the development of other businesses, such as Coalport China Works. Ironbridge was the most industrialized area during the industrial revolution, and even china making changed into mass production. This are was an optimal location due to its large amounts of coal, cattle, and water. The canal was a vital form of transportation because the 18th century roads were too rocky to transport the delicate china. The business began in 1796 by John Rose, and his brother bought another factory shortly after. They aided and competed with each other; however, Rose eventually bought his brother out and turned his business into one of the most famous porcelain factories in the world.
Before visiting the China Museum, I did not have much of an appreciation for the art form. However, I learned of the time, effort, and skills required in making just one piece and now understand why it is viewed as a luxury. The process begins by the grotesque task of cleaning animal bones and firing them in the oven. These bones are used for their whiteness, strength, and the artists performed this material. The mixture consisted of 50% animal bone and 25% each of china clay and china stone. New techniques emerged during the revolution which sped up the china making process that allowed works to create 800 pieces a day as opposed to the earlier 80. Much precision was also needed in the creation of china, and the kiln had to be 1250 °C for the optimal product. The fireman used “buller rings” which shrank by 10% when fired correctly to gauge the temperature. It makes much sense that this occupation was the highest paid because he also had the highest amount of responsibility. However, I was surprised to learn the meaning of “they broke the mold when they made you.” This derives from the master mold carpenters would use to make china, and they would destroy it after a piece was discontinued.
While it was fascinating to reflect on the elaborate techniques involved in the beautiful art form, it was saddening to hear of the working conditions for the employees. Potters had a much shorter lifespan than the rest of the population due to the massive amount of dust and glaze which contained arsenic and lead. Many lady painters also had lead poisoning from licking the brushes, and their artistic discretion was taken away when industrialization instituted painting by numbers. Heavy saggers also had to be carried on the heads of men causing them to bring in their wives stockings for extra cushion under their hats. I gained much respect for the people and the physical and mental stress they had to endure to make a living.
On the other hand, it was nice to hear about how the Quakers treated and provided for each other. Having grown up in Philadelphia, I had a basic knowledge of the Quaker religion and was surprised to learn that Abraham Darby was a Quaker as well. Furthermore, I come from the town of Upper Darby, which was established by Quakers causing me to wonder if there is any relation between the man and the town name. The Quakers focus on peace and equality between all people but were limited to what jobs they could take because they were considered religious dissenters. They were excluded from occupations such as doctors and soldiers; therefore, much focus was put onto commerce and industry. This along with their belief in a lot of education pushed the Quakers to become extremely innovative. The wealthy were not as creative because they could just sit back and collect money without much hard work.
Abraham Darby kick started the industrial revolution by successfully using coke in the smelting of iron. He bought an old furnace in Coalbrookedale, and generations after him continued to use this facility throughout the industrial revolution. Coke came from a local coal and replaced charcoal making the process much cheaper and faster. This led to the wide scale production of iron, which was poured into sheets known as pig iron because it resembled a mother pig with four piglets. Abraham II next used the steam engine which increased the production of iron. He also spent 6 days experimenting with different amounts of limestone and coal to produce a type of iron that could be easily used for wrought iron.
Obviously, the trip to Ironbridge would not have been complete without a visit to the Ironbridge that Abraham Darby III built in 1779. Everybody thought it was an insane idea at the time of its creation until a massive flood swept all the other bridges away a few years later. However, it is understandable that people may have been hesitant to accept the bridge because it is human nature to be skeptical of new ideas. It is still unclear exactly how the bridge was erected, but many ideas have surfaced, and the BBC recently did a program in which they attempted to build a replica at Blists Hill Town. The economic challenges for footing the bill of such a structure is equally difficult as the technological feats. Darby believed it would cost £3200 and agreed to pay any extra costs. Unfortunately, he forgot to include the cost of labor and spent the rest of his life attempting to pay off the extra £3000. Although he did not make sound financial decisions, Darby’s creation still stands today as a testament to the industrial revolution and the amazing possibility of new, innovative ideas.
The final stop on our excursion was the Museum of Iron which gave a great history from the first uses of iron to modern day applications. The first floor showed how the Darby family made iron production cheaper and quicker with their new ideas. It was interesting to see how the technology progressed, but even more stimulating to see the great masterpieces from the Great Exhibition of 1851 on the second floor. The exhibition was originally held in Hyde Park and used to showcase the endless possibilities for which iron could be used. Everything from detailed chairs to large dogs was cast in iron for people of every class to admire. Looking at these beautiful pieces made me wish I could go back in time and experience the exhibition how it was intended to be viewed. The world saw lots of industries shut down between 1912 and the 1950’s, and unfortunately, this Coalbrookedale area experienced many closures; however, people had the foresight to preserve the past and the Iron Bridge Gorge Museum was opened to the public in 1973.
The information presented above shows how Hobsbawn’s statement of the industrial revolution being acceleration of growth through and of economic and social transformation stands true. For example, the industrial revolution is largely due to the Quaker’s and their determination to succeed. They gained social power through industry because they were prohibited from entering certain sectors. The people of the time were also focused on finding ways to economically produce goods. This lead to the invention of the canal, incline plane, and various methods of mass production.
The town’s industry was clearly centered on iron, which could be made for a fraction of the price due to the new technology of smelting coke. This town proved to be an excellent location for making iron due to its closeness to the river, and the last ice age left clay, coal, and limestone all over the area. A canal was created to provide transport within the coal fields and made the process of moving heavy material much more efficient. Coal could be brought down the canal into large blast furnaces or taken to the Hay incline plane.
The tour guide challenged the class to find a way to get the coal from the canal to the Severn River some 100 yards below. For much of the walk, I pondered how such a task could be completed and was unable to think of a solution. This same challenge was presented to the people of the 18th century, but one person’s solution stood out from the rest of the competition. I was amazed to see how simple yet ingenious the winning method of the incline plane was. Without this system, 27 canal locks would be needed over a period of 3 hours to lower the coal; however, the hay incline plane allowed this to be completed in four minutes. The push and pull system took basic elements of physics and applied them in a practical way. Although it was a great idea, technology constantly improves and the hay incline plane along with the canal was deemed inefficient after the introduction of the railway.
Numerous houses were restored or brought to this location to portray the standard of living at the Victorian times. It was very clever for the toll collector to be given a nicer house as an incentive to be honest and deliver all the money he collected to the government. It was clear to see the life style distinctions between the toll house and the rudimentary squatter cottage; the squatters had one day to erect a residence and claim the area as their own. The schoolhouse also shed light on the drastically different beliefs the Victorians held. For example, they believed that each child should have 60 cubic ft of air so they created schoolhouses with high ceilings and tall buildings. They did not, however, take into account that warm air rises and the children in the back of the room were left to freeze in the cold winter months.
The canal system also helped spur the development of other businesses, such as Coalport China Works. Ironbridge was the most industrialized area during the industrial revolution, and even china making changed into mass production. This are was an optimal location due to its large amounts of coal, cattle, and water. The canal was a vital form of transportation because the 18th century roads were too rocky to transport the delicate china. The business began in 1796 by John Rose, and his brother bought another factory shortly after. They aided and competed with each other; however, Rose eventually bought his brother out and turned his business into one of the most famous porcelain factories in the world.
Before visiting the China Museum, I did not have much of an appreciation for the art form. However, I learned of the time, effort, and skills required in making just one piece and now understand why it is viewed as a luxury. The process begins by the grotesque task of cleaning animal bones and firing them in the oven. These bones are used for their whiteness, strength, and the artists performed this material. The mixture consisted of 50% animal bone and 25% each of china clay and china stone. New techniques emerged during the revolution which sped up the china making process that allowed works to create 800 pieces a day as opposed to the earlier 80. Much precision was also needed in the creation of china, and the kiln had to be 1250 °C for the optimal product. The fireman used “buller rings” which shrank by 10% when fired correctly to gauge the temperature. It makes much sense that this occupation was the highest paid because he also had the highest amount of responsibility. However, I was surprised to learn the meaning of “they broke the mold when they made you.” This derives from the master mold carpenters would use to make china, and they would destroy it after a piece was discontinued.
While it was fascinating to reflect on the elaborate techniques involved in the beautiful art form, it was saddening to hear of the working conditions for the employees. Potters had a much shorter lifespan than the rest of the population due to the massive amount of dust and glaze which contained arsenic and lead. Many lady painters also had lead poisoning from licking the brushes, and their artistic discretion was taken away when industrialization instituted painting by numbers. Heavy saggers also had to be carried on the heads of men causing them to bring in their wives stockings for extra cushion under their hats. I gained much respect for the people and the physical and mental stress they had to endure to make a living.
On the other hand, it was nice to hear about how the Quakers treated and provided for each other. Having grown up in Philadelphia, I had a basic knowledge of the Quaker religion and was surprised to learn that Abraham Darby was a Quaker as well. Furthermore, I come from the town of Upper Darby, which was established by Quakers causing me to wonder if there is any relation between the man and the town name. The Quakers focus on peace and equality between all people but were limited to what jobs they could take because they were considered religious dissenters. They were excluded from occupations such as doctors and soldiers; therefore, much focus was put onto commerce and industry. This along with their belief in a lot of education pushed the Quakers to become extremely innovative. The wealthy were not as creative because they could just sit back and collect money without much hard work.
Abraham Darby kick started the industrial revolution by successfully using coke in the smelting of iron. He bought an old furnace in Coalbrookedale, and generations after him continued to use this facility throughout the industrial revolution. Coke came from a local coal and replaced charcoal making the process much cheaper and faster. This led to the wide scale production of iron, which was poured into sheets known as pig iron because it resembled a mother pig with four piglets. Abraham II next used the steam engine which increased the production of iron. He also spent 6 days experimenting with different amounts of limestone and coal to produce a type of iron that could be easily used for wrought iron.
Obviously, the trip to Ironbridge would not have been complete without a visit to the Ironbridge that Abraham Darby III built in 1779. Everybody thought it was an insane idea at the time of its creation until a massive flood swept all the other bridges away a few years later. However, it is understandable that people may have been hesitant to accept the bridge because it is human nature to be skeptical of new ideas. It is still unclear exactly how the bridge was erected, but many ideas have surfaced, and the BBC recently did a program in which they attempted to build a replica at Blists Hill Town. The economic challenges for footing the bill of such a structure is equally difficult as the technological feats. Darby believed it would cost £3200 and agreed to pay any extra costs. Unfortunately, he forgot to include the cost of labor and spent the rest of his life attempting to pay off the extra £3000. Although he did not make sound financial decisions, Darby’s creation still stands today as a testament to the industrial revolution and the amazing possibility of new, innovative ideas.
The final stop on our excursion was the Museum of Iron which gave a great history from the first uses of iron to modern day applications. The first floor showed how the Darby family made iron production cheaper and quicker with their new ideas. It was interesting to see how the technology progressed, but even more stimulating to see the great masterpieces from the Great Exhibition of 1851 on the second floor. The exhibition was originally held in Hyde Park and used to showcase the endless possibilities for which iron could be used. Everything from detailed chairs to large dogs was cast in iron for people of every class to admire. Looking at these beautiful pieces made me wish I could go back in time and experience the exhibition how it was intended to be viewed. The world saw lots of industries shut down between 1912 and the 1950’s, and unfortunately, this Coalbrookedale area experienced many closures; however, people had the foresight to preserve the past and the Iron Bridge Gorge Museum was opened to the public in 1973.
The information presented above shows how Hobsbawn’s statement of the industrial revolution being acceleration of growth through and of economic and social transformation stands true. For example, the industrial revolution is largely due to the Quaker’s and their determination to succeed. They gained social power through industry because they were prohibited from entering certain sectors. The people of the time were also focused on finding ways to economically produce goods. This lead to the invention of the canal, incline plane, and various methods of mass production.
Wednesday, 12 September 2007
Competition
Due to the location of Ironbridge, I thought it would be a great time to visit Wales and see how life is in a different part of the UK. Upon my arrival at Cardiff, I was unimpressed at the small scale of the city and the run-down neighbourhoods. I then realized that every hostel in the area contained the word “backpacker”, and I was unsure which place I booked. Fortunately, the local people were kind to a weary traveller and sent me in the right direction.
To my surprise, the hostel was still under construction as it had just opened two weeks ago. However, this did not bother me because the staff was so kind and helpful. They explained the situation, apologized for the appearance, and told me how they were just breaking into the market. I learned that one man owned the other hostels in Cardiff and could charge practically whatever he wished. The new hostel owners were determined to change this situation, and confided in me that the other hostel owner was very concerned about his business. This was a great example of supply and demand working in a real life situation; there was a demand for more hostel rooms at a lower price and someone stepped up to fill it.
While out in the town, I also learned of another form of competition existing throughout the UK. Many Welsh citizens felt the need to express their opinions on the English although I hardly even knew them. They would ramble on about how they were much better than the English in numerous areas (including football!) and hoped I would join them in their viewpoints. It was interesting to see how the rivalry was very similar to the competition between the east and west coasts in the States.
After my numerous conversations with Welsh citizens, my thoughts on the city of Cardiff changed dramatically. It proved to be my interactions with the people that made my trip one of the best experiences I have had so far, and not the fancy buildings or restaurants. I was able to have great conversations about the differences in our lifestyles and just about life in general. I hope I will have time to head back once more during my stay abroad to visit some of the great people I met.
Monday, 3 September 2007
Culture Shock
The American culture at first seemed almost identical to the British culture. We talk the same language, look fairly similar, and eat some of the same foods; however, I now know that may be where the similarities end. I met some British citizens and was excited to go out in a smaller group to learn more about the people here. Being invited to a pub for a true football game sounded very exciting, but the night turned out to be anything but.
The small pub was filled with men of all ages who were football enthusiasts, and they did not seem happy to have four American girls joining them. While I am very knowledgable in basketball, football, and hockey, soccer seemed to escape my sports education during my childhood, and I could not make one insightful comment about the game. The people who invited us even seemed embarrassed by our ignorance, and the night turned into an awkward situation. Although I was a bit frightened throughout the experience, I am glad that it happened because I realized just how different the UK and US are. The language masks the fact that this is a foreign country with completely different morals, beliefs, culture, and education.
The small pub was filled with men of all ages who were football enthusiasts, and they did not seem happy to have four American girls joining them. While I am very knowledgable in basketball, football, and hockey, soccer seemed to escape my sports education during my childhood, and I could not make one insightful comment about the game. The people who invited us even seemed embarrassed by our ignorance, and the night turned into an awkward situation. Although I was a bit frightened throughout the experience, I am glad that it happened because I realized just how different the UK and US are. The language masks the fact that this is a foreign country with completely different morals, beliefs, culture, and education.
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
The Tube
One objective for our time here in London is to become better observers and analysts; therefore, I thought it was a good idea to observe the citizens of London on a common form of transportation. I decided to take the Circle line for a considerable amount of time in order to fully observe a large amount of people. While the citizens were similar to Americans in many ways, there were some difference I noticed of the people.
The most apparent difference was the vast range of nationalities on the underground. In just the first few minutes of my trip, I overheard at least five different languages, some of which I did not recognize. Everyone also seemed very comfortable with each other and did not seem to notice their differences. If someone began speaking Italian on a bus in my home town, many people would stare and attempt to listen in on their conversation. However, it was viewed as commonplace for this to occur, and it was very refreshing to be in the presence of it.
Another striking difference I noticed was the clothing of both men and women. There was a wide range of people from young to old, but the women tended to dress much more colorful and vibrant than the women in the States. I found that they wore many patterns and tried funky combinations of clothing, which would be viewed as obscure back home. I also noticed that the men dressed much more professional in London than they do in America. Most of the men were wearing dress shoes and shirts, and I did not see anyone wearing sweatpants! I find this odd because America has such a laid back culture that is set on comfort, and the people here seem more concerned about how they look in public.
One last difference I noticed was the large amount of luggage I saw on just one tube ride. People were constantly coming in and out with luggage, and I believe this describes a lot about the culture. It seems that they travel more frequently than Americans do, and it is an important part of their life to do so. All kinds of families and people were going off to different stations and airports in a rush to go enjoy some vacation time. While London is a big tourist spot, I felt that most of the travelers were Londoners themselves. Overhearing their conversations about places such as Germany, Italy, and Ireland made me excited to join them and begin my travels around Europe!!
The most apparent difference was the vast range of nationalities on the underground. In just the first few minutes of my trip, I overheard at least five different languages, some of which I did not recognize. Everyone also seemed very comfortable with each other and did not seem to notice their differences. If someone began speaking Italian on a bus in my home town, many people would stare and attempt to listen in on their conversation. However, it was viewed as commonplace for this to occur, and it was very refreshing to be in the presence of it.
Another striking difference I noticed was the clothing of both men and women. There was a wide range of people from young to old, but the women tended to dress much more colorful and vibrant than the women in the States. I found that they wore many patterns and tried funky combinations of clothing, which would be viewed as obscure back home. I also noticed that the men dressed much more professional in London than they do in America. Most of the men were wearing dress shoes and shirts, and I did not see anyone wearing sweatpants! I find this odd because America has such a laid back culture that is set on comfort, and the people here seem more concerned about how they look in public.
One last difference I noticed was the large amount of luggage I saw on just one tube ride. People were constantly coming in and out with luggage, and I believe this describes a lot about the culture. It seems that they travel more frequently than Americans do, and it is an important part of their life to do so. All kinds of families and people were going off to different stations and airports in a rush to go enjoy some vacation time. While London is a big tourist spot, I felt that most of the travelers were Londoners themselves. Overhearing their conversations about places such as Germany, Italy, and Ireland made me excited to join them and begin my travels around Europe!!
Sunday, 26 August 2007
Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens exists to showcase many plants of the world to the public, but more importantly, to work for the conservation and restoration of plants around the world. Kew also aims to educate the public about the important relationship between plants and our environment. Princess Augusta founded the gardens, and it was initially used by generations of royalty. William and Mary enlarged the gardens, and evidence of this can still be seen today as his symbol of the orange is located throughout the gardens. A wide variety of plants accumulated overtime as it was continuously expanded by royals such as George III.
The gardens were first used for royal events and leisure, but it opened to the public in 1840. The purposes of the Royal Botanical gardens have changed over time, and now the organization is very focused on plant research, conservation, and restoration. The importance of preserving our environment can not be stressed enough, and Kew Gardens is a leader in this most necessary goal. Today Kew is promoting small growing and preserving global diversity by ensuring the survival of the world’s rarest plants through GIS and micropropagation. The current goals for biodiversity and its effect on conservation were not fully established centuries ago, but the same purpose of educating the public still exists from the 19th century.
Plants were initially gathered by explorers under the orders of the Queen and/or King. The explorers were sent on missions to gather fine goods from distance lands, and they were also told to bring back native species to enlarge the collection of exotic plants. It may have originally been due to a fascination of royalty with plants and collections, but it has grown to show the diversity of plants all around the world. Kew Gardens now has a staff of over 700, along with many partners around the world, who collect, research, and preserve the plants. The Millennium Seed Bank was created to collect the rarest plant species around the world and will soon hold 10% of the world’s wild species*. This is imperative because many plant species are being destroyed, and researchers are saving the plants by saving the seeds.
The Palm House was completed in 1848, and it holds a variety of palm species from the Americas, Africa, Australia, Asia, and the Pacific. It is extremely significant because the world relies heavily on palms, and the Palm House creates a habitat suitable for many threatened species. The center of the building was made to accommodate the tallest palms, and therefore, it has a collection of species from various places. There were many signs located in the soil and on the walls which described the human and environmental dependence on certain species. For example, I found it very interesting that the Madagascar periwinkle was used to fight cancer. Furthermore, the Victorian style architecture of glass and iron was absolutely beautiful and functional at the same time.
The Temperate House is an even larger glass house which contains plant species from the temperate regions of the world. It is also partitioned into geographical areas, which do not have extreme variation in temperature. This allows for increased diversity, and this house holds some of the rarest species in the world. Many endangered plants are being grown and will later be reintroduced to their native lands.
To conclude my journey through Kew, I visited the Princess of Wales Conservatory. It was created in honor of Princess Augusta, the founder, and opened by Princess Diana. The outside architecture is composed of angled glass roofs, and the building is situated into the ground. Upon researching the conservatory, I found this was an intended detail of the design in order to maximize solar energy. The building was divided into ten different climatic zones, but they flowed together very nicely. There was also a temporary exhibit in the lower level of the building which allowed you to learn about plants and their smells. It was a beautiful, unique building that allowed me to get a close look at plants from all around the world, but it also fit into the general architectural theme of Kew Gardens.
I found this trip to be helpful and fun in many ways. I love learning about different species and the ecological significance. Plants are the basis for all life, and more focus needs to be put upon them today. Most of the funding for Kew comes in the form of admissions, grants, gifts, and donations. People tend limit their thoughts and funds to scientific research on humans and animals, but plants research should be equally encouraged. They provide the foundation for all life and supply endless benefits such as food and medicine.
* http://www.kew.org/msbp/index.htm
The gardens were first used for royal events and leisure, but it opened to the public in 1840. The purposes of the Royal Botanical gardens have changed over time, and now the organization is very focused on plant research, conservation, and restoration. The importance of preserving our environment can not be stressed enough, and Kew Gardens is a leader in this most necessary goal. Today Kew is promoting small growing and preserving global diversity by ensuring the survival of the world’s rarest plants through GIS and micropropagation. The current goals for biodiversity and its effect on conservation were not fully established centuries ago, but the same purpose of educating the public still exists from the 19th century.
Plants were initially gathered by explorers under the orders of the Queen and/or King. The explorers were sent on missions to gather fine goods from distance lands, and they were also told to bring back native species to enlarge the collection of exotic plants. It may have originally been due to a fascination of royalty with plants and collections, but it has grown to show the diversity of plants all around the world. Kew Gardens now has a staff of over 700, along with many partners around the world, who collect, research, and preserve the plants. The Millennium Seed Bank was created to collect the rarest plant species around the world and will soon hold 10% of the world’s wild species*. This is imperative because many plant species are being destroyed, and researchers are saving the plants by saving the seeds.
The Palm House was completed in 1848, and it holds a variety of palm species from the Americas, Africa, Australia, Asia, and the Pacific. It is extremely significant because the world relies heavily on palms, and the Palm House creates a habitat suitable for many threatened species. The center of the building was made to accommodate the tallest palms, and therefore, it has a collection of species from various places. There were many signs located in the soil and on the walls which described the human and environmental dependence on certain species. For example, I found it very interesting that the Madagascar periwinkle was used to fight cancer. Furthermore, the Victorian style architecture of glass and iron was absolutely beautiful and functional at the same time.
The Temperate House is an even larger glass house which contains plant species from the temperate regions of the world. It is also partitioned into geographical areas, which do not have extreme variation in temperature. This allows for increased diversity, and this house holds some of the rarest species in the world. Many endangered plants are being grown and will later be reintroduced to their native lands.
To conclude my journey through Kew, I visited the Princess of Wales Conservatory. It was created in honor of Princess Augusta, the founder, and opened by Princess Diana. The outside architecture is composed of angled glass roofs, and the building is situated into the ground. Upon researching the conservatory, I found this was an intended detail of the design in order to maximize solar energy. The building was divided into ten different climatic zones, but they flowed together very nicely. There was also a temporary exhibit in the lower level of the building which allowed you to learn about plants and their smells. It was a beautiful, unique building that allowed me to get a close look at plants from all around the world, but it also fit into the general architectural theme of Kew Gardens.
I found this trip to be helpful and fun in many ways. I love learning about different species and the ecological significance. Plants are the basis for all life, and more focus needs to be put upon them today. Most of the funding for Kew comes in the form of admissions, grants, gifts, and donations. People tend limit their thoughts and funds to scientific research on humans and animals, but plants research should be equally encouraged. They provide the foundation for all life and supply endless benefits such as food and medicine.
* http://www.kew.org/msbp/index.htm
Thursday, 23 August 2007
Museum of London
Regardless of the fire evacuation and bad weather, I found the Museum of London to be fascinating. The Roman visit was extremely detailed and full of great artifacts. I especially like the miniature recreations of the civic centre and the waters edge. I was amazed at the great detail involved that showed the various tasks the people carried out on a daily basis. For example, one section featured a group of men who were constructing a building on high scaffolding. This made me contemplate the great difficulties involved in construction of that time period. The ships also looked large and complex. I wondered if they were built in Londinium or elsewhere in the world.
The numerous exhibits showed how life was completely different for the Romans. Replicas of living rooms and dinner rooms were erected, which showed how much simpler they lived. Common tasks such as preparing a meal or transporting goods would have taken a considerable more amount of time. Although their lifestyle was different, it was very clear that they were still concerned with decor and beauty. The original mosaic floors were breathtaking and very elaborate, and I was amazed to see that they even had heating underneath the floor!
Being a biology major, I was particularly interested in the Roman horse skeleton. The exhibit stated that the Exmour pony is a modern day descendant of a roman horse, which made me think about how the horse had evolved overtime. I am very interested in evolution and would like to understand more about how this specific species was genetically altered since the Roman times. Furthermore, I was fascinated by the Roman baths but wondered how clean they were and if diseases could be spread through their use. Natural spring water was held in storage tanks and the waste water was expelled out into the Thames. However, the water could be an excellent place for bacteria and viruses to grow. I also wondered how the bathing was performed. Were people given their own separate rooms or did they bath together?
Other small artifacts were very interesting such as the locks and keys. Even with the large time gap between the present day generations and the Roman's, there was still a common concern for safety of people and belongings. There were intricate locks and keys, and the owner would usually wear the key around his neck. The entertainment artifacts were also very interesting and unusual. There was a bikini from a Roman acrobat. The Londinium Roman culture is so old that I thought it was much more primitive than it actually was. Clearly they were interested in entertainment, and they even had acrobats and theatre!
The numerous exhibits showed how life was completely different for the Romans. Replicas of living rooms and dinner rooms were erected, which showed how much simpler they lived. Common tasks such as preparing a meal or transporting goods would have taken a considerable more amount of time. Although their lifestyle was different, it was very clear that they were still concerned with decor and beauty. The original mosaic floors were breathtaking and very elaborate, and I was amazed to see that they even had heating underneath the floor!
Being a biology major, I was particularly interested in the Roman horse skeleton. The exhibit stated that the Exmour pony is a modern day descendant of a roman horse, which made me think about how the horse had evolved overtime. I am very interested in evolution and would like to understand more about how this specific species was genetically altered since the Roman times. Furthermore, I was fascinated by the Roman baths but wondered how clean they were and if diseases could be spread through their use. Natural spring water was held in storage tanks and the waste water was expelled out into the Thames. However, the water could be an excellent place for bacteria and viruses to grow. I also wondered how the bathing was performed. Were people given their own separate rooms or did they bath together?
Other small artifacts were very interesting such as the locks and keys. Even with the large time gap between the present day generations and the Roman's, there was still a common concern for safety of people and belongings. There were intricate locks and keys, and the owner would usually wear the key around his neck. The entertainment artifacts were also very interesting and unusual. There was a bikini from a Roman acrobat. The Londinium Roman culture is so old that I thought it was much more primitive than it actually was. Clearly they were interested in entertainment, and they even had acrobats and theatre!
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
London Hunt Assignment
Part One
The trains at King’s Cross will take you to many cities throughout England and Scotland. Some examples are Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Cambridge. The trains at Waterloo also take you throughout the UK. Some places on the departure list were Alton, Strawberry Hill, Portsmouth Harbor, and Poole. There was also a rail line, Eurostar, which had international trains.
The architecture at King’s Cross was old fashion with lots of bricks and big rounded arches at the platforms. There were also windows to allow in light and the design allowed for air to flow freely. Outside looked a bit more modern with two large window arches and a clock on top of the station. Waterloo station had similar architecture with red and white steel beams, red bricks, and large arched windows. The inside had a feeling of an outside market with townhouses and food shows, but it was all encased in a glass ceiling to allow light to shine through.
Around King’s Cross was extremely busy with lots of buses, people, and taxis. There were lots of ethnic and fast food restaurants as well. The surrounding neighborhood of Waterloo was also very busy. There were lots of buses, restaurants, markets, and shops. A few of the restaurants were The Wellington, Thai Silk, and McDonalds. I heard many European languages spoken at both stations such as French and German.
I did see a lot of evidence of privatization in the train stations. Waterloo trains are all owned by South West. This was visible from their bright décor of red, yellow, orange, and blue. King’s Cross also had lines that were privatized. I found it interesting that you were not allowed on the platform in Waterloo without a ticket, but there were no such regulations put in place at King’s Cross.
Part Two
1. I visited two small parks, Postman’s and Bloomsbury Square Garden. At Postman’s Park, the patrons here could be seen sitting on the benches relaxing or reading the stories on the wall of heroic people who lost their lives to save others. At Bloomsbury Square Garden, people could be seen walking the paths or having quiet conversations.
2. There are sections of open grass for play or a picnic, pathways with benches for leisurely walking, and fountains to admire.
3. The activities do not seem to match the intended use. Few people were in both parks when I visited them, and most seem to be using them as short cuts rather than for leisure. However, there were some people relaxing on the benches and taking a break from their hectic London life.
4. I visited both parks in the middle of the day, which may explain why I did not see a lot of activity. After work there may be more use of the grass by children and families. Most people do not have time during their work day to relax and meditate in a park.
Part Three
Tate Modern à I was unaware what the Tate looked like before visiting it on my walk. As I approached it from the South Bank, I thought it was just a factory. However, I soon recognized the name and became excited to see the exhibits inside. There was a huge open space in the middle of the museum with escalators taking people up and down. The artwork was unlike any I have ever seen before. The few exhibits I was able to see were conveying a strong message to society, and I can not wait until I have more time to head back and discover all that it has to offer.
Tower Bridge à While pictures of the Tower Bridge are breathtaking, they do not compare to the actual experience of walking across it. However, I was surprised to see that it was only two lanes wide. I expected a much larger roadway because few bridges in US cities are only one lane in each direction. I did not hear numerous languages here as I did at the other sites. It seemed that people were mostly using it to get from one place to another instead of crossing it as a tourist.
Westminister Abbey à I was amazed by the sheer size of Westminster Abbey upon my visit. It is a cathedral that definitely commands a presence and makes you wonder how it was built so long ago without modern day technology. There were endless amounts of tourists at this site, and I heard lots of languages, many of which I did not recognize.
St. Paul’s à This cathedral was clearly a major tourist site because there were lots of people taking pictures, and I heard many languages spoken. The Cathedral was designed by Christopher Wren and contains a large dome that came be seen from a far distance. It is currently being cleaned and improved so it was difficult to see parts of its beauty. There is currently a two week concert series with contemporary classical music with evening prayer.
Part Four
a) Some headlines are Shock toll of British injured in Afghan war, Scrap these ‘19th century’ GCSEs, Brown: plans ready for snap election, and Britons fear rise of the yob.
b) I did not notice any major differences among papers like the Guardian and The Observer. Clearly, papers like the Financial Times are more business related, but all the papers cover local and national events. I did realize that the UK papers appeared to be a bit more liberal than some papers in the US.
c) Both US and UK papers cover international topics, but there are some minute differences observed. The sports section features different sports (rugby, football, polo) than US sports (football, basketball, hockey). In addition, there are many more articles about theatre and opera than in my local US papers. There were also articles on the royal family, which would most likely appear in the entertainment section than as a main article.
d) Flats are priced according to their location, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and other amenities available. A two bedroom flat in West London can run anywhere from ₤200 to ₤1000 a month. I was unable to find this information in the papers so I used www.uk.yahoo.com, which provided a massive amount of listings. A studio flat in Clerkenwell is listed as ₤1083 a month. This price seems very high to me, but I have never lived in a city, and this may be normal for such an area. Additionally, I have also noticed many real estate agents throughout London with pictures of flats posted in the windows.
e) I looked at the Observer online to find jobs. I found it interesting that there were many jobs available in marketing, PR, and media. The salary for jobs seemed to be comparable to that of the US, if not higher. I looked up secretarial jobs and found that they made between ₤21000 to ₤35000, which is similar to the US standards.
f) I found ads for banks, radio, and magazines. I also found ads for televisions, computers, printers, and new cars as low as ₤5,860.
2. After watching the tellie for an hour or so, I noticed that soap opera style shows are very popular. There seems to be a type for teenagers and adults. Big Brother was also a very popular show; however, I found it to be monotonous and boring. I also watched a show called Holly Oaks that was similar to MTV reality shows. There were also a lot of radio talk shows, which you do not typically find on American television.
Part Five
We took a one and a half mile walk down the South Bank, which turned into the best five hours I have had in London yet. We started at the Westminister tube station, walked along the Thames, crossed the Millennium Bridge, visited St. Paul’s and finished by crossing back over the Tower Bridge. There was a festival for grandparents along the river that consisted of stands, ethnic foods, live music, and short plays.
Part Six
I feel that London is a world capital with so much to offer in so many areas. There are endless opportunities to explore different cultures, music, science, and religions. For the most part, people are extremely friendly and helpful when I find myself lost or confused about how something works.
London seems very prosperous from my first week here. Evidence of this can be seen in the clean streets, productive transit system, and well maintained businesses. There is also a huge amount of construction taking place. While there may be some abandoned shops or buildings, I have yet to see any. Most cities change from affluent to poverty areas very quickly, but I have not noticed that here. I do see graffiti from time to time, but that is to be expected in any city.
I think England has done an excellent job with preserving the past while reinventing itself for the future. The streets have kept an old fashion British feel with the small pubs, cafes, and shops. Many areas are blocked off and can only be reached by foot or bike on cobblestone pathways. There are also endless historical sites which have been beautifully preserved and tie in with the modern city. For example, the remains of the Roman wall can be viewed right next to new modern buildings. Both bring necessary elements to the city and are vital for London’s continued growth as a world capital.
I most definitely believe that the National Geographic description of London by Simon Worrall is more accurate. London has done an excellent job of preserving its past while staying up to date with the latest advancements. The government seems to be in tune with the needs of the city.
The trains at King’s Cross will take you to many cities throughout England and Scotland. Some examples are Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Cambridge. The trains at Waterloo also take you throughout the UK. Some places on the departure list were Alton, Strawberry Hill, Portsmouth Harbor, and Poole. There was also a rail line, Eurostar, which had international trains.
The architecture at King’s Cross was old fashion with lots of bricks and big rounded arches at the platforms. There were also windows to allow in light and the design allowed for air to flow freely. Outside looked a bit more modern with two large window arches and a clock on top of the station. Waterloo station had similar architecture with red and white steel beams, red bricks, and large arched windows. The inside had a feeling of an outside market with townhouses and food shows, but it was all encased in a glass ceiling to allow light to shine through.
Around King’s Cross was extremely busy with lots of buses, people, and taxis. There were lots of ethnic and fast food restaurants as well. The surrounding neighborhood of Waterloo was also very busy. There were lots of buses, restaurants, markets, and shops. A few of the restaurants were The Wellington, Thai Silk, and McDonalds. I heard many European languages spoken at both stations such as French and German.
I did see a lot of evidence of privatization in the train stations. Waterloo trains are all owned by South West. This was visible from their bright décor of red, yellow, orange, and blue. King’s Cross also had lines that were privatized. I found it interesting that you were not allowed on the platform in Waterloo without a ticket, but there were no such regulations put in place at King’s Cross.
Part Two
1. I visited two small parks, Postman’s and Bloomsbury Square Garden. At Postman’s Park, the patrons here could be seen sitting on the benches relaxing or reading the stories on the wall of heroic people who lost their lives to save others. At Bloomsbury Square Garden, people could be seen walking the paths or having quiet conversations.
2. There are sections of open grass for play or a picnic, pathways with benches for leisurely walking, and fountains to admire.
3. The activities do not seem to match the intended use. Few people were in both parks when I visited them, and most seem to be using them as short cuts rather than for leisure. However, there were some people relaxing on the benches and taking a break from their hectic London life.
4. I visited both parks in the middle of the day, which may explain why I did not see a lot of activity. After work there may be more use of the grass by children and families. Most people do not have time during their work day to relax and meditate in a park.
Part Three
Tate Modern à I was unaware what the Tate looked like before visiting it on my walk. As I approached it from the South Bank, I thought it was just a factory. However, I soon recognized the name and became excited to see the exhibits inside. There was a huge open space in the middle of the museum with escalators taking people up and down. The artwork was unlike any I have ever seen before. The few exhibits I was able to see were conveying a strong message to society, and I can not wait until I have more time to head back and discover all that it has to offer.
Tower Bridge à While pictures of the Tower Bridge are breathtaking, they do not compare to the actual experience of walking across it. However, I was surprised to see that it was only two lanes wide. I expected a much larger roadway because few bridges in US cities are only one lane in each direction. I did not hear numerous languages here as I did at the other sites. It seemed that people were mostly using it to get from one place to another instead of crossing it as a tourist.
Westminister Abbey à I was amazed by the sheer size of Westminster Abbey upon my visit. It is a cathedral that definitely commands a presence and makes you wonder how it was built so long ago without modern day technology. There were endless amounts of tourists at this site, and I heard lots of languages, many of which I did not recognize.
St. Paul’s à This cathedral was clearly a major tourist site because there were lots of people taking pictures, and I heard many languages spoken. The Cathedral was designed by Christopher Wren and contains a large dome that came be seen from a far distance. It is currently being cleaned and improved so it was difficult to see parts of its beauty. There is currently a two week concert series with contemporary classical music with evening prayer.
Part Four
a) Some headlines are Shock toll of British injured in Afghan war, Scrap these ‘19th century’ GCSEs, Brown: plans ready for snap election, and Britons fear rise of the yob.
b) I did not notice any major differences among papers like the Guardian and The Observer. Clearly, papers like the Financial Times are more business related, but all the papers cover local and national events. I did realize that the UK papers appeared to be a bit more liberal than some papers in the US.
c) Both US and UK papers cover international topics, but there are some minute differences observed. The sports section features different sports (rugby, football, polo) than US sports (football, basketball, hockey). In addition, there are many more articles about theatre and opera than in my local US papers. There were also articles on the royal family, which would most likely appear in the entertainment section than as a main article.
d) Flats are priced according to their location, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and other amenities available. A two bedroom flat in West London can run anywhere from ₤200 to ₤1000 a month. I was unable to find this information in the papers so I used www.uk.yahoo.com, which provided a massive amount of listings. A studio flat in Clerkenwell is listed as ₤1083 a month. This price seems very high to me, but I have never lived in a city, and this may be normal for such an area. Additionally, I have also noticed many real estate agents throughout London with pictures of flats posted in the windows.
e) I looked at the Observer online to find jobs. I found it interesting that there were many jobs available in marketing, PR, and media. The salary for jobs seemed to be comparable to that of the US, if not higher. I looked up secretarial jobs and found that they made between ₤21000 to ₤35000, which is similar to the US standards.
f) I found ads for banks, radio, and magazines. I also found ads for televisions, computers, printers, and new cars as low as ₤5,860.
2. After watching the tellie for an hour or so, I noticed that soap opera style shows are very popular. There seems to be a type for teenagers and adults. Big Brother was also a very popular show; however, I found it to be monotonous and boring. I also watched a show called Holly Oaks that was similar to MTV reality shows. There were also a lot of radio talk shows, which you do not typically find on American television.
Part Five
We took a one and a half mile walk down the South Bank, which turned into the best five hours I have had in London yet. We started at the Westminister tube station, walked along the Thames, crossed the Millennium Bridge, visited St. Paul’s and finished by crossing back over the Tower Bridge. There was a festival for grandparents along the river that consisted of stands, ethnic foods, live music, and short plays.
Part Six
I feel that London is a world capital with so much to offer in so many areas. There are endless opportunities to explore different cultures, music, science, and religions. For the most part, people are extremely friendly and helpful when I find myself lost or confused about how something works.
London seems very prosperous from my first week here. Evidence of this can be seen in the clean streets, productive transit system, and well maintained businesses. There is also a huge amount of construction taking place. While there may be some abandoned shops or buildings, I have yet to see any. Most cities change from affluent to poverty areas very quickly, but I have not noticed that here. I do see graffiti from time to time, but that is to be expected in any city.
I think England has done an excellent job with preserving the past while reinventing itself for the future. The streets have kept an old fashion British feel with the small pubs, cafes, and shops. Many areas are blocked off and can only be reached by foot or bike on cobblestone pathways. There are also endless historical sites which have been beautifully preserved and tie in with the modern city. For example, the remains of the Roman wall can be viewed right next to new modern buildings. Both bring necessary elements to the city and are vital for London’s continued growth as a world capital.
I most definitely believe that the National Geographic description of London by Simon Worrall is more accurate. London has done an excellent job of preserving its past while staying up to date with the latest advancements. The government seems to be in tune with the needs of the city.
Parliament
The Palace of Westminster was like no other government building in which I have ever been. The fact that parts of the building originated from the 1000’s is simply amazing because we do not have national history anywhere near that old in the United States. The tour guide explained the different divisions of Parliament, which include the Royalty, House of Lords, and House of Commons. It was fascinating to hear the numerous traditions till carried out today such as the Black Rod and the system of voting.
The entire building was covered from ceiling to floor with extravagant art and architecture. From the moment you enter, there are statues, stain-glass windows, rich fabrics, and lots of gold! Grand portraits of royalty lined the walls of most room. In the robing room, there are large portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert dressed in their best clothes with jewels and a beautiful landscape behind them. The Prince’s Chamber outside of the House of Lord’s also contains pictures of Kings and Queens. Many buildings of Parliament stood on the same grounds, but architects Barry and Pugin designed the building standing today in the perpendicular gothic style after the fire of 1834. However, the Westminster Hall survived this fire and was built in the 1000’s with the hammer beamed roof built in the 1300’s.
The House of Lords was very extravagant with gold foil, red colours, and wood panelling. It is very visible to see today’s modern world mixed with traditions of the past. The royal throne that previous kings and queens used is still in place with its fantastic gold and worn fabric; however, microphones and speakers are situated throughout the room to allow for clear conversation and debates. I found it very interesting that red symbolizes the House of Lords and royalty because it is an expensive dye.
On the other hand, green represents the House of Commons because it is a very cheap dye made from plants. Furthermore, the House of Commons is much more plain than the House of Lords, but still beautiful in many ways. There are green leather couches and wood panelling throughout the small room with the Speaker seated in the middle. The seats cannot be reserved unless one attends prayers and puts a small green card behind a seat prior to a session. The tour guide also explained that the red ‘sword’ lines across the floor are not allowed to be crossed by members during a debate. The House of Commons could have been remodelled after the bombings, which destroyed it in WW2, but it was kept in its original form in order to preserve the intimate setting. This has caused the physical style of voting to remain from previous centuries because there is not enough room to do it any other way. “Yes” and “No” chambers are located on either side of the House, and members have exactly eight minutes to be inside the doors after the bell is rung.
Although many traditions remain throughout Parliament, there are many changes that have taken place over the years to allow greater democratic participation. The House of Lords is composed of elected officials that are appointed by the Prime Minister or Queen’s advisors. They primarily revise bills from the House of Commons, although one third are created directly from the House of Lords. Their power is changing under the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and there is a movement to make it an elected chamber like the House of Commons. There is also a tradition still in place today where people can go the counter in the Central lobby and ask for a green piece of paper to make an appointment with their representative. People are also allowed to sit in on the House of Lords and the House of Commons if there is available space.
The role of the State as an institution has changed dramatically over United Kingdom’s history. Royalty used to be the supreme power, and there was a belief that they ruled by divine right. After the English Civil War, the royalty’s power was diminished and the House of Commons had most of the power. The monarchy was restored with time but with far less power. Today the monarchy follows the traditions, but has very little actual power. There is a movement within the House of Commons, particularly with the Labour Party, to make the House of Lords an elected body and give more power to the people.
The entire building was covered from ceiling to floor with extravagant art and architecture. From the moment you enter, there are statues, stain-glass windows, rich fabrics, and lots of gold! Grand portraits of royalty lined the walls of most room. In the robing room, there are large portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert dressed in their best clothes with jewels and a beautiful landscape behind them. The Prince’s Chamber outside of the House of Lord’s also contains pictures of Kings and Queens. Many buildings of Parliament stood on the same grounds, but architects Barry and Pugin designed the building standing today in the perpendicular gothic style after the fire of 1834. However, the Westminster Hall survived this fire and was built in the 1000’s with the hammer beamed roof built in the 1300’s.
The House of Lords was very extravagant with gold foil, red colours, and wood panelling. It is very visible to see today’s modern world mixed with traditions of the past. The royal throne that previous kings and queens used is still in place with its fantastic gold and worn fabric; however, microphones and speakers are situated throughout the room to allow for clear conversation and debates. I found it very interesting that red symbolizes the House of Lords and royalty because it is an expensive dye.
On the other hand, green represents the House of Commons because it is a very cheap dye made from plants. Furthermore, the House of Commons is much more plain than the House of Lords, but still beautiful in many ways. There are green leather couches and wood panelling throughout the small room with the Speaker seated in the middle. The seats cannot be reserved unless one attends prayers and puts a small green card behind a seat prior to a session. The tour guide also explained that the red ‘sword’ lines across the floor are not allowed to be crossed by members during a debate. The House of Commons could have been remodelled after the bombings, which destroyed it in WW2, but it was kept in its original form in order to preserve the intimate setting. This has caused the physical style of voting to remain from previous centuries because there is not enough room to do it any other way. “Yes” and “No” chambers are located on either side of the House, and members have exactly eight minutes to be inside the doors after the bell is rung.
Although many traditions remain throughout Parliament, there are many changes that have taken place over the years to allow greater democratic participation. The House of Lords is composed of elected officials that are appointed by the Prime Minister or Queen’s advisors. They primarily revise bills from the House of Commons, although one third are created directly from the House of Lords. Their power is changing under the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and there is a movement to make it an elected chamber like the House of Commons. There is also a tradition still in place today where people can go the counter in the Central lobby and ask for a green piece of paper to make an appointment with their representative. People are also allowed to sit in on the House of Lords and the House of Commons if there is available space.
The role of the State as an institution has changed dramatically over United Kingdom’s history. Royalty used to be the supreme power, and there was a belief that they ruled by divine right. After the English Civil War, the royalty’s power was diminished and the House of Commons had most of the power. The monarchy was restored with time but with far less power. Today the monarchy follows the traditions, but has very little actual power. There is a movement within the House of Commons, particularly with the Labour Party, to make the House of Lords an elected body and give more power to the people.
Monday, 20 August 2007
Food Shopping
As Friday night approached, everyone in the flat began to realize that food shopping could no longer be put off and must be tackled. I was fearful of beginning the journey because I honestly had no clue where I was going or what to expect. Earlier in the day we saw a Sainsbury Local on Tottenham Court Road, so we attempted to make it back to the store. This was accomplished surprisingly well, but that was about all that went well for the adventure.
Upon entering the store, I was astonished by the amount of people crowded into such a small place. I looked around and saw very little selection. This seemed a bit odd because I am used to 100 cereal choices instead of 10. Everyone else knew perfectly well what they were looking and were only buying one or two items. I felt out of place searching for items and lugging around baskets of food due to the lack of carts. Once my flatmates and I divided up all of the necessary items, we headed towards the cashier. I was shocked that there were no conveyor belts to load the food, but instead had to hand every item individually to the man. We double bagged our items and headed into the rush hour traffic.
We all quickly became depressed when we realized that Tottenham Court Road was one way in this certain section, and we had no clue which direction to go in order to get a bus back to the flat. After much conversing, we headed down a road that looked somewhat familiar. Needless to say, nothing in London is familiar having only been there for two days, and we were quickly lost. One hour and about five bus rides later, we arrived on Farringdon Road thoroughly frustrated and annoyed with the situation and one another. On the walk back from the bus stop, however, we did manage to cool off and find a food store much closer to our flats. The experience definitely proved that a city is difficult to navigate at first, but it can be understood and fully appreciated with a little time and energy!
Upon entering the store, I was astonished by the amount of people crowded into such a small place. I looked around and saw very little selection. This seemed a bit odd because I am used to 100 cereal choices instead of 10. Everyone else knew perfectly well what they were looking and were only buying one or two items. I felt out of place searching for items and lugging around baskets of food due to the lack of carts. Once my flatmates and I divided up all of the necessary items, we headed towards the cashier. I was shocked that there were no conveyor belts to load the food, but instead had to hand every item individually to the man. We double bagged our items and headed into the rush hour traffic.
We all quickly became depressed when we realized that Tottenham Court Road was one way in this certain section, and we had no clue which direction to go in order to get a bus back to the flat. After much conversing, we headed down a road that looked somewhat familiar. Needless to say, nothing in London is familiar having only been there for two days, and we were quickly lost. One hour and about five bus rides later, we arrived on Farringdon Road thoroughly frustrated and annoyed with the situation and one another. On the walk back from the bus stop, however, we did manage to cool off and find a food store much closer to our flats. The experience definitely proved that a city is difficult to navigate at first, but it can be understood and fully appreciated with a little time and energy!
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