City of London / London Bridge Rotary Educational Foundation
Summer 2009 Study in London
Kathryn,
City of London 2009
I would like to begin my evaluation of the program by extending my deepest thanks to the London Bridge Rotary Club in Lake Havasu, Arizona, and to the Rotary Club of London, for allowing me to have this tremendous opportunity that opened my eyes to a different part of the world.
My desire to go to London stemmed from my interest in law, and general passion for traveling and learning. As a third-year undergraduate student at Arizona State University, I am studying both Molecular Biosciences as well as Piano. I viewed London as an exciting chance to take a course outside of my comfort zone, learn more about the legal system in the country, and explore England as a potential location for further graduate studies. I came away from the experience learning more about the history of London, thanks to the fantastic course I took, and also learning most importantly several characteristics about myself as well as my hopes for my future. I developed profound friendships, and the city of London left its mark on me forever.
As a London Bridge Rotary Scholar, I benefited greatly from not only the course I was fortunate to take at the University of Westminster, but more importantly from the broadening of my worldview through extended exposure to a different part of the world. I left for London on July 6, 2009 with fellow scholar, Alex Ushakova, excited to travel to Europe, make new friends, and understand a new culture. Before arriving at our ideally located dormitories at Wigram House on Victoria Street, Alex and I spent four days sight-seeing the breathtaking city of Paris. This gave us time to bond and also to get reacquainted with European culture, readying us for our London experience. While in Paris, we were fortunate enough to see famous sights, including the Louvre Museum, Versailles Palace, Musee d’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, and many other spectacular places that I would never have been able to see without the chance to travel to Europe through Rotary.
My time in London was divided between taking a class at the University of Westminster and experiencing the city. The class I chose to take was titled “Londinium to the Blitz: History of London through its Museums,” taught by knowledgeable and thought-provoking professor, Dr. Kevin Flude. Three hour class days over the four week period gave me ample time to explore the beautiful sights and historical parts of London, as well as allowing me time to travel on weekend trips to Edinburgh in Scotland, as well as other parts of England, including Oxford, York, and Kent. The class itself took students on daily field trips to notable museums throughout London, providing me with great chances to visit some museums I might not have otherwise made time for, including the Museum of Dockalnds and the home of Charles Dickens. Some of my most memorable visits outside of my class included to the beautiful Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire Dales National Park, Charles Darwin’s house (now preserved as a museum for the public), Buckingham Palace, Bleinham Palace, and Westminster Abbey. I also enjoyed exploring the great shopping district of Oxford Street, seeing Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre, Jude Law star in Hamlet at the West End Theatre, and seeing Harry Potter at the Odeon, where it premiered on July 7, and going to pubs, coffee shops, and riding the tube like a local Londoner.
Another important component of my time in London was spent participating in Rotary activities, including visiting the Rotary Club of London for their weekly luncheon meeting, which was a very exciting opportunity to meet distinguished members of the London community. Local Rotarian and liaison between Lake Havasu Rotary and Rotary Club of London, Keith Nickol, showed tremendous kindness and help to myself and other scholars Alex and Leah. He was always available to answer any of our questions, and help us navigate the unfamiliar city. Together, we all were fortunate enough to be able to sit in on a weekly council meeting of the Lord Mayor of London, as well as meet the Lord Mayor and present a gift of commemorative coins from Lake Havasu’s Rotary club to the Mayor. This visit was so special and exciting.
My experience in London was one of the best trips I have ever taken in my life, and I will always fondly remember my experiences there. I want to extend my deepest thanks and gratitude to the Rotarian community both here in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and in London. The kindness of Mr. John Parrott, Mr. Keith Nickol, and other Rotarians I was fortunate enough to meet in London made my experience that much more special and excellent. The University of Westminster student orientation staff was extremely helpful to answer any of my questions, and the social program coordinators did a fantastic job of acquainting students with a variety of places in England outside of London, adding to my understanding of British culture and allowing me to see many more places than I had thought possible in my limited time in the city. I would also like to thank Erica Holden, our liaison at Guildhall, who arranged for myself and the other scholars to meet the Lord Mayor of London and attend a meeting of the board. This experience was truly exciting for me.
I will warmly remember my time in London particularly because of the great kindness extended to me by the Rotarian community, and I look forward to continuing to stay in touch with past and future scholars, as well as the wonderful club of Lake Havasu. Thank you again for allowing me to have one of the most rewarding and valuable experiences of my life.
With sincerest thanks and appreciation,
Kathryn