Wake Forest Athletics
McIntyre and White Summer Blogs
6/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Wake Forest volleyball rising-seniors Lauren McIntyre and Kristen White have traveled to Europe this summer to spend a month studying abroad. McIntyre, who is a Studio Art and Communications major, is participating in the WFU/EUSA London Internship Program while White is traveling with professor Dr. Rebecca Alexander as well as seven other students to study biochemistry. Both McIntyre and White will be blogging for WakeForestSports.com throughout their trips.
Entry 1
June 1, 2010
The time here is 3 pm on Tuesday, and I have been in London for a few days now. After my flights from Cincinnati to Charlotte then a red eye from Charlotte to London, I was expecting to be absolutely exhausted. But I was mistaken. I was totally rejuvenated even though I couldn't get a wink of sleep on either of my flights. The excitement of being in a new place, one unlike I had ever been before, was absolutely exhilarating and even gave me the energy to put up with fellow Demon Deacon, Lauren McIntyre, for the evening! A couple of my new roommates joined Mac and I at a quaint Italian Restaurant a few blocks from my residence, the Crofton House in Kensington just south of Hyde Park.
The next day was our last free day before class officially started on Monday, and my roommates and I made the best of it by seeing the sites. We traveled on the Tubes, which are the very convenient underground subways of London. We went to central London and got to see sites like Big Ben, Parliament, the London Eye, Westminister Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. The architecture here is phenomenal. Considering how much history the city has, the amount of detail on each building is extraordinary. It is no way, shape or form comparable to anything that I have seen in my life, and something that words cannot describe, which is why you must all come see it for yourselves! That evening, my seven classmates and I met up with our professor, Dr. Rebecca Alexander, at a local pub right around the corner from our house. The food here was also delicious, which I have learned is the case with nearly every place I have been so far---it is even more enjoyable if you can find it at a reasonable price!
The structure of the biochemistry class is very laid back, but at the same time fast paced because we need to fit an entire semester of material into four short weeks. Class is for just two hours every morning, Monday through Thursday, with an exam every Thursday afternoon. This is nice because afternoons are free for exploration of the city and weekends are free for travel to other cities or countries. Monday afternoon, we took the tubes to Abbey Road, the street the Beatles made famous. We made some valiant attempts to recreate their album cover and got to see their recording studio. After class today we went on a tour of the Science Museum so connections could be made between the city's scientific history and our course material. Tomorrow we are scheduled to go on a tour to Alexander Flemming's lab, where penicillin was invented. I'm sure there will be more site seeing to come before we take a train on Sunday up to Cambridge, our next destination for the program.
So far I have enjoyed London immensely. My classmates and I are all getting along really well so it is fun to experience this new city with them as well. One of my favorite parts, besides the aesthetics of the city, is how the city travel is so convenient. Cars really aren't necessary because everything is a quick tube stop away or within walking distance. Some of my classmates have had a couple close calls crossing the street because you must remember to look the opposite way first, and trust me, these Londoners do not stop for anyone!
Kristen
Entry 1
May 28, 2010
Well, it is 6:15PM London time on Friday, May 28th 2010 and I am officially worn out. I have lived in London now for five days and have experienced more than I ever thought I would. I arrived at noon on Monday the 24th after a fairly easy red eye from Minneapolis. After traveling through customs and gathering my two luggage bags, I panicked. I was hoping that I would spot someone around my age who was headed to the student housing that I was going to live in. Luckily, my outgoing personality came in handy quicker than I had anticipated. I tapped a young girl on the shoulder and I cannot tell you how quickly her eyes lit up to see a young American face. I asked her if she was venturing to the same place as me and she yelled, "YES!" We immediately headed to the Tube, the infamous London underground railway, much like the New York subway). Another bit of hope shined our way when a young man with luggage smiled at the two of us on the Tube. I asked him the same question and he responded in a similar tone. After the hour and a half ride to King's Cross Station (upper northeast side of London), we had reached our destination.
After a ten minute walk we had reached Nido Student Living. Signed in, found my room, and was so united with my University of Central Florida roommate. Soon we decided food was absolutely necessary before we starved!
For the past three days we have done nothing but walk, eat, attended lecture, and taken tours of London. My favorite part of our first tour was of Parliament. No photo can do justice to this mammoth building. Not only are you blown away by the magnitude of this building, but also by its elegance and ora. It almost feels as if you jump back in time to grand ballroom dresses and wigs.
It is hard to describe London and all that encompasses this historical city, but I will try my best. London is CLEAN. London is loud. London is busy, pushy, expensive, and more than anything absolutely beautiful. The city is not only well kept by the government, but people genuinely respect the city and what it means to live in such a historically dominant landmark. Some helpful hints that I have quickly picked up in London are as follows: do not walk on the right hand side of the sidewalk or you will be run over, if you walk in the street when you do not have the walking signal you are risking being completely run over (I have seen numerous close calls), if you see a sign labeled "toilets" that means restrooms, if you see a sign labeled "way out" that means exit, if you see a sign labeled "litter" or "rubbish" that means trash, and if someone asks you are you going on holiday, that means vacation. In context they are all easy to pick up, although avoiding confusion prior to the trip would have been helpful.
Another point that I must make is the food in London is unlike anything I have had in the states. From the pizza to the fish and chips you are looking forward to a great time. Finally, I will note that I have NEVER seen so many different types of people in one city. If anyone has ever said that America is the melting pot of the world, they are strictly mistaken. London houses more people than you will ever seen in one place in America, and what's great about this is you see more acceptance and respect from all groups. It is a beautiful thing to walk by London school yards and see all types of children playing together. This is a generation that will act as a strong cornerstone in hopefully not only racial and ethnic acceptance, but equality.
All for now, and as the Londoners would say, CHEERS LOVE!
Lauren "Mac" McIntyre
