Pizza?

It is just possible that there is still a deal for students on pizza at the Strada chain of restaurants. There  is one in Covent Gardens.

On your way to eat, take note that:

On 12 September 1933 the Hungarian physicist Leó Szilárd, an exile form Nazi Germany, had an insight that changed the course of history as he crossed the pedestrian traffic lights at the junction of Southampton Row with Russell Square. He realised that splitting an atom with a neutron could produce further neutrons which could also split atoms leading to a chain reaction and a massive release of energy. This led directly to the development of the atomic bomb and nuclear energy.^[3]

History is all around you!

The Adventure Begins

Today we started what is a bit of an extended process of heading to London. Today we moved out the house until we return in May. We've rented the house to a delightful young woman who moved in this morning. Tonight we are house sitting for friends just up the street.

When we loaded all our stuff in four suitcases and put them in the car. Driving down the driveway for the last time in a while, it seemed very liberating. Once you decide what you need for a semester long stay, you realize that there isn't much you really need. Except for perhaps a pair of shorts, we've got all we need to be gone an indeterminate length of time.

So, our adventure has started. In another 12 days we leave the country.  For now, we are relaxin' and being free.

Its that time of year...

The time of year that all FMIR's look forward to: packing time!

I called Lufthansa and learned, much to my surprise, that we are allowed two checked bags. Now all we need to do is buy some luggage. Since visiting South Africa 15 years ago, we haven't really owned a suitcase larger than a roll-aboard. When returning from Hawaii about 8 years ago, we had to go to Walmart on Maui and buy a cheap bag to get our goodies home in. We have one extra bag, kind of like a roll-on on steroids that will hold quite a lot. We'll fill it and our roll-ons and see where we are. I'm guessing we'll need one more to get the seasonal changes of clothes in.

This week's amazing time-lapse

And now a word from the Program Assistants...

Program Assistants

Program assistants have been selected for the spring. I am happy to announce that Kathleen Riley and  Austin Alley will be filling these positions.  I delighted to have Kathleen and Austin on board. I'm sure that together we can make it a memorable experience for everyone.

Just so no one looses interest

Here's a time-lapse video composed of 18,000 images conveying the hustle and bustle of London. Are you ready for it!

November 18 meeting

At the meeting on November 18th, we are going to do something more than just have a boring old meeting with lots of information. Yes, there'll be the information dense part, but after that, we'll have a little fun.

E and I are planning on having some fun food: British-themed cupcakes and scones among other things.  We are also preparing a London trivia quiz. We want to get the justices flowing about our trip. So everyone needs to be studying hard to learn about all those bits of trivia that we'll ask. It's just like studying for an exam, right? All you need to do is know everything about London and you'll do great! Elizabeth, being a librarian, is going to make it a challenge. 

We also hope that along the way of having a little fun, we begin to get to know each other a bit. Just because we don't leave until January is no reason we can't start having some fun now.

It is going to happen!

Plane tickets have been purchased and we are getting excited!

I have new shoes to handle the walking. Elizabeth has a host of new apps on the iPhone to help navigating London.

The next question is to figure out what we want to do over spring break.

More Romans Ruins Found in London

An amazing find has been unearthed in a ditch at a dig at the Minories. It is so pristine that all that is missing is the paint. 1,800 years old and it looks like it was made last week. If fact, it was at first suppose to be a Victorian garden ornament.

The great news is that it is going on display for six months at the Museum of London, just 30 days from ditch to gallery. This means that we can go see it while we are in town. Pretty cool, eh?

Beginning to Pack!

Two jars of Peter Pan Creamy in the box and ready to go!

Making plans

Our travel authorization has been approved by the university. Time to start making travel arrangements. WooHoo!

Spent time today starting the sorting in preparation for packing. Since we know that some things like meds and health & beauty products we will be needing, we did some shopping. Spent some time laying things out and estimating space and weight.

I also sorted maps. We hope to make a visit to Italy, so I sorted some of our London Maps and a couple Florence maps as well. Can't take them all, just the best ones for sight seeing.

And as an extra step I got my flu shot today. Don't want to be sick in London.

Practicing for the Big City

Canon Hill, Mary Baldwin College, Staunton, VA.

In case you haven't noticed by now, I like to take pictures. Some are good and some are really bad, but they are all fun. I've been spending time over recent months thinking about what pictures I want to take in London. I'm pretty sure that a few panoramas will be required to get the majesty of the city.

Amazing Innovation at the Bodleian

The Bodleian Library at Oxford University has made a major change. Now, after 77 years, they have changed the style of chairs on which the patrons sit. The change in the chairs coincides with renovations that are happening there. Renovations and new chairs have always been done together so the real reason for new chairs is tradition. 

Imagine that. Oxford following tradition.

It's getting a bit closer...

I have now signed my travel authorization so that I can buy plane tickets. It's really going to happen!

Also not that the weather in London is pretty close to Harrisonburg's just now. Helps get into the London frame of mind.

Some ancient history unearthed in London

Londinium was founded by the Romans on the site of the current city of London about 43 AD. Prasutagus was ruler of the Iceni tribe and he died around the year 60 AD. The Romans, doing what they normally did, annexed their territory. This made queen Boudicca mad and she led the Iceni tribe to war against the Romans. She gathered some neighboring tribes to help and destroyed Londinium and massacred the Romans.

Crossrail is digging tunnels for rail transport underneath London. As you might imagine, many artifacts are found including bones. Recently, however, some very ancient bones were unearthed. These are bones of Romans perhaps from about the time of Boudicca. It is possible that these are the bones from the massacre she directed or at least Roman bones from that time period.

Food for thought as we walk around the streets of London. In a few weeks, we'll find some streets so commonly trod as to begin to feel usual and maybe even a little boring. If I'm tempted by such a feeling, I'm going to pause, remember this story, and smile as I marvel at the place I'm standing.

Digital Packing

So we're going to London for 4 months. Photos will be made. Lots of photos - most likely we will each capture thousands of memories with our cameras. This fact provokes some thought: how do you get them home?

Packing

how to pack a suitcase

How do you maximize suitcase space without wrinkling everything in the process? It's easy with the smart tips in this video guide to packing.

I find it annoying that the video started when the page opened. I have replaced it with a link tothe video so you can control the starting and stopping.


I've been noted for my ability to fit 10 lbs of clothes in a 3 lbs container for many years, but I'm sure that preparing for a semester away from home will put my skills to the test. Here's a video that helps with preparing for the process.

A bit more about Gsci 101/Phys 297

I realize that only a few students likely to be interested in signing up for a science course while in London. However, in hopes of helping the possibility seem a little more fun, I want to give a brief description of the topic and motivation just you know what you are missing!

Seeing London in a New Way

London time-lapse (2013) from BeHere too on Vimeo.

Here's a really cool time-lapse of London. Just think, in a few months all this places will be places we've all been and are familiar.

Enjoy.

Science in England

Brian Cox has written an article for the BBC, Brian Cox: The wonder of British science, that does a nice job of outlining why England is a great place to study science.  The article begins with

The British Isles are home to just one percent of the world's population and yet our small collection of rocks poking out of the north Atlantic has thrown up world beaters in virtually every field of human endeavour.

In Gsci 101/Phys 297 in London we will discuss some of the contributions of the greatest physicists and chemists of the 19th century.

Wednesday Orientation

Study in London Director Renee Staton gave everyone a full and detailed run-through of the program and what the students must do to get ready. We learned about classes, minors, internships and lots of other stuff that is going to be just everyday activities in a couple months.

I stole a few minutes of the meeting at the end to take the picture above. This is not all the students because some had to leave for other appointments. Nevertheless, it is a good start on documenting the experience.

In the beginning...

London is a fascinating city and we are preparing to go. With our complement of 28 young women, Elizabeth and I are heading out in January of 2014 for a semester long full immersion experience.

The first orientation for the all the students in all study abroad programs was on Sunday last and we learned about what to do and not do, what sort of health insurance to buy and what we needed to know about visas.

We have a second orientation, just for those in the London program is tomorrow. More details. More questions. More excitement building!