I think I'll take a break from the descriptions of life in London and the philosophical meanderings from the experiences to talk about the students in the program. We have a total of 19 students majoring in various fields including Geology, Music, Cross-Cultural Studies, English, Pre-Law, Communication, Education, Theater and other disciplines. 8 students attend the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, 6 students attend Hardin-Simmons University, and 5 students attend Howard Payne University. We have 14 girls and 5 guys.
We have one former Marine with the rest of the students being Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors. While each student comes from a different family background, they all have some things in common including their Christianity and their eagerness to learn more about history, culture, and the arts. Some enjoy conversing on Charles Dickens, Shakespeare, and art while others prefer subjects such as history, music, and theatre. Of course there are the expected conversations of movies, cars, weapons, and sports, but for the most part our conversations deal primarily with our London experiences.
Some students are quiet, preferring a more reflective approach to what they see and learn while others are out-going and openly expressive about their views of the London world. Some enjoy the camera moment while others seem to avoid excessive photography. We have some who really enjoy cooking and finding creative ways to save money on food, and we have several who relish being out in London discovering new food and new adventures. Our living arrangements are adequate with a nice commons room for meetings and a small kitchen nearby.
They are all great people and are thankful for this opportunity to live in London for a semester, learning the culture, hearing about the monarchs, learning the history, experiencing the theatre, sharing in the moment and taking a life journey in the United Kingdom. Their individuality is special and unique but so is their willingness to put self aside for the collective whole. We live in the same hotel complex which is not fancy but is perfectly adequate for our needs.
We are here to learn, to enjoy, to see and to feel London in all its glory and splendor. There are five British teachers, two of which teach a required course called British History and Culture, a teacher of Art Appreciation, a Dickens literature teacher, and a theatre teacher. In addition to the British teachers, we have three American teachers. The classes are a combination of lecture and field-based experiences. In theatre class for example, the students hear about a particular play, then attend a performance. This is followed up with a discussion. All the teachers use this same approach of knowledge, experience, synthesis in all the classes.
Breaking out of my classical background, I am teaching a course called History of Rock and Roll. We have experienced the Queen show We Will Rock You, Hard Rock Cafe and memorabilia, and are later going to a Jazz concert demonstrating Rock's essentially blues history. We are also doing a London Rock and Roll tour, a British Music Experience gallery, and some additional shows and trips (including a stop at Liverpool).
In my Music Appreciation course, there is an unlimited amount of opportunities to hear great music from nearby recitals to major concerts. Great musicians are in multitude in London and our discussions cover the gamut of what music means in history and culture. A person can spend lots of money going to concerts and events or take advantage of the free museums and educational outlets available all around London.
One of the great benefits of this program is the opportunity to worship in a variety of settings and see many of the great Cathedrals that adorn the United Kingdom not only in London but also around the country. The students are very response and recognize the great opportunities they are having in this program. While all of us will likely become homesick for chicken fried steak and the Texas sky, we are also excited to be here.
No comments:
Post a Comment