University of Louisville
Honors student Elizabeth Russell, named U of L's Mary Churchill Humphrey Scholar in early November, receives two funded years of graduate work in the United Kingdom. This scholarship, open to College of Arts and Sciences graduates, is sometimes called U of L's own Rhodes Scholarship. Runners-up for the scholarship are Natalie Richards and Michele Wilbert.
London: An Ancient and Modern World Capital
By Jennifer Wrubel, Psychology and Biology
From the moment I stepped out of London’s Victoria Station, looked the wrong way, and almost got hit by a double-decker bus, I knew my trip to England was going to be an unforgettable experience. Like a child seeing the world for the first time, I was completely mesmerized by the uniqueness and magnificence of my new environment. Less than a few hours after the plane touched down in this remarkable country, I was completely overpowered by the beauty, history, and intricate details of the first venue our group visited: Westminster Abbey. This fascination did not stop until two weeks later when the journey concluded. The knowledge I obtained during the seminar "Britain and Its Transition to the Modern World" allowed me to better understand and appreciate the importance of the remarkable events, people and places that we witnessed throughout our trip to London in May, 2005.
During the semester, the seminar unfolded as anything but a normal history class. Instead, our two professors from diverse fields (mathematics and theatre) acted as priceless tour guides who introduced us to the people, places and institutions that sculpted Britain into the strong country it is today. By traveling to London and the surrounding areas, what we had studied and learned during the semester was brought to life when we were able to visit the actual venues of diverse events in British cultural and scientific history. In fact, several times during the two week trip I found myself frozen, overcome by an unexplainable rush of emotion caused by my wonder and amazement at being in the presence of greatness. Whether it was watching a play in Shakespeare’s reconstructed Globe Theater, sitting by the famous fountain at Trinity College in Cambridge, standing only feet from Traitor’s Gate at the Tower of London or enjoying a meal at the very pub where Watson and Crick first announced their discovery of th e double helical structure of DNA, we were constantly immersed in reminders of the progress of the past that laid the foundation for London’s success in the future.
"During the semester,
the seminar unfolded as anything but
a normal history class."
______________________________________________
The class stands in two hemispheres (eastern and western) as
they straddle the
Prime Meridian.
Although we had come expecting only to experience the historical aspects of Britain, our ample amount of free time allowed us to pursue our individual interests and experience the current social and political similarities and differences existing between British and American societies. For many, sleep was not a top priority because there was so much to be experienced. Most of the group visited various and sundry world-famous London attractions such as Big Ben, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament and Harrods department store. On some days, the group split up: while some hiked up the white cliffs of Dover, others enjoyed a play in one of England’s oldest theaters. Some even took the time to explore family roots; for example, Becky Popham journeyed through the countryside west of London to visit her ancestor’s castle. Furthermore, we traveled to ancient wonders such as Stonehenge and the Roman baths in Bath that marked the earliest eras of civilization in the British Isles.
On one of the last days, after climbing literally hundreds of narrow, windy stairs to the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral, I peered around at the vast city of London. I was able to see the impressive legacy left by the many scientists, artists, architects and other powerful professionals who had lived in this land many years ago. After traveling by boat, train, tube and plane, I was able to retrace the footsteps of numerous past luminaries, both where they worked and where they played.
