In planning a study abroad course such as this, the academic powers that be must be convinced the content is sufficiently rigorous and scholarly. I tell them, both on their application forms and in person, that I believe the purpose of studying abroad is to “experience that which is different and to learn from within a new context.”
That’s just a fancy way of saying students should broaden their horizons, look at everyday experiences from new perspectives, be surrounded for a while by other cultures, and learn to accept “different” as simply different – not necessarily as better or worse – unless there are objectives reasons to value one thing over another. Basically, we’re giving students an opportunity to learn from the school of life.
Well, that’s exactly what I found today. Right here in London on Marchmont Street. Less than three blocks northeast of our hotel, just this side of the Brunswick Shopping Center, there it was: The School of Life.
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| The School of Life |
But, alas and alack. The School of Life is closed.
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| Sorry, we're closed. |
We came all this way to London and The School of Life is closed.
Even though there are over 400 languages and 60 religions practiced by the 9 million plus residents of London, even though there are at least a dozen different types of ethnic restaurants within three block of our hotel, and even though London is probably the most internationally diverse city on the planet, the School of Life is closed. We could have just as well gone to downtown Hoople, ND.
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| Plenty of Diversity |
Even though a Shakespearean actor, while we were in Stratford-upon-Avon, came up, put his arm around Augustin, and delivered the heartfelt speech from Hamlet of a father counseling his college-bound son to “neither a borrower nor a lender be” and “above all: to thine own self be true,” it was to no avail. The School of Life is closed. And so poor Augustin might often a borrower or a lender be, and to his own self might be untrue.
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| Augustin getting a personal Shakespearean performance. |
All this way to London and the School of Life is closed. At least the students are learning a lot about their research topics and having fun.
A few sights we might just have well not seen.
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| London skyline as seen from the pub where we ate Sunday night. |
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| On our walk, St. Paul's Cathedral behind a uniquely lit bridge. |
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| Armaments in Warwick Castle |
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| In front of William Shakespeare's birthplace: Bri, Jessica, Augustin, Emily, Mitch, Cameron, Anna, Jordan, & Leanna. |
