Saint Rose in the UK

Go to London 2010!

2010-03-11T08:06:00.000-08:00

ENG 230: The Drama of the Middle Ages

May 10-27, 2010

MWTR 11:40 – 3:45

1 week intensive reading & discussion,

2 weeks travel

COST: ~$2300.00*

• 4 credits

• Meets the LO4 requirement

• A visit to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

• Museums

• London landmarks

• Opportunity to travel on your own

*Plus tuition. Costs will vary slightly with group size and willingness to share rooms. Space is limited! A non-refundable deposit of $200 will be required by March 31st, 2010 to reserve your place for this summer intensive course.

For more information, see Dr. Laity

423 Western, laityk@strose.edu or call 485.3778

LIMTED ENROLLMENT!

London for Free

2008-06-11T13:35:00.000-07:00

Okay, sure you have to get there first, but there are a lot of free things to do once you're in London. See the story at the Guardian.

2008-06-10T17:01:00.001-07:00

CAN WE GO BACK? PLEASE?!

Back Already

2008-06-01T17:50:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!
I can't believe how fast our trip went by and that we're back home again. It was such an amazing and wonderful trip, and I loved every minute it. It was great to make so many new friends and experience such wonderful things with everyone. I will never forget this amazing adventure we took together. Professor Laity--thank you so much for everything!! The trip was so much fun and such a great experience that I know none of us will never forget. Thank you for putting so much time and effort into planning and organizing everything for all of us!
I miss London like crazy!! It's nice to be home, but I'm still not used to driving again. I also definitely miss hearing a voice say "mind the gap" twenty-million times while we're on the tube. I am still extremely exhausted and jet-lagged. I was up the whole night sick the night we got home so that messed me up quite a bit. Hopefully I'll feel better in a couple days!
I miss everyone and I hope you are all well rested and enjoying being home. I hope to see everyone on campus next semester. Keep in touch and have an awesome summer. Take care!!

Back in Albany.

2008-06-01T16:00:00.001-07:00

Made it home safe from the airport. Missing it so much still, but wanted to say thank you so much to everyone including Professor Laity, if it wasn't for you none of us would have been able to share this wonderful experience. I offically loved London, and couldn't have asked for a better first trip overseas. I learned so much, and had the opportunities to do things I never thought I would have been able to. This was a life changing experience, and I feel as though I have come away with so much. We've had the chance of making new friends, and seeing different ways of life. Everyone keep in touch, this was awesome and once again thank you for making this trip everything and more.

post-london

2008-06-01T13:20:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to say that I had an amazing time in London. As my first real travel experience, I left with a lot of memories and friends (and pictures!) but more than anything, it made me realize how much is out there and I can't wait to see it. Keep in touch everyone, and Professor Laity - thanks so much for everything!

Home!!!!!

2008-05-31T15:33:00.001-07:00

Hey ya'll! I made it home ok last night! It was only a 10min drive from the airport to my house. The snow global is ok and mum loved it! Just want to thank professor Laity for showing me a good time and what London has to offer and thanks for the experience! I really enjoyed meeting you guys! But other than that I had an awesome time with you guys and keep in touch! You have my facebook! Have a great summer!

Angela

Welcome Home and Thanks

2008-05-31T07:35:00.000-07:00

I hope you all made it safely to your ultimate destinations last night (with snow globes etc.). Sorry we had such a hellish nightmare for our homeward travel; you all put up with the seemingly endless delays with admirable patience (more than I had at times).

Thank you all for a largely trouble free trip, for causing me no untoward anxieties and, it appears, for having a really good time. I hope the experience proves lasting in its results and inspires you to further travel. There's a big world out there waiting for you to explore it.

2008-05-29T08:06:00.000-07:00

Hello!!! I am so sad to say that this is our last day in London. The trip has gone by sooo fast and I can't believe we have to pack up and leave tomorrow morning. I have really loved every minute of this experience and feel so lucky to have gone on this trip with all of these amazing people. Everyone is so great and I am so happy to leave London with so many new friends.
We have been keeping busy this week doing a lot of fun tourist things, and also with class. We met everyday for class and had different assignments to complete while in the different museums and such. Seeing all of the things we have seen is amazing for only being in London for a short amount of time. It's definitely been a life-changing experience!

Last night, Tori, Jen, Caitlin, Liz, Tammy, and I went to go see the Sex and the City movie!! It was sold out until 11:30pm, so we had to go late, but it was well worth it. It was such a fun experience to see this movie over here, and before everyone else at home! It was so much fun...the crowd there was cheering and clapping throughout the whole movie, which is very different from most other movie experiences I've had. It's also one of those things we'll always remember that we did in London, since it has been so hyped up. The movie was great, and I am sooo glad we got to see it here!!

Today, Jen, Tori, Caitlin, and I got up and went to West Minister Abbey. It was so beautiful!! It is amazing how many kings and queens are buried there. We didn't get to see the whole thing though because we had to meet for class. We were going to go there later this afternoon but lunch ran late and it started pouring again, so we didn't get to go back. If I ever come to London again, which I hope I will, I am definitely going to go there again!!

Anyway, I'm excited to see my family and friends at home, but I'm definitely sad to leave London. I wish our stay was a little longer because I am having the best time, but I hope I can come back some day. There are so many more things I would love to see and do here, so hopefully I can come back at some point. I'll definitely post pictures on here when I get home from our trip, and on facebook too.

Witchcraft

2008-05-28T16:19:00.000-07:00

This is a cool website you can look at to see the various practices witches used in the middle ages and beyond. There is alot of interesting stuff here! Check it out!
http://www.apotropaios.co.uk/

Around London!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-05-28T15:44:00.000-07:00

Hola
Last weekend I had a lot of fun! I went to the London Dungeon with Pat and Tammy. It was pretty awesome. It was basically a big haunted house but 10x better. We saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of th e Cry stal Skull. The theater was pretty awesome and it was worth the money. I also went to the British museum. They have an awesome Ancient Egypt exhibit up, and I went crazy when I saw that. We are going back to the museum tomorrow and I'm going to buy a book about ancient Egypt and hieroglyphics. We also saw a midsummer night's dream by Shakespeare. I actually understood the plot of the play even though it was in old english. The actors were really good and I actually got into the play. I loved the whole theater experience except the whole standing part. I also went to saint Paul's cathedral. It was very beautiful inside, but unfortunately I got yelled at when I tried to take pictures. I also went shopping in china town and bought some cool stuff. But yeah, that's all I did so far. Tomorrow is the last full day in London and I'm going to go out for dinner and dancing on the last night! This trip has been quite an experience and I would love to do it again. I would like to stay and explore some more but it's time for me to come home. I miss my family and it's time to get back to work. I will never forget this trip and maybe I'll return some day.

Adios, Angela

Medieval Recipes

2008-05-28T12:42:00.000-07:00

Here are some Medieval Recipes that go with my tour guide project...
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~mjw/recipes/ethnic/historical/med-anglosaxon-coll.html

It's pretty interesting just to look at what they did with the food they had available at the time.. since my guess is that no one's up for trying to cook pigeon with raisins (except maybe our adventurous Alyson).

Some Pictures

2008-05-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

These are some of the photos that I have taken of the most famous things in the areas we have been to. Thought people might enjoy seeing what we've been seeing!

Anglo-Saxon Games

2008-05-26T20:57:00.000-07:00

I won't have time to describe these games in detail, and honestly, the names are hard to pronounce so I'm not even going to try, but we should try to play them.

Hnefatafl
This was probably the commonest of the board games played, and was almost certainly a Germanic development of the Roman game latrunculi (soldiers).
The game can be played on a board with 7x7, 9x9, 11x11, 13x13, 15x15 or a 19x19 squares. The centre often has special markings.
A beautiful carved board with 13x13 squares was found at Gokstad in Norway. This is a double sided board with a nine men's morris layout carved on the reverse side as with other less impressive examples. Many other wooden tafl boards have also been found throughout the Viking and Anglo-Saxon world, but some of the boards were much simpler affairs being only marked out with charcoal or scratched onto the surface of slices of rock.
The pieces for these games were usually hemispherical. For boards with 9 squares a side, 16 light and eight dark pieces were used, with an additional king. Boards with more squares used 24 light, 12 dark and a king ( hnefi or cyningstan).
The Rules
The 'king' moves first. He has half the number of pieces his opponent has (6/12 in the 7x7 version, 8/16 in the 9x9 version, 12/24 in the 11x11 and 13x13 version, 24/48 in the 19x19 version . He wins the game if he can manage to get his 'king' out into one of the corner squares (the large 19x19 version often allows the king to win if he can reach the edge of the board). His opponent can win by trapping the king.
A reconstructed Tabula board, styled on the example found in Gloucester.
All the pieces move in straight lines like the rook or castle in chess, and a piece may be moved any number of squares providing no other piece is standing in the way. It may not pass over another piece. A piece is taken by making a move which traps it between two of your pieces, but not on any diagonal; i.e the north and south, or the east and west positions around an enemy piece. It is possible to take two opposing pieces at the same time. A player is also permitted to move between two opposing pieces without being taken.
The king can normally only be trapped if he is surrounded by four pieces unless he is on the edge of the board where only three would be needed to 'surround' or two at a corner. The four corner squares (which are sometimes decorated) may only be occupied by the king, but if the king is under attack the corner square is regarded as being occupied by an opposing piece. The same goes for the centre square, so here the king can again be trapped by just three pieces.

Duodecim scripta (or Tabula or Kvatrutafl)
This game is a development of the popular Roman game of duodecim scripta, also known as tabula or alea, which was also played in Germany and Scandinavia in the Roman Iron Age, where it appears to have been known as katrutafl. Several wooden boards for this type of game are known from the Saxons' Germanic homeland, and metal fittings for boards of this type have been found from the Viking Age in Germany and Denmark. The only known surviving British example of a tabula board was found in Gloucester; dating to the eleventh century. The decorated bone plates that once covered the now rotted wooden board and the playing pieces, beautifully carved from bone and antler, and were originally decorated with paint, can be seen in the Gloucester city museum. Playing pieces suitable for this game are a more common find.
Rules
The actual rules used at the time are not known but it may have been played like this:
15 white and 15 black (or red) pieces are used and three dice.
The pieces are set up as shown on the drawing and moved in the directions indicated by the arrows.
They are moved according to the number shown on the dice, each dice indicating a single turn. For instance if you throw a 5, a 4 and a 3 you can:
A Fivestones set made from 6 sheeps knuckles and a leather ball
move one piece 5+4+3 steps forward
move one piece 5+4 and another 3 forward
move three pieces one by 5 one by 4 and one by 3.
However, when the dice scores are combined you must be able to make each move separately, if you start to and find that you cannot because you are blocked by the other player's pieces the move is annulled and you loose that turn.
The aim of the game, as in modern backgammon, is to move all your pieces to your 'home ground' and then off the board before your opponent can do so with theirs.
If a piece is standing by itself it is unprotected and can be taken by the opposing piece. If two or more pieces are standing together the section is occupied, and the opponent can neither take a piece or place any of his own in that section. No more than 5 pieces may occupy the same section.
A piece that has been taken, is considered as being placed behind the opponent's home ground and is moved from there onto the board according to modern rules.
When a player has all his pieces placed on home ground he can start taking them off the board by one or more moves. To remove a piece from section three he must throw a three and so on but you may use a higher number to remove a piece if you have none of that number remaining on the board. The first to remove all remaining pieces is the winner.
In reality a very small King and board counter found at Hedeby made from antler

Merels or Nine Men's Morris
From the earliest times (it was played even in ancient Egypt!) This game has been known as 'the game on the other side of the board'. Several boards found in both Viking and Anglo-Saxon contexts have had hnefatafl on one side and nine men's morris on the other. However the game has also been found rather unexpected places - ship's timbers, loose boards, benches, lumps of rock and, later, even on church pews and tiles.
We do not know which of the 'tafl' names was used for this game, but the latin word merels is often used for this game just after Anglo-Saxon times. The name merels comes from the low latin word merrelus, meaning a 'token, counter or coin'.
Nine men's morris is a simple game. The board is quickly made, and pieces could be any set of black (or red) and white stones, bones, etc., which could also be used for any other game.
The game remains well known even today but we do not know the rules of the Viking or Anglo-Saxon version. It is indicated that a die may have been used. Perhaps only particular scores, for example - even numbers, gave the right to move. However the way it is played today is as follows:
Rules
Glass playing pieces and two Kings found at Birka in Sweden
The nine mens morris board is made up of three concentric squares connected by intersecting lines in the centre of each of the square's sides. Players start with nine pieces off the board. Each player takes it in turn to place one of his pieces on one of the intersections. If a player forms a line of three, one of the opposing pieces is removed from play by taking it off the board. Wherever possible the piece taken should not be taken from an existing line of three.
When all pieces have been placed on the board, the players move the pieces around one intersection at a time. On completion of a line of three an opposing piece is taken as before. Forming a line of three is called forming a 'mill'. There is nothing to stop a player forming a mill, moving a piece away and then moving it back again in subsequent moves. The winner of the game is the player who removes all the opponent's pieces.
A simpler version of nine mens morris is the game of 'three mens morris' familiar to most people today, albeit in a modified form, as 'noughts and crosses'. It is played in the same way as nine mens morris, except the board is made up of three lines of three positions (or on the intersections of a 2x2 section of a larger squared board). The winner is the first person to form a mill. Pieces may not move diagonally, or jump over other pieces. This may be the game known as hræðtafl('quick-tafl').
A detail from the Ockelbo stone in Sweden showing a gaming board

Halatafl
At Ballinderry in Ireland a little game board has been found with holes in place of squares and with the centre and corner positions clearly marked. Two notches on the board indicate a division between white and red pieces similar to modern solitaire. It is thought to be the halatafl known from the sagas. An alternative idea is that this could be used for a form of the game known as fox and geese or a 7x7 hnefatafl board or, indeed, all three.
The Ockelbo stone from Sweden shows a board with the same markings at the centre and the corners and with four oblique lines. The special markings at the centre and corners may suggest that these squares were clear at the beginning of the game.
Rules
A set of rules for halatafl is as follows: The initial set up as in the image below - white and red have 22 identical 'men' set up on the board with 49 holes marked. The centre and corner holes are left empty.
A Foxes and Geese board in plan
The pieces can be moved in two different ways; either they move one step at a time either forwards, sideways or diagonally along the marked lines, but never backward. Or they jump over a neighbouring piece to an empty hole behind it. They may proceed jumping as many times as possible in any direction or even backwards. The jump can be made over any piece - your own or your opponent's - and if you jump over one or more of your opponent's pieces they are taken and removed from the board.
White opens the game by moving a piece onto the centre hole; red takes it by jumping over it and the game proceeds until one of the players has fewer than five pieces left - and loses.
A jumping piece may make an intermediary landing at a corner hole. However no piece is allowed to stay there.

MLA

2008-05-26T14:43:00.000-07:00

in the comments I am posting my sources both formated and link form

Back in London

2008-05-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

Kerri and I arrived back in London last night around 930... only 3 hours late! Our plane got delayed and overall the plane back here was a nightmare, but everything else was awesome. Both Ireland and Paris were amazing, and I think it was really great experience to see both countries. Needless to say however, I am very excited to be back in London. Today we ventured out into the pouring nonstop rain (all day long!!! ) to the National Gallery, and than to the London Tower. Both places were really nice, and there was a lot to see. At the Tower, we were able to see jewels from all the past kings and queens, it was really amazing. Almost everyone is here hanging out in the lobby talking and hanging out. Can't wait for tomorrow, we're going to go to the Globe and see "a midsummer's night dream"... it should be a lot of fun. Love and miss everyone from home, and eventhough i'm excited to see you all i'm sad that in 3 days we'll be leaving, it's gone by way to fast, but atleast we still have a lot to do to keep us busy!

notorious London rain

2008-05-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

Today we got to experience the infamous London weather firsthand (luckily, for the first time). After going to the National Gallery, which had some really beautiful art, we trekked through the rain to the London Tower. While it wasn't always pleasant since some of the tour was outside (I think between us we're down 3 umbrellas from the wind), it made it that much more.. authentic? It was worth it though, and really interesting to see, especially the crown jewels.. the chambers where they explained the torture was pretty cool too.

By the way, Caitlin, Alyson, Liz, and I took a train to Bath on Sunday and it was gorgeous. We saw Bath Abbey and the Roman baths, but walking around the city itself was really nice. I think we decided this would be a nice weekend getaway when we move to London... :)

My presentation:

2008-05-26T12:23:00.000-07:00

So, I'm doing my presentation on entertainment in medieval times, and I found a funny game site for your own personal entertainment. Please play, and try to survive living in medieval london.

http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Permanent/medieval/Games/

assignment

2008-05-26T07:05:00.000-07:00

My assingment for the National Gallery is in the coments section for this post

Pictures from london and the high school

2008-05-23T13:05:00.000-07:00

the tower bridge

in the classroom with the kids from roding valley high school

on the prime merdian at the greenwich observatory

2008-05-23T12:55:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!!!

Tori and I are currently in Dublin, Ireland...it is so much fun!! We are staying at a hostel, which is surprisingly rather nice and I got a great night of sleep there last night. We got here last night after coming close to missing our flight here. The flight was about an hour long, which was nice compared to the six hour one we took a couple days ago. We had dinner last night in a pub/restaurant and it was really cool because there was an Irish band playing there and there were couples doing some kind of folk dances in front of the band. It was so cool to see that. We got in pretty late last night, but it was still light out, and it didn't get dark until 9:30 or 10, so I was really disoriented. Today, we did a hop-on, hop-off bus tour throughout Dublin, which was really great. We got to see so many different buildings and places, which was fun. We also went shopping on Grafton Street and this mini-mall which was glassed in and absolutely beautiful. I definitely splurged and bought some extra goodies while I was shopping today.

London has been great so far too!! I love the city, it is so clean and beautiful. The tube is awesome and can get you anywhere so quick! I was very proud of myself because I went on the London Eye, which was crazy for me because I have a big fear of heights...but I did it and very happy about that! We took a beautiful river boat tour in London too, which I really enjoyed. We had lunch overlooking the London Tower, which was amazing. We missed the tours there for that day, but we are going back next week to see it again!!

Anyway, I hope everyone reading this is doing well. I can't wait to show everyone my pictures and put the on facebook for everyone from the trip to see. If you are part of the group...I hope you are having a great time in London and I can't wait to see you when we get back Sunday night. If you are home, I love you and miss you!

Tori and I are off to Paris at 6:30 am tomorrow and will be there for a night, until Sunday evening. I can't wait to see the beautiful sights there. I'll definitely post again in a couple days! Take care everyone!

2008-05-23T12:37:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Just writing to let you know a little of what has been going on. We have been very busy since arriving to London on Tuesday. Seeing the sights, getting to know the area.. and actually mastering to tube.. it's crazy. We have all been having so much fun here! On tuesday we took a boat ride, and saw a different part of London, and than got to go see the sights. A group of us went to London Tower, and rode on the London Eye. On Wednesday we went to a school and got to talk with the students and find out a little about what there schooling is like, and also what they thought of America. After that Kerri and I went to Ireland. We arrived around 830 pm Europe Time and grabbed some dinner and then headed to the Internet Cafe. Today we took hop on and off bus tours and saw some of the famous sights. It's been a lot of fun! Tomorrow it's off to Paris... and Sunday back to London. I really love Europe, everything is so amazing here. The buildings are incredible.. everything is so historic and detailed. They really take pride in their heritages and histories. It's been a lot of fun! I'm so glad we're on this trip!

Pictures...

2008-05-23T12:31:00.000-07:00

Hi!
I got an email from one of the kids at the Roding Valley High School, Jake. He basically said that he wanted me to pass along his email address and wants us all to email him or friend him on facebook! He also requested that we send him some more "funny phrases" that we use. They really enjoyed the ones we gave them. His email addresses is jakeyaidenlee@hotmail.com
Also here are some pictures from the school and things that we have been doing!
.... i tried to add more... it wouldnt let me. I'll add more later!

Life in the UK

2008-05-22T19:54:00.000-07:00

Everything has been great in London so far! We're in such a good location and can walk or take the tube almost everywhere (which surprisingly I'm getting used to). We've met people from all over the world, from Sweden to China to Nebraska. The buildings here are so old and pretty, a lot different from the U.S. I've taken hundreds of pictures in only two days because I love everything having to do with the trip so far. Last night, we saw the European Championship soccer ("football" in Europe) game at the pub... which was probably equivalent to the superbowl in the U.S... crazy ("mad"). Today we went to the Roding Valley High School in England, which was so much fun. The kids and teachers were all so personable, and we honestly learned a lot about their culture from them. They actually said that they thought Americans had one of the strongest accents that they were used to, so we each tried imitating each other's accents and decided we should switch for a day... sounds fun, but not very practical. I do know that we all wished we could have hung out with the kids a little longer since they were so honest and friendly. It's honestly been a great experience so far. If all goes well, Caitlin and I are off to Amsterdam and Paris tomorrow! We'll keep in touch.. Cheeri-o! : )

High School

2008-05-22T07:21:00.000-07:00

Can anyone who got Photos/e-mails from the highschool Stick them up here, Thanks

-Pat

Some things I saw today

2008-05-21T16:25:00.000-07:00

1. China town

2. buckingham palace

3. London observatory

4. buckingham palace gates

5. measures 0 longitude 0 latitude

6. Big ben

7. Tower bridge

8. london eye

9. double decker bus

Here is some sights I saw today!!!!!!!!

Safe and Sound! :)

2008-05-20T05:44:00.000-07:00

Hey ALL!!!

We just made it to our hotel, it has been amazing so far. Everyone is a little cranky from the long plane ride, but we are off to lunch soon and I am positive that will put everyone in a better mood ;)

London is amazing and we havent even gone exploring yet. My first reaction: it looks like no one is driving the cars! It is a little chilly, but other then that it is the perfect day for a long walk, and one we shall have. Walking tours all day today, and hopefully becoming familiar with the surrounding area.

All is well, I will report back more later.
Love you all, take care!

Touchdown! (or perhaps GOOOOOAAALLLL!!!!)

2008-05-20T05:13:00.000-07:00

I've received word from Dr. Laity that the Saint Rose contingent has arrived safely at the airport, and as of an hour ago they were on the way to London. Here's hoping that everyone has a great time!

2008-05-19T07:42:00.000-07:00

I want to do my presentation on Medieval clothing or dress. I don't know exactly where I am going to have my presentations, but I plan on figuring it out the first couple days that we are there.

See everyone at the airport!!! Can't wait!!

One Bag

2008-05-16T11:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a great site for packing tips that will help you to get everything into that one bag. The less you have to carry, the happier you'll be!

Travel

2008-05-14T21:49:00.000-07:00

If any of you are planning to travel to a different country while in England there is a great site on how to do it if you can't get a plane ticket.

http://www.seat61.com/

topic

2008-05-14T20:43:00.000-07:00

My topic for the tour guide project will have something to do with children in Medieval London. I'll narrow this down more tomorrow after I talk about it in class.

Also, I checked the baggage policy for U.S. Airways and here are the specifications:

Your first checked bag is free under 50 lbs. The second bag would cost $25.
If your first bag is 51-70 lbs., it costs $50.. Over 70 lbs., $100.

Make sure your carry-on isn't bigger than 62 inches, or you'll have to pay $80!

tour guide topic

2008-05-14T20:15:00.000-07:00

I went to different web sites when I was deciding on a topic for the tour guide project, and the Museum of London site narrowed down topics really well. (It's www.MuseumOfLondon.org.uk) There is a section on Medieval London under "permanent exhibitions," and it gives you themes and subjects related to the museum, so if anyone needs more help with a topic you might want to check this out.

When I was browsing, I came across "food & drink" in the middle ages.. I don't know if this is too broad, but there are objects in the Museum of London that go along with it.. and food and drink are my forte. :) My backup was going to be the Thames/London Bridge which could be done at the actual bridge or the museum, unless someone else already wants to do that.. and I'd probably have to narrow that down too.

See everyone in class tomorrow!

2008-05-14T10:11:00.000-07:00

Witch craft in the middle ages

Topics

2008-05-14T10:02:00.000-07:00

I thought that it would be a good idea if we put our topics here so we can see what everyone is doing

* Please note subject to change at any time

Tickets

2008-05-13T06:40:00.000-07:00

We have our tickets! We'll be seeing A Midsummer Night's Dream at Shakespeare's Globe Tuesday May 27th at 2pm. Just like his contemporary audiences, we'll be out in the elements and watching a daylight performance. It will be fun!

Internet

2008-05-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

InternetExcept for the County Hotel Wireless Internet is available in all our hotel lobbies, free of charge.
The Imperial and Bedford have some rooms with free of charge internet access. Subject to availability these rooms can be made available on check-in.

Hotel Confirmed

2008-05-01T06:46:00.000-07:00

We'll be staying at the Tavistock Hotel conveniently in central London on beautiful Tavistock Square (pictured) which includes a FULL English Breakfast (so fill up for the day on that breakfast). I don't know about wifi in the hotel (the Royal National doesn't list it either, but they had it), so see this map for free wifi in the area. To make you feel at home, there's even a bowling alley next door! Roommate assignments for the double rooms should be:

Jenn Flannigan AND Caitlin Lennon
Kerri Hart AND Tori Hoffman
Tammy LaBello AND Angela Davis
Liz Gridley AND Alyson Lyons

You can change these assignments, but you have to let me know so I can find folks in case of any kind of emergency.

Book

2008-04-24T07:23:00.000-07:00

Amazon wants $44.00 Dollars for the book that is outrageous.. either use their Buy used ( way cheeper) or go to www.bigwords.com and it will find the cheapest price of for the book on the whole internet. ( great for the fall too).

Jet Lag

2008-04-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

Rick Steves has some good advice, including the basics:

Leave home well-rested

On the flight, drink plenty of liquids, eat lightly, and rest

Reset your mind to local time (and your watch!)

On arrival, stay awake until an early local bedtime

It will be difficult, but try to sleep on the plane rather than sitting up talking and watching the films. Consider bringing eyeshades and earplugs to help you sleep.

3-1-1 & Packing

2008-04-17T11:01:00.001-07:00

The TSA will remind you that there are a number of things to think about as you prepare for international travel, like the 3-1-1 rule:

3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3 ounce bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3 oz. container size is a security measure.

In your checked bag, you can carry larger amounts of liquids. If you have any questions about what you can or cannot bring, check their website.

You'll not only be getting out your bag of liquids at the security check. You'll need to take off your shoes, take out your computer and remove all keys, change and mobiles from your pockets. Don't wait until you're up to the counter to get things in order.

Remember: you will only allowed 1 carry-on of ANY kind when leaving Heathrow. For US Airways luggage rules, see their website. You will be carrying your own luggage -- pack light! It's best if you have luggage with wheels. Britain is not a very accessible country on the whole -- there will be lots of stairs. For other travel tips, check out Rick Steves' site. He has excellent comments on packing light.

Flight Info

2008-04-11T16:12:00.000-07:00

Here are our times and destinations: we'll be going by way of Philadelphia, but as you can see, we are leaving right from Albany. We'll arrive in Heathrow and take the tube (subway) to our hotel.

USAIRWAYS GROUPS

DESTINATION: LONDON
TOUR NAME: COLLEGE OF ST ROSE

10 ROUNDTRIP TICKETS TO LHR

19MAY US3265 ALB 632P PHL 747P
19MAY US 728 PHL 1045P LHR 1105A

30MAY US 729 LHR 105P PHL 410P
30MAY US3680 PHL 635P ALB 751P

To Bring

2008-04-03T13:29:00.000-07:00

I was thinking we should compile a good list of things we should each gather to bring with us on the trip and to get once we get there.
i know anyone that is planing on having a eletronic device (ie Laptop like me) will need a adaptor Im not sure what kind yet ( i plan on Calling IBM tonight to find out seeing as a our plugs are diffrent and so is the eletric current theirs will fry our toys)

it may also be posable to get adaptors for the plane ( 6hr with nothing to do ahhhh)...... though we will need to know the flight info first here.

I also have heard that our cell phones will not work too well if at all ( we may want to investagate thoes cheap $20 track phones) once we get there ...

as i think of more ideas ill add them in the comments under this post

PLEASE HELP ME OUT I KNOW I WONT GET IT ALL AND I DONT WANT TO FORGET IT ALL

Pat

Hello

2008-04-02T17:57:00.000-07:00

Pat it's right here

Hey I'm Angela Davis and I'm a Junior. I'm majoring in Computer Information Systems ( it's not as bad as it sounds). I'm usually quiet at first but once u get to know me I'm really down to earth. I love to have fun so I'll be looking forward to going out to night clubs, shopping, etc. I'm really excited to go to London because of the stories my family members have told me about their experiences there. I've traveled before to LasVegas, Boston, and Pennsylvania but this will be my first time going over seas. I would also like to check out Ireland and Paris while I'm over there. One stop that is a must on my list is a HelloKitty store. Did I mention I have an obsession for Hello kitty. Well I do :). Lets see other random facts: I love bright colors, smoking is a no no for me, love to sing in the shower, love computers, I'm not a morning person so beware, I have extremely wild hair, I love food (who doesn't), horror movies rock, I love to listen to all types of music (except country, sorry), dreadlocks are cool, it's fun to speed, cats are cute, pink is the best color in the world, trees are your friend, money is great when u have it and that's about it if anything else comes to mind I'll let u guys know, I look forward to meeting you guys have a good rest of the semester!!!!

Angela C Davis

PS: I just became an aunt 5 months ago here's my niece:

HEY

2008-04-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

Hi
My Name Is Pat Dexter I’m A Junior At Strose . I am a Computer Science major with a minor in Math and a second Minor in Business Administration. I am usually a little shy at first but one you get to know me I can be a lot of fun( I feel like I’m writing a add for a online dating service uggg). I’m thrilled to be going to London, I’ve been up and down the east coast of the US and Canada (Orlando Florida to Prince Edward Island Canada ). But this is the first time out of this time zone. I’m a proud non-smoker. Im looking forward to seeing all that London has to offer and if possible Ireland and Paris time and money being the trick.

PS all spelling and grammar errors above all are results of too many years of Spell Check.

Please note no Trees were harmed in the transmission of this message, though a great deal of electrons were seriously inconvenienced

Oh Angela where is your note?

Everything you wanted to know...

2008-04-02T12:08:00.000-07:00

Hey All!
My name is Liz Gridley and I am a sophomore here at CSR. I am a SEED Major with a math concentration, and am extremely excited to go to London. I plan to experience as much as possible of London, and would love to see Paris or Ireland but I have not yet decided if I want to pay to get there. I do not smoke, and tend to be awake into the early morning. I am excited to meet everyone and think it would be a good idea for us to all go out, maybe bowling? to get to know each other before we go! Tuesday nights at the playdium are cheap, $1 for show rentals and $2 a game.

2008-03-27T18:55:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone! I'm Jen Flannigan. I am a junior and a SEED major, with a concentration in English, and I cannot wait for our trip to London! I have never been anywhere off the east coast of the U.S., so I'm very excited to see everything that London has to offer. I am a non-smoker. I plan on seeing everything I can while in Europe, which hopefully involves a lot of the museums and historic sites that we will be visiting as a class, as well as the clubs and nightlife. On the long weekend, I'd like to visit Paris and/or Amsterdam. Basically, I plan on being in my room as little as possible since I have no idea when I'll be back (though I'm sure I'll want it to be soon after). I'm looking forward to meeting everyone!

2008-03-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Tammy LaBello. I am a senior and my major is English. I can't wait to go to London for two weeks! I have been to London once when I was fifteen but I could only stay for a day and did not get to see all London has to offer. I want to see certain landmarks, book stores but anything. I am preety flexible. I would love to go to Paris or Italy but I might not have enough money but as long as I can see a lot that thats fine. I am a non-smoker. I am looking foward to this trip and meeting everyone. I think it will be a lot of fun.

2008-03-25T12:09:00.000-07:00

Hello! I'm Kerri Hart and I'm a SEED major in my junior year. I'm sooo soo soooo excited about going to London this May! I really don't have one specific thing that I want to see when we're over there, just anything and everything I can! I am a non-smoker. I really want to experience all of London that I can. I want to go out to night clubs some nights, but also spend my time exploring other parts of the city. I want to see art galleries, museums, and other historic landmarks that are over there. I also want to just see different cafes and stores and see what life is like over there. I also want to travel to Paris during the weekend off because I think it's a beautiful city and would be amazing to see. I'm really excited to meet everyone!

2008-03-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Tori Hoffman. I am a junior and am majoring in Public Communications. I'm very excited for this trip and can't wait till we go! I am a non smoker. I basically like anything and am a really go along with the flow type of person. Basically, I want to see London in anyway. I want to go to the night clubs, as well as see art galleries, museums, cafes, and anything else. I am interested in going to Paris for the weekend because ever since I took french in middle and highschool i've always wanted to go to experience the culture and see it for myself. I think this trip is going to be fun and i'm really looking forward not only to the trip itself, but to meeting everyone as well!

Enrollment Closed!

2008-02-05T11:54:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to all of you who will be heading to London this May. We have much to do and it will be a bit of a challenge to find times for us to meet prior to the beginning of the course (but I'm working on that now).

If you have not already done so, apply for your passport immediately! There are horror stories about the current delays, so don't wait another minute.

More information to come -- you can purchase your textbook with the link to the right and get a head start on the readings.

More soon! Welcome.

London 2008

2007-11-13T05:21:00.001-08:00

Welcome to those of you considering the May 2008 journey to London. The forms you will need can be found to the right. Clicking the links will open Word documents for you to fill out and email back to me (laityk@strose.edu). To reserve a space in the course, you need to get the Intent to Participate form to me ASAP.

The total cost (in addition to tuition) will be around $2000. The first half of that fee will be charged to you by the bursar's office in January or early February 2008. The second payment will be charged later in the spring.

The schedule will be similar to the one used last year, which you can see to the right. If all the details can be worked out, we will once more visit Roding Valley High School. Last year students repeatedly named that as the best event of the trip. In addition to our many historical sites, we'll also plan to catch another show at the Globe.

This version of the course is also available for L04 credit. If you have other questions, please let me know.

British Opinions

2007-10-15T09:44:00.001-07:00

Here's a link to a Times commentary of how British opinions of Americans have changed over recent years. It's good to keep in mind.

Grades & More Pictures

2007-06-21T07:46:00.001-07:00

Greg (et. al.), grades were posted June 7 so they should be available to you from the secure area of the Saint Rose web. Here are some more photos for fun:

grades?

2007-06-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

Is there any word on our final grades for the class?

ps
those pictures from the HS are awesome-overload

James' Photos from Roding Valley HS

2007-06-12T11:15:00.001-07:00

The continued travels of three Americans

2007-06-06T09:19:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I'm writing this message in hopes that my parents will perhaps go online and read it since I have not had the ability to call them for the last couple of days. I'm in Paris right now with Aaron, Matt and Charlie and we're having an amazing time (pictures coming soon) but it's also 6 hours ahead of U.S. time, so when I wake up at 9:00AM it's 3:00AM back home, etc.

Anyway, our adventures since London have landed us in Amsterdam, Brussels and now Paris, all three which have been fantastic journies. Most recently, we spent the day today renting bicycles for the day and riding them ALL around Paris (from the Champs-Elyses to la Defence, which is quite a ways). The weather has been absolutely magnificent and we have nothing but great stories and fond memories (and a whole lot less cash) to bring back to Albany.

So if you're a Saint Roser, wish me and my comrades luck as we make our journey back to Albany on Friday (our plane leaves at 6:00pm, it's a 5 hour 1/2 hour flight, but because of the time difference we arrive in Boston at 6:35pm. Only 1/2 hour lost, which is nice). From Boston we'll rent a car and drive down to Albany. If you are my parents, please deposit some money in my Citibank account, as I have very little left :)

Thank you, I love you all.

Internationally yours,

Omar

2007-05-30T14:38:00.000-07:00

Story on MSN about Americans in the UK

2007-05-30T14:22:00.000-07:00

I read this and thought of us...

http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article.aspx?cp-documentid=388354&GT1=10040

my favorite part...

“When abroad as individuals or couples, Americans are sociable, friendly and generous, but something seems to happen when Americans are abroad in groups,” says Geoff Smith, a British tech worker. “A group of Yanks is loud, raucous, insular and appears to have no interest in the local culture.”

reminds me of my run in with the "dead prostitute"

-Aaron

More pictures

2007-05-29T20:10:00.000-07:00

Andrea, Jenn, Jess and Charlie on the red double decker bus

Everybody admiring the view on the London Bridge

Aaron, Charlie, Marina and Matt at a pub

Jess, Charlie, Courtney and Omar study the one menu per table

at what soon became a crowd favorite: The Green Man Pub

Late night pizza party at the Pizza Box

Here are more pictures

2007-05-29T19:45:00.001-07:00

This is Aaron giving his talk on the London Bridge.

Charlie DiPuma keeping it real in London.

Omar, Aaron, Matt and Charlie: 506 Yates invades Europe

Matt, Omar, Charlie and Greg checking out London from a boat

some pictures

2007-05-28T16:35:00.000-07:00

eye eye captain

2007-05-28T16:31:00.000-07:00

London! London!

2007-05-28T02:12:00.000-07:00

Oh London, my London,
How I love thee.
From the Fish and Chip stands
To the Piccadilly.

London, sweet London,
for your love I beg,
But why London, oh London,
do you cost an arm
and a leg?

2007-05-26T07:07:00.000-07:00

Hey mates;
Instead of doing my project on religion, I decided to look at herbalism in our Chaucer instead (mainly because it is free to get into the College Garden at Westminster Abbey, but then I found some interesting info too!)
Karen

Roding Valley

2007-05-26T06:28:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed visiting Roding Valley. I'm glad we had a chance to see a school in a different country. I was surprised by the layout of the school and it was interesting to hear that they suffer from the same pitfalls of having an emphasis on assessments. I expected London to be more advanced in that area.

I especially enjoyed the drama session!

-Jessica

There are no words...!

2007-05-26T06:23:00.000-07:00

There are absolutely no words to describe this experience so far. It is a blessing to be here with such great friends both new and old! I'm having an amazing time. As Karen said, Bath was simply gorgeous!! It was nice to escape out of London into a rural setting with such rich historical foundations like London, but smaller. I miss everyone back home and wish they could be here!! I'll be posting pictures unfortunately when I get home, but they are so beautiful!!! Greg, Kathryn and I went to a Secret Garden the first day!! Omgosh it was that and more. Greg will be posting more pictures very soon (especially for my Mommie :-D ). Hope the states aren't too warm!!! I heard its so hott!! We are finally cooling off here. London is famous for rain so we have to experience sometime soon right?!?!?!!! Anyways, we have the weekend off so we are all just hanging out. We got invited to a club last night (list invite only) so we definitely felt status! Freeeee wine for us!!! Oh and not to mention we have an in connection to any club we want now haha Ok ok I have to go but leave us comments and we will be in touch!!!

Courtney <3

2007-05-26T06:08:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to say that Bath was the most beautiful city I have ever seen! I wish I had pictures to upload, but I think Greg's got it covered. It was absolutely amazing looking at the Roman baths and knowing that they were built SO long ago. Bath abbey was also beautiful- there are 800+ tombstones lining the walls that date back to the 16-1700's. Amazing!

Karen

Absolutely wonderful

2007-05-26T05:08:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to say that I am having a great time here in London and that I couldn't have asked for a better trip!

And I thought it was suppose to rain more often???? "Thank God for the weather" is right Aaron!

-Andrea

Photos!!

2007-05-25T18:17:00.000-07:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gregfunkflex/

I have been (slowly) uploading some pictures from the trip onto this page. As of right now there are pictures from Roding Valley HS, and the trip to Bath. I have about 200 more pictures that I still need to post, I'll probably get around to it tomorrow-ish.

Cheers mates!

Photos from Day #1

2007-05-23T02:13:00.000-07:00

well I have posted some of the photos I took yesterday on my facebook account. Everyone should check them out and tag yourself if you would like.

I am off to shower before our wonderful day of stuff to do. Thank God for this wonderful weather.

Cheers,
Aaron

Surviving Jet Lag

2007-05-23T01:28:00.000-07:00

The Hop On/Hop Off tour and the Thames River Cruises provided a great introduction to London (and a chance to doze during that first hard day). Some of the students even recovered enough to have a drink in the pub downstairs. Today we're off to British Museum -- among our highlights is the room of Sutton Hoo treasures. Tomorrow we're off to visit Roding Valley High School and see first hand how education in the UK develops. Everyone seems to be having a good time -- with luck they'll all be bright eyed and bushy tailed after breakfast today.

Safe n Sound

2007-05-22T05:26:00.000-07:00

The College of Saint Rose has landed in London for their triumphant UK Tour!

Currently they're exploring the city on a "Hop-on, Hop-off Open-Top Double Decker Bus Tour of London."

More updates as we receive them...

Away we go!

2007-05-21T05:33:00.000-07:00

See you all in Boston by about 5pm -- be sure to leave at least 3 hours to drive there from Albany. If you want to convoy, I'll be leaving from 423 Western about 1-1.30pm with my assigned passengers.

Whoo hoo -- this is going to be fun!

Travel Journal

2007-05-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

One of the best things you can bring a long is a small notebook to write about your experiences while they're happening. Everything seems vivid while it's happening but when you've retold the story a few times to your friends and relatives, the story begins to change. Write down the way you feel at the time, the sights you see and the places you hope to go. Wouldn't it be great to have it in your pocket or backpack when someone recommends that little village you have to visit and wants to give you directions -- or an email address to keep in touch with someone you've just met? Record slang expressions that your travel guide doesn't provide.

Unlike your PDA or phone, it doesn't have to be charged, is ready at a moment's notice and, with a little work, provides a vivid record of your trip. Carry a glue stick to add ticket stubs and other mementos along the way. I still have my journal from my first trip abroad and it's quite an amazing time capsule.

All you need is a pocket notebook and a couple of good pens.

2007-05-14T22:11:00.000-07:00

Hey there. Courtney and Jessica, I sent you both an email with hotels and rates that I found for the weekend in Bath.

Baggage Allowances

2007-05-14T10:57:00.000-07:00

From AA's website:

Type of baggage Number Allowed Size Allowed
(length + width + height) Maximum free weight allowed

Carry-on 1 45 in/114 cm 40 lbs/18 kgs.
Checked 2 62 in/157 cm each 50 lbs/23 kgs
$25 USD charge each for
bags weighing 51-70 lbs.

There is more information regarding additional overweight baggage (let's hope that is not necessary).

It begins!

2007-05-14T07:19:00.000-07:00

See you all at 11.40 in Albertus 305. We have Ann Wilkening from Study Abroad coming at 1.15 to give you some information and undoubtedly, forms to fill out. We'll start with Beowulf and see how much Old English poetry we can cram into our brains today. At the very least, we will get to "The Dream of the Rood," so you may wish to run your eyes over it before our in class assignment. Blackboard will be activated and our syllabus will be ready in time for class as I finish up spring grades (due today, thus my haste).

Converter and Adapter

2007-05-12T14:30:00.000-07:00

I went to Radio Shack and got mine. It can be confusing so I'll try to tell you what they told me. First, you need an adapter. This will plug into the European outlet and you can plug your American plug into that. BUT-- European electricity is different that ours. I believe they have a more powerful current so you also need a voltage converter. Otherwise, when you plug in your appliance, it will fry. I guess there are two levels of wattage you need to consider. Will you be plugging in an iron or blow dryer? If so, you'll need a high wattage converter. If you'll only be using it for charging a phone or camera battery, you need a low wattage one. I went with the easier (yet more expensive) route and bought a converter that has a switch for both low and high wattage (called a dual power converter). They told me, the rule is, if the appliance gets plugged in for a long period of time (lamp, charger, etc.) you will use the low watt.

I hope this helps. I spent a little over $50 for both. The good news is that the adapter pack comes with all the adapters you will need for traveling the world so you won't need to worry if you plan on traveling to other countries. Good luck!

Outlet Converters

2007-05-12T11:10:00.000-07:00

Any one have suggestions about an outlet converter/transformer? Type/volatge? There's just so much on the internet that I'm not sure which one to buy.

-Jen

Rent a car June 1st

2007-05-10T13:38:00.000-07:00

For Greg and Karen - I guess we can get a minivan or something big so it can fit all of us and our luggage. it seems to be around $100 for something of that size. Anything smaller (compact cars are around $60) probably wouldn't fit all of us. So I haven't booked it yet but I'll estimate between $30-$40 per person with taxes and cost of gas. Let me know if that's ok. Email me at jjeraci29@optonline.net

- Jen

I'll ride back with you on June 1st if there's any room

2007-05-09T18:37:00.000-07:00

if that's cool

Topic

2007-05-09T09:01:00.000-07:00

Hi all- I hope everyone is as excited as I am!

I wanted to let everyone know my topic so that:
1.) you don't steal it
2.) you get extremely excited to learn something new (i'm just kidding, it's not that great but it should be interesting)

I am going to do my research and presentation on the Black Death or the Bubonic Plague. I plan on doing it at the Musuem of London. I took a look at the website for the Medieval London gallery and there (from my understanding) should be a section on the plague.

Also- I know that some of the group members are coming back to Albany at different times. If anyone needs a ride from Boston to Albany on June 1st...Jen and I are renting a car.

I hope everyone's finals are going well and I'll see you next week
-Andrea

We have one seat left....

2007-05-08T05:45:00.000-07:00

Greg- You're welcome to ride with us. Just give me a call and let me know where we can pick you up. 518-210-4010. -Jessica

Any carpools still open?

2007-05-07T22:52:00.000-07:00

I just realized that I haven't figured out how I'm getting to Boston and I should probably get on top of that. If anyone has an open spot in their car it would be just totally awesome if I could join in. I'm a really small dude so I can fit in tight spaces. Also, I'll help pay for gas. My cell# is (518)859-6268

On another note, I think I'm going to start a facebook group up for us all so if I haven't sent you a friend request, add me and I'll make the St. Rose in the UK group.

-Greg

2007-05-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hi! I was thinking of exploring the Church's influence over the literature we read as my topic. I hope to come up with some interesting facts, but I am still researching. I thought Westminster Abbey would be a good place to visit- there is an admission fee for the abbey, but parts of it are free to the public. Good idea/bad idea?

Also, is anyone interested in taking a side trip to Bath on the weekend? I work for Marriott, so I may be able to get some good deals on a hotel for a night, and I found some pretty cheap train tickets online. -KL

My topic

2007-05-01T14:52:00.000-07:00

I'm going to do my topic on education in England related to medieval times and present time; what is was then and what it is now. I may focus it towards a certain age group (childhood) or just speak about it in general terms. I'm open to suggestions...
Thanks!

Travel Times

2007-04-30T10:54:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder: we'll be departing Boston Logan, American Airlines flight 108, Monday May 21, 705 PM and arriving Heathrow 635 AM. Return from Heathrow June 1 (and June 8) will be via AA flight 155, leaving 605 PM and arriving Logan 820 PM.

Plan to arrive 2 hours earlier than flight time -- check-in in Boston is particularly rough since 9/11 and Heathrow has become exceedingly strict since August.

Prepare for jet lag! We lose 5 hours going over; your aim will be to stay on your feet and moving until at least early evening Tuesday the 22nd. If you do, you will be over jet lag by Wednesday morning. Sleep on the plane as much as possible. Turn your watch to London time as soon as we get on the plane (and get up really early Monday the 21st).

Claiming a Topic

2007-04-29T06:32:00.000-07:00

I am going to choose the Tower of London and I'm going to name it "Death at the Tower of London". It was either that or Jack the Ripper so I figured this could be more fun exploring the tower with all the history there. There could possibly be some ghosts there too ;-)

Courtney

I've got my topic!

2007-04-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

Comrades,

I have decided to make my topic "Pub History & Culture". During my tour we will be visiting at least one pub.

Cheerios,

Omar

Claiming my topic before someone else takes it...

2007-04-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure of exactly where we are going, or what we could choose as our "tour" places, but I was talking with my Grandmother who is from England, and she told me that Madame Tussauds Wax Museum was really awesome. If I can do this as my tour guide assignment that would be awesome.

Also, I think that myself, Omar, Matt, and Charlie are going to rent a car at Enterprise in Albany, drive it to Logan, and drop it off. It was about $80 for the day, so we figured that was not too expensive. Just as idea for anyone else who doesn't know what to do about transportation.

Thats it for now...

Aaron

Meeting Tuesday

2007-04-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

Our next organizational meeting will be Tuesday, May 1, at 4.00. We will gather around the conference table outside my office. Bring your passport if you have not already given me a copy. Review the emailed itinerary before the meeting, which includes roommate assignments, and bring any questions you have. I will have a sign up sheet for the tour topics (I will post possible topics in the next day or so).

Transportation to Boston

2007-04-23T06:18:00.000-07:00

I will have 3 available seats in my car for anyone who wants to ride with me and my boyfriend to Logan airport. We can all pitch in for gas money. It's a new Honda Accord so the gas mileage is pretty decent. Keep in mind that we will have 4-5 people with luggage in the car and we may not fit if there is too much luggage. If you're interested, call me at 518-210-4010 or reply to the blog. See you soon!! - Jessica

Passports

2007-04-19T07:19:00.000-07:00

Don't forget that you need to bring to me either your passport or a copy of the relevant pages (with your name and passport number) as soon as possible. As there have been horror stories of late in passport processing times, it may be useful to pass along one possible alternative: The Boston Passport Agency. If you do not receive your passport within 14 days of our departure, you will need to travel to Boston with all the relevant documents (yes, duplicates of documents you have already submitted). If you are concerned about the timing, be sure to check the status of your passport.

You may be able to worm your way onto a flight without a passport, but you will not be allowed to enter Britain without one. They will put you on another flight out of Heathrow that day. Your money for the trip will not be refunded.

Packing, Driving & Reading

2007-04-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

Things to keep in mind: you will carry your own luggage. There are many stairs, long corridors, uneven surfaces, etc. on the way. Best bet: mid-size luggage with wheels as well as a shoulder bag for carry on. Luggage gets lost -- consider packing an extra set of underwear in your carry on. Medications should be with you in the cabin for the same reason. Buy a bottle of water in the airport. Staying hydrated is the best way to avoid catching a cold in the recirculated air of the cabin. If you are thinking of bringing electronics to entertain you on the flight, remember that recharging will require an adapter (and the difference in current will fry some delicate electronics).

Don't forget the new 3-1-1 rule. It is strictly enforced. While you will be able to take on a personal item (handbag, laptop case, etc.) as well as a carry on piece of luggage when we leave Boston, returning from Heathrow you can only take ONE carry on. Either your "personal item" must fit inside your carry on or one of them must be checked. No exceptions.

Some of us have been discussing carpooling to Boston Logan. We probably need three cars altogether (I believe Jessica has volunteered her boyfriend's car). Respond here if you might be able to volunteer. If you want to drive and leave your car, we can share the cost of parking.

Readings: You will find it advantegeous to have completed the readings prior to the beginning of our rather intensive class time.

Day 1 (11:40 am - 3:45 pm, Monday, May 14) we will be discussing Beowulf in depth as well as delving into other Anglo-Saxon Poetry. Read 3-96, 109-135
Day 2 (May 15) Arthuriana 163-258
Day 3 (May 16) Julian & Margery 508-531, 559-591
Day 4 (May 17) Medieval drama 531-559, 631-657
BRING YOUR TEXT WITH YOU on the trip. Consider reading your Chaucer assignment (293-466) on the flight. It will form the bulk of our focus during the trip.

Final Deposit Due

2007-04-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

Your final deposit of $800 should be directed to the Bursar's Office ASAP (and no later than April 10). Our bookings are getting firmed up, so we will need to pay the complete costs very soon. It looks like rather than the Montana we will probably be at the Royal National which is where I stayed with students last year. One slight change: rooms of threes rather than fours, but since we have 12 this works well. Still very spartan accommodations, but very conveniently located one block from the Russell Square tube station and a couple of blocks from the British Museum, where we'll be spending a bit of time.

Scheduling details:

May 22 will be jet lag day; to keep us moving we'll be using our Hop On/Hop Off tickets to get a sense of where things are in London.

May 24 will be our visit to Roding Valley HS. Please dress to impress that day.

May 29, 30 or 31st for Othello at the Globe: any preferences?

Textbook

2007-03-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to get your textbook for the course. They will eventually be in the bookstore, but you may want to order one via Amazon or some similar source.

The book is the Longman Anthology of British Literature, Volume 1, Part A, 3rd Edition (the latter is important as each edition has considerable differences). You only need the first volume, not all three.

Round One of Practical Tips

2007-03-18T14:41:00.000-07:00

Rather than carrying large amounts of cash or a sheaf of traveler's checks, use your ATM card to get cash at Cashpoints (what Britons call ATMs). Be sure to check with your bank that the card will work abroad (most do) and that they will not put a hold on your card when charges from London show up (some banks are panicky). You do not need to carry much cash -- you can charge almost anything in Britain. Just remember: almost every thing costs twice as much as it does here.

Leave your baseball cap at home -- nothing says "American tourist" like a baseball cap. Well, that and being loudly garrulous. Remember, Homer Simpson is the quintessential American for many tv viewers across the world. Regardless of your political affiliations, many people expect Americans abroad to explain the shortcomings of the U.S. government. Be prepared to be blamed, grilled and ridiculed on the behalf of U.S. politicians. Take this with good humor and avoid heated debates (and if you're fairly conservative, you might want to avoid Private Eye). You will find people in Europe more informed about politics in the U.S. than the average Saint Rose student (though perhaps my experience with Saint Rose students has not been broad enough yet for a fair indication).

Bring a travel umbrella and clothes you can layer -- at least one of which should be waterproof. English rain fills literature for a reason. While weather can be much like Albany's in the spring, it can change suddenly. It could be anywhere from 80 to 45 degrees F (that's 27 to 7 C).

Pack half as many clothes as you think you'll need; bring twice as much money (by way of your debit card/credit card -- don't carry a lot of money). A beer will cost you about $6-8 on average in a pub and more in a club. There are no cheap pitchers and dollar nights. No one will be carrying your baggage for you and there are lots of steps, narrow corridors and very few lifts (elevators). A small wheeled case is ideal for keeping up with your instructor's speedy pace.

Wear comfortable shoes that are not new. If you must bring a pair of fancy shoes to go out to clubs at night, that's your choice. Pubs are much more less formal. While it is expected that people will dress a little nicer for the theatre, it has been less so in recent years particularly during matinees (perhaps due to most of the theatres being filled with American tourists). The Globe will not require dressing well, but rather dressing for the weather as it is in the open air. Comfortable shoes are essential because you will stand through the entire performance when you attend as a groundling.

More to come -- be sure to ask specific questions that will make the journey easier for you. This is a learning experience, but it will also be a blast.

Welcome!

2007-03-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

This is the blog for all of us involved in The College of Saint Rose trip to London this May as part of the course ENG 230, A Taste of Medieval England. Information will be posted here -- feel free to post questions, plans and musings about the trip. We will also have special guests from England to help us prepare for the trip.