I had two classes so far today and one seminar. I had British Politics and US History. I'm trying to drop my politics classed and add Poetry, so I spent the morning chasing around the head of the English department because she didn't answer any of my emails last week. This meant that I had to get up an hour earlier than I normally would have for class. Anyway she really couldn't help me at the moment, she had to put in a phone call to someone else to make sure there are still spots in the Poetry class, so I had to go to British Politics and the seminar anyway. I hope I can drop the class, it's not as interesting as I'd hope it would be. If I can't drop it though that'll be ok because I'll learn a lot about the government here and get a minor in political science. I also like the professor for that class a lot. She seems really nice and helpful. She also compiled the textbook that we're using so I'm guessing she's a big deal in the world of British politics.
In history we talked about pre-Revolution stuff, mostly the exploration of the New World and the slave trade. While I've been in college, every class I've taken that has anything to do with slavery or anything like that has provided so much different and new information than what I learned about slavery in high school and the years before that. Just as an example, the slavery that occurred in the Caribbean and on the colonies/states would not have been possible if it weren't for the Africans living on the west coast going farther inland (or just to a different kingdom or village) and capturing other Africans to sell to the Europeans. When did we ever learn that Africans in some way helped slave trade? Yeah we never learned that. I never even heard of that idea until last year. It's really weird how history can be written to take any angle that the historian wants. We're so gullible and naive in that we learn whatever the historian or author of the textbook wants us to learn.
In other news, I'm supposed to have my first Villanova class tonight in South Kensington. The tube is shut down due to a strike, so it's basically impossible to get anywhere. I think the buses are still working but I can't even imagine how packed they must be. Our class got canceled which is super because I'm tired and I have to write an article this afternoon, but unfortunately we have to make the class up next week. That means we'll have two Villanova classes next week. I was reading over the syllabus and I think this class is going to be about London and the political system, culture, demographics, etc...probably also some stuff to do with our volunteer work.
Anyway, I have to go to my history seminar at 2 so I gotta get going. Here is a picture of the London Eye, I went on it last Tuesday and never got a chance to put any pictures up
Here is a picture of the Houses of Parliament from the top of the London Eye
If anything else interesting happens today maybe I'll post again :)
M
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