Summary of Week 1 in London

Our first week in London was crowded with activities. On Monday, the students gathered at the London Centre for the first time, and were welcomed by program director Martin Upham, housing coordinator Maggie Kovacevic, programmes officer Lisa Mortini, and me. We had a safety briefing from a member of the Metropolitan Police, followed by lunch and a guided walking tour of the Bloomsbury district surrounding the AHA/NCSA center.

Tuesday, everyone gathered at the Centre to hear from the five professors about the courses being offered this term. Students with internships met with their coordinator as well. In the afternoon, we rode aboard a city bus to Victoria Embankment where we caught a river boat to the Tower of London. After exploring the Tower, we took refreshment at the Hung, Drawn and Quartered, a local pub.

On Wednesday the first class sessions were held in the morning. After lunch, we took the bus to Waterloo Station, where we waited for our train and a few students were "snapped up" by a photography crew to pose for a London Underground advertisement campaign. A half-hour train ride later, we arrived at Hampton Court Palace, former home of Henry VIII and other English monarchs.

Thursday was an excursion-free class day. Friday the students gathered outside the Anchor Pub on the Southwark side of the river for the Thames Nelson Flotilla, a recreation of the funeral procession of Admiral Lord Nelson. Several students then joined me on a visit to Southwark Cathedral, the church attended by Shakespeare and other players and playwrights while they were active at the Globe and Rose theatres in Southwark. We ended the week with an evening performance of Playing With Fire, a new drama by David Edgar which is having its world premiere at the National Theatre.