Lana Naylor

HOWDY!

Our last full day of this memorable trip started bright and early at breakfast in the dining hall. We then went to the classroom for our final lesson, during which we discussed the interconnectivity of all the concepts that were discussed during our class for the last few weeks, as well as how they tied into Les Misérables. Dr. Crick left after an inspirational conclusion to his class about leadership, passion, and how to navigate college. We then watched the videos made by each group about our trip, allowing us to reminisce and remember this epic experience. Eric gave us a presentation about study strategies and navigating college, prefaced by a chaotic, “silent,” team game of chess during which a brown scholar fumbled the queen after contemplating their move for about 5 minutes. We then did a last teambuilding activity where we had to build bridges using cards and our Brown Scholar ingenuity. The bridges *mostly* stayed up with the weights being added on them, and “expert builders” from other teams judged the bridges for a third-party opinion. The Bodacious Blokes won the bridge building contest, and after a farewell from the student leaders, we started to split across the city of London and explore the city one last time. Some explored the gold-gilded interiors of Buckingham Palace, the grandeur of Big Ben and rode the London Eye, while others had the amazing Indian food (chicken tikka masala, the supposed “British” national dish). Some explored the technical wonders of the Faraday Museum, others went shopping at the vast Camden Market in the afternoon. We all met up for dinner at the Blues Camden Kitchen, where we enjoyed delicious burgers and  karaoke. After that, some got their final meal deal and dessert (gelato, boba, milkshakes, etc.) while others wrapped up their sightseeing by visiting platform 9 3/4 and playing the Aggie War Hymn on the public piano located in the St. Pancras International Train Station. We all then travelled back to our dorms to pack and get one last sleep before our grand flight to Houston and back to our homes in America. We’ve had a great time, built connections, grown as leaders, made friends, and so much more. We’re sad it’s over but glad it happened and made so many memories we will never forget and friends we will always cherish.

Thanks and Gig ‘Em!

-Reva & Rishi 🙂

Dearest gentle reader,

 

After another hearty English breakfast at the Imperial College, we boarded our coach and headed to the city of Oxford. The bus ride was sleepy and uneventful, provided by our wonderful driver, George. Upon arrival, we stepped out into the bright morning sun and gazed upon the cobbled streets and Gothic architecture that mark the city of Oxford. Our tour guide, Tim, gave us some nifty headsets that let us hear him from a distance and then gave us a brief overview of the city and its university.

 

While it’s primarily known for its world-class university, Oxford is full of its own rich history. Particularly, back during the Protestant Reformation, Oxford experienced some turbulent times. The English bishops Latimer, Ridley, and Cranmer were burned at the stake in the streets of Oxford under Queen Mary Tudor’s bloody reign. Standing in the place where these stout religious officials were condemned was sombre, but necessary to appreciate the turbulent past of Oxford.

Having existed for almost a millennium, the University of Oxford is the premier collegiate institution in the United Kingdom and perhaps in the world (only second to Texas A&M). The halls of Oxford University have produced 33 prime ministers, famous authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and T.S. Eliot, and numerous nobel prize winners, highlighting the significant impact that solid education can have on culture and history. In addition to its academic accolades, Oxford holds a prominent place in current pop culture, serving as one of the primary filming locations of the Harry Potter movies. Walking among the birthplace of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings was remarkable and a memorable part of our trip. 

For lunch, we were given free reign throughout Oxford. The majority went to the Covered Market, a quaint conglomeration of small restaurants and shops. I, for one, ate Moolin Rouge Pie, with mash and gravy, which was quite delicious.

Next, our afternoon excursion: Blenheim Palace. The birthplace and ancestral home of Winston Churchill, a set for Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The interior features baroque architecture and fine porcelain displays, while the surroundings consist of lavish gardens and fountains. A subsection of our team immediately departed for the hedge maze and butterfly gardens. 

The rest explored the palace and formal gardens individually, many guided by the online audio tour. As we tour these grand estates during our trip, I enjoy placing myself in the positions of those who once resided in them. I wore horseshoes in the first area I explored – the stables consist of numerous stalls for the Duchess and Duke of Marlborough’s prized horses. It seems they adored their rides and races, but they also surely adored the indoors, for ornate paintings and elaborate ceilings characterized each room with dignified glamour. A certain favorite is the saloon, which features a tall painted ceiling It was also a location for a scene in the third season of Bridgerton, when Lady Danbury and the Queen play a symbolic game of chess. 

Also at Blenheim Palace, another group of us went through the maze in the walled gardens. Weaving in-between the tall bushes was exhilarating, but also frustrating as we hit dead-ends and loops. Eventually, we all made it out, Preston first, Collin second, and the rest following suit. Afterwards, as we walked around the gardens, we encountered a small brown mouse, named him Craigory, and adopted him as a Brown Scholar pet. 

Our night concluded with a memorable performance of Shostakovich’s 4th Symphony. Chaotic chords and turbulent melodies flooded through Royal Albert Hall and struck a magnificent spectrum of emotions in our hearts.

Happy Birthday to Derrick (18) and Mary Faith (19)! Derrick can now go into pubs here in London and Mary Faith can feel older than the rest of us. She’s the elder of the group for real. Poor Reva and John, the only remaining 17 yr olds of the group.

Yours truly,

Nitya and Preston <3

Howdy!

This sunny Saturday was a self-guided day through London. In the morning, many went to church services, including mass at Westminster cathedral. We split up into several groups to explore the city on our own.

Later in the morning, groups went to sky garden to get the best views of London. In particular, we got a great view of the tallest building in London- and western Europe- The Shard, a 93 story building complete with offices, swimming pools, grocery stores, and a day care.

Also, we visited Paddington Station, where we went to several train stations to find Paddington. We expected to find jars of orange marmalade and Paddington plushies at the Paddington train stop, but we settled for the Paddington statue.

Afterwards, we went to Buckingham Palace to watch the changing of the guards. Since the palace was so crowded, we watched the ceremony through the phones of people who were closer to the front.

     

In the early afternoon, we went to the British Museum and the National Galleries, where we saw Da Vinci and Monet paintings. We also saw the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon. After touring the museum, we went to afternoon tea.

We visited Abbey Road, where the Beetles took their famous album cover, and recreated the album cover with eight Brown scholars instead of four band members. The street was located in a small quiet neighborhood that was very different from the bustling crowds we were used to.

We went to a small bookstore nearby and some of us took a nap in the store’s comfy chairs. Some of us wanted to explore the tunnel system further, so we went train hopping to the farthest stop in zone two of London.

Others went back home and had sweet crepes for dinner!

After dinner, the guys completed their usual routine. An hour or two playing soccer at a local park, food on the way home (Sainsbury’s for a delicious Meal Deal©, McDonalds and/or Saver Menu Double Cheeseburger Meal), and some card games in the common rooms.

Thanks and Gig ‘Em!

Landon Coutee and Katelyn Ta

Today was our first full day in London starting out with a lovely breakfast in the Imperial College Dining Hall. From hash browns and eggs to black pudding and pancakes there were plenty of options for everyone. 

 

Next, we took the underground to Westminster Abbey for a two hour long tour. On the tour there were many amazing sites like the church where the royal family gets married and the graves of important Brits. Many major scientists, royals, and writers were buried in the abbey like Issac Newton, Michael Faraday, and Charels Dickens. It was very interesting to see the key figures of British history and learn about how they impacted the country. 

After the visit to Westminster Abbey, our group moved over to the Borough Market to eat lunch. The market had tons of local food and fresh produce which made it lots of fun to find lunch (and very difficult). We split up into smaller groups and everyone found their own places to eat. It was tons of fun to dive into the local cuisine and enjoy the market.

Heading from the market, our group toured around the Tower Bridge and got to walk over the bridge towards His Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London (or you can just say Tower of London). We all had a wonderful time exploring the tower and getting to learn more about the history of London. It was also interesting to see the artifacts on display, especially the armory. There was even an exhibit on torture in the Tower of London (which apparently wasn’t even that common).

Following the Tower of London, a smaller group embarked on a quest for water. After a short walk we arrived at a Starbucks with free iced water. This was by far the biggest luxury of the day, having ice in our water! At this point in the trip everyone was split up into smaller groups exploring the city. We all went to local places for dinner and continued to learn about the city (and the linguistic abilities of early primates).

 

Cheerio Mates

Justin Simms and Karthik Jayakumar

Howdy!

Today we visited the English coastal city of Whitby after a rushed hot breakfast. Most of us woke up way too early and the breakfast didn’t open till 8 when we were supposed to arrive at 7:30. To get to Whitby, we road a steam train through the North York Moors. Because, we showed up so early many of us found time to nap while travelling on the train to Whitby.

A group of us went to get authentic fish and chips, while some went to the beach immediately. The water was extremely cold so the beach group went to get food, too (hot dogs, we were feeling patriotic). Then most of us met up at the stairs to the beautiful abbey ruins. There are 199 steps to the top (we counted) and the view at the top of the hill of the city and the beach was phenomenal.

After the hike up to the abbey, we headed down to the Whitby beach. There, we all went for a walk and dipped our feet in the very cold North Sea. A few people, however, decided to jump fully into the sea despite the freezing weather. Afterword, today’s writers (Jack and Hiya) danced two-step on the beach along with a few others to continue practicing what we had learned yesterday!

Us Dancing on the Beach (Click this link)

After walking back with sandy feet and soaked pants, we got on the bus back and were able to see bright purple heather flowers on the rolling North York Moors. After a quick dinner at the dining halls, we went out to hit the town and do some karaoke. After a few songs– including some Backstreet Boys, Taylor Swift, and Frozen– we decided to call it a night and head back to the dorms. Every night ends with some cards and conversation, and that was a wrap on day 3 of York.

 

-Jack and Hiya