A couple of more images of Astor College at UCL

Cultural Matters: English candy

Although not everyone is a fan of English food, most agree that England showcases some of the best candy around, especially for chocolate lovers. Sweeter and milkier than most American chocolate (many English claim that Hershey chocolate has a sour aftertaste), sweets (as candy is often referred to) is a regular feature of English life. The two biggest producers are Nestle and Cadbury UK (which was started by John Cadbury in 1824. Just this year -- 2010 -- Cadbury was taken over by the American compnay Kraft.)

Curly Wurly
My personal all-time favorite. Started in 1971, it's choclate covered caramel.

Flake
A crumbly milk chocolate bar. Has an odd mouth-feel at first, but quite addictive.

Wispa (Cadbury) and Aero (Nestle)
Crunchy aerated chocolate.

Crunchie
Going back to 1929, this a honey-combed crunchy chocolate bar.

Yorkies
Named for York, England where it began in 1976, this is a large chocolate bar.

Smarties
A slightly larger version of American M&Ms.

Chomp
Chewy chocolate bar.

Dairy Milk
The classic English chocolate bar.

Jelly Babies
The classic English candy. Basically Gummi Bears.

Happy Birthday, London Underground

Just read that today, 10 January 2010 is the birthday of the world's oldest subway --- the London Underground (known by most as simply, The Tube.) Here is a link with more information:
http://www.smittenbybritain.com/2010/01/london-underground-today-in-history.html

Cultural Matters: English Television

Sorry for the lack of recent updates…

To me, one of the most enjoyable aspects of travel is to immerse oneself into the culture before arriving at your destination. And for England, there are so many ways to do this – through books, magazines, radio (all BBC Radio programs are free on the web for Americans), films, and especially television. Much of British TV is available on DVD, Netflix, BBC America, or Youtube. The following are a few of the more popular shows currently enjoyed throughout Great Britain.

Gavin and Stacey
This is a show about the romance between a young man (Gavin, played by Matthew Horne) from a middle class family in Essex (near London) and a working class girl (Stacey, played by Joana Page ) from Barry Island, Wales. Both sweet and darkly humorous, the show deals not only with their growing relationship, but the inevitable cultural clashes between their families and friends. Not only has this been a smash hit, but several Welsh slang terms (“Tidy”, Cracking,” and “What’s occurring?”) have become hip catch phrases in England. Rob Brydon (as Stacey's Welsh uncle Bryn), James Corden (as Gavin’s best friend Smithy) and Ruth Jones (as Stacey’s best friend Nessa) have become cult heroes, complete with a number 1 hit song last Spring. The show just completed its third (and final) season in early January. (In England, a season is called a series, and usually run from 6 to 13 shows). The first two seasons have been released in the U.S. on DVD.

Doctor Who
While the U.S. may have Star Trek and Star Wars, the British have Doctor Who, which in terms of longevity and fandom (if not always in budget or special effects) has us Yanks beat in spades. The cult show originally ran on the BBC (Britain’s premiere television channel) from 1963 to 1989, it was then revived in 2005 (and still going strong) with better effects, larger budgets, and has become even more popular. The basic premise is the The Doctor (the title is in fact a question, as no one knows his real name) is a Time Lord, and pops around the universe in different time periods in his Tardis (disguised as a old English Police Call Box) to “fix” things. Along the way, he picks up companions and fights off enemies such as the Cybermen or the Daleks. And if mortally wounded, can regenerate into someone else (a nifty way whenever thye need to change actors.) The most revent performer to play The Doctor was David Tennant, who just ended his run on New Years Day. Any American hoping to fit in with England’s pop culture should know their Doctor Who.

Clip 1: His Name is the Doctor

Clip 2: The Lonely Angel (Doctor Who tribute video)

Clip 3: The very first opening theme (1963)

Life on Mars (followed by sequel Ashes to Ashes)
Named after a David Bowie song (as was its sequel), this police drama is about a police officer, Sam Tyler, (played by John Simm) who gets hit by a car in 2006 then wakes ups in 1973. In a world without cell phones, computers, DNA or the internet, he has to maneuver his way around Manchester’s police station while pleasing his boss, the wonderfully political incorrect Gene Hunt (played by Philip Glenister). A fun show, with a sequel that takes place in the eighties. The series will end this summer while we are in London.

Clip 1: Opening titles of show

Clip 2: Sam Tyler meets Gene Hunt in 1973

Clip 3: Ashes to Ashes intro

Cultural Matters: English versus American culture (the comedian's viewpoint)

Two funny videos about American and British culture. The first, by British comedian Ricky Gervais, from the David Letterman Show, is about American stereotypes of the English:
Video 1

The second is John Cleese (of Monty Python) on the differences between American and English football:
Video 2

Cultural Matters: Blogs About Americans in England

For anyone in the US visiting England, there are no shortage of blogs about what to expect, enjoy, experience in England. Below are some of the more common and effective ones:

Anglo Addict
http://www.angloaddict.com/

The Anglo File
http://theanglofile.wordpress.com/

Smitten By Britain
http://www.smittenbybritain.com/

Anglotopia
http://www.anglotopia.net/

Brit Fancy
http://britfancy.blogspot.com/

Britannia in Brief
http://britanniainbrief.blogspot.com/

Postcards From Across the Pond
http://postcardsfromacrossthepond.blogspot.com/

What to Expect -- Week 5 (Monday 19 July -- Friday 23 July)

The British Museum, near Astor College

The final week! We will have one last class on Monday, 19 July during which we will discuss the American Civil War. As the war rages, we will also look at foreign relaitons and diplomacy. We will see how England's decision not to intervene for the CSA sealed the fate of the rebelling states and ensured the survival of the United States

Then the following day, Tuesday 20 July, we will take our final exam. The next two days will be free days -- to be spent packing and trying to cram in all the places you hadn't visited yet. Places that may include shops, bookstores, plays, and nearby attractions such as the British Library, the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Musuem, Shakespeare's Globe, Regent's Park, or the London zoo. On Friday, 23 July, we leave London for Atlanta.

Interior of the British Museum

The British Library, which includes many originals such as Beatle lyrics, Jane Austen manuscripts, Shaespeare's folios and...

The Magna Carta (1215)

Regent's Park, located near the college

The West End -- theatre district