The Second Laird Miscellany is putting out a call for people who are looking to have the best Spring term of their lives. That’s right, we’re reaching out to those who have yet to apply for the college’s greatest OCS program: English Literature and Theater in London. This spring, Arnab Chakladar will be leading the newest batch of cool cats in their trip across the pond, and he is looking for a couple more people to round out the group. Although the official deadline is technically over, please get in touch with Arnab if you are interested! The Miscellany’s current editors actually met while on the London program and thoroughly recommend it. However, you don’t have to have to just take our word for it! We’ve collected a scrapbook of experiences from past London program participants and shared a couple of them with you below. Check them out and keep in mind that it could be YOU taking these pictures next spring.
Sam Chao ‘16:
I knew right away that I would never take enough photos to adequately capture my time in London. So I decided to take videos instead. I made a montage for every week I spent abroad and picked some of my favorite songs to complement them. All of the shots were from my point-of-view: I wanted whoever watched the videos to experience and live in these small, cherished moments with me.
Hannah Gellman ‘18:
It’s a cappuccino and a piece of Victoria sponge cake. It’s not a famous site. It’s not a beautiful view or my friend making a funny face. I have pictures and fond memories of all of those, too, but some of my fondest memories of London were the simplest. As much as I loved seeing everything that tourists see, I loved it the most when I could feel like a part of the city. Exploring the tons of independent bookstores and cafes, both in and out of Bloomsbury, was endlessly joyful! When you’re in London, go to a cafe and read for a few hours. Write a paper there, and pretend you are very sophisticated. Make yourself a regular there. It’s a lovely feeling that you won’t get anywhere else!
Madison Chambers ‘18:
This particular selfie is brought to you from the Prime Meridian in Greenwich. After starting out the morning with a beautiful (though nippy) boat ride to the far eastern reaches of London, we had the chance to explore the Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the sprawling urban areas of the city, so I loved spending the day in this quieter, greener part of London and seeing how the city’s past intertwines with exploration of the natural world. Plus, field trips inevitably mean wonderful food and friends, and a surplus of reasons to get ice cream. (Also, we Romeo and Juliet starring Lily James and Richard Madden that night, so 10/10 day all around)
Sarah Meister ‘16:
This picture was taken on one of the first days of the program, after heavy rains and the Thames barriers had caused major flooding near London. We spent the first few days of the program in Oxford and ventured out on a group bus tour of the Cotswolds. We came upon a young family whose car was stuck in the mud, and at the suggestion of our rather eccentric bus driver, all 21 participants of the London program got off the bus and pushed the car out of the mud! (photo credit: Devon Graham)
Claire O’Brien ‘17:
Every Thursday, the farmer’s market just a few blocks over from the Swedenborg (the building we studied in) was open for business. It became a popular post-class stop for hungry American students such as ourselves. The market offered a wide variety of foods – naturally, however, a few stands stood out as the best and brightest of the bunch. Upon entering the market, one could expect to see a long line snaking its way towards a stand that sold assorted pasta dishes. Truly a magical place, the stand specialized in pesto dishes, the scent of which could have you salivating from blocks away. Other notable stands included one that sold cake and another that sold scones, brownies, and similar pastry dishes. I didn’t actually sample a lot of the food – I pretty much ate the pasta every time.
Here we see some of the hungry American students feasting away at the market. Those who understood that some things are worth waiting for happily dine on pasta. Those less patient who chose to visit other stands are given away by their somber expressions. Poor bastards. They look miserable.
APPLY! YOU WON’T BE SORRY!