The End

And so we leave this great country of Great Britain. Where has the time gone? It seems only yesterday that we were taking our first field trip to the Bank of England and to meet with Detective Andy Fyfe. Has it really already been a month?
This trip has been such a great experience for me, in so many ways. I not only made new friends while experiencing a whole new country and culture, but I learned a lot about business as well. I learned that companies are really trying to do all they can to help future generations live a better life than generations of today. I learned that it is the law to recycle in your homes. I learned that it is just as competitive for jobs out in England as back home (if not more so). I learned how to master a whole new way of transportation, how to get from point A to point B in the fastest and easiest route possible. I learned how to have fun while still having a work responsibility.
At first, I thought this class was going to be a lot of work, and honestly kind of boring. But I was so wrong. These last few weeks has helped me see just how much one can learn outside of a classroom. Everything I learned these last few months has been through field trips, class activities, and discussions, not through textbooks and PowerPoints.
Although the month is up, I wouldn't change anything for a moment.

Week 4

It's incredible how quickly this last week has flown by, but that's probably just because it was the best week yet! When Brian and myself became separated from the rest of the herd en route to the coca-cola factory I thought we were surely going to miss out on seeing that. We were unphased however and navigated our way there by ourselves. Getting to our next field trip at Pennington's and Lloyd's went a lot smoother for us thankfully. Those were amongst some of my favorite places we visited because it gave me a different perspective on the business world that I had never before seen. To top off the week a few of us went to the Shard tower in London for some fancy, overpriced cocktails with an incredible view of the entire city! Yesterday a group of us hopped onto the BritRail and took a day trip down to the coastal city of Brighton. It was beautiful there and was easily one of my favorite places ive traveled to while here. It was an incredible experience being here, one that has changed the way I think about myself and the world. I'm so thankful that I had the opportunity to come here!

Week 3

As with every week in London this one was full of not-stop activity. I started off the week exhausted from my travels to Amsterdam that weekend, but I didn't let that keep me from seeing all that I could. I liked our class trip to the maritime museum in Greenwich. There they had an enormous map of the world painted on the ground, which I thought provided an intriguing new perspective of the world. After the musuem i went up to the royal observatory and planetarium on top of the hill in Greenwich. I especially liked the planatarium where they had a movie about the mysteries of the universe narrorated by astro-physicist Neil Degrasse Tyson. Our mini cooper plant trip was one of my favorites because I liked seeing the advanced robots working together in such a precise way. I was lucky enough to attend the media class's field trip to BBC headquarters and go on a tour of the building, Overall it was another incredible week in the UK.    

Week 4

To begin week 4, I went to ireland with my mother. We stayed in the most beautiful castle and got to do some amazing activities. We did falconry, archery, high tea, rode horses, and had a traditional Irish dinner. Once I got back from ireland, there was one more country I had yet to visit, Wales. So My friend and I headed to Wales Beach and Bay for a day to relax and learn about their culture. To be honest, It wasn't that different. Back in London, I went to the national Portrait Gallery where I got tot see the Audrey Hepburn Exhibit and see a painting of my relative William Cecil (1st Baron Burghley)!!! This week is when things started to fall apart. I am getting tired, I got a sinus infection and my feet hurt, but I am at least trying to do one thing a day! Other things I did this week were the Coca Cola Factory, Penningtons, Lloyds, The london eye, walking the pier, and high tea at Kensington Palace. Overall London has been great, and I feel so lucky for all the places I have gotten to go to and the people that I have met. I am excited to go back home but I feel like when I come back to England one day (because I definitely will be coming back), I will fit in like a pro! This experience has enriched my life in so many ways and my eyes have opened to a culture that I thought was very similar to mine, but in fact, is vastly different, but in a good way! I have learned a lot by just being here for this amount of time and am so grateful for everyone involved who helped me along the way.

Week 3

This week we went to the offices of Nielsen & Unilever on a class field trip. This one one of my favorite days. We learned about what each company does, their history, clients, different aspects of the different jobs within all levels, and sustainability. We sat in conference room for most of it and three different, extremely intelligent people presented to us. Usually, I would hate this kind of thing, just being lectured, but the way they presented, explained things, and told stories relating to their business was interesting and intriguing. It helped solidify my choosing of “business” as a major and all the opportunities it holds. After the presentations, we had a workshop where we were to go into their mini store, and pick a brand that could be more sustainable by way of the environment, social responsibility, packaging, etc…. We picked out two products from the “Bed Head” brand. Our environmental one had an outrageously large lid that had no use and could be cut down to better the earth. The second product was hair gel with the message in bold, bright colors and letters…“Smart Stuff for Dumb Blondes”. We used this one for our social responsibility example. After Nielsen and Unilever, we had an hour to get food and look around so we went to a crepe café, and did a little shopping! After lunch and window shopping, we met with a branding agency called LPK. This presentation was interesting as well. Basically, companies come to them for help with new ideas on products, their looks, and their message. LPK then has a system where they look at trends, create a world board (inspiration board), they personalize the product, ask questions about who the target market is, then design something appealing that will help companies have better sells. Being a creative person, I really enjoyed hearing about all the case studies. The herbal essence one, their baby, was interesting because they came to them with the old boring bottles and said change anything you want, except the stuff that’s in it and the name. Which to them, meant excitement because most companies only ask for a 10% change whereas herbal asked for 95% (if looking at change with percents.) 

Other things I did this week were: Scotland Excursion, Arthurs Seat, Edinburgh Dungeon, Scotland Whiskey Tour, and Alnwick Castle 

Week 2

This week, I started out by going to Salisbury and Stonehenge on the CCSA planned excursion. It was just a day trip but it was a lot of fun. We got to learn all about the stones and the theories and history involved with them. We also got to see the Magna Carta! The next day my friends and I traveled to Brighton to relax on the beach. Something I was not expecting was that the beach was composed of rocks...it was not comfortable. The weather was really nice though and the little area where we were was super cute. One of my favorite things I did this whole trip though, was going to the Zoo! As an avid animal lover, this was one place I couldn't miss. It was incredible. They had many different animals than the zoos in the US and some of their exhibits were way better. My favorite was the lemur exhibit. They were so friendly and they just let them roam within a fenced area that you were allowed to walk in. Unfortunately you weren't allowed to touch them, but they would walk right up to you and smell you! Some other things I did this week were The British Library, Regents Park, St. Mary's Gardens, British Museum, Tate Modern, Hyde Park, Changing of the guards, National History Museum, Ikea and Wimbledon. Once again, a very busy week. However, I was able to accomplish more and more each day because I'm getting more accustomed and comfortable with working the tube! I have to say one of my favorite things here in london is their transport system. The tube itself is not so nice because it is hot and sometime too crowded, but the fact that it has taken me all over london is amazing and has made the ability to do everything I have wanted to do here in London possible, so i appreciate it.

Week 1

Since the day of arrival, I found myself to be super busy. Seeing the city for the time was overwhelming but exciting at the same time. I had so many things on my to do list that I crammed in quite a lot during the first week. I stopped and took the classic red telephone booth picture. I ate at Carlos’ Kitchen where I had some very fancy water and some baked beans, fries, spinach, egg, and a piece of toast (A Traditional English breakfast, it’s a very odd combo) but it was absolutely delicious! I decided to take the tube out to Farringdon to practice using the tube and walk around central London. I went to the Charles Dickens museum where we got to see where the novelist lived. I signed the book stating the fact that I actually stepped foot in his home. This week we also had our first class! class was exciting and we went over all the different field trips and projects that we would have to do and I was super excited about them! After class, I went to see Big Ben, London Eye,Westminster Abbey, and the Churchill war rooms. All were extremely beautiful, fun and informational. Other things I did this week were China Town, Bank of England Museum, and Camden Town. One of my favorite places here in London is Camden Town. It was very eccentric and had a good london vibe to it. Overall, my first week was filled with excitement but I still haven't even crossed off half the stuff on my bucket list! 

Week 4

Last week in London! I can still remember the day we landed moved into moonraker and went to orientation. London has been an awesome experience with many great people on this trip. I have mixed feelings on staying and going home but I would defiantly want to come back to London or Eurpore in the near future. Thank you to everyone and have a safe trip home.

Last Observation

I can't believe our four weeks are already over, it has flown by so quickly. I have learned so many things hear from all of our visits to just being in a new culture. My favorite visit was probably the trip to the Mini Cooper plant. Watching the large machines working on the cars was amazing. Although I also really enjoyed out visit to Unilever/Nielsen because the presentation was much more interactive than some of our other visits.
One of my favorite things I did outside of class was go to Cardiff Castle. A part of the castle was used as a bomb shelter in WWI, and it still looked the same, and they put up propaganda posters that were used in WWI, so it felt like you were really going back in time. They had a photo of a group of young school kids all wearing gas masks, which was pretty creepy.
This trip has been so amazing, and I have learned so much. I definitely want to come back to the U.K. especially Scotland at some point.

final observations

  The past four weeks in London have flown by.  I realized that I saw more in four weeks than some people will see in a lifetime.  I definitely recommend going on this trip if anyone else has the chance to go.  Even though it is expensive you see just about everything you want to see.  They also treat you like adults, so you will have lots of time to do what you want. Instead of what other people want to do. 
   My favorite part about this trip was either seeing Lloyd's or the Edinburgh castle.  Both of these places are absolutely incredible and easily worth your time and money.  I also went to Paris for one weekend and saw the Louvre and Eiffel Tower.  These places were also incredible. I only got to stay for one day but you can spend about four days seeing just those two things.
   This was an amazing trip.  I cannot even count the places I have been and people I have seen.  Each place was a great experience.  One that I will never forget.  I hope that one day I will get to back to London. I know that if I ever do it won't be for a long time. So if you ever get this opportunity go, you wont regret it.

Week 3 Observations

A little late with this post because I forgot about it but, here it is. This past week I went to Paris for a couple days. I really enjoyed Paris, it's a beautiful city. This being my first time to Paris and Europe even, I was surprised by the amount of people that spoke English in Paris. I guess it's not that surprising given Paris is so close to Englsnd. What I most enjoyed about Paris besides seeing the famous landmarks, was walking along the bank of the Seine. There they had stands selling various items such as paintings, drawings, old advertising signs and much more. I liked this because walking by looking around I actually found a couple books from my favorite author. I ended up buying them but, will not be able to read them until I learn French.

I enjoyed Paris a lot but, I like London better, I just feel more comfortable here. I think it's pretty crazy that only being here less than a month, whenever I come back to London from a trip it feels like I'm coming home.

Week 4 Observations

It's our last week in London and I can't believe it's coming to an end. While I'm ready to see my family, friends, dog, car, work, etc. again I am also not ready for this crazy adventure to end! This week I realized a couple of things, not so much about London specifically but about myself in general. One is I definitely want to not only return to England but also travel Europe and Asian in the near future. I am already looking for my next opportunity to come back!

Secondly studying abroad definitely reinforces the idea that I want to work internationally, at least for some part of my future career. I may not know what I want to do specifically but with my business major and spanish minor I’d hope to work for a company either in Spain or Mexico. Although at this point any company at any location would be considerable.

This London study abroad trip has been more than I could have ever expected! I’ve experience so many things and learned not only about global business but so much about myself as well. I can’t wait for my next opportunity to continue, not only with my education but life experiences as well!

Week 4

     This week we went to Coca Cola, Pennington's, and Lloyd's.  I was amazed at how few people were working in the factory at Coca Cola.  It was even fewer than there were at Mini Cooper.  I really enjoyed Pennington's and Lloyd's.  The law firm's employees were very interesting to listen to and they had a lot of international connections in their work.  The Lloyd's tour was great because it gave our class a glance into what the life of an underwriter is like.  I know I would never want to do that!
     Culturally, I feel like I have learned so much here.  It is like I have actually adapted to British culture and embraced it.  It seems natural to me to be stuffed onto a crowded tube or to call elevators lifts.  I am surprised at how shocking the cultural differences were when I first arrived, but now they no longer phase me.  I am so sad to be leaving in just three more days, but I know I will definitely be back to this wonderful city soon!

4 Days Left

Why must it already be coming to an end? Does our time here in London really have to be over? I know I'm not alone when I say I'm not ready to go home and back to the real world of work and school. However, I have learned and seen so much and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Today we went to the Coca-Cola factory in Edmonton. It was actually a lot more interesting than I originally thought. The company is a franchisee, buying 40 brands to bottle, including Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Life, and Oasis.
What I found most interesting is that the average storage time for raw materials is 4 days, because they operate on a "just-in-time" manufacturing model. I would have thought they stored Coke products for a few weeks to months before getting shipped out to different buyers. It's a very nice tactic to make customers order the product and then make it, rather than the other way around. It's good for business and finances.
I also learned that Monster Energy drinks and Fanta soft drinks are Coca-Cola products. I honestly never knew that before, and I love both of them, so it was really cool to get to see where they are made.
Our guide took us into the factory to watch the assembly line in action. Unfortunately, most of the lines were inactive, but we did get to see the glass bottle line working. I really like that glass bottles are still around. As a kid it was always a treat to get to have a glass bottled Coke, and it's something I hope my children will get to enjoy one day.
Today was very interesting, and I'm so glad we went. Tomorrow awaits another adventure, and I can't wait to see how it turns out.

week 3 observations

This week we went to BMW, The Royal Courts, and I went to Paris for the weekend. My favorite part would be going to Paris.  While I was in Paris I saw Notre-Dame, the Eiffel tower, the Louvre, and took a boat ride around Paris.
 My favorite part of the weekend was seeing the Louvre. I was expecting to be as large as it really was.  The Louvre had 4 floors and each floor probably took around 3-5 hours to see.  Unfortunately, I did not get to see everything because we were only there for a couple of hours. The parts that I did see were incredible. From paints that took up entire 20 foot walls to the Greek architecture it was all incredible.  I would definitely recommend that you spend an entire an entire day to make sure see everything. 
  The Eiffel tower was great to see as well. I recommend the you go in the morning and at night. Both were great but had really different views. Overall this was a great weekend, we have one more left and I cant wait!

Week 3 Observations

Wow, can't believe only 1 week left to go! London has been an awesome experience. The Mini cooper plant was an exciting experience; it was my first tour of a car manufacturing plant. The robots were highly productive in the way they move one car part to another. Hard to believe they only cost 20,000 dollars a piece with a bulk order and probably saved BMW a lot of money on labor. I would love to design my own Mini soon, I think that would be pretty cool. Ive seen more Mini's in US than the UK. 

I learned a lot from going to the Royal courts. There are some differences and similarities between the US and UK. In the US we elected our judges and in the UK they appoint them, the buddy-buddy system. I was surprised they still had the double jeopardy system. 

I went to Paris over the weekend and it is my favorite place I've been too. So many beautiful  buildings and the best bread ever! The Eiffel tower was my favorite, going at night was the best time to see it when it lights up. Notre dame is a must see if anyone gets a chance to see it. I thought Paris was very easy to navigate through. Overall a very exciting experience and would love to go back sometime in the near future. 

Week 3 Observations

Week 3 Observations

This past week there were a few things I observed. First being that I find it interesting that London hands out papers and magazines for free. I find this interesting because my Mum worked for the paper at home and several years back I remember they had to discontinue the Post because there wasn’t enough revenue generated to support it. Being this it makes me wonder how the paper makes money here when they hand them out for free???

Secondly I went to Amsterdam again this past weekend and noticed just how really different it is from London. I suppose this makes sense because they are completely different places. People in Amsterdam and more laid back and easy going. In London its more of a lets get to business kind of style. Also London is so much bigger than Amsterdam!

Regardless of where you are, I have realized the importance of being flexible and open. Some of the best experiences you have are the ones that aren’t planned and some of the best people you meet and the ones you don’t expect to! It crazy we have only a week left but I’m going to try and make it the best one yet!!!

Week Three Observations

On our third week in London, we toured the Mini Cooper plant in Oxford and the Royal Courts of Justice.  I enjoyed watching the Mini go through the assembly process and was amazed by how precise and accurate the robots are.  At the Royal Courts of Justice I was surprised by the fact that the double jeopardy laws had been done away with in 2007.  I also enjoyed learning about the court structure in London.  It is much more complex than the structure of courts in the United States.

This week I was also able to visit the Kensington Gardens.  It is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon outdoors and I would highly recommend stopping by here while we are in London.  I have realized that people in the U.K. value parks and outdoor activity much more than Americans do.  When I visited, there were thousands of people out riding bikes, swimming, and doing yoga in the park.

Week Three Observations

Wow, I can’t believe we only have one more week in London. Time has flown so fast since we arrived. This week we visited the Mini Cooper plant in Oxford which was amazing. I have really started to notice how many Minis are on the road, particularly in downtown London. Space is really limited, so I can see why a Mini would be attractive to so many car owners. Not only is it fuel efficient, it is small enough to fit on the road. I am amazed every time I see a bus that it does not hit other cars on the road or pedestrians. I have already seen so many close counters between buses and cars going the opposite direction on the road.

On Wednesday we went to the Royal Courts of Justice, which I thought was intriguing. However, I was shocked that England allows double jeopardy. When the guide first said this I thought for sure I misheard heard, but no. England allows double jeopardy. I am still coming to terms with this, as it is hard to fathom. I would say that this without a doubt is the biggest difference between England and America’s justice system. 

week two observations

Week two of London has been one of the busiest, best weeks of my life. From taking tours with our class to going to Scotland and hiking on the hills and seeing a castle in the same day.  This week has been awesome.  Even though I am extremely tired, I would do it again if I could.  During the week our took trips learning about all sorts of marketing and I could get an entire ship for a company called LPK. 

During the weekend I took the trip to Scotland and it was incredible to say the least.  The train ride to get there was gorgeous. For some of the trip we saw a view of the ocean.  When we got there we go to go on hill that overlooked the entire city.  The next day we got to do whatever we wanted.  So I chose to wake up early go hiking on large hill right outside the college where I can see the entire city.  After that, I went to the Elephant House were the the first Harry Potter book was written.  After that I got to explore Edinburgh castle with another gorgeous view.  I learned that the castle was built on an old volcano and that is why the castle is on such high ground.  The final thing I did was walk around royal street and look at all the shops. There were so many shops that sold whiskey, souvenirs, and about anything you can think of.

This week has been a blast. I still can not believe that I got to do so much in just one week.  It was incredible and I cannot wait for the rest to come.  I am going to Paris this weekend and we still have a couple scheduled trips left.  This next week looks just as busy but I cannot wait!  

Week Two Observations

Already through two weeks here in London and the time continues to fly by. I've enjoyed everyday so far and hope the next two weeks are just as great as the first two. This week, I went to a few museums. I go through the museums pretty slow to be honest so, I can read most of the information the museums offer, so these trips took a while.

First museum I went to is the Natural History Museum. This museum a lot to offer and I enjoyed the dinosaur exhibit the most.

The next museum I went to is the Churchill War Rooms. This has been my favorite museum so far. Down in those bunkers, you can really get a sense of the history that took place down there. It was very extensive, showcasing the main meeting rooms and the lives the people lived down there. It also showcased Churchill's life from the beginning to the end, which showed that he was almost destined for greatness.

The last museum I got to see was the HMS Belfast. I really enjoyed this because it showed how important this ship was in multiple wars. I was also amazed as to how the people lived on the ship.

In these last two weeks I hope to see as much as I can before I have to leave. It seems I still have a lot more of my list that I still want to see so, it will be a busy two weeks.

Week 2 Observations

London has been an awesome experience so far meeting new people and touring the city which has much to offer! hard to believe we are only 11 days away from leaving, if I could stay an extra week or 2 I definitely would. Going to wimbledon to see center court was exiting for me because I love to watch and play tennis. Visited the HMS Belfast a famous world war battle ship thats by the London Bridge, on the thames river.

 Going to Amsterdam last weekend with Adam, Erin and a couple other classmates, was very interesting and a fun experience! In Amsterdam went to a couple museums such as the Von Gogh museum and others, took a tour of the Heineken Brewery which is my favorite part of the trip so far! Unilever is my favorite field trip, just learning what the company offers with the multiple products and the way they sell 2 billion items a day. LPK seemed to be a cool place to work because the let your imagination run wild coming up with logos or design for their clients.

London Week 2

With our second week here in London having come and gone I think about how much better I have become with navigating around this city. I now feel less like your typical clueless tourist, despite still visiting numerous tourist attractions. One of the places I visited was the HMS Belfast on the River Thames, a retired navy cruiser from the Second World War. Touring this enormous vessel was an interesting experience as it provided a glimpse into what life was like serving during the conflict. It was very difficult for me trying to get around the inside of the ship due to there being very low ceilings and countless places for me to hit my head...knowing this I couldn't imagine how hazardous it would be while in rough seas.

After our excursion to Ikea we made our way to Wimbledon to play a few sets on center court. For whatever reason they frowned upon the idea of us playing there. So we decided to take matters into our own hands and casually sneak past the gate for center court. We were able to just barely snap a few quick pictures before the old man that collects the tickets came and escorted us away. This event made our Wimbledon experience much more memorable.    

Week Two Observations and Experiences!

Week Two Observations

It’s already been two weeks in London! It’s crazy to think that I have experienced so much and so little all at the same time. We have roughly two more weeks left and it is going to be hard to decide what to do with my remaining time. This week the most significant thing I’ve realized is how close London is to other places and how close areas in Europe are to each other overall! I know this sounds obvious but the idea really didn’t sink in until I actually travelled and experienced it myself. Given that you have the money and time there are so many places available to you and within your reach.

            Another thing I have learned from this trip is how to be independent. When I first arrived it was always a matter of who is doing what, where is everyone going, etc. And while its nice to have the company of my peers and friends, I really have learned to do things independently. Through learning this sort of independence it has created new experiences. I have talked to more locals, learned the culture better and stumbled a crossed thing I wouldn’t have otherwise.

            It is going to sad to see how fast these last two weeks will fly by but I am excited to see what they will have in store for us all!

Week Two

This week we went to the British Library, IKEA, Unilever/Nielsen, and LPK. Overall, I would have to say the Nielsen visit was my favorite because we learned so much about sustainability. I remember people talking about sustainability when I was younger, but it seemed like business people always dismissed the idea as too costly. Now, sustainability actually drives down costs, and consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable products. It is interesting to see the changing preference in consumers altering the way business is done.
Another thing I noticed about London is how many different languages are spoken here. The other day, I was riding the train and heard three different languages. I don't know if that is simply because there are a lot of tourists here right now, but a lot of these people I see speaking other languages look as though they live here. In this aspect, I have to compare London to New York, as it seems many people from around the world immigrate here, just like New York.

Week 2 Observations

     As week two of our trip is coming to a close, I am reflecting on the many things I have learned while I have been here.  Culturally, I have noticed that Brits, for the most part, are highly interested in American politics.  I've spoken to quite a few Londoners since I arrived here and nearly all of them have asked me about politics.  They seem to be genuinely interested and want to hear all I can tell them on the topic.  They are also very well informed about politics and current events in the United States.
     On our field trips this week, I learned that sustainability and profitability go hand in hand.  Although it may be slightly more expensive to carry out business operations in a sustainable way, it can actually lead to increased profitability because sustainable business is so attractive to younger consumers.  I also learned how important branding is to a company.  I was amazed how much thought, design and strategy is involved with creating a company's brand image.

Visit to the Library and Museum

One thing I noticed on today's adventures....museums here are so weird! I mean it's free to get in to all of them, but some of the best exhibits you have to pay for! And not just a euro or two, I'm talking like 15-20. When did it become so expensive to revel in the history of music, art, and literature? And the museum that was completely free was way too busy! You'd have to spend an entire day in the British Museum to even put a dent in seeing everything they have there. I will say that I thought it was really cool that there was an exhibit for almost every part of the world and every major Ancient civilization. However, I think I could have gone without seeing the dead birds...kind of creepy.

week 1

The first week has been one of the best, most exciting weeks of the summer for me.  Throughout the week one of the first things that I noticed was different was the currency. Of course, I expected the currency system to be different but I did not anticipate  how valuable change would become.  I find it both good and bad.  The good part is its very quick if you want a drink of coffee. The bad is its sometimes inconvenient to pay with anything other than a card because since there is no 1 dollar bill I will usually get three dollars in change if I pay with a 10 dollar bill.

Another thing that surprised me was the how the prison system works in Europe.  I had no idea that you can actually leave during the day and come back at night.  I also did not know that the sentences are much less in Europe.  This is surprising because you think crime would be higher than it is now if the punishments are not as strict.

Overall I have had a great first week and learned so much.  I can not wait for the weeks to come.  I am really excited to visit the mini cooper and coke factory.  I think the worst part was adjusting my sleep schedule which is not bad after a couple days.  It has been a great first week and I can't wait for the three more to come!

Week One Observations

Week One Observations

So far everything in London has been great. This week we visited the Bank of England Museum and met with a London Detective. It is interesting to note the differences between England and the U.S. So far, I have noticed how small everything is, particularly the stores. I have yet to find any type of big box stores like Costco or Sam's Club back in the States. I don't know if I just haven't happened upon these stores in England, or if they simply aren't here. Also, back in the States I eat granola bars all the time, and I could choose from about fifteen to twenty different types of granola bars depending on which store I was in, but here there are maybe four or five different types is the store has them at all. I was at a Tesco Express the other day and couldn't find any, I guess people here just don't like granola bars as much.
The other main thing I have noticed is the style of dress. People here seem to dress up much more than in the U.S. Even in the Tube, where I thought I would see lots of people in sweatpants, people were wearing suits and nice outfits. Also, I have seen many groups of school children wearing suits around the city.

First week in London

This first week in London has been great! I've learned a lot about the rich history that this city has by touring the Tower of London. There I got to see thousands of diamonds that make up the extravagant Crown Jewels, which are an icon of the British Royalty. There is also a tremendous learning curb to navigating around this enormous city, in which I've only been lost a few times. I'm still clueless as to how the bus system works but I'm starting to feel like a pro tube rider! There are some cultural differences that have stuck out to me such as how everyone seems to dress nice here and how drinking beer during your lunch break is acceptable. I feel like we should bring both of these practices back to America with us, however I'm not sure we could ever be productive with alcoholic lunch breaks! Most people have been really friendly here, especially Charlie the train conductor who got us onto the train and then hooked us up with free sleeper suites for our trip to St. Andrews in Scotland for The British Open.

Our class trip to the Bank of England Museum was very interesting, I liked seeing the currency that they used hundreds of years ago and was intrigued by how they essentially developed their entire monetary system based off these primitive coins. Meeting with the London Police officer was also interesting, I had no idea how widespread white collar fraud really was until we talked with him. When he brought up police monitoring the internet all I could think of was how that would put this society one step closer to being like the one in George Orwell's book 1984. Ultimately, it was a great first week and I'm excited to see what next week will have in store!

 

Week One Observations

Been here a week now and I'm having a great time. In my time here I have noticed some differences compared to back home in the states.

One difference I've noticed is on the business side of things, branding in particular. Walking through the city and walking through shops I've seen different names or logos on the same products we have back in the states. Two in particular are Nationwide, which the logo is different and Lynx, in which the name is different, aka Axe.

The other differences I've noticed are more cultural. One cultural difference I've noticed is business men and women at the pubs during lunch. I was shocked to see people drinking in the middle of the work day. Its something that almost all people would not be able to do back in the states. Another difference I've noticed is tipping. Yesterday some of us were in a cab to take us back to a train station. At the end of the ride, he told us the price £12.50, so we got the money together and it seemed it would be easier to just give him £20. When we tried that he politely refused and we handed him £12.50. Back in the states when I've taken cabs, it seems to the cab driver the more money paid the better. I guess this is just another difference I'll get used to.

Week 1 Observation

London has been an awesome experience so far, it's interesting to see the different cultures and how they live over here. Everything is smaller room wise compared to the US. People dress for success unlike in the US we sometimes dress to casual. The field trips we went on, I have learned a lot and below is reflection of my experiences. 

Bank of England

            The Bank of England was very interesting to see. It was interesting to see how the bank started and all the currencies change that have occured. I didn’t realize in the 1600s that so

 many transactions were made and the amount taken out of the accounts. The banks

 used to be backed by gold because there was so much at the time. The banks had all

 the gold in England at one point. Lifting the gold bar was pretty cool, didn’t realize it

 would weigh 28 pounds. 

Head of Economic Crime

           Charles Cowan from Drinker, Biddle and Reath and The head of Economic

 Crime told me a lot about the fraud they face and how much of that goes on in

 companies. Only 20 to 25% get caught, hard to believe of them are executives in the

 company  Interesting that England’s law when it comes to fraud is only a short

 served time compared to America. Shocking to hear they let some of the criminals

 go out during the day and come back at night, never heard such a thing.  He brought

 up a topic that intrigued me. Should the government be more involved in the

 Internet? I thought they were already on most things.  I think in some ways we

 should let the government in more for fraud purposes but then again sometimes I

 think the government would get to much involved and push for more power on the

 internet.