London Calling

View of the River Thames from the Wobbly BridgeHello! My name is Hannah, and my concentration in Gallatin is Arts Administration and Visual Culture. The vast collection of contemporary art galleries and museums in London make the city the perfect destination for my semester abroad. This semester I am taking Contemporary Art in Britain, Seeing London, Issues in Contemporary Politics and Culture, and Art and War. I have filled my schedule with courses that get me out into the city, as my goal is to soak in as much art, music, theater, and life of London as I can before I return.

During my stay here I hope to become closely acquainted not only with the art scene, but also the greater culture of London. Growing up in New York City and Los Angeles, I have always enjoyed living in a cosmopolitan area with many cultural stimuli. However, I am eager to experience a new approach to city life. I have only left the United States once before, a trip I took with my parents after my high school graduation, so I am in serious need of some international perspective. I am excited to travel to other place in Europe, but my primary goal is to experience much of the city so that by the end of the semester, I have an idea of whether I’d like to study or work here again in the future.

The first book I am reading is The Anglo Files by Sarah Lyall. She is a New York Times writer who moved to London in the 1990s with her English husband, and wrote this book about the cultural differences she found between Americans and the Brits. I chose this book because I feel as if I can relate to the author, as both of us are raised in and strongly tied to New York City. Additionally, her writing is quite humorous, and I have already found her observations to be quite accurate!

Since arriving less than a week ago, I already feel a connection to the city. There is certainly a cultural pulse; I have realized that one just needs to seek it out. Already I went to see the Mark Rothko exhibition at the Tate Modern, strolled along Portobello Market Road, and attended a concert! Despite my initial fears of taking on a totally new place, London feels much more accessible than I expected.