During the Fall 2009 semester, McConnell Scholar Trey Pippin studied abroad in England. Thanks to the McConnell Center's generous special grant, he was able to make the most of the great opportunity. The McConnell Center has allowed many students to have the opportunity to study abroad since it was created in 1991.
Below is a post from his personal blog.
This weekend, I found myself in London. Home of Big Ben, Jack the Ripper, Her Majesty the Queen, and the London Bridge (among MANY other things). It is a town of so much history and my trip was only a quick glimpse into those pieces of time.
We rolled out from Harlaxton College bright and early on Friday morning. The bus ride to London is absolutely despicable and couldn't have been more miserable! Coach busses ride rough and they have such tiny leg room, they aren't much fun.
We arrived in London after we had a pit stop at a place with a Burger King- FINALLY AMERICAN FAST FOOD!!! The excitement for the "home cookin'" was spoiled when the people working the counter were so rude... if they wanted to dish it out to me, I'd dish a little attitude right back at them! My friend Eric summed the whole incident into a prophetic quote: "In America, the Burger King serves YOU but in England, YOU have to serve the Burger King..." (Not my cup of tea!)
We stayed at the Royal National Hotel in London. Friday night, I went to see the Broadway show called "Wicked." It is the story of what happened BEFORE the Wizard of Oz and it was an absolutely amazing show...
The next day (Saturday) we decided to go on our sightseeing tour by foot/subway. We went to Buckingham Palace which is the home of the Queen. Here are a few pictures from there:
After Buckingham Palace, we headed on down towards Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye.
Next, we headed over to the Tower of London and the London Bridge (The Tower Bridge). This picture below looks totally photoshopped but I promise it isn't!
Then I got my head cut off:
Today, we went to the "Hampton Court Palace" of Henry XIII and William and Mary. It was incredibly impressive and they also had an impersonator of the King there!
