The Language Barrier

In spite of the fact that both Americans and the British speak English, there are noticeable differences beyond their (or our!) accents. Here are a few key terms to keep you in the know.

clothing:
trousers = pants.
pants = underwear (knickers is also be used)
jumper = sweater
lift = elevator

loo = bathroom (you may see signs for the WC (water closet)
queue = line
bonnet = hood of the car
boot = trunk of the car
flat = apartment

food:
bangers and mash (on a menu) = sausage and mashed potatoes
bubble and Squeak is a dish comprised of leftover potatoes, cabbage, and perhaps some beef jacket potatoes = baked potatoes (the skin, or “jacket,” is still on)
prawns = shrimp
haggis, neeps, and tatties = haggis (it's quite delicious!) with mashed turnips (neeps), and mashed potatoes (tatties)
biscuits = cookies
chips = french fries
crisps = potato chips
take away = carry out
If you ask for water in a restaurant and don't want sparkling water you will need specify "flat" otherwise you will get bubbly water.

quid = a British pound (currency)
fag = cigarette
snog = kiss
knackered = exhausted
the tube = the London Underground (subway system); in the tube you may hear the phrase "mind the gap" this refers to keeping an eye out for the gap between the subway trains and the station platform; common courtesy on the tube is yield your seat to a pregnant woman or an elderly person, or anyone looking like they could really use the seat (if there are none left)

Meeting on Wednesday April 29th

See you all at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, April 29th in room 1110 Jenkins. At the meeting we will:

• Record buddy pairs
• Assign train seats
• Assign hostel roomies
• Discuss the readings
• Discus behavior expectations and penalties for repeat violations
• Answer any questions you have, or discuss any fears you have.

See you then!

Next Meeting + Train Schedule

Hi all. Yes, our next meeting is on Tuesday, April 21st @ 7:30 PM in Room 1110 Jenkins. We will be handing out readings, talking about flying, and giving you updates on things! The trip is fast approaching and we hope you are as excited as we are!
Topics for the meeting:

• Readings
• Getting to Raleigh
• How to deal with money on the trip
• Flying/travel safety
• + more!

Here are our travel times for our train trips:
Friday, 29 May 2009
Depart: London Kings Cross 07:00
Arrive: Glasgow Central 12:47

Sunday, May 31, 2009
Depart: Glasgow Central 10:50
Arrive: Edinburgh 11:54

Saturday, 6 June 2009
Depart: Edinburgh 10:00
Arrive: London Kings Cross 14:43

March 24th Meeting

Hello there. At the March 24th meeting this is what we are going to discuss.

• We collected ISIC Student Discount Card applications. If you weren't able to attend you need to get your application to Annie Hogan ASAP!
• Topics for presentations were discussed again. If you haven't picked one, see that post on the blog, and select one.
• We reviewed the coursework requirements. See the link on the right side of this page.
• We discussed our housing. Some of our accommodations will have mixed-gender dormitory-style rooms. We will do our best to accommodate requests for all-women rooms.
• Breakfast is included in the cost of your trip! Our hostels will be providing it! In addition, on the tour of the Scottish Highlands 2 dinners are also included. This is all thanks to our accommodations booking agent and the strength of the dollar against the British pound.
• We would like everyone to pick a travel buddy. You will be rooming with your travel buddy and will responsible for helping make sure that person gets on all the trains, is up in the AM, etc. And, your travel buddy will do the same for you!
• Our next meeting is Tuesday, April 14th, at 7:30 PM, room 1110 Jenkins.

What went down at the Tuesday March 3rd meeting

Hey Everyone! 

An update on what went down at the meeting last Tuesday night at 7.30pm. 

ISIC forms: International Student Discount Card forms were handed out. If you didn't get one please come collect one from my door (Office Rm 1115 in Jenkins). The $22 fee is already included in your trip price.

To complete, You will need 2 passport sized photographs of  'yer mug' for the application....see the details on the form. I think it would be easy just to go to Walgreens for this to be done. It takes the hassle out for a couple 'a bucks.

Please bring the passport photos and the completed form to the next meeting. This is on March 24th at 7.30pm in Room 1110.

Small Presentations forms part of  your grade: 8-10 minutes

Kate and I handed out a form that has all the presentation topics listed. The presentation is a small 8-10 minute talk about a particular topic that is relevant to the trip. It will form part of your grade for this class. You will do it verbally to the group. This small presentation will be done at the appropriate time on the trip according to what we are visiting. eg. the History of the V & A museum will be done at the V & A when we visit.

For those that were at the meeting they got first dibs on the topics and signed their name next to their topic. For those that need to sign your name to a presentation, please do so as a comment to this blog!

Following are the topics remaining:

History of the Victoria and Albert Museum (London)

Tracy Emin (Contemporary British Photographer)

Sam Taylor Wood  (Contemporary British Photographer)

E. McKnight Kauffer (Historical graphic designer)

History of the pinhole and how it works : Camera Obscura: Edinburgh

The Lindisfarne Gospels (The British Library)

Julia Margaret Cameron and portraiture  (Historic female British Photographer)

Frederick Scott Archer : The role of color in photography (Scottish)

Nicholas Pevsner: History of the history of design

The Pre-Raphaelites

The Bloomsbury literary movement

The Fluxus movement

Robert Long (contemporary conceptual artist)

The history/ies of the Tate Britain Museum and the Tate Modern

Itinerary for the Trip: I will email this to you today.

Luggage:  Kate's super fantastic luggage. 

See here for the Eagle Creek Crossroads 22 (Rollie/Backpack)

See here for the Rick Steve's Veloce Daypack 

See here for Kim's luggage: High Sierra ATQ Carry On Wheeled Backpack w/Removable Day Pack

So, if you have any questions, just email Kate or myself! 

Happy Spring Break!! 

Take care on those roads!

Meetings Before we Head to the Uk

Cheers all! We have planned the meeting that we'll have between now and when we depart for England!

Tuesday, March 3rd - 7:30 PM - Room 1110 Jenkins

• Details on air travel; present/pick topics for student presentations
  
• Distribute Student Discount card applications

Tuesday, March 24th - 7:30 PM - Room 1110 Jenkins

• Present/review coursework schedule/expectations for projects
• Collect passport sized photographs and completed student discount card applications

Tuesday, April 14th - 7:30 PM - Room 1110 Jenkins

• Present/review readings for the trip; discuss your responsibilities on the trip;
  

Tuesday, May 19th - 1 PM - Room 1110 Jenkins - Final meeting before we fly away!

• Last minute questions; packing assistance, etc.
• Watch To Sir With Love
  

Our tour of the Scottish Highlands.

If you're curious about our tour into the Highlands, you can check out the provider for the trip, Haggis Tours. We are taking the 3-day Skye High Trip. I took a Haggis Tour last summer, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Nice busses, great tour guides, and - of course - STUNNING scenery!