We’ve had a busy week of orientation at for the ILACA London program. We had a boat tour on the Thames, a trip to the Tower of London, and an excursion to Windsor Castle. Students have heard from a constable about London crime, and we’ve trained students about the ins and outs of London’s magnificent transportation system (which allowed classes to take place despite the worst snowstorm in a decade). We’ve seen Taming of the Shrew and then met with the lead actor (next week we see three plays in four nights).
My own British Politics students are busy reading daily newspapers across the political spectrum, and are watching with interest as Tony Blair’s government falls deeper into crisis. We are also following the upcoming Scottish regional elections that will likely bring to power a nationalist party that has pledged to hold a referendum on Scottish independence. We’ll be in Scotland in two weeks, right in the middle of the electoral campaign (we’ve scheduled a visit to the Scottish parliament). Last week I was invited to a luncheon with Peter Mandelsen, considered one of the architects of the Blair’s new Labour, and currently the European Union Commissioner for Trade. He made a vigorous and articulate defense of globalization, and argued against those in the UK who refuse to embrace the European Union.
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