John’s last post outlined most of what we did during First Week, but let me update you on Friday’s class, because it was awesome! We’ve been studying a lot of political theory (and practice) and we’re just starting to get into what for me is the most fascinating part of the “art of insurgency”: the …
Category Archives: Study Abroad
The Art of Insurgency
Thursday, Week One, Block 7, Year 4. This week is the first of four in which a group of 14 Colorado College students will be focusing their academic energy on the connections between acts of insurgency, civil disobedience, protest, regime opposition and performance. The focus is largely in the Balkans. What roles did performance play …
Winter Break Part One: Paris
My heart is thumping as I push open the door and walk into a techno soaked lobby slash chill out room slash internet cafe. This is my first time staying in a hostel, and I feel like I’m back at CC New Student Orientation, hands shaking at the prospect of, gulp, having a roommate that …
Highlights of the Oxmas Season
Apologies for being out of touch, friends. Things have been busy as the term came to an end. Now Oxford is filled with young interviewees seeking admission to the University, and I am leaving to explore France and other parts of the UK. As a side note, admission to Oxford basically comes down to two …
Page Turner
One afternoon I make it my mission to explore Oxford’s libraries. This is easily imagined but less easily done because there are no fewer than one hundred libraries in the city. They range from the massive and historical Bodleian–which is legally entitled to a copy of every book published in England–to private libraries in each …
Brooms Up
“Brooms up!” says the referee, and we all sprint for the center of the field. It’s a race for the four balls, chasers running for the Quaffle (an under inflated volleyball) and Beaters for the three bludgers (dodgeballs). There’s mud in my face so I can’t really see, but I charge ahead enthusiastically and slam …
Welcome to Oxford
The city of Oxford has many things going for it, but being easy to navigate late at night is not one of them. At least, that’s how I feel on my first night at the University of Oxford. The rest of the “freshers” and I have been released into town after an evening of orientation, …
Jet Lag, the Tube, and Other Miscellaneous Thoughts
At this point in my trip to London, I still can’t quite believe we’ve only been here for six days. For whatever reason, time has slowed down – although I think that’s due primarily to the jet lag, which is exactly as bad as I had heard it would be. Thankfully, my circadian clock caught …
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Friends versus Family: How to Vacation in London
I’ve been to London twice in the past six months. The first time I went with my family and absolutely abhorred the experience. After visiting every single possible tourist location in all of England, we rented a car and drove four hours to the ‘Dr. Who Experience’—which is some sort of strange hybrid museum/amusement ride …
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Pedestrians Beware
“One does not simply wait for pedestrians. One runs them down so as to herd them and remove them more quickly from the path of a car.” If there was an adage for London drivers, this would be it. If walking is scary (because from personal near death experience on many occasions it is safe …
