Off to York, we were! Transportation on buses here serve as an excellent time to catch up on readings, write essays, and catch up on sleep. Two hours and a great nap later, the bus arrived at Carlson Software. The company, founded in Maysville, Kentucky, now has branches in the Netherlands, Australia, and even in York, Great Britain. We were given a demo of their latest products which use laser readings to scan in mineshafts and quarries for underground cavities to aid in the safety and planning of the operation. Watching the machine in action as it precisely plotted out details of the warehouse it was scanning, and seeing how many different engineers and software developers had a piece in creating it was very impressive. Being a Kentucky company, there were even two Gatton alumni working there (one who wrote the software for their latest machine), and it was great to discuss their Gatton experience and how it helped them enter into the workforce. The two alumni are Kyle Kelly (’11, Christian County High School) and Derek Fox (’11, Campbell County High School).

After a quick snack break, we were off to downtown York. There, we ate our lunches on the banks of the Ouse River, before seeing the various historical sites the town had to offer. We visited Clifford’s Tower (no Big Red Dog included), saw Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre, and climbed along the York Walls, whose construction began back in 71 AD with the Romans. However, we also walked through various street and antique markets and even got to see some of Bob Dylan’s paintings at an art gallery.  One of my favorite parts of sightseeing in Britain is the ability to see historic landmarks that even predate most of American history altogether while also having modern elements immediately nearby.

Following our returning bus ride and my second nap of the day, we ate dinner in the manor and my friends were ready for more smashing rounds of croquet. The unofficial official sport of The Gatton Academy, my friends and I indulge in the opportunity to play a “gentleman’s game” during our time here. As the sun began to set on the horizon and cast a golden glow on the manor, we were busy lining up shots through gates and trying to send one another’s balls careening off the green with our mallets. With one week left here in Britain, I still see many more rounds of croquet and incredible memories in our future.

Lorenzo

Heading out in the morning from our residence hall, we bypassed our usual classroom in favor of more explorative ventures at the Wellcome Collection and the British Library. Wellcome featured exhibitions on the history of magic and collections of artifacts related to human health. On display was Darwin’s walking stick, Napoleon’s toothbrush, and even an Ecuadorian shrunken head.

The British Library had some of the most important pieces in the island’s long history, including Jane Austen’s desk, lyric workings by John Lennon, and the Magna Carta. Getting to see these legendary pieces was definitely not something I will forget and a great educational use our class time while in London.

Afterward, we were off to explore London ourselves by heading south towards the Thames. Now, no visit to England would be complete without some scrumptious minced beef pies, so we stopped at a local shop, and the pies were so tasty that my friends and I questioned why there weren’t just as prevalent in the States. Nevertheless, we made it to the river and got to walk around must-see London spots like Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the Tower of London. Hopping across the iconic Tower Bridge, we cooled off by heading to the Borough Market, where vendors were selling local meats, cheeses, and pastries all under the shade of the train tracks above.

Taking a quick break at our dorms, we decided to set out for dinner. One of the best things to do in London is simply set out in a direction and wait for something to catch your eye in the big city. After walking around, our group finally decided to try some authentic ramen. Needless to say, it was much more complex and flavorful than what most kids who live on a college campus are familiar with. After another eventful and jam-packed day, we wound down with our new nightly tradition. First, a visit to the 24-hour Tesco (Britain’s much-condensed equivalent to Walmart) for Jaffa Cakes and then our residence hall’s own Foosball table for air conditioning and healthy competition. With 13 miles walked, this day certainly was one where we made the most of our time seeing what makes London such an incredible city.

-Lorenzo