RHS literature club visits London

As English critic and writer Samuel Johnson said, “You find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”

Recently returned from a trip to London with Ramstein High School’s AP Literature Club, I believe I can speak for my peers when I say we agree whole-heartedly with Johnson. After just five days, we found ourselves completely smitten with this dynamic, cosmopolitan city. After all – apart from the weather, of course – what’s not to love?

Our AP Literature Club president, Caroline Nikolaus, put it perfectly when she said, “London is not just a city full of tourist attractions, but a city full of life. Simply wandering around the city provides pleasure and something to do.

Experiencing London doesn’t come from visiting every possible museum and monument, but by walking the streets, discovering tea shops, or sitting on a bench and people-watching until you sense that London isn’t just a city, but a people, a culture and a way of life.”

Made up of more than 270 different nationalities, London is nothing if not diverse, and its cuisine reflects likewise. On our trip, students tasted everything from Japanese to Indian to traditional English food.

“Traveling to London, as far as food goes, does not require any kind of acquired taste; there is something for everyone,” said RHS senior Lauren Maza. “Say you want to try British food? No problem, try some fish and chips. Or want to stick to something you know, like McDonald’s? They’ve got plenty of those, too.”

For example, our hotel, The Union Jack, offered a full English breakfast, while right across the street in the Waterloo tube station was some more familiar food: Krispy Kremes and Starbucks. Nevertheless, everyone tried something new on this trip, whether it was their first scone or some exotic seafood (in my case, squid!) straight off the conveyer belt at Yo! Sushi. Wagamama, a Japanese Ramen bar, and Pizza Express also had decent prices and great food that left our wallets and stomachs satisfied.

Though the food was fantastic, you can’t have dinner without a show. All of us saw “Twelfth Night” performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company, and though it was not as glamorous or exciting as some of the other shows, it was amazing to see Shakespeare come to life. Having previously read some Shakespeare in our AP literature class, this was definitely an interesting and educational experience. However, most students also decided to go to another show, such as “Wicked,” “Les Mis,” “Billy Elliot” or “Avenue Q.”

“The shows were great. If you go to London, definitely make sure you see one,” said RHS junior Katie Merry.

Like all things in London, the possibilities are endless.

“The plays in London really are fabulous; from the classic “Lion King” to the new favorite “Wicked,” there is something for all ages,” said RHS senior Sydnie Reynolds.

Apart from shows, there are some other sights that the AP Literature Club saw during their stay, such as Big Ben, Parliament and Westminster Abbey. A group of students also spent some time in the British Museum.

“I found everything ranging from an Easter Island head to the actual Rosetta Stone,” Sydnie said. “One special feature of the museum is that you can touch certain artifacts and have a volunteer tell you about them. I got to touch a thousand-year-old Islamic mosaic, a fossil and an Ethiopian dowry bracelet.”
Another lucky group of students visited Buckingham Palace when the flag was at full-mast, meaning that the queen was inside. However, when one remembers areas such as Hyde Park, Notting Hill and Covent Garden, and tourist destinations like Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum and Harrods, the amount of things to see and places to visit in London becomes almost overwhelming.

RHS senior Shannon O’Neal said, “There’s definitely tons to see. You never really know what you’ll find, but London never disappoints.”

For the girls especially, London’s shopping opportunities alone would have been incentive enough to take part in the trip. Oxford Street offered everything from H&M and Gap to Urban Outfitters and American Apparel, as well as some other English retailers. For cheaper shopping, students visited Camden Town, where the market vendors were open to haggling for their clothing and souvenirs. We found that Oxford Street was to Camden as Manhattan was to Greenwich Village, and the students were happy to explore the best of both worlds.

Our trip to London makes an important point about our military lifestyle. While sometimes we all whine and grope about missing our favorite restaurant or not being able to drive, living here in Germany is what made our trip to London possible. Through the military, there are endless travel opportunities.

 “The cultural atmosphere (in London) ranging from the museums to history to theatre is incomparable,” said RHS senior Ryan Resch.

Indeed, even the huge malls, Target and dozens of fast-food restaurants of the U.S. simply don’t compare to our experience in London.