Choosing Courses

Captain Ruter attended this week's faculty meeting in order to survey the course choices upon him. Everything sounded so interesting, he has decided to attend them all! (Even though the Southwestern student only have the opportunity to register for up to 5 courses, the Captain is quite sure the students will help him learn highlights of and insights from every course available.)

Here, the Captain walks through the list of programmed trips and choices as history teacher Dr. Steve Davidson and CAPA program genius Joanna Shearer discuss whether to put a walking tour of tea and coffee trade, the London Tower Key Ceremony, or an operations management tour of Fuller Brewery at the first of the "shzez-ule." Dr. Davidson will teach 3 courses: World Civilization to 15o0, Global Powers (The Rise and Fall and Rise of Empires -- China, Great Britain, and the U.S....and China again), and Commodities and International Conflicts.

Indeed the Captain knows the great rebellions his crew have mounted when they do not have sufficient coffee! Power and commodities and conflict all weave through Empires....oh, how fortunate for the Captain.

And then there's a Dr. Mary Grace Neville who will build further on commodities and power teaching 3 courses: Business and Society (where the idea for a brewery tour arose!), Foundations of Business for mates intending to major in the field, and Contemporary Issues such as concepts of identity and paradigms and global such and such (he likes the idea of "fostering moral imagination about how business might occur in our 21st century" but admits he hasn't any idea what the blokes there actually talk about in class...).

Everyone will be together for a course called "British Life and Culture" chalked full of interesting walks and tours and talks. A chap called Michael Fosdal, a British lecturer, teaches that course. Southwestern students who the Captain spoke with prior to his journey particularly enjoyed Fosdal.

And finally, the Captain has enrolled in the theatre course (though he'll have to practice spelling it correctly!). He and others will attend class for several hours on Wednesday afternoons to prepare, and then collectively go to Wednesday evening performances of all sorts and all 'round the city. He'll shine up his sword for these events, perhaps even putting a feather in his cap! The programme begins with a group theatre trip to see "Billy Elliott," one that the Captain enjoyed in film form years back.

He's off to begin his reading --- massive assignments for next week's course start. He's eagerly anticipating the Saturday orientation when he'll meet the loads of other SU mates. (And then he's likely to entice several to venture out with him on Sunday or Monday to the Notting Hill Carnival...he's heard it's quite a time!!).

Arrival

Arrival in London proved a bit more complicated than flying. The signs and schedules are all written in code familiar to the people of Europe, but quite standardized from the Captain's early sailing days. First, one must figure out the destination in the language chosen by the train or bus company. The captain studied the possible choices for quite some time before identifying where he wanted to go. But he wasn't alone. London is so full of people "on holiday" from other parts of the country or the world that focusing on a schedule in a very public place for a very long time appears absolutely normal.

Second, one must track time in what Americans call "military time" and Europeans call "normal" -- the clock never stops. At 12 noon, one might eat lunch. Then one hour later, rather than 1 p.m., the time has simply continued and become 13:00. 30 minutes later, time will be written as 13:30 and spoken "half past one."

Then, the currency and equipment had to be navigated. Though everything is written in English, careful observers could hear periodic Pirate mumbles... "Blimey, that!" England is on the currency system called "pounds" (or more formally, "British Pounds Sterling") and written as ₤. One pound equals approximately two American dollars. This particular ticket machine also listed currency in euros, the currency of the European Union. One euro equals approximately 1.65 American dollar, or approximately 1.2 British pounds.

Had he not gotten caught in the machine attempting to retrieve his ticket, the little Captain would have been just fine.

His final challenge was "simply" keeping alert to the instructions so cleverly written on the platform. The trains and the tube (London's subway system) are slightly more narrow than the platform could allow --- helpful for avoiding train accidents. However, the gap seems to be sufficiently challenging for sufficient numbers of people that "Mind the gap" is quite commonly announced. Other helpful instructions such as "Look Left" or "Look Right" are painted on many busy street crossings to keep everyone clear about who is coming and who is going which direction.

Soon, the Captain will be issued a travel pass for the tube called an "Oyster card" allowing him unlimited travel within two zones of London's public transportation system. This should encourage him to explore freely throughout his few months here. We'll see how he does.

Traveling Abroad

The Captain was made to check his sword when boarding his delayed, intercontinental flight. He reported sadly, "Ye'd be thinkin' they're a needin' me help te protect the folk, but Piratin's gotten a bad name I guess."

Foreign travel has become more complicated too, he discovered. Passengers were only allowed to check 1 bag weighing no more than 50 pounds, a change from even months ago. Some cheap flights within the European continent only allow approximately 20 pounds per bag and only one (not 2 as the overseas flight allowed) carry-on. Given that he'll continue to be required to check his sword, the Captain began plotting the art of packing quite lightly --- he decided to wear variations of his one cape and cap the entire semester.

And because the wee fellow stands only 10 cm, carrying his own passport (standard 12.5 cm) will be difficult enough on this long semester's journey.

"No worries, mate," the Captain reported to passers by, "I'm gettin me work-out this way!"

Off to Britain he went.