Big Tex to Big Ben

Leahna and I worked on our video together while in London and Fort Worth. We really wanted to bring our journey to life through this video, and we begin doing just that in the video by explaining some of the things in our life that would change as we entered this new country. We take our viewers along this journey through music, photos, videos, and some mildly comedic commentary. This city made us step outside of our comfort zones and explore uncharted territories. The stars are big and bright over Texas, and we can now say that they are just as big and bright in London.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjhUBTahbjI

I would have loved to interview real Londoner's for the film, if given more time. I think it would have been interesting to get their thoughts on the fact that we were coming to their home for a sort of self-discovery. I also would have liked to ask them where they might travel to find themselves. London is a city much like places in the United States; people of all races, ethnicities, religions, shapes, and sizes are living together in harmony. If I had been given more time, I would have made it a point to interview a large scope of people outside of our classroom.

Coming of Age as a Global Citizen

Interview of Immigrant: Museum of London

This snapshot is from an interview given to an immigrant who had migrated to London. She explained that she had to get used to living next to people that did not share her same customs or religion. I imagine that Anwar felt similarly while living in London; he acted as though he still lived in India.

A Couple from Notting Hill, 1967: Museum of London

This photo of an interracial couple illuminates the idea of mixing classes and ethnicities that Helen's father was both afraid of and irritated by. 

Tipu's' Tiger: Victoria and Albert Museum 

 This wooden creation, made for an Indian sultan, emulates many of the feelings that Indians had towards the Englishmen they encountered. I think this is how Anwar felt when people told him that his way of life and thinking, such as his thoughts on arranged marraige, should change now that he is in England.

Costumes from The Lion King: Victoria and Albert Museum 

 These are the costumes used in the theater performance of The Lion King. These costumes are over the top with embellishments, although the costumes may appear to be authentic. The costumes were made by the white set designers as their ideas and visions of Africa were birthed. In the novel, Karim is forced to wear a loin cloth and paint himself brown because he does not quite yet fit that particular costume designer's idea and vision for that production.

View of London: London Eye

The view of London from this particular spot allowed us to see many different parts of it at once. The view from this spot near the center of London gave the city the illusion of a million different possible directions to go. I imagine that Karim was filled with a similar sense of possibility upon moving into the city. 

Coming of Age as a Writer

Magna Carta Exhibition: British Library
FDR & Winston Churchill 

I did not realize just how influential the Magna Carta had been in founding the documents that made our very own country. This photo of two great leaders really grabbed my attention at the exhibition. I thought it was a great example of how one great document can unify and inspire people all over the world. The writings of one can inspire the actions of nations.

Description for Humber Staff Car: Imperial War Museum 

I loved this description of one of the automobiles situated in the Imperial War Museum. I thought it was a great example of people's determination to keep traditions of home alive, even in foreign places. This reminded me of some of the things that Robbie might have missed while he was away at war.

Thoughts on England and war preparation: Imperial War Museum
Winston Churchill

This quote embodied what I imagined to be one of the mantras repeated by British officials during times of war such these. in the Imperial War Museum. The British understood that they would have to be prepared for anything; they knew that even though they may want one event to happen, another less favorable one could take its place. I imagine this is how Cecilia and Robbie felt just before he left for war. They planned to wait for each other, but they knew there would be a chance that the reunion would never happen.

Florence Nightingale's Sphere of Global Influence
Florence Nightingale Museum 

This photo shows the global impact that the Nightingale model of nursing had on the world. This shows how great writings can influence thousands of lives. I imagine that this would have been a dream of Briony.

Thoughts on voicing her opinions to male coworkers: Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale Museum 

This is a quote from Florence Nightingale that I fell in love with at her museum. It addresses her thoughts on the importance of voicing her opinions. She knew that she needed to write and share her knowledge. Briny wrote with a similar thought; she knew that she had to. Briony knew she was being called to the vocation of writing just as Florence was to nursing.

Coming of Age as a Traveler

Sandro Bottilcelli
Three Miracles of Saint Zenobius, 1500

Sandro Bottilcelli
Venus and Mars, 1485

 This painting is a great piece of work that describes a scene comparable to that of Lucy and George in Piazza Signoria. Just as demons are flying out of the man in this photo, the Edwardian standards and thoughts fly out of Lucy.








This painting shows the exaggerated ideas of both masculinity and femininity that Lucy and George may have been surrounded by. Here, Mars is exhausted from love just as George was after his second kiss with Lucy.

JMW Turner
Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, 1832

In this painting, Turner is illustrating the world he sees through literature; he is able to transport himself to other places through fictitious stories. in comparison, Lucy transports herself to other places through less exciting books like her Baedeker.

JMW TURNER
London from Greenwich Park, 1809

In this painting Turner plays with the use of shading and creates natural light within the painting. This painting in particular is not as lively as his painting set in Rome, showing how feelings differ from place to place. Similarly,  Lucy seems to feel more like herself in Florence rather than her home.

View from the Thames boat ride: Tate to Tate

I took this photo as We were traveling along the Thames from one Tate Museum to the other. I imagined how Lucy must have felt as we were on the boat. It was such a freeing and exhilarating feeling to know that I was embarking on an adventure all on my own. For the first time, I was traveling without my parents just as Lucy did.

Coming of Age as a Thinker and Skeptic

Dinning Hall
Oxford: Christ Chapel

 This picture of the dinning hall gives a god example of where Charles may have spent most of his time as he was coming of age as a thinker and skeptic. Christ Church teaches its students to be skeptical about everything in the world and to study it rather than accepting it. Charles was around brilliant thinkers during his time at Oxford, studying at a place where famous intellectuals had their "aha" moments.

Mercury fountain in Tom Quad
Oxford: Christ Church

This picture reminds us of the fountain at Brideshead, which Charles found so intriguing. Fountains act as a symbol of self reflection for Charles. He would stare into the Sebastian's fountain and assess the matters weighing on his brain. Similarly, Fountains and the water in them hold great symbolic meaning for Catholics (such as Sebastian and his family). The water in fountains can be linked to Baptism, and in turn, a sense of purity or redemption.

Eltham Palace

Eltham Palace is representative of Brideshead and its layout. Much like the estate of the novel, this palace is a patchwork of different styles; it visually tells a story if all that have inhabited it as the style changes and every turn. The estate is large as was the estate where Charles spent most of his time. It was not until seeing this estate that I was able to visualize how extravagant of a place Brideshead must have been for Charles to grapple with religion and other things weighing on his heart.

Newspaper Add for Exotic Pets

 This picture is representative of the wealth that surrounded Charles in his life. Nothing was off limits to those with an abundance of money; he himself did not have a strict spending limit.

Hampton Court Palace

This picture shows the clash of Tudor and Baroque styles. It is also symbolic of the clash between Catholicism and Protestantism. While both of the clashes illustrated by this photo do not plague Charles, he does have a similar inner battle. As Charles is coming of Age as a Skeptic and Thinker, he is often working with his opinions on religion: does he believe in it? or does he not?

Coming of Age as a Worker

Emma Brownlow
Taking Leave, 1868
Oil on Canvas
The Foundling Museum

Anonymous
Handmade Modern Token
The Foundling Museum 

19th Century Drawing Room
Geffrye Museum for Interior Design 

John Everett Millais
Mariana, 1851
Oil on Mahogany
Tate Britain

William Holman Hunt
Claudio and Isabella, 1850
Oil on Mahogany
Tate Britain 

First Blog Post...Like Ever.

Hi y'all! My name is Sela Garcia, and as you may have guessed, I am not a London native. That being said, I am in for a long awaited culture shock as I embark on a six week long adventure starting July 5th.

Texas Christian University

I am 21 years old and am now enjoy the summer before my senior year at Texas Christian University as an English major with a Psychology Minor. 

San Antonio Riverwalk: Christmas Season

I'll throw you a bone by saying that I am from Texas, if the "y'all" did not give it away in the beginning. I was born in Corpus Christi, which for those of you who don't know, is located along the Gulf of Mexico. However, I have lived in San Antonio for the past 14 years, and consider that to be my home. 

San Antonio: Mexican Market

Like most Texans, I enjoy sweet tea, "please and thank you", and Mexican food. (I should mention that I am Mexican...and Spanish).

Billy Bob's Fort Worth, Texas

Although I am extremely excited to call London my home in the coming weeks, I will be missing all the friends and family, who will stay back here in Texas. I'll be swarming their  mailboxes with postcards of all the places I visit, and I am guessing that I will become somewhat of a Skype expert by the time I return. 

I think I am well overdue for adventure, this being the summer before my final year of college, and I'm eager to see what the future holds: new places and faces. 

I hope to see that the stars over London are "Big and Bright" like the ones I'm used to by the end of my six weeks. 

San Antonio Spurs: 2014 NBA Champions

P.S. I should also mention that I am, now and always have been, a Huge Spurs fan. See you in France Tony! xoxo