Harry Potter, the research story

Here is our final work on the presentation.
Brilliant job on the Power Point, Krsitin!

the final presentation

It's official.
For the past five weeks, we as a class with Professor Reed have studied millennial Britain through writing, performance, and curation. I cannot believe how fast the time passed by and am incredibly sad to live Oxford in a couple of days. It's been amazing and very interesting to compare and contrast Oxford with the rest of United Kingdom and with the United States as well. It is a beautiful city, and I feel trapped back in time walking in between the narrow streets of the world's oldest university.

We had the privilege to have the access to Bodleian Library, Oxford's central library where under the law of the UK, every book published in the UK is entitled to send a copy to this library. The library itself consist of consist of many buildings, but the main two buildings, Bodleian and Radcliffe Camera are connected underground and boast millions of copies of all the books published in UK. My favorite place is Radcliffe Camera and its Reading Room.

Radcliffe Camera Lower Reading Room

This amazing place has sadly put Suzzallo Reading Room into a shame- my eyes are spoiled and I will never be able to love UW Suzzallo in the same way I did circa Oxford Radcliffe. The library has a strict security system. It is close to the public(which made us extra special!) and you have to present your library card twice to get in and out of the library (first to the librarian, and then swipe at a machine to enter). You cannot also take out a book from the library so each bag is checked when you exit the library.

Stairway connecting Upper and Lower Reading Room. The librarian is guarding the entrance where students and faculties entering the building must present their library card

Our class was granted the access to Bodleian to help our research projects. Our research team (Agazit, Kristin and me!) looked into the effect of Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling's influence on Millennial Britain, specifically focusing on social identiay, mobility, and children's literacy. As a firm believer in education, my mini topic in the effect of Harry Potter in children's literacy seem tricky to approach in the beginning. However with the help from Faye and Kristin, I was able to carry on my research without breaking down! We presented our final projects as well as the other groups in a beautiful classroom in Jesus Graduate College Housing on Herbert Close. We shared a mixed feeling of joy and disbelief when the last group presented their work. 

photo credit to Chuck Krysieniel

Now our program is officially over and all we have left is a garden party tomorrow then we're off to go on our own journeys. I still have a week left in London- excited for that but incredibly sad at the same time. I met invaluable good friends, and the experience living in Oxford community is priceless. It has also given me a new-found appreciation to my home country, the United States. I've learned not to take things for granted and found the joy of exploring and discovering other parts of the world.

In other words, Honors Oxford program rocks!

Yay!! :D

Also, 

엄마아빠 저한테 이런좋은기회주셔서 감사해요!! 사랑해요! <33

Musical UK

One of the many things I'm making sure I get an experience out of it is plays and musicals. I am so lucky to be in the city where rich history of plays and appreciation for culture is well preserved. Followings are what I have watched so far

Shakespeare's Macbeth

Oxford Playhouse

Pro: Outdoor play. Amazing weather, glass of wine or pimms, and a good old Shakespeare's play in the heart of Oxford University, a pound blanket to keep yourself warm

Cons: some drunk people laughing in inappropriate scenes

Grease

Oxford New Theatre

Pro: amazing stage production, very entertaining, easily recognizable songs, and watching an American musical produced by British, ice cream sold during the intermission! → This seems to be a regular theater culture for the British. I like!!
Cons: I could not find any! it was amazing

Chicago

Cambridge Theatre, London

Pro: very, VERY sexy musical. both men and women will enjoy this play. Same with Grease, it was interesting to see the British interpretation of the musical. 

Cons: small stage and relatively weak in stage props. but the power of actors and actresses outweigh these drawbacks 

My friends and I were able to get amazing seats for almost half the price for the musicals by going on the day of the show. Definitely a must-do! Will update this blog when I get to see more in London =)

May I present you with beautiful Tour Eiffel....

View from Seine River

7/8/2011

 à couper le souffle

Manchester 7/2-7/3/2011

I had the pleasure of traveling to Manchester with Gawon (언니 :D) for the weekend.

In front of Imperial War Museum in Manchester, UK

My impression of Manchester: the remnants of industrial age beautifully mixed with modern taste.

one of my favorite building: Science & Industry Museum: mix of glass and red bricks

Tall glass building on the left: Armani; Brick building on the right: University of Manchester John Rylands Library

cool glass sculpture leading downstairs

Manchester had really good museums for free: Science & Industry Museum and Imperial War Museum. Imperial War Museum was especially awesome- it had collected thousands of articles collected during WWI, WWII, and Cold War, ranging from a general's secret diary during his capture in Japan to a propaganda poster. One of my favorite:

It shows so well how the life of British was affected during WWII. 

But what else is Manchester famous for?

Yesss I visited Old Trafford Stadium, home ground for Manchester United!
I toured around the stadium in beautiful breezy weather

Sadly it was off-season for the players so no, I didn't get to go to a game or watch them practice.... But I did go into their changing room!

Just thinking that Korea's national hero changes his sweaty shirt here in this room made me skip a heart beat.

We all fight for the same cause around the globe

Socialist workers gathered in front of Sheldonian Theatre

Last Thursday I encountered a group of Socialist Workers protesting on the street. I was listening to their speech when it struck me that the issues we have in America is also present anywhere else in the world.

I don't know much about government policy of the Great Britain, but one professor told me that his university's tuition is going to triple next year from 3000GBP to 9000GBP due to a cut in government funding. That is pretty outrageous! Imagine UW's tuition tripling just over a year? Our students would go nuts. 

Another form of British political culture I find interesting is Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) where the prime minister spends half an hour answering questions from members of parliament. Here's a clip of one example. (Thanks Brian!)

Standing up or stomping feet are the common scene of British Parliament. I couldn't help but compare this tradition to other common scenes of government meetings where when things get too heated....... well...

Slightly comical, almost.