4/4/09 Tour of Edinburgh, off to Stirling

In the morning after finishing packing JJ and I headed out to a New Europe walking tour of the city, starting at the King Charles Cathedral. Ironically, our tour guide was actually from Melbourne, Australia and was quite funny. We learned important things such as the origin of the word shit-faced and saw where JK Rowling got inspiration for and worked on Harry Potter.

From Scotland Trip

From Scotland Trip

Sadly, we had to leave the tour early to head off to Stirling with the rest of the London Program. Once in Stirling we went to the location of the Glenturret Distillery for the Famous Grouse Experience. They really pulled out all the stops for us, as we were greeted with a real Scottish bagpiper as soon as we stepped off the bus.

From Scotland Trip

I sampled several different whiskeys as we got an in depth look into how and where different kinds of whiskeys are made. After the tour we were treated to an elaborate Scottish dinner, and I tried haggis, which was really quite good. The bus ride back was interesting to say the least, as our bus driver had quite the unique taste in music.

From Scotland Trip

At night a few of us went out to a random bar in Stirling and just chilled out for the most part, It seemed like the city had a decent nightlife despite what we had been previously told.

4/3/09 St Andrews, pub crawl

What visit to Scotland would be complete without a visit to the famous St Andrews? Now I am not really a fan of golf, but it was still really neat to see a place with such a storied history. We heard about the business aspects of St Andrews from some of their representatives and then toured around the practice range and the facilities. I walked on part of the old course, and stood on the famous footbridge near the last hole.

From Scotland Trip

In the free time we had at St Andrews, JJ, Nate and I went on a little expedition to explore the rocky shoreline.

From Scotland Trip

We got on the bus back to Edinburgh since we didn't want to play golf. At night JJ, Nate and I embarked on the Insomniac Pub Crawl. Nate felt sick to his stomach shortly after starting and had to walk back to the hotel. At the next stop we met some cool German guys and I talked to them about my recent trip to Munich. The night wore on and our last stop was the club Hive. Apparently some other SU kids were there and quickly came over to join us. JJ was dancing with some girl and so I had to play wingman and stop the SU kids from cockblocking him by holding them back and saying "it's alright!".

After a bit I lost track of JJ and wandered around the club looking for him to see if he wanted to leave. I didn't find him, but as I was walking around by the bar some random girl touched my arm and said I smelled nice. So I walked with her arm in arm and asked if she had seen my lost sexy Swedish friend. She hadn't and we started dancing. After some dancing she was obviously impressed with a)my sexy dance moves and b)my impeccable style, so she asked "are you gay?" I smiled as I looked into her eyes and said "No", and then I kissed her. After some making out and whatnot, I noticed that the German guys were making their way towards me. Random girl wandered off but I didn't really care.

Of course the German guy interrogated me as to why I wasn't drinking a beer at that exact moment. I told him I had already drank a lot, which probably perpetuated the stereotype that Americans suck at drinking compared to Europeans, especially Germans. The German guy said in his thick accent, "I am going to be your teacher and teach you to drink beer. B...E...E...R...BEER!" He put his arm around me and we walked back towards the bar. However, he made a quick turn onto the three shallow steps that led down to the dance-floor. I wasn't expecting this and the steps were slippery and covered in spilled drinks so I slipped and fell right on my ass and side. Basically everyone on the dance-floor looked over at me as I was on my ass, but I thought it was funny and laughed at myself as I stood up, only slightly hurt. I figured that was probably my queue to leave and said goodbye to the German guys and walked back to the Apex hotel. I still have a small mark/scar on my side from those steps, what a night.

4/2/09 Lockharen Woolen Mills, Scottish Enterprises

Today we went to visit Lockharen Woolen Mills, which was a 1.5 hour drive from where we were. On the way I really wished we would stop and get a better look at the beautiful Scottish countryside I could see through the windows. The mill tour was kind of stupid, the only thing I learned was that if there was one thread missing in a fabric that they had to then fix the entire thing by hand. Overall it seemed like poor time management as we spent 1.5 hrs driving each way for a 45 min tour which was not very interesting or relevant. We certainly could have done a lot more with those 4 hours.

Next we went to Scottish enterprises, which was a government entity that did business consulting. We did a case study about how to fix the problems of a family manufacturing business, which was interesting. I found this visit gave some useful insights into business consulting.

At night JJ, Nate and I had pizza at an Italian restaurant across from our hotel.

4/1/09 Off to Edinburgh

Off to Scotland with the rest of the London program people for the next 5 days. The flight was short, and I stupidly brought a full bottle of mouthwash with me and the cap broke during the flight inside my luggage. Luckily most of my clothes were in vacuum seal plastic bags, although my pants did get a stain on the side, which I didn't notice for a few days. We stayed at the Apex Hotel which was really quite nice.

3/31/09 so much to do

Class until 5 and then the Pitman Painters play at 7:30. I enjoyed the play and it gave me a bit of a new perspective on art I didn't have before. I didn't get back to the flat until 10:30 and then had to work on my Chandra presentation on View from the Bridge for tomorrow. Didn't get to bed until 2am.

I just realized we only have 6 days left in London, and we somehow have to get all of our assignments done.

3/30/09 tour of Munich

I got up early enough for breakfast, and then headed out to Marienplatz (central square) to go on a New Europe walking tour of the city. Ironically, my tour guide was actually from Scotland, and he was quite outgoing and hilarious.

From Munich Trip

We learned lots of history about the city, and apparently the name Munich comes from Munchen, the word for monks, since monks founded the city. After the tour we went to a bar where the tour guide knew the owners, which ironically was the Sunset Travel Bar, where my pub crawl had started on Saturday night. I conversed with some other college age kids who were also on the tour, and ate some tasty German stew.

From Munich Trip

After the tour I went back to the Olympic Park and BMW showroom to get a better look at them during the daytime. I also went to the English Gardens, but the outdoor beer gardens were not open since it was raining out.

From Munich Trip

From Munich Trip

From Munich Trip

I then got on the train back to the airport and headed back to London.

3/29/09 rainy recovery Sunday

I woke up at 12, and must have slept right through my alarm at 9, completely missing breakfast. I was really dehydrated and felt awful, so I had some water and then stumbled to the shower. I then proceeded to throw up while taking a shower. So I got out, brushed my teeth to get rid of the awful taste, and then proceeded to throw up again right after brushing my teeth, so I had to brush them a 2nd time.

Since it was Sunday basically nothing was open and so I went over to the train station and grabbed some food. I had some god awful carrot smoothie and a Subway tuna sub that I could barely eat any of. I took a nap for 2 hours and then woke up and watched Braveheart downstairs. It was still raining out and starting to get dark, but I figured that I should try and do something, so I took the underground to the Olympic Park and also saw the BMW showroom.

From Munich Trip

From Munich Trip

3/28/09 Part 2: Hofbrauhaus, Pub Crawl

After Dachau we went back into the city of Munich to grab some food and drink. We went to some random bar (psychorr?) and had a pint, but it was lame there so we left in a hurry. Next we went to the famous Hofbrauhaus where the waiters walk around in traditional German laderhosen (think yodeler) and serve you beer and giant pretzels. I got a liter of dark German beer a sausage w/ sauerkraut, and a big soft pretzel.

From Munich Trip

After that we went back to the hostel and I got changed before heading out to the starting point for the Insomniac Pub Crawl. I got sort of lost so it took me a while to find it, but it was all good because when I got there they extended the free drinks for another 1/2 hour till 10pm since the stew wasn't ready yet.

There were about 20 people there and I started up some conversation. I talked to two Swiss guys from Zurich and then talked with this group of American military guys who were stationed in northern Germany. The military guys (Gavin is the only name I remember) thought I was awesome and hilarious, so they kept buying me drinks all night. I met tons of random people that I will never remember. I think the pub crawl went to five different venues, but I only remember two of them. One was a big Irish themed pub place. I vaguely remember having tequila shots at the last bar, and that never ends well for me. After that the military guys wanted to go to the Red Light District, but luckily for me there wasn't enough room in their cab (what ever happened to never leave a man behind?).

I followed some random people to the tram stop, but I thought that I took it the wrong direction and so I got off and started walking. I must have looked really lost as a cab driver pulled up and asked if I needed a ride. In retrospect it was probably really stupid to get in, but the cab looked legit (as far as I could tell) and I had no idea where I was. Apparently, I wasn't that far from Hauptbanhoff, as the cab fare was only 4,70 Euros. I stumbled back into my room and passed out. The Pub Crawl only cost 10 Euro and despite not spending anything else, I certainly got a lot of drink. Germany rules.

3/28/09 Part 1: Dachau

In the morning I went downstairs to get breakfast, and randomly Andrew, Ian, Greg, and Eric were there at my hostel. We headed out by train and then bus to Dachau, the famous concentration camp which all other German concentration camps were modeled after. There was a very large museum that went in depth into all aspects of the historical events of the time period and the workings of the camp, and the medical experiments section in particular really got to me.

From Munich Trip

From Munich Trip

From Munich Trip

There were several of the original buildings still standing, including the living quarters, which were severely cramped. Dachau also holds the only undamaged gas chamber left in the world. It was a very somber but nonetheless important and moving experience. A plaque inside Dachau reads:

“May the example of those who were exterminated here between 1933-1945, because they resisted Nazism, help to unite the living for the defense of peace and freedom and respect for their fellow man.”

3/27/09 flight to Munich

Luckily I started feeling a bit better this morning. My group did our British History presentation on the Camden area of London.

Ironically the group of students I got on the easyBus to the airport with also were on my same flight to Munich. Once I got to Munich, I took the train from the airport to the Hauptbanhoff (central station) and my hostel 4 You Munchen was only a short walk away.

3/26/09 Pramerica and down with the sickness

Today we went to the offices of Pramerica (Prudential). I was still feeling really sick. We were forced to wear business formal even though all our presenters were in business casual, so I was sweating just sitting there. We had to sit through 2 hours of non-stop presentations and I didn't have any water so I was almost passing out by the end.

This was par for the course this week though, as we have been doing so much crap and haven't had time to do anything else. I have been trying to figure out my class scheduling for next year and also apply for summer internships but I am so overwhelmed at the moment.

When it comes to company tours what ever happened to quality over quantity?

3/25/09 the tempest play

Class during the day and then we went almost an hour by tube to the Richmond theatre to see the production of Shakespeare's The Tempest. The production had an african tribal flavor to it, and was set in the time period of British colonialism. The special effects and acting were very good, and overall the play was enjoyable. However, we didn't get back to the flats until almost midnight.

3/24/09 sick and dancing with luthansa play

Still really sick today and feeling like crap. I had to sit through an awfully boring play about some sisters living in the 1930s and overreacting about everything and living pointless lives. I wanted to leave in the worst way but couldn't.

3/23/09 zurich, llyods of london, bbc... long day

Started out the day with presentations by execs from Zurich, the insurance company. They were ok, if moderately boring. It was interesting how they had an emerging risk radar and tried to work with their clients to reduce their risk.

Llyods of London was a huge sprawling multifloor complex where various insurance companies had sectors and did business. It looked similar to a stock trading floor, but for insurance. Seeing such a huge marketplace was quite the experience.

Later in the day we headed to the BBC for a standard tour. It was moderately interesting and walking behind the scenes of their live shows and seeing how the sets are dropped from the ceiling was neat.

Of course the tours took up the entire day for the most part. Not much time to do anything else.