THE LOST LONDON VIDEO

I thought I lost this...the final video. Enjoy

Study Abroad - The Final Video.

Krakow, Poland Vlogs

Italian Vlogs

Greece – Yum

****Editors Note: This was written several weeks ago however due to technical problems Joe was unable to upload it.

Greece – Yum

Getting to Greece was difficult. Because of the Greek economic crisis and the myriad of violent riots that have been occurring in that country, my first flight was cancelled because of a nationwide strike. Determined to see Greece before I left Europe, I rescheduled my trip for early April – a day after my return to London from Scotland.

Again this was a trip in which no one from my London gang came with me on however I was not alone when I landed at Athens International Airport. Kristen Thiers, a good friend of mine from CUA, had been studying abroad there since January. It was so great to see her friendly face when I got off the plane in Athens. The first thing that struck me about the city was the airport and the train system. It was so modern! Apart from that it was very clean and efficient.

The first stop for Kristen and me was her place to put down my stuff. As we walked to her apartment, I quickly realized something about Athens. It is very, very hilly! I was very glad to see the door of her apartment for I was huffing and puffing.

She lived in a very nice place and had really great roommates and it was good to get to know them over the course of the weekend.

After a quick rest in the apartment, it was time to get some food. Of course, when you are talking about food in Greece you must be talking about the Gyro. Kristen took me to her favorite Gyro place and boy did I enjoy it!

After words it was time to take a trip around the city at night. I was struck by a few things:

1) It wasn’t as dirty of a city as people told me!

2) I love how orange and lemon trees grow on city streets

3) Athens has a large homeless dog population. Thankfully, I like dogs. If I didn’t I think I wouldn’t have liked Greece because there are so many wild dogs!

4) The Parliament is an impressive building and the changing of the guard is a very unique expierence.

With those initial impressions of the city behind me, Kristen and I grabbed some wine and sat and talked atop a hill near the Acropolis. It was definitely a nice evening.

Then it was time to head back to the apartment. For we had an early morning Ferry departure to Santorini island to look forward to.

Kristen and I woke up around 5AM in order to meet her friend Kate and board the boat. The ferry was very impressive however it was very long – 8 hours to our desitnation.

Thankfully we slept most of the journey however I did wake up to shoot a short video:

Upon arriving in Santorini, we quickly boarded a bus and headed to the city center. Our apartment was a short walk from there and when we got there we were shocked! For only 10 euros we got two nights in a fully furnished apartment. One big bed for the girls and a spacious single bed for me. One thing was clear: we wanted to rent an ATV immediately. And we did. For just 15 euros we rented an ATV to traverse the island. Here is a video of me on my ATV the next day before we visited the site of Ancient Thiera.

Visiting Santorini was amazing. I am so glad Kristen led me to that island because the isles are such an important part of life in Greece. The blue topped domes and the simple island living is definitely something to expierence. We had great food on the island as well – including incredible mousika ( A greek eggpland dish). Walking along the beach was a blast and the sunset was simply amazing. Because it was not tourist season, I felt like the island was ours and believe me we crusied the highways of Santorini as if the island was our own.

Our journey back to Athens was – well – interesting. We walked the 10 minutes to the bus station and then I realized I did not have my passport! I started running back to the apartment, hopped in a taxi, ran back to the room, tore up the place looking for it, then found out that Kristen found it in my backpack back at the station. Then the next drama was occurring – catching the bus! Thankfully I ran into it on one street corner and hopped on. We thought all the drama was over—not the case! When we got to the Ferry office they told us that it was sold out! Thankfully, Kristen used her charm at the Captain who let us on the boat. From there I embarked on the worst boat ride ever! The boat was so full I ended up having to miracoulosuly find a folding chair and then I sat in the corner and slept for the journey. A corner! It was certainly an expierence.

Upon arriving back at the Athena Port – Kristen and I headed back to apartment, rested a bit, and then we climbed Mt. Lickavitous! The spelling on that one is definitely wrong however the view from the top of that hill is remarkable. Here is Kristen and I at the sunset there and the amazing 360 views of the city that it offers.

Then it was dinner time again – my favorite as avid readers know. We went to a Teverna that offered a college discount and gave us unlimited food. YUM!

It was so great and I really thank Kristen and her gang for showing me this spot.

The final day was for exploring the final parts of the city I hadn’t seen yet including the Acropolis: Here is my video from there.

In conclusion, Greece was amazing. I am sad to hear about the recent riots there because it gives an incorrect view of the country. Greek people are very nice and their food is to die for. I recommend a trip to Greece for everyone but be sure to visit an isle when you go.

Blogging till next time,

Joe

Scotland - Simply Unbelievable

Scotland – Simply Unbelievable

****Editors Note. This was written several weeks ago however due to a computer malfunction it was unable to be updated to the blog.

I had to get to Scotland. I think that if I returned home without seeing the land where golf was invented I would always live with regret. However, after trying for months to organize a trip with some of the guys to the country, I came to the conclusion that I would have to do it alone. The next problem I had was scheduling – for it was already April and time was running out. The final problem was cost. After all, money was beginning to run low. So in order to accomplish everything that I wanted to do – that is explore the city of Edinburgh and play the Old Course at St. Andrews – I decided to take an overnight bus from London Victoria to Edinburgh, Scotland. Costing only 28 pounds, I knew sitting in a bus for 9 hours would be tough. However thanks to some sleeping pills, my Easter Sunday night megabus trip to Scotland was great. I actually slept and when I got into Edinburgh around 8AM on Easter Monday – I was ready to go.

Sadly, I forgot my camera in the bus locker that I rented so I explored the city with very little documentation that I was there. However I can report that Edinburgh is one of the best cities I visited while in Europe. Despite the chilliness and cold weather, walking the streets of that city was amazing. I started my journey at the epic Edinburgh Castle – a World Heritage Site – and then went on the Whiskey Experience Tour that is right on the Royal Mile. I loved that tour! In fact I think it was one of the best tours I took while overseas. It made me fall in love with whiskey and I now like to think of myself as somewhat of an expert. After my whiskey tour it was time for lunch. In my case it was time for a Scottish Breakfast. Yum. I then continued to walk down the Royal Mile, checking out some of the unique sites and experiencing the culture along the way. At the end of the mile I went into the Palace of Hollyrose – the official Scottish Residence of the Queen located right across from the new Scottish Parliament. I then ventured up to the highest point of the city atop a hill and saw the incredible views that Edinburgh produces. And just like that it was time for me to head back to the bus station for I had to get to what would be the highlight of my trip.

Getting to St. Andrews felt like a pilgrimage – and it was. After all it took me about 11 hours to get there from London when you factored in the bus stops. When I got to St. Andrews Monday Evening – I immediately hopped out of the bus and started walking to the course. As I walked the hallowed streets, I knew I was in a golfing town. Every pub I passed seemed to have the Golf Channel on and every shop I passed seemed to have a golf theme to it. Then – there it was. The 18^th Green of the Home of Golf. It was so open – so accessible! After all, I was standing just 15 yards from the 1^st Tee. Indeed the Old Course is not hidden away like Augusta. It is meant to be seen and boy did I see it. From that point the sun had set and I had to get to my hostel. I stayed at St. Andrews Hostel, a low cost option that is nice if anyone is ever heading to St. Andrews. I grabbed a quick bite to eat at the neighboring restaurant and then it was time for bed. For I had to get up early.

My alarm rang at 5AM. Why? Because I wanted to play the Old Course and since I did not have a tee time I would have to wait in line to see if the starter could fit me in sometime throughout the day. Since I did not want to travel all this way and not play the course-I ensured that I was the first in line. Getting there at 5:30AM was definitely an experience. I was the only one near the place! Around 6:30AM a Frenchman joined me, which seemed to help pass the time. The starter did not get there until 7AM and since I was first in line I had first crack at a tee time. The starter finally called my name at 7:55AM for the 8AM spot. I would go off with two members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club – sweet! Stepping up to the first tee, my handicap was the worst in the group however I did not care. After all, one was a professional Golfer in London and the other was a golf architect in Sweden. As I stepped to the tee where so many great players have started their round – I was a bit nervous. But that did not stop me from ripping a 300-yard drive right down the middle. Wow-this place is easy I thought! That confidence would soon subside. Without going into too much detail here are 5 thoughts I have about the course.

1) It is easy to play. They had tons of open times for single golfers to take advantage of. It certainly doesn’t have a Pebble Beach like waiting list. Even if you can’t get an advance reservation-there is a daily ballot each day which gives you another chance to play the course.

2) The course is not that long! Grant it the pros play from tees I couldn’t even see from my tee box, the regular tees make St. Andrews pretty short. I hit wedges into several greens and even almost drove a few holes!

3) Greens are tough. They are extremely fast and the toughest I ever played on.

4) Open! The course is very open. You can spray your drives (as I did) and get away with it. There are just small pockets of places throughout the course where if you hit into it you loose a shot for sure.

5) Weather. Let me empathize this one. Playing golf in Scotland requires one to know how to play with wind. Sometimes I would have to club up 3 or 4 clubs and aim 30 yards left or right of my target. Amazing.

All in all my time at St. Andrews was amazing. Although I shot 90-I will take it. If I could provide any tips to anyone wanting to play is go in early April. The cost is 40 pounds cheaper and you get to enjoy the course in its entirety just like the people do in June or July. The cost is cheaper in the Winter (you can play St. Andrews all year long) however you must hit off mats which as you know is not the true golf experience.

After my round it was time for a quick bite to eat and a visit to the British Golf Museum. The museum was sweet and I highly recommend it to anyone. Before I took the late afternoon bus back to Edinburgh I wanted to walk around the town of St. Andrews and see the cathedral and castle. It was amazing to walk around the town and I quickly discovered just how young it was. Turns out it has a thriving University and the students live in some pretty sweet homes and dorms. Good stuff. As I left St. Andrews I was still in shock that I played the course. As a golfer it was one of the biggest highlights of my trip and I urge everyone who loves the game to make a pilgrimage of their own to the Old Course.

Here is a video of me at St. Andrews. I am sorry for the poor quality.

It was time to head home after I got back to Edinburgh – concluding an amazing trip. While it is always nice to travel with people, I’m glad I did at least one trip on my own. After all, you learn a lot about yourself when you travel by your self.

Canary Island Video!

Wow---my updating has lacked. But thats why I tweet! For spring break I went to the canary islands off the coast of Africa. They are spanish owned and man were they cheap. Very beauitful there and great for young people. Enjoy the video!

From Paris with Love

From Paris with Love!

“Un Carnet!” I said with my finger pointing in the air to the ticket attendant and that is how my Paris trip began. Un Carnet or one book of tickets may sound like a simple phrase to say but it certainly wasn’t for us English-speaking guys getting off the train at Gare de Nord international train station. I don’t think we were anticipating the language barrier when we booked our trip or for that matter got off the train. Regardless it only added to what was a wonderful weekend in Paris, France.

For one, the travel was wonderful. Going from point A to point B via train is unbelievable. Relaxing, convenient, and quick. Eurostar – while they have had their problems – did a great job getting us to and from Paris, France.

After getting off the train and finally getting our book of tickets the metro was our next stop. I can say with confidence that the metro system in Paris is definitely inferior to the transportation system here in London. It is dirty, graffiti is omnipresent, and somewhat difficult to navigate. I think one of my colleagues said it best when they said that in Washington DC or in London – everybody uses public transport while in Paris you could definitely see a class divide with the working class and young people using the metro predominantly.

As we searched for the Aloha Hostel we were nervous. The reviews of the place were not all that positive and thought we would have another “Shining” experience (avid readers of the blog will get that reference). We were pleasantly surprised! The place was clean, the location was awesome, the people were friendly, and the showers were warm! I highly recommend staying at the Aloha Hostel if you are a young person traveling abroad.

After check in we went where everybody goes when the come to Paris: The Eiffel Tower! It is so pretty at night and when they sparkle its lights there are no words to describe it. Walking underneath I stood in awe at the engineering that went into building Paris’ number one attraction. Unbelievable!

From there Dinner was a must, complete with a bottle of French wine at the table. For one it was great to have an awesome meal. London has a lot of things---but great food is not one of them (at least I think so).

After a stop at a local pub it was time to head back to the hostel for tomorrow was going to be a busy day.

We began our journey at the Notre Dame Cathedral—unbelievable. As we waited to climb to the top I had an awesome Crepe. They are delicious in Paris.

We then ventured down south to the Pantheon in the Latin Quarter. That is where all the famous Parisians are buried including Voltaire and Rousseau. I thought of my Political Theory Class a lot during that trip. Here I am in front of where Rousseau is burried..Everyone is in chains right?

From there I picked up a French Baguette and went for a stroll through the Luxemburg Gardens. There I am in front of the place where the French Senate meets.

It was then time to walk to the Famous Louvre. Way too much stuff in there but we saw the main attraction: The Mona Lisa.

As day began to turn into night we walked up the famous The Champs-Élysées road ending with the Arc de Triumphe – a historic structure built so Napoleon’s victorious soldiers could walk through arches on the journey home from War. We got there at the perfect time – 6PM. For everyday at that time there is a ceremony to honor the Unknown Soldier who was buried there after WWI. Additionally, on the arc there is tribute to a man named “St. George.” Since my surname comes from France-I was wandering if it was a distant relative. I thought a lot about my last name when I was in France, curious about my ancestry that I know little about.

After that—our feet were tired and it was time to rest up before a night out on the town. I picked up a 95-cent bottle of wine---yes 95-cent bottle of wine! I want go into detail about the night out---after all what happens in Paris – stays in Paris.

Sunday found us in Versailles and the historic palace of King Louis XIV. Our journey was a bit rainy in the morning-and very windy!. I would later learn that was because of the cyclone and hurricane force winds that were pounding the southern coast of France. My, thousands of miles away, was freaking out!

The Palace was unreal---unreal. To think that I was standing in same room where US presidents visit and where historic treaties were signed again confounded me.

After the palace we walked around the quaint town for a couple of hours and stopped at a French Bakery. OMG! The Macaroons were the best dessert I have ever had. Let me repeat – THE BEST EVER (and I have had a lot of desserts). French definitely do desserts right.

As we headed back to the hostel—we all agreed a quiet evening was in order. But first we had to find a place to watch the US-Canadian Hockey Game. We ended up back in the Latin Quarter in an Italian Restaurant with a bunch of Canadians. Although the ending wasn’t what we wanted—it was still fun nonetheless.

Our last day found us very busy with a lot to do. And we conquered it all. On Monday alone we climbed over 1000 steps between the Sacre Coure Basilica and the Eiffel Tower. A towering day—but definitely worth it! The views were simply amazing. We had a little extra time before our train back to London so we stopped off to see singer Jim Morrison’s grave and the building where Napoleon was buried. Sadly we could not see his tomb up close and personal because President Sarkozy was using the building Fair excuse right?

All in all our entire trip to Paris was remarkable. We had awesome weather and saw a ton of the city. We came back with lots of stories and some great photos. Everyone should make a trip to Paris at least once in his or her lifetime---I know I will be back to eat the Macaroons!

For those that prefer Vlogs to Blogs....

Below is my short video I made about my trip to Ireland. If you prefer writing to vlogging check out my post below. ~ Joe

Last Weekend I Went Home

This past weekend I went home---well 50% of me did.

As the son of a 100% Irish mother, Ireland has always been a place of enchantment for me. With high hopes going in, I am happy to report that I was not disappointed.

From the people to the culture to majestic rolling hills and coastline, Ireland is a place that all native Irishmen and women must visit. Heck, even if you don’t have an ounce of Irish in you, like my father, Ireland must be at the top of your list.

Our weekend rendezvous with Ireland was jam packed resulting in little to no time for sleep. We departed our apartment at 2:30AM, caught a bus, caught another bus, realized I had forgotten my passport, caught a cab back to my apartment, got dropped off by the cabbie at Baker Street, caught another bus to the airport to catch a 6:30AM plane.

The secret to jet setting around Europe is budget airlines (something I wish we had in the United States). My entire journey to and from Ireland cost me less than a one way ticket on the cheapest airline I know of in the states—Southwest.

How do airlines like Easy Jet or Ryan Air (the one that we took to Ireland) get away with such ridiculous low fees? It’s simple really: They hope that people do not pay attention, are easily persuaded, and yes sometimes forgetful. I’ll explain what I mean.

When you book on Ryan Air for instance, before you officially checkout (with what you know to be a really great deal) they automatically enroll you in services that you do not need. For instance they charge you for insurance, checked luggage, priority boarding, and even food vouchers. If you are not careful, suddenly that 30-pound flight is 60 pounds and Ryan Air wins with their belief that people do not pay attention.

When you get on board the plane essentially becomes a market in a third world country with advertisements gracing the overhead compartments. The stewards and stewardesses literally try to sell you everything---from the morning paper to a Pepsi to a bottle vodka. Not to mention the “Sky mall” type service that they offer. Again this is Ryan Air believing that people are easily persuaded.

If you get past those two obstacles you still aren’t home free. YOU CAN’T FORGET ANYTHING! If you, for instance, forgot your boarding pass—they charge 40 Euros to print off a new one! Ridiculous I know.

Finally, there are some things that you have no control over that Ryan Air doesn’t tell you about: Its liberal conversion policy and hidden processing fee. For one, the airline converts your amount from Euros or Pounds into the currency of your credit card at a rate that is definitely more beneficial to them, allowing them to make some cents of your foreign ignorance. Additionally, Ryan Air charges significant processing fees that I have never seen in the United States.

So with all that as a review would I fly a budget airline again? Absolutely. Ryan Air got me to Dublin and pack and did cheaply (I just had to make sure I was on my A game).

Now before this blog turns into a blog for aviation I better start telling you about our actual trip.

We arrived in Dublin at 745AM in the morning, quickly went through customs, grabbed a bus, and headed for the city. After a quick drop off of luggage at our hostel (more on that later) we embarked on a journey through Dublin.

Our first stop was not that exciting—the bagel factory for a quick, cheap breakfast. I grabbed a smoothie and it was good.

From there we checked out St. Stephen’s Park which was absolutely beautiful before heading to Dublin Castle.
Me in St. Stephen's Park

Upon arriving at Dublin Castle, I was a little bit skeptical. I saw literally no one working, no security guards, and really not many people walking around. How could this be one of the top tourist destinations in Dublin? After ten minutes of waiting outside the doors, I opened one of them up to find a nice woman sitting at a desk apparently waiting to sell tickets (horrible location to sell tickets). We bought them for less than 5 Euros and embarked on our tour. Very quickly my skepticism went away as I was in awe of the history of this place and how it is still used today for ceremonial events like the swearing in of the President and the meetings of major diplomatic figures.

(Me Outside Dublin Castle)

After Dublin castle we were determined to hit up the Cathedral seen—with St. Patrick’s being the main stopping point. For one—I was surprised it was Anglican. Not that there is anything wrong with that—I was just surprised. Upon walking in I was amazed at the history and the beauty of the place. Churches always tend to take my breath away.

After our St. Patrick’s visit, we were hungry. One problem---literally no pubs were open for lunch! We grabbed a Guinness in one pub before eventually deciding upon eating at Eddie Rockets (think Johnny Rockets. Kind of lame I know but it was cheap and open!).



After lunch—I had the energy to hit up another tourist destination but the concensus of the group was nap time…after all we had had no sleep! So we ventured to our hostel which will require some ample writing space.

Our Hostel was called “The Shining”-no joke. After we paid our money (just 10 euros), grabbed our bags and key, we ventured to room 14. We walked in and the place was a mess. Clearly a significant number of people were living there and some it look liked for a long time. A major problem quickly occurred: which beds are ours? They all look dirty? After 5 minutes or so of deciding we finally claimed our resting spot for the night.

I may have taken the creepiest spot. My bunk bed was literally situated next to another bunk. Litterally. As I fell asleep I wasn’t really bothered by this but by the time I had awoken I was. Lying next to me was a French girl in what was her bed. Hello? Her named turned out to be Laura and she actually proved to be quite nice. It was just really akward. I look back and laugh now...I wasn't laughing then.

As we awoke from our much needed rest—it was time for dinner. We ventured to an awesome pub where I had some more Guinness and the best breakfast ever for dinner. It’s true what they say—Irish breakfasts are the bomb.
My Irish Breakfast...Wow was it good.

After a great meal—it was time to check the pub scene with the destination being “Temple Bar.” Let me be clear—I love Irish pub life. Not that I don’t love “British pub life” but there is something different, something special about the nation of green. From pub to pub I found many of the same drinks however I discovered so much more. Irish people love to sing and they sing their hearts out to the live performances. Irish people also are so nice! If there is one downfall to living in the UK, I think it is that British people can be a bit "brash". While some are great, many here in London are, especially with Americans. In Ireland however I felt that love that I know my ancestors once had.

After a while it was time to meet up with Justine and Alyssa from CUA who are studying in Dublin. It was great to meet there friends and check out some places from some “locals.” In short we had a blast!

Upon getting back to the scary hostel—it got even scarier when we noticed people in our room doing things well you shouldn’t do inside. I just covered my head with my dirty blanket and went to sleep.

That blast on Saturday night made Sunday morning difficult, for we had a 8:06AM bus to Galway Ireland. I think the only thing that got us out of bed was the fact we were leaving “The Shining.” We got on just in time and fell right to sleep. When we would awake we would be in Galway.



Me trying to Leave Early Sunday Morning from The Shining

Getting off in Galway around noon, we again went straight to our hostel however this time it looked like we got a winner! Free internet, free use of the computer, free televisions, free coffee, free tee! The best part? Clean beds in which I don’t have to sit next to a strange Frenchwoman! Oh yes Galway was off to a good start. From there we went to St. Nicholas Cathedral and I again was wowed at the beauty of this Catholic Church. I have seen a lot of Catholic churches in my life yet St. Nicholas Cathedral in Galway may be the most beautiful.



The coast was next and wow. Was it ever beautiful. I hope the pictures give it justice because my words certainly won’t. The wonderfulness of Dublin was quickly being forgotten in exchange for the beauty of Galway.





After a quick pub stop and some souvenir shopping, we headed back to the hostel for a nap. Oh that bed felt so good. After we awoke it became clear that we had to find a place to watch the Superbowl! We were very concerned because we had seen it advertised absoloutly no where. Our Canadian friend who was working the desk called around and found a place for us to watch it. There was less than a dozen people in the bar, most of them didn’t no the rules, but the 2010 Superbowl will always have a special place in my heart because of where I watched it and who I watched it with.

After the game we ventured to bed to awake early again on Monday morning to grab the bus to take us back to Dublin. Again we slept on the bus so it didn’t turn out to be so bad. We got back to Dublin and immediately went to the Guinness Storehouse where we had an awesome time and the perfect pint of Guinness at the end of the trip. Afterwords we had to race across town because our friends from CUA had arranged a tour for us of Irish Parliament. It is so amazing to compare and contrast governments and the Irish Parliament tour was really great.

My friend Tim and I Enjoying Our Perfect Pint of Guinness from Guinness HQ

After a final pint of beer with our friends, it was time to head back to London. We grabbed a cab to catch our flight back to the UK. We arrived back in our apartment around 11PM Monday Night, amazed at the weekend we had and the incredibleness of Ireland.

Wow---that was a lot of writing. It’s certainly easier just to vlog---put a camera in my face and its done. But writing is still my preferred medium and I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Till next time,

Joe

TWO QUICK VIDEOS FROM AROUND LONDON!

First Vlog

FROM CAPITOL HILL TO THE PARLIAMENT ESTATE

So week one of my semester long journey is winding down. I feel like I have been here much longer though---perhaps its all the learning I am doing.

This week consisted of getting adjusted to the time change (successfully done), meeting my professor, settling in at my home for the next four months, starting my tenure as a research assistant for Malcolm Wicks in the British Parliament, learning about the British government system, developing a budget for my time here, going to my class, and oh yah sight seeing!!!

My impressions?

Regarding my professor and temporary home I am very happy. As previously noted in a blogpost we are very close to everything that I need. From a grocery store to a drug store to a blockbuster, Clifton Gardens is a great place to call home. An added bonus occurred yesterday when surprisingly, from down the street, I heard my name called. Turns out there are several CUA students living just 3 floors above us politics folks that no one told us about. Looking forward to getting to know the folks from the music school who are studying in London as well.

The City?

Amazing. Nothing in America compares. I think that the best description would be if somehow Washington DC and New York City suddenly became one city. From the arts to politics to the nightlife, I certainly won’t be bored here in London.



What’s different?

Transportation. The Underground Tube system is amazing, So much more efficient than Washington’s. Each underground station has its own unique character (imagine union station being located at several different stops) and I never have to wait for a train. The drawback? It’s expensive! Much more than any other public transport system I have ever encountered. It is an urgent priority of everyone here in my flat to get the 70 pounds per month pass to use the transportation system. If we don’t get that soon we will be in trouble, after all I have spent half of that in nearly one week just topping off my card each time. Why are we waiting? We need a letter from our University saying that we need the pass.

My internship?

Amazing so far! My immediate supervisor Louise is very compassionate and a great teacher as I attempt to understand the system. The member? Terrific! Mr. Wicks (or Malcolm as he told me to call him) took me for a spot of tea in the Members only Pugin room (very posh room overlooking the Thames named after the man who designed the interior of the Parliament of Westminster). It was great to interact with a member on such a personal level such early on in my internship. It reminded me of my early days in Congressman Tim Ryan’s office. Next week I will be going to a fundraiser in the town of Croyden and possibly playing golf in a political tournament later in the year!

Westminster and the British system

Westminster is amazing. From Westminster Hall to St. Stephen’s Hall to the House of Commons and Lords Chambers the Capitol Building does not come close to the architectural “awe-ness” that I got when I walked into the hallowed Westminster Palace (after all it is a palace and originally was one). Imagine the feeling you get when you walk into the Capitol Rotunda (come on even the most experienced of hill rats know that feeling) all over Westminster and it doesn’t hurt that St. George, the Patron saint of England is prominently featured around the estate.

In regards to the system you’ll see me write about that topic for months on this medium and it still won’t be enough for proper explanation. Instead, I will list the 5 things of what I think is coolest.

1) The role of the speaker in the House of Commons. This person must be someone respected from both sides to be elected. Once he or she is elected they forfeit their party membership and remain neutral in all debates (unless there is a tie). As a reward they get to live in Westminster, ride in a gold stage coach for official events, and essentially control the debate that goes on the floor.


2) How debate is conducted in the House of Commons. Only ministers (people appointed by the Prime Minister to run certain departments) can sit in the first two rows. Usually the minister and the shadow minister (the person of the minority party representing his party interests) are the ones who lead the debate on the floor. They can yield at any time to someone who wants to interrupt them with a point or who wants to ask a question. The Prime Minster actually has to face the house of commons every week. (Imagine Obama walking into a room every week with half the room being Joe Wilson lier screamers and taking questions from them and having to respond. Pretty intense!)

3) Role of the Prime Minster and the Queen—The prime minister is elected from the House of Commons (imagine Obama being elected from the Congress) to run the government. The Queen is still a big deal here! She has to sign every law (royal assent), although she doesn’t have to (a constitutional crisis would occur if she ever did not sign something passed by Parliament), every royal leader has signed the Parliament’s legislation since Queen Ann. In short the Queen has power but she does whatever the Prime Minster wants her to do (sounds potentially dangerous right?)

4) Elections—Elections happen when the Prime Minster goes to the queen and asks to hold them. He or she can do that anytime they want however an election must be held every 5 years. Prime Minster Gordon Brown will soon go to the Queen (most likely at the end of March) dissolving Parliament and ordering a new election. An election must subsequently be held within a certain time frame after (less than two months) and it is widely expected that the date will be May 6th. What I find interesting is that Parliament literally dissolves. Current MP’s and Staff (including me!) are locked out a few days after the queen dissolves Parliament. Amazing!

5) Democracy and public access. I find this system in some respects to be more democratic. After all every single person can walk into Westminster, go to the central lobby (right near the chamber) and demand to see their MP if they are in the chamber. If they are not in the chamber they can leave a message for them. Imagine anyone going to the rotunda of the capitol building demanding to see their representative anytime they are in the chamber. Again, Amazing!!! But then again the public are not allowed to go to the MP’s offices without escort and an appointment while the American people can.

Bonus Point! 6) House of Lords. The upper chamber of Parliament consists of non- elected people! These people are the elitists in society, aristocrats if you will. 92 of them inherit their title from their parents while 600 more of them are appointed by the Prime Minster if they are at the top of their field. Since the Church of England is the Anglican church, all archbishops are Lords as well. This Branch of Parliament can write legislation however they can’t veto anything the House of Commons writes.

Well if you’ve read this whole thing. Thanks! I know I have written a lot but sometimes I can’t stop. Look for more posts and photos in the future about where I have been. This thing is just getting started. Well I am off to a pub.

Till next time.

Joe

Good Evening From London, England

Well I am here. After an exhausting application and visa process and what seemed like an eternity of working behind the information desk at Catholic University on Friday and Saturday nights to pay for my abroad experience, I have arrived in London, England.

My flight “across the pond” was OKAY. United had great amenities for this poor coach passenger however they were late leaving Chicago by almost three hours which is, as many of you know, an annoyance. Once on the ground at Heathrow however my commute went smoothly. I took the Heathrow Connect Train to the London Paddington Station where I picked up a taxi to take me to my final destination. It is amazing how efficient the transportation system is here! One hundred times better than DC’s! In total my journey lasted just about 19 hours, taking me from my home in Ohio to my temporary home in central London. Much of that time however was spent waiting, waiting, and oh yah waiting in Chicago!

The flat that we are in is very nice. A step up from Opus Hall I think! While I do not have a single, our suite has 2 bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a washer and dryer, and ample walking space or “party space” as we 5 call it. We even have our own little garden! My roommate is Pat Redding, a great guy who I hope doesn’t hate me after 4 months of living together. Downsides? Only 5 TV Channels! Now don’t get me wrong I want to explore the city with the best of them but a guy needs his TV!


The location, as aforementioned, is wonderful. We are in an area known as Little Venice featuring a beautiful canal with boats restaurants and boat taxis. I can’t wait till April to see Little Venice in action. A Catholic Church is right near by and tons of shops, markets, and restaurants are less than half a mile away.

Seeking to explore this city even further, Pat Redding, Mike Deterra and I ventured onto the Underground (Metro) to a) purchase my oyster card (smart trip) and b) check out Parliament, Buckingham Palace, and Big Ben. Our final destination took us to a wonderful Pub near Waterloo station called “A Hole in the Wall.” This pub was awesome. I had the traditional fish and chips as my first London meal and a beverage that turned out to be alcoholic cider and not beer. Who knew it looked just like it!

So I have been here one day and I have already enjoyed myself. I am sure there will be bumps along the way and I will highlight them in this blog to. Look for Videos and pictures as well. Know this however, if you are reading this chances are you care about me so please know that I miss you. The hardest part about going abroad is saying goodbye to people that you genuinely care for, both in Youngstown and Washington DC. So to conclude this post:

I miss you. I love you. Stay safe and please skype or IM me soon!

Joe