Touristy stuff

Wow. I am really disappointed right now. It looks like the blog that I worked really hard on last night didn't post. :( I don't know what happened because I know I posted it. But I didn't save it anywhere else. Did anyone see it? Well, it was all about how I was so excited yesterday to see Nick Clegg is person. But to be honest, now I'm just upset so that excitement seems a long way off... I'll try to recreate a bit of it here, but it won't be as complete...

Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!! That was what was going through my head when I first saw Nick Clegg in person!! It was so cool! It was my version of being close to a rock star! But let me back up. I went to a meeting of the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee yesterday. The part that the public was allowed in started at 10 and a bit before that a police officer showed up which is when I started getting excited. Then all of a sudden, he was there! Talking to some advisors was Clegg! The officer called for witnesses to enter the room (before advisors, media, and other interested parties, i.e. me) and Clegg walked right past me about a foot in front of me. You all should be very proud that I didn't start jumping up and down and hitting the person next to me out of excitement. The meeting itself was rather boring as everyone seems keen to put the referendum behind them so they talked very little about it and its ramifications. Oh well, it was worth it to spend two hours sitting effectively one chair away from Nick Clegg (I was the second row back so there was only one chair between myself and the Deputy Prime Minsiter). When the meeting was over we both got up and he looked right at me!!!! I nodded at him, but was too chicken to offer my hand (but who didn't see that coming?). For the record, Sam, we are counting this as achieving the goal of meeting him and you'll notice I still have a year to spare!

After that, I had lunch before a 2pm interview with a clerk. It went well, but I felt a bit more awkward than the other interviews. It was okay though. To be honest there was a longer description of it on my lost blog post, but I don't have the energy to recreate it. :( Sorry.

I picked up two books (one yesterday and one today) on the coalition government which made me very happy. Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm a geek, but we all knew that anyway. Plus, I need something to read of the plane!

Today I did the touristy thing (doubling the number of pictures I have taken all week). Actually, to be fair, part of the reason I took so many pictures today is that when I looked at my pictures yesterday (too slow to upload them here) they were blue because my camera settings had been changed accidentally. So today I took a bunch of normal colored pictures! I took one of those hop on, hop off tour buses from Paddington to the Tower of London this morning. I had never been into the tower before. It was pretty cool and I'm glad I did it. I took a guided tour (it was wonderfully free) that helped me understand some of the history although I know my understanding is lacking. The cool part for me was seeing the crown jewels. It was crazy to think how much priceless stuff was surrounding me! The fun part was that I realized that these things had been in the hands (or on the heads) of kings and queens! It reminded me of when I was in the House of Lords last year and I realized I was standing where the Queen had stood. After that I went back to Parliament and took so many pictures! You can disagree all you wish, but I don't think I can have enough pictures of that place. I just find it so amazing and beautiful!! To think everything that has gone on in that building! I also walked to Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, and Buckingham Palace for more pictures before getting on the tour bus back to Paddington. The way back took forever because they stopped every two minutes-seriously there do not need to be two stops within a half mile of each other!! People can just walk!

I leave tomorrow morning. Its hard to leave in some ways. Some really awesome things have happened this week! I mean I got to interview 6 MPs, and a clerk, look Nick Clegg in the eye, go into Portcullis House and the Houses of Parliament and just generally soak in London! At the same time, I wish I had someone to share it with. I'll admit I have gotten a bit lonely so in that respect I'm ready to leave. It's like being in Bath-it's not that I want to leave so much as I want everyone I know to come and share the experience with me!

Thanks for reading!

Cheers!

There he is!

Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!!! This is what was going through my head when I saw Nick Clegg for the first time in person today!!! (By the way you should all be very proud that I did not start jumping up and down hitting the person next to me saying "there he is!") But let me back up a bit...I arrived in plenty of time for the Committee meeting. It has gotten to the point that not only do the security officers know me, they didn't even bother to pat me down today (but of course I went through the metal detector). :) So I went up to wait outside the room where the meeting was going to take place. There was a private section of the meeting from 9:45 until 10 when the public were allowed in. A police officer came up and I started getting excited. Then all of a sudden, he was there!! Just down the hallway talking to some advisors was Clegg!! When it was time for the witnesses to go in (just before the advisors, media, and "other interested parties", i.e. me) he walked right in front of me less than a foot away!! The meeting itself was rather boring. Everyone seems keen to put the referendum behind them and they were talking a lot about Lords reform (interesting) and other stuff (not interesting). But I was so close to Clegg. There was only one row of chairs between us so I was effectively one chair away. Then when the meeting was over we both got up and he looked right at me and I nodded!!!!! Sooo cool!!! Before you ask, yes I did chicken out when I had the momentary opportunity to shake his hand (well, offer mine), but let's face it, we all knew I would! He had to run off somewhere anyway. For the record, Sam, we are counting this as meeting my goal of meeting Clegg within two years and I still have a year to spare! It was like seeing a movie star except better!!

After that I had some lunch and prepared for my next meeting at 2pm. This went well although it was odd because this was not a politician so he didn't want to answer all of my questions. He also didn't want to be quoted, but said I could use what he said otherwise. Then I went back to my hotel and took a nap-seeing Clegg is tiring work! Oh, I bought a book today about the coalition (I couldn't resist). It is called The Coalition and the Constitution (constitutions!). I consider it an investment for my research! I think I will go back and get another one called The Cameron-Clegg Government: Coalition Politics in the Age of Austerity. For those concerned (Dad) I looked it up on Amazon and it won't be any cheaper and it hasn't been released on there yet and won't be until June. I need something to read on the plane! So I kind of geeked-out on British Politics today (okay, all week)!

Oh I forgot, I have been checking the news and already what Clegg said in the meeting today is coming out and it's so excited to be able to say "I was there when he said that! I wrote that down too!" There was also a picture of him at the meeting in the evening paper and although you can't see me, I'm totally just over his left shoulder!

By the way, I tried to upload some pictures but it is just too slow to be feasible. I also realized with dismay that my settings on my camera were accidently changed so all the pictures look blue. :( Oh well, I am going sightseeing tomorrow and will take more properly-colored photographs. Still that was a bummer.

Tomorrow I am going to take one of those bus tours (no research work as MPs are all in their constituencies on Fridays) where you can hop on and off. I plan to go into the Tower of London which I have never done. Also, I will get off at all of those locations where I want pictures that are the proper color! Should be a fun day to just relax and be a tourist! I fly home on Saturday. In some ways the trip hasn't been long enough. It reminds me of being in Bath-it isn't that I want to leave, but I want all of my family and friends to be here with me!

Cheers!

Presidents-ours and theirs...

Hello all!

Today was my busiest day yet as I had three interviews! The first was at 10am so I had a bit of an early morning. I wanted to leave no later than 8am so that I had plenty of time to get the tube (I was nervous after yesterday’s time consuming adventure) and be there to collect my thoughts. I sat along the river a thought through everything.

It now occurs to me that I haven’t explained the process of getting into Portcullis House, which is where many of the MP’s offices are. First you go through security-by the way, the security officers now recognize me. After that you confront a glass wall with police officers with really big guns. Just in front of that is a desk. You tell the people at the desk who you are there to see and your name and they have you sit down while they call up. Given how early I’m there, I usually have to wait awhile for someone to come down and collect me. It was during this wait today that I started feeling rather sick. I think I was nervous and rather too warm.

I was actually more nervous today than I have been and I think that was due to the fact that I had so many interviews and the first one was with Tim Farron who is the Liberal Democrat President. Additionally, my second interview was at 11am so I was very aware that if anything was delayed with the first one I could find myself in a bind. Anyway, Tim Farron was very nice and our interview went quite well. He came himself to collect me and we sat in the cafeteria-sort seating area to talk. He told me multiple times that he was telling me things he wouldn’t tell a reporter which I was very pleased about. These politicians have been quite open with me.

We ended in plenty of time and I waited back out on the benches for Sheila Gilmore (Labour). She was not at all what I expected. For some reason, I was picturing a rather imposing woman so you can imagine my surprise when a woman who was approximately a head shorter than me approached. Anyway, I knew this interview would be pressed for time, but I managed to cover the important things. She too was very nice and I felt that I got good information.

I then had lunch in a café and wrote up my notes from the interviews. So that you know, I have been recording them and also taking limited notes. I then sit down after the meetings for about half and hour and write down everything I can remember. Then to kill time I walked a big loop including Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace. I still had tons of time so I sat on what has become rather a regular spot of wall for me under the statue of Abraham Lincoln (yes you did read that correctly). The interesting thing here was one interaction I had with a (hopelessly) lost young man. He approached me and asked where the Houses of Parliament were. In and of itself this sounds like an innocent enough question. The funny thing is that the wall I was sitting on is in Parliament Square literally directly across from Parliament! I really didn’t think Parliament was the kind of thing you could miss, but evidently I was wrong. J I feel that I must be fitting in well because this man was one of five people who asked me for directions today (I think it was my suit)!

Anyway, my last interview was at 3:30pm with Malcolm Bruce a Lib Dem. I got there early partly because I’m me and partly because there was a line and I figured it would only get worse. It was lucky that I was early because as it worked out he had to go to a meeting at 3:30 and only had time to meet with me because I was early! Win! This was another good interview.

Well, that’s about it for the actual events of the day. I hope this description is a bit more satisfying (hm hm Dad). I’m not really sure what to tell you all. I have been thinking about a few more “English” words to tell you about though.

Literally-this is one of my favorite. Obviously we use it too, but they pronounce it “lit-ra-ly” which I think is great and occasionally slip into!

Subway-This is different than the Tube or Underground (what we think of as Subway). I think it is more like a walk-way under the road (but I’m not sure).

I just basically love the way they say everything!

Tomorrow will be another early morning. At 10am there is a meeting of the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee that I will be attending. They say to arrive early so I figure I will leave my hotel around 7:30am. And I'm still worried about not being early enough to get in!! If all goes as planned, Nick Clegg will be there and I will be a mere feet from the leader of the Liberal Democrats!!! In the afternoon I have an interview with the clerk of the aforementioned committee. Should be a good day!

Cheers!

Of the tube, fuzzy hats, and Parliament

Hello again!

Today I had my third interview (only one scheduled for today and this time in the actual Parliament building!). It was with my one Conservative MP, Andrew Turner. I think it went well, but he was more vague than the others and harder to follow. I did my best to press him on things, but he would start a sentence and then go off in another direction which was confusing. Oh well, I still think I got interesting information. His assistant was really nice. Since I got there early (I'm still me, even in London) he took me on a bit of a tour of Parliament-the places that aren't open to the public. He took me over Portcullis House which is where many of their offices are (I pretended that I hadn't been there twice yesterday) and by the Speakers House--yep, the speaker lives in Parliament. The best part was he took me to the terrace along the river where the MPs eat lunch and stuff. It was so special that even with his badge, he was only allowed there for two minutes! No sightings of David Cameron or Nick Clegg, but not to worry, Clegg should be at the committee meeting I am going to on Thursday! By the way, I was just thinking, it is so much fun to walk in and have security stop you and just say,

"I'm here to see (fill in the blank MP)"-makes one feel quite special actually.

Since my interview wasn't until 3:30, I decided to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. So I left my hotel and got on the Bakerloo tube line. Almost immediately the conductor came on the loudspeaker to tell us there was a delay up ahead. So we waiting awhile before going one stop. Then we were going to have to wait for an undefined period of time. I decided to get off and switch lines, but the stop I was at was a pain in that the Bakerloo was in one location and the other lines were in a totally different station (same name) that wasn't even connected. So, a rather helpful British woman and I got a bit lost somewhere in London before finally getting the tube. I decided to get off at Green's Park (I think that is the name) because it was closest to the Palace. But I wasn't really sure how to get to the palace-I used a combination of guesswork and a map to find my way. I was no longer as early as I had hoped, but I got a spot on the Fountain steps with a decent view. I hate to admit it, but Professor Schousen was right-it was a big disappointment. I thought that the band would make up for any boring parts of the rest of it, but they were small enough that it was hard to hear them at times. And what I was most looking forward to was their rendition of God Save the Queen, but I never heard it! I don't see how I could have missed it because I was listening intently for just that, but it also seems like they must have played it. Anyway, I'm glad I did it because it's something a tourist/researcher should do, but I'm not sure it was worth the pain in my feet the remainder of the day!

There were two other minor issues today-I'm learning that in London there is always something! The guy at the front desk of my hotel was different today and it was great because this guy actually understood the phrase customer service! He moved me to another room with no trouble (they even moved my bags for me while I was away during the day). Unfortunately, when I got there, wireless wouldn't work there either! I think now I am too far away from the lobby in the upwards direction (on what is labeled the 3rd floor, but is really the fourth). So they gave me my money back again and I'm at McDonald's...again. The other thing was just as I was going into Parliament, the strap on my bag broke so I had to get a new bag on my way home. That was a pain (literally as well as figuratively)!

Oh well! Despite my hotel and apparel issues, it's still great to be in London! Everyday I am so grateful that at F&M I get an awesome opportunity like this! I'm also glad that my interviews are going well. And being aboard gives me a great sense of independence and self-sufficiency. Don't get me wrong, I miss my family and friends, but it is always nice to realize I can do something like this and survive all the hiccups and just make things work.

Cheers!

I'm a real researcher now!!

Hello,

Well, today I had my first two interviews!! I feel like a legitimate scholar now! The first interview was with Tristram Hunt (he is a Labour MP) and the second was with Don Foster (Lib Dem MP from Bath). I felt good about both meetings. Both of them kindly let me record which helped me to relax (I still took notes of course, but I don't have to worry about every single word so much). Interestingly, I was not as nervous as I thought I would be! I was early for both which turned out to be a really good thing with Don Foster because it meant that I got some extra time with him and got to ask all my questions. They had some interesting (and at times surprising) views. After each interview I sat on a bench (or a wall) to write up everything I could remember. It took a while, but I think it's going well. I also felt like I improved from one to the next-I was better at transitioning between questions and more fluid (i.e. fewer ums and ahs).

As far as the rest of my life here, the hotel is a pain. I can't get wireless in my room despite a long process of trying to work with the less than entirely helpful people at the front desk. First they are out of vouchers and then when I finally get one, I find out that because I am literally stuck in the basement, it won't work. Hence, I am sitting in a McDonald's to write this (and a few emails to my parents) feeling that I really should wrap up as I finished my ice cream a while ago. :) I also got a souvenir London jacket today which makes me happy (not that anyone really cared)!

I wanted to start another list of "English" words I have learned (I started this last time I was here). Some of them will be repeats, but I think they are fun:

Chips=fries

Crisps=potato chips

Plasters=Band-Aids (which I learned when I got a blister from my shoes)

Diary= I'm not totally sure, but it seem to be synonymous with schedule?

Also, I still love that they use "bugger" (it came up in one of my interviews-as in they better not bugger that up!)

Of, and I can't forget my favorite-Cheers meaning everything from thank you to bye :)

I only have one interview tomorrow and it in the afternoon. My plan is to leave my hotel early and go to watch the Changing of the Guard. I just feel like it is something I should do and will probably enjoy! I will check in when I can!

Cheers!

How many consecutive hours have I been awake?

Hello from London!

I finally arrived this morning around 8 after flying all night (well that's misleading, it was a rather short night with the time change). I didn't get much sleep on the plane so all I really wanted to do was crash. But, I made it through a stupidly long customs line and into the UK with no trouble (other than having developed blisters on my hands from my suitcase). I then took the Express train from Heathrow to Paddington, which was more expensive than what I had planned, but fairly straightforward. Having arrived at Paddington I walked to my hotel where I was informed that check-in wasn't until 2 pm (it was about 10:45 am when I got there). This was bad, although not surprising, news as I was really hoping to take a nap. So I went out into London.

I grabbed a subway sandwich (incidentally not as good as the American version in my opinion) and then spent some time in Paddington. I decided to buy internet time because I didn't want to wait until 2 pm or later to tell my parents I'm alive. Then I decided since I had so much time to kill I would take a dry run on the tube to Westminster to practice for tomorrow. It was a good plan, but will end up being totally different tomorrow due to some line closures today that I think will be reopened tomorrow. Anyway, I got of at Charing Cross which is basically right at Trafalgar Square. It was nice to be in a part of town that I recognized and felt more comfortable in. I was going to head towards Parliament, but realized there were streets closed off and a lot of people down towards the Palace so I went to investigate. I didn't go all the way to the Palace (plenty of time for that later this week), but figured out that there was a big wreath laying ceremony at a memorial (I never quite figured out for exactly what). Anyway, the military band was marching and playing so I was happy. Then I made my way towards Parliament.

It was just a grand as I remember and really cool to be like the other tourists taking pictures while also realizing I am unlike the other tourists in that I will be meeting with MPs and going into these buildings we are taking pictures of! I wandered across the river to get a picture and met two British women who were willing to take my picture and chat a while. They were asking why I was here and where I was from so I decided to take the opportunity to ask them about the referendum. We had an interesting conversation and although worried I had appeared too nosy (don't worry, I think the reason they were so nice is that I was very polite) I was glad that I asked them as sort of a practice for talking to my first two MPs tomorrow.

I finally got back to my hotel and after carefully picking my way through narrow hallways and down narrow staircases found my room. And i finally took that nap I have been wanting since, well, yesterday! Tonight I am off to find some dinner, practice for tomorrow, go over my research, and hopefully, skype with my parents.

Hopefully tomorrow I will have some good stories of successful meetings with MPs!

Cheers!

P.S. Happy Mother's day to anyone who fits that description, but especially to my Mom!

Across the Pond

Good Morning!

I am currently sitting in the Harrisburg Airport waiting for my flight to Detroit (where I have an entirely too long layover) before heading to London. I can't believe I'm here! It is really amazing that I have this opportunity as a undergraduate (p.s. I am now a senior)!! (F&M is awesome!) I'm really nervous, but I also feel confident that I know what I'm talking about, have good questions, and will do okay.

I have plenty of reading to do on the plane-tons of articles about the referendum (from both before and after it happened). Speaking of the referendum, you may be curious about the results. To put it simply, Yes lost and it wasn't even close. Although this doesn't surprise me, I am a bit disappointed because I think it would have been fun to observe such a drastic change (I guess I really am turning into a comparativist). Then again, we are talking about Britain and as one of my articles reminds readers, they like slow evolution as opposed to drastic change. Anyway, the turnout for the vote was around 41% and the last I heard was that No won with about 68% of the vote. Additionally, there were council (local) elections in most of the UK with interesting results. The Lib Dems got slaughtered (even losing in Clegg's district), Labour did well, but surprisingly, the Conservatives also held their own. Most of the backlash seems to be against the Lib Dems and Nick Clegg rather than against the entire coalition government. Perhaps most interesting was the result of the Scottish Parliament elections. The SNP won a majority there and are now talking about having a referendum to separate from the UK! Note to self: keep this in mind for another research project. :)

Well I should get to that reading.... With any luck, my next post will be from LONDON!

Happy Referendum Day!!

Hey all! Today is the day that the referendum on electoral reform took place (hence the title of this post)! To give you all a bit of background, the referendum was agreed to in the coalition agreement between the Tories and Lib Dems. The referendum is asking people if the UK should switch from First Past the Post (FPTP), which is what we use to elect members to Alternative Vote (AV). Under AV, a candidate needs a majority of the vote to win the district (to compare, under FPTP, they only need a plurality). Each voter ranks the candidates in order of preference under AV. If no one receives a majority, the candidate who got the fewest votes is dropped and the votes of anyone who voted for them transfer to their second choice and so on until someone has a majority.

Neither party really wants AV as their first choice of an electoral system. The Conservatives want to keep FPTP (and have been aiding the No to AV Campaign). The Lib Dems would really prefer a system of Proportional Representation (PR), but will settle for AV. PR would mean that the percentage of votes they get is the percentage of seats they get (they have traditionally been shut out of the government despite winning between 15 and 25 % of the vote). AV is a compromise.

All polls indicate that the referendum will fail (No was ahead at 68% in the most recent polling data). However, turnout will be very important and we won't get those numbers until tomorrow (when we will also hear the results of the referendum). Regardless of whether or not the referendum passes, the very fact that this referendum has been held is historical. That is why I am going to conduct these interviews. And who knows, maybe we will learn tomorrow that the referendum passed and I will have an extra fun research project for the next few years. :)

More Adventures in the UK

Well, I didn't see this coming, but for the second time in a year I am preparing to leave for the UK. This time, rather than studying abroad, I will be conducting research on the Coalition Government and the Electoral Reform Referendum. For this research I will be interviewing Members of Parliament from each of the three major parties-the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats (the Tories and Lib Dems are the members of the Coalition).

This particular adventure began at the end of last semester when one of my best friends, Sam, and I were discussing possible ways to use our Marshall Grants at F&M. She helped me come up with this idea to use the up to $3000 to travel to London and interview members of the British Parliament (MPs). Eventually, I settled on this project that investigates the Electoral Reform Referendum (taking place tomorrow, May 5) and its affect on the Coalition Government. The information I learn will be used in a presentation at the Fall Research Fair at F&M and as a part of my independent research next year.

I have spent the last few months arranging interviews by email. I currently have seven interviews scheduled (six with MPs from each party and one with a committee clerk). In addition, I will be attending a meeting of the Committee for Political and Constitutional Reform which will involve testimony from Nick Clegg (the Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Lib Dems). (On a side note, when Sam and I came up with this idea, we set the goal of me meeting Clegg before I graduate. I am hopeful that this committee meeting is my chance to reach that goal!) I leave this Saturday May 7 and will return to Lancaster May 14.

I plan to use this blog while I am in London. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy following my trip!