Having been in London for a little over four months now, I've taken some time to reflect back on my experience thus far. It seems that my first semester of school flew by and I've already started second semester, where has the time gone? London has offered me plenty of adventure and misadventure, but on the whole has welcomed me with open arms and treated me like an old friend.
As I've said first semester flew by in a kind of whirlwind. Between finding accommodations and starting classes my plate was quite full. Having finally found a place to call home, I was able to settle into a routine quite quickly and learn my way around the city. For the most part I did little exploring, as I was acclimating to the copious amounts of reading and writing required by my program and allowing myself time to take everything in. I knew there was no rush to see the city all at once, as I would be here for a year, so I could take a leisurely pace and not run myself into the ground trying to cram in all the sites!
Classes proved to be interesting, while the coarse work was challenging and rewarding. My professors are some of the most incredibly knowledgable people I've ever met. They all bring different experiences from various areas of the art world, as they are all still working for galleries, museums, foundations, philanthropists etc. as well as teaching. My favorite class last semester was Art and Its Histories with Dr. Deborah Schultz. This class focused primarily on philosophies of aesthetics, as well as theories and analysis of art. Dr. Schultz, who earned her PhD in Art History from Oxford University, is incredibly knowledgable and was able to help us navigate the weighty material of philosophers like Kant, Hegel, Panofsky and Wollflin. I enjoyed this course not only because of the content but also because of its structure; the dialogue and collaborative nature of the class allowed us to interact with the information in a more comprehensive way, making abstract concepts tangible. I was also surrounded by incredibly intelligent women who provided varying insights and thought provoking commentary in every class.
Due to the fact that I'm studying Art History many of the classes took place in galleries or museums throughout London. One of the major benefits of public art is that most of the galleries and museums are free to the public and/or students. I have had the privilege of seeing some of the greatest art in the world as part of a class or as a requirement for an assignment. Outside of this I didn't venture out a great deal. I took a few trips: one to Norway, another with my cohort to Venice; again seeing some incredible art, architecture and history, along with some small day trips to places like Cambridge and Oxford. Needless to say there was plenty going on without my having to seek out extra outings, so when Christmas break rolled around, it was welcomed! I spent much of the break reading, sleeping and relaxing. I let myself do whatever I felt I needed to do...so I took lots of naps!! I also got to talk to my family and friends back home via FaceTime and email, which was wonderful! I used this time to take in all the things I had experienced over the last few months as well as consider what comes next for me once school is done. I did quite a bit of thinking about my thesis topic, as I had considered changing it, but feel certain that I am going to stick with my original idea dealing with the iconography of Christ, something which is incredibly interesting to me.
Towards the end of break I got out and saw more of the city. I can honestly say that I LOVE London!! It is a beautiful place full of warm, friendly people, history, culture and diversity! It feels more like home than I could ever have imagined and I'm looking forward to the next nine months I get to spend here. I also feel blessed by the relationships I have formed here. The Lord has surrounded me with smart, kind, wonderful friends who are thoughtful and considerate. People who are intentional, who go out of their way to listen, talk, laugh and be together as we share this experience. People who challenge, support and encourage me, and who are equally passionate about their own purposes and pursuits.
I find that there are times I can't believe that I'm really doing this; living out the dreams the Lord planted in my heart at such a young age. However, for the first time, in a very long time, I have a sense of contentment, peace, and joy! I feel myself coming alive and growing as each day brings new opportunities, challenges and insights. It's as though a part of me had been sleeping and is finally awake!
