Hey! Congratulations on being accepted to the London program! About 30 of you (Cal Poly students) are signed up, which is awesome!
I am deep into the planning
stages of our program (working with my liaison in London) and have some really fun things planned for our ASTR-324 class. I promise you'll enjoy the credit you'll earn in this class.
A few things:
This will be a great fast and easy communication mode while in London ("meet at Trafalgar Square," "oh no, it's raining!", etc.)
You can use it now to connect with and meet others in the program (including Prof. Bensky--ask any question you have!)
Class Schedule. This could change, but at the moment, classes are scheduled as:
ASTR-324 T/TH 9:10am–12:20pm, for 6 weeks
ISLA-316 M/T/W 2:10pm–4:25pm, for 5 weeks
Class supplies (books, etc.) are forthcoming.
The long duration of the classes allows us time to go out and about in London for class. We'll never be in the classroom the whole scheduled time of a class.
A "pre-depature" meeting will be scheduled for sometime in May (you'll hear about it).
England vs. the United Kingdom. Remember: United Kingdom = England + Scotland + Wales + Northern Ireland.
Was intrigued to see this: Mary Queen of Scots last letter. I might try to pop up to Scotland and see this some weekend we're there. (We'll "see" her on our tour of Westminster Abbey.)
Kind of a touching story: You probably all know this, but "mind the gap" comes from a gap between a tube car and the platform that can open up due to irregularities in construction at various stations. So you'll hear "mind the gap" announced a lot in the tube stations.
Do you know why you'll see these on some cross-walks?
Silly stuff
Be ready to buy a towel when you get there (not supplied by your housing). Kind of large to pack. Many places to get one near your flat. Can be your first errand!
Also (if needed) it's easier to buy a 220V hair dryer over there too, instead of lugging a 110V-to-220V transformer and your home hair dryer.
Your phone/laptop chargers all work directly on 220V in the UK. But the wall-plug is different. These and these can be helpful.
Packing: 1) Pack what you "need." 2) Get rid of 50% of it. 3) Go!
22-Jan-2026
Happy new year everyone. Hope you're all still thinking about going to London this summer. Here's a few updates on the program:
Applications are still open and will close around March 1st
I pulled the latest list, and it looks like about 8 of you have completed your applications. Awesome!🎉 I'd love to have many, many more of you complete yours as well! You have a little over a month before the applications close.
Short video
I made short promotional video about my class (ASTR-324) and being in London. This is supposed to get pushed out to the International Center's
Instagram on the 29th. (I hope you like it!)
"London-y" Things
Just a few musing about London
If you like the graffiti artist Banksy (no, not me. I'm Bensky), you can go around London finding some of his/her (?) work. There are 4 or 5 "Banksies" in the city. It's kind of fun to go around and find them.
Even though they speak English there, there's plenty to learn about their language. Such as:
A "subway" is an under-a-road walkway. It does not refer to the "tube" or "underground" that is London's famous transport mode.
You'll see a lot of "look left" signs as you cross streets. Do you know why?
A "boot" is the truck of a car, and the "bin" is the trash. Restrooms are "water closets" (WCs), and if you need some medication, go the "chemist" (not pharmacist)
Sometimes, you'll be a little intimidated by Londoners' accents, and will have to listen a little closer when communicating. I've have students actually ask me to tell them what someone (with an accent) just said. Hey! It's just English!
Your personal space will shrink quit a bit everywhere you go. Everything is smaller (rooms, gyms, stores, etc.) and their are more people there.
This is an interesting explanation of today's English monarchy.
18-Dec-2025
🎉Hey everyone, good job finishing up fall quarter! Just a quick London update before you all disappear for a well-deserved break.
Applications open!
Applications for London/Summer 2026 are being accepted now. Click here and find the "Apply Now" button! (Still no rush--the deadline is in March.)
The London Tube
In London, the underground "subway" or just "underground" or "the tube" will be a big part of our lives. It's what quickly and efficiently will wisk us all over greater London. You'll get a free pass for Zones 1 and 2 (see the light gray shading on the map).
I put a full map of it here.
I quite enjoy getting used to the tube and trying to find my way without using the map at all (it'll take you a couple of weeks). It definitely provides a welcome break out of the California "drive everywhere" culture for 6 weeks. Here's some stops that will be key for us:
The blue Picadilly line serves Heathrow Airport, were we'll all likely land. (It's a very old and deep (literally) line; citizens hid down there during the WWII bombings of the city).
If you can, follow it eastward to Glocester Rd (NOT pronoucned "Gl-ow-ses-ter") which you can get off at and walk (20 min or so), so your flat. Don't worry about having your suitcase and all. Tons of poeple will be doing the same thing.
High Street Kensington is a good stop for your flat too, but you'll have to figure out how to be sure you get on the Circle or District lines (yellow and green) to get there. You can transfer at Gloucester but be sure get on the "Edgeware Rd" line. The lead car on a tube, or the platform you stand on to wait for the tube, is always marked by the end of the line it is travelling to.
Yes, "Wimbledon" on the green line is that Wimbledon. Yes, the tournment is on when we get there, and yes you can go. (Actually, if you want to go, you might look into getting tickets now.)
Earl's Court: that's my stop, which is near the faculty housing.
Go to Picadilly Circus for theathers, shows, food, and tons of action. (Nearby Holborn is a good stop for the British Museum.)
Westminster if you want to go see this view (Westminster Abbey, Bensky's favorite place, kinda in the whole world is there too--red arrow):
The map vs reality
The tube is also fun because it doesn't physically exist like the map. All the map tells you is that say Sloane Square is right after South Kensington if you're on the green line (District line) to Upminster.
Geographically, it actually exists like this:
There's always that person...
Then there's this, WHICH YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO!!!
Have a nice holiday everyone!
19-Nov-2025
Applications for London/Summer 2026 are now open!
There's nothing you need to do right now, but:
🎉You can apply for London/Summer 2026 here, by clicking the "Apply Now" button! 🎉
But again, you don't have to apply right now. This program is NOT first-come, first served and spaces are not be "used up" by early applicants. This is not a competitive program, so focus on finishing up this busy quarter and going home for the holidays!
Admissions to the program will not happen until applications close in March. If you apply at any time between now and March, and meet the minimum requirements (2.4 GPA, no academic probation, good standing with the university), you'll be admitted.
ALSO: On Friday (Nov 21), there's a virtual Study Abroad Workshop you can sign up for here.
Ok, back to being in London 🇬🇧
One thing I love about the lifestyle in London is all of the walking we all end up doing. (So bring some good walking shoes.) Sure there's the tube and the buses to get around the city,
but all of the in-betweens are covered by walking. It is very different from the California "drive everywhere, parking lots, etc." culture.
One of my favorite things to do in London is to go out and walk in any direction, to investigate the city. When ready to go home, I just find a tube station and let "the underground" wisk me home. So, these walking trips only need to be "one way" (of walking).
In your case (living at at Hyde Park Gate), you can start investigating by just heading across the street into Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park.
You can also turn due left out of your flat and head to "High Street Kensington" for the Whole Foods, shopping, and just a ton
of activity. The Design Museum is around there too. Walking toward our classroom building and Cromwell Road (opposite direction of Kensington Gardens), you can enjoy all of the eateries in South Kensington and of
course you must check out Harrods.
On Friday nights, the museums (that all have free admission) are open until 9pm, so if you want some alone time with your favorite exhibit, painting, whatever, Friday nights are a great time to go, since all of the "tourists" have gone home.
It's too far for a walk, but taking the tube to Trafalger Square, Bensky loves to roam around
the National Gallery on Friday nights, and in particular, just go stare at George Stubbs's 10 foot painting of a racehorse for a while. (p.s. I'm not artistic at all, but what can I say; London just changes you.)
For you, getting back to your flat is best done by taking the tube to the High Street Kensington Station.
24-Oct-2025
One of the (small) things I love about this trip is right when we arrive. You'll all likely land at Heathrow airport,
and your first challenge abroad is getting to your flat. You can take an Uber OR the blue Picadilly tube line to the Gloucester stop. Taking the tube all on your own--tired from your flight, and with your luggage--can be one of your first independent/abroard challenges for yourself! One way or another, they'll be ready for your arrival at your flat (keys, room assignments, etc.)
The company that hosts us (FIE--the Foundation for International Education--FIE building (114 Cromwell Rd), wants us there on Thursday
June 18, even though classes don't start until the following Monday. So...we all have about 4 days to acclimate
ourselves to London, our new home! I love this time so much, because it feels like a bit of an extension to the program.
During these initial 4 days, FIE usually has a couple of short tours planned around your new neighborhood (the area around your flat) at Hyde Park Gate, showing you good places to get groceries, coffee, and all. One of the tour stops is Kensington Palace, where Kate and William live.
It's sooo cooool walking to the palace, through those black wrought iron gates with gold highlights that lead into the palace.
And by the way--it's fun to jump on a double-decker bus and if you can, get the front seat on the top right in front
of the big window. You'll feel like you're on top of the world!! And yes, the 211 bus is actually the one that goes
through Westminster.
