November 05, 2009
Theater arts major blogging about her semester in London
Clark University junior Allison C. Schenkler of Port Washington, New York, is spending her fall semester interning at the Unicorn Theatre in London, England through Clark's London Internship Program, and is sharing her experiences through her blog.
Schenkler is a theater arts major who minors in elementary education. She writes, "I've always wanted to see what children's theater was all about, and now I will have the opportunity to figure it out hands-on, and in a place where theater is at its best."
In addition to her 20-hour a week internship, Schenkler is taking three classes at the Foundation for International Education. One course, British Life and Cultures, focuses on many aspects of the UK compared to the US, such as transportation, education systems, news and overall lifestyles.
Schenkler writes about cultural differences she's experienced so far outside of the classroom.
On September 9, she wrote "…the one thing that I am having the hardest time adjusting to (other than being 5 hours ahead) is walking on the left side of the sidewalk. I always feel like I'm obviously American because I walk on the right side."
Schenkler writes of her experiences working, studying and living in London. Her blog captures her observations about dining out ("it's not really common to ask for a doggy bag in a restaurant because its rude not to finish the food they gave you") and about using the transportation system ("The tube is almost as hot and sticky as the Subway, and it's also hard to get a seat, so it makes that ride rather unpleasant"). She writes about trips to neighboring countries, eleven o'clock daily tea times, and how she, one of only three Jewish students, celebrated Rosh Hashanah by preparing a semi-traditional Jewish dinner for 13 people in her flat. To remind visitors of the time difference, Schenkler uses clocks on her blog to indicate what time it is in the U.S. vs. London, and she allows visitors a view of her surroundings via her "London Cam."
"I learn something new every day, and the more I pay attention to the people around me the more differences I notice between here and The States," she wrote on September 27.
Schenkler is a member of the Class of 2011 at Clark. She is a 2007 graduate of Paul D. Schreiber High School. She is the daughter of Michael and Lillian Schenkler of Port Washington.
The London Internship Program is one of 33 study abroad opportunities at Clark. Clark's study abroad programs include courses at the London School of Economics, Jewish Studies programs in Prague, international development programs in Namibia and many more. Clark also offers the Leir Luxembourg program during the summer.