TONY NUCCIO IN EUROPE

September 27, 2001

London, England

First Week of Class

My first impression of The University of Westminster

The first day of class was interesting. Someone already spotted me in my flat and the city started to feel smaller. My Modern British Theatre class is more of an analytical point of view in which the Theatre is going to be studied. The class doesn’t require me to attend theatres, as I had hoped, but it will give me more of an in-depth meaning behind its core principles.

The Marylebone Campus where I shall be taking all my business classes is very nice. Although it is much more smaller than CU, its still nice for what London has to offer. I was expecting worse but actually it is not that bad. Also I was very happy to see color in the audience at my lecture. At CU, the diversity is so horrible you can remember the dozen of non-white people in the lectures. At Westminster it is very diverse like many of the institutions in the US that are dedicated to diversity.

It is amazing in that respect how well many of the people work together and how social segregation and racism are not visibly present. It feels wonderful to be in an environment where people aren't judging purely off the basis of skin color.

My business classes are very equivalent to those taken at CU. The structure of the class is very independent and requires more from the student. I feel this will allow me to work harder, but then again, the city is overwhelmingly interesting and time has become more valuable than ever. I only have classes this first semester for 3 days a week and they run long. Monday I have class for 5 hours straight, Tuesday 3 hours, and Thursday 3 hours. Its not too bad, they just make it one class a week so the rest of the time I have to myself and to my studies.

Generally speaking, the students I have classes with have 1-year work experience under their belt. The structure of the English education system accounts for 1 year of work experience into the 4 years of University studies. In other words, it’s going to be a challenge competing with students for grades.

I am content with the program and find it different and more independent. It requires more understanding from the students and better prepares us for the "real world".