England: Gabriela Korthuis (Dérive)

Dérive

One of the first trips I decided to make was to Camden Town. From the moment I stepped out of the tube station in Camden, the atmosphere was completely different from that of South Kensington. The first thing I noticed was the noise. Music was coming from every direction, and many people crowded the streets. I was awed by the diverse types of artistic expression present along the streets. The buildings were each painted with assorted colors, and many had large sculptures protruding from the walls and out towards the pavement. Everything about the atmosphere gave a feeling of rebellion and breaking out of the ordinary. There was an ample presence of punk style clothing and artists performing on the streets. There were several men with their hair styled in large colorful spikes offering to paint on people’s clothing as they walked by. I felt thrilled and excited. There was something wildly beautiful about the anonymity of being in a large eclectic crowd, where everyone is opening expressing their unique style. I wondered how Camden Town first became home of the punk scene in London, and what brought such a lively market to Camden. Music is such a crucial part of exploring interests and identity and bringing people together, and it was really refreshing to see a place where the people can unite under a common vibe. The market itself had cuisine represented from all corners of the world. Some highlights were stalls of Thai street food, Yorkshire burritos, Japanese baked goods, and Argentine appetizers. I
loved seeing so many different parts of the world represented in just one market and
watching people connecting with various aspects of their identity through food. I will for
sure be heading back to Camden to explore more of the food scene. I also hope to
come back later in the day to experience more musical performances and artistic life in
Camden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gabriela Korthuis

Major: Undecided

Hometown: Holmen, Wisconsin