Neighbourhood Connections

EXPLORING LONDON SINCE 2015

NC

CONTENTS

WELCOMEMESSAGEA welcomemessage and

introduction from Chris Shia

CONCEPTDRAWING 1An RA impressiondrawing of theNeighbourhoodConnections

What is a NeighborhoodConnection and what arethe benefits of attending?

WHAT IS ANEIGHBOURHOODCONNECTION?

FREQUENTLYASKED

QUESTIONSAll of your most

common questions answered

CONCEPTDRAWING 2An RA impressiondrawing of theNeighbourhoodConnections

NEIGHBOUR-

HOODS MAPAreas that have beenvisited plotted on amap of London and

useful links

PHOTO COLLAGE

Highlights of some ofthe neighbourhoodsthat have beenpreviously visited

EXAMPLEITINERARY

An illustrative exampleof a NeighbouhoodConnection toWalthamstow

VIEWPOINTS

Find out the views ofthe organisers' andsome past attendees

CONTENTS

STUDENTPHOTOS

Some photos ofstudents on aNeighbourhoodConnection

#HASHTAGSome hashtags that canbe used to illustrate what

a NeighbourhoodConnection is all about

Editors: Chris Shia, Sonia Andriano

Contact Us: london.housing@nyu.edu

https://www.facebook.com/NYULRAS

Follow us for more information about NeighbourhoodConnections

Contributors: Daniela Sorgente, Ranee Patel

WELCOME TO THENEIGHBOURHOODCONNECTION!By Chr i s Sh ia

E X P L O R E A N D E X P E R I E N C E

At the start of 2015, a new student programme wasborn, the 'Neighbourhood Connection'. It wasapparent that many NYU students studying inLondon were not seeking out and visiting the manydifferent and diverse neighbourhoods of London.Maybe it was because they did not know enoughabout them or there was some apprehension,something that is understandable given that peoplecan be cautious about the unknown and unfamiliar.As a person who grew up in London and has a vastarray of knowledge about London'sneighbourhoods and an interest in cities andurbanism, it led me to initiate an idea about having aseries of 'mini trips' exploring London. It was anobvious way to contribute. We encourage studentsto engage with these Neighbourhood Connections,have fun and to seek places that you would like toperhaps re-visit or which may become a newfavourite 'hangout'. Engage with new people, makenew friends and forge new bonds.

Each participant's experience will be different butone thing that everyone has in common is that youare in one of the most exciting cities in the world socome and explore it with us and let us guide you!

W E L C O M E M E S S A G E

A neighbourhood is generally defined spatially as aspecific geographic area (unitary boundary) andfunctionally as a set of social networks (defined by thepeople who live and work there).

A connection (in this context) is a relationship where aperson is linked or associated with something else orthe action of linking one thing with another. It can belinking people with each other or linking people withtheir surroundings.

A Neighbourhood Connection (NC) is not a traditionalheritage tour but more like a walking conversationregarding neighbourhoods and how people use citiesas places to live, work and play. They are notnecessarily about buildings and heritage but a morepersonal take on the local culture. In that sense eachperson will have a different experience. What reallymakes London what it is are the people. An NC is anintroduction to a neighbourhood that students mayrevisit on their own but experience it first hand withothers. An NC will give participants a ‘true sense of theneighbourhoods past, present and perhaps anindication of its future. It can focus on virtually anyaspect one can think of and the NC’s can be funny orserious, informative and exploratory; they may look atthe history of a place or what is occurring there today.Simply, it is to make a connection with your fellowpeers and that with your adopted city.

A Neighbourhood Connection will allow theparticipants to:

• Explore the underbelly of the ‘real’ London• Improve their knowledge about the fabric of the city• Learn more about where they are living and betterunderstand their adopted city• See something peculiar• Make connections with other students• Make connections or to discover things that resonatewith themselves• Find out about places that they are interested in andwould like to revisit or ‘hang out’• See a neighbourhood’s industries, people,commercial establishments, attractions and whatmakes it unique• Explore places that are perhaps ‘lesser-known’

• Have a nice ‘neighbourhood’ meal together in a groupsetting• Assist students in finding an identity with themselves• Take great photos of unique and wonderful places.

The NC hosts (i.e. the RA’s) will not only share theirknowledge and provide guidance but also encouragediscussion and participation where opinions andstories are shared.

The NC series is part of the NYU London ResidentialLife programme and it is aimed at students who love toexplore cities and want to explore them in ways otherthan on top of a tour bus or on a formal tour. Thesestudents want to see the city that exists in our mindsand hopes and see the art, beauty and soul of place.

WHAT IS ANEIGHBOURHOOD

CONNECTION?

‘’No one can find what will work for our cities bylooking at the boulevards of Paris, as the City Beautiful

people did; and they can't find it by looking atsuburban garden cities, manipulating scale models, orinventing dream cities. You've got to get out and walk."

-- Jane Jacobs

What do I bring?

How do I Get theMost Out of the

Experience?

Frequently AskedQuestions

• Comfortable footwear• Water• A camera• An Umbrella (Hey, it's London!)• Yourself (Don't Forget!)

There is a lot to look at. This is urbanexploration with its hidden alleyways and littlecorners. Walk free of distractions and walkmindfully. Be there in the moment andconcentrate on what you are feeling, seeingand smelling. Don't view what you experiencethrough your smartphone. Observe what thepeople you encounter are doing or carrying,what are their expressions? Yes take photosbut perhaps first understand what you aretaking before you take it.

Keep an open mind, have a sense of wonderand closely observe the ordinary. Have thatspontaneity but relax and live in the moment.

Do I have to pay to come along? Yes a deposit isrequired to sign up, which you get back if youattend.

I am nervous about coming by myself, should I be?No of course not, the RA's will have icebreakers andintroduce you to the other attendees.

What activities will there be on the day?

Walking, exploring and eating. There will be a funand interactive group game called ‘Truth or Rubbish’

during each NC where participants have to decidewhether a series of facts or questions about the areaare true or false. The group that answers the mostcorrect answers will receive prizes..

So is there always a meal on the day? Yes, the groupwill visit a local independent restaurant reflecting thediverse population of London.

How long does each Neighbourhood Connectionlast? Usually around half a day.

What hashtag should I use when posting photos ortalking about the Neighbourhood Connection onsocial media? #neighbourhoodconnections

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/claire-jopson/mindful-travel_b_8967614.html

Useful linksTime Out: http://www.timeout.com/london/area­guides

Londonist: http://londonist.com/

London Town: http://bit.ly/1SFzGZn

VisitLondon: http://bit.ly/2aIEmj8

Transport for London: https://tfl.gov.uk/

PAST NEIGHBOURHOODCONNECTION DESTINATIONS

BrixtonLocated in the Borough of Lambeth,

South London, known for its vibrancyand multiculturalism. It's interesting to

learn about the area and how it haschanged over time. Students can alsoenjoy what the markets have to offer.

Students on a NC to Greenwich cantake a boat along the River Thames to

Greenwich Pier, experience atraditional pie and mash lunch atGoddards restaurant and visit the

market. The highlight of this area isthe walk up the hill to the Royal

Observatory, where students canenjoy a great view and experiencestepping on the prime meridian.

Walthamstow

Greenwich

This area, located in North EastLondon, has changed a lot over

the past few years, becomingmuch more 'trendy' but it still

retains its authenticity. Some ofthe attractions include a

traditional market, a lot of ethnic restaurants and

God's Own Junkyard, the largeststock of vintage neons and signs

in Europe.

THE NEIGHBOURHOODS

Notting HillWell known for the

homonymous film set here,Notting Hill has a lot to offer,from the beautiful colourful

houses to one of the mostfamous markets in London,especially for its antiques.

RichmondThe main attraction of

this area are Richmond Park,famous for its wildlife,

including free roaming deer and theriverside. Besides exploring the

wilderness, students can have lunchat Pembroke Lodge.

ShoreditchThis neighbourhood in East

London has become famous forthe nightlife, street art and

markets, including Brick Laneand Old Spitalfields. There is a

wide choice of things to buy andfoods to eat, which reflects the

diversity of the area.

EXAMPLE ITINERARY -WALTHAMSTOW

Shown above is a sample walking route of a Neighbourhood Connection to Walthamstow in North EastLondon. It takes in several stops of real variety, with some attractions aimed at visitors and some aimedat local residents but they all merge together and anyone can enjoy and experience them in this verydiverse part of London.

VIEWPOINTS

TAKE ME THERE

VIEWPOINTS

The Neighbourhood Connections are as much fun to plan as they are to attend. After finallyselecting the perfect location and time, we then put careful research into selecting the best

restaurant in town for lunch. We also spend a lot of time researching the area and coming up withquestions for the “truth or rubbish” game. By the time the event is all planned out, I am so excited togo visit the place that I spent so much time investigating online. Running the event helps me workon my leadership skills too because I am taking a group of students to a new place and trying my

best to efficiently show them around, while simultaneously exploring the sites myself.The Neighbourhood Connections that I ran and those that I attended were both fun for differentreasons. It feels really good to know that you took students to a place that they might not have

visited if it wasn’t offered as a Neighbourhood Connection, especially if they all seem to be having agreat time. It is also fun to attend the NC events to see what the other RAs found interesting or worth

visiting in a different part of town. I definitely would recommend going to theNeighbourhood Connections because in my experience they have always been great fun withinteresting sites, delicious food, and they are a good chance to meet students who also share an

interest in exploring London.

- Daniela Sorgente (Nia) NYUL Byron RA Spring 2016

The Organisers' View

The Neighborhood Connections around London really helped. Even if I couldn't go tothem, I was able to learn that some place like that in London exists.

Loved the NeighborhoodConnection trips

Hello

HEY!

I found the Neighborhood Connections the most beneficial.

The Neighborhood Connections allowfor culturally enriching and immersive

experiences.

Any cultural activitylike Neighbourhood Connection orday-trips or even weekend-trips werefantastic for cultural exploration.

The Neighborhood Connectionswere a great way to see London and

meet other students.

I really enjoyed, and thought beneficial, the neighborhoodexcursions that the RA staff put on. It got me to explore

areas I may not have gone to on my own

My favorite program was Neighborhood Connections. TheRAs had a great sense of what students would be interested

in and they were a lot of fun. It was interesting to seea part of London that I wouldn't have gotten to on my own.

The Student View

Students on NCs

food

exploring

FUNmarkets

#MEETINGPOINT

#HABITS

#SIT

ES#SOCIAL

#PERSONAL

#WAL

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#FREE

#ART

#LOS

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XPLORE

#CULTURE

#DIV

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#TA

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#STR

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ULT

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#HID

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#PLACES

#FO

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#BEL

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GIN

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#LANGUAG

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HOTO

GRAPHY

#FUN

#NEIGHBOURHOODS

#UN

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HARA

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#ENGAGED

#G

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#MEETING

#UNIQUECHARACTERS

#DE

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#TOURS

#HISTORY

#TU

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Keep an eye out for the ResLifeweekly e-mail (sent out every

Sunday lunchtime) and theFacebook dorm groups to be awareof all the events organised by your

RAs!

DoN'T MiSS OuT!