The Eton College Experience
In January 2012, I left Nashville for England. I was lucky enough to be chosen as MBA's representative to Eton College for the Lent Term. After the long lines at Heathrow, I was picked up by Mr. Oliphant-Callum, a house-master at Eton. So began my foray into the English way of life.
The Life-style
At Eton, the exchanges are set up through the individual houses. I stayed in Manor House, the house of both Prince William and Harry. Each house at Eton is known by its house-master's initials - for example Manor House is known as TEJN, after Justin Nolan. Each boy has a room to himself, but with college-style hall bathrooms. About half of the twenty-five houses eat "in house," while the other half eat in a dining hall. TEJN's head-chef is named Rick, a man with a heavy cockney accent straight out of a Dickens novel. The food was filling, like MBA's fare, but entirely English. Lunch is the formal meal of the day - everyone stands until the arrival of the house-master and the dame (the mother-figure of the house). Once Mr. Nolan says grace, everyone sits down and is served by the house staff. Every other meal is informal, and the full tail-suit is not required.
The Uniform
One of the most peculiar traditions is the uniform. Each boy is required to wear tails, pinstripe pants, black shoes, and an attachable collar (see photo). One of the stories I heard was that a top-hat used to be part of the uniform. Due to the struggle of juggling books, a top-hat, and a gas mask (WWII), they stopped requiring one. The uniform, by far, was one of my favorite parts of Eton. I loved every time I put on my tails.
Schedules
The equivalent of junior year is known as "C-Block." The senior class is called B-Block. The schedule is very similar, for each student takes four classes. I took Politics, English, History, and Art. At first I was put in the American Civil War history class, but I switched into the French Revolution class. They call classes "divs," which is short for "divisions." Each div is only forty minutes long, but they are spread out until five or six in the evening. English class was great because you have two different teachers teaching two different books. I studied Hamlet & A Streetcar Named Desire (Stelllaaa!!!).
Sport
All athletics take place right after lunch during the Lent Term. I did rowing and played "Sine" (jv) Field Game. Rowing is their most intense sport, and I helped out whenever they needed a coxswain. They built their own lake a few years ago, and the Olympic rowing took place there. Field Game, on the other hand, is fun and very complicated. Only Etonians play the game, which is a mix between rugby and soccer. The rules (like cricket) are strange, but you can still have tons of fun. We were Sine runner-ups for the term.
Outside of Eton
The students come from all over England and the world. There were three other Americans in the house, all full-time students. A lot of kids go home on the weekends, and I went with them several times. During the "long-leave," (a week off in the middle of term), I stayed all over southern England. I visited Kent, Hertfordshire, Hampshire, and a few other English counties. I stayed with one family whose house was owned by Henry VIII at one point. While I was in London over one weekend, I was lucky enough to go to a Premier League Match, Fulham vs. Newcastle. Clint Dempsey, an American on the Fulham squad, scored the first American hat-trick in the Premier League. It was quite a game.
Speakers
Since Eton is one of the most prestigious high schools in the world, they attract some of the coolest speakers. I saw James Murdoch, the son of Rupert Murdoch, speak. He mostly talked about his business endeavors, and stayed away from the recent controversy. I also saw Boris Berezovsky talk, who was one of the Russian Oligarchs who put Putin in power. He's been exiled, so he lives in England. One of the more fun speakers was the #4 darts player in the world - he gave an exhibition and played some Etonians.
Eton has many societies, or clubs, that bring the speakers in. There are also some very exclusive societies, like the Wine Society or the Cheese Society. B-Blockers have to be invited to join, as they are the most popular societies in the school.
Chapel
A huge part of the routine is going to Chapel daily. College Chapel is a soaring cathedral, though smaller than some of the others built around the same time. Students mostly fall asleep or read off kindles during chapel (suit overcoats make the action easy). The chapel itself dominates the Etonian sky-line. It is easily the most recognized part of Eton besides Upper School (the famous room where Etonians carve their names, eg Percy Shelley).
Vocab
Divs = classes
Beaks = teachers
Chambers = break
Prayers = nightly roll call
Dame = house mother
Old Etonian = graduate of Eton (eg David Cameron is an OE)
Rut = a general term of disgust
Wet Bobs = rowers
Head Man = headmaster
Reader = study hall
Tap = the school bar (yes, they serve alcohol to those over 16!)
Tardy Book = demerit hall
B-Block = seniors
C-Block = juniors
D-Block = sophomores
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FtZkVRkusQ
The Uniform
One of the most peculiar traditions is the uniform. Each boy is required to wear tails, pinstripe pants, black shoes, and an attachable collar (see photo). One of the stories I heard was that a top-hat used to be part of the uniform. Due to the struggle of juggling books, a top-hat, and a gas mask (WWII), they stopped requiring one. The uniform, by far, was one of my favorite parts of Eton. I loved every time I put on my tails.
 |
| The Courtyard- with the Statue of Henry VI - The Chariots of Fire footrace was filmed here |
 |
| The Tails |
Schedules
The equivalent of junior year is known as "C-Block." The senior class is called B-Block. The schedule is very similar, for each student takes four classes. I took Politics, English, History, and Art. At first I was put in the American Civil War history class, but I switched into the French Revolution class. They call classes "divs," which is short for "divisions." Each div is only forty minutes long, but they are spread out until five or six in the evening. English class was great because you have two different teachers teaching two different books. I studied Hamlet & A Streetcar Named Desire (Stelllaaa!!!).
Sport
All athletics take place right after lunch during the Lent Term. I did rowing and played "Sine" (jv) Field Game. Rowing is their most intense sport, and I helped out whenever they needed a coxswain. They built their own lake a few years ago, and the Olympic rowing took place there. Field Game, on the other hand, is fun and very complicated. Only Etonians play the game, which is a mix between rugby and soccer. The rules (like cricket) are strange, but you can still have tons of fun. We were Sine runner-ups for the term.
| The Boat House |
 |
| The Sine Field Game Squad |
The students come from all over England and the world. There were three other Americans in the house, all full-time students. A lot of kids go home on the weekends, and I went with them several times. During the "long-leave," (a week off in the middle of term), I stayed all over southern England. I visited Kent, Hertfordshire, Hampshire, and a few other English counties. I stayed with one family whose house was owned by Henry VIII at one point. While I was in London over one weekend, I was lucky enough to go to a Premier League Match, Fulham vs. Newcastle. Clint Dempsey, an American on the Fulham squad, scored the first American hat-trick in the Premier League. It was quite a game.
 |
| Craven Cottage- the home of Fulham |
Speakers
Since Eton is one of the most prestigious high schools in the world, they attract some of the coolest speakers. I saw James Murdoch, the son of Rupert Murdoch, speak. He mostly talked about his business endeavors, and stayed away from the recent controversy. I also saw Boris Berezovsky talk, who was one of the Russian Oligarchs who put Putin in power. He's been exiled, so he lives in England. One of the more fun speakers was the #4 darts player in the world - he gave an exhibition and played some Etonians.
Eton has many societies, or clubs, that bring the speakers in. There are also some very exclusive societies, like the Wine Society or the Cheese Society. B-Blockers have to be invited to join, as they are the most popular societies in the school.
 |
| Andy "The Hammer" Hamilton in action |
Chapel
A huge part of the routine is going to Chapel daily. College Chapel is a soaring cathedral, though smaller than some of the others built around the same time. Students mostly fall asleep or read off kindles during chapel (suit overcoats make the action easy). The chapel itself dominates the Etonian sky-line. It is easily the most recognized part of Eton besides Upper School (the famous room where Etonians carve their names, eg Percy Shelley).
 |
| Prince Harry's name in TEJN |
Vocab
Divs = classes
Beaks = teachers
Chambers = break
Prayers = nightly roll call
Dame = house mother
Old Etonian = graduate of Eton (eg David Cameron is an OE)
Rut = a general term of disgust
Wet Bobs = rowers
Head Man = headmaster
Reader = study hall
Tap = the school bar (yes, they serve alcohol to those over 16!)
Tardy Book = demerit hall
B-Block = seniors
C-Block = juniors
D-Block = sophomores
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FtZkVRkusQ
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