If you're trying to stay positive, don't read the headlines

The crashing economy has been on the front pages of the newspapers for the past few weeks and today was is no different. Living in London and commuting everyday has put a newspaper in my hands most every morning. I mean this quite literally as there are always people at tube entrances placing newspapers straight into your arms. It was a little annoying at first, but now I get irritated if I have to get on the tube and no one is there to hand me the day's news.

So, it's Tuesday morning and yesterday the $700 billion dollar plan to bail-out Wall Street was voted down by congress. Everyone at work is talking and there are a few meetings going on about what it means for UK business, although I haven't been invited to sit in today. I've been following the economy more than I ever have recently (I think a lot of people probably have) and it's interesting to be watching the economic situation from a global business center like London. When Lehman Brothers collapsed everyone talked about it in a bit of disbelief. I watched interviews of Lehman's London branch employees leaving their offices, having no idea what was going and all the while wondering about a friend of mine who works for a Chicago branch. This is a global economic storm and I can't help but feel London is making me more aware of this. I'm living in a true economic center and listening to the opinions and concerns of people who are working in it.

While university students are well educated and conscious of the world around them, we still often miss some of the world's realities. If I were back on my school's, Indiana University, campus right now I know I would be paying attention to the news, but not to the extent that I am now. A college campus is a bit of a Utopian place for students. Many of us don't have to worry too much about expenses, or if we do, we're getting loans and worrying later. We are also surrounded by people our age, who don't have any more experience in the world than we do. Our campuses are relatively small and self-contained. While walk to class back on campus offers fall leaves, friends and fun, the commute through London offers a glimpse at the diverse culture, experience and knowledge that resides here.

We're all watching a historic economic storm, but the view and its perceived danger depends greatly on where you're watching from and the amount of shelter you have.