Bradley University Department of Accounting

08/26/2023

First meeting of the year for Beta Alpha Psi! We look forward to accounting majors stopping by on Thursday, August 31, at 4:30 pm.

We look forward to accounting majors coming by to learn more about the Beta Alpha Psi!

06/03/2023

June 2, Friday

It is bittersweet that we closed the curtain on our European expedition. We departed from the Brussels airport (Can you find our flight in the picture below?) and flew back to O’Hare before a long layover to get back to Peoria. During our layover, we said our final goodbyes to Akshat, one of our beloved classmates, as he flew home directly to Atlanta.

All of us learned more about ourselves, each other, and the world outside of our borders through this international accounting class. We shared great moments together like making chocolate and Akshat’s constant comedy, as well as our independent experiences roaming Brussels and London when we had free time.

None of us will forget this experience provided to us by Bradley University, the Department of Accounting, and the generous donors who helped make this trip a reality for our large group. I can say with certainty that this trip will have a positive, lasting influence on us all. It will make us better accountants and world citizens.

Tommy B***e

06/03/2023

June 1, Thursday

Our final day was full of sweet treats! We started our day by walking past the iconic Brussels fountain, Mannekin P*s, on our way to the Chocolate Museum. The museum tells the Choco-Story, starting with the creation of chocolate in the ancient Mayan Empire and its spread through Europe, Asia, and eventually the whole world. The museum included a mini demonstration of chocolate making, as well as chocolates from around the world for us to taste.

Following our lunch break, our group got to take a chocolate making class! With the help of our amazing instructor, Amina, we were all able to make chocolate pralines and mendiants to take home with us! We even got to enjoy some hot chocolate made from the leftover ganache. Everyone had a great time at our activities today, and many memories were made!

Britney Koerner

06/03/2023

May 31, Wednesday

We had quite an adventure for our first full day in Brussels! Throughout our day, we rode a tour bus around the city which guided us to many historic stops. One of those was the Le Tunnel du Cinquatenaire shown below.

Our first major stop was The Parliamentarium. This activity allowed us to take a deep dive into the major historic events over the last several decades and the impact those events had on the European Union (EU). We also learned about the EU’s creation and the procedures they follow to fulfill their objectives.

Next, we visited the United States Embassy. Two economic advisors gave us an informative presentation about the purpose of the U.S. Embassy in Brussels. This embassy serves three purposes which involve managing U.S. relations with Belgium, the EU, and NATO. They also informed us of some challenges they currently face such as market access, regulatory burdens, and climate energy. Lastly, we learned more about the USDA’s impact on foreign affairs and the agriculture industry as a whole.

It was a successful day in Brussels, and we are looking forward to working with chocolate tomorrow!

Mallory Meinke

06/03/2023

May 30, Tuesday

On May 30th, we transitioned from familiar London to a new city and country: Brussels, Belgium. We began our travels by hopping on the Eurostar at the St Pancras station in London. This is the same place where during our scavenger hunt we boarded the Hogwarts Express in the famous Harry Potter series. Once we were all aboard, it was a brief two-hour ride to Brussels through the “chunnel” (train tunnel through the English Channel).

Once off the train, we were met with a set of totally new experiences: different languages, driving on the right side of the road again, and walking everywhere as opposed to driving in the USA and taking the Tube in London. The vibe in Brussels is much more carefree and relaxed. Belgians are stereotypically unorganized and do not take well to this sentiment. Brussels also has amazing architecture and gardens, such as those found at the palace in Mont des Arts. We are all looking forward to more new experiences and taking in all that Brussels has to offer!

Cooper Walden

06/03/2023

May 29, Monday

Today our group ventured to the historic British Museum! Students got the chance to see exhibits previously picked out during class time. It was awesome seeing everything in person! At the museum we had afternoon tea and lots of great finger foods.

After the museum, Tiffanie and I traveled to the Borough Street Market and tried the TikTok-famous chocolate strawberries. We were gobsmacked (amazed) at how good they were. In addition, four of us enjoyed Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre. Others took it easy and got ready for our next travel day.

Elise Toland

05/30/2023

May 28, Sunday

For our free day, five of us chose to attend the Chelsea vs. Newcastle football match (or soccer game if you are reading from the USA). Our tickets also included pre-match food, a museum tour, and an appearance from former Chelsea player Gary Chivers!

After the game, we walked along the River Thames, where you may have wanted a jumper (a.k.a. sweater) as the water breeze felt a bit chilly. We then enjoyed a ride on the tire swing along the river, to make us feel like kids again.

It was another great day in London, and we are all looking forward to Brussels soon!

Cooper Walden

05/29/2023

May 27, Saturday (1/2)

Today, our class enjoyed a scavenger hunt through the historic city of London! The tour included many locations such as an underground crypt where we had lunch and the British Library where we saw items with great significance such as the Magna Carta. My favorite part of our hunt was seeing the smallest police station in London. It has been decommissioned and is now acting as a street light with various items stored inside.

My time in London has been a blast and one of my favorite trips during Uni (college). I am excited to continue this trip with my classmates and make even more mates (friends).

Kamron Etchison

05/29/2023

May 27, Saturday (2/2)

Professor Johnson organized a cultural scavenger hunt around London, with separate groups exploring the same itineraries. We hit the National Gallery of Art to explore Leonardo da Vinci’s Virgin of the Rocks (pictured below) and Quentin Matsys’ painting commonly known as The Ugly Duchess. Both paintings are from the Renaissance era.

After a brief intermission for lunch, we cracked on (continued) with the hunt, exploring literary and musical treasures at the British Library. In addition, we walked across London Bridge before arriving at the Tower of London. Professor Bailey gave us a history lesson outside the Tower of London, where the Crown Jewels are kept. Then, we ventured out for some nosh (a meal) at an Asian fusion restaurant.

Tiffanie Jones

05/28/2023

Friday, May 26 (1/2)

We started the day with an early breakfast before meeting in the courtyard of the hotel. We discussed the previous day and then rode the Tube to the center of the Financial District. From there we took a quick hike to the Bank of England. Once inside, we explored the museum, interacting with several different exhibits. During the tour, we found out the origins of the Bank of England. In addition, we learned about the multiple currencies and notes such as the tenpenny, the halfpenny, and all the different notes that were in circulation.

After our trip to the Bank and Leadenhall Market (described by Britney in the next blog), we had the option of going to St. Paul’s Cathedral, a historic monument in the heart of London. Students received a concession by showing their student IDs, and were let into the Cathedral at a discount. There were multiple parts, and some students even climbed over 500 steps in order to reach the top of the Cathedral before heading into the catacombs deep below.

Akshat Saxena

05/28/2023

May 26 - Friday (2/2)

After the Bank of England, our group traveled to Leadenhall Market, a covered outdoor market located in the heart of London. Leadenhall Market is filled with a large variety of stores, pubs, restaurants, and even several barber shops! Our class thoroughly enjoyed eating lunch there and browsing the shops. As a huge Harry Potter fan, I was very excited to visit Leadenhall Market. It is shown briefly in the first Harry Potter movie. Leadenhall Market was also the inspiration for Diagon Alley, the secret shopping street for witches and wizards. However, there were many muggles seen in Leadenhall Market today. A muggle represents a non-magical person in the world of Harry Potter.

After our morning with the group, Mallory and I used part of our free time to go see Frozen the Musical on the West End. We had great seats in stalls, which in America is known as the Orchestra, or floor seating. The show was incredible!

Britney Koerner

05/26/2023

May 25, Thursday

We had a great day in London! We started our morning with an English breakfast provided by our hotel before taking the Tube to Deloitte’s London campus. After entering 1 New Square Street, one of Deloitte’s six London buildings, we were introduced to James Williams, a partner for the Transaction Services Group and Sriram Prakash, a senior executive at Deloitte who serves as the global leader for Mergers and Acquisitions Insights and Ideation. We spent our morning learning more about Deloitte’s M&A business and some risks faced by businesses in Europe. Lunch was provided by Deloitte which allowed us to chat with James and some members of his team. On our way out, we grabbed a group picture in front of the Deloitte logo!

After our afternoon interval (a break/period of rest between two events), we went to dinner at Sarastro, a Mediterranean and Turkish restaurant, before walking a few blocks to watch the Lion King in the London Theatre district. Although none of us were able to play the bongos located in the balcony boxes, it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience to wrap up another brilliant (excellent) day in London.

Tommy B***e