Beyond Oxford

#28 Visit a new country: Peru! Completed April 2007

2008-11-10T20:22:00.016-05:00

#28 is connected to #16, my previous post. It was one of those "kill two birds" moments, though no fowl were fouled in the process. =) As someone who loves travel, I figured listing "visit a new country" would encourage me to see even more of the world, but it was somewhat of a "gimme" because I would have done it anyway! My opportunity to travel to Peru - a new country and new continent - came when I volunteered again to help lead a spring break mission trip with the FPC Youth in the spring of 2007. It was my third spring break trip (I had previously been to Romania in 2005 and Kenya in 2006). In the spring of 2008, I got to return to Peru - so I've been to the same "new" country twice!

One major highlight of my 2007 trip to Peru was my accomplishment of "international humor". When we went to the beach to meet the Peruvian youth group, our students wanted to know what we were going to do there. When we told them we'd have a bonfire, one girl asked if we'd have s'mores. I said, "Yes, but here they call them s'mas-es". Get it? (mas = more in Spanish) Get it? Get it? Well, SOME people thought it was funny! I'm not typically good at telling jokes, so I'll continue to bask in that witty moment for a while. I think I can live off that one for at least another year. =)

The following are pictures of the other highlights of my trips in 2007 and 2008.

2007:
The 2007 Peru Team!

We spent a few days at the orphanage in Lima playing with the kids there and delivering supplies. We had a language barrier, of course, but kids are kids in any country =)

Giving out Bibles

On the beach (see the previous post!)

At the Incan ruins on our "day off"

The church in the shanty town

Vacation Bible School at the church in Pachacutec, a shanty town outside of Lima.

The group outside our Hotel Yeyas.

2008:
With girls in Pisco, the town devastated by an earthquake last year

Adorable boys in Pisco

Liz and a llama!

The same church in Pachacutec a year later. They have built walls! It was great to see the growth over the past year.

My group for the language class we held each night at Agraria University

With some of the girls from the class

The 2008 Peru team at a different set of ruins in Lima.

#16: Watch a sunset on a west-coast beach: Peru coast. Completed April 2007

2008-11-08T19:08:00.006-05:00

In the spring of 2007, I went on a short-term mission trip to Peru. Along with three other adults, I helped lead a group of high school juniors and seniors during their spring break. I fell in love with the people of Peru, the culture, and the food. Of course, I love traveling anywhere new, but there was something special about the people in Lima. Another unexpected plus was the realization that I had just completed travel on my 4th continent!

The trip was a week of serving in orphanages, a prison, a shanty town, and the streets of Lima. Most nights, we held conversation seminars with college students who were learning English. One day, we took a trip to the beach to meet with a Peruvian youth group at their beach retreat. We were advised not to get in the water because it was contaminated by a chicken farm down the road, but it was still a pretty beach.

This is a picture of me "holding" the setting sun.

I put "watch a sunset on a west-coast beach" on my list because I have been to the west coast of America only once (a trip to San Francisco) and I didn't think about watching a sunset there. My multiple trips to east coast beaches have afforded me the opportunity to see sunrises over the ocean, so I figured that sunsets would be just as beautiful. As you can see from my pictures, I was right! =)

That night, we had a bonfire on the beach and sang worship songs - some in Spanish, some in English. I loved worshiping with people from another country who love God just like I do - even if I can't understand a word they say (beyond "Hola!" and "Gracias!") =)

This is a picture of my feet by the fire. I love fires. Don't worry, I'm not a pyromaniac, but I certainly enjoy watching flames flicker in the darkness. There is something peacefully hypnotizing about watching a fire. I hear it's cheap therapy. =)

#19: Go to Boston in the Fall: Completed 10/31-11/2/08

2008-11-03T21:21:00.026-05:00

There is something thrilling about traveling. I get a serious high from packing my bags and getting on a plane to visit a new location. Each new journey brings a new experience, but there are some certainties involved in travel, too. For instance, it doesn't matter which line I get in to go through security, I am destined to get stuck behind the people who has never traveled on a plane before IN THEIR LIVES. This species of traveler is fascinating to me. It doesn't matter how many signs point out the "3 oz liquids" rule or the "take off your shoes" advice or the "if you're wearing jewelry and a belt buckle and you're carrying $6 in change in your pockets you're GONNA SET OFF THE METAL DETECTOR" advisory, these people will ignore them all. Then I have to wait behind them as they repeatedly walk up to the detector and return to drop something else in a bin when it beeps at them. Meanwhile, I had my shoes, jacket, and purse in a bin within 2.4 seconds and am trying my best to put on my patient face (you know - the one I use with students who STILL don't get it after I've explained it in a variety of ways, even resorting to interpretive dance). And you can't tell these people by looking at them. Some folks appear well-seasoned, but that facade quickly disappears when the gruff security agent barks at them for the second time. By the third harsh command, they dissolve into a melted pile of matching luggage and excessive metal. This experience happened to me again on the way to Boston. Nevertheless, I ended up making it through security (eventually) and continued on my exciting journey!

I was SO EXCITED that I got to go to Boston this weekend. There was debate about whether my trip was inspired by the Veggie Tales song or from the advice from folks who say New England is the most beautiful during the fall. Let's say it was a combination of the two. =)

I traveled to Boston to meet my friend Patty. We were college friends who met our freshman year in a Bible study in our dorm and we've stayed in touch ever since. The purpose of the trip was twofold: catch up with an old friend and watch the Tigers play!

We stayed in a great hotel in Brookline (a lovely section of Boston) and traveled into the city to see the sights. For time's sake, I'll just give the highlights:

Friday night 10/31/08:
When I arrived in Boston, I figured out the T to get to the hotel and then I walked around Brookline to get familiar with the area. I bought three books at a used bookstore. I'm such a nerd. =)

Patty arrived and we went into town. We walked around the Fanueil Hall/ Quincy Market area and finally found a place to eat.

Lobster Special! 1 1/4 lb lobster for $12.99!! It was DE-LISH. Then the waiter, dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow, gave us light-up devil horns since it was Halloween. It is not often that I am served lobster by a pirate while wearing devil horns. ;+)

After dinner, we walked to the North End and ate dessert at Mike's Pastry. Of COURSE I got the Boston Cream Pie!

After more walking around, we met up with my college pal Eric and his fiancee, Angileigh, who were also in town for the game. I always enjoy spending time with Clemson fans. =)

Saturday 11/1/08:
Patty and I decided to wake up early so we could get started on the Freedom Trail. The following list is the sites in the order we saw them as we walked along the trail. The sites in bold font are the posted pictures from the Freedom Trail:

- Boston Common
- Robert Gould Shaw / 54th Massachusetts Memorial (not officially part of the trail, but I was so excited to see it - I love the movie Glory!)
- State House

- Granary Burying Ground & Park Street Church
- King's Chapel & Burying Ground

- First Public School site
- Old South Meeting House
- Old Corner Bookstore
- Boston Massacre Site

- Old State House
- Faneuil Hall
- Paul Revere House
- Old North Church
- Copp's Hill Burying Ground

The tour of the first part of Freedom Trail included a LOT of walking and some delightful consumption of Boston Chowda at Quincy Market =)

Clemson Tigers V. Boston College Eagles. My grandfather got me tickets to the game, so we had awesome seats in the 4th row in the endzone. It was an ugly game and it seemed that the Tigers weren't going to pull it off, but they did! It was exciting to win (27-21) and the team went crazy afterward. They ran over to the stands where we stood cheering and started tossing up their armbands, headbands - I think I even saw a sock flying. ;+)

Sunday 11/2/08:
Breakfast with my cousin Brianna and her boyfriend Bob at a tiny Creperie in Brookline. YUM. I think I need to live where there is a Creperie - or start my own!

I finished the Freedom Trail! Patty and I walked across the bridge to the Bunker Hill Monument and climbed the 294 stairs. I felt each one of them! I was grateful that they were marked at every 50 so I could keep up with how far I had gone. The views from the top were worth the 294 stairs. Did I mention there were 294 of them??

Then we walked on to the USS Constitution. Sadly, we were on a time constraint by this point and I didn't have time to wait for the next available tour, so I only got to walk up the plank to peek at the top of the deck - and I had to sweet-talk the Navy guard into that much! I still haven't set foot on Old Ironsides - but I have now seen the inspiration for the poem!

The return trip was via ferry - a nice way to travel! And then I was off to the airport for my flight home.

So that was it! I will need to go back because I didn't get to see half of what I wanted. On my list for the return trip is Cambridge, Harvard, the first public library, Concord, Walden Pond, and so much more!

Maybe I'll add those items to my "40 before 40" list!

#18: Do something that makes me feel like an adult: Buying my first home! Completed 11/29/07

2008-10-30T22:34:00.020-04:00

My blog posts from the fall of 2007 (particularly 11/29) describe the event that ushered me into adulthood. In addition to the tidbits of grown-up life I experienced through the process, I gained at least one other really useful piece of knowledge from the home-buying experience:

IKEA bookcases were designed by the devil to make people swear more. Determined to do some "handiwork" on my own, I decided to assemble two large sets of shelves I had recently purchased at the design-on-a-dime mecca known as IKEA. I've always fancied myself something of an analytical genius. You know - someone who could test into the CIA and become a spy simply based on my ability to put together a jigsaw puzzle. Unfortunately, my prowess at solving puzzles did not translate well to the shelf-building process. I am very good at reading and following directions, but when the devil has interceded in the design process there is not much hope for even the most literate and analytical person. After a smashed thumb and a few audible expletives, I finally managed to get the shelves assembled. The result is worth the pain and frustration I endured, but I hope one day I will be able to purchase a piece of furniture without the evil words on the box: Assembly Required.

#5: Visit a New State: Oklahoma! Completed June 2007

2008-10-28T21:06:00.014-04:00

In June of 2007, I traveled with the FPC Jr Hi Youth Group on their Road Rules trip. Each year since 2004, I have gone on Road Rules as an adviser and helped lead a team. In 2007, I lead the ORANGE team as we journeyed to Oklahoma! Ohhhhhh-klahoma! I had never been to Oklahoma, so I was able to cross that off my list.

This is the whole group with all the team colors represented (but orange is still the best). This is actually a picture of the group in Nashville on the way home, but it was the only group picture I had. =)

The purpose of Road Rules is to take middle school students from our church to locations around the USA to teach them about service and how to show people God's love by meeting their practical needs. We started in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. We volunteered at the Creek Nation Festival, worked in nursing homes, cleaned up homeless shelters, and actually got to see a local rodeo!

This is a picture of the Creek Nation Festival Parade.

Ashley (one of the youth directors) and I enjoyed the rodeo because it was a brief moment during which we didn't have to keep the kids occupied. We were around them 24 hours a day for 6 straight days... I think you can see the lack of sleep on our faces. =)

On the way home from Oklahoma, we stopped in St. Louis, MO and Nashville, TN where we did similar forms of volunteering: painting shelters, sorting clothes at the Salvation Army, and more. I think Road Rules is an excellent way to show middle school kids from this area that not everyone lives like they do, and it is our responsibility as Christians to help others.

The entire trip is made into a "competition" between teams and there are ways to earn points in challenges throughout the week. If you know me, you know I'm competitive when it comes to games (but not sports - that requires too much coordination!), so I was delighted (read: fiercely proud) when my Orange Team won the competition at the end of the week! I attribute at least part of it to the amazing songs I made up for my team. I will leave you with one of those:
Orange Team!
Dreaming 'bout orange team!
They are not red, not yellow -
but in between. =)

30 things to do before I turn 30

2008-10-27T19:26:00.006-04:00

It has been almost a year since my last post. I could attribute the lapse to a lack of time to squander online, but we all know that I make time for other activities so that excuse won't hold. I could say that I've had nothing interesting to write about, but that also isn't true. If I'm honest with myself, the real reason I have neglected my blog is that my Oxford blog got such great response from friends and family that I was overwhelmed by the pressure. I felt the need to write my follow-up blogs so impressively that I was stymied. Essentially, it's all about my pride.

Nevertheless, here I am again and I am determined to continue writing. Really, I've missed typing words, highlighting them, deleting, and starting over. As a genuine literary nerd, I truly enjoy the writing process. All the drafting, editing, and revising makes my world go 'round. So here I am... at a new phase in my blog.

My return to the blogging world was sparked by a conversation I had recently about my list of 30 things to do before I turn 30. I created the list in the summer of 2006 as a way to push myself beyond my comfort zone, and I have now accomplished fourteen of the goals. Unfortunately, I have only until February of 2010 to finish the other 16. I have decided to blog about my list - the ones I have already accomplished and the ones I still need to master. I'll try to catch up on the ones I've already done, and I'll continue to post as I check another one off my list.

Let's start with the official list. This idea was inspired by my pal Eric who also created his list in 2006 and told me about it. He and I met in the honors dorm our freshman year at Clemson. We were the only English majors in a sea of engineers, so you could say our friendship was destined by the fate that rules the pages of all great literature. When he told me about his idea, I was intrigued and immediately began drafting my own list. I made a few versions that summer but finally decided on the final draft. Here you go:

30 things to do before I turn 30
created summer 2006
~in no particular order~

Become proficient in another language
Earn another degree or certificate
Read through the entire Bible
Take a Latin or Swing dance class
Visit a new* state
Do something outside my comfort zone
Win something
Knit / crochet something other than a scarf
Complete a top-level Sudoku puzzle
Perform something for an audience
Face a fear
Learn to drive a stick-shift
Go on a date
Publish something
Design and plant a garden
Watch a sunset on a west-coast beach
Visit a new* museum
Do something that makes me feel like an adult
Go to Boston in the fall
Learn to play all of "Moonlight Sonata" on the piano
Jump off of something high
Learn to play another instrument
Play my french horn again
Go somewhere "out west"
Visit with an old friend
Watch a storm from a porch
Ride a bicycle somewhere interesting
Visit a new* country
Hike a new* trail
Cook a gourmet meal

* new = new to me

So there it is... quite a list! 14 down, 5 in progress, 11 remaining. The ones in bold font are the ones I've already done. Those in italics are works in progress. The rest are looming over my head (and staring at me each day from the list on my refrigerator door).

I welcome your comments about my list or your suggestions on how to accomplish my remaining goals. The only words I don't want to read are those reminding me how soon I'll be 30! I don't have a lot of time to get all these done. Help! =)

I'm In!

2007-12-10T21:19:00.000-05:00

(Posted a little late- oops):
There are boxes everywhere and the paint is barely dry, but I'm in! Friday the 7th was moving day and it was quite successful. My parents' gift of a moving company was an incredible present. I can't imagine having to move my washing machine, sofa, bed, etc. up those stairs! My first night in the condo went fairly well except for the loud crash in the middle of the night. I had just gotten into bed and turned off the light after unpacking boxes when somewhere in the recesses of my new place, a precariously perched parcel decided to plummet to the ground. I jumped out of bed and held my 18 inch Maglite flashlight as a weapon, ready to defend my new home. Luckily, my ninja skills were not necessary that night and I found the offending package instead of an intruder. Other than the attack of cardboard boxes, I feel very safe in my new place. My neighbors are friendly and watchful (a major plus of living in a community with several retired persons), my condo is on the top floor, and I am in a quiet area. This is my new neighborhood - and it's a beautiful day there. (Do you like the Mr. Rogers allusion? I try to keep it fresh). =)

I'M A HOMEOWNER!

2007-11-29T20:37:00.000-05:00

It's official! I now own two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large folder of legal documents, and more interest payments than my entire house is worth! =) Today was the closing on my condominium and now I am a homeowner!

The closing today was rather anti-climatic after all the stories I'd heard. Over the past few days, I have discovered that closing stories are like birthing stories. Most people have one and they love to share the story with novices, particularly if the story is gory, gruesome, or graphic. ;+) I wasn't quite sure what to expect after all the stories I had heard, but my closing was fairly non-eventful. There was a small discrepancy in the closing cost numbers and it caused some drama for a short while, but it all got worked out and within the hour I walked out of the office with a place of my own!

As soon as the closing was over, I went to my new house and walked around my rooms. It's MINE! I feel somewhat like a two-year-old who doesn't want to relinquish her new toy on Christmas. =) I DID manage to leave eventually with the promise of a celebratory dinner with my family on the Marietta Square.

I'm very grateful for my family during this whole process. My goal was to complete this process on my own - my first real "big girl" step - and I did! But it has been a great comfort for me to have my family by my side in support. My dad came to the closing as moral support and after the little snafu that occurred, I am glad he was there. Though I am a "SINGLE WOMAN" (as I was reminded by two more sheets of paper that I signed today), I do have a great family! They've encouraged me throughout this entire experience. Thanks, fam. Love you.

And thanks to all of my friends and loved ones who have encouraged me during this process as well. I'm looking forward to having you all over to MY HOUSE! And then you can see the pen I used to sign all my documents at the closing. I took it from the lawyer's office, so now I guess it is MINE too. =)

The Condo!

2007-10-22T20:52:00.001-04:00

Many of you have asked to see the pictures of the condo, so I'm posting them! I don't have very many, but you can get a general idea of the place.

It's a 2 bedroom / 2 bathroom flat in a quiet neighborhood. I'm on the top floor (stairs are a good way for me to exercise daily!).

If you have decorating ideas, let me know! My style tends to be contemporary-world-chic (if that's actually a style!). Most of my current decor fits into the black/ red/ sage green color palettes. My bedroom will probably continue to be taupe & chocolate brown, but the complementary color is up for discussion. =)

The living room is the first room through the front door. It connects the sun room, the dining room, and the kitchen. I am excited about the fireplace!

My favorite room is the sun room. It is painted a soft yellow color and will be a lovely place to sit and read! I plan to put my bookshelves and a big comfy chair in there. The porch is off the sun room and connects to the storage closet.

The kitchen is... um... orange! =) It is even a little intense for me, though. I'm considering painting it a light yellow. I like the flooring. It's different. I'll need to replace the refrigerator, but the other appliances are in decent shape.

There are two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Each bedroom has a huge walk-in closet. The bathrooms are tiny, but functional. While the master bedroom might be a little bigger, I think I prefer the second bedroom (not pictured). It has more windows and is on the corner of the house next to the green space.

I'm excited about my new place! I can't wait to have you all come visit! =)

The Steps

2007-10-21T10:14:00.000-04:00

Forward, march!

Here are the steps I've taken so far towards becoming a "big girl":
1. Made an offer on the condo! (yikes!)

2. Filled out all the paperwork for a loan by myself

Let's pause for a moment to consider the loan application. Under the section labeled "who will inhabit this dwelling," the loan officer wrote "Single Woman." So now even my LOAN OFFICER is rubbing it in. Good grief. =) I did wonder about that section... why does it matter that I am a single woman? Should it make any difference in the loan? I'm well-educated. I've got a great job. I am a responsible citizen. When I asked my loan officer about it, he chuckled and said lots of women want to know about that label, but he puts "single man" for the single men, too. It's just a label, he said. I told him I thought we should change the label to "Amazing, Independent Woman Who Just Happens to be Single for Now". I think he thinks I'm crazy. =)

3. Accepted the counter-offer (it was VERY reasonable)

When my Realtor called me with the counter-offer, I was at the KMHS football game to cheer on the team (unfortunately, they didn't do so well). My friends Chester and Julie were in town from Athens and they were cheering ME on in the process, as was my co-worker and friend, Sky. Each of them was so encouraging that I got even more excited about the process.

So now I'm well on the way to being a homeowner! It's hard to believe, but it's really happening. (Incroyable, mais vrais!)

To celebrate my steps towards big-girl-dom and to escape the reality for a while, I went to the Clemson University football game yesterday with my best friend Elizabeth. We drove up in the morning and spent the day hanging out at Clemson's Homecoming. It was a beautiful day for a game and we had great seats (thanks, Eric!!) While I was glad that Clemson won the game (70-14, ouch!) and that I got to see the homecoming floats and festivities, I particularly enjoyed spending time with Elizabeth. She encouraged me about the home-buying process - and we even discussed property law! =) (she's in law school) It was a great way to take a few steps backward to look at the situation from a few hours away and recognize that I'm doing a good thing. This is an important move for me, and I'm grateful for all of the people who are supporting me in my endeavors.

Pumpkins and Condos

2007-10-17T21:46:00.000-04:00

Fall has always been my favorite season of the year. Part of that must stem from my self-acknowledged nerd-ism since autumn brings the start of school. Another part probably comes from my positive memories of marching band in high school and college. And yet another part connects to the beauty I see in the fiery-toned foliage and my memories of raking leaves in Ohio (all one can really rake in Georgia is pine straw!). To celebrate the arrival of fall, my family annually goes to North Georgia to pick out pumpkins, buy apples, and consume fried apple pies, cider, and boiled peanuts. The yearly trip is one of my favorite family traditions. My goal each year is to find the perfect pumpkin. It's a time-consuming process, but I always end up with a great looking pumpkin.

Our trip this year (a.k.a. The Great Pumpkin Chase) came the day after I took my family to see the short list of condos I'd chosen. I've been house-hunting for several weeks now and had finally narrowed the list to a few options. Each time I've been out looking with my Realtor, though, I ask to return to a particular neighborhood on the way back. I keep going back to the same location... and I think there is a reason for that.

I realized this weekend that I approach the selection of houses much like I approach the selection of pumpkins. I see the pumpkin I want after a short perusal of the options, but then I have to compare my selected pumpkin against the other pumpkins that might be better. Of course, none of them are better because I knew what I wanted from the beginning. For some reason, though, I still have to cart my chosen pumpkin around and hold it next to the others so I can see how it measures up against the other choices out there. Though the pumpkin I originally picked out is never truly "perfect," it is the one that I am most satisfied with - and I rarely change my mind once I've picked it out. Even so, I must compare it against all the other possibilities - just in case.

The same goes for my potential condo. I have driven through the same neighborhood consistently over the past year and a half, just to see if I still like the area. When visiting condos with my Realtor, I kept comparing them to the one I saw first in the neighborhood I liked. If pumpkins truly are like condos, then I know which condo I want. My pumpkin is a beautiful, fat orange globe with a thick stem, and it looks just lovely on my coffee table (it's the round one with the dark stem next to the cash register in the picture). It may have some minor flaws, but they are ones I chose to ignore when I first picked it up. I think I selected the right pumpkin... maybe I've picked the right condo, too.

Remembering Aunt Mary

2007-10-11T19:08:00.000-04:00

I haven't been on the blog for a few months, but I recently wrote something that made me want to share.

Mary J. Yarbrough died March 19, 2007. She had been married to Ben for over 60 years. My siblings and I call them Aunt Mary and Uncle Ben. Though we are not related through blood, they have been dear friends of our family since we moved to Georgia. This week I wrote a card to Uncle Ben at his request. He is collecting people's memories of Aunt Mary. The following is what I wrote as my tribute to Aunt Mary:

It is from Aunt Mary that I learned the important traits of a Southern lady. First, one must always be presentable in public. Aunt Mary was a sharp dresser. She clothed her petite frame in outfits that were quite becoming. Her clothes were always neatly pressed, carefully matching, and nicely accessorized. Accessories are important, too. My favorite accessory of hers was the light blue hat she placed smartly on her always-coiffed hair. She was a beautiful woman and her adornment added to her charm, but it was her inner light I admired most. Of course, a lady must put her best face forward (and a daily application of olive oil was her secret to that!) but she must also shine with inner grace. Aunt Mary’s beautiful soul shined brightly to all who knew her. Even those who happened to pass by her as she was out somewhere must have noticed the sharply dressed petite woman with the blue hat perched smartly on her head and thought, “Now that is a lady!”

I was blessed to know Aunt Mary and I will be blessed each time I remember her.

What I've Learned: A Reflection

2007-08-03T01:01:00.000-04:00

"A life-changing experience" is a hackneyed expression to use to describe my trip to England, but it is an accurate description. It is clear to me that God worked through this trip to teach me and prepare me, and though I am not fully sure of the "for what" or the "why" yet, I know those answers will come in time. The knowledge I gained from the professors at Oxford has altered my view of literature and how I will approach teaching it, but it is the knowledge I gained about myself and about life that made this journey even more of a learning experience.

Whether you've only looked at the blog once or you've been a faithful subscriber to my daily thought journal, I appreciate that you've shared in this journey with me. My final reflection on the trip is the list of what I learned while I was away. These thoughts are in no particular order; some of them are humorous, some are serious, and some need more explanation (I invite you to ask me about them if you want!). Thanks for being part of my experience by commenting, emailing, or just keeping me in your thoughts by reading now and then. I've been asked what I will do with this blog now and the answer is that I'm not sure. I have loved writing every day; it is a skill I would like to continue to develop. Sadly, my daily life in Marietta and Kennesaw is not nearly as noteworthy as my adventure in Oxford. Nevertheless, if you check back on occasion, I might have found something worth writing about. =)

Again, thanks for reading and caring.

What I've Learned:

When traveling, it is worth a higher ticket price to 1) fly on a bigger plane, and 2) have a direct flight and spend less time in airports!

There is a difference between “English” and “British”

“Don’t hug your water glass” – Dr. Cunningham, after he spilled water on his shirt while lecturing, reminded us of what he learned (but obviously didn’t observe) in a public speaking course.

I am inspired, rather than intimidated, by people who know more than I do

Effective public transportation systems are a great means of travel – and are good for the environment

“Mr. Darcy categorically does NOT have a hairy chest!” – Dr. Byrne, on why the new movie version of Pride and Prejudice is grossly inaccurate.

Politeness goes a long way.

90s music will live forever on British radio stations

Any commonality can bring people together in a foreign country.

I admire Jane Austen's ability to write happy endings, even if she might have felt like her own story did not have one

It is perfectly acceptable to stroll rather than walk with a purpose. In fact, it allows one to notice more, appreciate more, and reflect more.

Itineraries on trips can be helpful

Cute shoes, though worn by the British for walking all over a city, apparently do not fit American feet the same way and are, therefore, not acceptable walking shoes ;+)

God is bigger than a country.

ALWAYS carry an umbrella in England – even if the weather seems perfect!

Conversations with strangers can be enlightening, interesting, and an authentic way to get a better understanding of the people of a country.

I like Charles Dickens! (after reading Great Expectations in 9^th grade, I never thought I would say that phrase, but it is true now)

Skinny jeans look best on skinny people (as do most of the trendy European fashions)

When it comes to the difference in cost at B&B's, the extra money usually gets you an actual address instead of “off ______ road”

I prefer the smaller towns, villages, and countryside of England and Ireland to the capital cities.

Cut off the tags when you buy a new purse unless you want everyone to know how much you spent on it (ask me about that story if you want to know how I learned this!)

Friendships can arise from any encounter with people!

The Harry Potter phenomenon is even bigger in England than it is in the States.

A good friend is someone who will put up with a visitor for over a month (thank you, Jason!)

I like NEW: I enjoy meeting new people, visiting new places, trying new foods, and having new experiences.

I like OLD: I love old buildings, historic homes, ruins of cathedrals and castles, and ancient artifacts.

One thing the Church of England does very well is observe a true awe and reverence for God.

I love the smell of books and I really want a library in my house, even if I have to designate a room as “the library”

Even the best of gel pens can explode on a plane (and leave one’s fingers blue for over a day)

People in Ireland don’t pronounce the “Th” sound in words like Thursday (Tursday) and 4:30 (four turdy).

Don’t get lost in the ritual and forget the reason.

It is much easier to conserve and recycle in a country where everyone does it and effective systems are in place

I DO want a higher degree

It isn’t hard to rekindle a passion for literature – it just takes a few brilliant people talking about it to strike that spark!

Day 33: Going Home (Tuesday)

2007-08-01T10:30:00.000-04:00

Tuesday was travel day. Based on the events of the day, I've made some decisions about how I fly from now on: I will spend the extra money if it means a straight shot home! We drove to Dublin from Kildare, dropped off the rental car, and then I got on my plane. I flew from Dublin to Shannon, deplaned in Shannon, went through US customs in Shannon (???), sat in their airport for a while, got back on the same plane, flew to Newark, went through a shortened line at customs there, sat in their airport a while (at least I was finally on US soil!), and finally flew to Atlanta where Mom, Dad, and Norrie were there to meet me! (yay for my family!) When I arrived at my apartment, my friends Julie and Chester met me there with groceries and hugs (you guys are awesome!).

Now that I'm back, I'm going to post a final blog to reflect on my adventure (it'll be Day 34), but until I get that done, I'll leave you with a few more pictures of Ireland.

St. Patrick (located in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin) / The River Liffey in Dublin / Molly Malone (wheeling her wheelbarrow, through streets broad and narrow, crying 'cockles and mussels alive, alive-o!')

Date: 31 July, 2007
Location: Dublin, Shannon, Newark, Atlanta, Marietta!
Highlights:
- Being HOME!
- seeing friends and family
- figuring out Sudoku puzzles with the guy in the seat next to me on the plane (we were on the runway for about 30 minutes before takeoff)
- sleeping in my own bed
Thought of the day: It's good to be home.

Day 32: Picturesque Sights (and a farm to boot!) Monday

2007-08-01T09:34:00.000-04:00

Monday was a lot of time in the car, but beautiful sights. We began with breakfast at the Glebe Farmhouse B&B (she made scones and gave us choices for breakfast!). I opted for the smoked salmon breakfast instead of my 4th Irish breakfast in a row (I can only take so much sausage, eggs, and fried ham before my arteries slam shut!).

We got on the road and drove into the Dingle Peninsula. There was some confusion over what exactly was IN the Dingle Peninsula - it did not have the Cliffs of Moher or the set of ruins that Jason thought were there, but we still enjoyed the rugged beauty of the place. There is a very scenic drive with sharp rocky beaches, sloping mountains, and green countryside, but there is not really anything specific to see there: just the scenery. We stopped at Slea Head at the end of the peninsula to take pictures of the Skellig Rocks from a distance, we hiked up a mountain to get a nice panoramic view of the area, and we walked around the tiny coastal town of Dingle, but that was about it other than lots of driving and stopping at little scenic overlooks.

The drive from Dingle to our B&B that night was long, so we stopped in Limerick only for a short time for dinner. Originally, I thought it would be fun to look around for some poetical inspiration (get it? Limerick?? heh heh) but we were both so tired from the long day thus far that neither of us really cared to explore the city beyond walking around to look for food.

In honor of the brief stop in the city, I have composed my own limerick:

A girl from the States came to town
And turned the city upside down
She searched high and low
But spotted no PO-em
So she left Limerick to write her own

(yeah, I know "own" and "town" don't rhyme... and I know I forced the rhyme with the whole PO-em thing... but like I said, I didn't find any inspiration!) =)

Our B&B near Kildare was almost impossible to find. The "directions" to the Eagle Hill B&B said "5 miles from Kildare". That's it. The roads in that area do not have names, so unless you're a native, you're in trouble! We finally got in touch with the proprietress and she coached us in (to the middle of nowhere!). It was well worth the trouble. Julie, the owner, greeted us with tea when we arrived and showed us around. We were on an actual working farm! There were animals everywhere (sheep, hens, a huge workhorse named Bob, a Vietnamese potbellied pig who had escaped earlier that day, and geese). Julie and I talked while I played with her two year old son, John Paul (a good Catholic name!) and she told me about the workings of their farm. They keep the sheep to sell the lambs because the only money in sheep is in the meat, not the wool. I didn't realise that. She said it costs more to shear the sheep than they get in profit from the wool. So instead they keep about 200 ewes for breeding and 6 rams (those are busy rams!).

After the lovely evening of tea and visiting, I packed my bags and tried to go to sleep. I'm not sure if it was the strange farm noises, the anticipation of going home, or the caffeine from the tea that kept me awake, but I had a terrible time sleeping. The one advantage of not sleeping well is that I was awake before the alarm clock (and the rooster) made me get up. =)

Date: 30 July, 2007
Location: Dingle Peninsula, Limerick, Kildare
Highlights:
- beautiful scenery
- seeing the statue of "Fungi" the dolphin in Dingle ("Fungi the Dolphin in Dingle" sounds like the beginning for an amusing limerick!)
- a lovely end to my time in Ireland at the Eagle Hill B&B
Thought of the Day: I'm finally ready to go home!

Day 31: Where the streets have no name... and no position on the GPS

2007-07-29T15:32:00.000-04:00

Let's consider the GPS phenomenon, shall we? Jason has one that he uses to navigate around England. It can be very handy when one is alone in the car and maps would pose a driving hazard... but there are drawbacks to GPS as well. Reliance on the system is one major drawback (prime example: we were driving and looking for a gas station. Jason was typing "find gas station" into the system while I pointed out the BP on the corner). I will grant that there are many locations in England it would have been incredibly difficult to find if it had not been for the GPS. England does not use cardinal directions on ANY of their signs (no I-75 N or S here... it is just "M6" and you have to guess the direction... quite impossible at times). But here in Ireland, GPS just does not like the streets at all. When we were trying to find Blarney Castle, it directed us to the Blarney Business Park, which is apparently also the location of the Blarney Tourist Center, Blarney Road, and the city of Blarney (none of which are there!). When we tried to find our B&B, we were driving on a blank space on the GPS map - it didn't even register that we were on a road! Unfortunately, none of the road maps we have are very specific, so I've been navigating with very limited information (the navigator is only as good as her map!). Despite all the misadventures with navigation, we've seen some great spots, driven some pretty roads, and found some interesting locales we may not have seen otherwise.

Today we drove from our B&B near Kinsale towards Killarney and the Ring of Kerry. What a great drive! The Ring of Kerry has the Killarney National Park. We stopped several times at different locations to walk, hike, and view. We saw a beautiful historic house (Muckross House) in the middle of the woods (about a 2.5 mile hike). We stopped at the Torc Waterfall (amazing!). And then we drove along the Ring. This highway around the peninsula of Kerry is amazing. The roads are very narrow, providing for some harrowing experiences, especially when we passed tour buses. Les, you would love this trip on your motorcycle! And any of you who are avid cyclists would also love this road trip! The views are astounding.

After the Ring, we stopped back in Killarney to walk around the city. It is very touristy, but also very quaint at the same time. I had lamb stew for dinner (poor little lamb!) and now I'm typing away at an internet cafe that costs MUCH more than the one in Dublin did. Oh well!

Date: 29 July 2007
Location: Killarney, Ring of Kerry
Highlights:
- Driving through the Ring of Kerry
- the view from the road
- not getting sick (too badly) on the trip (it was very curvy!)
- lamb stew (sheeps are friends... and food)
-spying the Leprechaun Crossing, even if I didn't see any of the little fellas
Thought of the Day: Maps are friends, especially when they recognize that roads exist where you're driving.

Day 30: A Day in Ruins (Saturday)

2007-07-29T15:05:00.000-04:00

A day in ruins... much more literally than figuratively, though! =)

Leaving the hectic pace of the city, we began our journey towards Cork. Along the way we stopped at Cashel, a small village, with a large monastic ruin atop a large hill at the center of the city. The ruins were an impressive sight as we drove in on the small road. The admission price included an informative tour from a guide named "Ashling", a very popular name here. The location dates back to waaaaay long ago, and the oldest standing buildings are from the 12th century. I still can't figure out why it took people so long to learn how to build roofs... none of these buildings have them ;+)

On the tour, I learned that this rock is connected to St. Patrick. One of the legends says that whoever hops around the rock in an anti-clockwise direction (Irish term) will be married within the year. I chose NOT to test the legend because 1) I don't like time limits, and 2) the rock is a replica of the one inside their museum and I bet it wouldn't work anyway! Nevertheless, I touched it just in case something rubs off. =)

After a nice homemade lunch in Cashel at Granny's Kitchen, we drove to Blarney. GPS doesn't like Ireland very much, so it took us a while to find Blarney Castle. (more on this later) Once we finally located it, we walked around the grounds and up to the ruins. I had to carry my umbrella the whole time; the ancient folks in Blarney apparently didn't know how to make roofs either. =) It was a well-defended castle in its time, so it seems strange how much freedom visitors have now. We could walk in all the rooms, through all the corridors, and up all the staircases. Nothing was off-limits!

So I bet you're wondering if I kissed the Blarney Stone. It was still raining and I was hesitant to lie down on the soaked stone floor. Also, I was a little put-off by the idea of putting my lips on a rock that has been touched by thousands of people's mouths every year for hundreds of years, but the company is good (Winston Churchill, royals, etc.) and the lure was too much. Though some may say I don't need any help with talking, I still decided to take advantage of the chance to get the "gift of gab" the Stone supposedly bestows. The older Irish gentleman who was assisting the "kissers" helped me assume the position to begin the smooching session. I had to lie on my back, scootch up to the wall, lean over backwards, and kiss the stone upside down! As I sat down to begin the process, he asked me if I was a good kisser. I just laughed and shrugged. When he helped me return upright, he said that for a girl who didn't brag about kissing, I was clearly skilled in the technique. What a scoundrel! =) I don't have a picture of this event, but Jason got a video of it. I'll put that online when I can figure out how to do it... or just ask me to see it later!

After Blarney, we drove into Cork on the way to our B&B, but the city looked a lot like Dublin - just a little smaller and dirtier... I wasn't impressed. Our B&B was out in the country past Cork and it was a lovely location. We ended up driving out to a smaller town on the coast: Kinsale, the "gourmet capital of Ireland". It was a pretty view and we had a good seafood meal out there. The town seemed much newer, though - no ruins there. =)

Date: 28 July 2007
Location: Cashel, Blarney, Cork, Kinsale
Highlights:
- Rock of Cashel (thanks for the recommendation, Mom! never found the lamb stew place, though... =( )
- Kissin' th' Blaaarney Stohne
- The nicest B&B yet
Thought of the day: I really like ancient stuff - especially ruins. I think I could walk around piles of old stones all day! =)

Day 29: Finding the Free in Ireland

2007-07-27T15:12:00.000-04:00

I'm sitting in an internet cafe to write this (and the previous entry), so these will be shorter and probably not nearly as clever as I'd like them to be. Sorry! =)

This morning's "Irish" breakfast tasted uncannily like an English breakfast... hmmm.... Maybe the two countries aren't so different after all. =)

Jason had apparently had enough of trying to drive in downtown Dublin yesterday (it was a nightmare) because he suggested taking the bus this morning. We went into the City Centre and immediately went to Trinity College. We spent the extra 2 Euros and got the guided tour. The college was founded by Queen Elizabeth I to try to "civilize" those brutish Irish through education. It seems like that's what I try to do every day I'm teaching, though I won't limit it to the Irish - just teenagers. =) Anyhoo, the point of going to Trinity College was to see the Book of Kells. It was fascinating to see the literary and religious history behind those sheets of paper. The detail in the illustrations is exquisite. I see why I received so many recommendations to see it! Unfortunately, the guards frown upon attempting to take photographic evidence that the Book of Kells actually exists... so you'll just have to take my word for it - or visit yourself!

We took lunch on the walkway by the Liffey River (which is NOT the source of water for brewing Guinness, the tour yesterday was quick to point out; it's a good thing, too - that water is gross!). There were many despondent Irishmen lying on the benches near the river. It was sad to see so many people struggling. I think Swift's writing on the state of the poor in Ireland probably still applies today!

Speaking of Swift, he was the focus of much of the exhibits at St. Patrick's church (more than Patrick himself, actually). Each of the cathedrals and churches in England and Ireland seems to have adopted a resident author, and Jonathan Swift is St. Patrick's! The cathedral is very pretty inside, but slightly different architecture than the others I've seen. Not sure what the difference is though. Perhaps a different style of Gothic? (care to inform us, Norrie? ...Dad? ...Beuller?) Unlike Westminster Abbey, I was allowed to take pictures, so I think I overdid it. I am trying to include only a few (plus it takes a while for them to upload and I don't want to exceed my time limit here!)

The rain followed me here from England, so I spent much of the day trying to avoid it. Since Jason didn't bring his umbrella or rain jacket, we were trying to squeeze under my yellow umbrella (ella ella a a a) and though it is cute, it is NOT built for two! So we ducked in a few places we may not have normally tried (that, and we were trying to find free stuff to take up time!). We went into Chester Beatty Library (not a clue who Chester Beatty is, though) and saw an exhibit on Leonardo DaVinci's Codex of Leicester. Bill Gates purchased it several years back (shows you how much it is worth!) and had it restored. It's on display now at this location for a month or so. It is all about DaVinci's theories on water, the moon, etc. He was such a genius, but after reading more about him, I think he was also severely ADD! He rarely completed commissioned works, he seemed to jump around from idea to idea, and he had to write backwards in his journals to keep his mind occupied! =)

One of my favourite free exhibits was at the National Library and it featured WB Yeats. My favourite Yeats poem was on display: He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven - originally written on the back of a postcard! I wish my literary genius would come out when I send items through the post! Here's the picture of the postcard (hard to see through the glass, but at least I was allowed to take pictures!)

After a tea break, we returned to St. Patrick's for the Evensong service (also a free event - see a theme here?). It was a beautiful service and the music was provided by a choir from... Atlanta. What are the chances? I didn't recognise anyone, but I still thought it was a small world experience. =) This picture is a stone they think is from St. Patrick's era that combines the Christian cross with the Celtic circle (creating the symbol that we Presbyterians use as a cross!). This was found near the well where good ol' St. Patty would baptise people here in Ireland.

Dinner was at another funky indie restaurant (the only kinds of restaurants around here that have meals under 10 Euros). Even so, my sandwich and coke cost about $15... I am really looking forward to having a "cheap" meal be CHEAP again! (and did I mention free refills?!) ;+)

So that's it for now! Tomorrow we're off to Cork and then the Ring of Kerry and then the Dingle peninsula... not sure when I'll be able to post again, but I'll try!

Date: 27 July 2007
Location: Dublin
Highlights:
- Book of Kells
- St. Patrick's Cathedral
- Yeats exhibit
Thought of the Day: Cheap is good... when cheap is actually cheap. =)

Day 28: Welcome to the Land O' Guinness

2007-07-27T14:51:00.000-04:00

Ireland Adventure Day 1:
Thursday began with last-minute packing and then a flight on RyanAir to Dublin. We picked up the rental car and that's where the adventure really started. Jason is used to driving on the "wrong" side of the road, but he has his left-hand drive Jeep normally. The rental car is a right-hand drive manual. It took some adjusting, but I think he's got the hang of it (I didn't get toooooo sick). =)

Our first stop was the Guinness Storehouse (not because either of us is excessively obsessed with Guinness, but because several people had said it was worth the trip). The exhibits were very informative, even if they were a little over-the-top about how great Guinness is. One of my favourite parts was the vat of barley. I like to be able to touch exhibits. =) After circling upward to learn about the process of brewing Guinness, the Guinness history, Guinness marketing, and Guinness transportation (see? a little excessive!), we finally got to the top floor with a 360 degree view of Dublin and a bar. A pint of Guinness was included with the admission price. Though I'm not normally a stout drinker, I must say I enjoyed that pint! It was much creamier in the States (or maybe I bought in to the hype that Guinness in Ireland tastes better than Guinness anywhere else). =) Just so you know, this picture was taken by a couple who put their drinks on the table with ours - I was not going to drink two pints of Guinness! Every girl has her limits. =)

Next we parked in the City Centre area, walked around Grafton Street (shopping district) and had dinner at a funky little eatery. Since we weren't ready to head back to the B&B yet and since I had a hankering for some Irish music, we found the Temple Bar (a fairly famous bar in Dublin) and sat while a trio (guitar, violin, and random-stringed-instruments) played some great music. It was mostly Irish traditional fused with rock and folk. Jason and I shared a table with a father and his sons who were visiting from England. We compared stories of our tours around the city and chatted about various topics. That's one of the things I love about Europe in general - if there isn't space for you to have your own table, you share one with strangers. And people here, as a whole, are very good conversationalists! The elder son has been teaching English in Hong Kong for about 10 years. His stories were fascinating, and now I want to go teach in Hong Kong (but I am fairly sure that idea will fade quickly). =)

Our B&B is in a nice part of town on the outskirts of the city. The decor is a strange mix of traditional British/Irish and ornate Asian. There are paintings of Dublin next to a Buddha hanging on the wall... quite eclectic, but endearing in its oddity. =)

Date: 26 July 2007
Location: Dublin
Highlights:
- My first encounter with an Irishman was being greeted at the Guinness Storehouse by a friendly guy who gave me my ticket. I could have stayed just to listen to him talk!
- Enjoying the night life in the Temple Bar area
Thought of the Day: There is something to the phrase "Irish eyes are smiling" =)

Day 27: To Stay or Not to Stay... not really a question

2007-07-25T18:36:00.000-04:00

Today marks the end of my time in England. Tomorrow I fly to Ireland to spend six days there before returning to the States. I hope to find an internet cafe from which I can post my blog, but I am not sure of the accessibility while I'm in the Land of the Leprechauns.

Since today was a very low-key day spent packing, I thought I'd take the opportunity to share some random pictures, random facts, and my general thoughts.

This is a random picture from Chawton House (Jane Austen's brother's house). It's a portrait of Kitty Fisher, the writer. There is a nursery rhyme that goes: "Lucy Locket lost her pocket. Kitty Fisher found it." Well, apparently, Lucy Locket was a... um... "woman of the night" and the pocket she lost was one of her clients, Matthew Pocket, who left her services to court Kitty Fisher instead! Quite scandalous the things we have our kids repeat! =)

Now, let's reflect on what it is about me that encourages strangers talk to me. Yesterday, as I was at the stop waiting for my bus back to Bicester, I was approached by three different people within the span of about 10 minutes. The first was a guy in his late teens or early twenties asking for money. He gave me his sob story about trying to get enough money to stay in the backpacker's hostel ,and naive, caring Liz was thinking, "poor guy... he needs help..." while cynical Liz was constantly saying, "He's just going to go get high... look at the kid... you can tell he's on something." Naive, caring Liz won out and handed the kid a few pounds, but Cynical Liz got to say "I told you so" when I saw the kid walk up and down the streets several times talking to people and then pausing on occasion to stuff the money down into his socks to make it look like he didn't have any in his pockets. Whatever he used it for, at least I was trying to be compassionate. Next, I had three semi-drunk German guys ask me for directions. I felt like such a native... and I was able to point them towards the club they were looking for, though I had a fleeting thought that I could point them in the opposite direction and they'd never know. Then I had a random guy ask me what time it was while I was sitting under a giant clock... brilliant. I don't know why these people talked to ME while there are lots of other folks around. After that last one, I sat closer to an older woman on a bench thinking I'd be better off near her! She was the kind of person that no one would mess with! Why don't I have that kind of persona?

Let's leave that subject to think on the name "OXFORD". If you break it into syllables, it is OX FORD. We all know an ox is a large creature in the bovine family (at least I hope it's in the bovine family, otherwise I'll get lots of comments to correct me!). And we know to FORD is a verb that means to cross a river. The story goes that OX-FORD gets its name from the cows crossing the River Thames (or one of the other many rivers in this area). I've attached the Oxford crest for you to view... it's pretty literal. =)

This is a bizarre statue of a horse from the armoury of the Kings in the Tower of London. It is supposedly a replica of a horse belonging to one of the kings. If I had a horse that looked like this, I think I would try to be humane and put it out of its misery!

Now it is time for lists:

I thought I'd begin with a list of why I could easily stay in Oxford:

- For the most part, people here spell things correctly! (I rarely see mistakes like I do in America: "Its You're Lucky Day" / "CDs, DVDs, and Book's for sale" / etc.)

- I have been studying British Literature in the HOME of British Literature!

- I can say words like "smashing", "brilliant", and "daft" without getting strange looks

- I have professors who say phrases like "as it were"

- Guys are automatically better looking when they speak with British accent

- I am a nerd and Oxford is a nerd's paradise!

- Walking everywhere is good exercise and good for the environment

And here's the list of why I am looking forward to coming home:

- Free drink refills

- Chick-fil-A (I am not a big fast food person, but I miss this one)

- My family and friends! See? You all are why I'm coming home! (in addition to a #1 combo... and getting another Coke without coughing up 2 more pounds ($4!)... and a #1 combo... and did I mention free refills?)

In all seriousness, I miss you all and I look forward to seeing many of you in person over the coming weeks! I'll be back 31 July (p.m.) but I don't think I'll really be conscious until sometime in the middle of the day on 1 August. I'll do a final blog on that day to let everyone know how the end of the trip went. Thanks for taking the time to share this experience with me! My love to you all! Cheers for now...

Date: 25 July 2007

Location: Bicester

Highlights:

- pizza with Holly, Chuck, Sarah, and Ryan

- getting my luggage packed

Thought of the Day: I am about ready to come home! I look forward to seeing everyone soon!

Day 26: A Redeeming Day (Tuesday)

2007-07-25T17:45:00.000-04:00

Tuesday was a beautiful day in London. The rain stopped, the sun was shining, and the temperature was perfect! Everything was open, too. =)

Heather and I started the day with breakfast at a café and then we walked down to Trafalgar Square. It was a great day to be outside with the crowds of people gathered in the square, even if the view was slightly marred by the giant blue and yellow inflatable domes (there was some sports festival for kids). The National Gallery makes one end of the Square, and major streets make the other sides. It was a bustling place - even in the morning when we arrived!

I don’t recall having visited the National Gallery when I was here as a child, so I was thrilled to see the inside. Heather and I decided to take our time in the Gallery (since it wasn’t going to close any time soon!), so we each rented an audio tour. The museum is set up chronologically, and the audio tour had lots of options including the highlights of the museum, the director’s tour, and the Life of Christ tour. I saw each painting on all three tours and listened to the commentary. It was fascinating and it took several hours to do, but since we weren't getting kicked out we didn't mind!

Our next stop was a picnic lunch in Parliament Square with Big Ben in the background and Westminster Abbey on the side. Per Jason’s recommendation, we paid the extra 5 pounds to have a guided tour from one of the Vergers of the Abbey (a non-clergy guide). It was the best 5 pounds I have spent during this entire trip! Our verger was Benjamin, and he was hilarious. Think of a combination of Mr. Bean and Igor from Young Frankenstein: he had a quirky smile, a wandering eye, and there were some moments that I think he was actually skipping through the Abbey, but with his long robes, it was hard to tell. He is probably the "Maria" of the vergers. =) He had a wonderful sense of humour; he made dry jokes as he explained the 900 years of history in 90 minutes, and he jauntily waved his little Union Jack flag as he lead us through the crowds in the Abbey at a rapid pace. I learned so much from him, and we got to see portions of the Abbey that no one else gets to see. Every few minutes at a different exclusive location or after a great explanation, Heather or I would turn to each other and whisper “this alone is worth the 5 pounds!” It was a wonderful way to experience the Abbey.

The Poets’ Corner was my favourite part of the tour, of course. All the great literary (and musical) geniuses recognized in the same area – it’s a library of names! Following the tour, Heather and I decided to stay around for the 5 pm Evensong service. A wise friend of mine recommended staying for the service, and it was an incredible experience (thanks, Edie!). Our verger recognized us when we arrived for the service, so he seated us in the “quire” (choir) area of the Cathedral where we had a great view of everything, including the visiting choir (from Dallas, TX of all places), the crossing of the Cathedral (where the coronations take place), the Dean (who is allowed to sit in the Queen’s chair), and the great windows. The music was beautiful (mostly a cappella), the service was moving, and I choked up at one point because it was all so poignant. What a wonderful way to worship and to wrap up my visit to London!

Heather and I found dinner (fish & chips, of course!) at a pub near Picadilly Circus on my way to the bus stop. It was a great excursion to a vast city. I am glad I got to see what I did, but I’ll need to return for a much longer period to see all that London offers! Overall, it was a very redeeming day when compared to the previous one!

Date: 24 July 2007
Location: London
Highlights:
-Yoghurt & granola with English honey for breakfast

-Ham & cheese foccacia sandwiches in the park
-A beautiful day outside!

-Worshipping God in Westminster
-Safe travel back to Bicester
-Oxford didn’t flood (and hopefully won’t!)
Thought of the Day: I copied down this quotation from Thomas Campbell’s statue in the Poets’ Corner (he was a Scottish poet). I thought it was a beautiful epitaph:
This Spirit shall return to Him
who gave its heavenly spark:
Yet think not, sun, it shall be dim
when thou thyself art dark!
No! It shall live again, and shine
in bliss unknown to beams of thine,
By Him recalled to breath,
who captive led captivity,
Who robb’d the grave of victory,
and took the sting from death!
~ Thomas Campbell

Day 25: Closing Time In London (Monday)

2007-07-25T06:36:00.000-04:00

I’ve never been kicked out of so many places in one day! One would think a city like London would be open a little later.

My adventure to London began with a trip on the Oxford Tube (the bus system that we used for our Globe excursion). Our bus was moving through a roundabout when a small van darted in front of us to exit and almost hit us. The driver swerved and narrowly missed the moronic motorist. I had a front row seat for the excitement because I was sitting in the top floor, front seat. From that vantage point, I could see the centimetres between the vehicles, but I couldn’t hear the driver’s reaction (I’m sure it was colourful!).

I arrived in London and made my way through the underground system to Covent Gardens where my friend Heather was staying. She is a friend I made at the Oxford Programme and she’s actually from Atlanta! Since she was staying in London following the close of the programme and didn’t have anyone to tour the city with, she asked if I’d come out for a day or two. I had planned on visiting London anyway, so it worked out perfectly! Heather was a wonderful person to tour London with because we’re both literary nerds and have similar interests, so we wanted to see most of the same sights. Another plus was that we each had our own umbrella – and it rained the whole day!!

We started off by meeting Erin and her husband Travis and her son Dominic, who had both flown in to tour England with her. They were also in London, so we had a lovely reunion over lunch at a pub in Covent Gardens. After we said our final goodbyes, Heather and I made a plan of action and set out for St. Paul’s Cathedral. It was about to close, so we didn’t want to pay the high ticket price for such a short time. We examined our other options and decided on the Tower of London since it stayed open later than other attractions.

On the way to the Tower of London, I ran into the Ferrar family from FPC Marietta – small world! You never know who you'll see in another country.

The closing time posted for the Tower of London was 6 p.m. As it was 4:30, we decided we should have enough time to see what we wanted to see, so we paid the ridiculously expensive admission price and went inside. After we had seen the crown jewels, we went into the armoury to see King Henry VIII’s suits of armour. He was 6’9” so even I looked dwarfish next to this display! As we were walking around the exhibit, a guide came through and started moving people out, claiming they were getting ready to close. It was not even 5:15 at this point.

Heather and I tried to go to another exhibit, but just as we walked up, a guard shooed us away saying he had just admitted the last visitors. We walked towards the area where the scaffolds were for hangings and got a picture with a beefeater (the guard). At first I asked if he would mind posing in a picture with me and he said he didn’t pose for pictures. But he said it with a twinkle in his eye, so I asked if he would stand – not posing - and I could stand still next to him, again not posing, and my friend could just happen to take a picture. He said that was fine. =) But after the picture he said the area was closed and we couldn’t go back there!

It wasn’t even 5:30 and everything had shut down inside the Tower. After leaving the Tower of London, we tried to go into the Tower Bridge exhibit, but it had just closed. We were quite disappointed, and the rain made the situation even drearier. To escape the rain and brighten our moods, we sat in a café and got tea and a pastry. I enjoyed talking with Heather as we sat and sipped our hot drinks. It took the chill off of the day, and allowed us to dry off a bit.

We decided that the disaster of a day needed some retail therapy, so we went to the shopping district! We visited H&M, but couldn’t stay long because… you guessed it – they were closing! Then we went towards Harrods and were amazed by the place. Though we couldn’t really afford anything, just walking around the extravagantly-decorated levels was fun!

In the food halls, we bought little pieces of Turkish Delight in different flavours. It was an indulgent moment; it felt nicely luxurious to eat a little delicacy surrounded by the gilded and glamorous ambiance. We walked through the high-end departments (shoes, millinery, furs, dress boutique) and one of the guards allowed me to take a picture of the shoes. I figured taking a picture was a better option than actually touching the $1000+ footwear.

Harrods, like everything else that day, eventually closed down as well and we had to leave yet another London locale before we were ready to. For dinner, we found a sandwich shop that was still open (finally). We ended up kicking ourselves out of the shop when the man behind the counter looked like he was ready to close up. Finally, we had control over something for that day! =)

Date: 23 July 2007
Location: London
Highlights:
- The Tower of London (for a short time)
- Seeing the giant ravens at the Tower (those are some enormous birds!) Here’s the legend of the ravens: “The first Royal Observatory was housed in the north eastern turret of the White Tower. Legend has it that John Flamsteed (1646 - 1719), the 'astronomical observator' complained to King Charles II that the birds were interfering with his observations. The King therefore ordered their destruction only to be told that if the ravens left the Tower, the White Tower would fall and a great disaster befall the Kingdom. Sensibly the King changed his mind and decreed that at least six ravens should be kept at the Tower at all times to prevent disaster.” Taken from http://www.historic-uk.com/DestinationsUK/TowerRavens.htm
- A great room at The Fielding Hotel!
Thought of the Day: Don't feed the ravens (the signs claim they bite!)

In the meantime...

2007-07-24T19:35:00.000-04:00

The past two days I've been in London on a mini-adventure. Though the flooding here has made the news even in the States, pleased rest assured that I'm fine, Jason's house is fine, and so far, Oxford is ok... pray for a break in the rain, though! It's very bad in some areas and there are thousands still without running water or electricity.

Tonight my bus back from London got in late, so tomorrow I'll post about all my experiences over the past two days!

Until then, please enjoy the following word:
DAFT - completely devoid of the senses. This word can be used to replace "crazy" or "mad" in a sentence. Example: "If you think I am walking through waist-high water without my wellies, you are completely DAFT" =)

Day 24: A Bit with the Bard

2007-07-22T18:06:00.000-04:00

Today we drove to a neighboring shire to spend a day with the Bard himself, William Shakespeare, at Stratford-Upon-Avon. With all the heavy rains over the past two days, there has been disastrous flooding in many parts of England. Stratford is one of the locations suffering from serious flooding. One of the theatres here had to cancel performances because the building was flooded. The Avon, normally a gently coursing river that winds through the town, is a massive flow of water that has overtaken the banks. Where there was once a lovely riverside walk, there are now the tops of park benches just visible above the water. (I took this picture from the steps leading to the walking path down to the river bank, which is supposed to be at the tree line. Look closely along the tree line - you can see the tops of the benches)

The first stop on the “tour de Shakespeare” was his birthplace. I had visited these attractions when I was here almost 20 years ago, but I don’t remember that much. When I saw how much it would cost to go inside, I decided I remembered enough. Rather than pay to go in, I determined that a picture of the exterior would suffice. I don’t need all the expensive tourist moments… really, I can’t afford it! =)

I went into Holy Trinity Church to see Shakespeare’s grave. It was only 50p (the equivalent of $1) to enter, so I figured I could afford that! I didn’t realize he had been named a lay rector in 1605 and that is why he was given the privilege of burial inside the church. His wife was buried beside him on one side, and on the other is Thomas Nash, the grandson of the poet.

The Guildhall became the town’s schoolroom in 1553, years before Shakespeare was born. He was schooled there, and there is even a plaque on the side of the room where he sat. Now the rooms are still used by the local school, King Edward’s, and the young boys give the tours of the old structures. I am glad I spent the two pounds to go in – it was worth it to see the old room and sit in the area where he might have sat. When I jokingly asked our teenage tour guide if he felt inspired when he sat in that classroom, he seemed caught off-guard. He laughed and then said, “No, not really. Besides, they don’t teach us literature in this room anyway.” Why can't I teach literature in a room like that?!? That's right, we don't have any buildings from the 1500s in America. =)

One free stop on our self-created tour was this garden. It is a lovely green space with statues based on Shakespeare’s plays. Each of the structures has a quotation from the play and then the artist’s depiction of the character. The artist chose the darker plays, which worked well for the twisted way he shaped the metal of the statues.

This is a depiction of the events/ characters / issues in Hamlet. The quotation is from the famous soliloquy:
“To be, or not to be: that is the question: / Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer / The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, / Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, / And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep; / No more; and by a sleep to say we end / The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks / That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation / Devoutly to be wish'd.”

Unfortunately, while we were perusing the shops, Jason got called into work again. We had to leave and drive the hour home. It was frustrating because there was more to see, but there is nothing to be done in such situations. When one is on-call, one cannot ignore the phone! At least we had hit the major places I wanted to see before he got the call!

Some of you have mentioned to me that you’re concerned because Jason never smiles in any of the pictures. Some have suggested it is because he’s miserable that he has to put up with me for a month. You may not be too far off! ;+) He has been a good sport, and he puts up with what must seem to him like incessant chatter from me in comparison to his rather reticent habits. My theory is he just doesn’t like smiling in pictures; he actually CAN smile. In fact, this photograph proves it. He didn’t MEAN to smile in the picture, but I said something to try to make him laugh. Whatever it takes! =)

Day: 22 July 2007
Location: Stratford-Upon-Avon, Bicester
Highlights:
- the short but lovely visit to Stratford-Upon-Avon

- noting that the boats at this little dock were all named for female Shakespearian characters (fun pop quiz: see if you can match the character name to the right play! This is for Literature nerds only... the rest of you have better things to do with your time!) The boats read: Viola, Helena, Beatrice, Virgilia, Miranda
- seeing Les’s Soft Whip Ice Cream Truck (aww, I miss you, Brother)
- tossing the Frisbee in the sports field next to Jason’s house
- making breakfast for dinner (I LOVE breakfast for dinner! That makes me think of my family because it’s one of our favourite meals!)
Phrase of the Day: “sweet as a nut” – Jason was watching the British Open while I was typing on the computer and I was mostly tuning it out (I hate watching golf on TV) but when one of the very British announcers said “sweet as a nut” to describe a shot, it caught my attention. =)

Day 23: It's Never Over (Saturday)

2007-07-22T13:04:00.000-04:00

Jason had to go into Oxford this morning to run an errand, so I decided to go too. Since he hardly ever has the chance to venture into Oxford and since I feel like I have a good handle on the town, I thought it would be fun to show him around. Unfortunately, he got called in to work and had to leave before we even got into town. He dropped me off so I could enjoy the town one last time (and since I still had my bus pass to get home). I walked over to Exeter and ran right into Erin! Since her cab didn’t leave the college for another hour, we went to lunch. On Erin’s recommendation, I ordered a ham & pickle sandwich, which is actually ham on buttered bread with pickled relish (it’s dark red, though… not sure WHAT they pickled!). It was delicious! Erin has been a great insider here – her father is British, and she speaks with a light accent since she was raised all over the place. We got to say our goodbyes again – although it was really “see you soon!” because we’re meeting for lunch in London on Monday. Erin will be there with her family and I’m meeting Heather there for 2 days. It will be a lovely reunion. =)

After Erin left for her train, I visited the Fellow’s Garden at Exeter one last time and then began wandering around the city. There was a new set of street musicians playing on Cornmarket Street – one group played a great mixture of Irish, bluegrass, and folk. I liked them so much I bought their CD! I did a little bit of shopping around the city, walked by Oxford Castle, and then caught my bus back towards Bicester.

On the way back, I exited the bus at Wolvercote Cemetery. I had seen the sign for it every day on my commute, and someone told me it is where J. R. R. Tolkien is buried. Since I had nothing else to do other than have a little adventure, I decided to see what I could find. It was drizzling, but I walked around the cemetery until I found the grave. I passed by it once because the flowers planted on it were so overgrown that I couldn’t see the names on the gravestone. Tolkien’s wife is listed first and he is listed below it. On top of the grave, rose bushes, plants, and flowers grow. People had left letters and cards on the grave, and one person had even left a silver ring on a branch of the rose bush. I stood back at the bus stop and waited for another #27 to pass by. Since I wasn’t sure it would stop, I actually hailed the bus like I had seen so many people do. I felt so urban when the bus stopped for me, though it would have been more of an adventure if Mr. Speedy had been driving and had whizzed right by me! (See Day 12 if you’re curious about the bus stories).

Jason got back from work eventually, so we went to the Brackley Antique Market and I bought my official souvenir for the trip: a teacup. I started collecting teacups when I went to Austria a few years ago, and I’ve purchased one in each country I have visited since then. Jason and I met Sean and Janine for dinner. We ate at the Greyhound Inn, an old pub where they serve Thai food. It is the most interesting ambiance for a Thai restaurant! There is something just not quite right about eating a plate of Pad Thai at an old pub table with dark wooden beams running through the ceiling. =)

Date: 21 July 2007
Location: Oxford and Bicester
Highlights:
- one last lunch in Oxford
- saying goodbye to Tony the porter at Exeter (he was always a friendly face when I would come in the door each day)
- finding a confectionary in Bicester and trying a delightful little sponge cake with homemade icing
Cultural Lesson for the Day:
Eat In or Take Away: At all sandwich shops, coffee and tea houses, and little cafés, there is a charge if you eat your food in the restaurant. Each food and drink item is labeled with the take-away price and then the eat-in price (usually about 30-50p more). Even the Starbucks here has the same procedure. I suppose it makes sense that one would pay to take up space, but it is quite different from how things operate in the States.

Day 22: The Perfect Ending (Friday)

2007-07-22T05:49:00.000-04:00

The perfect end – in so many ways. When I woke up Friday morning, it was pouring rain – and it did not stop all day. It was a perfect ending because it is the only day it has rained all day long! All the other rains have passed eventually, but this was ridiculous. We all joked that Oxford was crying to see us go. =)

Though it was POURING rain, I wasn’t about to let that stop me from enjoying the last official day of my programme! I went all over town! Heather and I went to the post office and got drenched. My jeans were wet for the rest of the day because I kept going out in the weather and getting soaked. My cute yellow umbrella does nothing to protect my feet or legs!

Lecture was on current topics in contemporary novels. The lecturer was my brilliant professor, Dr. Cunningham. The gist of the lecture was that the current topics are mostly dark, depressing, sordid, gruesome, and sometimes downright disgusting. He focused on the human body and read some disturbing passages from novels dealing with dismemberment, autopsies, murder, etc. At the end of the lecture, someone asked if there were any glimmers of positive topics that novelists write about or would write about in the future and my professor paused for a moment and wryly said, “…Well…No.” We all laughed and he commented that novelists have rarely found happiness to be an engaging topic for a novel. When I examine much of classic literature – and most contemporary literature as well – it is clear he made a good point. His sense of humour came through even though the lecture itself was fairly dark. I think he likes the challenging topics, though – I think he appreciates anything that might give him a challenge!

Another side trip during which we got even wetter was to University College, which houses the Shelley monument. Heather was worried about getting in because a gruff guard had turned her away a few days before. When she whispered that the porter was the same one from before, I decided to give it a try anyway. Somehow I was able to charm him into letting us in the gate. Apparently I have a way with gruff British porters: not only did he admit us to the campus, he even pointed us in the direction of the monument. Shelley’s monument is very striking. It is white marble on a dark base in the center of a semi-circled room. The walls are bare except for the tribute spelled across the top, and the dome ceiling is painted with a vivid blue sky and constellations. Other than the statue itself, the area looks very little like the scene from The Saint – there is a gate around the monument to prevent getting anywhere near it, and there are no benches for handsome men to recline on while sketching. =) But it is a moving tribute to a genius poet who died too early.

Not to be outdone by the weather, I climbed the tower at St. Mary the Virgin cathedral to get the “best view in the town.” It was a great view! Though the skies were still very cloudy and the wind was moving ferociously and the rain was constantly drizzling, I enjoyed my view from the top.

Since we did not have class, we all tried to cram in as much as possible in the hours between meals and packing (I didn’t have to pack, but Erin and Heather did). Erin and I went to the Natural History Museum to see the awesome interior architecture we had heard about in our “History of Oxford lecture.” Then Heather joined us to check out the inside of the Divinity School and we took one last visit to the Bodleian Library.

Finally, it was time for our closing dinner. Everyone dressed up and we had drinks in the Rector’s Lodge before retiring to the hall. The professors marched in wearing their robes and we clapped as they made their way to high table (the special reserved table at the front of the room). We had a delicious meal (fillet of lamb) and then there were speeches and presentations of certificates. I am an official graduate of the Summer Programme in English Literature at Oxford University!

Though I’ve been sad (verging on depressed) all week, this really was a perfect ending because I am not dwelling on the end anymore. I have loved my experiences and I know I will treasure these memories. I have met so many people who have made this programme enjoyable, and I’ve made two really good friends; more than just acquaintances, Heather and Erin are people I know I’ll stay in touch with. And I’ve been blessed to be under the tutelage of brilliant professors who are passionate about their specialties. As she handed me my certificate, my Austen professor (who is also the director of the summer programme) said she was delighted to have had me in the programme, and was very serious about hoping she saw me again in the future. She reminded me to keep in touch as well. This evening brought into perspective what I’ve been able to do over the past three weeks, and what I’ll be able to do in the future. I’m leaving the programme with a sense of satisfaction rather than sadness.

Day: 21 July. 2007
Location: Oxford
Highlights:
- fun in the rain (the constant, did-not-stop, flooded-parts-of-London rain!)
- the closing dinner and wonderful conversation across the long tables
- feeling accomplished, rather than deprived, at the close of the programme
Thought of the Day:
I am blessed to have had this experience.

Day 21: The Final Countdown

2007-07-19T18:23:00.000-04:00

It’s all drawing to a close. Erin and Heather and I went on another jaunt around the city since we only have one more day to venture around Oxford together. We climbed up St. Michael’s Saxon Tower, the oldest building in Oxford. It was built about 1040. The tower has a great view of the city, so I took several pictures from the top. This view is of the spire of the chapel at Exeter (my college) and the Sheldonian Theatre in the background. I’m going to miss this city! =(

There are endings, finales, and terminuses everywhere. We had our next-to-last lecture this morning. The speaker was American (!!!) She was the only American on the lecture circuit and she is very young to have her doctorate and be a lecturer at the University of Oxford. At first I was put off that I was learning something about British literature from a fellow American, but then I was inspired because if she can do it, maybe I could too… And she sure knew her British female authors!

Today was also my last class with Dr. Cunningham. We finished discussing Jude the Obscure and then ventured into other areas of Victorian writing. I’ll miss having my brain filled so much! This man is an ocean of information (which contains more water than a fountain, so I chose ocean for my metaphor). =) At the conclusion of class, Dr. C handed out glasses to everyone and opened two bottles of wine, and we toasted the end of our time together. I was getting a little misty-eyed over the whole thing (and I hadn’t even had the wine!) =) My professor is in the far right of the picture (almost cut out) sitting in his arm chair, looking very intelligent!

I met with Dr. Byrne, my Jane Austen professor, for my tutorial to discuss the essay I had handed in to her. She was very kind in her assessment of my paper, and also gave me recommendations about how to pursue further degrees at Oxford if I am interested. I am certainly interested, but I don’t know if it is feasible. She said I wouldn’t have trouble getting in, but financing a minimum of three years for my doctoral degree is quite expensive. And what would I do with my very expensive degree? Teaching isn’t quite like being a doctor or a lawyer where the salary eventually offsets the price of the education. =) Even if it is just a dream, I enjoyed hearing her opinions and recommendations about the idea. She has been a great inspiration to me during this programme; she has the knowledge of her subject area AND the passion for it (she truly loves literature!) I feel honoured to have had her as a tutor.

After class, I met Art and Anne Gard (my brother’s in-laws) who are also travelling in the UK right now. They stopped in Oxford on their way to meet some friends elsewhere in England. I showed them around the city, we had tea at the Buttery, we went to a free organ recital at Queen’s College, and then had dinner at an Italian restaurant. It was good to see them, and I enjoyed being “tour guide” again. I really feel like this has become my city!

I know I am dwelling too much on leaving Oxford. I should be excited that I'll be traveling to Stratford-upon-Avon, London, and Ireland over the next week and a half! It is just difficult to think about leaving a place that has had such an impact on my intellectual (and personal and emotional) growth.

Date: 19 July 2007
Location: Oxford
Highlights:
- the view from the Saxon Tower
- visiting with the Gards (especially at the recital - this picture is from inside the chapel at Queen's College where it was held)
- having a tutorial with Dr. Byrne
Thought of the Day: taken from the Book of Common Worship, Church of England: “Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit.” I was reading through the Book of Common Worship while I listened to the organ recital this evening and came across that line. I’ve been thinking about “inspiration” and the fact that it is derived from the phrase “to breathe into” (see Dad – I do listen!) and how I have been using the word to describe my experience here. I really feel like I have had a new-found excitement and love for literature breathed into me over the past few weeks. And I like the line from the liturgy, too: the breathing in of the Holy Spirit into our lives cleanses our hearts. That’s some great imagery right there!

Day 20: A Tribute to Princess Di and Jane Austen

2007-07-18T17:54:00.000-04:00

I know that when Princess Diana died, the world went into mourning, but I was a self-absorbed 17-year-old and while I was sad for her family, I was not overly affected by her passing at the time. But today I felt the loss. Today I visited Althorp, the Spencer family estate in Northampton with Holly and her kids Ryan and Sarah. The home is still in use by the family during half the year, but from July to September, it is a museum, a historical location, and a tribute to Princess Diana.

There is something tragic about seeing her wedding dress in a glass case. I have a china doll of Princess Diana in her wedding dress and I always loved how extravagant her train was. But the sight of the dress hanging on a mannequin is just sad. There were videos playing of her life, exhibits of her growing-up years, two huge cases containing her famous wardrobe pieces, and extensive tributes to her charity work across the world.

Why was she such an icon across the world? I think people connect because she was an “everyman’s princess” and she made the royal family accessible. But after seeing the family manor, I realize that she was far more privileged than I had realized – but with that privilege came a confined life and a tragic end. The saddest part of the exhibit was the room with a video of the aftermath of her death – the candlelight vigils, shots of the mountains of flowers in front of the family home. In front of the video screen was a 10-foot-square section filled with rose petals – petals from the flowers people had left. There were thousands of petals – and they still smelled beautiful; the fragrance filled the room. The sight and smell combination was a little much for me and though I’m not normally a crier, I got a bit choked up. It was just so tragic… all of it.

I can’t imagine growing up in a house like the Spencer manor. Seeing manors in which people lived two hundred years ago is one thing, but Diana grew up in this house only 30 years ago or so. The grounds are incredible and the home is so stately. Each room is perfectly appointed in appropriate noble fashion: high ceilings, gilded portraits of long-dead ancestors EVERYWHERE, over ten thousand volumes in the library, two dining room tables over 20 feet long… but there were also little signs of “real life”: a BOSE stereo, Tatler magazines, and clearly recent photos of the Spencer family (Di’s brother’s family) who still inhabit the house on occasion.

In the middle of the lake on the property is an island that holds Di’s grave– inaccessible to the public. The lake is a beautiful setting and the island is overgrown with trees so that only a little bit of the grave is visible from the bank of the lake. I find it ironic but appropriate that she finally has some peace. I am not sure why I was so affected by this exhibit. I know that I’m saddened that my time in Oxford is almost over… perhaps all of these emotions are melding together.

I'm also sad because today was my last Jane Austen class. I really feel like I've come quite a long way in my academic appreciation for Austen - I no longer feel like an "ignorant admirer." Tomorrow I will meet with my professor for my tutorial on the essay I handed in... gulp... a one-on-one session with an Oxford Fellow on an essay I wrote on her specialty... right, then. =) Since today is the anniversary of Jane Austen's death, our class met tonight to celebrate in the little bar beneath the college (I went back to Oxford after the excursion to Althorp). We were celebrating her life, not her death, and my professor hosted the event. It was a lovely close to our time together.

(I am not highlighting the lecture from today because it was on the contoversies of Modern Theatre: defecating on stage – is that really art? Or literature? Or anything close to either? Really??)

Date: 18 July 2007

Location: Oxford, Northampton
Highlights:
- Hanging out with Holly and her kids at Althorp

- Seeing the tribute to Princess Diana

- Talking with my whole family tonight!

- Seeing the lamp post, fawn, and lion (shown below) that supposedly inspired C.S. Lewis (right down the street from my college!)

Phrase of the Day: "I don't want to teach my grandmother to suck an egg". My professor said this today and when I looked surprised (read: shocked), she explained that it means she doesn't want to tell us something we already know. Apparently all grandmothers in Britain know how to suck eggs (that really sounds wrong!).

Day 19: Punting on the Thames

2007-07-17T16:35:00.000-04:00

It was a scene straight from Mary Poppins today – minus the dancing penguins, though – and no “Blue Hallooo!” either – or the people laughing on the ceiling – or the chimney sweeps dancing on the roofs. But other than that, it was straight from Mary Poppins. =) I went punting on the Thames River! Erin and Heather and I went down to the river edge, bought a chauffeured ride, and enjoyed our “free bottle of wine included with guided tour.” Our punter was Jacob, a boy who just graduated high school and is now on his “gap year” between high school and college. Many Brits take a gap year to travel around the world, earn money for college, or take time off before they go back to the world of academics. I think I need a gap year. =)

The river was filled with other punting boats, but most of the people had decided to forgo the chauffeur and try the punting themselves. I can say with certainty that it is worth the extra money to hire the chauffeur! Jacob was able not only to steer our boat with dexterity, but also avoid the morons on the water, and even help some of them out without jeopardizing our voyage. That skill was worth the extra couple of pounds it cost!

Though it had rained the half-hour before we got on the boat, the sky cleared and the weather was perfect for a trip down the river. I had a delightful time with the girls as we stretched out in the boat and watched the scenery as we passed by the Botanical Gardens, Magdalene College grounds, and Christ Church meadows.

The enjoyable mid-day experience made up for the rest of the day. I missed my bus this morning (it pulled away just as I ran up), I was almost late to the morning session, I didn’t understand the plenary lecture (I felt so obtuse; I did not comprehend the connections he was making with British Literature in the 1930s), and I had to give a presentation in my High Victorian class on Hardy’s Jude the Obscure. When I finally left the High Victorian class (he had scheduled it for later in the afternoon than normal), I missed the 6 p.m. bus back to Bicester and the next bus didn’t get me back in time to catch the local bus to the neighborhood (which only runs until 7 p.m.), so I had to wait for Jason to pick me up after his softball game (thank goodness it wasn’t a really late game!) or I would have had to walk the several miles home in my cute, but not-great-for-walking, shoes. (breathe in) I have been looking for reasons to look forward to coming back to the States, so perhaps these events were supposed to facilitate those sentiments… but even all of the inconvenience of public transportation is just part of the quirks of England – and I still love it =)

Date: 17 July 2007
Location: Oxford
Highlights:
- punting trip down the Thames
- having my professor say “alright, thank you, thank you” at the conclusion of my presentation rather than something like “no, no you stupid American, that’s not right at all”
- talking with Jason tonight – I actually got him to talk a little more than normal. Usually I am running my mouth constantly and he somehow puts up with me. I think he’ll be happy to have his place quiet and back to normal in two weeks =)
Thought of the Day: If you’re not sure of your punting skills, hire a professional. It’s worth the extra money. This thought can probably be applied to many excursion opportunities in foreign countries: rickshaw racing, camel trips, tours through the jungle, etc.

Day 18: I Saw the Sign

2007-07-16T16:49:00.000-04:00

Cultural Lesson: Signs
The British are so amusingly proper. Even their warning signs have a touch of pleasantry to them – and often an explanation. When we were walking around London, Heather and Erin and I saw some funny signs. Here they are for your enjoyment:

Clearly, they care about silly Americans who don’t know from which direction the cars are coming.
Talk to the hand! (unless you’re “authorised”)

Here’s a long explanation of why you should not feed the pigeons (since a simple command won’t suffice). And for the sake of those who didn't read my blog on the Lake District, here is my favourite warning sign of all:

And then we have the difference in British and American sayings. There are lots of discrepancies between phrases. For example, on my first attempt at riding the bus, I was trying to purchase a ticket and the man asked if I wanted one way or return. It took me a bit to process that “return” meant “round trip” and I felt like a moron for that span of seconds. Here are some other sayings:

To Let = For Rent
Take Away = To Go
I feel like my days here are almost done! I’ll still be in the UK for another 2 weeks, but the programme ends on Friday. I’m trying to absorb as much literary genius from my professors as I can this week! Today’s lecture was on Modernist Fiction – and I think I actually understand the genre better now because of it! Previously I thought all readers of modernist novels just enjoyed smoking some form of drug, but now it makes a little more sense. My Austen class had a discussion of Mansfield Park and some basic tropes in Austen’s writing. I am typing this right now instead of working on my paper for that class, but at least I finally have my topic for the essay. Hopefully I won’t procrastinate toooo much. =)

Date: 16 July 2007
Location: Oxford
Highlights:
- picnic lunch with Erin in the Oxford Botanical Gardens (I enjoy spending time there and luckily I have friends who enjoy it as well!)
- discovering something redeeming about Modernist Fiction
Thought of the Day: Mind the Gap (said with a British accent to warn you as you approach the trains in the underground). So polite. =)

Day 17: "The Play's the Thing"

2007-07-16T15:50:00.000-04:00

All hail Shakespeare! Yes, folks – it is time for a blog about the Bard. What an incredible experience! I attended a production of Othello at the Globe Theatre in London and it was everything I had imagined! I have found my version of Disneyland! It it my own magical kingdom (and I don't have to wear the annoying mouse ears).

At 10 a.m. Sunday morning the group from Exeter left on the Oxford Tube Bus (a direct line between Oxford and London) and we arrived in London about half past 11. Since we did not have to stay with the group, Erin and Heather and I split off as early as possible. I really despise traveling through cities with large groups of people because most folks are NOT as conscious of others as they should be, they stand around blocking the sidewalks, and far too many of them are directionally-challenged. Thankfully, Erin and Heather were of the same opinion, so we found our way on London’s underground system and got to eat a bite of lunch before we entered the Globe. (this is us being silly with a map of the city. we navigated very well!)

The theatre is not the original building, of course, but it is an incredible replica, complete with the thatched roof (reportedly the only thatched roof allowed in London – fire hazard, you know). The inside of the structure is exactly as I pictured: wooden beams, bench seats, the “yard of the pit” for the “groundlings” to stand in, a huge stage, and the sky overhead. Musicians played on stage as people arrived and then the play began without any introduction or to-do at all. The actors just walked up the stairs through the crowd and began their speeches!

The actors of the Royal Shakespeare Company were superb. The man playing Othello was very imposing on stage and the woman playing Desdemona, though very petite, was quite a presence herself. Both Iago and Othello spit profusely as they enunciated their words, so you KNOW they’re good actors! =) The only bobble in the play was the sudden clouding-over of the sky and the intense rain storm that hit half-way through the third act. The poor people standing throughout the production (called “groundlings” in Shakespeare’s Day) got soaked and kept shrinking back towards the seated section in a futile attempt to avoid the rain. The falling of the rain was so loud that we could hardly hear the actors. They continued as if nothing was happening, but at one point, Othello came to the edge of the covered stage and looked up at the sky with an exasperated sigh and a bewildered shrug. The audience laughed and applauded his break in character. I was lucky enough to have a seat, so I did not get rained on, but since we were in the “cheap seats,” I had an obstructed view for much of the play. A large column prevented my seeing some of the characters when they were towards the front center stage. I could still hear them, though (particularly the spit-laden enunciations of two characters)!

Following the play, Heather and Erin and I walked a LONG way back towards the bus station. We decided to take our time and enjoy the view. The only problem was we were in the business district for much of our walk so there wasn’t that much to see! We saw Tower Bridge and eventually came across Big Ben, but that was about it! We had a lovely pub meal at The Red Lion and chatted with some two men from Maryland who had come to London to see Barbara Streisand (really? coming to London just to see an American performer? But I think they were big fans…I just hope they do more than simply see Babs here! I mean, come on – it’s England!)

My feet were killing me when we finally got back to our bus station (I did not wear the right shoes!) and we had a long journey back to Oxford, but it was worth all the pain because I got to see a production at the Globe!

Day: 15 July 2007- Sunday
Location: London
Highlights:
- A PRODUCTION OF SHAKESPEARE’S OTHELLO AT THE GLOBE THEATRE!
- Trying Beef & Ale Pie at the pub (have you figured out that I LOVE food? I think I mention eating in most of my blogs) =)
- Spending time in London with Heather and Erin
Thought of the Day: “’tis neither here nor there”: I love how much of our normal speech comes from Shakespeare’s plays. The longevity of his work (and wit) is impressive.

Day 16: Tea and a Party (but not a Tea Party)

2007-07-16T15:39:00.000-04:00

Let’s talk about tea. Actually, how about I write and you read? =) Tea is one of the delights of living in England. Tea is served in our common room at Exeter College each afternoon. Proper tea is available at any of the little eateries around Oxford. And on Saturday I got to experience “High Tea” at the Macdonald Randolph Hotel in the heart of Oxford. Holly, one of Jason’s co-workers, treated me to High Tea at the hotel (think Ritz Carlton- style).

We had a lovely time sipping our tea and eating our treats as we looked out on the streets of Oxford and the Ashmolean Museum across the way. I loved it! I had Assam tea, a rich amber-coloured black tea, while Holly had the Earl Gray. Since Mom and I went to a tea workshop in Marietta, I am well-schooled in proper tea etiquette. =)

The relaxed atmosphere ended when I got home, though. Jason was hosting a cook-out and preparations needed to be made! I helped get the house in order (those of you who know my avoidance of housework will be happy to note that I actually cleaned!) and helped prepare all the food. There were about 20 people present, a good number for the house. Several little kids were running around and somehow I ended up with all four of them in the backyard and I was the new toy. Holly’s son Ryan wrapped his arms around me when his sister Sarah came up to play with me and shouted, “No! This is MINE!” I didn’t realize I was such a hot commodity. =)

The evening was a success and everyone seemed to have a great time. My favourite parts were the super-sweet fudge that Holly brought (yum!) and chatting with all the folks I had met at previous events (like the 4th of July bash). I enjoyed playing hostess even though it was not my house or my party! Actually, I think it makes it easier when it ISN’T my house or my party because then I can do what needs to be done, but not stress too much over it because… it’s not my responsibility! =)

Date: 14 July 2007
Location: Oxford and Bicester
Highlights:
- High Tea with Holly
- playing with the little ones and getting my “kid fix” – enough to hold me for at least a month! =)
- not having to stress over hosting a party
Phrase of the Day: “Bless his cotton socks” – I overheard a woman say this on the bus. I found it amusing. What if he were wearing wool socks? Why the socks and not a t-shirt? But then, there are LOTS of sayings that are absolutely silly when one thinks about it. If you wish, comment with YOUR favourite saying. =)

Day 15: In Search of Austen

2007-07-13T15:32:00.000-04:00

Ah, Jane Austen. I got a whirlwind tour of Hampshire and Winchester today. Following the morning lecture on Marriage and Victorian Fiction (very interesting), we few but proud Jane-ites loaded a bus bound for Hampshire, where Austen did the majority of her writing. We visited her house at Chawton (a cottage home her brother set up for her, their mother, and their sister to live after their father died). It’s a very pretty area with lovely gardens and great exhibits in each room. I got to see her writing table and the “creaking door” she wouldn’t allow to have fixed because she liked advanced notice of people’s entrance so she could hide her manuscripts.

On special display is the only existing manuscript of one of Austen’s novels. Only the last few chapters of Persuasion remain; all the other manuscripts have been lost or destroyed over the years. I liked seeing her notes on her text and how she crossed through sentences and phrases and then re-worded. To see an artist’s process is such a special insight. I was encouraged that she had to re-write, re-phrase, and re-structure, too.

Following the visit to the cottage home, we went down the street to the brother’s estate (one of several) called Chawton House. It’s a grand building with fascinating architectural distinctions. First: the home is not a traditional “E” shape like all the other homes of the time– no one knows why. Maybe they ran out of money? Maybe the builder died? So many conjectures… no one knows for sure. What they DO know is that the house looks a little lopsided. =) But it is still an impressive estate.

The great-great-great relative of Austen’s brother still owns the place and has granted it to be used as a library and center for early English women’s writing. The library is impressive; it is a massive collection of women’s writing – and the books of their male contemporaries – mostly represented in first, or early, editions of the works. We couldn’t take pictures in the library, but believe me when I say the collection of books on the shelves was incredible!

Another point of interest is the “hanging staircase” with no central support – very impressive for the time period. Honestly, as long as the stairs don’t collapse under me, I really don’t notice how they are supported. =)

We drove from Chawton to Winchester and had just a short time to visit Jane Austen’s grave in Winchester Cathedral. Her memorial stone lies in the floor next to several others, but hers is the only one noted on the cathedral’s pamphlet. There is a large window dedicated to her that was put in place after her death.

She was only 41 years old when she died. In the Chawton Cottage, there is a framed letter from Austen’s only sister, Cassandra, to their niece Fanny. I got choked up at the emotion with which Cassandra wrote about Jane’s death and how much she loved her sister. Though we do not know that much about Jane’s life, it is clear she was quite beloved and perhaps that is part of why she is still such a popular author today. A note: there is a movie coming out soon about Jane Austen’s life. My professor and all the curators at the two homes said not to take it too much to heart; the writers were very liberal in their interpretation of her life – but the curators were grateful for the movie’s donation of period costumes and money to their foundations! =)

Date: 13 July 2007
Location: Oxford and Hampshire
Highlights:
- visiting Jane Austen’s home at Chawton
- seeing a real estate (finally! I’ve been in England for 2 weeks and had not seen a large manor yet!)
- touching an old book that was one of Jane’s favourites and knowing that she, 200 years ago, would have held the same novel!
- a picnic lunch in Jane Austen’s garden with my friend Erin
Thought of the Day (taken from Pride and Prejudice): “When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”

Day 14: Harry Potter and Christ Church

2007-07-12T16:00:00.000-04:00

Harry Potter Hype: it’s everywhere! Since the movie is coming out today and the book is coming out in a week, the Hogwarts phenomenon is at full-throttle here in England. Yesterday I went to the Christ Church College grounds in an attempt to visit the hall I’d heard so much about, but I couldn’t get in at first because they were filming the next Harry Potter movie. The line for the door was hundreds of people long because they weren’t admitting visitors until the filming ended. Since I am a student at Exeter (and, therefore, technically NOT a visitor), they let me in the side door as long as I went straight through and didn’t disturb the filming. I snapped a shot as I passed through the quad. I don’t think there’s anyone famous in my picture, but you can tell they were doing something in that corner with the graduation robes!

Today I went back to Christ Church so I could actually go inside the buildings. I saw the hall where they film the meal scenes for all the Harry Potter movies. Alas, I was disappointed to discover they add the sky ceiling and floating candelabras with the computer ;+) And the sorting hat wasn’t there either! Despite the absence of the Hogwarts props, the place somehow manages to stand on its own. The hall is certainly grand, and the vaulted ceiling is incredible. The long tables and all the large framed portraits add an imposing characteristic to the room. I can see why the producers would have chosen that setting for the first movie - and why they keep coming back!

Christ Church College has the distinction of being the only school in Oxford to have a cathedral; the other schools have only chapels. The cathedral is beautiful and the central window is supposedly modeled after the Chartres Cathedral in France. This window is of Jonah (no whale, though) and the city of Ninerva. The pamphlet I read pointed out the interesting fact that only the face of Jonah is actually made of stained glass. The rest of the window is painted glass. To me, there is no difference! But I suppose an artist would respond to that the same way I would respond to people saying they see no difference between a noun and a verb! =)

Lecture Notes: One of the premier Jane Austen experts spoke today. She wrote the introductions to the Oxford World Classics editions of Pride and Prejudice and Emma. Her lecture on power and politeness in Austen’s novels was absolutely incredible. For the first time in this programme, I hardly took any notes because I was listening so intently the whole time!

Date: 12 July, 2007
Location: Oxford
Highlights:
- learning to use the video component of the digital camera (I’ve got big plans for a movie of my trip compiling pictures, video, and music!) – p.s. thanks for the loan of the camera, Mom! =)
- getting approval for my essay topic from my High Victorian prof
- standing in the hall where Harry Potter was filmed (I’m not an obsessed fan, but it is still fun to see where they film something famous)
- coming across film sets for two other movies that are currently being shot in Oxford (with all the old buildings, it is a very popular location for filming!)
Thought of the Day: I originally fell for Jane Austen’s novels when I was in high school because of the story lines, the characters who dealt with the limits of their societies, the use of humour, and the romantic ideals, but I am developing a sincere respect for the author’s incredible use of language to examine the subtleties of social roles, political agendas, and power struggles in the era. And I love that I can still enjoy the story while analysing the intentions behind it.

Day 13: Duck, Goose!

2007-07-11T17:49:00.000-04:00

Who knew finding a place to study in Oxford would be so hard? I spent the afternoon in search of the perfect place to read my book (Jude the Obscure). First I tried a pretty spot under a tree in the Christ Church meadows. It was a beautiful location – the perfect mixture of shade and sun. Then some punk kids showed up and started playing a pick-up game of soccer and shouting to each other in Italian – loudly. (Is there a way to shout in Italian OTHER than loudly? Probably not). This is the view from that spot... so pretty... sigh. Stupid punk kids. =)

So then I moved to a bench on the River Thames (I was on the River Thames! But Dick Van Dyke didn’t show up to go punting with me). Since no one else was around, I reclined on a bench and started reading. Then I heard shuffling… and hissing. I turned my head to the right and saw… geese. English geese. Oxfordian English geese …not nearly as charming as they sound, let me assure you. I had a crowd of these things staring me down! With their bobbing heads and hisses, they were strangely reminiscent of a herd of preying raptors from Jurassic Park . They were on the prowl for a good snack and either Jude or I were about to become the equivalent of a late-afternoon scone! I sat up and tried to shoo them away with my book… and they tried to lunge for the book as if it were a tasty morsel. Stupid geese… they aren’t nearly as intelligent as raptors. Raptors can at least open a door! At least the elderly couple sitting in their lawn chairs on the meadow got a good laugh at my expense as I played shoo-fly with a gaggle of waddling fowl. =)

Finally I got up from the bench and, walking gingerly to avoid the goose poop (good idea, right Les?), made my way back to the Botanical Gardens. I hadn’t been there since my first day in Oxford (you can reference “Day 1” if you like) because it has rained EVERY DAY since my arrival. But yesterday and today were absolutely gorgeous and rain-free! I sat for a few hours on my bench basking in the sun until I caught my bus home. (Here's the view from my bench in the gardens)

Notes from lecture: Have you ever thought to connect the poetry of John Keats (19th century) with Philip Larkin (20th century)? Nor had I. But this professor did and I found the connection fascinating. Now I’ll look at "Ode to a Grecian Urn" a little differently! For those of you who do not care in the least about all this English major stuff, you still may recognize part of a Keats poem. The last line is the most classic, of course: ‘Beauty is truth, truth beauty,’ – that is all / Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know. Those Romantics… they were all about beauty being the ultimate truth (and truth being the ultimate beauty!). I wonder what Keats would say about the 21st century perception of beauty involving a whole lot of facade (and therefore, not a lot of truth)? Hmmm... something to ponder.

In Austen, we discussed Pride and Prejudice (my favourite novel!) so I was quite happy. I am now even MORE convinced that it is my most preferred Austen novel of them all. For a while, I wavered on the fence with Emma, so I hope our discussion of that one next week doesn’t ruin my decision! P&P has always managed to remain Queen of the Mountain, as it were, so hopefully it will continue to do so. =)

So today I got to talk about my favourite book and read in a beautiful spot… it was a good day.

Date: 11 July 2007
Location: Oxford
Highlights:
- seeing the grounds of Christ Church (thanks for the recommendation, Emily!)
- seeing some filming paraphernalia of the next Harry Potter movie (more about this tomorrow!)
- beautiful sunny weather (more of this, please!)
- chatting it up with Roth (LOVE gmail chat!)
Street Name of the Day: Crumps Butts – I’m not even kidding. I’ll take a picture if you don’t believe me. It’s not as good as the one we saw in Scotland a decade ago, though (you folks who were on that trip, remember Butts Wynd?) It's sad that I’m so amused by these things, but it is a LONG bus ride! =)

Day 12: The Wheels on the Bus (go 'round and 'round)

2007-07-10T16:00:00.000-04:00

Since I take the bus to class everyday, I've decided a blog devoted to the joys of public transportation is in order. Each day, I ride the 27 bus from Bicester to Oxford. It's a delightful double-decker bus decked out in a bright orange and blue interior. If only it were orange and purple - then I'd feel more at home. =) I always sit on the top of the bus in the front row if possible. Those of you who know my tendency for car-sickness can appreciate why I choose the front of the bus! In addition to preventing nausea, the front of the bus also affords the best view.

From that vantage point, I can see just how close the bus gets to the vehicle in front of it at stop lights (VERY close for some of the drivers!). One of the drivers apparently has a vendetta against bicyclists and clearly wants to remove them from the face of the earth (or at least his route). He follows them as closely as possible along the road and from the top deck, I can see the front bumper almost brush the bike's back tire! Another driver doesn’t like to stop if he deems it unnecessary. We go whizzing by as the would-be passengers frantically wave their arms in a desperate gesture trying to gain admittance to the bus. I feel sorry for those folks as they retreat to the refuge of the covered bus stops awaiting the next bus (whose driver is probably a little nicer). I haven’t figured out how the driver decides whether or not to stop, but I do know that he is the driver who gets me to Oxford the fastest! A fun part of zipping through the residential areas of Oxford in a double-decker bus is seeing how close we get to the curbs. I always flinch as we near a tree and I can see and hear the branches thwapping against the window. (Do you like the word “thwapping”? I feel like it is a good use of onomatopoeia, and since I’m in the home of the Oxford English Dictionary, I’m going to see if I can get it added!).

This morning, I had Mr. Speedy as a driver so I got to school about 15 minutes early… just enough time to sign up for the Jane Austen excursion this Friday! I am so excited about it! My professor is leading a trip to one of Austen’s homes and to her grave. Should be great!

My Austen professor (Dr. Byrne) gave the lecture this morning on the Gothic (the gothic novel and gothic style in the 18th century). I learned about the “sublime” in gothic writing; the gothic writers all sought the sublime in their writing. The sublime is the ultimate source of whatever will evoke terror or awe because pain is a stronger emotion and is more powerful than pleasure. NOW I know why I hate scary movies – I just don’t like the sublime. ;+)

Date: 10 July 2007
Location: Oxford
Highlights:
- Finishing Middlemarch in time for class
- Figuring out the “local link” bus system to get all the way back to Jason’s house (he had a softball match and wasn’t going to be able to pick me up at the station)
- Chatting with my friends Bethie and Chester. It’s good to hear from folks at home. =)
Word of the Day: “Ain’t”. Yes, I know you Southerners all know this word, but my High Victorian professor uses it. It’s amazing how much better it sounds with a posh British accent! (The story goes that the word was commonly used by the upper class folks and when the lower classes started adopting it into their vernacular, the upper class deemed it “improper”. It’s still in use among the upper echelons here, though! If anyone knows the REAL story behind the word, let me know. I could look it up, but I have to go read Jude the Obscure).

Note: This is a shot of Corpus Christi College where I take the class with the professor who says "ain't"

Day 11: Marlowe and Jonson and Webster, oh my!

2007-07-09T18:47:00.000-04:00

(A note: I am including more pictures of the Lake District for your viewing pleasure; they do not necessarily coordinate with the narrative)

Where would we be without Shakespeare? According to the lecturer this morning, we’d have a Royal Jonson Company or a National Marlowe Theatre, or we'd visit Webster's home in... whatever hell-hole he was from (my professors words). =) I knew Shakespeare’s contemporaries were great playwrights, but I’d never considered just how overshadowed they became not even that long after Shakespeare’s death. The professor who spoke this morning is conducting the Shakespeare courses for the programme – and I almost wish I had signed up for one of them! I love the courses I’m taking, so I wouldn't trade them. But I am seriously wishing I could have taken three courses since this professor is so dynamic. He currently teaches in America at the University of Maryland… there’s a reason to become a Terrapin! =) In my Austen course, we covered the Gothic novel genre and Austen’s use of parody in Northanger Abbey. I had never read NA before… it’s not my favourite Austen novel. The only line I was really amused by was “Oxford! There is no drinking at Oxford now, I assure you. Nobody drinks there. You would hardly meet with a man who goes beyond his four pints at the utmost.” =)

I spent the afternoon at the Bodleian Library reading Eliot’s Middlemarch in preparation for class tomorrow (there’s nothing like procrastination to remind me of college days!). This novel is one of the wordiest I’ve ever read (837 pages in paperback) and though it started out making me think it was actually a Russian novel in disguise (think War & Peace), I actually enjoyed most of it. =) This picture is of Erin and Erica and me on our way into the library.

I stayed in Oxford for the evening and listened to a lecture on the history of Oxford. Though it appears from aerial view that the city grew around the University, it is not true. Both are centuries old, of course. What is fascinating to me is the combination of old and new here. Ancient buildings have been given newer facades; old buildings are used for new purposes. A great example is the cell phone store inside the old Tudor-style building. A building that is centuries old has meshed with ultra-modern technology. Quite a dichotomy!

Funny story for the day: On the way home tonight, I almost walked into a pole. I had just arrived at the station in Bicester and I was checking the time on the phone Jason has given me to use here. I was NOT paying attention to where I was walking and it was dark out, so the phone tapping the pole was the only warning I had that I was about to encounter a large immovable object in my path! During the split second between the sound of the phone hitting the pole and the imminent impact of the pole and my face, I managed to stop short and NOT end up with a tragic tale to tell. I didn’t even look around to see if anyone had noticed; I just burst out laughing at my stupidity. Those folks probably shook their heads at the crazy American who almost ate a pole and then laughed about it for a good long while. =)

Date: 9 July 2007
Location: Oxford
Highlights of the day:
- Getting ice cream with friends – I had the Bailey’s flavour (yum)
- Chatting with a handsome Brit in the computer lab. I learned a bit about British pop culture, and he wanted to know if all American high schools were like the one on The O.C. I’m not sure he really believed me when I told him no. =)

- Avoiding the pole
Thought of the Day (courtesy of my Austen professor): “Books can reflect life, but books are NOT life.” Think on THAT one for a while, ye English majors.

Day 10: Mr. Darcy, I presume?

2007-07-08T18:39:00.000-04:00

The day began with another English breakfast and then another hike! This time we planned on the hike. =) We went up to Orrester Head in Windermere and the view was spectacular. It had rained every day since my arrival in England over a week ago, but this morning was gorgeous. The rain had dissipated and the day was perfect! As we hiked up the mountain, we saw a monument with the inscription:
Thou Who Hast Given My Eyes to See
And Love This Sight so Fair
Give Me a Heart to Find Out Thee
And See Thee Everywhere
That is the kind of outlook I need to have in life. It was easy to glorify God on the top of this hill overlooking the majesty of creation and the sun beaming down on me. I need to work on seeing God in ALL things, everywhere.

After hiking back down to the town, we drove to Bowness to catch our boat for the “Lake Cruise and Walking Tour”. We rode a ferry boat from Bowness to Ambleside and then a small boat from Ambleside to Wray Castle. We got out at Wray Castle and then took a footpath towards the next boat. Jason and I were going to go into Wray Castle until we found out that it is a “MOCK” Gothic Castle. With all the amazing palaces and castles in England, why would I pay to go see a fake castle?? The walking part of the trip was completely self-guided, so we set off at our own pace along the river and 5 miles later ended up at the next dock. It was a LONG walk (but we made it far under the suggested time, so that made Jason happy). When we got to the next ferry station, we hopped on and rode back to the starting pier. The rides were all very smooth and I didn’t get seasick at all (I know some of you were wondering if, given my penchant for motion sickness, I’d make it through one, let alone three, boat rides!).

A note on English oddities:
- Sheep: they’re everywhere! I think I have spotted 17 different varieties of sheep since I arrived. There are stringy white sheep, fluffy white sheep, stringy gray sheep, black, gray sheep with white faces, brown stringy sheep, brown fluffy sheep, fluffy gray sheep, sheared sheep, sheep with horns (rams)… seems like a list from Forrest Gump!). My favorite are the white fluffy sheep with black faces. I tried to get close to one today, but it didn’t like that. Stupid sheep doesn’t know a friendly face when it sees one. Sheep are also clearly not smart because they stand in the middle of the roads around here. Cars have a hard enough time dodging each other on these narrow roads. I wonder if it is in poor taste to eat roadkill in England?

- Road Signs: In America we see signs for falling rock or something dangerous. In England, there are signs for “Badger Crossing: Next 2 miles” and “Caution: Red Squirrels”! WHAT??

As you can see from the pictures, this place is magnificent. My only disappointment is that Mr. Darcy didn’t come strolling out of Pemberley to greet me. THAT would have made the trip complete. Then I could be Lady Elizabeth, mistress of the lakes. =) If you have no idea who Mr. Darcy is, please read Pride and Prejudice (a.k.a.: my favourite book).

The trip to the Lake District was a success, but we had sad news waiting when we got back this evening. Jason received several phone calls letting us know that our friend from Clemson, Chris Dunmyer, was killed in a car accident this weekend in South Carolina. He was actually my first boyfriend at CU, and he was a good friend to all who knew him. He leaves behind a wife (they were very recently married) and his family in Columbia. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Date: 8 July, 2007
Location: Lake Windermere
Highlights:
- the view from the top of the hill in Windermere
- the view on the lake
- a wonderful weekend excursion
- GPS (more on this later)
Thought of the Day: Look for God EVERYWHERE; He’s there.

Day 9: Windermere and Grasmere

2007-07-08T17:29:00.000-04:00

Have you experienced a full English breakfast after sleeping in a B&B? I have, and I must say, it is quite lovely – or “smashing”, according to our proprietress. Breakfast at the B&B consisted of fried ham, a British sausage link, fried corn meal mash, an egg (over easy), a broiled tomato (toh-MAH-toh), and sautéed mushrooms. Top it off with HP sauce (like A-1) and it is quite fulfilling! I envisioned some of my picky-eater friends staring at my breakfast plate... they would NOT have done very well with it (you know who you are!). I enjoyed it and was delighted that it sustained me through most of the day! =)

Following breakfast, Jason and I headed out to see the sights. We had no set agenda – we just decided to see what we could find. We began with William Wordsworth’s home (guess whose idea THAT was?). I can fully understand how Wordsworth got his inspiration now. It would be hard NOT to be inspired in a place this beautiful! What a location! I, too, could probably write amazing Romantic poetry admiring the woods, hills, lakes, and vales if I lived in a house with those surroundings. Wow! Even in the rain, it was beautiful.

We kept driving up the roads towards another lake area when we saw a national park sign. Figuring the area would offer a nice place to walk, we pulled into the parking lot. The folks putting on full hiking gear (boots, walking sticks, rain gear, backpacks, etc.) should have been a clue, but we didn’t catch it. We were dressed in casual clothes and walking shoes, so we figured we’d be ok. With no pause to think it through, Jason and I set off on what was supposed to be a leisurely stroll through the woods, but it turned into a full-fledged hike up a mountain! Of course we were both too stubborn to turn back, so we kept on trudging up the mountain, determined to see what was at the top. It drizzled rain the whole way up (I had brought an umbrella – who brings an umbrella on a hiking trip??) and we did not have water bottles or anything. I am SO glad the trip was worth it! The view from the mountain was amazing – and we both agreed it was well worth all the struggle (though neither of us would admit we were the one struggling). =)

After that little trekking adventure, we decided we wanted to sit for a while, so we drove through the back roads on a suggested car tour. It was beautiful, but a little stressful because many of the roads are single-track and meeting an oncoming car can be adventurous to say the least! Jason navigated the Jeep quite well (it always gets a lot of stares – because it is an off-roading vehicle and because it has left-hand drive!) and we didn’t take out any other cars – or sheep (though several tried really hard to become mutton stew). One of the awesome sights from the road trip was the Castelrigg Stone Circle on a hill outside a little town. It is nothing in size compared to Stone Henge, but it is similar in that people dragged large rocks to a flat place for a purpose.

The little town of Grasmere offered a nice place for us to eat dinner (I had Yorkshire Pudding – a local favourite) and I also got to see Wordsworth’s grave. I love the simplicity of his tombstone. There is no bravado or excess – just a simple notation of the man’s years. I liked that about his house, too. It was simple but beautiful. The grounds were exquisite, but the actual house did not have anything extravagant about it. We topped off the day with a stroll along the water in Bowness (a town next to Windermere) and I ate some clotted cream fudge. I now have a new favourite sweet! YUM.

Date: 8 July, 2007
Location: Windermere and Grasmere (Lake District)
Highlights:
- Wordsworth’s house and gardens
- Driving through the back country and seeing TINY little villages (hamlets?) that were nothing but a few houses and one little store or pub
- Enjoying the day despite the rain

- Seeing the sun on the water
Word of the Day: “Smashing” – the owner of our B&B uses it to mean “great” or “good” or anything referring to the positive. Each time she asked how our food was and we replied with “delightful, thanks” or “wonderful”, she would then say “smashing!” I didn’t know anyone used the word except in Harry Potter. =)

Day 8: Native Daughter?

2007-07-08T16:48:00.000-04:00

I’m a native now… or at least one might think so by what I wore on Friday! =) My attire was completely purchased in the UK: shoes, jeans, shirt, jacket, and purse – and it was all on sale, too! I had decided my clothing had to be as authentic as the amazing accent I’ve developed. None of these pictures capture the full effect of the outfit, but I’ll take another one soon (I have to recycle clothes frequently because of the luggage restrictions I had flying over!)

Friday’s lecture was on Shakespeare and film – quite interesting. Did you know the first filmed version of Shakespeare was in 1899? A four minute clip still exists of the black & white silent film (it was a production of King John). The visual is the actor playing King John on his “death bed” and the music in the background is dramatic violins. It’s actually rather amusing, but it is supposed to be very serious – oh well. =) Following my lecture, I got to take an “insider’s tour” of Exeter College given by the college bursar (the name for the head administrator). I learned some incredibly interesting facts. Of course, one of the most interesting is that it was founded in 1314. It’s hard to believe I am learning in an institution that has been around since well before our country was even discovered. This picture is from the dining hall. The decoration at the back of the room comes from the Jacobean decoration that was in the chapel originally. The Victorians decided that they didn't like the Jacobean style, so they destroyed the original chapel and built a new one in their style (but they kept some of the artwork and decor)... those silly Victorians. Didn't they know that chapel could have been worth a lot someday?

Lane and Rex, two of my colleagues from KMHS, came to Oxford from London on the train and we met up after my tour of the college. They have been on a month-long tour of Europe and the UK is their last stop. I think they have seen it all! I took them to the Eagle and Child so they too could experience the pub with the best literary ambience in Oxford. =) We exchanged stories, and I enjoyed hearing tales from their trip so far. I gave them a shortened version of the tour of Exeter (since I am a native now!) and showed them around Oxford for a little while.

I couldn’t stay long with Lane and Rex because I had to meet Jason for our trip to the Lake District. We left at 2:30 on a trip that was supposed to take a little over 3 hours but it took almost 6 hours! Apparently, traffic around Birmingham, England is even worse than Atlanta or DC! I was ready to beat my head against the window – but I didn’t, mainly because I had to restrain Jason from driving into the bridge embankments out of frustration. Finally, we arrived – worn out and road-wearied – at the little B&B in Windermere, part of the Lake District.

Date: 6 July, 2007
Location: Oxford and the RO-AD to the Lake District
Highlights:
- Seeing friends from home in my “new home”
- Exploring the “behind-the-scenes” areas of Exeter
- Seeing Jason’s Jeep turn 100,000 miles (there was NOT much to do on the road, so we were looking for anything interesting)
Thought of the Day: When in doubt, take the toll road in England. It is bound to be quicker (anything would have been quicker than our trip!)

Day 7: Eat, Drink, and Socialize

2007-07-05T19:50:00.000-04:00

Where does one get his inspiration for writing? Today I sat in the corner of The Eagle and Child pub where J.R.R. Tolkein, C.S. Lewis and their gang sat, wrote, talked, and sought inspiration. I must say I was quite inspired by the event, but I don’t believe this narrative work will have quite the impact of The Lord of the Rings trilogy or Lewis’s religious treatises. My classmates Anna (from Germany) and Erica (from Seattle) and I took our books there for a study session after class. I purchased my drink with the five pound note David, Chester, and Jeff gave me from their random encounter with an Englishman in a bar in NYC. Thanks gents!

Today was a full day. It’s the first day I’ve spent over 12 hours at Exeter before going back to Bicester. I got to see what it is like for the people who are living “in college” for this programme. The morning lecture today was on the contrast between public and private life in Elizabethan and Jacobean poetry. Though the professor seemed a little dry at first, his presentation was very informative and I was delighted to learn more about the poets Spenser, Johnson and Donne. I was particularly amused by my professor’s assertion that Donne tried to persuade women that promiscuity could never result in pregnancy… oh the joys of sex ed in the Elizabethan era. =)

I then had tea with Anna while we read for our classes; we had great conversation and also got some reading done. My professor’s explication of Great Expectations in my High Victorian Fiction class left little to be desired – I was amazed at how much he was able to fit into two hours! I met up with the girls after the afternoon session for our little jaunt over to the Eagle & Child. We studied there as well, and also enjoyed talking in our little corner. After listening to the table full of loud, obnoxious American college kids next to us, Erica and I decided we would speak in British accents for the remainder of our time at the pub as to not be confused with the louts next to us. (Anna already has an accent, so she didn't need to pretend). I quite enjoyed it, really. Those dodgey kids are not good for the American reputation over here (imagine my voice saying those two sentences with a British accent… I’m getting pretty good!)

Dinner at Exeter was complemented with fascinating discussions with Max, the resident advisory person who is aiding the programme, about the contrasts between British and American school systems. I stayed late tonight for an evening lecture on the history behind Richard II by Shakespeare. Before catching the late-night bus home to Bicester, I walked to a little bar (see picture) with four girls and we discussed the lecture and random topics like Norse myths involving mead. It’s fascinating how people relate over food and drink. I realized that my day was filled with social connections over meals or beverages. The social meal is an art form in some cultures… I can appreciate why!

Tomorrow I’ll meet up with Lane and Rex (fellow teachers from KMHS) who are passing through Oxford on their whirlwind tour of Europe. Then Jason and I leave for a tour of the Lake District, so I won’t be able to post again until Sunday. I’ll have a lot to write about because it is supposed to be the most beautiful part of England – and that’s where Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter lived! =)

Date: 5 July 2007

Location: Oxford

Highlights:

- getting lost on my way back from my class at Corpus Christi (silly winding roads!) and finding my way back to Exeter without too much issue
- the tour of eating establishments

- remembering what it feels like to be an English major (reading, reading, reading!)

Word of the Day: “Dodgey” – to be used in the place of “sketchy”. Referring to people or locations that are suspicious or less than desirable or with an unclear reputation. =) It’s so much fun!

Cultural Lesson: Everything is backwards (except what isn’t)

You know that people in England drive from the opposite seat of the car and on the opposite side of the road, so one might assume that the sidewalks would have the same general rules. That, my friends, is a fallacy. I can NOT figure out the sidewalks here! Each time I think I’ve got it down, a steady stream of people refute my belief and I almost get tossed into the street. I think they like switching it up to see if folks are paying attention. Another theory is that the folks I’m running into are American tourists who haven’t figured out the system either. =) Another fun “backwardsism” is the water faucets. In most of the sinks (including the ones in Jason’s house), the cold water is on the left and the hot water is on the right. That one is only problematic when I am really tired.

Day 6: Fish and the Fourth

2007-07-04T17:52:00.000-04:00

Happy Fourth of July! The irony of celebrating American Independence Day in the country from which we gained independence is not lost on me. In fact, I decided to extend the irony by topping off the day with a hearty meal of fish and chips! We stopped by the local fish-n-chips take out place in Bure Farm and ordered cod and chips with vinegar. Apparently the Barberry Fish Bar is THE place around here for... well... fish n chips! They wrapped the grease-laden items in paper and by the time we walked out of the store, the grease had already seeped through the packaging. Mmmmm… fried food. =)

Besides fish n chips, how else does one celebrate our country's independence while in England? Last night, the base where Jason works held a 4th of July celebration (…on the 3rd…) complete with fireworks. Since the sun doesn’t set until after 10:00 p.m. here (a.k.a. 2200), the fireworks were scheduled for 10:30. Jason’s friends Sean and Jeanine just moved to England (they both work with him here now) and they came with us to the event. Since no Independence Day celebration is complete without ice cream, we stopped by the grocery store on the way there and each got a container to take with us, never mind the fact that it was cold and dark and we were wearing coats!

I was expecting a small showering of flares and bottle rockets, but they went all out! They had speakers blaring patriotic music (lots of Sousa marches - with a random interlude of Kelly Clarkson’s “Since You Been Gone”) and had great fireworks displays timed fairly well to the music. The show lasted about 20 minutes and ended with a rousing finale set to “Proud to be an American” (can it end any other way?). I love fireworks – I always feel like such a kid when I watch them. I still squint my eyes and flinch for each explosion like I did when I was a child. The event brought out a large crowd of folks from the base (many of whom I’d met at the BBQ on Saturday) and I felt like I was home, except for the cold drizzling rain and having to button up my jacket since I was so chilled! That never happens in the south in July!

Notes from class: our lecture today was on Old English Poetry. I’ve never had a significant interest in it, but the professor read it with such a great cadence that I was fascinated by it. It sounds like a Tolkein’s elvish language from Lord of the Rings (yes, I know Old English came first!). The depth of the poems from the earliest centuries is just astounding. This is another area of exposure I’m afforded by this programme. I am relishing finding my areas of weakness in my knowledge of literature. It is humbling and SO good for me!

In the Austen course today, our professor had us split into groups to discuss and present our findings on particular topics in the text (Sense and Sensibility). My group elected me the representative, so I did speak up today. We had a fascinating discussion about the comic monsters in Austen’s novels. I had never contemplated the comic monsters in Austen’s novels, going back to my previous statement about why this programme is so beneficial for me. =)

Date: 4 July 2007
Location: Oxford
Highlights:
- hearing Old English spoken by someone who really knows what she is doing
- finding a Creperie (little crepe stand) for lunch (yum!)
- locating the discount shopping district in Oxford (that could be dangerous!)
- chatting online for a bit with David Roth – sometimes I love technology - it erases the miles.
- talking on the phone with my family and hearing the sounds of 4th of July in Montreat
Thought of the Day: In the words of my very British professor: “Happy Fourth of July. We’re glad you Americans won.” =)

Cultural Lesson: This is a new section I'm adding because I'm learning so much about little nuances that separate Britain and America. When I come across something interesting, I'll pass along the information to everyone. =)
Street Performers: If you are a musician waiting to be discovered, street performance is the way to get yourself known! The same street performers have been on the streets of Oxford since I arrived. There seems to be a system among them. They all appear to know each other, and they swap corners every few hours. Their instruments range from guitars to bagpipes to didgeridoos. All of the performers I’ve seen have CDs that they sell in addition to collecting change in their cases or on a towel in front of their “stage”. People here stop to listen, and if you stop, you leave some coins. I really enjoy having the music to listen to as I browse through the shopping district (especially the bagpipes!).

Day 5: Paradise Found

2007-07-03T18:59:00.000-04:00

I think I have discovered another glimpse of what heaven will be. It’s called the Oxford University Library System. =) I get admittance to the libraries through my programme (visitors cannot just enter). I was absolutely astounded at my visit to the Bodleian Library. It was founded in 1602 by Thomas Bodley (check out his handsome mug in this picture), and since then the library has collected every work published in English (it is a law that it must hold every written work in the English language!). Some of the manuscripts housed there are priceless – and there are over 7 million volumes of work in this library alone! There are over 12 million volumes in the OULS. The wealth of wisdom those volumes represent is staggering. The rooms of the Bodleian smell a little musty and full of knowledge. If I could have taken pictures, I would have captured one of a massive room that houses the very old volumes of classic literature – some of the first published copies of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates (not the original works, of course, but the oldest hardbound books). The room has deep built-in wooden shelves (multiple levels), dark paneling, vaulted ceilings painted with crests, and row after row of seemingly ancient books!

Most of the books in the Bodleian are kept in the stacks well below ground (with 7 million volumes, one must find space somewhere!). They have a conveyor system when someone requests a book. I picture something like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with little Oompaloompas scurrying around the stacks to locate the requested volume and if you disturb the process, you’ll be turned into a giant blueberry for your interruption. I was told that the workers are sometimes referred to as “penguins” because the Bodleian is like an iceberg – you can see only a fraction of what is really there. The Bodleian has a posted statement (one I had to sign my name to in order to be admitted): “I hereby undertake not to remove from the Library, or to mark, deface, or injure in any way, any volume, document, or other object belonging to it or in its custody; not to bring into the Library or kindle therein any fire or flame, and not to smoke in the Library; and I promise to obey all rules of the Library.” They are serious, too! One cannot borrow books from the Bodleian – one must read them there. One cannot even bring in ink pens into some rooms! And do not be the one caught with food or drink… I think the punishment for that is worse than being turned into a giant blueberry!

My plenary lecture today was from the current expert on the Oxford English Dictionary, Dr. Mugglestone. Yep, that’s her real name! (I really AM in the Harry Potter world). She spoke about the OED’s third edition. It may be hard for some of you to believe, but listening to that woman talk about the dictionary for an hour and a half was one of the most fascinating things I’ve ever heard!! My afternoon course was on High Victorian Fiction. I had to walk to Corpus Christi College since the professor prefers to teach out of his own office rather than use a spare room at Exeter. His office is my dream room for a house – high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling built-in bookshelves, huge windows, and a fireplace. His books are arranged alphabetically by author and fill the shelves. He is a stereotypical bumbling, stammering Englishman who uses phrases like “as it were” and is an absolute genius. He lectured for the full two hours and I could have stayed and listened twice that long! His depth of knowledge was intriguing and I am looking forward to future sessions!

Date: 3 July 2007
Location: Oxford
Highlights:
-Library discoveries!
-Meeting Professor Cunningham (PhD), my High Victorian professor
-A walk through an old graveyard on my way to another library (I had to actually walk into the churchyard to see it – it wasn’t part of the path as I made it sound just then)
- Fireworks tonight (more on that tomorrow!)
Thought of the Day: I would be content to spend all my money on books if I could have a personal library like Dr. Cunningham! Didn’t Epicurus say that if he had any money, he’d buy books –and if any were left over, he’d buy food? =)

Day 4: The First Day of School

2007-07-03T18:12:00.000-04:00

This is how I know I'm a nerd: I love the first day of class! =) My programme in English Literature is set up with a plenary session each morning (9-10:30), a short break, and then two courses scheduled twice a week in either the morning (11-1) or afternoon (2-4) . This is a picture of where I get to take classes - the old buildings surrounding the green quad in Exeter College. I arrived for the plenary lecture on Monday morning and listened to a professor speak on the connection between the Golden Ratio and Medieval poetry (like Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Pearl). It's about the only time math has made any sense to me! Following the plenary session, we attended our specific courses. I went to my class on Jane Austen's novels with a professor who clearly knows her subject! There are only twelve in the class, so she encourages discussion and participation from the students. Though I love Austen's writing, I describe myself as an ignorant admirer; I don't think I know enough about her life, influences, or contemporaries to adequately discuss her works. That's why I'm taking the course - I am here to learn! There are those in the class, though, who love to hear themselves talk - and they did it quite often. One woman is completing her Master’s thesis on Austen and was delighted to display her knowledge. I want to avoid being the person who annoys the others with inane comments, so I did not open my mouth except to introduce myself. Following class, I spoke briefly with my professor to thank her for what I got out of the session and she encouraged me to participate verbally, saying she could tell I have much to contribute. Apparently I look like a jabbermouth. =) Perhaps I’ll contribute more in the coming sessions, but I am finally learning in life that it is better to speak only when I can improve the discussion – not just add noise!

Following class, I explored another side street and found a little sandwich shop for lunch. Then I met up with a few girls from the programme and we did some window shopping around Oxford. When it began to pour rain (as it has done every day since my arrival), we ducked into a little eatery (called “The Buttery”) for afternoon tea. It was a proper tea, complete with scones, jam, and clotted cream. Yum! I had a grand plan that I would lose a few pounds while I was in England since I’d be walking everywhere. The amount of food I’m consuming, though, and the fact that everything here is made with heavy cream, high fat, and is often fried makes me think that I’ll be gaining weight instead. So much for my great expectations (ha!). At least I’ll enjoy it!

Date: 2 July 2007
Location: Oxford
Highlights:

- First day of school butterflies
- Afternoon tea with scones! (“Stupid English breakfast food!” – anyone recognize the reference?)
- Learning about the Oxford Library System in a training seminar
- Meeting Professor Byrne (PhD) , my Jane Austen tutor
Thoughts of the Day:

Acquaintances become friends in a foreign country.

The Boston Tea Party was a serious waste. =)

Day 3: Brilliant Introduction

2007-07-01T17:39:00.000-04:00

Today was BRILLIANT! I have heard that word so many times today and I am definitely going to incorporate it into my vocabulary – along with “shattered” for “tired,” “gutted” for “sad,” and “Cheers!” for anytime use. For an amusing note on the use of “brilliant,” check out Kate’s comment on my blog from Day 1.

This morning Jason and I found a church in Banbury to attend – Banbury Community Church. I heard my new vocabulary words in use when some people discussed their recent trip taking underprivileged children to Wales. The entire trip was “brilliant,” the children behaved “brilliantly,” and everyone had a “brilliant” time, but they were “shattered” when they got home and everyone was “gutted” when they said goodbye to the kids. The people were so welcoming, and they served tea after the service. I love friendly people – and tea (with cream and sugar, of course). =)

This afternoon, I went into Oxford for my first introduction to the English Literature Summer Programme. As trite as it sounds, I felt like I stepped into a dream world when I walked through the Porter’s Gate at Exeter College. The heavy wooden door opened and I entered a lush green quad surrounded by high stone walls dotted with stained glass windows. I registered for my programme with little issue, found my way to the meeting room, made a few friends along the way, listened to the introductory seminar, and then got to socialize. We met in the “Fellowes Garden” for drinks and I had a fascinating discussion with the Shakespearian professor and a fellow teacher regarding the relevance of Julius Caesar to today’s youth. Then we ate a four course meal in the dining hall that looked like something out of Harry Potter. I expected floating candelabras to descend at any moment!
Since many of the participants are teachers in their states and countries, we discussed literature, teaching, and what we wanted to see in England over our delicious meal. Great food, intelligent conversation, beautiful and historic surroundings - this is as close to my ultimate dream world as I’ve ever found.

Date: 1 July 2007
Location: Banbury and Oxford
Adventure Status: Moderate-High: Discovering more portions of Oxford, exploring the Exeter campus, meeting new people, discussing advanced literary topics with people who know a lot more than I do
Highlights:
- Worshipping in England and listening to people sing praise songs with British accents
- Making new acquaintances with common interests
Thoughts of the Day:
God is God everywhere – it’s great to see how people worship in other places – and remember we’re worshipping the same God.
Look BOTH ways before crossing the street because I can never remember from which direction the cars are coming! =)

Day 2: Jason and BBQ

2007-06-30T17:47:00.000-04:00

I've gotten some questions from a few of you, so here are some answers. Jason Keith and I have been friends since our freshman year at Clemson. He lives here in Oxford working for our government on a 3-year stint - this is a picture of his home. He lives in a town called Bicester (pronounced "Bister") - apparently the British dislike enunciating all the letters in the names they create (hence "Worchestershire sauce"). I'm learning that the pronunciation is usually about 2/3 of the letters in the word. Anyway, Jason was an electrical engineering major at Clemson and has worked for the US government in DC since graduation. He got the opportunity to come here to Oxford and has been here a year now. He invited all of us friends to come stay with him any time - and when I joked I'd just stay for a year or two to take some classes at Oxford, he said he would be happy to "host" me as long as I wanted to stay. When I did some research and found the British Literature Summer Programme online, I asked just how serious he was about allowing me to come over and he graciously agreed to host me for a month. He’s quite the gracious host in every respect, especially since Benjamin Franklin's adage states that fish and visitors smell in three days. I'll be here longer than 10 times Poor Richard's recommended visit length! Jason’s place is great - I get my own bedroom and bathroom! I've really enjoyed getting to catch up with him and see what his life is like here in Oxford.

Today was a low-key day. Jason and I drove out to IKEA in Milton Keynes (a small city near Oxford) and then visited the British version of Wal-Mart where I bought a very European -and inexpensive- shirt (I'll take a picture later). Then we headed off to his department's Independence Day party at his boss's house. Most of the folks there were Americans who work here, so it was a classic Fourth of July BBQ. The only difference was that we had lobster claws and boiled shrimp as an option in addition to the hamburgers and hotdogs. Yum! I enjoyed meeting Jason’s co-workers; it was a good opportunity to socialize with almost 200 people I’d never seen before. =) The party was a big success despite the weather – it didn’t get over 60 degrees today and it drizzled the entire duration of the party. Right now it has been pouring for about 3 hours straight. I keep hearing that the weather will get better. I’ll believe it when I see it! =)

Date: Saturday 30 June 2007
Location: Bicester, England
Adventure Status: Low-Moderate: Putting my conversation skills to work was semi-adventurous. I had to answer the same questions repeatedly and fend off those who automatically assumed I was either 1) Jason’s girlfriend, 2) a new hire at the office, or 3) crashing the party =)
Highlights:
- Seeing how much everybody at Jason’s office loves him. Of course that doesn’t surprise those of us who know and love him, but it is still cool to see.
- Noting that IKEA is just as crowded in England as it is in Atlanta!
Thought of the Day: I did NOT pack enough cool-weather clothing. Yikes! And you know, Mark Twain did say that clothes DO make the man since naked people have little or no influence on society. =)

Day #1: Jet Lag is GONE!

2007-06-30T02:42:00.000-04:00

I'm here, I love it, and the jet lag is over! My flight out of Atlanta to Newark was cancelled, but luckily I had arrived at the airport early enough to be placed on a flight before my original time of departure (thanks Mom!). Once I made it to Dublin, I had a few hours, but it was very hectic there. The airport there was SO crowded - I think half the island was flying out that day! (see the picture that captured only a portion of the insanity) From Dublin I took a commuter flight to London’s Gatwick airport. My pal Jason Keith, a friend from my days at Clemson, picked me up from the airport and we drove towards Oxford. Once we got to his town home (more on how cool it is later!), I unpacked and finally relaxed. I tried to stay up as late as I could in order to get on the right schedule, but since I had slept only about 3 hours total since the morning I left, I was asleep by 7:30 p.m.

This morning I awoke refreshed and ready for my adventure at 7 a.m. Jason dropped me off at the bus station for a “practice run” of my daily routine that will start Monday. At my request, he gave me no direction or information – he just said, “Have fun!” and left me there. I am proud to say I figured it all out and navigated successfully throughout the day (it really helps that the people here speak my language!). I made my way to Oxford’s city centre, located the correct college of the University (Exeter College), purchased the items on my list, toured the city, spoke with lots of new people, and made it back to the original bus station with no problems at all! I feel quite self-sufficient. =)

Date: 29 June 2007
Location(s): Atlanta, GA; Newark, NJ; Dublin, Ireland; Bicester, England; Oxford, England
Adventure Status: High: navigating a new city, riding a double-decker bus, eating a lunch that consisted of a “traditional Cornish Pasty” from a stall in the market – that’s right: pasty, not pastry =) Imagine draining beef stew in a colander, taking the “chunks” left over, encasing them in a pastry crust, and cooking it until crispy. That’s a Cornish Pasty.
Highlights of the day:
- Walking past the Cathedral of St. Mary the Virgin (the oldest recorded church in Oxford) and hearing beautiful music from within. I went inside and sat for about a half-hour listening to a boys’ choir practice for their special performance this weekend (see picture)
- Having the freedom of time to be able to sit and listen to a boys’ choir for a half-hour!
- Finding the Oxford Botanical Gardens and purchasing a season pass so I can go there whenever I want! It is beautiful and peaceful, and I am looking forward to going there between classes and reading on a bench (see my chosen bench in the picture).

Thought of the day: The British really do say phrases like “Beg your pardon,” “Cheers!”, and “Right, then.” Everything sounds more proper with a British accent, except the names of little locales like “Wendlebury”, “Kidlington”, and “Squitchey Lane.” Those still just make me laugh. =)

Here I Go!

2007-06-27T08:09:00.000-04:00

The American is coming! The American is coming! Look out England, I'm on my way!

I'll post an update of travel information once I get settled in Oxford. I arrive Thursday evening and will probably regain consciousness sometime on Friday. =)

Love to you all!

Alabama - an adventure in itself

2007-06-26T10:58:00.001-04:00

Last night I went with my friends Chester and Jeff to a DCI (Drum Corps International) competition in Russellville, Alabama - a.k.a. the middle of nowhere. The purpose of my going was to drive Jeff's car back from the airport since they were headed straight for Japan from Hartsfield-Jackson first thing this morning. Somehow it made sense for me to just go to Alabama with them... still figuring that one out. We drove all night back to Atlanta and I dropped them off early this morning. (Have a great trip, guys!)

The DCI show was entertaining - and I got a great view from the press box. Since Jeff was a judge and Chester was a trial judge, I decided to join in the fun. I gave each group a score just to see what numbers I could come up with - and I wasn't that far off on most of the groups! I was always a little high on the scale, but I'll chalk that up to having an "everyone's a winner" attitude. I guess in the judging arena, I'm the Paula of the group (how tragic that I referenced American Idol in my blog... stupid pop culture... sigh).

In other news, I'm leaving tomorrow and I'm desperately trying to get my suitcase under 30 pounds. Apparently, I didn't read the fine print carefully enough for my connecting flight from Dublin to London (this is what I get for trying to save money!). Now I'm scrambling to make it under the weight requirement (now I know how jockeys and wrestlers feel!) and still have enough clothes to attempt to be fashionable - or at least not garishly stand out as the "American" - amidst the trendy Europeans.

Today: Tuesday, 26 June, 2007
Location: Marietta, GA (with a side trip yesterday to Nowheresville, Alabama)
Days Until Departure: 1! Ack!
Books Left to Read: One less than I did before (check Mansfield Park off the list!)
Adventure Status: Decent: I tried fried pickles at Speedy Pig B-B-Q in Russellville, I rode all night back to Atlanta on Alabama highways, and I managed to drive an X-Terra from the airport to Marietta without incident.
Recent Activities: Shopping with my sister, a "last supper" with the family (yay Old Towne Bistro!), pool time with Sky and Danielle, a random trip to our neighboring state, crazy attempt at packing light
Thought(s) of the Day: "The language of friendship is not words but meanings" - Thoreau
I love my friends. That's why I do pool aerobics and drive to Alabama! =)

Getting Started...

2007-06-23T21:57:00.000-04:00

I've never been one to jump on the technological bandwagon, but this impending trip to England has caused two leaping experiences in a short time. Not only do I have a facebook, I am also now writing a blog. Will the insanity ever end? =)

My inspiration for this was Neill Blake (thanks Neill!), my mother's dear friend and kidney donor (thanks again, Neill - happy 5th kidney-versary!), who told me she looked forward to seeing what I was doing in Oxford through my blog--or however I planned to keep folks posted. Since I had nothing planned, this seemed as good an idea as any. So I invite you to venture with me into the cyberjungle as I attempt to write coherent thoughts that accurately depict my experiences in Oxford!

Today: Saturday 23 June, 2007 (did you notice I'm using the European format for the date in preparation?) =)
Location: Marietta, GA
Days to departure: 4
Books left to read before class starts: tooooo many
Adventure status: minimal - unless you count braving the crowds at Ikea as an adventure =)
Recent activities: Brandy McGee's wedding last night (congrats Brandy and Rob! see pictures for KMHS teachers at the wedding); new haircut (still adjusting to it - again, check out the pictures); dinner with Bethie (love the wedding pictures - yay! I'd post those if it weren't against copyright laws!)
Reflective thought on what I've learned today: Life is better when lived for God and lived in honesty with others