Expanding my memory card

So last time I wanted to mention my theory about time here. During The day everything goes by at a normal time. If it is a day where I was traveling sometimes thinking back to the beginning of the day it seems like: did I really do that today? Yea, I guess I did. When I look back over a couple days time seems to have gone so fast. And finally when I look back at a weekend or now even going to London, I feel that it was forever and a day ago, like I have been living here for weeks… But is has only been 3 weeks. And now is the time for partings… Hopefully by 3pm tomorrow (It is 9pm here) I will be home. I want to see everyone but I don’t want to leave….

The final weekend.

Saturday stated with an early wake-up call again to be on the bus at 8 am. Once arriving to Oxford, Kate explained whiles all the colleges are a part of Oxford, they are their own college. What this means is that The College of education financially supports itself. Also getting in is not just about having money. You have to be very intelligent to come. However you can walk around for free. We started the day by walking along the river Thames on a nice little river path that took us passed cute water houses. After going the right way towards the center of the town we walked over to the Oxford church and library.  Bodleian library is the most famous international library anywhere. If it is in print, it will be there or at least on an electric copy. (Never heard of it? Me neither… take my word or at least, Kate’s).  The church was the St. Mary’s Church, really big and really beautiful. That’s what England is like. I could spend all day looking at buildings and then come back and see something new!!! Most of the buildings in Oxford are made of what is known as Oxford Stone. Original right? After walking out of the courtyard where the library and the church were, we went to the covered market place for lunch. The market is a really cute place however the butcher and fish smells hit you in the face and is not pleasant. While in Oxford I ended up getting my sweatshirt (I had debated not getting one) and 2 shirts that were on sale! Score!

On the River Thames

Bodleian Library 

St. Mary's

Shops in the covered market

Dear Tutu- let's go study this, shall we?

After once again piling into the mini bus we headed over to Stratford-Upon-Avon to check into our Bed and breakfast. It was such a cute little place!! And the man who ran it was wonderful! We dropped off all our things, got ready for dinner and to go out to the play. We saw Shakespeare’s “As you like it”. Once I got past the verses I was able to understand it. It was about an exiled woman, Rosalind, who ran away and was living disguised as a man. She was also in love with Orlando who did not know she was a man. In the end there are 4 weddings and nobody dies. I really liked how the costumes seemed to get more modern as time went on. Everyone started in period clothes but ended up garments that can be worn today. Rosalind, while dressed as a man (who looked like a dead ringer as Orlando Bloom from Pirates) wore brown converse sneakers.  Also at the start of the second act the court fool was well making a fool out of himself as he tried to get the butcher/woodsman to look at him. However the butcher was very focused on disassembling his rabbit. The rabbit had what looked to be real guts and a real head chopped off… it was very gross however if it was a prop, it was an excellent prop…

Orlando sings for his Rosalind

All the guys would appreciate this: After spending countless hours shopping with us girls, Chris finally saw the thing he really wanted to see: an Aston Martin. He had a BIG guy moment.

BEST GUY MOMENT EVER!!!!!

This morning (see this is where the time thing comes in again, it seems like ages ago) we had a wonderful English breakfast.  An English breakfast has mushrooms, grilled (?) tomato, ham, sausage, sunny side up egg and beans. Yup beans, like Bush’s baked beans, but they tasted like they were in ketcup. We left to go meet our tour guide, Wendy, who was going to show us all the famous places around Stratford-Upon-Avon. As we walked around she was telling us that a lot of the houses were from the Elizabethan era, or were built to look the same over the centuries. We rounded a corner and there was a pretty nice old house sitting there in a street. I thought well that is a cool house, very old looking. Wendy tells us that was where Shakespeare was born. Mind Blown. She stood outside and told us some of his past and then took us around town. We saw the church where Shakespeare remains, however we did not go in since it was Sunday and they were having a mass. After leaving Wendy, we had some free time to look around and shop again. I happened to go in a small jewelry store and I finally found myself charms for my bracelet: A little tea pot and a globe. I loved them both.

The door to our B&B

The birthplace of one William Shakespeare

Finally once again piling into the van we went to the final destination: Warwick Castle. Warwick was nice; however it felt very much like Disney World. There were no rides; however there were rooms that were made up with wax figures (part of the castle is owned by Madame Tussaud’s) and role play actors walking around in period dress. Best way to describe Warwick Castle: Bristol Renaissance Faire crack. It would be a wonderful place to bring kids (which there was an abundance of), but after seeing two impressive castles, Warwick was a little too much (Bristol is better in my opinion). However the climb up and down and around the 504 stairs in the castle tower was interesting. Also flip-flops and cobblestones do not go together very well

A view from the tower

See Disney World! Whoops I mean an exhibit at Warwick Castle...

I want a sparkley  crown!!!

Finally not being able to stand my iPod and all my music on it, we made it back to Brighton once again. This time we actually had to say our goodbyes to Mary and Kate. I really wish I could take all four of them with me…

Well now I am repacked, probably over the weight limit and getting ready for a 4:30 a.m. wake up call (the funny thing is for everyone back home it is 10:30 pm and you might just be going to bed…) well good night.

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Fish and Castle

Thursday was a sad kind of day. It was our last class with Kate and Dave. However this one was actually presenting our projects to Kate and Dave. At the beginning of class we had given our gifts to them. Kate was going to wait until later and Dave shook his box of chocolates and immediately knew what was in them and was very excited. After presentations Dave opened his chocolates and shared with all of us. He also told his Star Trek joke that he has been threatening to tell all the time… How many ears does Captain Kirk have? 3: A left ear, a right ear and a final Front-ear!  It was very funny and I thought my homie trekkies would like it, Kate however does not (she left the room since she has heard that joke one too many times). Taking pictures with Dave and saying our final goodbyes, we headed over to the American Office to find Mary and Zoe. Kate opened her gift at this point and was shortly followed by Mary and Zoe. They loved their bath sets we gave them. (If you have noticed the gifts are something a female would pick out, which happened. However we did not torture Chris this way, he has been shopping enough with us…).

Once again we said goodbye to a member of the team: Zoe. She will not be going with us to Stratford-Upon-Avon/ Oxford trip due to a friend’s wedding. (However Kate will be going with us and that should be interesting…). It is so sad that we are going to no longer see everyone! We are slowly peeling off. Darian and Lauren are going to Paris instead of the fieldtrip, and Liz will be with her parents. In addition we no longer get to see Zoe and Dave…. It is going to be hard to leave here….

However on to Happy things! Like fish! We have been debate for a while to go to the Brighton Aquarium and finally gave in when we learned the price. In the end we decided it was soo worth it! The Brighton Aquarium is located seaside and underneath our favorite restaurant (Harvester’s). They had some really cool fish and exhibits. Fish you walk though a hallway with tanks on both sides. At one point you pass the open aired ray tank where some of the sting rays dance to the top looking for food. Next we went to the Amazon that was dark and tricked you with mirrors. Watch out for the piranhas, they bite. (Hehehehehe). While walking through this amazing aquarium I had way too many “Finding Nemo” quotes running through my head. If you were a child you would be able to spot a ton of friends…

Nemo, Marlin and Friend

Why, yes I am a natural blue...

DUDE!

Another part of the aquarium was a tank slightly smaller than the dolphin pool at Brookfield Zoo, which was filled with so many different species! You could go on a glass bottom boat or walk through the tube that ran in the tank. That was amazing; a shark would come towards you and then nonchalantly turn away before hitting the glass….

Fish are Friends, not food.....

Today we met with Raj again. This time we had a whole day to spend with her. Raj wanted to take us about an hour away to Arundel to see Arundel Castle. I thought I was impressed with Bodiam. Nope, Socks were knocked off! Arundel was built before Bodiam however it looks younger! There also is a real Duke living there! The Duke of Norfolk!!! However we could not visit his apartments because that is well private… I have no colorful way to describe Arundel to everyone so I will just show you. I also once again loved all the flowers in their gardens…

This is The Duke's part of the castle

Well I hope that is keeping things spicy! I am once again off to count sheep because the weekend is our second Field trip to Oxford and Stratford-Upon-Avon!!!!! CIAO! !!!!!!!!!

The Castle and the classes

Sorry that I have not posted in roughly 3 days. It was just that Monday was not very exciting and I felt I could give a blurb about it on Tuesday. However I got back to my room and didn’t really want to write. So now it is Wednesday night and I want to go to bed, so I forcing myself to write for everyone is you know what is happening and so I don’t have to write more on Thursday. I have mentioned that my blog was going to be semi-daily….

Monday- Well we started the day with class and this time it was Drama and art. I can say I have learned more about Vincent Van Gough then I have before. I liked the way that it was presented… Any way after class, plans are made by the minute. Nothing is really set in stone… However Hana, Claire, Chris, Emma, and Jessica and I wanted to try to do some souvenir shopping in Brighton. However we found out that there seems to be more London things then Brighton, Oh well. Because Monday was so beautiful we actually went to the beach and went in the ocean!!! Not far but the waves made sure you knew who was the boss. After getting stones in our flip flops, we were meeting the other half at the Marina. So we were going to catch the #7 bus from the pier. However we walked the wrong way and just ended up taking a forty minute walk to the Marina. It was like a long walk up in Michigan expect we got lost at the marina since we were trying to get to the Casino and the McDonald’s but somewhere took a wrong turn. After meeting up with the group , then splitting up again (I really did not want to gamble and some others didn’t want to either) we all met up again to go to the Pav Tav (Royal Pavilion Tavern) to have a night out. The girls last week met a band there and the band said they would learn Katy Perry’s “California Girls” so that our girls could perform their remix “Brighton Girls.” Well they performed however that band played loud and I don’t think the mics were on…

Look I'm in  the ocean!!

Chris, Emma, Jessica, Hana, Moi

Tuesday- Was our last official day of class. We did Theseus and the Minotaur. I love Greek mythology and I knew this story.  We did things like what would it be like on the boat and what does it look like to be both victory and despair? We were let out of class early so we could get lunch and get ready to a Castle!!! If you go to England, you just have to go to a castle! Well we did. We drove for about an hour and a half to Bodiam Castle. It was very border line magical! There was a moat with ducks everywhere! Also in the moat is a fisherman’s dream. Huge fat, 2 foot long plus carp live there. HUGE!!! After staring at the fish and ducks fight over bread we walked across the bridge and entered Bodiam Castle. You can go in the remains and up to the towers. To get up you have to go up steep winding spiral staircases that can really only allow one person to pass at a time. Also attached to the wall is a dinky metal pipe railing. If you fell and grabbed that, I’m sure it could probably come out of the wall. It was amazing. On the way out I noticed the family that had entered after us: the family with 2 boys and one on a least. Well the older was “walking” the younger boy. I will give you this before castle pictures….

Shh! don't tell but I was sneaky Paparazzi!!!

The girls and Chris in front of Bodiam castle!

Really big Fish!!!

This is looking up, I think...

Some rooms in the castle

And Finally Today- Yesterday Dave had asked us to come meet him to discuss our final project with him. Since everyone called spots my group went first. We then went to “class” where we worked on the project some more and then showed Kate and Dave, testing the projection screen. Later after lunch and debating what to do we went, yep shopping agin. However I think at this point we are all shopped out. I never knew that was possible. We have gotten to the point where we really don’t know what we are doing anymore. I am sure there still is a lot of fun things to do in Brighton but we stopped looking. Speaking of looking this city still has surprises, even if they are subtle, for us. All you have to do is walk in a different direction.After raving about Harvester’s to group all 12 of us were going to meet there and meet Liz’s parents who are here. However since we were meeting at 6, my group still had sometime left so we sat on the beach, watched the billions of seagulls and listened to the annoying carousal organ music. After dinner, a hamburger, my group got together and finalized our project.

Before I go I keep forgetting to tell you that I have roughly been near 3 celebrities.  So you all ready know about Nick Jonas in Les Miserables. However the first celebrity we saw was when we were going the London eye. We are very certain we saw Penn from the magical Penn and Teller act. (I did see a sign advertising to come to their show). Since we were walking past we really did not stop and just sort of assumed it was Penn. I am going to say it was because he was sounded like Penn and had the pony tail. Penn was chilling out against the bridge in a blue shirt.  So I am just going to tell everyone I saw Penn. (Hey Everyone! I saw Penn from Penn and Teller in London! No sigh of Teller though…) and today we walked past a line to get into a Tony Hawk exhibition along the coast. Sorry did not see him just know that he was here. Well things do not get any more exciting… Actually I’m sure they will, one more field trip to go.

Looking down at me!

Stonehenge and Bath

7-17-10

This past weekend was the field trip to Stonehenge and Bath. The trip started with an early morning wakeup call followed by sleeping on the mini bus for 2 hours. The times that I would slightly wakeup I would look out and see more than the countryside. Sometimes I would see a beautiful church reaching towards God or a castle set back into the countryside. After one of these times I work up and then It was BAM!!!! Hi I’m Stonehenge sitting right next to the road. I thought it was out a ways in some remote location where you might have to hike out to… Nope it is right next to a road.

After Parking, we literally pushed our way through the crowds. It is a big tourist place and very busy. Basically they heard you into cues and then under the street, and finally up some ramps. At the top of the ramps there it is: Stonehenge. I was a little disappointed with myself. When I found out We were going to Stonehenge I was “That is so Awesome!!!” However once there my attitude changed to “it’s just a bunch of rocks….” Don’t get me wrong I loved seeing them; however there isn’t much to do there except walk around the rocks and looking at the same thing doesn’t really change. They are impressive but simple. After heading back to the tunnel we tried to go in the gift shop however it was o packed that I got stuck. I could not move.

I'm just going to lean against this rock....

 After grabbing a bite to eat, sandwich, tea and a rock cake, we all piled back into the van to go to Bath. On the way to Bath I am not sure if I slept or watched the scenery. Both probably happened. Once getting to Bath I was once again impressed the city, even on the outskirts. The city felt like it has been there for a while, where Brighton seems newer. I don’t want to say old or accident but has Been there, It has existed for a long time. It is really hard to explain. In Bath the first thing we did was walk past the Bath Abbey towards the Roman Baths. The Abbey unlike Stonehenge I could have stared at for hours!  There is so much detail and little things to see. Looking at the Abbey again they actually have a ladder of angels climbing against the church.

Bath Abbey

After getting away from the slight rain we entered the Roman Baths. Look I got to see a Roman masterpiece without having to go to Rome,, who would have guessed! The baths have exactly crumbled over the years but they have built a museum around the existing structures and whined you around all these all stones. They even used technology to incorporate what pieces of a broken arch way would have looked like. There is running water and the hot spring where the bath was built is still bubbling away.  After the Roman Baths we went exploring a little and at that point we were hungry. Since I had Brunch (I didn’t eat breakfast so I was hungry at Stonehenge…) I decided to get the Cream Tea. It was wonderful!! It came with a pot of tea, cream and scones with strawberry perseveres and English Cream (thicker than butter, but sweet). I thought it was wonderful.

The old pieces of a gateway completed with technology

After meeting up with Mary and Zoe again we headed over to Bristol for our hotel was. Since we had time to wait for dinner we played some card games. When we went to our 3 course dinner, Mary and Zoe surprised us with bottles of wine and a beer for Chris. After dinner we all went to the pool and then met Australians in the sauna. Once again we met up with Mary and Zoe just to talk about things and the two of them are very fun to be around!!!!

7-18-10

Leaving the hotel after a wonderful Breakfast we headed back to Bath to Explore on our own. Since the group as a whole wanted to do different things we split up again. I was with Hana, Chris, Emma, Jessica and Claire and we went to The Jane Austen Centre. Hana was a big Jane Austen fan and Jane was Bath’s most famous resident. It was nice to see what it was like during the author’s time and her life even if I have not read any of her books… After the Museum we walked up the street and saw houses that were basically built in a circle and then we saw the Royal Crescent.

The Royal Crescent

After walking around a little more past amazing gardens and old streets we walked past the Fashion Museum.  I had suggested going and was wondering if anyone would go with me (I was not going to ask Chris). I had decided not to go and stay with the group, but they convinced me to go since they could see I greatly wanted to go. The main reason was the Museum had Princess Diana Dresses! I was so blown away. I died. I was very happy!!!! We were not supposed to take pictures however…..

The Long Blue dress was worn by Princess Di who loved the ballet

At the end of the day we all had to hurry and find the mini bus. However we all got turned around in Bath and were somewhat lost before we found the right way. The drive home was about 3 hours long and somehow we drove past Heathrow and Gatwick airports…. But over all I had a wonderful time in Bath!  It always seems to stop raining and the sun comes out when we leave...Oh and I got James a sheep poo air freshener! I think it is fabulous!

English Lesson! Biscuit= Cookie however you can make cookies at home but they are bigger then biscuits, biscuits are like 2 bites of a cookie. Scone= biscuit

Rocks and Bath!!

Here is a taste of Bath and Stonehenge. I will give blow by blow details when my brain is not shutting down....

Just some rocks. I don't know...

The Roman Baths

The Streets of Bath

A garden in Bath

Beachy Head

Yesterday we went to Beachy Head. Beachy Head is a sheer cliff face that drops into the ocean.  We were standing on the coastline of England. As a person you are buffeted around like a ragdoll in the wide. It was cruelly cold but beautiful none the less. Also because of the wind everyone has terrific ne hair-dos!

When Driving around one is mesmerize by the surrounding countryside. Fences of trees part to rolling hills covered in parched green and gold.  Cows and sheep dot the land as they spend time in the blonde sunshine. But the sun is deceiving; because of the wind that runs rampant in unseen places. Grey and white clouds scuttle across the sky, herded by the wind. Towns do not cut harshly through the landscape, rather coexist and are friendly with each other.  

Once getting to Beachy Head, the sheer majesty is massive. Running across top of the cliffs are footpaths, some are treacherously paved while others cut through fields of grass and yet others are packed down with pebbles in the dirt. There really are no words to describe the cliffs of white. A small lighthouse sits at the base of one cliff, protecting boats but guarding the cliffs. The ocean appears white but then changes with the waves to a foamy pale green.

Stopping in the town of Alfriston on the way back to Brighton: one notices the wind again. Though here in this countryside village, the wind is warm, kissed by the sun. The little village beckons you in with little shops and alley ways that call for adventure. Nested behind the building s is a beautiful church, whose lawn is filled with school children on a trip. Once back on the bricked sidewalks, the cottage name their presence and sit quietly while cars bustle and whiz past. The streets are friends to all: horseback rider, wheelchair riders and foot travelers. Leaving the village behind, the hills once again share their sprawling magic. An Ancient man engraved into the chalky hillside looks across the valleys of green and gold.

Once Back in Brighton, I explore with the girls the marina. It is small compared to Chicago standards, but is England’s second largest. The gulls fly high and rest on the still strong wind.  The drive here made me want to live here so bad. I could easily see myself living in one of their colored row houses. Maybe a pink one with a bright blue door… Dinner I switched groups and joined a different group for dinner where we all had fish and chips and I finished with treacle pudding.

Now as I attempt to quickly write this, we are getting ready to leave to for Stonehenge and Bath….

Romeo is Your Boy

Starting off it has been very windy here since last night. It is the type of wind that shakes all the trees, allows lamppost to sway and windows to rattle in alarm. Very hard to sleep when everything is rattling like the devil. (But doable.) My only hope is that the wind will blow away all the clouds that seemed to have appeared. However that is not the case: today the wind blew the one set of clouds away only to be replaced. However the sun is shining right now. I hope this weather continues (minus the wind) for tomorrow’s trip to Beachy Head, beautiful cliffs with no railing…

Today’s lesson with Kate and Dave was about yep: Romeo and Juliet. Today I realized that I only remember the basic parts of the play and have not read it 6 years ago in freshman year of high school. But the way Kate presented was a wonderful way to remember it along with being able to teach it. Kate started in the middle and created a monologue for a new character that was on the sidelines. Later we did conscious alley where we all stood in a row as the Caps and Monts and asked questions of the characters coming down the alley. All the activities that we did helped me re-understand Romeo and Juliet.

The backside of Preston Manor

In the afternoon we went to Preston Manor, home of Lady Ellen Standford. She lived there during the Edwardian Era (Pre World War 1 to a little around the end of WW1). The Manor was named Preston for the Preston Village at the time. The interesting thing about this house is most of the items, chairs, paintings, etc. had belonged to the original owners. But the thing is there is one room where someone else donated things to the Manor. Also since Lady Ellen gave her home to the City Council of Brighton instead of her son (Ellen really did not like him and her grandson died in the war), the first museum curator dismissed all the servant used items. However the manor has been able to rebuild a new collection over the past 20 years.

I really liked all the different flowers they had....

To be honest I was really not impressed with the Manor. I was not struck like at the Royal Pavilion and I think seeing the Pavilion first casts a shadow over Preston Manor. Also our tour guide was not as exciting and more concerned with her text message (it was really important). But I did however love the garden and the modern works of art. Have I mentioned this? That the old museums here ask artist to contribute pieces of modern out to express what was being done during the times or other. While at Preston Manor, the art depended on the artist: a shear glove on a drape or a “needlepoint” pillow (it had hundreds of pins in a design) where the Royal Pavilion showed the dark side of the house with 3000 black ceramic butterflies everywhere. Once again not allowed to take pictures on the inside…

The modern butterflies at the Royal Pavilion entrance way

I feel that I must mention a couple of my new favorite things here. I love British lemonade. It is clear and carbonated and not as sweet as back home. Also I am in love with chocolate croissants, flaky on the outside but gushes out chocolate when you bite into one. A favorite game of Jessica, Chris, Hana, Claire, Emma and I is called past the chocolate. Actually the game really does not have a name, but after class we go to the vending machine and buy a different chocolate bar and share a piece with everyone. (We also played pass the fudge yesterday). I have found my favorites: I like the double decker and the Boost. I only bought the Yorkie chocolate bar because “IT’S NOT FOR GIRLS!” I think it was pretty good though… I don’t know what made it a bar chocolate bar.

Now I am going to get ready to go out once again. When we were walking around Brighton trying to figure out where to go watch the football cup, we saw a bar/club that was called Oceana. Apparently you can visit the world in one night and it is pound night….I will let you know how it goes… Also I need to attempt to journal about what has happened about classes… Well here goes nothing…