Shakespeare and Sushi

Well I guess an update is order: Last week was sunny and I got my first sunburn of the summer (not that bad like “OMG IT HURTS!!!” but just a little pink). However this week it has been over cast and it likes to rain and it likes to not rain. My brawly cannot decided whether to stay out or not! I might have to buy some willies, but they might not fit in my suitcase. The bloody weather is driving me Nuts! Not fit at all!!!

So Monday was a visit to Ashurst Woods Primary, Tuesday was Kate and Dave tome again. Before class we actually had to read a chapter from a book that was given to us. Yes! We had homework!! See my summer school   in England is sounding more and more like school every day!!! The chapter was from a book and was about Mr. Somerville and his four rooms. And yep you guessed it: we did drama again! We acted out how Mr. S felt in all four rooms. I was the west room and we felt that sunset was closing, but not and more. Our motion was bringing our arms up and then returning into a ball (get It? A sunset!! Grand in the beginning but disappears!!!).  Later we added layers to the story, Mr. Somerville was sent to a retirement, what questions would his friend have? How does he feel and so forth…

Me with my teacher,Kate Felming, before our second play in Brighton.

In the evening session we continued what we had not finished in the morning about Mr. Somerville, and then transitioned to British Culture. We were asked to name things and then come up with the top item. The items were as follows: The Queen, The Queen, the accent, and the BBC. Dave’s office buddy, Steve Robins said that our idea of British culture would contain us watching the Queen on Boxing Day on the BBC. We turned the question onto Dave, Kate and Steve and they felt that the US was Big, big cars and desert/ cinema. Steve once again suggested that their view of home was going to a drive-in movie in the desert in a big car! The point of the lesson was actually Shakespeare. I learned that English people are really not that thrilled about the man. Kate tried to ask what was so wonderful about the man’s work and we replied that they teach it to us in our schools.

Dr. Dave Simpson at Falmer High School

Talking about Shakespeare lead us to going to our second play in Brighton: Shakespeare the Man from Stratford. It was interesting. A one man show with minimal props, a real fire onstage and opening and closing panels. It was also interesting in a way that the actor Simon Callow (who was also Andre in the Phantom of the opera film) mixed Shakespeare’s history in with his writing. The Nose bleed section however was not worth it…

Today we visited a school again. Today we went to our neighbor’s Falmer High School. They are like a Chicago Public school here. They have students from 11 to 16 and are actually having a new school built in between the current 2 buildings. Today instead of just being ISU Students, we were joined by Brighton Students. We were split into groups and went to a different Year 8, age 13-14, classroom. Once in class we walked around and watched as students worked on their end of the year projects. My class was working on Brighton and Hove’s history. Did I mention that Brighton is a city like Bloomington-Normal? That it is a 2 city combined place? Well it is: Brighton and Hove. Anyway students were doing projects about what has happened here in the past: a fire that burned down the West Pier, a hurricane in 1987 and motorcycle gangs. Students latter in the day posted their projects on display for their fellow peers, teachers and some parents.

Also during the day we had a break where we went into the conference room for tea and biscuits. Also while in the class with students we played our favorite game: what is different and what is not, explain this and say this. We also played this with our fellow Brighton Students and even showed them dollars. It was actually a pretty big deal. Trainers are gym shoes; fit means cute and bloody is really fun to say! Raj and Bobbie even played the game amongst themselves, since they live in different parts of England and stay words differently as well (mainly the long aaa sound…).

The remains of The brunt down West Pier in Brighton.

During lunch we found out That Raj works in town and she wanted to show us around a little bit and take us to Primark where everything is really cheap! (However I do not really fit in things and I would buy a pair of £4 flats if they were a size or two bigger…). Later after walking around a different part of Shopping in Hove, Alice and Raj took us to a fun sushi place. It was the type where plates equal a different price and you just grab something off the conveyor belt. I liked it but would be more careful the next time I go, if I can find it again… After leaving slipping down the wet street in our flip-flops and brawlies out we said goodbye to Alice and Raj and once again returned to our place of Residence. Once back we found out that Tony, our ISU teacher is here and staying for a couple of days to plan for next year’s group….

Jessica, Emma and our new friend Raj at the sushi bar!

Be on the Lookout for The Brighton Girls (And Chris) Remix of California Girls coming to a YouTube near you!!! Goodnight from Brighton!!!!