Well, today marks the end of my third week in England. This means that there are only 11 weekd left. It's too short!! Yet, at the same time, it still seems so far away!
Anyway, here's the happenings of this past week, well, actually it's more like two weeks because I haven't updated since the London trip!
The past two weeks have consisted on many late nights due to both homework and socializing. I've watched several movies with friends because it's one of the few things to do at the Manor besides going down to the Bistro for some drinks, which I haven't really done, unless it's to get something non-alcoholic. Like hot chocolate. Which comes in a really awesome mug.
Since I'm in an Englsh novel class, I've been doing a lot of reading for it, as well as for my British Studies course, which is a 6 credit hour history class. We recently finished Robinson Crusoe, which I din't enjoy too much, and started Pamela. Actually, we're supposed to be done with Pamela by Monday, and I'm really far behind on my reading, so this weekend is catch-up time.
The afternoon, for those back in the States, of Obama's Inaguration was actually evening over here, so the TVs in the Junior Common Room and the Bistro were blazing, and our choir teacher told us to come back when it was over, so I got to see him inagurated. Quite an amazing event. The first black president. That's progress.
As for choir, I absolutely love it. Sally Brown, our director, is a very fun person. She's always full of energy and it always seems as though she's happy. The polka-dotcoat she wore to Lincoln totally fits her. On the British Studies field trip to Lincoln, we had some "guerrila" singing. Meaning we surprised the pastor at the Lincoln Cathedral (Protestant) with three songs that we'd only practiced as a group twice. One was a Viking rowing song called "Vem Kan Seigla," a second was a Middle English/Latin song that I don't think actually has a name, and the third was a Round Dance song in Latin that was actually allowed to be sung in Churches. Now we've moved on to learning a song that Henry VIII wrote. The top part, which I'm in, is a bit complicated and I love the challenge.
In the middle of the week I had the unpleasant wake-up call from a fire alarm. I never want my sleep to interrupted by one of those things again. Of course, the students living down in the Carriage House ended up having two drills. One at 1:00 AM and then the one at 7:00. Still, it wasn't a pleasant morning.
Friday, the 23, was the field trip to Lincoln where went on a Roman walk around the town, saw a Norman castle, and a Norman Cathedral (aka Lincoln Cathedral, the place we sung at). Lincoln started out as a Roman garrison for retired soldiers, so there are ruins all around the city. Then, in 1066 the Normans conquered England and built their mort and bailey castle here, which was updated some time later to become a trial house that is still in session today. The Normans also built most of Lincoln Cathedral, which was later updated with the Gothic style. The field trip was very interesting, but it was freezing cold that day--never got above maybe 3 C (around 34 F) all day. Plus, it was rainy and windy. But I also bought some truffles with Kendra and Carly. Including, chili truffles, and, oh my God, those things are good! In fact, they're a bit addictive.
I also went to Mass for the first time since the last Sunday of Advent this past weekend. The church in Grantham is small and there's not as much music as I'm used to back in the States (they don't sing the Responsorial Psalm or the all of the Mass parts), but it was still a nice service. And, I was able to recieve the Eucharist. Finally! I plan on going back this weekend.
The biggest thing that happened this week was planning a trip for April with Carly, Abby, and Shannon/Shaz/Shaza (oh, Bujak). The weekend before our last week of classes we will be traveling south for a while--as in south on continental Europe. We're going to Barcelona!! Needless to say, I'm pretty excited. Technically, this trip will be the first one I've planned on my own, the first of many, hopefully. We don't have all of the details worked out yet, but we're doing that Monday after dinner. Everything around here happens after dinner.
This weekend is a little dull since most of the school is on the trip to Edinburgh in Scotland. But, hey, I kind of need the down time.
Next weekend is both Jiffy and Abby's birthdays, so we'll celebrate those somehow. Some of us are thinking about a pub, but I know that that wouldn't work well for all of us, so we'll see what happens.
Sorry this post was so long, I'll try and be better about posting more frequently so the posts aren't quite as long.
t has been happening these past two weeks. The second evening we were there, we had an elegant dinner with all of the faculty in the Long Gallery, which is basically the largest room in the manor. It's also where we have all of our British Studies lectures. The next event we had was the Ceillidh (pronounced Kay-lee). This is basically a dance, except all of the dancing we did was traditional dances from many parts of Europe. We learned a polka, and several Irish and Scottish dances (the one we learned from Scotland was most certainly the most difficult one). The band was live and the dancing was great, which made for a wonderfully fun evening. Then, this past weekend, was the college trip to London.
0 and took a coach (bus) tour around the city. Then, a group of eight of us wandered around for a couple of hours before deciding to split into two smaller groups after dinner to go to a pub. The group I was with decided we would prefer to go to a coffee house, and we were going to try one of the actual British ones, except we weren't exactly sure what we would order and therefore decided to go to Starbucks (which was okay because we were basically the only Americans there). Saturday was spent being a tourist during the day and seeing a comedy/mystery called The 39 Steps in the evening. The show was great and all of us enjoyed it. Sunday, was the college tour of Hampton Court Palace, which would have been great, except that many of us were done with being tourists for the weekend and it was cold and windy. Not exactly the greatest weather conditions for touring an old castle.
Wow. This year sure has passed by quickly! Sometimes it's just so amazing how fast time flies! And so much has happened, that I'm going to skip all that reflecting on the past part and just jump right into the resolutions for the future.
So, without further ado, here follow my New Year's Resolutions:
Talk. I have found that I don't tend to be too talkitive, even around really close friends. It's not that it's a bad thing, I just think that I need to learn how to talk a little bit more.
Make memories. Well, considering that in about 30-some hours I'll be on a plane headed for London to begin my semester in England, I figure I should aim to make as many memories as possible--with plenty of photos to along with those memories, of course!
Build relationships. It's always good to have friends! And special someone's are great as well!
Be faithful. I of course will continue my "journey in faith," and I will hopefully strengthen it. This next semester I will be on the leadership team for the Christian Fellowship at Harlaxton, so naturally I am aspiring to grow in faith.
Complete a few to-do items: learn to ride a bike, learn to drive, learn to sew, etc.
I think five is a good number to start with.
Anyway, my New Year's resolutions weren't really my reason for posting. My real reason is this:
With the New Year comes a new path on my journey through life, and this one's leading me to England. That's right, for the next four months I will be studying at Harlaxton College in Grantham, England. For any of you who don't know where that is, Grantham is east of Nottingham and south of Lincoln in Lincolnshire. It's a small town and Harlaxton College is actually located within the walls of Harlaxton Manor.
The photograph to the right is the Manor. So, that is where I will be living and studying for the next four months.
Anyway, I leave tomorrow morning, which is very exciting. And although I will miss all of my friends here in the States, I know I will return home having had a wonderful time.
And don't worry, I'll post here, too.
