News from Harlaxton: End of Week III

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.