Once again, extremely late, but still would like to share what I have experienced. One of my biggest goals in the U.K. was to make it to Liverpool, the meca of Beatledom, and I did just that! I hopped a train to Liverpool on the Saturday morning of my first weekend at Exeter with two new friends, Kevin and Olivia. It was quite the journey, taking around three hours in total. Upon arrival, we took offf to find the hostel and was very pleased by what awaited us. The hostel was very nice and clean and featured pictures and paintings of the Beatles everywhere! I was in the right place. That night, we explored the nightlife before retiring to the hostel, excited about tomorrow's events. Breakfast was provided, and I was suprised to see a Crockpot full of baked beans as an option. When in Rome, I told myself, and headed for the musical fruit. Suprisingly, I enjoyed the beans and could see myself eating them in the morn here in the states! A cab was hailed, which took us to Liverpool's seaside area, where our Beatles tour would soon begin. We hopped onto a Magical Mystery Tour themed bus (check out the Facebook pictures) and took off like a blue meanie out of hell.
I had the privilege of sitting in the very front seat by the tour guide, who ended up being an actor who starred in a movie about Lennon, "In His Life." He also turned out being related to Paul in a distant way and had met him before! (See Facebook pics) He informed us that he would be seeing Paul in the next couple weeks at a family function. I could not have asked for a better tour guide: knowledgable, comedic, and he showed us allll the sights. Some of these included: Abbey Road, Strawberry Fields, all four Beatles' childhood homes, Brian Epstein's home, the Cavern Club, and so much more. If I had to leave the U.K. right then, I would have been more than content.
From here, we hopped a cap and took off to Anfield, the home of Liverpool's football club. This team is known for having the most wins in the league (I think) and the complex was amazing. We had the opportunity to go inside the stadium and discover the history of the team. Unfortunately, it is illegal to step onto the pitch (the field) because it is sacred ground. Sacred ground, you ask? For no charge at all, you can have your cremated-self scattered on the pitch, due to your insane dedication to the team. In other words, the only way you can stand on that field is if you are a professional player or you are dead. With myself counted out on both ends of the spectrum, we took off back to Exeter to prepare for the following day's trip, Bath.
Bath Spa is a interesting city with one major attraction: the Roman baths. They have been renovated, more specifically the surrounding buildings, but the baths seem to be untouched for the most part. Winding through, I discovered the history and significances of what I was seeing and in a sneaky fashion, got some Bath water in an empty water bottle I happened to have! After a quick bite to eat and a pint from the only brewery in Bath, we took off to a few Jane Austen sights and then headed for Exeter to prepare for the following week.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Oxford and Exeter College Experiences
Although a week late, I would like to share my collegiate experiences with you thus far. As I stated in a previous blog, I am taking Romanticism and Modernism literature classes at Exeter college, and have been attending both for a week now. The schedule is nowhere near strenuous, but the classes require more intellect than I can ever dream of having. This is not to say that I cannot keep up in the course, nor understand what is being discussed, but otherwise, some of the material being presented finds itself floating above my head, sneering in my direction. The first day was a humbling experience, (making me wonder what the hell I'm doing here among the brilliant and refined) but I have settled in quite nicely and have promised myself that I will be just fine.
Now, back to the timeline of events. An hour train ride brought me to the Oxford station, where I grabbed my things and took off with the three Kentuckian's previously met. Upon arrival, we hiked about fifteen minutes to our college, Exeter. I felt as if I had walked straight into a Harry Potter film. The courtyard was green as can be, (not intended for walking on, although a late night walk back from the pubs constituted a quick frolic across the sacred ground) and the surrounding looked like I would be living and studying within a midieval castle of sorts. Got my room key, signed in, and found my room. Quaint, yet all the necessities needed to survive a three week stent. Pre-dinner drinks were arranged in the Fellows garden, where we awkwardly sipped champagne amongst our fellow students and professors. The reason I say awkwardly should be quite obvious: in a suit and tie, (not my usual attire) I attempted to seem as if I was accustomed to this act, but am sure that I miserably failed. This is quite alright, I believe most others felt the same way.
We then entered the dining hall. Ceilings that seemed to go on for ages stood above us, massive portraits of scholars of yesterday adorned the walls, and stained glass windows cast multi-colored beams of light onto the solid oak tables. The dinner was nothing short of immaculate: five courses, including a lime and basil sorbet to cleanse the palet, along with an aged red and white wine to bring it all together. When this had ended, most all made their way to the college pub, directly underneath the dining hall (yes, each Oxford college has its own pub on campus!). A nice variety of libations were available, including Guinness on tap, which has been my choice there. Off to bed from there, in order to prepare for my first lecture, bright and early at nine the next morning.
The lectures here last an hour, with thirty minutes allowed for questions. They range from all different types of topics, including "Chaucer's Pilgrims" and "Redefining the Dictionary." They have been very interesting and I have enjoyed attending each of them. Both of my classes have been a joy, and each professor is a professional in their respectable field. On a side note, one of my professors, Dr. Tom MacFaul, sounds EXACTLY like Stewey from Family Guy and has the stereotypical teeth of a Brit. The genious that flows from his mouth draws the attention away from these two, so I am able to focus on the importances instead of the prevvious stated sights and sounds. Like I said before, some of the content flies over my head, but I have been keeping up with it just fine. I am currently in the middle of my first paper (each class demands one paper for the grade of the class, thus forcing me to abandon my procrastinating ways) which I have titled "Wordsworth's Sense of Self: Using Social Disarray to Achieve Personal Enlightenment." It focuses on the Romantic poet's idea that one's self must be discovered in order to compose meaningful poetry, and that society has a tendency to put a damper on the intellectual mind. I struggled from the beginning, but feel I have found m groove and it is coming along rather nicely. I have met many great friends here and have taken advantage of the nightlife, especially in the first week. Due to these papers, I have slowed down, but plan on picking it back up when I turn them in at the beginning of the coming week.
Once again, I have not been able to post pictures on this blog, so visit my Facebook page and see what I am seeing. The next installment of my writings will feature probably what will be the best part of the trip for me: my pilgrimage to Liverpool to discover the rich and astounding history of The Beatles, my bread and butter! Again, thanks for following, and stay tuned for more excitement!
Now, back to the timeline of events. An hour train ride brought me to the Oxford station, where I grabbed my things and took off with the three Kentuckian's previously met. Upon arrival, we hiked about fifteen minutes to our college, Exeter. I felt as if I had walked straight into a Harry Potter film. The courtyard was green as can be, (not intended for walking on, although a late night walk back from the pubs constituted a quick frolic across the sacred ground) and the surrounding looked like I would be living and studying within a midieval castle of sorts. Got my room key, signed in, and found my room. Quaint, yet all the necessities needed to survive a three week stent. Pre-dinner drinks were arranged in the Fellows garden, where we awkwardly sipped champagne amongst our fellow students and professors. The reason I say awkwardly should be quite obvious: in a suit and tie, (not my usual attire) I attempted to seem as if I was accustomed to this act, but am sure that I miserably failed. This is quite alright, I believe most others felt the same way.
We then entered the dining hall. Ceilings that seemed to go on for ages stood above us, massive portraits of scholars of yesterday adorned the walls, and stained glass windows cast multi-colored beams of light onto the solid oak tables. The dinner was nothing short of immaculate: five courses, including a lime and basil sorbet to cleanse the palet, along with an aged red and white wine to bring it all together. When this had ended, most all made their way to the college pub, directly underneath the dining hall (yes, each Oxford college has its own pub on campus!). A nice variety of libations were available, including Guinness on tap, which has been my choice there. Off to bed from there, in order to prepare for my first lecture, bright and early at nine the next morning.
The lectures here last an hour, with thirty minutes allowed for questions. They range from all different types of topics, including "Chaucer's Pilgrims" and "Redefining the Dictionary." They have been very interesting and I have enjoyed attending each of them. Both of my classes have been a joy, and each professor is a professional in their respectable field. On a side note, one of my professors, Dr. Tom MacFaul, sounds EXACTLY like Stewey from Family Guy and has the stereotypical teeth of a Brit. The genious that flows from his mouth draws the attention away from these two, so I am able to focus on the importances instead of the prevvious stated sights and sounds. Like I said before, some of the content flies over my head, but I have been keeping up with it just fine. I am currently in the middle of my first paper (each class demands one paper for the grade of the class, thus forcing me to abandon my procrastinating ways) which I have titled "Wordsworth's Sense of Self: Using Social Disarray to Achieve Personal Enlightenment." It focuses on the Romantic poet's idea that one's self must be discovered in order to compose meaningful poetry, and that society has a tendency to put a damper on the intellectual mind. I struggled from the beginning, but feel I have found m groove and it is coming along rather nicely. I have met many great friends here and have taken advantage of the nightlife, especially in the first week. Due to these papers, I have slowed down, but plan on picking it back up when I turn them in at the beginning of the coming week.
Once again, I have not been able to post pictures on this blog, so visit my Facebook page and see what I am seeing. The next installment of my writings will feature probably what will be the best part of the trip for me: my pilgrimage to Liverpool to discover the rich and astounding history of The Beatles, my bread and butter! Again, thanks for following, and stay tuned for more excitement!
Friday, July 15, 2011
Busy Schedule Postpones Blog Postings
Hello to all, and I send my most sincere apologies for the lack of activity on the ol' blog as of late. Things have been wildy hectic since I arrived in the U.K., but finally have settled down to the point that I can sit down and get to work. If you haven't done so, check out my pictures on Facebook; more will be arriving soon.
Now, allow me to let you in on this wonderous expedition I have experienced for the past six days! I had a layover in Atlanta and Boston on Thursday previous to my flight over. The flight went good, except six and a half hours in the same spot tends to get a bit uncomfortable. Upon arrival, customs was the first stop. The agent asked what my plans were, in which I replied studying literature at Oxford. "What type of literature," he said. Romanticism and Modernism was my reply, followed by "you know, real good stuff." He finished with "if thats what you think."
Didn't have to wait on the baggage, so I was able to hop the tube (subway) rather quickly. On the contrary, the tube ride was not the quickest. It took around an hour and twenty minutes to reach my destination: Piccadilly Circle. As unreal as anything I have ever seen, the surroundings were magnificent. This seemed like Britain's answer to Time Sqare, but there was nowhere else I would have wanted to be. The hostel was fairly easy to find, but couldn't check in until one in the afternoon, and it was only nine-thirty. I found a free London walking tour in the main office of the hostel, and it was leaving in ten minutes...why wouldn't I? I met Daniel, an Arizona State student, on the tour and we ended up spending most of my time in London together. On the tour, I was lucky enough to encounter the London war memorial, Buckingham Palace, complete with the overwhelming intensity and elaboration of the changing of the guard, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament and Commons, among many other sights. I feel I could have left at the end of the day and already be completely satisfied with the trip!
The tour totalled two and a half hours, and ended at one-thirty. The only problem was that I had not checked in yet, and I had tea time at three, having no inkling as to where it was taking place, other than it was named the "Dartmouth House." I was able to check in, shower, throw my suit on, and dash down the road in the general direction. I found it with fifteen to spare, and met three people around my age from Louisville who would be attending Exeter with me. We chatted over tea, all feeling completely out of place, but we made it through. I was fortunate enough to meet the director of foreign relations of Oxford University as well as the associate director of the Globe Theatre!
Arriving back at the hostel, Daniel and I signed up for the pub crawl sponsored by the hostel and had a great night of party and libations, besides having to run from an Australian girl while she went to the restroom. Also, I was able to meet my roommates before leaving for the pubs, three girls on vacation from Austria. They were very nice and extremely quiet, turning down offers to tag along with Daniel and I.
The second day, Daniel and I took off for an adventure that would prove to be some of my favorite times in London. First, we caught the tube to the British Science Museum, seeing many reconstructed dinosaur bones and interesting artifacts. It was not my favorite, to tell you the truth, but the next leg of the journey is definitely up there. From there, we hopped the tube again and headed to Saint John'es Wood. What is here, you ask? Not much.....except for ABBEY FREAKING ROAD!!!!!! Walking the crosswalk felt like I had ascended into the heavens. Many pictures were taken, and many opportunities to get hit by large buses were prevalent also. I felt like jumping on the car hoods of honking passersby, shaking my fist, and asking if they knew the extent of overwhelming bliss and enjoyment we Beatles fans were experiencing at this point, but the idea of finding myself in a foreign prison held me back.
From here, we hopped the tube, headed to King's Cross stop (yes, where Harry Potter hops the nine and three-quarters rail) and walked into the British Library. This was another favorite for me, as I so luckily viewed such handwritten items as (all in their originality) Handel's "Messiah," Mozart's marriage license, Beethoven's tuning fork, The Beatles "Help!," "Yesterday," "Ticket to Ride," "Hard Day's Night," (written on the back of son Julian's second birthday card) and "Michelle" lyrics! The list goes on: Da Vinci's manuscript notebook, The Gospel of John fragments, which date back to the third century, THE MAGNA CARTA, complete with tempurature and humidity detection in the case, Shakespeare's "Henry IV," among soooo many other treasures.
The night began with yet another pub crawl, in which Daniel and I met up with two guys from New Zealand, hopped a couple clubs, and then were told that a third was being added to the repertoire at 2 in the morning. We naturally headed that direction, and found out the the club did not close until 8 a.m. The music was far better here than any of the rest and the New Zealanders were hilarious, so we didn't get out of there until about 5:30 that morning. Heading back, the streets of London did not particularly smell the best, due to partiers relieving themselves on the sidewalks during the wee (no pun intended) hours of the morning. I finally got to bed at 6, woke up at 9:30, and checked out. To the train station I did go, where I somehow caught my train (the city is HUGE and the tube-to-station journey is very confusing) to Oxford. Unbelievably, as I climbed aboard, stashing my luggage, I look to my right and there are the three Kentuckians whom I met at the tea party! I had a seat with them, and off to Oxford we did go!
This concludes the journey at this point, but I have lots more to tell and will have some incredible stories I'm sure when I return to Oxford after this weekend. If you do not here from me, I will be in Liverpool, doing my Beatles thing again with two friends I have met here at Exeter! Cheerio and thanks heaps (an Australian phrase I have learned here) for following!
P.S. I tried adding photos to this blog, but Oxford University apparently will not allow me, (at least that is what it tells me) so just go to my Facebook page and check em out!
Now, allow me to let you in on this wonderous expedition I have experienced for the past six days! I had a layover in Atlanta and Boston on Thursday previous to my flight over. The flight went good, except six and a half hours in the same spot tends to get a bit uncomfortable. Upon arrival, customs was the first stop. The agent asked what my plans were, in which I replied studying literature at Oxford. "What type of literature," he said. Romanticism and Modernism was my reply, followed by "you know, real good stuff." He finished with "if thats what you think."
Didn't have to wait on the baggage, so I was able to hop the tube (subway) rather quickly. On the contrary, the tube ride was not the quickest. It took around an hour and twenty minutes to reach my destination: Piccadilly Circle. As unreal as anything I have ever seen, the surroundings were magnificent. This seemed like Britain's answer to Time Sqare, but there was nowhere else I would have wanted to be. The hostel was fairly easy to find, but couldn't check in until one in the afternoon, and it was only nine-thirty. I found a free London walking tour in the main office of the hostel, and it was leaving in ten minutes...why wouldn't I? I met Daniel, an Arizona State student, on the tour and we ended up spending most of my time in London together. On the tour, I was lucky enough to encounter the London war memorial, Buckingham Palace, complete with the overwhelming intensity and elaboration of the changing of the guard, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament and Commons, among many other sights. I feel I could have left at the end of the day and already be completely satisfied with the trip!
The tour totalled two and a half hours, and ended at one-thirty. The only problem was that I had not checked in yet, and I had tea time at three, having no inkling as to where it was taking place, other than it was named the "Dartmouth House." I was able to check in, shower, throw my suit on, and dash down the road in the general direction. I found it with fifteen to spare, and met three people around my age from Louisville who would be attending Exeter with me. We chatted over tea, all feeling completely out of place, but we made it through. I was fortunate enough to meet the director of foreign relations of Oxford University as well as the associate director of the Globe Theatre!
Arriving back at the hostel, Daniel and I signed up for the pub crawl sponsored by the hostel and had a great night of party and libations, besides having to run from an Australian girl while she went to the restroom. Also, I was able to meet my roommates before leaving for the pubs, three girls on vacation from Austria. They were very nice and extremely quiet, turning down offers to tag along with Daniel and I.
The second day, Daniel and I took off for an adventure that would prove to be some of my favorite times in London. First, we caught the tube to the British Science Museum, seeing many reconstructed dinosaur bones and interesting artifacts. It was not my favorite, to tell you the truth, but the next leg of the journey is definitely up there. From there, we hopped the tube again and headed to Saint John'es Wood. What is here, you ask? Not much.....except for ABBEY FREAKING ROAD!!!!!! Walking the crosswalk felt like I had ascended into the heavens. Many pictures were taken, and many opportunities to get hit by large buses were prevalent also. I felt like jumping on the car hoods of honking passersby, shaking my fist, and asking if they knew the extent of overwhelming bliss and enjoyment we Beatles fans were experiencing at this point, but the idea of finding myself in a foreign prison held me back.
From here, we hopped the tube, headed to King's Cross stop (yes, where Harry Potter hops the nine and three-quarters rail) and walked into the British Library. This was another favorite for me, as I so luckily viewed such handwritten items as (all in their originality) Handel's "Messiah," Mozart's marriage license, Beethoven's tuning fork, The Beatles "Help!," "Yesterday," "Ticket to Ride," "Hard Day's Night," (written on the back of son Julian's second birthday card) and "Michelle" lyrics! The list goes on: Da Vinci's manuscript notebook, The Gospel of John fragments, which date back to the third century, THE MAGNA CARTA, complete with tempurature and humidity detection in the case, Shakespeare's "Henry IV," among soooo many other treasures.
The night began with yet another pub crawl, in which Daniel and I met up with two guys from New Zealand, hopped a couple clubs, and then were told that a third was being added to the repertoire at 2 in the morning. We naturally headed that direction, and found out the the club did not close until 8 a.m. The music was far better here than any of the rest and the New Zealanders were hilarious, so we didn't get out of there until about 5:30 that morning. Heading back, the streets of London did not particularly smell the best, due to partiers relieving themselves on the sidewalks during the wee (no pun intended) hours of the morning. I finally got to bed at 6, woke up at 9:30, and checked out. To the train station I did go, where I somehow caught my train (the city is HUGE and the tube-to-station journey is very confusing) to Oxford. Unbelievably, as I climbed aboard, stashing my luggage, I look to my right and there are the three Kentuckians whom I met at the tea party! I had a seat with them, and off to Oxford we did go!
This concludes the journey at this point, but I have lots more to tell and will have some incredible stories I'm sure when I return to Oxford after this weekend. If you do not here from me, I will be in Liverpool, doing my Beatles thing again with two friends I have met here at Exeter! Cheerio and thanks heaps (an Australian phrase I have learned here) for following!
P.S. I tried adding photos to this blog, but Oxford University apparently will not allow me, (at least that is what it tells me) so just go to my Facebook page and check em out!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
What Will Be: The Beginning *Cue Dramatic Music*
You like that epic, corny title, don't you? Anyways, the journey is almost here; in less than 24 hours, I will be boarding a plane to Atlanta, heading to Boston from there, and finally taking off for London, where I will arrive at Heathrow airport at 6:30 in the morning (12:30 Eastern time). A little more packing stands between the trip and I, but the majority has been taken care of. Hopefully all supplies have been purchased, including a bathroom caddy for Oxford, (I will be sharing a bathroom with the rest of my floor, and taking baths, since there are no showers, as I have been told...I will let you know how that goes), a power converter to use electronics, a laptop to write papers and Skype with Maggie and the family, since I was told by Verizon that my phone will not work in Europe, and a suit jacket, as I have never owned one of these before. The first reason for the jacket is to attend a tea time in the building above, The Dartmouth house. I was invited, along with the rest of the summer students, as a welcoming to the U.K. The building is owned by the English Speaking Union, E.S.U, who provided the scholarship for this trip. From there, I will be staying at the Piccadilly Hostel, located in the heart of London. Below you will see the link for the hostel, and you should definitely check out the art in each different room. I'm stoked to see what designs I will find in my quarters! The room will have three other people staying in it, and I have heard that this hostel does not sleep, therefore I might look a bit strange walking in wearing a suit. Do not worry, I will be wearing a tanktop underneath, ready to get down. Please stay tuned, I will be posting within the next couple days with photos and commentary!
http://www.piccadillyhotel.net/
Saturday, July 2, 2011
The Looong Wait and Pre-planning
It seems very surreal that this journey is only five days away...I say this because I have been waiting since March to embark on it, having received this scholarship about four months ago. In all honesty, if I were to have won a one-night stay at the Drury Inn in Marion Il or a pair of tickets to The Redneck Yacht Club here in southwest Florida, my anticipatory bug would have been biting me the entire time as well. But Oxford!? Oxford!?!? Please understand that I am not tooting my own horn here, but merely expressing my still-overwhelming disbelief that I could have possibly secured this opportunity! Anyways, the wait is now but a memory, and the many stages of planning are underway.
By the way, the scholarship I received is to study literature at Exeter College, one of the many universities within Oxford. There I will be focusing on Romantic era literature such as Wordsworth, Blake, and Keats, as well as Modernism, with the likes of James Joyce, Joseph Conrad, and Henry James. The largest part of planning by far has been the pre-reading assigned. A total of eleven books have graced my apartment for about two months now, and as the time gets closer, the more nervous I get. Even though I have the majority completed, I do have quite a bit of reading for the next five days. I am guessing Sparknotes will be playing a large role, as Wordsworth's 300 page personal ramblings of life, childhood to late adulthood, cannot uphold my attention for a fraction of those pages.
Aside from reading, the rest of my planning has been pleasant, at least what I have done so far. I, as well as many others, view myself as a procrastinator, and that is exactly what I am. I'm sure I will buckle down on Tuesday or Wednesday, and anything I forget I will pick up there. This has been quite the experience already, and I am anxious to get the real thing underway!
Here is a short list of things I hope to see and experience outside of doing the school thing:
- The Beatles. Only joking. I am planning to travel to Liverpool and London to do a pilgrimage type-o-thing.
Anthing Beatles related, I plan on finding it.
-The Globe Theater
- A true Futball game
- Lewis Caroll's handwritten Alice In Wonderland
- The original Magna Carta
- A Brit with bad teeth
- and many, many more!
One more thing, thanks for taking the time to check out my blog! Keep coming back, as I will be posting each day (hopefully) with pictures and commentary!
By the way, the scholarship I received is to study literature at Exeter College, one of the many universities within Oxford. There I will be focusing on Romantic era literature such as Wordsworth, Blake, and Keats, as well as Modernism, with the likes of James Joyce, Joseph Conrad, and Henry James. The largest part of planning by far has been the pre-reading assigned. A total of eleven books have graced my apartment for about two months now, and as the time gets closer, the more nervous I get. Even though I have the majority completed, I do have quite a bit of reading for the next five days. I am guessing Sparknotes will be playing a large role, as Wordsworth's 300 page personal ramblings of life, childhood to late adulthood, cannot uphold my attention for a fraction of those pages.
Aside from reading, the rest of my planning has been pleasant, at least what I have done so far. I, as well as many others, view myself as a procrastinator, and that is exactly what I am. I'm sure I will buckle down on Tuesday or Wednesday, and anything I forget I will pick up there. This has been quite the experience already, and I am anxious to get the real thing underway!
Here is a short list of things I hope to see and experience outside of doing the school thing:
- The Beatles. Only joking. I am planning to travel to Liverpool and London to do a pilgrimage type-o-thing.
Anthing Beatles related, I plan on finding it.
-The Globe Theater
- A true Futball game
- Lewis Caroll's handwritten Alice In Wonderland
- The original Magna Carta
- A Brit with bad teeth
- and many, many more!
One more thing, thanks for taking the time to check out my blog! Keep coming back, as I will be posting each day (hopefully) with pictures and commentary!
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