Bom dia! I am currently sitting in an internet cafe in Lisbon, Portugal. A bit of a stretch from England Term, but thanks to Bethel´s love of travel we students get ten days in the middle of the semester to, quite literally, go wherever we want. Myself and two friends picked Lisbon, and here I am, burning in the hot October sun.
Since I last got to post I have only changed countries once (shocking, I know). After a couple of days in Bayeux, we headed back to Paris to end the first half of the term with romance. Our last full day in Bayeux we visited the Normandy beaches and the American World War II cemetery. It was a really powerful thing to be there, and I´m really glad I got to experience it. The white gravestone markers feel like the go on forever and it is nearly impossible to comprehend all of those people dying for America.
That night we had a banquet to say goodbye to our first professor of the trip. This is the first time on England Term that we have two professors and I think it was really tough on a lot of us to say goodbye. We all stood up and said a little something, and thanked both DR and Judy (our professor and his wife) for their planning and care. We are really going to miss them.
Then we headed back to Paris and enjoyed the city. We walked through parks, saw the Eifel Tower, went to the Louvre, walked along the Seine, bought books, sat in cafes, drank coffee and saw Notre Dame. Paris is everything everyone tells you it is, just with a higher bill at the end. I really did love Paris though. I just wish I spoke French, and then I would have loved it more.
Then after about five days in Paris we flew to Lisbon ahd here I sit. We´ve been here four days and it is lovely. The weather is gorgeous, the river is beautiful and the sites are great. The city is pretty cheap too, and I can get one meal from the market for about €2. The markets (one which we went to today) are alive with color and sound. The streets have little trolleys taking people from one end of the city to the other and the streets are cobblestone mazes slopping up and down the Portuguese hills. Thus far I´ve seen a castle, a 360 ft cement Jesus (and sat at his feet to relax), a handful of amazing sunsets, and a ruined cathedral from afar. I´ve taken loads of pictures that I´m sure you´ll be able to see someday soon, and I´m having a wonderful, calm, relaxing time.
Thank you again and again for your thoughts and prayers. I´m thinking of you all and wishing you were here with me. I miss you all so much and can´t wait to tell you more.
Miles
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Finally
AH! I can't believe I haven't updated this thing in so long. I've been all over the place, but have said nothing about it to my devoted following! So sorry.
So, last we left off I was in Keswick I'm pretty sure. Well, after Keswick we headed off to my FAVORITE place of the trip thus far: St. Deniol's Residential Library. I made a vlog for this wonderful place, and I think that speaks best of how great it was. So, check out the video below:
Then after the amazing live-in library we went to York for a night and stayed in a Best Western. A little odd for England Term, but a great city. We saw the cathedral, went to a Viking museum, and wandered around the windy cobblestone streets. I really did like York, but we spent too little time there.
However, York was followed by the (highly anticipated) London. The first day we played full-out tourist and did a hop on, hop off tour of the city. We saw all the high lights: Big Ben, Westminster, Picadilly Circus and all the others. It was a great way to see the city, as well as start London by jumping right into it.
The rest of London was a lot of shopping, a lot of walking, a lot of tubes, and some gorgeous parks. I really do like London, but surprisingly, it hasn't been my favorite city. It feels a bit touristy, but still like England. It's a nice balance, but one that's a bit too big for me. I'm sure I'll come to more conclusions when I return again two more times for this trip.
The high light of London was by far the trip to the Globe Theatre to see As You Like It. I honestly think it might be my favorite activity of the trip thus far. It was hilarious to start. Then it just got funnier. The actors got soaked because it rained (the Globe doesn't have a roof), but didn't even care. They fell, slipped, joked and just had a great time. The audience loved it too. Shakespeare would have been proud I'd like to think.
After London we had a short stint at a conference center just outside London. It was nice to have a little time off to relax, but a paper was due and classes were back on, so not too much down time. The backyard of High Leigh was great though, and I spent many an hour sitting beneath a great tree in the middle of the garden reading and writing. Can England Term get any better?
Cambridge was next. Another amazing place to stay. We were housed in university housing for Corpus Christi College. We got a nice walking tour our first day there and saw the (in my opinion CREEPY) clock Stephen Hawking gave the college. Pictured here, if you're interested: http://www.cambridge2000.com/gallery/images/P91928255e.jpg
Cambridge was a great little town, if a tad posh. I liked the fact that there were so many students though. I felt rather at home again.
Next England Term became IRELAND TERM! We flew to Dublin for a week and enjoyed the city in post St. Patrick's prime. It wasn't quite what I was expecting, and hasn't been my favorite city of the trip, but it still had its little splashes of flavor. The city was all abuzz as well with the 250th anniversary of Guinness. In case you're wondering, the Irish started to celebrate around 6 in the evening with 2 euro 50 cent pints. I don't think very many of the Irish slept that night, for all of them were out in the Temple Bar district enjoying the discounted beer. When I went out the next morning, the pub down a block was loading empty kegs into a van. They had to have had at least 30 empty kegs of Guinness to go in. CRAZY.
Then we went to Sligo (a little north) to study Yeats and rest. Sligo was gorgeous. We stayed at a place right on the bay and headed down to the water quite often. One day the bus left without me because of a time screw up (by me), so I ended up walking to the place. It was a nice three mile walk down the beach to the Lissadell House, and when I arrived the group stared at me quite a bit. When I explained the walk they all commended me and were glad I had arrived. It was nice to get a ride back, however, and not have to worry about the tides.
After Sligo we went north to Northern Ireland for homestays in Belfast. I can't say enough how great homestays were. I absolutely LOVED my host family and they treated me so well. It was great to just stop and rest a while with good food and great company. I loved them quite a lot and would love to return someday.
Ok, now I'm in Bayeux, France, just south of the Normandy Beaches. Tomorrow we head off for a full day tour and history lesson on the area. I'm really looking forward to it.
Hopefully I'll update sooner next time, and give more details about the places.
Thank you so much for the prayers and kind words. I miss you all, my wonderful family and friends and cannot wait to here from you soon!
So, last we left off I was in Keswick I'm pretty sure. Well, after Keswick we headed off to my FAVORITE place of the trip thus far: St. Deniol's Residential Library. I made a vlog for this wonderful place, and I think that speaks best of how great it was. So, check out the video below:
Then after the amazing live-in library we went to York for a night and stayed in a Best Western. A little odd for England Term, but a great city. We saw the cathedral, went to a Viking museum, and wandered around the windy cobblestone streets. I really did like York, but we spent too little time there.
However, York was followed by the (highly anticipated) London. The first day we played full-out tourist and did a hop on, hop off tour of the city. We saw all the high lights: Big Ben, Westminster, Picadilly Circus and all the others. It was a great way to see the city, as well as start London by jumping right into it.
The rest of London was a lot of shopping, a lot of walking, a lot of tubes, and some gorgeous parks. I really do like London, but surprisingly, it hasn't been my favorite city. It feels a bit touristy, but still like England. It's a nice balance, but one that's a bit too big for me. I'm sure I'll come to more conclusions when I return again two more times for this trip.
The high light of London was by far the trip to the Globe Theatre to see As You Like It. I honestly think it might be my favorite activity of the trip thus far. It was hilarious to start. Then it just got funnier. The actors got soaked because it rained (the Globe doesn't have a roof), but didn't even care. They fell, slipped, joked and just had a great time. The audience loved it too. Shakespeare would have been proud I'd like to think.
After London we had a short stint at a conference center just outside London. It was nice to have a little time off to relax, but a paper was due and classes were back on, so not too much down time. The backyard of High Leigh was great though, and I spent many an hour sitting beneath a great tree in the middle of the garden reading and writing. Can England Term get any better?
Cambridge was next. Another amazing place to stay. We were housed in university housing for Corpus Christi College. We got a nice walking tour our first day there and saw the (in my opinion CREEPY) clock Stephen Hawking gave the college. Pictured here, if you're interested: http://www.cambridge2000.com/gallery/images/P91928255e.jpg
Cambridge was a great little town, if a tad posh. I liked the fact that there were so many students though. I felt rather at home again.
Next England Term became IRELAND TERM! We flew to Dublin for a week and enjoyed the city in post St. Patrick's prime. It wasn't quite what I was expecting, and hasn't been my favorite city of the trip, but it still had its little splashes of flavor. The city was all abuzz as well with the 250th anniversary of Guinness. In case you're wondering, the Irish started to celebrate around 6 in the evening with 2 euro 50 cent pints. I don't think very many of the Irish slept that night, for all of them were out in the Temple Bar district enjoying the discounted beer. When I went out the next morning, the pub down a block was loading empty kegs into a van. They had to have had at least 30 empty kegs of Guinness to go in. CRAZY.
Then we went to Sligo (a little north) to study Yeats and rest. Sligo was gorgeous. We stayed at a place right on the bay and headed down to the water quite often. One day the bus left without me because of a time screw up (by me), so I ended up walking to the place. It was a nice three mile walk down the beach to the Lissadell House, and when I arrived the group stared at me quite a bit. When I explained the walk they all commended me and were glad I had arrived. It was nice to get a ride back, however, and not have to worry about the tides.
After Sligo we went north to Northern Ireland for homestays in Belfast. I can't say enough how great homestays were. I absolutely LOVED my host family and they treated me so well. It was great to just stop and rest a while with good food and great company. I loved them quite a lot and would love to return someday.
Ok, now I'm in Bayeux, France, just south of the Normandy Beaches. Tomorrow we head off for a full day tour and history lesson on the area. I'm really looking forward to it.
Hopefully I'll update sooner next time, and give more details about the places.
Thank you so much for the prayers and kind words. I miss you all, my wonderful family and friends and cannot wait to here from you soon!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Hogwarts, Neil Gaiman, and a Love for Coleridge
If I could begin this post off with a nice long sigh, I would.
England Term has been completely INSANE. This is honestly one of the first times I've had simply sit down and clue in the one's I love that I am safe and happy and having a wonderful time. Not that I had any doubt in the enjoyment of the trip.
So we started in Edinburgh. Previous home of JK Rowling, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns and the illustrious Neil Gaiman (for a handful a nights). So, where do I begin? At Hogwarts, of course!
Edinburgh Castle IS in fact Hogwarts. JK Rowling sat at the Elephant House cafe (www.elephanthouse.biz) staring off at Edinburgh Castle carved into Scottish cliffs. Literary, it is Hogwarts. If you don't believe me, check out the video postcard I made for Rhys on our youtube channel. (Watch in HD!)
More Hogwarts' popped up along the way. Nearly every bus driver we had in Scotland showed us some version of Hogwarts. One boarding school on which the scouters based the sets. Another that was actually used in the movie. And a third (St. Cuthbert's Cathedral) that the at which courtyard scenes were filmed. Our tour guide at the cathedral told us about it at the end, and then added that he got the autographs of some of the cast! Don't worry. There will be photos of all the these great places, I promise.
Back in Edinburgh we move away from Hogwarts and to the great Neil Gaiman. Mr. Gaiman was in fact in Edinburgh for the International Book Festival. While I did miss out on the talk he gave, he kindly stayed around after for a signing. And for the handful of us stragglers who did not have tickets, he still signed our books. I sadly didn't bring any Neil with me (England Term does NOT need any more books), so he kindly signed my red moleskine travel notebook. When I can, I'll prove this to you with a picture. And for those who want to know (though I didn't actually MEET him), Neil is an extremely nice and funny man in real life. He's witty and kind, and still very nice after signing his name and drawing cute pictures 300 times over. He really is a great person.
Moving on to the Lit nerd stuff. Bobby Burns impersonator was HILARIOUS. He made some of the boys down a bottle of whisky (which turned out to in fact be tea), and he was pretty darn knowledgeable about Burns. Then on the way out of Scotland we visited Sir Walter Scott's house: Abbotsford. An absolutely breath-taking place, it served as Scott's home for the later part of his life. The gardens are colorful and full to the brim with butterflies. Scott's collections of old artifacts are completely unbelievable (Marie Antoinette's clock? Napoleon Bonaparte's pen case?), and domestic horses simply roam the grounds by the riverbed to pet and photograph. Destination wedding anyone? Yes, please.
Now we're almost up to speed in the Lake District. The home of (my personal favorites) William and Dorothy Wordsworth, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. We visited Dove Cottage where they all lived in the Lake District, and hiked up some absolutely gorgeous hills and trails that Coleridge and Wordsworth would have hiked for inspiration for their poetry. When we returned from the walk we met the curator of the Wordsworth exhibit at Dove Cottage, who showed us ACTUAL manuscripts (as in, we got to touch them) from Wordsworth's Prelude (written on some old bit's of parchment), Dorothy's meticulous journals, and a $17,000 2nd edition copy of Lyrical Ballads (published in 1798). Honestly, my jaw hit the floor, my stomach clenched and the tiny balding curator of the museum became my new hero (and a very, very attractive man). In the museum we later got to see the actual journal entry that Dorothy wrote, tears streaming down her face as her brother, her best friend, got married and (she feared) left her behind. Annie and I tried to find the tear stains, but were unsuccessful.
Suffice to say, the trip has started off with MORE than a bang. Life in England is everything I hoped it would be, and then some. It is no longer simply an option after college. I AM moving to England upon graduation.
Hope you are all doing well! Thank you so much for the kind words and prayers, and I'll try to update again soon. Love you all so much, and miss you even more!!
Miles
England Term has been completely INSANE. This is honestly one of the first times I've had simply sit down and clue in the one's I love that I am safe and happy and having a wonderful time. Not that I had any doubt in the enjoyment of the trip.
So we started in Edinburgh. Previous home of JK Rowling, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns and the illustrious Neil Gaiman (for a handful a nights). So, where do I begin? At Hogwarts, of course!
Edinburgh Castle IS in fact Hogwarts. JK Rowling sat at the Elephant House cafe (www.elephanthouse.biz) staring off at Edinburgh Castle carved into Scottish cliffs. Literary, it is Hogwarts. If you don't believe me, check out the video postcard I made for Rhys on our youtube channel. (Watch in HD!)
More Hogwarts' popped up along the way. Nearly every bus driver we had in Scotland showed us some version of Hogwarts. One boarding school on which the scouters based the sets. Another that was actually used in the movie. And a third (St. Cuthbert's Cathedral) that the at which courtyard scenes were filmed. Our tour guide at the cathedral told us about it at the end, and then added that he got the autographs of some of the cast! Don't worry. There will be photos of all the these great places, I promise.
Back in Edinburgh we move away from Hogwarts and to the great Neil Gaiman. Mr. Gaiman was in fact in Edinburgh for the International Book Festival. While I did miss out on the talk he gave, he kindly stayed around after for a signing. And for the handful of us stragglers who did not have tickets, he still signed our books. I sadly didn't bring any Neil with me (England Term does NOT need any more books), so he kindly signed my red moleskine travel notebook. When I can, I'll prove this to you with a picture. And for those who want to know (though I didn't actually MEET him), Neil is an extremely nice and funny man in real life. He's witty and kind, and still very nice after signing his name and drawing cute pictures 300 times over. He really is a great person.
Moving on to the Lit nerd stuff. Bobby Burns impersonator was HILARIOUS. He made some of the boys down a bottle of whisky (which turned out to in fact be tea), and he was pretty darn knowledgeable about Burns. Then on the way out of Scotland we visited Sir Walter Scott's house: Abbotsford. An absolutely breath-taking place, it served as Scott's home for the later part of his life. The gardens are colorful and full to the brim with butterflies. Scott's collections of old artifacts are completely unbelievable (Marie Antoinette's clock? Napoleon Bonaparte's pen case?), and domestic horses simply roam the grounds by the riverbed to pet and photograph. Destination wedding anyone? Yes, please.
Now we're almost up to speed in the Lake District. The home of (my personal favorites) William and Dorothy Wordsworth, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. We visited Dove Cottage where they all lived in the Lake District, and hiked up some absolutely gorgeous hills and trails that Coleridge and Wordsworth would have hiked for inspiration for their poetry. When we returned from the walk we met the curator of the Wordsworth exhibit at Dove Cottage, who showed us ACTUAL manuscripts (as in, we got to touch them) from Wordsworth's Prelude (written on some old bit's of parchment), Dorothy's meticulous journals, and a $17,000 2nd edition copy of Lyrical Ballads (published in 1798). Honestly, my jaw hit the floor, my stomach clenched and the tiny balding curator of the museum became my new hero (and a very, very attractive man). In the museum we later got to see the actual journal entry that Dorothy wrote, tears streaming down her face as her brother, her best friend, got married and (she feared) left her behind. Annie and I tried to find the tear stains, but were unsuccessful.
Suffice to say, the trip has started off with MORE than a bang. Life in England is everything I hoped it would be, and then some. It is no longer simply an option after college. I AM moving to England upon graduation.
Hope you are all doing well! Thank you so much for the kind words and prayers, and I'll try to update again soon. Love you all so much, and miss you even more!!
Miles
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Lists
So I head out in less than four days, and I can barely wrap my mind around the fact. I will be in Edinburgh in five days. I will be experiencing England Term in 56 hours. Three thousand three hundred sixty minutes until my feet finally step onto the glorious British soil I have so desperately wanted to land on for years. I can't believe it. I'm a mix of worried, nauseous, and excited. 2 parts worried, 1 part nauseous, and 10 parts excited. So how does one prepare for four months in Europe? Get a language book, perhaps? Start packing? Even say a couple of prayers?
Nah.
I prefer to just sit in front of my laptop, and make lists.
List 1: Preconceived notions of Europe/England Term:
1 - We will drink tea at nearly every hour of the day.
2 - All Brits hate Americans.
3 - Something will most likely go horribly wrong with something I've brought.
4 - I will not take as many pictures as the 8 gigs I am bringing.
5 - British men love saucy American women (ie - me).
6 - I'm really only going so that I have time to finish my novel. I won't be taking any classes. Nope.
7 - If I speak with a British accent at any time while there, I may very well be mugged.
List 2: Top Ten Rules I Must Stick To:
1 - England Term, while fun, is not a giant shopping spree. I can't spend all my money at Burberry.
2 - Speaking in a British accent is a strict no-no. Seriously. The British don't appreciate it.
3 - It is impossible to visit every major city in Europe during free travel. I must pick one.
4 - I cannot buy every book I see solely because "it's from England!"
5 - The same goes for music. "But the band is British!" is not at all a sound reason to purchase a £15 album.
6 - I am not allowed to go around the streets of London, asking locals if they know the fastest route to Diagon Alley.
7 - I must avoid bad puns at all costs. This is just a life rule, but one I must adhere to strongly, should I want to find my British soul mate.
8 - Journaling every day is a must.
9 - When I see Platform 9 and 3/4, I will be laughed at when I run at the wall and nothing happens. I will be laughed at, but I will most likely not care. I need to accept this fact.
10 - Every castle I see is not Hogwarts. Sadly.
So, time to head out. Start packing, buy all the last minute toiletries, and finish all those England Term playlists. I'm off, you'll hear from me again when I've crossed the pond, and am sitting in a nice little internet cafe somewhere in Edinburgh. Wish me luck, keep me in your prayers, and don't forget about the five hour time difference!
Nah.
I prefer to just sit in front of my laptop, and make lists.
List 1: Preconceived notions of Europe/England Term:
1 - We will drink tea at nearly every hour of the day.
2 - All Brits hate Americans.
3 - Something will most likely go horribly wrong with something I've brought.
4 - I will not take as many pictures as the 8 gigs I am bringing.
5 - British men love saucy American women (ie - me).
6 - I'm really only going so that I have time to finish my novel. I won't be taking any classes. Nope.
7 - If I speak with a British accent at any time while there, I may very well be mugged.
List 2: Top Ten Rules I Must Stick To:
1 - England Term, while fun, is not a giant shopping spree. I can't spend all my money at Burberry.
2 - Speaking in a British accent is a strict no-no. Seriously. The British don't appreciate it.
3 - It is impossible to visit every major city in Europe during free travel. I must pick one.
4 - I cannot buy every book I see solely because "it's from England!"
5 - The same goes for music. "But the band is British!" is not at all a sound reason to purchase a £15 album.
6 - I am not allowed to go around the streets of London, asking locals if they know the fastest route to Diagon Alley.
7 - I must avoid bad puns at all costs. This is just a life rule, but one I must adhere to strongly, should I want to find my British soul mate.
8 - Journaling every day is a must.
9 - When I see Platform 9 and 3/4, I will be laughed at when I run at the wall and nothing happens. I will be laughed at, but I will most likely not care. I need to accept this fact.
10 - Every castle I see is not Hogwarts. Sadly.
So, time to head out. Start packing, buy all the last minute toiletries, and finish all those England Term playlists. I'm off, you'll hear from me again when I've crossed the pond, and am sitting in a nice little internet cafe somewhere in Edinburgh. Wish me luck, keep me in your prayers, and don't forget about the five hour time difference!
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