Only 20 days until I come home to Canton Ohio. Now that my England trip is finishing up, I'm motivated to look back over the past ten weeks. The past few days I've been doing lots of that, actually. Haven't been getting too much school work done, and goodness knows I have enough to do.
Although this semester has been somewhat lonely in my little room, if I could do it over again I would definitely come to England again. The curiosity of what I would have encountered and learned would have been too great to stay home. Now I know. I know what it is to be in a new situation with new people and a new milieu. I know what it's like to be disconnected from my life in Canton. I've had so much time to delve into my own mind and my own thoughts, and transform those discoveries into creative ore.
I've encountered so many new things in the worlds of art, philosophy, theology, literature, music, and history, to name a few. I've been getting into Russian classical composers more this semester than ever before. I've also learned how important peace and quiet can be for relaxed study and contemplation. In that respect, I dearly miss the quiet of my own space at home.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
68th day in England
This weekend was wonderful. Went to Bath on Saturday with the BCA group, all the other Americans studying and living in England with me. We saw the Roman Baths and the famous Pump Room from Austen's Northanger Abbey. So cool to see all the Roman structures and artifacts from the area. Although most of the structure of the Roman Baths there was built within the last several hundred years, over a millennia after the Romans packed up and left, much of the original ruins remain, including tombs, skeletons, jewelry, etc. Saw the Bath Abbey, which was pretty incredible. There was also a fantastic band called "The Zen Hussies"playing in the street. Check them out.
Yesterday went to London with my friend Alex. Although most of the most important lines on the London Underground were shut down, we made our way from Victoria to Paddington to retrieve his lost iPod, which failed, so we went over to the East side, up by Old Street, and checked out some pretty awesome art studios in the bohemian-kind-of-colony in that area. We spent a little time in the British Museum, but I'm sure I could spend a week there and not see all there is to see. Saw the Rosetta Stone- I think that was the most notable thing I saw there, other than the Assyrian reliefs of the siege of Lachish in Israel. It was really cool to see those, because I was at Lachish this summer, and I saw the earthen siege ramp the Assyrians built to capture the city, which was one of Israel's strongest fortresses at the time. The relief showed the Assyrians marching up the siege ramp and defeating the Israelites, then enslaving them. Afterwards, we stopped at Trafalgar Square just to check it out. While there, I realized that London really does seem like the capital of the world; don't get me wrong, Washington D.C. is gorgeous, its just not the magnificent city London is. I suppose several thousand more years of development in London accounts for that.
We went to a Shisha place later on called Sara Cafe by Baker Street. Unfortunately we didn't go to the Sherlock Holmes museum. Next time. Sara's was great. Had a mint tea and it reminded me of Israel- only half a year ago I was just getting used to being abroad. That was only a six-week trip, and I've already been in England nearly ten weeks.
Today I went with some friends to Tintern Abbey and Chepstow Castle. Tintern Abbey was obviously wonderful, in its inspiration to Wordsworth to write a poem comparing his current situation in life to five years before he first saw it. The title of the poem suggests he was at a good vantage point to see the River Wye wind through Tintern and past the Abbey, so he was either on the other end of the vale, but more likely, I think, he was at the site of St. Mary's on the hill behind the Abbey. We walked up there, and saw that wonderful view which is described in the title to Wordsworth's poem. The church was built in the 1860's, though a St. Mary's has been there for hundreds of years. This one burnt in the 1970s, so now, like Tintern Abbey, all that remains are the walls, and its really quite Romantic- all overgrown and forgotten, next to a wonderfully creepy graveyard.
Chepstow Castle wasn't very far away- it was one of the first stone fortifications built in Britain and one of the few stone fortifications William the Conqueror commissioned upon his claim to the English throne in 1066- the main section of this castle is still visible, which was built then. However, there have been many additions through the hundreds of years since, mainly in the 13th-15th centuries. During the English Civil War in the mid 17th century, Crowmwell's forces battered the heck out of it with cannons, so it's pretty beat up, but nonetheless fascinating.
Got home tonight to add a few things up- found out that I have two papers due in two weeks, and then I have five papers due in late January-early February. Pretty bummed about that, as I will be in my next classes by then. I'll see what I can get done during Christmas break, though I'll probably be applying to grad schools then, if I don't give up first.
So this week will be researching for my papers. Probably won't get much creative writing or editing done any time soon.
Yesterday went to London with my friend Alex. Although most of the most important lines on the London Underground were shut down, we made our way from Victoria to Paddington to retrieve his lost iPod, which failed, so we went over to the East side, up by Old Street, and checked out some pretty awesome art studios in the bohemian-kind-of-colony in that area. We spent a little time in the British Museum, but I'm sure I could spend a week there and not see all there is to see. Saw the Rosetta Stone- I think that was the most notable thing I saw there, other than the Assyrian reliefs of the siege of Lachish in Israel. It was really cool to see those, because I was at Lachish this summer, and I saw the earthen siege ramp the Assyrians built to capture the city, which was one of Israel's strongest fortresses at the time. The relief showed the Assyrians marching up the siege ramp and defeating the Israelites, then enslaving them. Afterwards, we stopped at Trafalgar Square just to check it out. While there, I realized that London really does seem like the capital of the world; don't get me wrong, Washington D.C. is gorgeous, its just not the magnificent city London is. I suppose several thousand more years of development in London accounts for that.
We went to a Shisha place later on called Sara Cafe by Baker Street. Unfortunately we didn't go to the Sherlock Holmes museum. Next time. Sara's was great. Had a mint tea and it reminded me of Israel- only half a year ago I was just getting used to being abroad. That was only a six-week trip, and I've already been in England nearly ten weeks.
Today I went with some friends to Tintern Abbey and Chepstow Castle. Tintern Abbey was obviously wonderful, in its inspiration to Wordsworth to write a poem comparing his current situation in life to five years before he first saw it. The title of the poem suggests he was at a good vantage point to see the River Wye wind through Tintern and past the Abbey, so he was either on the other end of the vale, but more likely, I think, he was at the site of St. Mary's on the hill behind the Abbey. We walked up there, and saw that wonderful view which is described in the title to Wordsworth's poem. The church was built in the 1860's, though a St. Mary's has been there for hundreds of years. This one burnt in the 1970s, so now, like Tintern Abbey, all that remains are the walls, and its really quite Romantic- all overgrown and forgotten, next to a wonderfully creepy graveyard.
Chepstow Castle wasn't very far away- it was one of the first stone fortifications built in Britain and one of the few stone fortifications William the Conqueror commissioned upon his claim to the English throne in 1066- the main section of this castle is still visible, which was built then. However, there have been many additions through the hundreds of years since, mainly in the 13th-15th centuries. During the English Civil War in the mid 17th century, Crowmwell's forces battered the heck out of it with cannons, so it's pretty beat up, but nonetheless fascinating.
Got home tonight to add a few things up- found out that I have two papers due in two weeks, and then I have five papers due in late January-early February. Pretty bummed about that, as I will be in my next classes by then. I'll see what I can get done during Christmas break, though I'll probably be applying to grad schools then, if I don't give up first.
So this week will be researching for my papers. Probably won't get much creative writing or editing done any time soon.
Monday, November 8, 2010
E+54
Well, it seems as if the party is officially over. I haven't had to do one assignment this semester, apart from copious amounts of reading. I have a small paper due thursday, about which I really don't know what I'm writing, so I guess I'll just have to see how it goes.
I went to London on Friday with a few friends, and we had a great time. We saw all the tourist attractions we wanted to see (the Tower of London, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the British Library, Buckingham Palace) besides a few that we didn't have time or energy for (St. Paul's Cathedral and the British Museum). I suppose we can always go back, while we're in the country. It was just a little sad how fleeting our moment in London was- we spent the better part of 12 hours doing our thing, but it wasn't nearly enough time to get a real feel for the city. I think I could spend weeks there and not see everything.
So, since I have been home, I've been researching this paper on the 'Captain Swing' riots in Southern England from late 1830 to earlyish 1831. Unfortunately, I am still confused about the referencing system, the paper format itself, the online journal finding system, and the turning-in-your-paper system. Literally, nothing is the same as researching is at Malone. So that's frustrating. Fortunately, by the time it's due Thursday morning, two BCA girls and I will go to a conference in Northern Ireland, in Derry. We won't be back till Sunday, so that should be a lovely little holiday, though we will be in seminars and discussions the whole weekend.
I'm still frustrated with my savage building-mates, who like to raise a hellish cacophony most nights in the courtyard outside my window, and blast their crap-pop music at all times of the day or night. Fortunately, the rules that they are supposed to follow concerning the respect of other people in this building are more like guidelines, as no one feels like enforcing them. Another example: people weren't supposed to park outside out building on the small drive that leads to our building's entrance. It took one fire drill and at least another two real fire alarms to make someone post a sign telling the idiots not to park there. And the fire brigade had to tell them that how many times before anything was done?
So, life in Cheltenham has it's ups and downs. Starbucks being closed at 6:30pm everynight certainly constitutes another 'down', for the record.
I need to eat and study. Bye.
P.S. I remember when I was in elementary school, I got in an argument with the pre-teen workaholic in my class that the spelling of the word you say to someone when ending communication with them was "b-y" instead of her goofy "b-y-e". In due time I figured out she had been right. I don't think I've talked to her since.
I went to London on Friday with a few friends, and we had a great time. We saw all the tourist attractions we wanted to see (the Tower of London, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the British Library, Buckingham Palace) besides a few that we didn't have time or energy for (St. Paul's Cathedral and the British Museum). I suppose we can always go back, while we're in the country. It was just a little sad how fleeting our moment in London was- we spent the better part of 12 hours doing our thing, but it wasn't nearly enough time to get a real feel for the city. I think I could spend weeks there and not see everything.
So, since I have been home, I've been researching this paper on the 'Captain Swing' riots in Southern England from late 1830 to earlyish 1831. Unfortunately, I am still confused about the referencing system, the paper format itself, the online journal finding system, and the turning-in-your-paper system. Literally, nothing is the same as researching is at Malone. So that's frustrating. Fortunately, by the time it's due Thursday morning, two BCA girls and I will go to a conference in Northern Ireland, in Derry. We won't be back till Sunday, so that should be a lovely little holiday, though we will be in seminars and discussions the whole weekend.
I'm still frustrated with my savage building-mates, who like to raise a hellish cacophony most nights in the courtyard outside my window, and blast their crap-pop music at all times of the day or night. Fortunately, the rules that they are supposed to follow concerning the respect of other people in this building are more like guidelines, as no one feels like enforcing them. Another example: people weren't supposed to park outside out building on the small drive that leads to our building's entrance. It took one fire drill and at least another two real fire alarms to make someone post a sign telling the idiots not to park there. And the fire brigade had to tell them that how many times before anything was done?
So, life in Cheltenham has it's ups and downs. Starbucks being closed at 6:30pm everynight certainly constitutes another 'down', for the record.
I need to eat and study. Bye.
P.S. I remember when I was in elementary school, I got in an argument with the pre-teen workaholic in my class that the spelling of the word you say to someone when ending communication with them was "b-y" instead of her goofy "b-y-e". In due time I figured out she had been right. I don't think I've talked to her since.
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