The End: back in the US and missing Bath

I can’t believe my trip to England is now over. Today is my first real day at home and unpacking, cleaning, and laundry are in store for me.

I did not get to bed very early Friday night so the morning came too early. We ventured down the hill at 6:45am and the bus was incredibly full. Since this was an issue when they picked us up at the airport at the very beginning you would think they would have planned better this time. I sat next to Professor Ryan and he was very chatty for early in the morning and was all interested in my schedule for next semester when I didn’t want to think about it because I just finished classes let me have some time without any classes.

England security is even more intense than US security. A guy came and asked us a bunch of questions in line and then we went up to check my bags. They were both under 50lbs YAY! The plane ride was pretty uneventful, but longer than the way out. We landed in Newark with announcements on the plane several times telling us that everyone must pick up their bags even if they are connecting. It was a long wait for our bags to come so we all said goodbye while we were waiting. No pictures because its not allowed in the baggage claim area and we all split off there when our bags came because people had connecting flights to catch. Greg was waiting for me and we ventured on to the farm party and I made it home on Sunday at around 3pm.

The trip was absolutely amazing and I’m so glad I went. I can’t believe it’s over already. Five weeks really fly by. It was just an incredible trip and as I unpack now I am already thinking to my scrapbook when I will organize all my adventures. Hopefully I’ll see you all soon if I haven’t seen you already!

--------

10 things to remember from the trip

1. I found almost 40 lions in Bath

2. I walked up and down that wonderful hill (or slope as they say) over 35 times

3. I realized I am a B+ / A- student who can not break the threshold of a true A

4. Going to London three times is still not enough time to see it all

5. You accumulate a lot of things in 5 weeks

6. Getting around England is so much easier than the US with trains and the tube

7. The Brits dress nicer than Americans and you almost never see them wearing sneakers

8. The Brits are really nice, saying "of course you can my love," remembering your usual, and saying they are going to miss you at the gelato place

9. It doesn't actually rain all the time in England, and most of time it is nice and hot (though they are going into a drought so I'm not sure that weather is typical)

10. I met some really great people and I will miss seeing them all the time

--------

our first housemate picture (minus Chelsea who hadn't arrived yet)

and our last

July 9: The final tea and the final day in Bath

Our last day in Bath was a busy one and as much as I would like to tell you all about it I should really get to bed as the bus is picking us up at 7am. So this will be brief. After a late night last night I got up a little after 10am and did some shopping. Laura and I then met up to go to the huntsman for lunch complete with fish n chips and our English beer made in Bath (It wasn’t our favorite). Back up the hill to get ready for the tea and then to the hotel down the hill.

The final tea had homemade tea, cucumber sandwiches, something I can’t remember with clotted cream and jam that involved a dispute over the order based on north or south, and lemon cake. We also picked up some goodies including a picture and t-shirt and then headed out to queen park to take a housemate picture. There was little hang out at the Huntman and it was all sad to realize it was all over. The end of the evening was pretty uneventful with packing and cleaning. I am checking two suitcases that both weigh under 50lbs so cross your fingers that all works and the whole baggage issue and customs goes well. Security too we can’t forget that. Tomorrow has me at the Quinn resort so no post, but soon I will leave a wrap up post. In less than 24 hours I will be on US soil.

photos

We've had some great times here and met so many great people. We had such a wonderful house. Thanks for being great guys.

July 8: Last day of classes

Today was the last day of classes. In Jane Austen we did fun activites and a quiz that was not meant for a grade. Laura actually won at that. Between classes Chelsea took us out to find some clothes and I bought a dress. Film class was long, he let us out 15 minutes late (really! It’s the last class, we had to take a quiz and be ready for write night and he lets us out late). The quiz was hard of course. We practiced our reading again and then we headed over to the Huntsman.

We were on the list first. It went pretty well there was a lot of laughter and later people said it was really good so yay! A lot of the other acts were really good too. (It’s kinda late so I will spare long details and a long post so I actually get to sleep) After write night we came back up to the house to get ready. All the girls decided to go out. Chelsea helped us figure it all out and did a real intricate updo for my hair. Everyone looked amazing. Peter accompanied us but MJ and Jason opted out. It was a lot of fun and we ended up staying out pretty late. Tomorrow looks like a busy last day.

photos of today (#74, page 4)

In Search of Mr. Darcy what we performed for Write Night

Amelia – Janie aka Jane & Barbara

Me – Beth aka Elizabeth

MJ – Will aka Darcy, Butterworth & Computer

Catherine – narrator

Peter – Chuck aka Mr. Bingley, Dr. Fallon & Security Guard

Chelsea – Su & Jonathan

Laura – Claire, Lindsay, & ASE student

Jason – George aka Wickham

July 7: Relaxing at the spa

Yesterday evening ending with a most of the house honesty room chat in Laura and my room. It was good since we were planning on just heading to bed because we didn’t really know what to do with ourselves. We ended up staying up til around 2am. I was so tired I just decided to pass out on my bed and get a shower in the morning.

Yesterday evening was celebration because papers were done. As a result when we arrived in Jane Austen class and he asked if we had done the reading we all started at him blankly. Then upon realizing we had readings we searched for our packets filled with the reading only for him to tell us it was online. With no possible way for us to pretend we’d read it we shook our heads. The class was mostly spent watching the adaptation for Persuasion. The actress who plays Anne was soooooo depressing. On a side note she was also the actress in the Jane Austen video at the centre that we watched yesterday. Aunt Petunia was also in it.

Between classes I got a nice salmon sandwich again :] wonderful and Laura, MJ, and I had a nice chat in the basement of Nelson house. Film class was boring as per usual. We finished watching The Last of England, an avant-garde film. He also said we could get out of class earlier, but that did not really happen.

After finishing class Laura, Chelsea, and I ventured off to the Bath Spas. We got the cheapest package which only included the pools and the steam room. It cost £3 to simply get a towel. We started out in the steam rooms. We inadvertently ended up in the lavender smelling room, which we went back to later. We tried the other rooms later, but the scents were not nearly as good and the one room that was good in scent was not nearly as warm.

After the steam room we went up to the terrace pool on the top floor. No pictures are allowed up there unfortunately, but it is a beautiful view and the waterfall is very nice for a back massage type feeling. We then ventured to the Minerva pool. We concluded back at the steam rooms and then got a shower and headed out. We went to a Thai place for dinner and took it back to the house to eat while watching the football match of Spain vs. Germany. We were rooting for Germany, but Spain won. Now we are rooting for the Netherlands.

I haven’t actually gone upstairs this evening Laura did and brought my computer down. We’ve been practicing a story “In Search of Mr. Darcy.” Catherine wrote it as a parody of Pride and Prejudice with ASE staff. I was assigned the part of Beth (aka Elizabeth). We were practicing and hopefully my secret acting talents will emerge tomorrow.

Other than that we’ve chatted a little and are now watching Pride and Prejudice to prepare for our performance tomorrow in which all of the house is participating. We won’t be filming it, but hopefully someone will take pictures. Wish us luck!

p.s. it took me forever to figure out what was in fact causing me to still smell like the spa but the lavender scent is very present in my hair despite the shower ;)

photos (page 3 #52)

July 6: With papers done now it is starting to feel like the end...

First things first HAPPY 21^st BIRTHDAY DEB! I hope you have a great day! Today I turned in my last paper and I am officially on the home stretch.

For Jane Austen we went to the Jane Austen Centre. It wasn’t actually that exciting, but it beats sitting in class discussing and we had to go since we were here. After class I went and printed out my film paper and did a little bit of shopping. I also tried a new sandwich with salmon, SO GOOD! I am definitely getting it tomorrow too. Film class had us watching another avant-garde film that I found boring. Why can’t we watch something happy and entertaining? After class I decided to go to an atm. I was going to try and make it, but with the bus and gift and lunch I just can’t make it. Of course I then found a 20 in a pair of my pants later.

Laura finished writing her paper that is due tomorrow so we had a little movie night. Now it is just a little after 10 and I am not sure what I am going to do with the rest of my evening. I may get a shower and head to bed because yesterday was a long night, but I am actually not that tired.

It is hard to believe that my time here is coming to an end. Nothing too exciting planned for the rest of the week: some shopping, relaxing at the spa, going out to a pub, and the final tea. Packing must start taking place soon too. I will be seeing you all before too long.

photos (today starts on page 2, second row, #29)

July 5: Having fun is more important than writing papers right?

Today I woke up later than I intended, got a shower and headed off to class. Nothing too eventful in Jane Austen. I edited my paper one more time during my lunch break before submitting it and then it was off to film class where we watched an unexpected film; now don’t get too excited as it was an avant-garde film and I fell asleep a few times while watching. It was very weird. After class I spent most of the evening writing my film paper before a bunch of us from the house decided to go out. We weren’t out too long and it was a lot of fun. We are planning to go out later this week and it may just have to happen tomorrow in celebration of completing the papers. I have just reedited my paper again and worry that it is not very good, but I just want to be done. I think I am going to call it quits and just submit what I have. It is a grand 2,209 words with the lower limit of the paper being 2,000 and the upper being 2,500. Hopefully it is alright as his instructions are very, very vague for this assignment and it is unclear what he really wants. Tomorrow during lunch I also have to pick out all the pictures I am going to give to Jonathan for his slideshow at the final tea, but I think it is time for bed now.

pictures from today (page 1 #15)

July 3-4, 2010: Celebrating the 4th in England seems ironic

So I realize I got a little behind in my blog, but a paper was due. As I have now submitted it I thought this 15 minute gap between my classes would be a good time to catch you up on the weekend happenings.

We went to London bright and early on Saturday, making this my third Saturday in a row in London. Still we did not manage to do everything, but just more of a reason to come back to England ;] We began the day a little later then planned and going straight to the changing of the guard instead of doing Westminster Abbey first. The changing of the guard was long and we got rather annoyed. We stood on the monument and they had ropes all in front of the gates, but they still let people walk in front of the gates between the guards entering them. We thought that was rather pointless as there was no where for them to go. We distinctly saw several of the same individuals continually changing sides just to take photos. After the long process that the changing of the guard takes we ventured back to Westminster Abbey. The Abbey was cool and we got to see a lot of tombs, but no pictures allowed in there. We split from Amelia at this point and Laura and I continued on to The Tower.

Now you could easily spend an entire day at The Tower, but we only had a couple hours. We got to see the beefeaters and visit some of the different towers where famous individuals were housed such as Walter Raleigh, the princes, and Anne Boleyn. You even got to vote on who you think orchestrated the presumed murders of the princes, y opinion being their Uncle who then ascended the throne. Other areas included the new armory exhibit as well as the torture exhibit. Not an entirely happy place.

Laura, being the avid tennis player, and I on simply the idea that we were in London ventured to Wimbledon. We did not realize how very far away it is being one of the last stops. It was then quite a hike to actual Wimbledon where we could only see the outside. We took a few pictures and then hiked back to the station. We did get to see the scoreboards and some cheers. The plan was to go on the eye but the long line and the uncertainty of the timing made us avoid it in favor of not running to the train station and avoiding being stranded in London overnight.

photos from London

Sunday was an early morning, but not quite as early as we went to the Abbey for a church service. It was a small gathering and seemed very like a Catholic service to me, which I wasn’t entirely expecting. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful, no fireworks or anything signifying the 4^th of July. Instead I worked on my Jane Austen paper for the majority of the day.

photos from Sunday

July 2: Today I went to Hogwarts

Today was the Oxford adventure. We left at 8am and upon arriving got a short tour by Jonathan. Then we were left to our own devices and we chose to go to Christ Church College, a main point for Harry Potter productions. We went to the great hall, which actually wasn’t as exciting as I thought it would be. The staircase was so much better! It was my favorite part. The library was sadly not open to us, but we did get to go to a room that was the basis for the Hospital Wing and the Gryffindor dancing lessons. We also tried to find specific Oxford sweatshirts, but failed. Furthermore I split off and then was a few minutes late getting back because I got lost. But the rational is to ask a cute old couple where the main library is, no well the big round building is and they will direct you. They then took us to go punting, which was quite an endeavor. It is not our forte. Some groups got Jonathan or were just naturally gifted, but that was not how I would describe us. We did not get very far, but we did all try our hands at it. I ended up directing us the whole way back.

So in conclusion of the day we visited Hogwarts and discovered that punting is not as easy as it looks (and make sure you wear appropriate clothing, clothing you can get wet if you are inexperienced). Tomorrow we head back to London bright an early for a 7:13 train. We plan to see Westminster Abbey, then the changing of the guard, followed by the Tower a possible trip to Wimbledon to just take a photo (as there is no way we can get seats because it is finals for the women) and conclude with the London Eye. Hopefully we won’t be out too too late because we have papers due Monday and we want to have fun on the 4^th of July. We need to get to bed so we can wake up in the morning for our trip though we did catch a few fireworks. Not only are we in the wrong country but it is a few days early :P Enjoy your weekend everyone!

photos

July 1: I want the real Obi-Wan Kenobi

In Jane Austen class we learned all about the navy and I zoned out through most of it. Film included a very depressing movie and an incredibly difficult quiz. He said they would get harder, as if that was normal, but since the quizzes are supposed to help our grade I don’t know why as they are certainly bringing down my grade and not helping. I mean he asked what one point someone made in class was. He just expects us to be a sponge and absorb absolutely everything. Anyway, what you need to remember about this movie is it has Obi-Wan Kenobi (the original) in it and he is fat and mean, which he just can't be. I want the real Obi-Wan, the guiding, nice Obi-Wan.

After class, Laura, Catherine and I ventured to the old Roman Baths. We tried to convince Amelia but she was too dedicated to her papers. The baths were alright, cool to see, but some places were really creepy and dark. After the baths we came back to the house where there were no boys! They went to Scotland for the day and are missing Oxford tomorrow. Speaking of that I should probably start getting ready for bed, I still need to get a shower and as is the case with most of the trips I have to get up earlier than I do for class. Hope everyone has a nice weekend!

photos (page 5, third from the end or #98)