View of Oxford from atop the chapel
Sunday, November 21, 2010
A London Fall
I have loved being in London this past week. On Wednesday, I got to see Les Miserables, which after my parents seeing it 3 times, hearing them talk about it innumerable times, listening to the soundtrack, and skating to the music for two years, was a dream come true. I have never heard such powerful vocals and the storyline was so moving. Let's just say I was bawling... If you ever get the chance to see it, it is a must!
On Thursday after working at the hospital school in the morning, I went with the kids to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Winter Wonderland was a fair themed like a German Christmas village with lots of rides, bratwurst stands, and a skating rink. I had so much fun with the girls and it was a huge success until we tried to get on the ice. Let's just say, they were a bit like Bambi :) It ended up okay in the end, with just two cut fingers and a few bruises...
On Friday, after another day at the internship, some friends and I visited Harrod's Chocoloate Bar. That was my first Harrods experience of the trip, and it really put me in the Christmas spirit. That one store is like a giant mall, and I loved looking at all the ornaments and the giant stuffed animals. The Chocolate Bar is a small bar with tons of amazing desserts. I got a delicious piece of chocolate cake and ice cream. To die for! Afterwards we walked around Regent Street and visited Hamley's, London's largest toy store. It was five stories of fun. Once again, I loved the giant stuffed animals and the lego Buzz Lightyear. Regent Street is all lit up for Christmas with Narnia themed lights. Walking through the street was truly enchanting.
On Saturday, I had the amazing privilege of visiting the world renowned, Oxford University. Not only did I visit it, though, I got a tour from Roger, our neighbor who graduated from there about 40 years ago. He knows the town backward and forward and absolutely loves taking students there. When we first arrived, about 9am, he took us on a walk around Christ Church fields to give us a panoramic view of the school. Walking through the nature trail with its winding stream, arching bridge, and colorful leaves, finally gave us a much wanted feeling of fall. We also loved seeing the rowing team out on their morning practice. Apparently rowing is the most prestigious sport at Oxford and as we walked through the different buildings we saw paintings on the outsides which marked one team's victory over another.
What I didn't realize was that Oxford is not just one college, like Samford, it is comprised of 39 different colleges varying from 80-1,000 students each. The colleges are friendly toward each other, yet they do get competitive sometimes. Roger attended Magdalen College, where C.S. Lewis attended and taught. He told us that when he was trying to decided between Cambridge and Oxford, he actually wrote a letter to C.S. Lewis to ask him which one he recommended, and he actually got a 3 page letter back with all the reasons why Lewis recommended Oxford's English program! Later, however, he told us that he never went to any lectures and really only had about one hour of class per week and one paper. The rest of the time he just did what he wanted, WHAT?! He said that nothing really mattered in University until your last two weeks of your 3 year degree when you have to write 9 Essays as your final exit exam. He said that those grades are the only ones that really count and that they are so stressful people are regularly admitted to the hospital during those weeks! In my opinion, not the best system... Their graduates however, are apparently very successful. My favorite part was probably the chapels Each college had their own and they were beautiful. We ended the day by visiting the Eagle and the Child pub where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien frequented. It was really a wonderful day, and getting to hear all of Roger's crazy life stories made it very special.
Today, Mary Evelyn and I took the day exploring parts of London where we have not spent much time and finding some Christopher Wren churches. One of my favorite churches we saw had been bombed out during WWII, all but the steeple. Now a rose garden stands where the Nave would be and the steeple still rises up to the skyline. We also found Samuel Johnson's house, the Royal Courts of Justice, and Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (mentioned in a Tale of Two Cities).
I can not believe that I only have less than two weeks left in London. There is so much more I want to see and do, but I at the same time I am so excited to go home. I am truly thankful for my time here, and am going to try to enjoy every moment I have left.
On Thursday after working at the hospital school in the morning, I went with the kids to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Winter Wonderland was a fair themed like a German Christmas village with lots of rides, bratwurst stands, and a skating rink. I had so much fun with the girls and it was a huge success until we tried to get on the ice. Let's just say, they were a bit like Bambi :) It ended up okay in the end, with just two cut fingers and a few bruises...
On Friday, after another day at the internship, some friends and I visited Harrod's Chocoloate Bar. That was my first Harrods experience of the trip, and it really put me in the Christmas spirit. That one store is like a giant mall, and I loved looking at all the ornaments and the giant stuffed animals. The Chocolate Bar is a small bar with tons of amazing desserts. I got a delicious piece of chocolate cake and ice cream. To die for! Afterwards we walked around Regent Street and visited Hamley's, London's largest toy store. It was five stories of fun. Once again, I loved the giant stuffed animals and the lego Buzz Lightyear. Regent Street is all lit up for Christmas with Narnia themed lights. Walking through the street was truly enchanting.
On Saturday, I had the amazing privilege of visiting the world renowned, Oxford University. Not only did I visit it, though, I got a tour from Roger, our neighbor who graduated from there about 40 years ago. He knows the town backward and forward and absolutely loves taking students there. When we first arrived, about 9am, he took us on a walk around Christ Church fields to give us a panoramic view of the school. Walking through the nature trail with its winding stream, arching bridge, and colorful leaves, finally gave us a much wanted feeling of fall. We also loved seeing the rowing team out on their morning practice. Apparently rowing is the most prestigious sport at Oxford and as we walked through the different buildings we saw paintings on the outsides which marked one team's victory over another.
What I didn't realize was that Oxford is not just one college, like Samford, it is comprised of 39 different colleges varying from 80-1,000 students each. The colleges are friendly toward each other, yet they do get competitive sometimes. Roger attended Magdalen College, where C.S. Lewis attended and taught. He told us that when he was trying to decided between Cambridge and Oxford, he actually wrote a letter to C.S. Lewis to ask him which one he recommended, and he actually got a 3 page letter back with all the reasons why Lewis recommended Oxford's English program! Later, however, he told us that he never went to any lectures and really only had about one hour of class per week and one paper. The rest of the time he just did what he wanted, WHAT?! He said that nothing really mattered in University until your last two weeks of your 3 year degree when you have to write 9 Essays as your final exit exam. He said that those grades are the only ones that really count and that they are so stressful people are regularly admitted to the hospital during those weeks! In my opinion, not the best system... Their graduates however, are apparently very successful. My favorite part was probably the chapels Each college had their own and they were beautiful. We ended the day by visiting the Eagle and the Child pub where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien frequented. It was really a wonderful day, and getting to hear all of Roger's crazy life stories made it very special.
Today, Mary Evelyn and I took the day exploring parts of London where we have not spent much time and finding some Christopher Wren churches. One of my favorite churches we saw had been bombed out during WWII, all but the steeple. Now a rose garden stands where the Nave would be and the steeple still rises up to the skyline. We also found Samuel Johnson's house, the Royal Courts of Justice, and Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (mentioned in a Tale of Two Cities).
I can not believe that I only have less than two weeks left in London. There is so much more I want to see and do, but I at the same time I am so excited to go home. I am truly thankful for my time here, and am going to try to enjoy every moment I have left.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Lovin' Life :)
I so wish I could have found time to update you all on all the events of the last few weeks! I will try to go back at some point and record them, but for now I just had to write about some of the most exciting highlights!
I just got back from seeing the world renowned production of Les Miserables. My whole life I have heard my parents talk about it, listened to the soundtrack, and skated to the music, so seeing it in person was a dream come true. Even with all my expectations, I was shocked at the caliber of the vocals and the emotion and passion which the characters portrayed. I have never heard such strong and beautiful male vocals as Jean Valjeans and the girls' voices were absolutely angelic. After seeing the horrors of the life of the poor during the French Revolution, I was really moved to consider the poor that I pass on the street every day. At the end of the play, all the martyrs stand gazing down from heaven pleading to you to join in their cause and it was really very inspiring. The people who fought during the revolution, even the children, gave everything for what they believed in. I hope one day I may be able to do that. This show is a "must see" for everyone and I would see it again in a heartbeat if I got the chance.
Another amazing experience I've had recently was visiting the quaint Medieval town of Brugge, Belgium. 4 of my friends and I took an overnight bus last Friday and arrived in Brugge around 8 am on Saturday. We climbed 366 stairs to the top of a 13th century Belfry, visited the Gutonhuse Palace, the Cathedral of the Holy Blood, and many adorable Christmas shops. Also, because Belgium is known for its "frites" (aka original french fries), belgian waffles, and chocolate, we pretty much ate the weekend away :) The fact that it was rainging the whole time helped ;) On top of that we visited a chocolate museum. It taught us the history of chocolate from when it was traded as a Mayan currency, to when it was brought to Spain and exploded across Europe. We also saw a video on the process of making chocolate and it is very long. The best part however, was seeing the president. Yes, I actually saw Barrack Obama, but yes, he was made out of chocolate. I also saw a chocolate Madonna and child and many chocolate cats! To end the tour we saw a demonstration by a chocolatier making truffles and then got to taste one. Belgrade chocolate=the best I've ever tasted! Traveling back we rode on a christmas decorated coach and arrived bakc in London at 4:30 am! Woohoo. Nothin' like being a crazy college student! I will try to share some more fun adventures soon :)
I just got back from seeing the world renowned production of Les Miserables. My whole life I have heard my parents talk about it, listened to the soundtrack, and skated to the music, so seeing it in person was a dream come true. Even with all my expectations, I was shocked at the caliber of the vocals and the emotion and passion which the characters portrayed. I have never heard such strong and beautiful male vocals as Jean Valjeans and the girls' voices were absolutely angelic. After seeing the horrors of the life of the poor during the French Revolution, I was really moved to consider the poor that I pass on the street every day. At the end of the play, all the martyrs stand gazing down from heaven pleading to you to join in their cause and it was really very inspiring. The people who fought during the revolution, even the children, gave everything for what they believed in. I hope one day I may be able to do that. This show is a "must see" for everyone and I would see it again in a heartbeat if I got the chance.
Another amazing experience I've had recently was visiting the quaint Medieval town of Brugge, Belgium. 4 of my friends and I took an overnight bus last Friday and arrived in Brugge around 8 am on Saturday. We climbed 366 stairs to the top of a 13th century Belfry, visited the Gutonhuse Palace, the Cathedral of the Holy Blood, and many adorable Christmas shops. Also, because Belgium is known for its "frites" (aka original french fries), belgian waffles, and chocolate, we pretty much ate the weekend away :) The fact that it was rainging the whole time helped ;) On top of that we visited a chocolate museum. It taught us the history of chocolate from when it was traded as a Mayan currency, to when it was brought to Spain and exploded across Europe. We also saw a video on the process of making chocolate and it is very long. The best part however, was seeing the president. Yes, I actually saw Barrack Obama, but yes, he was made out of chocolate. I also saw a chocolate Madonna and child and many chocolate cats! To end the tour we saw a demonstration by a chocolatier making truffles and then got to taste one. Belgrade chocolate=the best I've ever tasted! Traveling back we rode on a christmas decorated coach and arrived bakc in London at 4:30 am! Woohoo. Nothin' like being a crazy college student! I will try to share some more fun adventures soon :)
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