Harlaxton Village and the Class

The Village and Town

On Wednesday, after our group photo, I went on a walk. I expected it to be just around the grounds or to Harlaxton Village, but I got a treat. We walked through the village, where Isaac Newton and Margaret Thatcher are from, and passes a medieval wall and through an amazing cemetery. It was gorgeous. Then we started using the public footpaths that are all over England. No matter where the path crosses, the land owner has to maintain a path. This involved sidewalks, a cemetery, fields, pastures, and farms. It being typical England having rained recently, the earth was all mud. So my boots were covered. And I almost fell; however, the view was amazing. We saw dogs, which we pet, a horse, and ducks in the ravine. I found oysters in the creak bed, I teased my friend by pretending I was going to push her into the ravine, and I got to glimpse the canal system that runs throughout England. All in all it was amazing and beautiful, next time I'll wear wellies. 

Then Thursday we celebrated Burns night. Robert Burns is a poet from Scotland. So down in the Bistro people read and sang his poems. He wrote Auld Lang Syne and we gave it a go. They also served haggis and a whisky punch. I couldn't try the haggis because it contains oats but I wasn't too tempted to try sheep intestine. It was so much fun though because we were singing folk songs and just hanging out with professors and other faculty and staff. 

Friday we had class so nothing too exciting happened but I needed to run into town for some groceries. I may never leave here. I paid £17 for a lot of food. I got gluten free bread, some nut mixes, free from everything brownies, clementines, strawberries, peanut butter, rice cakes, crackers, and dairy free chocolate. Oh and my addiction - diet Coke. I'm so happy!! Fruit and white bread and chocolate and diet Coke. When I got back I watched movies and just relaxed as most of campus jetted off. It was nice to just be. 

Saturday I finally slept in. I woke up at 11:00 am and leisurely got ready for lunch. After lunch I read a book and watched another movie. When dinner rolled around everyone was famished. I got two lamb chops and some potatoes. Everyone else got lamb stew on a plate. I was enjoying the gluten free life at that moment. Later when everyone was starving the manor got flooded with pizzas. On a last minute whim I went into town with some sisters to visit a pub. We walked up to the main road, about a mile, under the stars and fell in live with how clear the sky was and how many stars we could see. We couldn't see where we were walking and it had stormed earlier in the day so we choose the mud over large puddles. We got back and all fell into bed we were so tired. 

Then this morning I once again slept until 11 and didn't get to brunch until 11:50ish. But I didn't have homework or any reason to hurry. I checked out some French movies from the library, studied for a quiz, and started planning more trips. All in all I just enjoyed spending time in the manor even when the power kept flicking on and off. 

Off to bed now so I can wake up for breakfast before my 8:30 am lecture and face the week of traveling to three different cities throughout England. 

Bise Bise 

What's the opposite of procrastinating?

Today has been a weird day. One of my classes was cancelled and I literally didn't know what to do with myself. I decided to do all the trivial stuff I didn't want to do. I went and signed up for a trip just to do something. I willingly went all the way back downstairs and then hiked all the way back up just to go to a place to drink tea. I then decided to take a long time showering because why not? Then I did laundry - I HATE doing laundry. While doing laundry I read the play I have to read for theatre. I don't have to have it read until Thursday. I have completely finished reading it and wrote my response on it. I also went to the library and got books about travel, my research paper that's due in several weeks, and books to read for fun. I have a stack of books on my desk that I am about to dive into.

So I was sitting here doing all of this and cleaned my desk and am hang drying my clothes and wondering? What's the opposite of procrastinating? Had I ever done this before? Is the English air affecting my brain? It's weird. I accomplished so much and I watched a movie. I have stuff I could do and will do just to pass the time. I don't even understand it.

I could do homework, if I really had any more due soon. One of my classes, today was the first time we almost learned something. And then in British Studies, my six credit hour class, we've covered almost 1200 years of history in a week but it was things like the pre-Roman Briton and Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. So we have a lot we'll cover more in depth I'm sure but there weren't too many trivial things they taught us. My theater class is interesting but I don't have intense homework so I have a lot of free time. I'm honestly thinking about taking up pigeon shooting because it's allowed around here and it would kill some time.

Or someone send me yarn because I need to do something! I'm going stir crazy. Maybe I'll learn Latin... Something to do I guess.


Bise Bise

A Weekend in London

It started like any other Thursday, but after classes and dinner it was a mad dash to get the last minute packing done. With a friend who didn't know what all to take and the amount of stuff I wanted to take I'm proud that I only took my backpack and my weekender. I survived- barely but I did. We stayed at the Royal National Hotel and along with my two other roommates the room was quite quaint and cramped. The only place we had WiFi was in the lobby for 4 hours of use, but luckily almost every restaurant had WiFi if you sat inside which was nice. We took that up quite a bit so we could check in with places and stay up to date on Instagraming things and checking Twitter. Friday night it was raining on and off but we went exploring anyway because you only have so long in London right? Well we got a little lost but it was fun. When we got back to the hotel, we were cold and wet but we had explored London - especially Soho and it had been fun. We then went to bed because we wanted an early start the next day.

I decided it would be a smart idea to wear a dress because I was seeing a show later that night and wouldn't have time to change because I also had a tour of the Houses of Parliament in the afternoon. I loved feeling classy all over London. I do however wish I had been wearing shoes made out of memory foam that massage your feet as you walk. My legs were dead after one day of walking around. We thoroughly explored Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, the Embankment, some of Covent Garden, and a lot of Westminster. Then I went to go to my tour of the Houses of Parliament, it was interesting but we all wanted to break the British conventions and sit in the House of Lords just to sit down because we were all dead. After exploring the houses for almost two hours, I then raced across the Thames river to try to get to the National Theater on time to see King Lear for my theater class. I made it luckily, although hungry and tired, I made it. It was a long show and rather interesting but I barely understand Shakespeare in a regular accent let alone in a British Accent. Afterwards I ventured back to the hotel through the tube, always 'minding the gap' and fell into bed. I was so tired but again you only have so much time in London, so a friend and I went walking down the street to see what was happening.

The next morning we were ready to spend the whole day exploring and that we did. We started in Kensington Gardens and found the Peter Pan statue. Then we found this amazing little tavern called The Swan. I had my first cup of Earl Grey tea and loved it. The people mistook us as Australians and it was altogether the funniest time I've ever spent in a restaurant. Then we ventured to Buckingham palace and realized it wasn't all it was cracked up to be but still we took lots of pictures. After starving because I couldn't really find food that was gluten free that didn't cost an arm and a leg, we made our way towards Picadilly Circus hoping to find this restaurant called Leon which serves gluten and dairy free food. Yeah, there's not one in the Picadilly area. Thankfully along the way to finding this I had been distracted by the amazing shops and was so happy to find adorable things for amazing prices. Eventually I took a chance on looking at a Pizza Expresses menu to see if just maybe they had anything gluten free. Let me tell you, when I saw they did I was ready to jump up and down but I had less than no energy so I just went in and sat down. I then splurged on lunch by enjoying an entire meal, including a pilsner, of gluten free deliciousness. I was content and ready for more exploring. Oxford street was not too far of a walk so of course we had to go shopping. I literally died when I stepped foot into Primark because it's like Forever 21 only better and cheaper. After that we thought we might try to find a tea shop to feed my tea addiction but it was closed. So then we headed back to the hotel to change for our Big Night Out adventure. Almost all of the Harlaxton students decided to do an event called 1 Big Night Out and it was basically Harlaxton's big night out. It was fun but at 11:30 I was beat and ready to fall asleep because 7am would come too soon.

After about an hour ride in the coach we arrived at Hampton Court Palace and were told to explore for over four hours. That didn't go over too well but eventually we all bucked up and had fun seeing the home of Henry VIII. For lunch I had pizza express again because trying to locate another gluten free option probably wouldn't have gone well in that little town. Then the ride back was utterly silent as everyone napped because the school had worn us out.

Now I sit at my computer trying to upload the several hundred pictures I took and am trying to convince myself to do my homework. I am so ready for some more sleep. I love London and can't wait to go back on the field trips I have there. Time to write this essay I guess, I mean school is why I'm here right?


Bise Bise

Exploring Grantham

This past weekend we had a few chances to explore the town that's only about 10 minutes away, Grantham. It has the nearest grocery store and supermarket. It's a cute little town and it has a market on Saturday mornings that has lots of fresh food and old books. It's so much fun. After having gone in Friday night to see the night life, we knew our way around for the most part. We had to ask a local at the market for instructions to ASDA, the British Walmart, but otherwise we made our way around quite easily getting to see the city. ASDA is basically Walmart only British. So the clothes are adorable, the food is different, and they don't accept American credit cards. The cards here have chips in them and since we have to swipe our credit cards, we have to ask the cashier to do so. So far people have had quiet the trouble figuring out how to do it. But we still end up getting our goods so it's quite alright.

Friday night we went into Grantham we experienced the night life. We started at a pub called the Goose and found it rather fun. It was lively and there were people of all ages. Then we went to this place called the Cameleon that a local lead us to. It was weird. It was a bunch of 50 something year olds dancing to old American music and then some swing dancing happened. We left rather quickly just staying for a dance or two and moving onto a club atmosphere. We danced for a few songs at Gravity, a dance club, but they started playing weird and unknown music. Then we just crossed the street to another club and were in there for about 3 minutes before we ran out from the smoke machines. It was crazy but altogether fun because we got to figure out the town. It's weird being legal here - we got carded to get into the clubs and we felt cool. We just wanted to dance and experience the night. Saturday night after a long day of going into town, waiting for lunch and dinner, we were all dead tired. So I went to bed but that only lasted for 15 minutes. Then I went for a walk with friends. We walked to the pub at the end of the road just to see if it was worth the while. It really wasn't. It closed at 11pm and we got there at 10:30 pm so we just sat and enjoyed the calm atmosphere. We were able to get ice in our drinks which was a nice treat because most places here don't serve ice.

Today though, I ventured into town to get some snacks. Almost every store here has a Free From section that is gluten free and sometimes dairy free. I found some really cheap snacks and was really happy! Like chocolate I can have and some cookies. I'm so glad. I can take some with me for our weekend trip to London. I still have to pack up though.

I barely was able to keep myself from going crazy in the stationary store that was right next to the grocery store. They had an amazing selection of pens and Monsters University things. I'm so excited to go back!!!! I got stickers to decorate things and send to people! Time to pack for London and decorate with my stickers. I can't believe in less than 24 hours I'll be in London.


Bise Bise

Pictures of the Grounds & the Manor

Me and some friends out in front of the manor. It's so much fun
to explore and take pictures. 

I have class in this room ^^^ and get to start out the windows
while learning British history. 

It's so pretty to look out at the English countryside from the grounds. 

Is this really my home for the semester?

There are flowers. In January. It's amazing.

The Day to Day Life in the Manor

Well classes started yesterday and all has gone well so far. I made it to every class, got my homework done, have started work on a group project, and have still had time to plan out trips, explore more of the grounds, and remember how hungry I am.

British studies is a class like no other. With lecture early in the morning, you have to sit close or there's a danger you'll fall asleep. Then I have an hour to watch more Downton Abbey (I'm completely addicted). Then seminar. My professor compared my name to the word tomato. He said, "You have to pronounce the 't' like in lettuce." To which I respond, I'm not a vegetable and how do you jump from tomato to lettuce? He then explained how to say his name. It's fun because it makes us sound more British. After British studies I have theater on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday. I get to see four productions all over England and learn about the behind the scenes aspects of productions. Today we started our Tuesday/Thursday class schedule. I have Modern British Politics. It's going to be a lot of fun; however, if we look tired, we get docked points and he notices. Uhhh it's the first class of the day, I'm tired as soon as I roll out of bed let a lone climb down over a hundred stairs walk down a corridor and then another smaller corridor to get to the class room. But I guess I'll have to start having morning tea to perk up.

Oh food. I wish I could say we weren't hungry all the time. Everyone finds themselves in a constant state of hunger. The food is good but bland. The weekend was the hardest because there weren't a ton of gluten and dairy free options. Now though, I eat a gourmet meal basically. Everyone wants to be gluten free to eat the food I get. I just have to ask and wait for it to be prepared on a plate and then I get my vegetables and go. I have eaten more vegetables in the past week then I've eaten in the past two years I think. I also drink juice or tea at every meal because they don't serve a whole lot of drink options. The meals are spaced so that after you trek back and forth to your room a few times you're ready to go eat a cow. But we'll survive I'm sure once we get used to the times.

Last night we got to enjoy some traditional dancers and it was super fun to watch them. They had bells on their legs, and flag things, and sticks for swords. It was entertaining and a nice way to pass some time. I can't wait for activities to start because I need something to do. I'm dying of boredom most of the time and I've already planned trips and so much more. I may join the choir just to have something to do for an hour a week. I applied to be in the student government here because I want to stay involved even across the pond.

We all say the lift and have started doing things a little more British. We learned what some common phrases are and went over stereotypes. It was amazing to find out that non-Americans find Americans friendly, outgoing, honest, and so many more. It's very true. The professors will not directly tell you that you should completely rewrite something, they'll suggest you should revise a few minor things, expecting you to understand them. I cannot wait to see what little British things I pick up here.

We were sorted into houses and I'm in Gregory. It's after Gregory Gregory the founder of the manor. We are currently winning the house competition, although it's only just begun. It completely fits my personality as a house of artists, leaders, and diplomats.

I get to explore London this weekend and can't wait. I get to see Trafalgar Square, the British Museum, Hampton Palace, Runnymede, and so many other amazing places including the Houses of Parliament and King Lear at the National Theater. I'm excited to try out Leon which are all over London. It's a fresh fast food restaurant that offers gluten and dairy free food. I also want to go to a tea shop and start my tea collection and enjoy tea time. I have found this place called Cookies and Scream that I really want to try. It's a vegan and gluten free bakery of sorts that is basically completely edible for me! Hooray!

Tomorrow I'll head back into town to grab some snacks at a grocery store and will have plenty to share about exploring town this past weekend and tomorrow!


Bise Bise

I LIVE IN A CASTLE

First thing first- the plane ride. Getting to the airport early and trying to get life together with all the chaos that was occurring in Chicago made life interesting. But after we boarded we thought the flight would take off soon right? Wrong. We sat parked for a little over an hour all boarded and settled, then took off an hour late. Then the plane was ridiculous hot, yes hot. Not cold like usual but burning up so much so that everyone was sweating and the person next to me almost got sick. I had an aisle seat luckily because I needed to stretch out after hours of just sitting there. With little to no sleep during the overnight flight we then landed in London and then ventured to the border and to claim our luggage. Since I had a bright Vera Bradley patterned bag I spotted mine easily and was ready to get out of my hot, dirty clothes. Well no luck there we sat and waited for a little over an hour for the coach to take us to the manor. I accidentally fell asleep during the ride but the countryside I saw was amazing and we saw some sheep!!!! 

Pulling up to the manor is a sight like no other. You look out the window and see the amazing and rather large manor, which you are sure is a castle, and realize : I LIVE HERE. This isn't real, someone pinch me. 

Then when you kind of accept it you get off the bus and meet the president of the school, then take a short walk through the main lobby to a great hall for a brief introduction all while trying to see every little detail of the immaculate ceilings and paintings and sculptures. It's so beautiful. Then we got to eat food and once we had a light, rather late lunch we got to see our rooms. I have three roommates, so four in total, on the top floor with a window that leads out onto a balcony we're not allowed to climb onto. One of my roommates I had met on the bus ride from the airport and I knew one already. Our room is GINORMOUS. It has so much space and a gorgeous patterned molding ceiling. Again the window has a view that is like no other of the word perfeci (perfectly in latin) and the English countryside. Once unpacked we got to explore the grounds and manor. It's rather easy to get lost but with a few days of practice it will become so easy. 

The grass is so green and fluffy and there are flowers still in bloom in the conservatory, there are lion statues all over which make me happy, plus trees galore and a pretty manor to admire from the outside. Although it's kind of chilly it's rather warm compared to the -50 I experienced last week. 

This weekend is about getting adjusted to the manor and all the people. The Bistro had open mic night which got people up and dancing and the days are spent with activities with our seminar groups going throughout the manor. Today we all enjoyed fish and chips and I even got a gluten free version. 

Off for more adventures and picture taking!!! 

Bise Bise

Nothing is Gonna Stop Me & The Essential Packing List

With all this "winter storm" talk, people are freaking out that I won't make it to England as planned. Pish Posh Tilly Wash. That's bologna. I will get to England as planned. There is simply no other option. There is a chance my flight is delayed (when do they ever take off on time anyway?) and we may sit on the tarmac getting deiced for a little while but I will be on that flight to London.

In other and more sunshine-y news, I am going up to the Chicago area early to shop. There may not be much room in my suitcase; however, my shopping obsession will not allow me to just drive by my favorite store and mall. As the final packing commences of cramming another umbrella, or just one more sweater into the exploding bags, I am rather calm. Although I thought I would be extremely anxious to figure out how to fit all this stuff in, I have the things I need and want packed. I need to find my umbrella though because rain is a thing that happens a lot in the UK I guess. Oh but I can't wait to dance in the rain in London and the grounds of the manor.

However awesome it might be most people are wondering how and what to pack. I being overly prepared have the list all ready for them when they ask. Things that I have as musts right now include a mesh shower caddy (I found one in the dollar section of target), a pocket hanging organizer (also an awesome find in the amazing dollar section), Command strips because who knows what amazing poster or print I will pick up, laundry detergent sheets that are all in one (Purex has some that are fabric softner, detergent, and a dryer sheet all in one & they're flat so they're easy to pack), an extra blanket because I assume it will be cold and that the blanket won't meet my standard of fluffiness, a stuffed animal because sometimes you need a cuddle buddy or an extra pillow, a small photo album to have pictures from home & faces you miss, scissors because you may need to cut off tags off your new clothes or cut your friend's hair, a tumbler and water bottle to have portable water for when you are traveling or in class, a pillow case for the extra pillow I plan on buying, and finally coloring supplies. It sounds like a crazy long list but all theses things will make my life easier.

This is really a fairy tale. Riding by coach to a Victorian Manor and having a carriage house and grounds to explore, and living and breathing the English air and life. I cannot wait for this journey to begin. Along with my five countdowns I have been mentally counting that this is my last whatever in the states before I live in what I refer to as a castle. I would love to pack up all of my friends with me and take them but luckily quite a few of my best friends will be there as well. How awesome is that? Travelling throughout Europe with your best friends?! I am so blessed. I CANNOT wait to go and experience it all!!!!

Soon I'll be boarding a plane and setting off to my fairy tale semester! I'm so ready!


Bise Bise

3 Bags versus 4 months of stuff

In just days I will board a plane, take off, and be flying to London. However unreal that all seems, the packing has taken over my life. I don't understand how to pack up four months of life into just three bags. THREE BAGS???!!!! How do I do that? This is why I hate the airlines. There is no way it's possible for someone to study abroad with just three bags. However, I guess people have because so many people tell me they have.

My brand new back pack is on the verge of exploding because I want to take all this art supplies and coloring utensils, and then I have to take school supplies I guess since I'll be at school. I mean I'll have to learn something in the torture that is traveling to London to see plays; including one of my favorite stories: Matilda.

My carry on bag, the fifth one I tried, is has finally decided it can hold anymore. What little it holds is hopefully enough to take some of the weight off of my checked bag. Which is literally filled to the brim. I couldn't but a feather in that thing without it tipping the scale to YOU'VE PACKED TOO MUCH. I may need to learn a lesson in the art of packing less but I remain a firm believer in the need for clothes because of the "what if" clause. What if I need to go to an extremely fancy restaurant? What if I NEED these shoes to match this outfit? Yeah I should probably take out anything that requires special outfits; however, I don't care. I want to take all of my stuff but I can't so I'll just cry about it.

Now that the melodrama of packing has subsided some what, I am planning my first weekend in London. Finding places that are fun, free, and me proof is actually really easy. I'm excited to visit a place called Cookies and Scream that serves completely gluten and dairy free foods. That sounds like perfection. It will make me want to move to London even more because they have donuts, but I'm so excited to have so many gluten and dairy free options. Also I am fan-girling over art that I will get to see at the National Gallery. Seriously though who wouldn't be if they got to see Van Gogh, Renoir, and da Vinci all in the same place and feel the paintings come alive?! As an art major it's extremely exciting, that may be because I've witnessed some of the landscapes architecture they painted, but I've also studied them as well. I can't wait to see Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, and the Underground. There's just so much to London, thank goodness it's so close that we visit at least once a month!!!!

Off to planning those awful trips to London for class, how ever will I survive such torture?! Hahaha, I'm sure I'll manage somehow.


Bise Bise