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Harlaxton 2016: Stratford-upon-Avon

July 28, 2016 | 2016 Harlaxton, 2016-2017, Avatars, Dylan Daugherty, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Dylan Daugherty

To wake up, or not to wake up— that is the question. The class had to wake up extra early today to head out to Stratford-upon-Avon to see Shakespeare’s place of birth and burial. After a quick breakfast, we were out on the road. First, we took the long bus ride to Warwick Castle. Here we received a medieval experience. Knights roamed the fields with swords at hand. We got to explore a real life castle with moats, traps, and stone walls. The actors treated us with catapult launches and an actual jousting tournament.

Next, we boarded the bus and went straight to Stratford-upon Avon. We saw Anne Hathaway’s cottage and smelled the flowers in her garden. The class traveled downtown to see Holy Trinity Church, Shakespeare’s final resting place. We learned about Shakespearean rumors as well. Legend has it that Shakespeare was buried in Holy Trinity Church, but not all of his body is still there. Grave robbers are believed to have stolen his head straight from the grave! A few years ago, scientists sent waves through the church floor to pick up body signals. They were able to make an outline of a body but not his head. Crazy stuff bro.

Finally, we went to Shakespeare’s birth place. The tour started with a 180-degree screened projection of Shakespeare’s works. We got to walk on the same floor Shakespeare walked on, see the style of beds and clothing that he wore, and duck under the small doorways that he ducked under. Outside of the house, performers did short scenes from his plays. I got to see the balcony scene from Romeo in Juliet. Once we had visited his house, we were free to explore Stratford-upon-Avon. I went to a small diner for food and explored the various shops in the downtown mall. Others went to ice cream shops or rode row boats on the river. As the evening concluded, we all headed back to the bus. Some people went straight to bed when we got back, but others (including myself) polished up our final essays due the next day.

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Harlaxton 2016: Tolethorpe Hall

July 27, 2016 | 2016 Harlaxton, 2016-2017, Amber Carroll, Avatars, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Amber Carroll

Sleep—a teenager’s best friend. Today was the first time since we have been in England that any of us have managed to sleep in. Class today began at 1:00 pm, therefore, granting all of us a few extra hours to sleep in. A select few, on the other hand, still decided to wake up early in order to attend breakfast. I, along with many others, were not that dedicated. Most of us woke up just in time for lunch and class. I, personally, was fine with that. Most of us needed a break because we have been so exhausted with all of our adventures lately.

In class we had our usual quiz. Today’s quiz was over The Wind in the Willows, a novel in which I thoroughly enjoyed. Wrapping up the end of class was a guest speaker, Sarah Fox, a recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship which allowed her to study here in the United Kingdom at the University of Birmingham. Sarah shared her insight on her study abroad experience here in the UK and also on the application process for a Fulbright Scholarship.

At the conclusion of Sarah’s talk, she joined us on a trip to Poundland and Morrison’s to gather supplies for a picnic that we had at Tolethorpe Hall. We had about a two-hour picnic while sitting on plush blankets provided by Harlaxton College. I, personally, have become quite fond of our picnics here in England, and I’m sure many others will agree with me. Derick even told my group today that, “we really have learned how to picnic since we have been here,” and I have to say that I agree with him.

The weather was beautiful and it was hard to break away from our picnic to watch the play, The Wind in the Willows. Once the sun went down, it began to get chilly, as Derick said it would. Thanks to Harlaxton, though, we were covered… Literally. (Bad joke, sorry). The play had us laughing steadily throughout and I really enjoyed the actor’s liveliness. At the conclusion of the play we headed back to our home away from home, Harlaxton Manor. Once we arrived back around 11:15 pm, we were exhausted and ready for bed, but very eager for the next early morning trip to Stratford-Upon Avon.

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Harlaxton 2016: Brontë Country and the Moors

July 26, 2016 | 2016 Harlaxton, 2016-2017, Avatars, Katie Ashley, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Katie Ashley

Wow. The only word I have to describe our field trip to the Moors is wow. We started the day with an early departure time of eight o’clock from Harlaxton Manor. We took a coach bus to Keighley (about two and a half hours from Grantham), and then hopped on a steam engine train for a short ride into Haworth. When we arrived in Haworth we took a short uphill walk to Haworth Parish Church. This was the Brontë family’s home church, and is now the resting place of the parents and five of their six children including Emily and Charlotte. We then went to the Brontë Parsonage which is adjacent to the Church. When we arrived at the Parsonage we split into two groups. One group went to the cellar and listened to a presentation by the education coordinator about the Brontë family. While the first group listened to the talk, the other group went into the parsonage and took a tour of the home. After forty-five minutes the groups switched places.

After our time at the Parsonage, we made our way to the Moors. The Moors are said to be where Emily Brontë found some of her inspiration for Wuthering Heights, a novel we studied in class. We hiked two and a half miles to Brontë Falls. I found it to be more like a stream than anything else, but it was pretty nonetheless. We took a thirty minute break at the falls, and then had a choice to either turn back to the village with Dr. Rutledge or continue on an uphill hike to ruins of a house to see what was said to be Emily’s inspiration for Wuthering Heights, a manor in the novel. Everyone decided to continue on, so we embarked on our journey up the moor. We took another thirty minute break when we arrived at the ruins, and then continued onto what Derick calls “The Enchanted Forest.” This is a cluster of trees situated on top of a moor. When you walk into the trees, all daylight appears to cease. It was rather enchanting.

From here we began our trek back to the coach bus. When we all reached the coach bus, we began our drive back to the manor stopping for an hour in Halifax for dinner. We returned to the manor around 9:30, and most of us retired to our rooms exhausted from our long, chilly day in Brontë country. This day has been my favorite of the trip so far, and I wish we could return to the Moors tomorrow for another hike!

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Harlaxton 2016: First Full Day at Harlaxton

July 25, 2016 | 2016 Harlaxton, Amanda Zahn, Avatars, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Amanda Zahn

Wow. Just wow.

Wow has literally been every other word out of my mouth since arriving at Harlaxton Manor yesterday evening. Seeing that we arrived after a long day of travel, we were all quite tired. Therefore, today has not only been our first day of class at Harlaxton College, but also our first day to really explore the grounds of our new home away from home.

It’s always a little different waking up in a new place for the first time, and today was no exception. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not complaining or anything. Waking up to the view of the English countryside spreading to the horizon and beautiful gardens just beneath your window is nothing to complain about. Needless to say, the view made waking up for class much more bearable.

After a quick breakfast, our first task was set before us… to find our classroom. Harlaxton Manor is a maze of rooms, hallways, and secret passages, so this was a challenge in itself. Upon finding our classroom, the first thing I noticed was the ceiling. Ornate and painted beautifully, it proved quite the distraction during class (although we have been told that is usually the case the first day of class). Similar to the ceiling, the rest of the room is beautifully decorated; class in a room like this honestly has a completely different feel to it than in a traditional classroom. To kick off the class period, Dr. Rutledge played us a tune on the piano. We then moved right into our studies, discussing Graham Greene’s “The Destructors”, as well as Emily Brӧnte’s Wuthering Heights. Class flew by, and once we were dismissed we all rushed to the refectory for lunch, excited to begin our free time.

During our afternoon free time, everyone went exploring. Some explored the gardens and surrounding property, and others explored the interior of the manor house. With the manor house being so big, it was very amusing to run into people as they emerged from hallways and secret passages alike. By the time dinner came around, we were all starved from all of our exploits!

Once we had eaten our dinner, we all went on a guided tour of the manor house. Our guides were fabulous, explaining everything from the significance of the various architecture to some ghost stories locals tell of a few of the rooms in the manor house. Finally, as the sun finished setting, we ended the evening with a game of crochet on the lawn. Not many people knew how to play, but after a little explaining of the rules we had quite the game going! Whether you were playing or just watching, we all had a great time with this.

As I write this I’m sitting on my window seat, distracted again by the beauty outside my window. And all I have to say is wow.

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Harlaxton 2016: London to Harlaxton College

July 25, 2016 | 2016 Harlaxton, 2016-2017, Avatars, Study Abroad, Tricia Thompson | No Comments

By: Tricia Thompson

This was it. Our last day in London. We loaded up the bus bright and early and were on our way. Our first stop was the only US WWII servicemen cemetery in the UK. After touring the cemetery, we headed to the town of Cambridge. Groups headed off to have some lunch, view the beautiful exteriors of some of the 31 colleges of Cambridge University, and hang out in a local park. An hour on the bus provided some much needed sleep and brought us to the namesake of this whole venture: Harlaxton.

As the bus pulled into town, we could see the manor off the side of the bus and the view was breathtaking—even more so than the photos had led us to expect. Everyone came to orientation after moving in gushing about the amazing views of the grounds and the layouts and hidden features of their rooms (each room is unique). So far, no one has any complaints about our new home for the next two weeks. After dinner, a group of us cracked into the manor’s store of board games while waiting for our class showing of Wuthering Heights. We’re all incredibly excited for our first chance to explore the rest of the manor tomorrow.

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Harlaxton 2016: Class and Recap of Trip

July 22, 2016 | 2016 Harlaxton, 2016-2017, Avatars, Study Abroad, Tyler Smith | No Comments

By: Tyler Smith

I am incredibly thankful to the Gatton Academy for giving me this opportunity to study abroad. Although I have only been in London for a few days, a mere fraction of the full trip, I can already tell that this trip will be a great experience.

One of the best parts about this trip is the mixture of class and travel. We are given the opportunity to go out into the world and actually SEE the monuments and landmarks we are learning about, instead of simply reading about them. This is a much better way to learn the culture and history of classic literature as we can fully grasp how monumental certain landmarks are.

A great example of this is how we traveled to Jane Austen’s house. There we actually got to see where and how she lived, giving us a better understanding of what went into her writing process and why she actually wrote her novels more than if we had simply learned about it in the traditional classroom setting.

In my free time, I have largely ventured across London, seeing many of the great monuments, such as Big Ben, the British Museum, and the National Gallery. My favorite landmark that I have seen on this trip so would have to be the London Eye on the edge of the Thames River. It is not the London Eye in itself that was so impressive, but rather the scenery that surrounded it. The area is booming both with people and culture, and it is also situated between two foot bridges that when crossed allow you to take in an amazing, breath-taking view of London with all of its landmarks artfully protruding from the city’s skyline. It is by far my most favorite view I have seen on this trip, and its true beauty is not comparable to any photo.

Again, I would like to thank the Gatton Academy for giving me this opportunity as London has been an amazing place to see, and this trip has actually made me excited to study literature. Even only being nine days into the trip I can say that this has been one of the most influential events on my understanding of literature and writing as a whole.

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Harlaxton 2016: Oxford

July 22, 2016 | 2016 Harlaxton, 2016-2017, Avatars, Sara Saeed, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Sara Saeed

After learning about the works and lives of authors C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien in class Wednesday, we took a field trip to their alma mater, the University of Oxford, Thursday. After a hectic trip through the underground and an hour-long train ride, we arrived in the beautiful city of Oxford. Our first stop was a brief visit to Holywell Cemetery: the resting place of author Kenneth Grahame, the author of The Wind in the Willows.

We eventually made our way to the university and had about an hour of free time. During this time, some of us chose to eat lunch under the shade of trees on the lawn, some played a game of frisbee with other tourists and students, and some even rented boats to go punting and paddling in the nearby River Cherwell! After the short break we were led on a walking tour through the university. We visited Christ Church College and New College, two of the 38 colleges and learned about Tolkien’s and Lewis’ roles at the university.

Many scenes from the Harry Potter series were filmed on Oxford’s campus, and one of my favorite parts of the tour was being able to recognize parts of the university from the movies. We walked through hallways and courtyards where minor scenes were filmed. We saw the original Great Hall and learned that they created a replica of the dining hall at the Harry Potter studio since Oxford students still use it.

Our tour finished up at around 4:30, and we were free to spend time exploring the city. For most of us, the first stop was the Bodleian Libraries. The Bodleian Libraries most notably had an exhibit of Shakespeare’s First Folio and original writings by John Milton, Mary Shelley, and Robert Hooke. We then visited Blackwell’s Bookshop, a stop recommended by our tour guide and Professor Rutledge.

The remainder of our time was spent shopping and eating in the town until late in the evening when we had to catch a train back to London. After hours of walking, many of us headed back to the dorm to prepare for another day of class tomorrow.

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Harlaxton 2016: Class and London Exploration

July 22, 2016 | 2016 Harlaxton, 2016-2017, Avatars, Logan Parker, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Logan Parker

A heatwave has spread across London over majority of our trip, causing many restless nights and sweaty days. Our dorm rooms don’t have A.C., so comfort from the hot weather is few and far between. Many of us woke up randomly throughout the night covered in sweat with the blankets and covers sprawled across the floor. It’s worth it because we know that when we wake up, we are in England.

Whether we went to breakfast or spent a few more minutes watching the back of our eyelids, we all eventually made it to class. Class started off with student presentations ranging from major attractions to English royalty. We then finished our discussion on Shakespeare and The Taming of the Shrew. We finished off class by starting a discussion on J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and poetry.

After class, we had free time to explore London. My friends and I ate lunch at a Chinese restaurant we found on our way to our first destination of the day. Once we finished our meal, we went to the British Museum. The museum was packed and hot, but nonetheless, it was worth it to see the amazing artifacts and history. Navigating the London subway system over the past week has allowed us to travel just as easily as the London natives, so our trip on the Underground to Trafalgar Square proved to be effortless and quick. We planned to go to the National Gallery, but upon arrival, it was closed, so we decided to go take a visit to Big Ben, which was about a mile and a half away. On our walk, we notice the London Eye just across the River Thames. With an extension of half a mile to our walk and about an hour of waiting in lines, we rode the Eye to the top of the city skyline. The views were mesmerizing, and it was fascinating to see the contrast between the magnificent historical buildings with the elegant modern buildings. Because of the amount of money we spent to see the eye, we decided to eat a cheap dinner and went to McDonalds. We rounded off the day by visiting Big Ben, taking the Underground back to our dorms, and hanging out in the lobby of our hall. Ready to catch up on much needed sleep, we retired to our rooms.

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Senior Reflection: Lauren Pedersen

July 20, 2016 | 2015-2016, Avatars, Lauren Pedersen, Senior Reflection | No Comments

By: Lauren Pedersen

“What defines success?” Walking into my interview for admission to the Gatton Academy, this was the last question I had expected. The many mock interviews I had performed weeks ahead where I recited my biggest failure or perhaps where I saw myself in 10 years now seemed fruitless. My mind started racing, trying to produce a clear-cut response. Upon visiting Gatton’s website, one would find quantifiable values that prove how “successful” Academy students are. We like to focus on the numbers: the 100% college matriculation rate, the 60+ credit hours received over two years, and the average ACT ranging from 30-32 throughout recent years. This got me thinking—was our success truly defined by the numbers that describe us? If so, my test scores, GPA, and awards received must have truly blended in with all of the other candidates. However, I did not want to be defined by such numbers, so I ended up replying that success cannot truly be defined because it varies from person to person.

Despite my ambiguous definition of such a simple word, the Gatton Academy accepted me both literally and figuratively. They accepted my constant aura of stress, my habit of buying meal plans worth of food that I obviously could not eat, and my inclination to go to bed at 11:00 every night. Through this acceptance, I learned more about success than I could have ever imagined. Success can’t be defined by “being” something but rather by “doing.” While we see this transition from beginning to end, we still like to focus on the result – the end statistic.

Sitting at my home in southeastern Kentucky, I have never been more homesick in my life—I’m homesick for the hills of WKU (although my calves may not be), endless Harry Potter movie marathons on the fourth floor of Schneider Hall, and kindergarten days complete with a parachute. While I have some regrets on focusing on my end statistic, I could not be more grateful to the Academy for initiating my growth and letting me experience that of my peers. I have watched the girl that was once too shy to order her own food, order 4 (sometimes 5) cookie pizzas a week. The boy who spent his first day at Gatton huddled in his own reclusive corner, ended the year winning every dance battle. A girl that had never traveled abroad before learned that Costa Rica does indeed have gas stations and that not all planes experience turbulent weather conditions. Through these minor changes, Gatton taught me that “success” is not necessarily synonymous with “best.” My advice to my juniors (now seniors) and all other grand-juniors to come is to try not to focus on the end statistic but rather cherish the moments ahead.

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Harlaxton 2016: Bath

July 20, 2016 | 2016 Harlaxton, 2016-2017, Avatars, Jonathan Kinnard, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Jonathan Kinnard

Today we took a morning pause from the busy streets of London to explore the calmer city of Bath. Leaving bright and early (8:00am) with our bagged breakfasts and lunches, we departed via metro to then catch a train to Bath. The train was the epitome of European rail, with shiny smooth sides and a magnificent station to house it. Half of the cars were facing forward, and the other half backward, meaning half of our group (including me) had an interesting way of seeing the countryside. Once we arrived, Dr. Rutledge began by taking us to Royal Victoria Park where we had lunch. Then it was sight after sight of Jane Austen history leading to the Roman Baths. I think the whole group was stunned by the amazing history, view, and feel of the Roman Baths. I was shocked that anyone would wade into the algae filled pool until learning that the original building had a massive roof that prevented light from encouraging the growth of algae. We even had to opportunity to drink water from the underground spring. Next, we split up. My group went to the Leather Chairs of Bath shop and then Clandar Fine British Clothing to by our mothers scarves. We then left Bath via the train and had some free time in London. Dinner was on everyone’s mind, and Speedy’s Cafe was among the popular choices. With another full day planned tomorrow, many chose to go to bed early and study for tomorrow’s quiz. Another day in England well spent.

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