Category: 2018-2019

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Harlaxton Day 7: Oxford

July 25, 2018 | 2018 Harlaxton, 2018-2019, Avatars, Study Abroad, Trivan Menezes | No Comments

We were somehow able to sleep in for an extra hour today. Thank goodness. It felt good, though it didn’t fully account for the jetlag and lack of sleep that has almost transformed us students into zombies.

I’ll start on another note.

I exited the bus at Oxford not knowing what to expect. Maybe an intense environment where students roamed everywhere? Maybe a typical college town? I noticed immediately that Oxford students were nowhere to be found. In their place were hordes upon hordes of tourists roaming around. After all, the city is home to one of the finest and oldest universities on this planet, making it a prime destination for tourist students on the verge of applying to college who are seeking false hope of defying reality and actually getting accepted into their dream school.

ANYWAYS, as a group, we headed through the town on foot to Christ Church College, one of the 38 colleges which make up Oxford University. Once we were outside the college building, the staff laid some ground rules and gave us around 1.5 hours to roam around the area and city prior to our tour of Christ Church. Pokey mentioned that some past students typically rented either rowboats or punt boats and chilled on the River Thames to pass some time. That sounded great to me, so I got with seven “lads” of our group and we headed down to the riverside in search of a good time.

We rocked up to a dock where a guy was renting out boats. He gave us a few options. We could split our group into two and pay £40 for each group to ride a punt boat, or we could do something slightly more economical: rent one motorboat for the entire group for £55. The decision was obvious. We gave up our desires for a quaint rowing trip on the river to reap the beautiful fruits of industrialization.

Next thing we knew, we were absolutely speeding down the River Thames. Just kidding. As you likely predicted, us Gatton students are responsible drivers, so we settled for a nice, smooth stroll down the river. Okay, that might not be entirely true, either. Honestly, we couldn’t figure out how to put the boat at full-throttle until toward the end of the excursion, so a leisurely ride on the river is what we settled for. Regardless, we had a fun time.

Following the boat ride, the whole Gatton group reconvened outside Christ Church College to prepare for our tour. Our tour guide arrived on the scene. A charismatic fellow, he showed us around some interesting sites. Most notably, he showed us the Christ Church College Great Hall (the inspiration for the Great Hall in Harry Potter), the Bridge of Sighs (inspired by the one in Venice), the Bodleian Library, and the Sheldonian Theatre.

During the tour, I asked the tour guide a question here and there, and I wanted to learn more about who he was. I could tell he had a story to tell. He had mentioned he had attended University back in his day, so I asked where he went to school. He responded with “Not Oxford. I actually went to a school down south called the University of Essex.” I followed with, “What did you study?” And he replied, “I studied electrical engineering. What are you interested in?” I responded, “Cool, right now I’m interested in pursuing either computer science or electrical engineering.” Then the man shared some interesting facts: “Well, actually, I studied computers and telecommunications, and how to combine the two together. I even wrote the first textbook on combining computers and telecommunications. Not the best one, but I can still say I wrote the very first one.” Wow. What a guy. Apparently, he has also published a few books pertaining to Oxford. Even though he wasn’t a widely-known author, it was cool learning this information. It is moments like this that have defined my trip thus far. The superficial pictures in front of tourist attractions are not the things I’ll remember the most, but it’s the personal interactions with people that have forged my experience here. Whether that’s talking to an Italian kid at breakfast, talking about the progression of soccer cleats (football boots) with a worker at the Nike store, or learning that my tour guide has significantly contributed to a field of science, these interactions are what have formed my experience in England.

 

Trivan

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By Gatton Academy

Harlaxton Day 6: Class and Free Time

July 22, 2018 | 2018 Harlaxton, 2018-2019, Avatars, Georgia Hoffman, Study Abroad | 2 Comments

Hi everyone,

Most of our class, including me, began the day with breakfast at the Nutford House around 8 o’clock in the morning. Then we rushed upstairs to study for our upcoming quiz over C.S. Lewis and J.R.R.Tolkien. Class started promptly at 9 and we had a group discussion about the Hamlet play that we watched at Shakespeare’s Globe. Next, we had our quiz and talked about the lives of the authors. We transitioned to discussing poetry categories. Professor Rutledge read Beowulf aloud to the class, speaking foreign syllables as we struggled to determine the meaning. We talked about poetry terms and our upcoming assignments. After class, everyone split up into groups and we headed our separate ways.

My crew made our way to the tube and practiced our British accents as we commenced our journey to the London Eye. Upon reaching our stop, we weaved through streets crowded with people, until we reached the line. We spent the entire 20 minute Ferris wheel ride admiring the sparkling water of the Thames and attempting to capture the incredible London skyline in photographs.  Afterward, we rushed to Westminster Abbey, but were too late to enter. We returned to the winding tunnels of the tube and rode to the Twinings Tea Shop where I bought a souvenir tea box and enough flavors of tea to last a lifetime. After taking a break at a local park, we continued our adventure to the London Tower. The old architecture in London has been breath-taking and the tower was no exception.

Next, we followed a path to the Tower Bridge and walked across it, constantly snapping photographs of the bridge and the buildings crowding the cloudy sky. There, our group eagerly waited to take pictures with a giant statue of Jeff Goldblum in his signature pose from Jurassic Park. Navigating the tube has gotten easier and easier as the week wears on, and we made it to the pizza shop where we got our dinner with ease. Since everyone was exhausted from exploring throughout the week, we returned with our pizza to Nutford House around 9:15 (although curfew was at 10:30) and set to work on some of our class assignments. Eventually, most of the students migrated to our temporary classroom which buzzed with conversations about today’s adventures. Tales of Buckingham Palace, the National Botanical Garden, and visiting The Shard, accompanied by the debates over which clever caption to post, filled the room.

 

Georgia

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By Gatton Academy

Harlaxton Day 5: Bath and Stonehenge

July 21, 2018 | 2018 Harlaxton, 2018-2019, Avatars, Evan Hendrickson, Study Abroad | No Comments

As the Romans once said, salve!

Today’s field trip destinations were the city of Bath, the Ancient Roman Baths, and Stonehenge.

After an amazing English breakfast at Nutford House, we all sleepily packed onto our charter and began our two and half hour journey. However, we very occupied during the trip listening to the interesting presentations from students, bopping to music, and of course, a little napping. I don’t think we will ever fix our sleeping schedules.

Once we arrived at Bath, we walked through the city’s bustling, bourgeois streets that were lined with cafes and the most coffee shops that I have ever seen. Exploring this city was especially interesting since we could all visualize how Jane Austen portrayed it in Persuasion. Eventually, we made our way up to the Royal Crescent, where we enjoyed our lunches with a fantastic, scenic view. Afterward, we made our way back to the central part of Bath where we got to see a ballroom in which Austen might have met some of the English men and women who inspired her memorable characters and their dynamic personalities.

We then made our way to the Roman Baths. Upon entering the Bath, we were given audio devices that allowed us to listen to descriptions and stories of the Bath, including its religious significance, the benefit its mineral waters had, and the impressive architecture that has allowed it to stand for over 2,000 years. At the end of the Bath, we even got to drink the water. Only after it had been purified, of course. 

We then left the Bath and returned to the bus for our final trip of the day. Stonehenge exceeded my expectations; it was mind-boggling how these ancient people arranged gigantic boulders to form one of the ancient wonders of the world. Who knew that stacks of rocks could be so interesting?

After a long day of sightseeing, we still had a nearly 3-hour bus ride back. After the final presentations were given, most of us talked about our favorite parts of the day, what we would do with our free time when we got back to London, and at least for me, rested the entire way back.

Back at Nutford House, we had just enough free time to get dinner in the city. Now we are all preparing for our quiz, class discussion, and plans for free time tomorrow!

Here’s to another two weeks!

Evan

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By Gatton Academy

Harlaxton Day 4: Class, Free Time, and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

July 20, 2018 | 2018 Harlaxton, 2018-2019, Avatars, Devin Davis, Study Abroad | No Comments

Today, we arose bright and early after a full day of travel and exploration yesterday. We acquired breakfast in a packed cafeteria with other students as we anticipated our second quiz. At the conclusion of our quiz, we reviewed the significance of William Shakespeare and dove into our analysis of Hamlet. We covered the Humors Theory, Revenge Tragedies, and answered the question “Is Hamlet a Tragic Hero?”

After our three hour class period, we were given the afternoon to explore the city of London. All 49 of us developed plans and dispersed across the city. My friends and I decided to tour the Science Museum and the National History Museum. We were able to experience scientific artifacts such as pieces of the Moon, old European automobiles, and an iron lung from 1953. We were also able to marvel at various gemstones and dinosaur skeletons. It was an incredible way to immerse ourselves in British culture and become acquainted with their nation’s STEM information and storied history.

After a meal at a local café, we were on our way to view Hamlet at the iconic Globe Theatre. After riding the tube, we walked across the Millennium Bridge over the River Thames. We were going to be viewing the play as groundlings for the night. After receiving our tickets, we anxiously waited in line and rushed to claim positions next to the stage once the doors opened. The play was spectacular and maintained the literary aspects that we had discussed in class earlier that day. It was a unique experience to see the play that we had read over the past month and had analyzed during class come to life. This transformed this performance of a Shakespearean play into a real-life learning experience. After the conclusion of the play at 10:30, we rushed to the tube station with tired legs. It was a busy day filled with a new world of adventures that 49 Gatton Academy students were able to discover.

Devin

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By Gatton Academy

Harlaxton Day 3: Chawton and Winchester

July 19, 2018 | 2018-2019, Avatars, Hannah Congleton | 1 Comment

Today we all departed from our temporary home at the Nutford House and headed to Chawton. We slowly saw the stone city turn into cottage houses with thatched roofs, until we arrived at the cottage Jane Austen stayed at the most productive time of her life. The group split up, and half of us went into the house to see where Jane Austen wrote and lived. The other half ate the packed lunches provided by The Nutford House in the garden in full bloom. We then took a short walk over to the home of Jane’s brother, Knight Estate, who owned the cottage Jane lived in. Right next to the Estate was the St. Nicholas Church and a cemetery where Jane’s mother, Mrs. Austen, and her sister, Cassandra Austen, are buried.

Next, we drove to Winchester. Our first destination was the Winchester Cathedral, where Jane Austen has been buried. The Cathedral is also one of the largest cathedrals in England and new things everywhere you look. After exploring every nook and cranny, we headed outside and started down a trail that the poet, John Keats, frequented to be inspired. When walking the trail, you could understand why Keats walked here often, with clear streams and blackberries growing on the side of the path. At the end of the trail was the Hospital of St. Cross which we admired and then departed back to the Nutford House.

 

Hannah

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By Gatton Academy

Harlaxton Day 2: Class and Harry Potter

July 17, 2018 | 2018 Harlaxton, 2018-2019, Avatars, Isabel Chumbler, Study Abroad | 1 Comment

Hello Friends!

Last night, we had our first full night of sleep in England! It was desperately needed after hours of travel consisting of trying to fall asleep in uncomfortable positions in uncomfortable airplane seats. Our jetlag began to hit everyone last night, as we all slowly started forgetting how to function in the most basic of ways.

Getting that sleep was much needed for the full day that was ahead of us—a day filled with class time, all things Harry Potter, and free time!

Our first official class period consisted of a discussion of Persuasion, Jane Austen, John Keats, and miscellaneous dates. This was by far the most interesting class period I have ever sat in, as there is never a dull moment with Professor Rutledge.

After class, we had a quick lunch break and grabbed sandwiches from the nearby coffee shop, Costa. We were then on the road! The 46-minute bus ride went by quick as we filled it with multiple games of Heads Up.

Touring the Harry Potter Studios was definitely one of the most highly anticipated activities. Everyone was filled with excitement from the biggest Harry Potter fans to those who didn’t even know Hufflepuff from Ravenclaw. I was able to feel as if I was a part of the films—from walking along Diagon Alley, exploring the Hogwarts express at the Platform 9 ¾, enjoying Butterbeer, and dying from embarrassment when having to ride the green-screen broomstick in front of the crowd of people. Harry Potter Studios was an immersive, magical experiment that allowed us to learn about the behind-the-scenes of Harry Potter!

After the touring of Harry Potter Studios, we had about 4 hours of free time to explore London! I went in a group of 10 with our goal location being Westminister. We ended up getting stuck on the London tube for around 30 minutes on our way there and on the way back we got on the wrong tube which resulted in us getting a little lost—the London tube has definitely been an experience, but it’s been one that has resulted in us gaining independence and learning navigational skills.

England so far has been a wonderful experience and I cannot wait to see what else is in store!

 

As the British say, Cheers!

-Isabel

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By Gatton Academy

Harlaxton Day 1: Flights

July 16, 2018 | 2018 Harlaxton, 2018-2019, Avatars, Drew Aubry, Study Abroad | No Comments

Drew Aubry

By: Drew Aubry

We started our long journey at the airport. Our parents helped to check us all in and see us off for the trip. It was sad to say goodbye, but exciting to be starting our study abroad experience. We made our way through security and then to our gate. Since we were around an hour early, many of us played card games, went and found food, or began working on some last minute assignments from the summer. The hour passed quickly, though and before we knew it, we were boarding our first flight to Atlanta International Airport.

Once we got there, we rode the tram to the other end of the airport to our new gate. Inside the airport proper, there were stores of all sorts and restaurants everywhere. It almost felt like a shopping mall. When I first set foot in that plane, I quickly realized that it was the biggest one I had ever been on. It felt like the cabin went on forever. I found my seat and was overwhelmed by the things I found there. Immediately, there was a pillow and blanket waiting for me in the chair (I honestly thought I wouldn’t use it until about hour three out of the eight). I also found international plugs for various electronics, a USB jack, a headphone jack, a touch screen loaded with everything you could imagine (games, movies, music, and more). While we were waiting for takeoff, the flight attendants came to pass around menus for dinner, complimentary headphones, and eye masks with earplugs. Before we even began to take off, all of us were locked in an intense game of multiplayer bingo (for anyone wondering, Trivan won our first round).

After that, we were all talking to each other, playing games, or starting movies. We continued to catch up from the long summer apart until it got dark outside. Some of us slept, most of us didn’t, and almost none of us slept for more than a few hours at most. Before it got dark, though, dinner was served. There isn’t much to say about it, other than it was a warm meal for a bunch of hungry teenagers. After dinner, they handed out water bottles and came by with the drink cart often throughout the flight. Breakfast was served to us around an hour before we landed. If you ordered a special meal, it was a hot breakfast. If you didn’t, it was yogurt, a muffin, and orange juice. Not bad quality at all.

Coming off of the flight into customs/immigration was amazing after sitting on a plane for that many hours. It was packed and we took an hour and a half to get through. We made jokes with each other in line and when you got to the counter they asked questions like “Why are you in England?” and “How long will you be staying?” After we were all through, we collected our luggage and without further delay, were off into the world of London!

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By Gatton Academy