Avatars – Page 16 – The Gatton Academy News

Harlaxton 2017: Stonehenge

July 20, 2017 | 2017 Harlaxton, 2017-2018, Avatars, Camuel Hart, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Camuel Hart

Stonehenge, among the most recognizable British monuments, is also the most distant. A days-long drive through the English countryside could easily be taken without a distant passing sight of it; finding it seemingly requires a series of diversions and detours across the pastoral roadways. Past the entrance, the site of the monument rests at the end of a great walking path, which is often bypassed in favor of shuttle bus drive. Even the stones themselves are separated from their audience by a rope and several yards. All this, of course, is fitting, for a site so out of time and place as this one.

The oddity and mystery of Stonehenge can be felt in its presence, especially when the mood is set by overcast skies and a light, cold rain. It carries a history that seems so alien to modern life, almost absurd. Despite this distance of space, time, and disposition, we were given the chance to embrace our roles as tourists and enjoy the cultural landmark and physical feat that is Stonehenge. Overwhelming? No. Underwhelming? Not quite, either. Visiting, studying, and photographing Stonehenge is a unique experience, that exists some distance from the standard metric of excitement. In any case, I am glad to have gone.

By Gatton Academy

Harlaxton 2017: Shakespeare, Free Time and the Globe Theatre

July 19, 2017 | 2017 Harlaxton, 2017-2018, Avatars, Emily Guernsey, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Emily Guernsey

We woke up bright and early this morning, all feeling a bit tired from our jam-packed day yesterday, but ready to hit the ground running. After breakfast (with a group of young ballerinas), we headed to the classroom. It was now time for our quiz. Today’s topic: William Shakespeare and his comedy Much Ado About Nothing. Following the quiz, we brushed up on our Shakespearean history, then began to discuss Much Ado About Nothing. Professor Rutledge shared some interesting insights about the title of this play and engaged the class in a conversation about different aspects of the plot. It was really interesting to see how each of us interpreted things. At 12 o’clock, we were released from class- off to free time! The 50 of us scattered across London for the afternoon.

My friends and I decided to explore Chinatown and SoHo. After a quick tube ride, we scouted out a Chinese restaurant. We had a nice meal and followed it with some bubble tea; we tried lots of flavors, from Lychee to Butterfly Lemonade. Then it was time for shopping! We popped into lots of stores, especially those we can’t easily find back in Kentucky, like Zara and Primark. Some purchases were made and we began the trek back to the Nutford House. We made a quick stop at a pastry shop for a snack and then got ready for our evening at the Globe Theatre.

Dressed in our nice attire, we rode the tube for a few stops, then walked across Millennium Bridge to the other side of the River Thames. We entered the Globe and some of us (at Professor Rutledge’s recommendation) rented seat cushions, as we would be sitting on wooden benches for the next two hours. The theatre was packed with students and adults alike. The theatre, built as a replica of the original Globe in 1997, had three tiers of seating in a semicircle around the stage, as well as standing room on all sides. It was absolutely packed! The show began, and at first, we were all a bit confused- the play was set in Mexico, rather than in Italy as originally written. This turned out to be a great adaptation; there were colorful decorations, wire horses, fabulous dancing, and even an American police officer. The play ended around 10:30 and we headed back towards the Nutford House, making a quick stop at McDonald’s on the way.

Today was full of great new experiences! I’m sure we will all sleep soundly after running around the city all day and will wake up looking forward to the adventures to come.

By Gatton Academy

Harlaxton 2017: Jane Austen (Chawton and Winchester Visit)

July 18, 2017 | 2017 Harlaxton, 2017-2018, Avatars, Grayson Fuller, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Grayson Fuller

Today, we departed from Nutford House in Westminster to travel to Chawton Village and the city of Winchester. Upon arriving at Chawton, we proceeded to tour the cottage in which Jane Austen wrote many of her novels. After this, we toured the grounds of the Knight Estate, where Austen’s cottage was located. Following the tour of the Estate, we visited St. Nicholas Church and the adjoining cemetery. Buried here are both Mrs. Austen, Jane’s Mother, and Cassandra Austen, Jane’s sister.

Next up on the itinerary was a trip to Winchester. We arrived at Winchester Cathedral, inside which Jane Austen is interred. The Cathedral was in the process of arranging things for the Jane Austen Memorial service to be held the next day on the 200th anniversary of her death. We left the Cathedral to walk along the path frequented by John Keats during his time here in Winchester. Following this peaceful walk, we arrived at the Hospital of St. Cross and, without touring the grounds, departed back to Nutford House.

By Gatton Academy

Harlaxton 2017: British History, Jane Austen and Harry Potter!

July 16, 2017 | 2017-2018, Avatars, Callie Freeman | No Comments

By: Callie Freeman

And they’re off! Today, on our first day of official touring, we Kentuckians relished some true British classics. After an English breakfast at the Nutford House, Dr. Rutledge presented a “crash course” on British History. Beginning with the arrival of Julius Caesar in 55 B.C. and concluding with the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, Dr. Rutledge left no historical stone unturned and gave us an excellent frame of reference for our three weeks’ studies. Following his history lecture, Dr. Rutledge delved into perhaps one of my very favorite British literary topics. Drum roll please… The life and works of none other than Jane Austen! As a proud member of the Jane Austen Society of North America and long time Jane enthusiast, I am happy to report that Dr. Rutledge’s presentation didn’t disappoint. Empire waists, English country dancing, love, marriage, Anne Elliot, Captain Wentworth… Need I say more? The morning lecture was a delight.

Following a brief lunch break in the beautiful garden of the Nutford House, we began our journey to the Harry Potter Studio Tour site. For Harry Potter die-hards as well as those who are less familiar with J.K. Rowling’s beloved series, the tour was magnificent – complete with flying cars, wands, wizards and even the iconic butter beer. A tribute to the actors, screenwriters, makeup artists, designers, production assistants and all of those who work on the classic movies, the tour showcases all of the hard work and talent that really makes the movies come to life. And a quick walk through the exhibits, which display thousands of props, lifelike sets and dazzling costumes, shows that making a Harry Potter film truly does take a village – or, more accurately, a city! A trip to the Harry Potter Studio will prove that the Harry Potter series really is a British classic, loved by those of all ages and from all parts of the world.

By the end of our “magical” afternoon, we all were ready for dinner, and a quick Google search of “good food near the Nutford House” gave us plenty of scrumptious choices. After eventually settling on the “Spaghetti House,” we sat down to some delicious mozzarella, calamari, olives and other authentic Italian food. A viewing of Jane Austen’s Persuasion and a trip back out into the city for some gelato completed a day filled with some of the great British icons. That nine hour plane ride really was worth it!

By Gatton Academy

Harlaxton 2017: Arrival in London

July 15, 2017 | 2017 Harlaxton, 2017-2018, Alexa Thompson, Avatars, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Alexa Thompson

Snoozing on the bus to Nutford House after an unbearably long travel day, our eyes peep open to see the typical red, two-tiered buses driving on the wrong side of the road. We were met with the ideal English weather: mid-sixties and drizzling. Arrival at Nutford House excited all of us immediately, as the sight of the small round windows and sunflowers sitting in a windowsill created an aesthetic scene. Little did we know, we would be here for the next week, calling it out first, but temporary, home here in England.

After having a brief moment to get luggage in our rooms and our inaugural meeting, the rest of the afternoon was dedicated to exploration. The majority of the students followed Dr. Rutledge into central London via the world-famous Tube, which we are all experts at using now. Every student followed their curiosity to the sights they so desired, ranging from Big Ben to the National Gallery to Westminster Abbey.

As classes start tomorrow, preparation starts tonight; preparation being both mental and physical. Many of us took much-needed power naps, or they were forced upon us as we dozed off while trying to study. Luckily, newly found candy bars are providing us with extra energy. Presentations and quizzes are crashing down on everyone, halting some of our adventures through London for at least the night. Harry Potter fans are hoping that tomorrow’s trip to the Harry Potter filming studios makes up for this brief pause of exploration.

By Gatton Academy

Harlaxton 2017: And We’re Off!

July 14, 2017 | 2017 Harlaxton, 2017-2018, Caleb Curry, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Caleb Curry

Wow! Over the past 24 hours I have gone from a small town in eastern Kentucky, scrambling to finish last-minute packing, to riding on a charter bus headed to the Nutford House, where we will be staying at while in London.

We (around half of the Gatton Class of 2018) began this adventure by meeting at the Louisville airport yesterday (Friday) afternoon. We were scheduled to fly from Louisville to Dallas and have a 1.5-hour layover before our overnight flight to London, but of course we had over a 1.5-hour delay. Once our plane landed in Dallas, after our planned boarding time, our group of 56 quickly and successfully boarded the around 5,000 mile Dallas to London flight with no time to spare. This morning (Saturday) we landed in London around 11am local time (5am CST) and were greeted by chilly London weather and the aforementioned bus.

In addition to the typical things a tourist would see, over the next 3 weeks we will be studying English Literature, including works such as Persuasion, Wuthering Heights, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and various short stories and poems. Following our classes, which occur every other day, we get to go physically see and experience the places where the ideas of these works came to light, the birthplaces of the authors, and other important aspects of these pieces of literature. For months leading up to this trip, we have all been excited to travel to England together and explore everything that it has to offer, and now it is finally here!

By Gatton Academy

Gatton Goes to College: 2017

May 3, 2017 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Tricia Thompson | No Comments

By: Tricia Thompson

Though some of the seniors may have left their decision until the very last minute on the May 1^st deadline, come May 2^nd, the entire senior class is officially all registered for “real college.” So, Gatton held a celebration. The seniors gathered in their college t-shirts over delicious food to celebrate our rapidly approaching next steps.

From Colorado Springs to Boston to Lexington to right here in Bowling Green, the class is preparing to scatter, but for one afternoon, we gathered to take goofy pictures with college pennants and celebrate out classmates’ successes. The official photographer captured many of the more serious shots but missed the swordfighting with pennants, piggyback rides, and elderly impersonations happening in the background. Wings took pictures for posterity to see where their suitemates and hallmates were off to. There was the occasional surprise of “I didn’t know you were going there too!”

Before all of this though, we sat in a seminar and shared memories with the juniors. From memories on the Moors in England to funny quotes from well-remembered professors to some of the antics one stumbles upon simply walking through the building, it was a day to look back with happiness and look forward with excitement.

By Gatton Academy

Greece 2017: Epidaurus and Mycenae

January 14, 2017 | 2016-2017, 2017 Greece, Amber Carroll, Avatars, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Amber Carroll

We started our day with a 7:30 wake-up call. Most of us were thrilled because this is the latest we have gotten to sleep in while on the trip (us teenagers sure do love sleep). Once the bus was packed, loaded, and ready to go, we headed off on a short journey to the ancient palace of Agamemnon. Being able to stand atop of Agamemnon’s palace was a once in a lifetime opportunity that most of us will probably never forget.

After we left the palace, it was just a short bus ride to King Agamemnon’s tomb. There, the king himself was actually buried, and for us that was absolutely exhilarating to consider. The enormity of the tomb was truly overwhelming. You can tell the tomb was old because of the smell, but what else would you expect out of a tomb that’s over 3,000 years old?

We then headed off to a clay workshop. Here, we learned how the locals make homemade pottery, jewelry, and sculptures; their work was amazing. From historic recreations to designs from local artists, the fact that everything was painted by hand was astounding. It’s fascinating to think that the same processes used by the ancient Greeks are still being utilized today. There was a specific collection of blue and gold pottery that immediately caught my attention.

Tomorrow, we will visit Hydra, a small Greek island located about 2 hours from Athens. Although this island lacks the historical significance of the other places we have visited along the way, I have personally been looking forward to Hydra this entire trip. While I have loved learning about all of the details of ancient Greece, an escape to a simple island is a welcomed change.

By Gatton Academy

Greece 2017: Sparta

January 14, 2017 | 2016-2017, 2017 Greece, Amanda Zahn, Avatars, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Amanda Zahn

Another day has passed here in Greece and my oh my how this trip is flying by! It’s hard to believe we have almost crossed all the destinations off our lists of places to see.

Today’s destination: Sparta.

Though the main event of the day was visiting the city of Sparta, our day did begin in Nafplio bright and early, per usual. By 8 am, our group had all walked to the main square in town and stood waiting outside the Archaeological Museum of Nafplion, our first stop of the day. The doors opened and, with our guide sheet in hand provided by Irene, we took some time to explore the museum and view the multitude of artifacts found throughout the Peloponnese region that are housed there. Then we loaded up the bus and headed for the main attraction of the day… Sparta!

Unfortunately, as we drove to Sparta the weather took a downhill turn and the rain began. Luckily it wasn’t cold enough for this to be snow or ice, but it did mean we could no longer visit the acropolis of Sparta. We could still go to our first stop in Sparta, though. This was the Archaeological Museum of Sparta, which houses many artifacts found around the ancient city-state of Sparta. For this museum we had a guide who told us many stories about the Spartans and the various artifacts.

To make up for not going to the acropolis of Sparta, we changed plans and also visited the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil to spend some time learning how olive oil was traditionally produced and used throughout Greek civilization.

We then headed for a quick stop at the statue of Leonidas, the warrior king of Sparta back during the Persian wars. Since it was raining, it was a quick stop and we took a quick group photo of everyone doing their best battle cry. Finally, it was time for a late lunch. We found a nice little restaurant in town with a bakery next door so that we could have some lunch and dessert before loading up the bus and heading back to Nafplio.

With it being our final night in Nafplio, we had some free time before dinner to shop and such. Groups split off to visit the city’s quaint little shops and various ice-cream and gelato shops. I myself got gelato and I must say, it tasted like the authentic Italian gelato. So, all in all, it ended up being a good, full day of experience, despite the rain.

By Gatton Academy

Greece 2017: Delphi (from the Birthday Girl!)

January 14, 2017 | 2016-2017, 2017 Greece, Amber Carroll, Avatars, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Amber Carroll

The word “freezing” does not even begin to describe today. In fact, it was around 10-20 degrees all day. Not to mention that we were outside for a great majority of the day. However, we saw some amazing things that I do not regret seeing. Not many people can say that they have visited the Oracle of Delphoi, which contains Temple of Apollo, in person. The breadth of the oracle was breathtaking. Being frozen for about an hour was all worth it at the end.

The grounds contained an old church, an old gift shop, the Temple of Apollo, a theater, and a stadium (not to mention many cats and dogs). The ruins had the original inscription from when the oracle was in use which I found fascinating. At the museum, we had a quiz; Alex and Piper were the winners and received a prize from our tour director, Irene.

We had another long day of traveling and arrived in Olympia for dinner. On the way, we stopped at a delicious bakery. Here, Irene purchased a Greek, traditional New Year’s cake. For dinner we cut the cake and the person with the coin in their piece are said to have a really lucky year; Hannah had the coin and should have a great 2017 year (hopefully we all do).

Not only was today fascinating, but it was particularly my favorite day because… dun dun dun… it was my 18^th birthday.

By Gatton Academy

Recent News

Category: Avatars