Avatars – Page 20 – The Gatton Academy News

Harlaxton 2016: Class and Afternoon Fun

August 2, 2016 | 2016 Harlaxton, 2016-2017, Avatars, Sara Saeed, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Sara Saeed

Our 19th day in England started with a 9:00 am quiz over selected works from Lord Byron and Robin Hood Ballads. Class continued with presentations from Cameron, Ruth, Rhiannon, and Aaron over British film, the West End theatre district, double decker buses and black taxi cabs, and the differences between American and British English. After a short break, Professor Rutledge led a discussion on D.H. Lawrence’s, The Odour of Chrysanthemums and gave a lecture on poetry terms that will be on our final in a few short days.

At noon, we were dismissed from class, and most of us rushed straight to the refectory. After lunch, we had the rest of the afternoon and evening to spend how we wanted. I watched a movie, while some took taxis into the town of Grantham to tour the birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton, some played a game of croquet on the back lawn of the manor, and some rode bikes into town for lunch. One of the highlights of my day was making my first call in a British red telephone box to, ironically, order Indian food to the manor. When the evening came to a close, many spent their time in ‘The Bistro” (another name for the basement of the manor), took advantage of the plentiful common space, watched movies and ate pizza, threw darts, played sardines, or played cards. Others chose to throw a frisbee on the lawn or play a game of volleyball in the sports hall. Our relaxing day ended with a midnight curfew and we went to bed in preparation for our exciting field trip tomorrow.

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Harlaxton 2016: Newstead Abbey

August 1, 2016 | 2016 Harlaxton, 2016-2017, Avatars, Logan Parker, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Logan Parker

After we finished breakfast, we all gathered in the lobby area to wait for our packed lunches to arrive. As soon as the refectory staff brought the carts of brown paper bags, we all rushed to grab any lunch that contained a PB&J. (The alternative if we were too late is a butter and cheese sandwich.) After we packed our necessities for the day, we boarded the double-decker bus for the second time of our trip. Even though the views don’t change much from the bottom floor to the top floor, it’s still a unique and worthwhile experience to view the English countryside from the second floor of a coach.

Our drive to Nottingham Castle was around 30 minutes to an hour. Upon our arrival, we hoped to catch a glimpse of the castle because the day’s plan doesn’t have us going into the castle. The trees block a full view of the castle, but many of us found excitement in snapping photos with the Robin Hood statue. We then head to Newstead Abbey, home of poet Lord Byron. We toured the historical building, learning of the many John Byron’s who lived there over the centuries. Newstead Abbey is a large building with a maze of rooms and corridors. It’s most memorable traits include the church, which only has the front facing wall (Henry VIII commissioned the rest of the church to be demolished for the first Sir John Byron to live there) and the endless gardens located on the grounds. After our tour, we explored the many gardens, each having a unique theme: Japanese, Spanish, American, stone, etc.

We came back to find that Harlaxton Manor was having its annual open house. Between the buzz of visitors, we participated in various activities: teaching friends how to ride a bike, sleeping, watching a movie, studying, etc. Personally, I went on a run to explore the surrounding area. The rest of the afternoon continued as the beginning; we spent our free time doing what we wanted to do. The night rounded off with watching movies, studying for tomorrow’s quiz, ordering delivery food, or a mix of the three. I spent my time watching the movie As Above, so Below, eating Chinese takeout, and hanging out until curfew. I, as many probably were, went to bed looking forward to going home in a few days, but also longing to stay here.

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Harlaxton 2016: Class Day (D.H. Lawrence) and Free Time

August 1, 2016 | 2016 Harlaxton, 2016-2017, Avatars, Jonathan Kinnard, Study Abroad | No Comments

By Jonathan Kinnard:

Yet another Harlaxton day started by most with a warm cup of tea and a hearty breakfast. This morning’s class started with presentations as usual. As the sunlight breached through the garden windows in the Long Gallery, I started by giving a brief presentation on Nottingham Castle and its history. This was followed by interesting discussions from Mia Weaver on Robin Hood and Amber Carroll on Lord Byron’s love-life. Without missing a beat, Dr. Rutledge then launched into our quiz on D.H. Lawrence and his literary works. Next was an unorthodox lecture that ended with each of us feeling each other’s faces to demonstrate how awkward it must have been for Bertie in D.H. Lawrence’s The Blind Man.

Next was lunch. Then we dispersed to all corners of Harlaxton and Grantham, England. Woodland walks seemed to be popular ventures today as the many nooks and crannies of the trails behind the manor were explored. Other students took biking trips to Grantham to shop, eat, and go to church. I was surprised to find that the bike ride to Grantham is not all cement and sidewalk either. Plenty of creek-side trails were used as shortcuts to get around. Thanks to Veronica Johnson’s expert trailblazing, my group made it to church safely and on time for a wonderful Sunday service. The Bistro (Harlaxton Manor’s basement) is certainly becoming a favorite spot thanks to the plethora of movies, darts, and cards available. I walked around the manor around 9:00 pm and noticed four different movies playing at once. Without a doubt, it’s been a relaxing day here with a beautiful sunset to put the cherry on the cake.

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Harlaxton 2016: John Bunyan Field Trip and the Houghton House

August 1, 2016 | 2016 Harlaxton, 2016-2017, Avatars, Sherafghan Khan, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Sherafghan Khan

Today’s class field trip was dedicated to visiting different sites associated with John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim’s Progress. We went to locations such as the John Bunyan Museum, the Bunyan Meeting Church, a trip to Elstow, and, finally, the Houghton House. I really enjoyed riding in the double-decker bus as well; it was the full British experience.

It was amazing to see the actual metal violin Bunyan made, the anvil that he carried on his back, Pilgrim’s Progress written in 170 different languages, and life-size models of John Bunyan. The church was truly a work of art. The windows of the church depicted different scenes from Pilgrim’s Progress with great artistic detail; I was in complete awe.

Our next stop was Elstow (only about a 10-minute drive south of Bedford), the birthplace of John Bunyan as well as the location of the third largest abbey in all of Britain – the Elstow Abbey. We stopped in a park in this town and ate our lunches and fed wild geese in a local river. We then arrived at the Houghton House (also located in the Bedfordshire county). Bunyan was a tinker, meaning he would go to mansions such as the Houghton House and fix the resident’s pots and pans. Even though this house was in ruins, it was neat to see what a mansion that John Bunyan would visit looked like.

When we arrived back at Harlaxton Manor, my friends and I decided to rent bicycles and travel to the town of Grantham. Coincidentally, the last time I wrote a blog I talked about how I biked in the streets of London. There is a clear distinction between the setting in which we biked today and that of London. Here, there were mostly wheat fields compared to the tall skyscrapers in London. As we biked to Grantham, there was a soft British mist and subtle rain that fell on our faces. The weather and the scenery was completely picturesque, especially our view on our bike ride back into the manor. My day concluded with a game of basketball in the Harlaxton gym and studying for tomorrow’s quiz in the exquisite library. It is truly amazing how many different places we have visited so far as well as our residency – a marvelous castle in the British countryside.

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Harlaxton 2016: Class and Second Essays Due

July 28, 2016 | 2016 Harlaxton, 2016-2017, Avatars, Study Abroad, Veronica Johnson | No Comments

By: Veronica Johnson

Today was day 15 of our 23 day trip. We began class this morning at 9:00 AM (3:00 AM Central Time) with a quiz on John Bunyan and excerpts from “The Pilgrim’s Process.” Alexa and Chloe presented to us what they learned about Brexit and Social Differences between different countries in the UK. We then discussed Bunyan’s story and The Puritan Era, the time period in which Bunyan wrote. We concluded our class with a discussion on how social differences appear in “The Wind in the Willows” and some lively banter about how we personally perceived the main characters when reading the novel.

After class we had the day to ourselves, so you would think that everyone would be relaxing and exploring Harlaxton and Grantham, but this was not quite the case. For many of us, today was stressful because our second essays were due today. I spent my afternoon having my essay critiqued and critiquing the essays of my peers. I found the process to be very enlightening because I got to see what other people thought about the books we read for class. Because we got to choose our essay prompts from a long list, everyone wrote about something they thought they knew a lot about or were interested in. Although this was a positive experience, I am relieved that I am done writing essays, at least until our final.

I explored the grounds after submitting my essay, and I have yet to be disappointed with anything here at Harlaxton. I continue to find beautiful scenery and perfect places to lay out and take a nap or relax and read a book. Today was a long day, but it has been a very good one!

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Senior Reflection: Rebecca Wood

July 28, 2016 | 2015-2016, Avatars, Rebecca Wood, Senior Reflection | No Comments

By: Rebecca Wood

Our stories are written in languages incomprehensible to most. We speak in the traditional: Spanish, French, Japanese; the critical: Russian, Chinese, Arabic; and the computational: Java and Mathematica. Our syntax is flawless; we know the importance of the semicolon. At The Gatton Academy, our eyes have been opened to subjects like physics, computer science, and chemistry. While we studied and programmed, we developed more than just technical skills; we became masters of storytelling.

At its simplest form, Gatton is a high school. Its students take a set curriculum of classes to gain enough credits to be able to graduate. That is what we all did – what all high-school graduates accomplish. But what did you do that is qualified for a chapter in your book?

Did you venture down to the Barren River to go on a hike with four of your best friends, or did you race the trains while running at the track?

Did you stay up all night discussing the meaning of life, then trek to Waffle House as soon as the sun rose?

Did you manage to sprint up College Street only to then realize the soreness that tomorrow will bring?

Did you master the London Tube and get to see the Olympic Village, or did you spend €30 on gelato in Italy?

Did you and your friends carry a watermelon across town, only to drop it on the floor of a dorm room?

Did you throw dance parties to bond with your wing, or did you watch all of the NCAA tournament in a common space?

Did you spend hours in a staff member’s office simply because you were friends?

My book, There and Back Again: A Gatton Tale, is divided into many chapters – my favorite being “Home at Harlaxton.” London became my residence: a place where I could see shows on the West End, sip (expensive) tea at the Villandry, and view collections of art at the National Portrait Gallery and the Tate Modern. I saw my dream cars, and I drooled in Harrod’s. We made our way to Harlaxton Manor House, where days were filled with bus rides and hikes and nights were spent studying for the next day’s quiz with my three roommates (and best friends). The last night included playing soccer with the security guard, dancing with my family of friends, and going for a brief run.

I thought the benefit of Gatton was that, at the end, I would have been challenged in high school so I could graduate to have a head start in “real college.” The true Gatton Advantage lies with the memories we are able to make by living in a community with the most remarkable students that Kentucky hosts. We were shaped by the new experiences we encountered together – our first difficult classes, abroad adventures, and points-of-freaking-out. Each one of us was able to become more open with what we liked and who we were. For this reason more than any other, I am thankful for the Gatton Academy. This community – our community – taught me to shamelessly pursue what I cared about and to tirelessly search for what was important to me. Because of my studies here, I have learned incredible things about French, English, math, and computer science. Because of Schneider and Bates Runner Halls, I have found wonderful friends in people from hundreds of miles away. Because of the opportunities afforded to me, I have seen cultures from all around the world. Because of Gatton, my story will be one worth telling.

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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.

By Gatton Academy

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