Weekend in Cornwall

Hey everyone! I'm sorry I haven't written recently! As it turns out, during the week, I'm quite busy with homework and on the weekends I fairly busy with both seeing the sights and trying not to get behind on homework. Anyway, I certainly owe you guys some stories!

On last friday morning, the entire group of ASE students, visiting professors from the US, and all the ASE staff went to Cornwall for the weekend. We had a fairly early start and a long bus ride so lots of people napped. Midway through the ride, we stopped at a service center which was really different than the rest stops I'm used to. They had this building with food and stores. The one store had all these really big (like the size of a four year old) stuffed meerkats and I never have been able to figure out what the deal was with that! But it also had some cheep England football (soccer) jerseys so, knowing that we were going to be watching a game, I picked up a flag, jersey, and bracelet--I was completely outfitted! But after a short stop, we were off again...

Around lunchtime, we arrived at Tintagel--the legendary birthplace of King Arthur. ASE provided us with sandwiches, crisps (aka chips) and fruit and we walked down a really long and fairly steep hill (trying not to think about coming back up it) until we got right to the water's edge. There we stopped to eat lunch. Really, I can't describe the beauty of the scenery properly!

It was absolutely gorgeous! The water was a brilliant blue, the grass was green, the sky was bright with a few white, fluffy clouds...perfect! Here are a few pictures to show you just how wonderful it was.

See what I mean? It was awesome! After lunch, we went up another hill to where the ruins of the Tintagel Castle are. Here are the ruins of the great hall.

All around were beautiful views of the water and the surrounding hills and the ruins. Here's a picture of the view in another direction. If you want to see more pictures, you should check out my facebook page where I have more from all the places I went this past weekend.

So after Tintagel, we went Roskilly's Farm for BBQ and ice cream. The BBQ was fine, but not great, but the ice cream... I am partial to ice cream! After that, we went to Coverack which is the little fishing village where our hostel was (up another long hill).By the time we got to the hostel, I was really quite tired and my ankle was bothering me so I just relaxed and read a book.

The next day was another busy day. Luckily, my ankle, although still sore, was a lot better and I wasn't limping like I had been the night. That was a really good thing because we went to the Lizard, which is the southernmost tip of England for a five mile hike! It was really cool. We had a guide named Pat Sergeant who has lived on the Lizard for like 30-odd years and knows all the"ologies" (i.e. biology, geology, botany). He was quite the character--I think my favorite part was when he told us in no uncertain terms how he feels about Margaret Thatcher. It was hilarious! We went along the coast next to these huge cliffs and yet again, I just could not stop taking pictures--everywhere you looked was another beautiful scene.

Again, I highly recommend you take a look at the photos on Facebook. I just can't tell you how beautiful everything was!

After the hike, we went on to St. Ives where we saw the Barbara Hepworth (a sculptor) museum, the Tate Modern museum (the mini one in St. Ives) and we went to the beach. I have once and for all, proven that England does indeed have white sandy beaches! The group I was with did it all! I decided not to go swimming, but I did want to wade in the Atlantic and I got a bit more wet that I meant to, but it was worth it. In case you are wondering, yes the Atlantic is officially very cold! I also got to play a bit of frisbee on the beach before we had to go back to the bus to get back to St. Ives in time for the US- England World Cup match!

Back in Coverak, we went to the pub called the Paris to watch the game. We also got to have our first pasties (not pronounced like the synonym for glue). It had meat and onions in it and I really liked it. They used to take them into the mines because the miners could hold the crust and eat the middle easily. Okay, okay, you've probably noticed that in the above picture I am wearing an England jersey. I was kind of rooting for England over the US. In my defense, I did sing the national anthem and I was actually rather happy with the tied outcome (1-1)! It's just that, if I was at home, I wouldn't care at all about the World Cup and I'm really trying to get into the culture around here and they like their football. Even churches have been hanging the English flag out (not to be confused with the British flag) in support of the team (who by the way, I'm watching right now and are not doing well). So anyway, that was Saturday.

On Sunday, we stopped at Knightshayes Court on our way back to Bath. This was this huge house that some rich people owned. But it was cool! I guess I don't have a ton to say about it though... the people who owned it owned a textile factory (I think). The house was cool, and the view of the countryside was very nice!

Well, I really need to get to bed (I'm going to London really early tomorrow), but I will try to fill you all in with the rest of the week and this weekend on Sunday. Thanks for being patient with me! I wish you could all see what I have seen because it is awesome! I love you all!

English accents, royals, and bunnies...

Hi everyone! So, I've realized that I really can't give you all a blow by blow of everyday...so I'm going to stop trying (I think). Thanks for sticking with me as I try to figure out how I want to do this! Anyway, I thought it was time to give you all an update as I have had three days of classes now.

My Jane Austen in Bath class meets every weekday except Friday from 9:30 to 11 am. People say the tutor, Dr. Fallon, (they're not actually called professors over here unless they are really senior members of the staff) is really cute--I don't disagree exactly, but I don't think he is my Mr. Darcy, if you know what I mean. (And please don't take that the wrong way! I'm just telling you what's going on around here!) But I definitely love his accent! Did you know that Jane Austen's books sound infinitely better if read aloud by a man with an English accent? Because they do! Actually, everything sounds better with an English accent! Anyway, I think that it will be a fair amount of work, but I'm really excited about it! I am really enjoying reading Jane Austen. Plus, yesterday and today, we walked around Bath getting a tour (by the tutor) of sites related to Jane Austen and that is really fun (even if I do look like a complete tourist taking all kinds of pictures)! Yesterday we followed the footsteps of Catherine Morland from Northanger Abbey and today we went "house hunting with Jane Austen."

My British Politics class meets every weekday (except Friday) from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. I have a really nice break between my classes, as you can see! I, of course, really like Professor Schousen (you don't take a whole bunch of classes with someone you don't like). Plus the class is smaller and more relaxed--more of us know the professor and are willing to talk in class. Don't get me wrong--both of my classes are fairly laidback in style, but the students are more relaxed in Professor Schousen's class so far. Oh, and the first day, I was absolutely amazed because Professor Schousen, who at F&M is always wearing a nice shirt, tie, and jacket, was wearing jeans and sandals!! It was really cool! Because we are trying to keep up with events, we have to read a newspaper everyday and we end up talking a lot about football (soccer for you Americans who don't understand!).

Yesterday was quite the stressful day at times! I lost the stone to my class ring (that I wear like everyday) and had given up on finding it when I found it IN the kitchen sink!! It hadn't gone down the drain!! I was really amazed and it is now safely put away where it can't escape! My house also tried to go grocery shopping yesterday which was quite stressful--actually the worst shopping trip of my entire life! But in the evening I had a lot of fun laughing about English slang words that I learned from the newspaper!

Speaking of slang, I've been wanting to make a list of the words/phrases I have learned so far (to be updated with future posts):

Er = um (actually this is more from Harry Potter than anything)

Bog = really slang term for bathroom

Football = soccer

nip in = go in

Loo = another slang for bathroom

I'm also saying things like 'quite' and 'rather' a bit!

Oh, I almost forgot--I almost saw the prince today!! So Prince Charles apparently opened a new store (his store) in Bath today on Milsom Street (very high class). I was up that way around 10:30 AM with some friends, but I didn't know he was around so I didn't bother to go up and check things out (we were a bit pressed for time, you know). When I got back to the study center, I found out that Prince Charles was in town, but by then it was time for my Jane Austen class (it was late today because of train issues). After class (around 1 pm) my friends and I went up to Milsom street in a grand quest for the Prince. Alas, although we found his shop, he was already gone! But upon returning to the study center, I found that he had been there around 10:30 this morning!!!! SO CLOSE!!! Anyway, I breathed the same air that he did in his shop so that totally counts...right? Still, I had to try, because he is royal after-all.

Anyway, this evening we went on a comedy tour of Bath called Bizarre Bath. It was hilarious! My face hurts from laughing! To give a few quick highlights (I'm rather tired you know), there was a stuffed bunny that 'escaped' from a chain and a bag that was sinking to the bottom of a river (quite traumatizing really, to watch Stuart sink like that), and a ring that was miraculously delivered by the 'same' bunny after it (the ring) had apparently floated away with a balloon. At the end, I bought a Stuart Junior as a souvenir-well worth it! (Sorry about the brief description, but I really want to get this posted tonight and frankly, I can't really explain everything that happened on that walk.)

Before I go though, I have been quite remiss in not providing you all with an address to which you can post things to me (still having fun with the accent). If you want to mail anything to me (which is of course greatly appreciated and definitely not required in order for us to remain friends) please send it to this address:

Abbey Heller

c/o Advanced Studies in England

Nelson House

2 Pierrepont Street

Bath BA1 1LB

England

Love you all! Cheers!

Settling in

Hi again. I'm currently sitting on my bed, making a bold attempt to stay awake! Actually, I'm doing okay, but I probably won't be up too late tonight. It occurs to me that you may want to know what I've been doing for the past two days...or maybe you don't care, but I'm going to tell you anyway.

Yesterday (Saturday) was the day that I was supposed to meet the people from ASE (Advanced Studies in England--the program I'm with) between the hours of 11 AM and 3 PM at the train station. Unfortunately, I got a horrible night's sleep on Friday night--first I couldn't fall asleep, despite my exhaustion, and then I woke up at 4:45 AM (although I did fall back asleep around 6:30 for a bit longer). Anyway, when I got up, I showered and went down to breakfast at the hotel before just killing time for a while in my room. Around 11 I checked out of the hotel and took a taxi with all my stuff back to the train station. It was really awkward though, because I really didn't know who I was looking for so I stood around for some time thinking "this is a problem!" and "what am I going to do?". Anyway, finally I was wandering around and the person I was supposed to meet, Claire, saw me with my luggage and I was rescued. Granted, she had the advantage of having our pictures with her. Another woman escorted a few of us to our houses by coach (I'm really enjoying this English thing).

I live on Pierrepont Place in Linley House. Apparently the house was built in the 1700s and the Linley family lived here. According to my sources (i.e. the woman who talked to us) the Linleys are fairly well known--Thomas Linely was a composer (I feel like I should have known that), and one of his daughters married the poet Sheridan I think. Basically, the place has history. So the house has a ton of floors! The front door leads onto the ground floor, as the English would say (we would say the first floor, but I told you, I'm really liking the English) that has two rooms where a total of four people are staying. If one proceeds down the hall and down the staircase, one is led to an EXTREMELY sketch looking kitchen, with the only oven in the house and a washer and dryer. Also on this basement floor, is a classroom that will be used this summer which leads out onto a little patio/garden. Oh, and there is a small bathroom (half bath I guess) down there. So, going up the stairs, past the ground floor, to the first floor (aka the second floor in our terms), one finds the drawing room (used to be a music room), dinning room, and slightly nicer, but still small, kitchen. If you keep walking up those endless stairs, you get to the floor with two more rooms (one is mine) of two people each and the two showers. Through a door just out side the showers, is a very narrow, winding staircase at the top of which is the other bathroom. Have you gotten the sense that there are a lot of stairs? Because there are! I would invite you to look at the pictures on my facebook page if you want pictures.

Anyway, we only had a short orientation meeting yesterday...the real orientation started today. There are 32 people on the trip who are spread out around the city of Bath in four different houses. Basically, today we did a lot of sitting while they talked to us, but, interestingly, it is much more interesting (even a somewhat dull subject like rules) when the person talking has a British accent. Plus, they tried to avoid just droning on which was greatly appreciated. But, really, it wasn't bad--I know the stuff is important, they're funny, and as I said, have really cool accents! In the afternoon, we learned about the trips we can (apparently some are optional, but I don't really know why you wouldn't go) go on and got a "shopping tour" of the city where they took us in a big circle and pointed out helpful shops.

You know, speaking of accents, some of the people I have met here (more in a minute) and I are actually finding it hard not to speak with an accent. It is really tempting to imitate--not to make fun or anything, but because it's cool and you're surrounded by it! Plus, as you may have noticed, I've already picked up some random phrases. For example, today, I actually said that I was going to "just nip in" and do something! That is definitely not a phrase I have EVER used before, but it seems so right here! :) I will probably come back and be made fun of endlessly for all of these types of things, but I don't care!

I have made a few friends which, honestly, is quite a relief! I live with 7 other girls and although most of them are nice, I really don't seem to be on the same wavelength with 5 of them. I mean, it's not that they're mean, but they seem to be interested in doing things that I don't want to or want to do sparingly (for example, although I would like to perhaps experience a bit of the night life as I am legal here, I don't see a need to do so right away). Also, whenever I talk, I get the sense that a few of the girls don't like me and wish I would go away. :( But that's okay because the other 2 and I get along well and are making plans for our free weekends together! The girls (that I am making friends with) are my roommate Christina and a housemate, Casey. We all seem to have similar ideas of what would be fun, what we want to do while here, and whatnot. We have a couple of free weekends and we are starting to make plans to spend one in Bath seeing the sights and perhaps take a day-trip to London on the other weekend.

So, that is my weekend in (an admittedly, rather large) nutshell. Tomorrow classes start! :/ I'm actually quite nervous about that because it occurs to me that I haven't taken an English class in two years and lots of the people I have talked to seem to be english majors! Plus, I'm concerned about writing the papers. Oh well, we'll see what happens! Thanks for reading and sticking with me through what I realize could have been a bit boring for you all! Love you!

Hey England!

Hi everyone! As promised, this post is coming to you from England…I arrived in Bristol this morning after flying all night (or day, depending on which time zone you care to think of it). The first leg of the trip was over 9 hours from Seattle to Amsterdam and basically, that is waay too long a flight! I am still sore from sitting there (for which I partly blame the dumb snowboarder who ran me over 1 ½ years ago). I also wasn’t able to sleep much…but on the upside, they gave us dinner and didn’t charge us for the movies—I’m not used to that kind of service anymore!

Anyway, from Amsterdam I flew to Bristol—a wonderfully short 1 hour flight. It was also fun because the couple sitting next to me on the Seattle leg was going to Bristol so we chatted and relaxed together between flights. So from Bristol, I took the coach (see I’m already learning how to speak English) to the Bristol Temple Meads Train Station, bought a railcard and actually managed to get on the correct train to Bath Spa! I took a taxi to the hotel, had lunch, emailed my parents to say that I’m alive, and promptly feel asleep (for way longer than I meant to).

When I finally woke up, I took a quick shower (for some reason, just sitting on a plane makes one feel remarkably disgusting) and started wandering around Bath! I was a bit too nervous to wander too far from my hotel (yeah, I’m a wimp, I know), but I wandered a couple of blocks I guess and found a little pizzeria for dinner. Then I wandered some more! Fun fact: the Jane Austen Center is just up the street from my hotel. I don’t know whether I will go there tomorrow before meeting the ASE group, but I will certainly visit at some point and through the window, located a fun looking souvenir or two…

Anyway, I’m fairly tired and just hanging out for the night. Love you all!