EM in ENGLAND

London... for the last time!

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 12:15:13 -0500

12.2.10

I am sorry I have not written a blog entry for a while, the past two weeks I was at Belsey Bridge for a study retreat. I was very busy with schoolwork, but there was also time for fun activities in between. Here is a bulleted list of the highlights:

Went to see Harry Potter in Norwich
Prepared a Thanksgiving feast for 50 people!
Hung out with friends and watched movies, played ping pong, and journeyed out in the snow. (Yes snow! Pretty much everyday since Thanksgiving)
Finished all of my papers and exams!
Talked to my boyfriend, friend, and family on skype! (This was helpful during this time of overwhelming school work, but also made me so excited to go home!) Thank you for your prayers and support.

Now we are in London for 3 days until I get on a plane and go home. I can’t believe it. It is snowing here in London too, and it looks beautiful. It does get very cold. Today I felt like my toes might fall off even though I was wearing two pairs of warm socks.

What I have been/will be doing this week:

Today a group of us went to Harods to see the Christmas decorations. It was quite the experience.
Walked through snowy Hyde Park (and the Winter Wonderland festivities)
Camden Town market
Arcade Fire concert
to the theatre to see Black Watch & Cinderella
Indian food with the group
Ice skating in Hyde Park :)
Walking around and enjoying the city (in short segments before I freeze) I have really enjoyed experiencing London’s seasonal changes over the past four months. I can’t wait to show you all more pictures :)

Belsey Bridge Beginnings

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 08:39:57 -0500

Right now I am sitting on my bed, overwhelmed after a class film/discussion on racism. The film was both unsettling and illuminating but I can’t help but feel discouraged right now. In our post-film discussion there were a variety of perspectives raised that I appreciated (involving prejudice in education, the ‘Christian response’ and the role religion has played in history, what makes culture and who has a right to it, colonization and pride, the importance of relationships and dialogue founded on trust, and this list could continue on). Still it is hard to take such a widespread and controversial issue and find an appropriate response, because there is no one right answer yet we cannot deny that the problem calls for an answer. Do we pretend? Give up? Pray.

I am not sure exactly why I am writing a blog right now. Ha it has been a while and there are lots of other experiences I want to write about still. In this moment I feel overwhelmed (I have 4 papers to edit and 3 to write and finals and assignments looming). I do not know how to process that discussion right now. I think timing is important, but then again if we waited for the ‘right time’ to discuss important issues we would always find something else that would take precedence (like editing a paper on the construct of masculinity in a production of Shakespeare?)…

Well now we are about to go see Harry Potter 7. I am excited to get a break and spend time with my friends. I just did not want to sweep it all under the rug… so I decided to write a blog to keep me accountable to these thoughts. So here they are, haha.

God is love and love is real. Peace is attainable therefore I have hope.

To Holland and back again

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 10:21:00 -0500

I am back in London after a wonderful weekend in Amsterdam. Right now I am a little disoriented, but also very grateful for the experiences I had. Annemarie was such a great hostess, her apartment was home to us for the weekend and she went out of her way to make sure we had a great time.

A few details about my stay:

-Last night Annemarie’s parents came over for dessert (Auntie Carla and Uncle John) and we played Rummikub… It had been such a long time and it was great to see them.

-Yesterday we went to see a movie (Mother and Child) downtown with Annemarie. It was a little gloomy out so we spent the first half of the day relaxing and the apartment and visiting the petting zoo nearby. I enjoyed going downtown for a bit and spending some more time with Annemarie. (Amsterdam at night is also quite breathtaking… the christmas lights reflecting off the water in the canals is beautiful).

-Talked to some other relatives on the phone and my grandma and dad on skype! I was feeling a little homesick during this stay. I think being around family yet still being so far from home was hard, and the slower pace made the ‘home pull’ a little stronger. Yesterday I talked to Uncle John about Pake for a little while, and that made me a little emotional. I really miss him. And the rest of his family does as well. What an incredibly loving man, I am so blessed to have had a grandpa like him. So many little things reminded me of him, grandma and fond memories I have with them. For that reason I very much enjoyed being in Holland, even though at times it was a little challenging.

-On Saturday we walked through the Red Light District, it was overwhelming at unsettling. I think I am still processing my reaction to it. I was not sure how exactly I would respond, I was not surprised but I still felt put off and isolated. I was mostly sad for the women and men who have degraded themselves in such a way and cheapened something intended for a greater good. Separating what I saw from Truth was the hardest part, but I am so grateful to know the source of love and the freedom of salvation. Beyond that I am still figuring out how to respond to some major issues of pain in the world in a way that is constructive, but thankfully I am not taking on that one alone.

-We went out dancing in Saturday night, but everyone there was over fifty! haha. It was a funny experience but we ended up calling Annmarie to come get us after we had a few laughs.

-So many bikes in Amsterdam! I think I am going to get one of my own someday.

-Windmills are such a good idea. The Netherlands can definitely be pretty windy! Thankfully we had really great weather on Saturday, it was beautiful outside and very conducive to walking around and soaking it all in.

-I am really looking forward to making Stroop Waffles with Grandma Katie when I get home! yum.

Ok well I think that is all for today. All in all, being in Amsterdam was both wonderful and internally challenging. I feel so blessed by my family (and supportive boyfriend/friends). With three weeks left in the UK, I am definitely feeling the pull of home but I know that this time is going to fly by. I am looking forward to the adventures and lessons that are bound to fill up the next 20 some days.

ASH- I am praying for you! Finish strong! Happy 24th birthday! (a day in advance) I love you.

Amsterdam

Sat, 13 Nov 2010 06:30:42 -0500

11.11

After a long day of traveling we arrived in Amsterdam around noon on Thursday. We had not slept the night before, due to a late night at the theatre and then packing. We left the hotel at 4:45 by taxi, walked to the bus stop, traveled to the airport, flew to Amsterdam and then took a train to where Annemarie picked us up in her car. At that point Rachel and I were exhausted and took a nap. It is nice to be here in at Annemarie’s apartment, she has been so kind and helpful and I have really appreciated her hospitality. It is fun to be in the Netherlands again, there are so many little things here that remind me of my grandparents.

11.12

Yesterday we had a very fun and busy day. After figuring out the tram system, we met author Sid Jacobsen at the Anne Frank house. His graphic biography was recently released, and he came and spoke to a small group. We both got signed copies of his book and I am looking forward to reading the rest of it. After we ate lunch in the museum cafe and toured the museum. Anne’s story is so moving, and her ambition (and circumstance) is inspiring to me. Otto Frank was also an incredible man, really determined to make a difference in the world. I remember feeling moved the first time I saw the museum in August, but going again was really a great experience.

Upon leaving the museum in the early afternoon we walked around in the area called ‘the nines” (nine streets on the canals that are known by their fun shops and places to eat. It is pretty cold here (and rainy at times) but it is still very beautiful. The christmas decor really livens up the city, making it fun to walk around. After dinner we went to the Van Gogh museum (open late for friday museum night). We walked around the museum and checked out the incredible naturalists exhibit, which I really enjoyed. There was a band playing called Houses, that was actually pretty good. We sat down and enjoyed before venturing out in the rain to catch the tram (once again, this was a process).

I am having a great time in Amsterdam, it is great to get some rest and slow down a little bit. I am only here for three more weeks, and I am definitely starting to feel ready to come home. Only a few more papers, adventures, and travels left before this incredible oppertunity comes to an end! I feel blessed to be here and am still learning new things every day.

My brother turned 17 yesterday :) I can’t believe how grown up he is getting!

Happy B-day Bryce!

P.S. I have a few stories about last week to share, but will wait until I am on my own computer so that I put up some pics as well.

I'm beginning to see the light

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 13:12:00 -0500

11.7.10

Today was one of my favorite days so far! This morning we (Hannah, Rachel, Marie and I) woke up a little early and took a ride on the tube to east London to go to Columbia Road Flower market. I was beautiful! There were vendors lining the street with live performers mixed in. There was a wide variety of fresh flowers, everything from cactus to orchids. The dahlias were huge and the whole street smelled like casa blanca lilies. I talked to two guys who were selling flowers and they said that everything from their stand comes from Holland except the sunflowers, which are from Israel. We went in a few cute shops (this street was really fun and the people were are all really friendly) and ate lunch in a tea café attached to a vintage store. What a great way to start out the day :)

Later on in the afternoon Marie and I went with Caleb and Jake to the Arsenal Stadium. There was a match going on so we walked around and checked it out. Jake found a pub nearby and we hung out for the second half of the game. There were a lot of people there so that made it exciting, even though Arsenal lost. I thought it would be a great time to have a beer, but ended up drinking half and giving it to Jake… oh well.

Tonight we went to Victoria Park for a HUGE fireworks show. We thought it was a November 5 celebration, but it was really in commemoration of The Blitz (Germany bombing Britain) and an event in honor of the victims of the Bethnal Green disaster during WWII—they were taking donations for a monument to be erected. Last year this show was the biggest in London! I think it was one of the top three fireworks shows I have been too. But then again I think fireworks are one of those things that every time you see them you are convinced it was the best thing ever. The music that accompanied the fireworks was a highlight, it was very ‘big band’ and in the middle of the show they played Ella Fitzgerald “I’m beginning to see the light” (hence the title of this post). To avoid the mob at the tube station we stopped at a playground for a little while… it was fun but after being outside that long I could not feel my toes!

It is good to be back in London. We have class tomorrow, but we have a little lull in schoolwork for the next two weeks. So we have some free time to explore. I am enjoying being here as the weather changes, seeing new things and spending time with friends. The last time I was in London was a little stressful, but this past week helped me get back on track (in a routine with personal time and study time). I also had a chance to talk to Jordan, my dad, and email with Ash. They have all been so encouraging and I love getting emails :)

Prime Time

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 13:03:00 -0500

11.6.10

Yesterday we left Salomons Center after a week-long study break. It was a good week, I roomed with my good friend Marie, the trees were beautiful, and it was a good change of pace. Although we did not do anything other than school… In six days I read a novel, a shakespeare play, worked on some research, and wrote 3 papers. It was pretty crazy. But now I feel accomplished/relieved. The above picture is on the grounds at the center (I took it on my run/study break). Some highlights from Salomons: really huge organ and a water tower with a view of the Hundred Acre Woods! (Winnie the Pooh anyone?) After our papers were finished we watched V for Vendetta… I had never seen it before but it was fitting for the day.

After we left Salomons center we took the coach to Greenwich. The harbor was beautiful! We went to the museum and stood on the Prime Meridian! Which is pretty much an arbitrary line when you think about it, but cool nonetheless. Before getting back on the bus we walked through the park and found a cool place to get some fish and chips. I am not the biggest fan, but these ones were pretty good.

After a short bus ride we were back in London. Once we were all settled back into our new rooms at the Celtic (I am in room 12 with three roommates, a charming room with four beds and too much unnecessary furniture) Marie, Rachel and I went to starbucks to enjoy a warm drink in the new Christmas cups. We stayed for awhile talking and unwinding from the week. Last night we went to the theatre to see ‘The Train Driver’, it was interesting, but I think the Q&A with the director was the highlight… I was really tired which could have altered my opinion of the production.

I miss you guys! I can’t believe this was over a year ago....

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:47:37 -0400

I miss you guys! I can’t believe this was over a year ago. Love you all.

Portobello Road Market

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 20:48:00 -0400

TODAY! (10.30)-

This morning I waffled back and forth between going to the British Library (to do more research), or to enjoy the London sunshine and head to the antique outdoor market in Notting Hill. I went with the latter. This morning was hard for some reason. I miss my family, friends, and boyfriend. Maybe I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, or maybe I am not cut out for city-life, who knows.

Today I just needed some time to myself. I shared a cab with Caleb and Marie to Notting Hill, but then I went off and explored on my own. It was good to sort some of my thoughts and experiences out.

The market was interesting, there were a lot of antique sellers with a wide variety of old odds and ends/jewelry mixed in with the touristy trinket sellers and cheap fashion items. My favorite was the old things and the flowers/veggies. It was a great place to people watch.

I met these two older women who made vintage dresses, I loved talking to them about sewing as they tried to convince me to by some 16th century lace.

I did not buy anything, but it was cool to be on my own. Traveling on the tube, and wandering where I wanted to go. Oh and it rained, but I got ice cream anyway :)

I decided to stay in tonight. Pack and have some time to process. It has been good… much needed. (helped me gain some perspective on the past few days, and ground me in the Truth that is often lost in the hype of modern society). Tomorrow we leave for a week long study stay, meaning three papers and lots of research to do. I am looking forward to focusing on school and setting aside time for devotions. I would love to skype with my family this week :) Thanks to everyone who has been praying for me! This time away has both tested and strengthened my faith and I am so thankful for the support you have given me.

I am ready to say goodbye to London, but I am glad that we are coming back in a week! More adventures to come :)

La La London

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 20:11:00 -0400

(10.23-10.30)- What a crazy week! Looking back on it, I can’t believe how busy it was. We had class in the morning Monday thru Thursday, and went to four different evening plays. Here is a rough outline of my week:

Saturday (10.23)-

got to London and went to a play that took place in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina. It was intense, but a little confusg. It did prompt some valuable conversations about the topic. Then a few of us explored Soho before going back to the hotel for a good nights sleep.

Sunday (10.24)-

Woke up and went to Hillsong London church. I was overwhelmed. It was huge and too over the top for me. I left feeling a little confused and withdrawn. On the positive side, it was good to be in a church in the UK that wanted to sing loud and celebrate the love of Christ. Then a group of people decided to walk to Reality London (over 4 miles away). The idea was to casually walk and enjoy the scenery and get to the 6pm service. It was farther than I thought, and we almost did not make it. The walk was beautiful, but to be honest I was in a bad mood. I was having a hard time adjusting to being in the city again, and I was not sure whether I wanted to go or not but went anyway. Once I got there I was so glad I came. It was a small congregation that met in a nice and spacious pub. Everyone was really friendly and the message was great. My gloves did dissapear somehow on that night, bummer.

(side note) This week I have struggled with feeling very indecisive (I think there is a pressure to see and do everything- one that stresses me out and makes it hard to figure out what I should do). I am praying about this. I think it is part of living in a big city. Everyone is constantly going somewhere or buying something. There are endless museums and sites to see. I feel like there is a checklist of London ‘must-sees’ that is swimming around in my head, taunting me. It sounds so silly right now. This week has challenged me to balance schoolwork, site-seeing, relationships, time with God, and time for me to reflect. Sorting out all of these things has brought up some insecurities and fears, but I think I am learning new things about myself as my faith is tested in this way.

I am trying to find a good balance and praying for contentment. I feel so blessed to be here and have these opportunities! Aside from this struggle, I am having a really good time exploring the city and learning new things everyday. That is what this is all about—and I am grateful for the good memories, new friends, encouragement from family/Jordan, and trying to embrace the struggles too.

Monday (10.25)-

As part of the party planning committee (actually we pretty much are the party planning committee), Rachel and I got treats for Mckenna’s birthday celebration that took place after class. Later on, Rachel and I walked through Hyde Park on our way to Kensington Gardens/Palace. I realized that I am in love with fall. The leaves were golden amber and the sun was out and shining through them. It was beautiful.We went in the Kensington Palace and learned a little bit about the lives of the princesses that have lived there. Lets just say I am so glad I am not a princess (their lives were not that happy after all), even though the palace was beautiful.

Then we walked to Round Pond, there were cute young families surrounding the pond and ducks and swans swimming, so we were drawn in. It was one of those moments that the lighting/scenery is so perfect you cannot take a bad picture. It did not really feel real. Then Rachel kicked her foot at a duck coming at her in the water (they are pretty ferocious) and her shoe went flying in! It kept drifting and drifting… and there was nothing to do about it. We watched it float for a while as we laughed. We gave up and decided to find a store where Rachel could get a new pair of shoes. We ended up on Oxford Street. I got a new jacket too, so I have been sufficiently warm this week (thanks Grams!!) We ended our little outing with some tasty Indian food before retiring to the Celtic Hotel.

Tuesday (10.26)-

After class we got lunch (?) at a place called ‘My Old Dutch’, specializing in Dutch pancakes! I was pretty excited about this place, keeping in mind that they probably would not be as good as Grandma Katie’s. I had a salad and a yummy dessert pancake. I was very full afterwards, but it was a yummy treat.

Rachel and I took the tube to Trafalgar Square (such an busy/exciting area that is characteristically “London” in my mind) and saw parliament buildings, Big Ben, and checked out the impressionists section of the National Gallery :) Afterwards we took a leisurely walk over the Jubilee bridge towards the National Theatre (with Big Ben chiming in the background). We ate some noodles and veggies and then sat and enjoyed some coffee by the Thames River before seeing Hamlet with the group.

Wednesday (10.27)-

After class I got tea with my professor Jody, it was great to talk to her about Belfast and life in general. It has been so great to get to know my professors in different contexts.

Later on in the afternoon, Rachel, Marie and I went to Hyde Park to do some reading for Shakespeare. It was an enjoyable homework setting :) Then we went to check out Harrods (a huge department store that is apparently famous?) IT WAS CRAZY! It was impressive, I think in the moment I referred to it as the Mecca of materialism. We looked through a few of the rooms, and it was fun to look around together just for the experience. Harrods is definitely an experience. We almost got dessert in the massive “treats” room(s) in the store, but opted for a Starbucks instead.

Thursday (10.28) –

After class I got lunch with a couple of girls at a Spaghetti House. Then we went to the British Library. I looked around one room with famous manuscripts, there was a wide range represented: Shakespeare, the Beatles, the Magna Carta, and the Bible from the 3^rd century on papyrus! It was crazy. Then I did some homework at a coffee shop.

In the evening we saw an interesting play called “Men Should Weep”, giving insight into the life of a family living in poverty in the 1930s. I really like it.

Friday (10.29)-

After class a big group of us got some groceries and had a picnic in Hyde Park. It was fun to hang out in a big group. I was kind of tired and I little overwhelmed so I went back to the hotel in the afternoon to finish a paper before going to the play. We saw ‘Blood and Gifts’, a political thriller play set during the Cold War that followed US an UK relations with the Middle East. It was interesting, but some of it was a little over my head. Afterwards a couple of us went out to a pub called The Blue Lion.

Wow blogging is exhausting! haha. I should work on bullet points or something. The internet is slow here so I will add some London pics in a slideshow or something soon :)

Day trip to Derry

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 20:06:00 -0400

Derry (10.22)

I had no idea what to expect when we piled into the coach on that early Friday morning. We were going to Derry, a city that has been at the heart of the conflict in Northern Ireland for centuries. On our way there, we stopped at the place where Seamus Heaney grew up. We did not get out of the bus because they do not know exactly where he lived. We drove a little further to the Moyolla river, the subject of Heaney’s famous environmental poem entitled “Moyulla”. We read the poem there and looked around. I did not see the ‘King Fisher’ bird that everyone was talking about, but I did see an old casio piano at the bottom of the river and other signs of development that did not exactly coincide with nature.

Then we got back on the bus and headed to Giant’s Causeway. It was raining when we got there, but we braved the elements and went to see the beauty that is known to be the fourth greatest natural wonder in the UK. It was really amazing, the basalt columns (made by a volcanic eruption) were hexagonal in shape. We climbed up and around them and admired the ocean. We got VERY wet. We climbed back up the hill and warmed up a little and ate lunch. The bus was a little soggy after that.

Then we drove a few more hours (?) and finally arrived in Derry. Our bus driver had a friend of his give us a tour. Both of them were really incredible. Our bus driver, Allen, shared his story of the troubles with us. His father had been killed saving a group of civilians from a car bomb, and received a medal. He passed it around the bus for us all to see. It was incredible to hear such a personal story, and how he still desires peace. He was a protestant, but his friend (our tour guide) was catholic.

We drove around the city of Derry and he told us all about the history of the city. It was interesting/helpful to have a background for all of the turmoil that has characterized that country. I felt like I learned a lot, but it was a lot to process. Derry is on the border of the partition, and conflict over landownership has brought chaos for so many years. The name of the city gives evidence. The official name is “Londonderry”, but was originally “Derry”, and many Catholics still refer to it as so. Although the peace process is underway, it is sad to see how far away some are from reconciliation. There is a ‘peace’ statue in the center of the city of two men reaching their hands out to one another, but not quite touching. There was debate over this icon and whether or not they should be shaking hands, but the gap between the two figures seems accurate for the time being, but there are many in the city who long for peace. We walked around a little and saw some city landmarks (including the location of Bloody Sunday). There was a lot of political graffiti on the walls (it is a walled city) and remnants of past conflict. There is still religious propaganda that covers walls, curbs, and houses. But there are other voices in the city too.

After dinner we saw a play called “I Once Knew a Girl”. This was the best play we have seen in the UK. The play followed the stories of six women directly involved in The Troubles (all in very different ways), but there were no actresses, the women themselves were telling their stories. It was very powerful. One woman talked about her involvement in the IRA, and another talked about the struggle she went through after the IRA killed her husband. These women stood side by side to give a voice to the stories that have not been heard, stories necessary for healing. The wise words of these women and the love they had for one another (despite their past) was they most powerful image of reconciliation that I have ever experienced. I could go on and on. I think I am still processing this play. I saw the pain of the conflict, and the pain of women in general come to life, and be healed. These women were strong and truly courageous.

Although the bus ride was long and the day was both physically and emotionally exhausting, going to Derry was an experience I will never forget. I think I would have liked to spend even more time there, but it was a good way to end my trip to Belfast. As cliché as it sounds, I do not think I have words to adequately describe my experience in Northern Ireland. I guess I am still figuring out what to take from it. It was sad, intense, exciting, and meaningful. My interest in the history of the conflict and the peace process was heightened.

Belfast

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 05:23:49 -0400

So I just left Belfast, but I have been wanting to write about my time there and I finally have decent internet! Here are some details thoughts on my time there (Oct 18-23):

First Journal entry-

I have been in Belfast for 3 full days. I still do not feel like I know this city, but I think that in some ways only those who have lived here for a long time really can. Being here, I am able to sort through all of things I had read about Belfast and try to orient myself in the history. We have been studying “The Troubles” in a few of my classes, making this experience all the more meaningful. The first day we got here, we dropped our stuff off at the Tara Lodge (so so internet, really comfy beds!) and got back on the coach for a tour of the murals in Belfast. Jody had arranged this for us, and our tour guide was a Belfast native who now studies the murals and flags. I was expecting to see a few political paintings, but I was overwhelmed with how much division there was in the city. The neighborhoods are clearly divided into Protestant and Catholic, and the murals (as well as flags and other kinds of propaganda) made the hatred between the two sides evident. There is a wall between the two parts of town (known as the peace line), dividing the Falls/Shankill Road. It was covered in graffiti, which was covered in marker, as people wrote there responses to all of the hatred. It was intense. This experience really makes Christ’s message of reconciliation all the more powerful and highlights the fallen nature of humanity.

Here is a picture of the peace line:

We had a lot of fun exploring the city on our own as well. One night we had a girls night at Speranza, a pizza place that Brad Pitt once dined at ;) I got my haircut at a salon near the hotel, and talked to the stylist about what it is like for her to live in Belfast. It was cool to hear her story. She was not religious, and was very turned off my the religious influences in the city, which was sad. She talked about the impact that the American media plays on the city… which was also very interesting. I was glad that she was willing to share with me. On Tuesday we grabbed lunch after class and ate it outside in the Botanical Gardens. We walked around a little before visiting the Ulster Museum, it was beautiful!

On Thursday morning we went on a walk to and around the inner city, as Jody pointed out significant monuments and read a variety of poems that were inspired by the city. It was a really cool experience. We saw Fountain Street, the location of one of the bombs that went off (a major event in the book Eureka Street that we read for one of my classes). We walked to city hall, the Europa Hotel, and The Linen Hall Library. We got a tour of the library and saw a lot of the war time posters and other forms of propaganda that they have been collecting since before The Troubles officially began. Then we walked to the Dome, a great view of the whole city. From there we saw the clock tower (or the leaning tower of Belfast), the parliament building, the castle, and the beautiful landscape that surrounds the city. Then we walked to the water and saw the shipyard where the titanic was built, and read a poem that was inspired by it. The tour also lead us by the John Hewitt, a famous literary pub in town.

Other highlights of my time in Belfast include:

-walking around Queen’s University

-Poetry reading from Ciaran Carson. He played his tin whistle for us, which was quite a treat. I really like Carson’s poetry, it is a beautiful blend of both music and language.

-We also had a poetry reading with Sinead Morrissey. This was our last poetry reading of the semester, but she was by far my favorite. I will have to post one of her poems on here when I have a chance. She is a young contemporary poet, who writes about the changing city, her experience traveling, and her journey into motherhood. She is lively and personable, yet thoughtfully creative. I really enjoyed hearing her.

Well I was hoping to post a few more pictures, but the internet is really slow right now because Starbucks is a very happening place right now. Perhaps later on? Sometimes the internet makes it very hard to be patient.

Greetings from Rostrevor

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 04:37:20 -0400

Since my last post I have…

-Spent an awesome week in Dublin! (I will post some pictures soon)

-Went to Galway on the West Coast of Ireland for the weekend (we took a ferry to Inishmore, one of the Aran Islands and rode bikes)

-On October 4 we arrived at Woodbrooke for another 2 week study time. It was intense. I wrote many papers, read, researched, and watched harry potter with my friend rachel and friend/roommate hannah. It was a great way to unwind :)

During this time I was able to skype my family, which was really great. I was also able to talk to Jordan before he left for Honduras as well. I miss you guys!!! I am over the half way point of the trip, and I am loving everything I am seeing/doing, but I think I will be ready to see you all when the time comes!!

-We are now in Northern Ireland, staying in cottages in Rostrevor. It is beautiful here! We are in a valley that is green as can be. Our weekend has been busy with…

*a poetry reading with Michael Longley

*Talk with film maker Margot Harkin

*Visit to Benedictine Monastery

*LOTS of cooking!

*outdoor adventures and indoor bonding

This weekend has also been a good time to get in the word and be spiritually encouraged. I have realized that it is very easy to get swept up in myself and my daily worries and goals. I am on this amazing adventure and learning so much, but it is tempting to think that my life revolves around my thoughts, emotions, and activities (which leads to anxiety, sadness, guilt, etc). I have a bigger purpose than myself: to bring glory to God with my life. He is made perfect in my weakness, what a blessing!

Ok well we are leaving for Belfast in half an hour! I am so excited to see the places I have been learning about come to life. I will post more soon!

P.S. - sorry Dad this has taken me so long, I will try to do better! I love you guys so much.

Weekend in Dublin

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:02:00 -0400

Dublin: 9.24-9.26

I am in Ireland! Number 11 on my passport stamp :) I really love this city. So much history, rich culture, and poetic landmarks! My classes are coming to life- what an incredible way to learn!

Friday (24): We flew from Birmingham to Dublin on Friday. We dropped off our stuff at the Harding Hotel and went out to dinner (Marie got a bowl of mussels as big as her! I was impressed) and then saw the play The Plough and the Stars. It was set in the time of the Irish Civil War, showing a more personal account of the devastation that filled Dublin. It was a really good play, I just wish the audience was more respectful- lots of chatter :(

After the play a few of us went to a pub in Temple Bar (a district in London that is very cultured and filled with rambunctious youth from all over). The second level of the bar had talented local musicians playing traditional Irish music. I kept thinking… “Jordan would love this!” I was getting into it! The main singer was very funny… we had a great time.

Saturday (25):We got to sleep in, which felt great! After a late breakfast Rachel and I did some exploring. We crossed the bridge and walked along the Liffey River. We went to a well-known bookstore called the Winding Stair and spent some time looking around. I wish I had enough suitcase space to take back books for souvenirs! I found some really cool ones that reminded me of some of you.

We walked up to Temple Street and found some cool vintage stores before we ate lunch. We sat in front of a cool building and ate crepes. After we decided to get some Ice-cream at Murphys. The workers were really friendly and there were some boys outside playing American music hits, I think they enjoyed having some support.

After Ice-cream we met up with some fellow Westmonters and went to a HUGE department store called Penney’s. It was cheap, but CRAZY!!! I got a scarf for 4 euro, so that was cool, but this was not exactly an enjoyable shopping experience.

Then we walked up O’Connell street and got some postcards. Then we checked out the GPO (General Post Office). I was really excited to see this because it was a huge landmark in one of the books we read, “A Star Called Henry”. In 1916 the GPO served as the headquarters for the leaders of the uprising. The columns outside the building still have bullet marks in them! (Of course we bought some stamps while we were there)

We happened to stumble across the biggest shopping street in Dublin, so of course we looked around ;) Topshop has a lot of cute clothes, but it is pretty spending. One thing that has been overwhelming is how prevalent consumerism is in Europe. I was not expecting that. I thought it would be pretty similar to home, but it seems like everyone is ALWAYS shopping here! At this point, we were very tired of walking. We decided to see “Eat, Pray, Love” at the Savoy theatre. It was a definite “feel good” movie, and it was great to sit for awhile. I LOVED seeing all of the places she travels too! I felt so excited to be on my own travel adventure. Although I may have added a couple new places to my “love to travel to…” list. I was also reminded of my time in India, which was an incredible experience which caused me to as a lot of hard questions, but I learned a lot about myself as a result. (Ash- seeing this movie made me think of you!!)

When the movie was over, I looked at my phone and realized that we had to book it to make it to the play we were supposed to see! We started running toward the Gate Theatre when Rachel noticed the group walking towards us. We missed the play because we had the wrong tickets. We joined the group and headed towards a pub called “The Porter House”, it was three stories and REALLY cool inside! Once again, there was a live band (Irish bag pipes are awesome). Rachel and I shared the sampler platter of (1) ale and (2) lagers, and then got a lager for free with a hotel coupon. The pubs here have the coolest bar atmosphere I have ever experienced!

We met up with some more people from our group at the pub and decided to check out the Brazen Head, the oldest pub in Ireland! It was really cool, I hope we go back there again before we leave. Rachel and I had not eaten dinner, so we asked the bouncer at the pub where we could get some good food at that hour. He directed us to a place that sold fish & chips, assuring us that it was the best place (for fish & chips) in the city!

We sat on some steps across the street from Christ’s cathedral. It was very scenic, and we were content. We made our way back to the Brazen Head and stayed for a little while before heading back to the Harding.

Sunday (26): Ate breakfast and enjoyed the sound of the church bells! We went to St. Patrick’s Cathedral (High-Anglican). This service felt very stiff. I was trying very hard to stay focused… but it was hard. Stand, sit, sing, sit, stand, read, kneel. It was sad. Joy and passion should be a part of worship!

After church we met up with Tom Shank (a friend from Westmont that has been traveling for over a year in Africa/Europe!)and ate bagel sandwiches. It was cool to see him and hear his stories.

We walked around Trinity College (where many famous poets were educated) for a little while, it was beautiful. Then we got a snack and took it back to the Harding to do some homework and rest. Later on a few of us girls got dinner at a place called “Abrakebabra”, it was interesting. We stayed in for the night and I got to skype with Grandma Katie and Jordan :) A great end to the weekend!

I'm back!

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 05:47:06 -0400

I am leaving for Dublin, Ireland today! I am so excited! Over the past month and I half I have learned a lot about Irish history. Before this trip I was familiar with the religious conflicts in Ireland. Last year I took a conflict and reconciliation class that reviewed the history of the struggle for Irish independence and the civil war that followed, but looking at another countries history from far away with little understanding of what it would be like to live in the middle of it makes it easy to compartmentalize. This trip we have read a lot of Irish literature and poetry, allowing us to study the conflict through a slightly more “Irish” lense. The story is heart breaking, but I still cannot fathom the pains of war that I hear about. It is all over the world. If I did not have faith and a hope for redemption here on earth I would be very depressed! On that note, I feel very blessed to be going to Ireland today and having more opportunities to learn. I will definitely be posting more soon!

Some of you may be wondering, what has Emily been doing for the past ten days? Well, we have been at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in Birmingham, and I have only left the Quaker property 3 times.

1) Last week, Rachel, Marie and I went shopping in Birmingham after class on Friday. It was overwhelming… why is it necessary to have 5 H&M department stores in one shopping center?? I found it to be excessive. I did not make any purchases that day, but I had a great time getting out and into the town and hanging out with some friends :) I am also very proud that we figured out the bus system without any glitches. Way to go guys!

2) On Sunday after church a group of us went to Cadburry World. I think this is as close as I will ever get to entering into the movie “Charlie and the Chocolate factory”. We toured the Cadburry chocolate factory, ate a fair amount of free chocolate (I saved over half of mine for later… but still felt a little sick when we left!) This place was interesting, almost like a little theme park. There were lots of interactive games, and even a replica of the jungle that cocoa beans were found in (the Mayan mannequins were actually pretty creepy). We went on the ride called the “cadabra”… which I cannot find words to describe. It was kind of like the Alice in Wonderland ride at Disneyland, but with homemade decorations of little cocoa bean people, and no dips or drops. All in all this day was very amusing and a good group bonding activity… and a great way to celebrate Hannah’s 21st birthday!

3) Yesterday we all went into the city to see the play “Enron”. It was interesting to see an American crisis made into a production on a stage in Britain. It was very entertaining, but it also made me feel a little slimy. So much great and deception!

Oh, well Dr. Delaney just came in the room to tell us our coach is here! Ireland here we come! I will write more about my adventures in Woodbrooke soon, but you did not miss that much (2 papers on Shakespeare, lots of poetry, walks in the garden, tea time… and socializing with Quakers)… more to come!

More to come...

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 08:20:24 -0400

So I am almost caught up… I will tell you more about what we have been doing in London soon. It has been so much fun. Right now Rachel and I are in Starbucks using the internet, but we are about to leave because sitting here all day would be lame. I need to have something exciting to blog about!!!

I love you all so much! Thank you for your support, prayers, and emails!!! I will post more soon (and hopefully pics to).

If you want to send me letters, we will be in Birmingham for two weeks (Sept 12-23) once we leave London. The address is:

Emily DeGroot c/o Westmont College Group

Woodbrooke Quaker Study Center

1046 Bristol Road

BIRMINGHAM B29 6LJ

Pinch me I'm in London

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 08:16:09 -0400

London- 9.6

London here we come!!! It was really fun to travel by train (waiting at the platform, crossing your fingers your suitcase makes it on in time, eating a baguette and reading shakespeare). The London station was pretty impressive (sorry Ash we didn’t get a chance to see platform 9 3/4 or I would have taken a pic!) We waited outside in a line for our herd of taxis to arrive. I shared a cab with Rachel, Marie, and Caleb (we barely fit with all of our bags!) We had been looking forward to this moment, the one that we had seen in so many movies. “There she goes… there she goes again…” (picture Lindsay Lohan in parent trap… It was kind of like that).

We arrived at the Celtic Hotel. It was overwhelming. It took us a while to get all of our bags in, figure out what rooms we were in, get our stuff through the tiny hallways and up the many flights of stairs, and get situated. It is very easy to get lost in this hotel, I have no idea how they came up with the room numbers, my room (#19) is next to Marie’s (#7), and there are three different flights of stairs that go up and all look the same. My roommates and I did some re-arranging in our room to fit all four beds and all of our luggage, I am quite proud of the transformation. The bathroom situation is also quite unique… the toilet, showers, and sinks are all in different places/floors. (There is a sink in our room, shower across the hall, and toilet a floor below us). Yes the Celtic has a lot of character. The Celtic has internet, but we found out very quickly that the router can only support six users at a time. Our group of 30 college students slowed it down quite significantly. I feel bad for the other guests that were trying to use it! We have now worked out a rationing system.

Once we got settled Marie, Rachel and I went for an early dinner at an Italian restaurant down the street. We ordered a bottle of wine and some pasta. It was a lot of fun! We did some window shopping afterwards and started walking towards the Apollo Theatre that we were meeting the group a little later on. We stopped at a really cute patisserie and ate some gelato and talked for a while before we found the theatre.

We saw the play “All My Sons” written my Arthur Miller. I cried. This play was incredible. I want to see it again someday with my family/friends.

After the play Marie and I switched shoes because she was wearing heels and was starting to get blisters. The group congregated under our umbrellas (Yes at this point it was raining…) outside before we started walking home. Dr. D pulled Marie, Katie and I aside, saying he needed to talk to us. We had no idea what was going on, but we knew he was up to one of his schemes. Then he takes us down this little street and tells us to get in as he hands a bicycle taxi driver some pounds. Katie has a sprained ankle and he felt bad for Marie and I and the heels situation… I was glad that I offered my shoes so that I got to come too! We got in the little carriage covered in rain proof plastic… it was so much fun. Our driver got very lost… we past the group walking twice and we arrived at the Celtic after them. We ended up directing him back to the hotel eventually, and he looked pretty tired ( I would be too!). I will never forget that experience. Riding in a carriage through London in the rain, the clunk clunk of the bike gears, trying not to laugh, exchanging worried glances with Marie as the lights of oncoming traffic glare into our little plastic tent. The London adventures begin.

A weekend in (the original) York!

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 07:47:00 -0400

York- 9.3-9.6 (Friday-Monday)

Saturday:

*After breakfast Rachel and I got ready and walked around York for a while (there were some pretty crazy street performers!) before we met up with a group of girls for high tea at Betty’s.

*A Group of us went and toured this really old house (called the Treasure House) that was built on a Roman road. It was owned by a man that inherited a lot of money, he was REALLY into interior design and he made each room to fit a certain time period with expensive furniture, textiles, and antiques. It reminded me of the inside of a castle or something, but I was actually pretty depressed during the tour. I was enjoying it, but I could not get over the fact that he put all of his money into decorating and re-decorating, and never had a family. He was really OCD, controlling, and snobby, so he never found anyone to marry him. He was very prideful of his material belongings, and gave his house to the National Treasure at the end of his life to avoid estate taxes—what a sad existence! * Rachel and I visited the Shambles (really old Roman road- now an open air market). York is beautiful and has so much history behind it (it was founded in 71 AD by the Romans). There is a medieval wall the surrounds the city that you can walk on. We walked around the city for a little while and then back over the bridge across the Ouse River to our hotel. We tried to get internet, but it still wasn’t working. That night we had some girl bonding time in one of the hotel rooms and then went to a pub with Caleb and Dr. D and played banana grams- the men at the pub had never heard of it and were quite interested. *We just got back from service at York Minister Church, one of the biggest in all of Europe. It took over 200 years to build, holy cow. It was overwhelmingly elaborate and impossible to look at the whole thing at once (unless perhaps you were in a helicopter 100 feet overhead). The service was very organized and methodical, which I am beginning to get used to. It just feels kind of sterile to me that way, and I have to be really focused on why I am there and the personal connection. I did like the sermon today though. It was a message from Paul (read from Luke) about what it takes to be a disciple of Christ, that we must be ready to deny our worldly possessions, families, loved ones, if we are going to follow him. The pastor discussed what that meant in our lives, how we treat material possessions, and what gives things meaning in our world today. It was not a particularly conclusive message, but he had some valuable things to say that I appreciated. We also sang a hymn that I had not heard before (it was written in the 1800’s) I liked it.

*After church we explored the York Minster for a little while with Dr. D and then Rachel and I met up with Marie for a quick lunch. Rachel was in the mood for some more museums, Marie and had homework to do, and I was feeling a little under the weather (nothing too intolerable) and ready to take it easy. That afternoon I went to an internet cafe called Dusk and worked on homework, wrote Jordan and email, and got to skype with him again! I made it back in time for dinner.

*That night we watched some British television (Deal or no deal is much more emotional in the UK) and then I showered and I worked on homework in my room. It was weird being alone, but I think it was good for me. I went to bed early… it was great.

*In the morning Rachel and I got up early, got coffee and walked around the city a little bit. (We went to the coolest Starbucks I have ever seen- the building used to be fancy bank!) We got some snacks for the train at grocery store and then went to the hotel to pack up.

Back on the bus...

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 07:19:00 -0400

Bus- 9.3 (Friday)

I will post pictures soon, they are taking a while to load today and I want to get caught up on my blogs :)

-We said goodbye to Lake District and got in the coach and headed to towards York. Along the way we made three stops.

STOP #1: Lunch. Yes, I know it seems as if all we do on England Semester is eat and travel. I was not particularly hungry at this point in time, but I lined up for my portion of the buffet-style thanksgiving feast. Afterwards, we had our choice of over 30 desserts. The descriptions of these desserts were so ridiculous/hilarious that we ended up ordering some. I got a Star-Wars Sundae, it claimed to be out if this world; I will have to post some pics of the menu so that you can know what I mean.

STOP #2: We stopped in the town of Heptonstall to see where famous American poet Sylvia Plath was buried. I felt really uncomfortable during this visit. Just being in a graveyard and hearing about the sad story of this poet’s life, suicide, and family struggles. I also felt like I was violating peoples personal lives by walking through all of the tombstones looking for the name of some famous poet so I could take a picture and leave.

STOP #3: While some of our group went for a 6 mile hike to the famous site in the book Wuthering Heights, the rest of us checked out the Bronte Parsonage Museum, home of famous authors Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bronte in the town of Haworth. This was actually really interesting. The house had a lot of its original furniture in tact, and contained many of the belongings of the Bronte family. It was very well done and very educational. There was also modern art displayed in the house, it was not too over the top so it fit well in the museum (I was impressed!). We had fun on this little journey pretending that we were the three sisters, Marieà Charlotte, Rachelà Anne, Meà Emily (naturally). This made touring the house, looking at photos, and reading juicy secrets all the more exciting.

We arrived at the Queen’s Hotel in York a little behind schedule, but we still made it in time for dinner. After we ate we got cleaned up, and a few of us went out for a night on the town. We went to this club called Yates (we were drawn in by the multi-colored flashing windows) and stayed for a round of drinks (thanks Matt!) and some dancing. It was quite the experience; we were definitely the classiest (and most covered) ladies there. After we had enough of the clubbing scene, we went to a low-key pub to unwind (no drink for me this time- the man sitting next to me thought this was odd and offered to buy, but I declined). Once we got to this pub, I think it was called Privini?, sitting down made me realized that I was tired. Caleb kindly escorted the three of us girls back to the hotel.

He leads me beside quiet waters...

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 05:54:00 -0400

Lake District- 8.31-9.3 (Tuesday-Friday)

This place was breathtaking! Seriously one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Upon arriving at Rydal Hall in Lake District, I was physically and emotionally exhausted. God had been trying to tell me that it was okay to rest and take time to just be with him and let myself feel his love and blessings, but I was still going a hundred miles an hour and and trying to live on my own terms, breaking my routine for time with him. Then I went on a retreat to Lake District, a place that left me no choice but to be at peace and rejoice. Four days to unwind was exactly what I needed, yet far beyond what I deserved.

We stayed at a Christian retreat center called Rydal Hall, the rooms were nice and the food was delicious! (well actually I ended up eating a couple of strange meals because they only let 3 people at a table order the same thing… but I’m always up for trying new things). The house had a garden right next to it overlooking the countryside. Behind the house there were laundry facilities and a quaint tea room next to a waterfall. It was wonderful.

Some of my favorite moments at Rydal:

-I loved sitting on the lawn or up on the wall of the garden reading for class or writing in my journal. Just sitting there in the morning before breakfast would have been enough to make me happy for the rest of the day. They also had a croquet set, so it was fun to sit on the grass with friends and watch Dr. Delaney show off his skills.

-On Wednesday a group of girls had a little picnic on the benches by the tea room and then went for a hike. We took a route called Coffin Road through the trees and enjoyed the view of the lake below. We stopped periodically to look around and pinch ourselves, or talk and rest, or once to climb a tree… which did not work out that well for me. I fell out of it. Wet mossy trees apparently do not like to be climbed, especially in tom’s. I landed on my bottom in a little ditch below the tree, thankfully I was not seriously injured (except for the bruise I now have on my bottom from the rock that broke my fall). It was pretty funny actually, it felt like it was happening in slow motion. The girls say I would be a great Alice in Wonderland. Anyway, Rachel helped me get the bits of dirt out of my hair and we all laughed so that my pride didn’t hurt too bad and we carried on.

We took Coffin Road all the way to Dove Cottage, were William Wordsworth lived and wrote. We walked around that little town for a little bit, the place that inspired so many famous nature poems… crazy.

Then we made our way to the lake, walking around it, resting at the edge, and then madeour way back to Rydal Hall. One thing I found strange was the loud jets that fly over this place multiple times a day, they seem so out of place here. It is such a stark juxtaposition of nature and technology; once we surround ourselves with one the other is quickly forgotten. (So after reading my blog on your computer you should go outside and sit on your lawn for a minute and enjoy the sunshine).

-The first night night a group of us read poetry in the Drawing room and had a great time just being together.

- On Wednesday evening a group of us went on a late-night badger hunt (we heard other guests say that sometimes they come out at night). We were very excited about this! It turns out that there is a place by the road (right next to a place called the Badger Bar) that they put the compost and a group of badgers come there pretty much every night. Thanks to my trusty headlamp we were able to see 3 badgers hiding in the bushes near the compost. After this little expedition, a group of us went to hang out at the Badger bar for a little while. I’m pretty sure we were the only ones there. Rachel and I put together a Ratatouille puzzle and shared a beer called “thirsty badger”. It was quite the outing. When we got back I got to talk to Jordan on skype! It was really late so I had the internet all to myself for the most part, and it the picture was clear and the connection strong! It was our first successful video chat so I was very excited.

-On Thursday after class the picnic committee planned a group lunch in the Rydal Hall gardens. It was a sunny day and we sat on the lawn eating sandwiches, digestives, grapes, and drinking capri suns. It was lovely. After the picnic, Caleb, Marie, Rachel, and I went on a little walk towards the lake. We found a beachy little spot by the water and just relaxed for a couple of hours. We waded in water, played banana grams, slept, talked, and I sat on the grass wrote a little poem. It was perfect. Thank you God for good friends and days that that.

(more pictures to come… they are taking a long time to load)

-Thursday night I got to do laundry, hang out and drink tea, and finish some homework. I talked to Jordan briefly on the phone (this is expensive…) because he was sick and having a hard day. I was really missing him that night and kind of stressed about being behind on my blog (silly I know), so I decided to go to bed. As Rachel said, everything is better in morning- thanks Rachel and Marie :)

I was sad to say goodbye to Lake District, I understand why the British would want to “holiday” here! On the morning that we left I sat on the garden wall one more time and read a few psalms and just soaked it all in, feeling restored and so grateful for the time we spent there.

All Aboard

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:44:00 -0400

Bus?- 8.31 (Tuesday)

We boarded the Coach at 9:30 am in Edinburgh and made our way to the Lake District. Of course, we took a few pit stops on the way…

About 2 hours into our journey we stopped at Dryburgh Abbey. This was a serene grassy spot that holds the ruins of a medieval monastery. (Famous author Sir Walter Scott was buried here). We stretched our legs and walked around the ruins and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. The group gathered in the choir room underground to sing a few hymns, it was melodic- I love singing praise songs in groups like that, even though singing on key is not one of my gifts.

For lunch we stopped at Waitrose grocery store to get some food for our picnic… I’m going to let marie tell you about it: ”For lunch we stopped at an awesome grocery store called Waitrose and emily and I got way too much food. Some of our items included, cookies, chips, FRESH bread baguette, salami, brie cheese and other goodies…it was a great lunch. Our checkout boy looked like Prince Henry too.” -Marie Oneill
When we finally made it to our next stop we were very ready for our picnic. Rachel, Marie and I took our food to a secret spot (the fort that was technically for children guests to explore, but we inhabited it for a brief time- it was pretty cool). Then we explored Hadrian’s wall, the main attraction for this pit stop. In 130 AD the Romans built this wall that divided the land into civilized and uncivilized England by constructing a massive wall (it looks kind of measly now…?) It was fun to walk around the ruins of the Roman fort and imagine what the various rooms were used for (and whether or not the Roman’s soldiers got bored way out there in the middle of nowhere). Once again, the landscape was beautiful.

We arrived in beautiful Lake District (hands down one of the most beautiful places I have ever been) in the evening, just in time for dinner. We are staying at Rydal Hall, a posh christian guest house with a luxurious garden and amazing view. I was ready for some relaxation…