Hi. I'm Liza. This semester, I am going to be spending time in the most literary-ific country in the world (at least to an English major who has taken more Brit lit classes than is healthy and has read more Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, and His Dark Materials than should probably be allowed). Am I excited? More than anyone could possibly know. While I will miss so much of what is going on at Denison, as well as the crazy antics of my family and friends at home, I know that in the end, I will not want to trade this experience I am about to have for anything. I am so blessed to be able to take this journey, and so grateful to all of you who support me. Especially my parents, because they support me in more ways than one…
Anyways, on to the good stuff! My blog title is a reference to a great little story called Peter Pan. It took a lot of happy thoughts about Pirates and Presents and Mermaids to get Wendy, John and Michael off the ground, just as I imagine it will take a lot of thoughts about the land of harry potter and jane austen and middle earth and other happy things to get me off the ground when I finally have to say goodbye to my family. And those are the happiest kind of thoughts. I am so excited to be in the land that has produced so many literary geniuses that I have read willingly (and some unwillingly) over the years. On this blog, I will post pictures of my travels, along with a weekly (hopefully) update on my life. And you might even get a little preview of my creative work, if I’m feeling up to sharing. There will also be a weekly poll, ranging from your favorite British author to where you would visit if you had all the money and time in the world. (And I will try to make these more interesting questions than those two examples I have just come up with…) So, for the next six months, this is my voice. Onward!
Right now, I am sitting by the couch in my room with maybe a tenth of the clothes I’m bringing to England spread out in piles. How on earth I am going to fit all my cute clothes into two medium sized suitcases and two carryons is beyond me. It’s strange to think that I only have about two days left in this country for the next six months. Five and half, really, but still. That’s a long time. (PS I use my poetic license in this blog a lot. Sentence fragments come standard with a poetic license, just so you know.) I still am in a state called Denial. I can’t believe I’m actually going. Once I’m there it might hit me. Although even then it is still likely that I think I’m dreaming.
Also, I am getting sick. I can smell it. Every time I sniffle I smell the sickness just creepin on in. This is a perfect time for feeling sick, let me tell you. I can’t wait for the eight hour flight followed by staying awake for 36 hours. Jet lag, I can’t wait to meet you again…
So. The list. The list of things I want, need, should, could, might, and will do:
1. Go on a Harry Potter tour of England. Naturally this is number one.
2. Meet a famous British person. I will accept one of the people I follow on Youtube.
3. Explore every part of the UK that I possibly can (especially York, Bath, Oxford, and London).
4. Drink tea with a British person.
5. Sit in a pub and enjoy the atmosphere and people (and the fact that I will be of age).
6. Find a club in London called Digress, so I can say, But I digress…
7. Learn how to dance a la Jane Austen.
8. Find a cozy coffeeshop to frequent, where I can write and drink tea to my heart’s delight.
9. Walk the walk and talk the talk of Shakespeare.
10. See a royal wedding.
11. Find J.K. Rowling.
12. Not get hit by a car (remember to look right).
13. Drive a car on the wrong side of the road. I have always wanted to do this.
14. See a play in London. I hear the Phantom of the Opera will be playing. I have never seen this.
15. Marry Prince Harry. I will be Princess Liza of Chicago. Beautiful.
All right, that’s enough for now, although the list could go on and on and on and on. Goodnight all. Tomorrow (or today, rather) marks the last full day I will spend in the United States for a while. I love you all and I am excited to start this unbelievable journey.
Hugs and Hippogriffs,
Liza
