"All stories teach, whether the storyteller intends them to or not. They teach the world we create. They teach the morality we live by. They teach it much more effectively than moral precepts and instructions. We don't need lists of rights and wrongs, table of do's and don'ts: we need books, time and silence. Thou shalt not is soon forgotten, but Once upon a time lasts forever."
-Phillip Pullman, in his 1996 acceptance speech of the Carnegie Medal
So, I apologize for the week I've been away. But really, I've been busy. I've been to Stratford Upon Avon, London, and read A LOT. I just have to get through tomorrow, and then maybe I can once again just go to a coffee shop and write my Jane Austen essay. (Let me lay out my life for you right now: this week, I have a presentation in every class. Next week, I have to read the first half of
Mansfield Park--which I cannot fake because I haven't read that one--Lewis'
The Silver Chair--which I can fake cause I read it over break--AND
The Fellowship of the Ring. Oh, and that's not to mention the three papers and one story that will be due. MERLIN'S SAGGY LEFT--well. It's a lot of work. Especially considering that I have had a presentation in every class this week, and I think I'm supposed to read
The Merchant of Venice by Thursday. But anyways, you don't care about the massive workload that is crushing me, so on with the juicy bits!
One of the days last week (God only knows--but it was probably Wednesday), we went to The Huntsmen for a British/American pub quiz. We were mixed up into groups of Americans and British students and each team was given a sheet with ten different categories, ranging from News to Random to TV Theme songs. My team's name was the Quizzly Bears (clever) and there was another team called Quiz in my Pants. Awesome. But here's the most fun part--my team came in SECOND PLACE. I kid you not. I, who has never won at Bingo, won a pub quiz. Or came close to winning, anyways. And there were about fifteen teams. I now have a free smoothie from ShakeAway, where they have flavor categories called: fruity, chocolatey, sweety, biscuity, cakey, and everything elsey. Plus, if you want, you can "add some attitude" in the form of a Jamba-like boost. I'm thinking of getting a chocolate toblerone and coconut one. DELICIOUS.
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| Shakespeare's Front Door when he was born. |
But anyways, on Friday we went to Stratford upon Avon. Which, for those of you not into literature, is Shakespearesville. We got to see the house where he was born, the school he attended as a child, the church where he is buried, and we were even able to go into the archives to look at old Shakespearean performances of King Lear. (Interesting sidenote: Gandalf, Bilbo, and the current Dumbledore have all played King Lear in major productions.) Also, there was a store (that I didn't get to go into) called The Creaky Cauldron. WTFloo Powder. I want to go--don't worry, I'm going back in May, so I will. We were then given some free time, so we went to have a pub dinner, and I had the first burger I've had since being in England. I was missing red meat.
Then we went straight to the newly renovated theater of the Royal Shakespeare Company. It was gorgeous. However, I do have one complaint: the seats were extraordinarily uncomfortable. And, when you are sitting down for a three hour production, the comfortability of the seats is rather important. I don't know if I have ever been more fidgety during a play. They were really skinny, and not very long, not to mention that you had to climb up on another bar in order to get into the seat at all. But the production itself was really great (it was especially good as we had just read it, and therefore I understood almost all that was going on).
It was great fun, and we got back around 1 am, exhausted. But, then I had to alive, awake, alert, and enthusiastic, because we left for London at 9:00 am the next day. It was a fun day, but VERY exhausting. We first got ourselves from Paddington Station to Westminster Abbey where we waiting in the rain for about twenty minutes to pay 13 pounds to get in. However, it would have been worth it if we had to wait an hour. Yes, seeing the graves of Mary Queen of Scots and Edward I and Richard III were all very interesting, but probably the best part was standing in the presence of Geoffrey Chaucer and Charles Dickens and Alfred Lord Tennyson and Edmund Spenser. Sure, only their bones remain, but there is something so powerful about standing around those who left such brilliant works behind. Plus, I now have a new goal: get my name on the floor. Or in a stained glass window. Also, become British.
I'm just kidding. My real goal is to be on an Apples to Apples card. Anyways, we spent a while in the Abbey--there was this one really cool room that had all these seats dedicated to the Knights who sat in them, and they all had really elaborate busts (I wasn't allowed to take pictures, so this is from the internet). There were also flags for each knight. My favorite was one (not pictured) that looked like it had red solo cups on his head, so naturally I inferred his specialty was beer pong. Knighted for Beer Pong. Sir Beruit. Awesome.
Then there was a really cool moment while we were walking about, when someone came on the loud speaker and said a prayer and asked for a moment of silence. Now, even though I have decided I am not so religious, and that I'm more spiritual than catholic, I thought this was really sweet, and rather empowering. There's something about praying the presence of such great spirits that makes it more profound. I lit a candle before I left, for all of you back home. Also of note was the oldest door in Britain, and another Harry Potter-esque courtyard. Logan, we may have to go back in when you're here in July.
Then we left and, because Emily needed to meet her boyfriend's family, skipped Buckingham Palace and went to Harrod's instead (no, I would not have done this, except I know we're going back). Harrod's was amazing. There was a produce section and a diamond cell phone section and basically Neal Caffrey would go crazy in there. Elizaeth and I split the most delicious ice cream sundae in the entire world--hazelnut and chocolate gelato with a chocolate cup filled with nutella. GOOD GOD it was delicious. Heaven in dessert form. There was also a pizza man throwing pizza and singing. I love London.
Then Emily left and we went to King's Cross to see Platform 9 3/4. BUT King's Cross was under A LOT of construction. Construction specifically on Platform 9, so there was only a fake wall on Platform 8. Biggest let down of my life. BUT it's okay, because it should be done by July, right? At which point Logan and I will go back and have a proper picture. Then we found our way to Leicester Square-the West End. The theater tickets were rather expensive, but we were able to get movie tickets instead, and saw
Just Go With It after walking around and then having dinner in a cute Italian restaurant. All in all, it was a great night. I would recommend
Just Go With It. Alright, I have to get back to work. I'll post more about my classes once I have time to breathe. Love you all, and I hope you are excited for March! (I've been here a month--holy cannoli!)
Lots of Love,
LPro
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