The past is Real!

This past week I found out how amazing literature and history are! We went and visited the amazing town of Bath. Here are the ancient Roman baths, and that was absolutely incredible. It's this massive building, though only parts still exist now, of these baths the Romans used to use. It seemed almost like a resort. The entire structure had once been made up of numerous rooms, each having a different purpose. Some had warm floors that were heated from underneath, some were pools just for men or women, and some had cold pools to take a quick dip into. But to see the magnificence of everything now, and to imagine what it must have been like back then, is incredible. And to actually see what the Romans were capable of so long ago is just inspiring. They were a lot more intelligent that I previously gave them credit for. But what adds to the wonder of this beautiful place is the springs that the Romans built this area around. They are natural hot springs, that are the same today as they were when the ancient Romans used them. That thought was incredible to me. It made me realize how closely the past and present are really connected. People and cultures change, but the world and the impact we have on it lasts much longer than we ever will.

And something I didn't know, was that from some of the springs you can actually drink the water! So inside there's a fountain and the workers give you a full glass of this spring water. I was a little nervous to try it, but I took the chance to partake of history and did so. It was... interesting. I couldn't finish the full glass, but I would definitely suggest to anyone who goes to try it. It was really warm, which makes sense, though I wasn't expecting it, so that surprised me. It had bubbles in it, which made it look like it had carbonation in it. And then it kind of tasted a little metallic. Like I said, weird. But worth it. Experience gives you... experiences. Words of wisdom. :)

Literature came alive in this little town of Bath as well. For my English class here I was in the middle of reading a book by Jane Austen called "Northanger Abbey." The majority of the first part of this book takes place in Bath. And the characters spend a lot of time in the buildings surrounding the Roman baths and in a room called The Pump Room, which was the main social arena for the people of the area. I could never really figure out what this place was, but just went along with the story. Turns out, this is a real room! And it's actually called The Pump Room! There are two areas to it. One is a smaller round room that looks directly over the main bath, and it was here that Austen's characters would sit and watch as people came through it to the main social room, which is often where dances were. Now it's a really big restaurant. But it was so exciting to see, and to realize Jane Austen knew this area enough to be able to place a story here. But reading the novel, and then seeing the physical place it occurs was an unforgettable experience, and made me love the story even more.

Seeing the old and charming city of Bath and all it has to offer is a lot to see and experience in one day. But this program goes above and beyond for its students. After touring the museum and walking around, we all hopped on our coach that drove us to nearby Stonehenge. Who would have thought I would ever have seen this magnificent place? I never did. This for sure was one of those places that almost seems mystical, viewed in pictures and your imgagination only. But there I was, standing next to this massive rock formation, finding myself pondering how anybody could have possibly moved them, let alone stack on top of each other! Stonehenge was a very peaceful place I found. It was a place one could come to and just sit: take in the surroundings in a quiet environment, viewing the beautiful creation of God, as well as the creation He gave us the power to build. It was great. To be honest, from a distance it appeared to be a lot smaller than I had envisioned. But once you stood next to it, it was quite large.

I love our trips and am so excited about all the things we get to see! I'm living an experience that is unforgettable and where I can't get anywhere else! I want to learn everything I can while I'm here so I get everything I can out of the areas I visit. I think I might go read a book that takes place in England...

A Small World

So I had a lot to think and ponder about this past week, and there were a couple things that stood out to me the most. We live in such a large and complicated world of politics, feuds, differences among cultures, and religious beliefs that we don't understand and therefore ignore or condone. I'm living for the first time in my life in a different place. And it happens to be on the other side of the world. Isn't that an awe inspiring phrase? "Other side of the world?" It's difficult to believe you can actually get to the other side of the world. And the other side for one person, is actually your side.

I went the other day to a WWII cemetery. It was an American cemetery in the middle of England. Here were over 3000 graves of American soldiers who had lost their lives fighting for not just their country, but for the people of other countries. They were fighting not just for a piece of land or one people, but for an idea. The idea that every person in this world deserves freedom, and the opportunity to live life. They gave their lives for people they would never meet. There were rows and rows of white marble grave stones, marking the purity of the sacrifice these men and women had readily given. They left behind a great legacy. Not of themselves, but in the cause they fought for and finally won. They bravely stood next to brothers and sisters in arms who they had never met, but who they would never forget.

3000 is a large number. But even more than that is 5000. That's the number of names on the wall along the cemetery, listing the men and women who fell but were never found. Altogether, there were more than 8000 names in this cemetery, of American soldiers who left their home, came to Europe, and gave their lives in the name of freedom for all.

One of the things that impressed me the most was our guide who told us the history of this cemetery. He was British. But yet every day he stood and told the stories of these American soldiers now resting in British ground. In a cause, in a war, it doesn't matter what country you're from, or what you believe. You're all the same. Our guide told us, "In death, everyone is equal." Because of this belief, the graves are buried randomly through out the cemetery. They aren't buried according to name, race, rank, or belief. Because it doesn't matter. The majority of the grave markers were crosses, but sporadically through out you could spot a Star of David, signifying one of Jewish faith. A cross next to the star of David. To me, seeing these differences peacefully side by side, was beautiful.

The world isn't as large as we think it is.

"In death, everyone is equal." I think this should be the same for life. Don't you?

Welcome!

I arrived in London, England, on January 7th, 2009. I still can't believe it! I have never been out of the country before, and before leaving was very excited, but a little nervous too. What would England be like? How would the people react to me being there? What kind of an experience was I really about to embark on? All these unanswered questions, and the only way to find the answers? Close my eyes and jump. So I did. I've been here so far for about half a week and already it feels like a lifetime! It almost feels like a dream world. I'm seeing things I've only ever seen in pictures, and part of me doesn't know if it's actually real! But as I spent more time here and get the chance to interact with the people here, I am beginning to see a very real world. One that is very different from my own, and yet has similarities that offers comfort to me being so far from home. But despite the fear of stepping out of my comfort zone, the little experience I've had just in the past few days has been life changing.

My first exposure to this new place came right when I stepped out of the plane. After arriving in the largest airport I've ever seen, I stood in the largest baggage claim I ever could have imagined. How was anyone going to find their suitcase?? Somehow I managed it and headed out. I didn't have anyone to meet me so I found the Heathrow Express and took the train to London Paddington Station. Believe it or not, this was my very first train ride! I was too nervous to really realize the enormity of the situation as I traveled by myself in a place I'd never been before and by a means I'd never done before. I wasn't sure I was on the right train, and I was pretty sure I was in the first class cabin and wasn't suppossed to be there. Well, after getting on, someone came through the cabin and said they were having a security check so everyone needed to get off the triain for a moment. That wasn't frightening... While on the platform I looked farther down the train and saw cabins that didn't look quite as nice, so I made my way down there and found the correct cabin I had paid for. When we got back in I stowed my luggage and found a seat. The entire ride I just looked out the window and tried to take in everything I was seeing. And seeing it from a train! It seemed like a great way to travel. After about a 20 minute ride I made it to the station. I've also never been in a train station... Thankfully the people who created the station had people like me in mind, so there was this neat little line painted on the floor that you could follow to the taxi station. So I was able to just look down and follow that. I got a taxi, and was grateful I didn't have to whistle to get one like in all the movies. I would have been too shy and never gotten one! But here, someone else does it for me. I smiled when I got into the taxi. Again, taxi: new experience. But the taxi driver was really friendly and said, "Where to, love?" I've heard of this word "love" and how they use it here. It's true! And it made me really happy. It's such a great word to say to someone. And it was also very British. This was a real British person I was talking to, in a taxi, in the middle of London! On this taxi drive, as I strained my nack to look at everything out the windows, it started to hit me: I was here. I was actually in London, one of the greatest citys in the world. I just started involuntarily smiling while in the taxi! Everything looked incredible! The buildings were so different. And the roads! Oh the driving and the roads! I thought I might die. I realized I would never drive here, because I would go down the street so wrong.

Everything was so much closer. That's one of the things that has really hit me the past few days. In America, everything is so spread out and open. Space is something that is expexted. Now so here. The roads are so close together, and the shops are tiny little holes in the wall! If there are four people in the store you're all squeezed together! And yet, you just get used to bumping into people. It isn't uncomfortable anymore, and is just part of life. British people I have discovered do not talk to strangers. At all. On the Tube, don't look at other people. You sit, you wait while looking down, and then you exit. I have found this out because my head is always up and looking around. I'm obviously the foreigner here.

There are many stigmas I have heard of British people in the States. One of them is their standoffish nature towards strangers. While during traveling times I have discovered this to be true, I've also found them to be very friendly and just as interested in you as you are of them. Today I went into a pub for the very first time. I love pubs. I think I want to open one in the states. Anyway, everyone who worked there was so friendly. One of them came over and talked to us about why we were here and was one of the nicest people I've ever met. At first we actually didn't understand what he was saying: mix an accent with slang and we just heard gibberish. But he slowed it down so we could understand. I am definietly going back to that pub.

I had another incredible experience today. Only things like this could happen in cities like this: full of so many diverse people. I saw a demonstration. Hundreds of people walked to two different embassies. And they walked right in front of our apartment! A couple of us who were around went out to the street to watch. I've never seen anything like this in my life! There were so many people with signs and banners, and everyone chanting. It was an amazing sight and something I will never forget. It brought to my attention events that are happening in other parts of the world right now, and even though these people are not there, they feel just as part of it. And they do what they can to make their voice heard and try and make a difference in other people's lives. It was incredible.

I've only been here a few days, and already I've seen some of the great sites of London, such as Big Ben, the London Eye, and the Tower of London. These are awe inspiring sights that I have numerous pictures of, and name the different movies I've seen them in. But some of the greatest things for me so far have been the little out of the way activites I've been able to do. Like walking down Portabello Street on a Saturday morning, finding a random museum on a side street in the middle of London, and playing soccer with friends in Hyde Park. These are things that this Study Abroad program I am on has offered me. England is not about famous sites: it's about a people and a culture. The great sites are amazing to see, but the people are what shows me the strength and tradition behind those great sites. They were built from a people, and those who can accomplish great things like that hold the greatest interest for me, and teach me more than a placard in a museum ever could. Being here, and knowing I'm going to be here for so long, is changing my life very quickly. I can't wait.