Beowulf to Virginia Woolf

Closing the Blog

2011-03-28T13:20:00.004-06:00

It's been great! In 1997, when we first took a group of students to London Study Abroad, everybody brought their own 35 mm cameras and film. By 2001, I had a digital camera, and maybe two other students also had digital pix. I took three days at the end of each term to burn a CD of highlights for each student. By 2003, more people had digital cameras. By 2005, nearly everyone did, although I think I still burned CDs for everybody if they wanted one (and the time it took to burn them was a lot shorter). The students started their first webgroup that year--"Pahty in the UK." By 2007, we had someone doing our own blog for the trip, with contributions from many of the students. They also still communicate with us and each other. I started this blog for 2009, but by then so many others had their own blogs, photo-sharing sites, chat groups, listservs, etc., that a separate blog became redundant.

So, I decided to go back to my personal blog only for the 2011 trip. If you want to see pix from the upcoming trip, they will be here.

I hope this site can remain a fun place to look back and reminisce.

UK 09 Party

2011-02-25T20:21:00.000-07:00

We had a fun party at our house tonight with the students from 2009 who are in town at the moment.

Although they had been planning to spend the night in Vernon at the Bennion Ranch, the snowstorm this morning and the one predicted for tomorrow changed the plan. With our smallish kitchen there was still the feel of cooking the evening meal at the youth hostel.

Good times!

I think I got a photo of everyone who came. We had tons of food (I guess I should say "tonnes" of food), from jumbo franks to trifle to strawberries to pancakes, eggs and bacon. Plus. Pot luck is great.

Also whipped cream, pickles and olives, as you see below:

Hugs!

Discussion:

The guys looking cool:

Beth (Marshall's wife):

More discussion:

More hugs:

More guys looking cool:

Anyway, it was a lot of fun to see everybody, but we also missed the ones who are elsewhere.

It would be really great to hear from people who are not here--where are you? And pix.

Advice from Previous Students: Sara

2011-02-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

From what I remember... (Has it really been 6 years???!!)

1. What should I know ahead of time?
Get excited. You are going to have the adventure of a life time. Oh, and drink as much water as you possibly can at every opportunity - with all of the hiking, your body will function better and you'll be much more comfortable.

2. What should I bring?
Have a way to waterproof everything - especially your backpack. Windproof clothing will also make you much more comfortable. I had a fleece jacket with a "windwall" and it was my favorite thing I had with me. My other favorite thing was my boots which were also water proof. The two things that I didn't bring with me that I wish I had were a hair dryer (I would have been so much warmer at night if my hair was dry!) and slippers or Ugg boots. I spent a lot of time walking around the hostels in socks. I was also glad for my little ziploc baggy of dryer sheets and my little bottle of clothing soap, they helped with the smell and the emergency laundry, respectively.

3. What should I leave behind?
Anything bulky.

4. What should I do or see no matter what?
Um, all of it? Yell at the ocean on Tennyson Downs, touch the rocks of Stonehenge, see a play at the Globe, read Tintern Abbey IN Tintern Abbey, go to Evensong at Christchurch in Oxford, eat Indian food, stand next to the table where Jan Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice (take a picture), burst into song in an abbey or cathedral (great acoustics!), try not to get lost (but if you do, take the bus), climb the ruins of Tintagel (preferrably dressed as a pirate), eat the clotted cream... Most of all, don't say no to the spontaneous opportunities for adventure that present themselves. Do it all - dawn hikes, midnight swims, cave exploration, field frolicking - if you have the choice to stay in the hostel or go out, ALWAYS go out.

5. What should I miss?
Nothing that I can recall.

6. What attitude should I take with me?
As an American - Be respectful of local attitudes and excessively grateful for kindnesses. Remember you're the visitor and they are graciously allowing you to experience their treasures and rich histories. Also, Americans, particularly young women in a large group, have a tendency to be louder than your average European. Keep the exuberance at a respectable volume.
As a student - Remember that this is a unique opportunity. You will get out of it as much as you put into it. Doing the reading beforehand will give you a much richer experience, and more to write about, along the way.
As a traveler - Have an adventuring spirit! Understand that when you travel, nothing goes as planned - Embrace it! Remember that everything in life is either a good experience or a good story. Be sure to collect equal measures of both. The best writing is about the things that didn't go smoothly. Also, don't get distracted by home - it will be there when you get back.
As a companion - You are part of a whole. You can either make yourself a part of the group or you can alienate yourself. Either way it is 100% up to you what kind of relationships you have with your fellow group members. Just try to keep in mind, that adventures are more fun in groups. If you look for reasons to be offended, you'll find them... so just don't look.

7. What can I expect from the experience?
You can expect to have experiences so thrilling that they are almost unreal. You can also expect to have at least a few days or hours of acute discomfort. However in the future, I promise that your memories of the good days will overshadow your memories of the less-good days. 6 years later I couldn't be more thrilled that I went on this study abroad. Whenever I talk to people about the experience I had there, they are amazed and wickedly jealous. You'll learn things about yourself that you never expected. It will change you for the better and you'll carry that with you for the rest of your life.

Ed. note--although in 2011 we will not be doing the intensive hiking of previous Spring programs, we will be out in all weather in the city and in the country, and clothing advice still applies.

Advice from Previous Students: Bess

2011-01-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

YOU'RE GOING TO AN ARTIST COLONY?! I'm so jealous jealous jealous.

1. What should I know ahead of time?

• You will be hot or cold most of the time. Layers.

2. What should I bring?

• Tina recommended a travel towel. They are great, but can be expensive. So I used a hand towel. It was small and after I left my first towel at one of locations it was only £3-4 at linen shop in York. So it wouldn't have been a tragedy to lose another.
• A set of hiking clothes. It's good to have warm and cold weather versions--or a warm version you can layer to make warm.
• Juli's recommendation for sock liners is brilliant. I wore wool liners and wool hiking socks and I didn't have any blisters either. Also, you only need a couple pairs of socks. Just wear them over and over and over.
• A set of "town" clothes. Keep these "sets" separate in your bag or you will stink all the time. (You will stink all the time pretty soon anyway, this just delays it a wee bit.) You will hate all your clothes very soon, but, like Tiffany said, you'll want to buy loads of fun new stuff all along the way.
• A musical instrument. I prefer the tin whistle. Although hurdy gurdies will win you points on the YHA circuit.
• Tweezers! Matches! Other tick remedies!
• Pocketknife! Excellent for daily picnics. I brought one of those helpful multitools with a knife, pliers, and scissors (see next). And I loved it.
• Tape, glue, scissors. All been said before. But great. I grew a tumor-like collection of fliers and brochures that I only wanted one or two pictures from to glue in by journal. You'll save yourself a lot of space and weight if you clip as you go.
• Regarding journals. Bring one that reflects what you want to do in it. I brought a soft-bound somewhat large format because I like to draw, and, when occasion permits, make rubbings. I was able to bend my notebook to accommodate this. It was also large and pliable enough for me to glue all my crap in without breaking the binding.
• Journal note 2: WRITE YOUR NAME AND EMAIL IN YOUR JOURNAL. IF YOU SADLY LEAVE IT IN A LIBRARY IN DORCHESTER YOU WILL HAVE A HOPE OF GETTING IT BACK. Mine took a couple months, but I did get it back.
• A suitcase/bag/backpack that is easy to carry up and down loads of twisty stairs. Hostels and small inns don't believe in elevators. And make sure the handles won't come off, or you'll be cursing every time you look at your bag. Unless you bring an über sturdy bag or a backpacking backpack, your bag might not be suitable for further travel once your journey ends. Probably best not to borrow from an easily-enraged sibling.

3. What should I leave behind?

• I brought my computer in 2009 because of a program I was doing in Germany afterward. It was annoying to carry about and worry about. I didn't have one in 2007 and was perfectly content. There were way more hostels with wifi in '09 than in '07, and the trend will probably continue. With ipods or iphones or smart phones with wifi ability a laptop is probably unnecessary if you're only reading email. If you want to be writing all your essays on a laptop, that's a different story.

4. What should I absolutely do or see no matter what?

• A buttload of plays in London. Take advantage of student ticket prices.
• Do a quick google search of your favorite British person/people, literary love/s, whatever. Find a place along your journey to pay homage. You will do a lot of this with the program, but it's fun to create them on your own so you are more invested in them. I sought out the address 4 Corfe Close whatever town I might be in. I know. Very grown up. If you have a favorite novel set (at least in part) in London, scan it before you go for mentions of location. You are going on a program organized by someone else, but you should still personalize it by making sure you recognize your specific passions.

5. What should I miss?

• Places with mannequins. But it's hard to know beforehand what these are. Just know that they are scary and their images will remain with for a long time.

6. What attitude should I take with me (as an American, student, traveler, etc)?

• It's okay to stink all the time.
• It's okay to look horrible in your hiking get up. It's also okay to look horrible in your town get up, but as that's your vanity talking, I won't address it here. Alas with the hiking clothes, you probably do actually look very silly. Like all your clothes are varying shades of bright orange or something equally laughable.

7. What can I expect from the experience?

• Awesomeness.
• Disillusionment with the rest of your life because you know nothing will be as good ever.

Advice from Previous Students: Lori

2011-01-19T16:15:00.002-07:00

1. What should I know ahead of time? You can learn to get along with pretty much anyone. If you have an issue with someone, talk to them about it soon and don't let it fester and annoy you. And don't talk about it behind their backs because that's just stupid. Also, take your own pictures because as much as everyone says they'll share pictures, it doesn't work out so well. And don't pick up a British accent, even if you think it sounds cool, because you won't.

2. What should I bring? Bring several good journals. A push for my personal favorites: buy/bring Pentalic brand moleskin sketchbooks. You can find them in the basement of the BYU bookstore near the sketchbooks. They are brightly colored and cheaper than Moleskin brand. They are the greatest and I have about fifteen. And if you don't have them already, you should get some Chacos because they are great all-purpose shoes and make fun tan lines. Bring a good water bottle and carry it with you (with water, and drink from it. I think I saw a total of two drinking fountains in England).

3. What should I leave behind? You don't need very many clothes at all. This means something like 2-3 pairs of pants and 5-6 shirts. Even with this, I had things I rarely wore (and this is coming from someone who loves clothes and variety). Bring fewer clothes and then buy fun clothes while you're there. And England is fairly civilized so if you forget to pack something, don't stress out about it because you can buy it there.

4. What should I absolutely do or see no matter what? You should definitely go to Evensong several times. I also went to a Quaker meeting and mass and everything like that I could get to and I am so very glad I did. Also, talk to everyone you can and ask for directions from random people 'cause they're nice. And if this is a program stuck in London, go visit the countryside.

5. What should I miss? Don't feel bad about spending time on your own and not with the group. I loved hanging out with everyone but some of my best times were wandering on my own. And it won't ruin your experience if you miss out on blood sausage for breakfast.

6. What attitude should I take with me (as an American, student, traveler, etc)? Be willing to do things you might not normally do and talk to people you wouldn't normally talk to. This means not hanging out with your headphones in all the time. And it's okay if you look like a tourist/American. As far as souvenirs go, spend money on experiences and not just stuff. And look for neat experiences that don't cost money.

7. What can I expect from the experience? Expect to spend a lot of money--but don't feel bad about it. I kept telling myself that when I'm old and fifty dollars doesn't seem like a lot of money, I'll be glad I had spent it on something awesome in England.

Advice from Previous Students: Tiffany

2011-01-19T16:12:00.001-07:00

1. What should I know ahead of time? um. know that you need lots of money to eat lots of candy bars. and then remember to eat a candy bar every day. actually several times a day. try all of the candies you find.

2. What should I bring? a few clothes and a journal and money. stuffed animal (but don't lose your precious one!)

3. What should I leave behind? swimsuit--go skinny dipping (trust me, there are places). books--you'll end up buying plenty if you visit the awesome used bookstores. don't bring too many clothes because you'll get new ones and it's a hassle to have too much junk.

4. What should I absolutely do or see no matter what? your surroundings. look up. keep your eyes up and don't watch your feet when you walk. If you are in a town and see something that looks cool, then go see it. Don't worry too much about being with lots of people if they don't want to do what you want to do. Just go do it. Talk to people. People in shops, and hostels and wherever you are--especially at church (whether it's LDS or not), and people in your study group. You will appreciate the people you get to know far more than you will the landscapes you see.

5. What should I miss? Anything you think will be boring, because it probably will be. I had more fun riding the tube than I did visiting the Tower of London, because I liked feeling more like a real person than a tourist...so take time to just be a person and hold back on the touristy stuff especially if you're tired and your feet hurt. Don't take pictures of EVERY SINGLE PLACE. just relax and remember to be in the moment. You'll remember it more fondly.

6. What attitude should I take with me (as an American, student, traveler, etc)? be cautious, but not too much. Just enjoy stuff. be open to new people and new ideas of all kinds.

7. What can I expect from the experience? nothing. You will not get what you expect, I guarantee it. But, it will change you in ways that only you will know...and for the most part it will be awesome. but remember that everyone has bad days and you can't be expected to be happy all the time just because you're in England...although that is pretty cool.

Advice from Previous Students: Julianna

2011-01-19T16:10:00.003-07:00

1. What should I know ahead of time?

If you have commitment problems, ignore them! I freaked out for nearly the entire semester on whether I should go or not and basically - JUST DO IT because it is great and well worth your money and time. I suppose I can't speak for everyone, but I don't think you will regret going.

2. What should I bring?

Line your suitcase with dryer sheets - you can use them in your laundry and they keep your clothes at least somewhat fresh in the meantime. If you wear glasses I would recommend bringing contacts because hiking in the rain with glasses is really not fun. Smartwool sock liners are great - I didn't get a single blister the whole trip. I would also recommend buying a journal that you like, and one that will last. Bringing tape/glue and small scissors is also a good idea because you will probably want to keep brochures/pictures/pressed flowers etc in your journal.

3. What should I leave behind?

Extra clothes that you think you "might wear". Try to keep it to the minimum - I regretted bringing too much stuff. You'll probably end up buying clothes along the way somewhere, so don't bring any more than you have to.

4. What should I absolutely do or see no matter what?

Whatever you want. I would definitely recommend spending at least one day just wandering through a town - you will see a lot more than if you put yourself on some kind of rigid tourist hit list. I also would recommend going to as many art museums as possible.

5. What should I miss?

On days that you are feeling overwhelmed/tired/smelly/annoyed, hang back. Like Tina said, alone time is important. It is also important to go to most things, but if something doesn't interest you then don't go. If there is something you can be content with missing, then don't regret missing it. Walk around town or catch up on reading. You'll be happier - it isn't all about going home and showing everyone the pictures that you took of everywhere that you went. It should be an enjoyable experience.

6. What attitude should I take with me (as an American, student, traveler, etc)?

A positive one. It is definitely helpful to not rely on a lot of alone time - John Bennion will teach you how to love everyone - so learn the skill! It was helpful for me to just be grateful for every awesome thing that we got to see and do - who cares if your bunkmate has smelly feet? You're in England!! I also paid zero attention to the schedule - that way every day I got to be surprised at all of the cool stuff we were doing instead of having expectations about how the day would go. That limits your ability to plan out what you want to see, but it worked great for me (I also had no idea where we were 70% of the time, so this strategy has its downsides...)

7. What can I expect from the experience? Good stuff.

Advice from Previous Students: Tina

2011-01-19T15:42:00.002-07:00

1. What should I know ahead of time?

Stores close early, like right when you get to town. Calling home more than once a week is a ridiculous idea (it's hard to coordinate and not necessary). Unisex/public showers 95% of the time. It's can be cold and wet. Alone time and even freetime can be far and far between. Enjoy every minute of the ride.

2. What should I bring?

A good raincoat. A reliable pretty good camera (and something to put it in). A travel towel- It dries fast and is compact. Dryer sheets. Some plastic sandwich bags to rainproof stuff. Bags to organize your luggage. Extra underwear (to go longer between laundry). TUPPERWARE, saved my life, I love it. Secret stash of granola bars/snacks. Money.

3. What should I leave behind?

Cell phone, computer (although it was nice to use sometimes...) Multiple "cute" outfits or types of clothing not necessary.

4. What should I do or see no matter what?

This is going to be different for each person. People had different passions and fetishes and idols. I went for walks/runs in each town and saw the most of everything I could see. You have to see the well known stuff (like Shakespear's grave and platform 9 3/4 just to say you did. *Even if you are tired GO ON THE HIKE along the Jurrasic coast (Lulworth-). Eat clotted cream and scones and pasty's. Shop down Portabello Road and walk through Harrods in London. Take advantage of any random special events! Don't miss out on time to chill and play with the group either, that's important.

5. What should I miss?

Sleep. And I wished I would have missed group dinner sometimes and gone out to eat something local. And again this varies for each person just be content with what you miss, I missed a tour of Parliament and a scholarly lecture but I was and am satisfied with the needed alone time I got instead.

6. What attitude should I take with me (as an American, student, traveler, etc)?

Joy in the journey. Savor and enjoy every minute of the adventure. Take advantage of everything you want to, have no regrets.

7. What can I expect from the experience?

A new understanding and sense of self. Uniqe and close friendships. Strengthened writing skils. Aweome pictures journal entries and essays. Most of all expect, great stories and memories from a once-in-a lifetime experience.

PS from Karla to 2011 students: Previous students went on the "hiking the landscape" program rather than the "artist colony" program that we will be doing this year, which may explain why their advice seems a little tilted toward surviving hiking, rain, youth hostels, and the English countryside. But don't worry--we will take as many out-of-London trips as we can while you are there.

What to Consider As We Prepare

2011-01-16T16:45:00.004-07:00

I'm asking advice from the people who have previously been with us in the UK:

1. What should I know ahead of time?
2. What should I bring?
3. What should I leave behind?
4. What should I absolutely do or see no matter what?
5. What should I miss?
6. What attitude should I take with me (as an American, student, traveler, etc)?
7. What can I expect from the experience?

I'll post the questions to the google and yahoo groups from earlier and hope for responses, which I'll pass on to you.

News (Sources) From the UK

2011-01-15T19:03:00.006-07:00

I decided to start reading the London newspapers online again to catch up on what is happening there before we move back to Palace Court at the end of June. I have several favorite sources, including:

The Guardian, lefty-Labour
The Independent, a little left of center
The Times, establishment and Tory to the bone
The Daily Mail, the Beck/Limbaugh end of the spectrum
and of course The BBC, great for world news even if you live in the USA.

Things have changed a lot in the past two years, and it takes some reading to remind me of our divergent terminology. The Liberal Democrats are now in a (shaky) coalition government with the Conservatives while Labour is on the outs (remember that in other parts of the world, "liberal" and "democrat" often mean right of center--I mean centre); the Brits are suffering from the effects of their own housing bubble and economic downturn; "sports" are/is called "sport" with headlines like "West Ham 0-3 Arsenal: Robin van Persie scores twice as ruthless Arsenal put struggling West Ham to the sword in a match tipped to be Avram Grant's last as Hammers boss" which I'm sure I'll understand completely by say September 2011.

Even though I'm tremendously looking forward to being there again, the time to prepare is rushing by.

So, Next Trip Across the Pond?

2010-01-11T18:14:00.003-07:00

It's almost time to start thinking about England again (there's a joke in there somewhere, but I'm resolutely not looking for it). John and I plan to spend the last half of 2011 at the Palace Court Centre. Chris and his high school buddies want to do a visit after they graduate next year. Some of you have been back since we were there. Any photos or stories you want to share? If you are a former student from 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, or 2009, and would like to share your further adventures, email me at karlabennion at hotmail dot com, and I'll give you authorization to post on the blog.

I'm probably going to start posting random stuff from the past again. I'd love to see more from you.

Dismantling Basecamp

2009-11-26T11:53:00.006-07:00

"Hey, good work taking the tents down, guys!
I'm just gonna hang back and take pictures."

Ice Age

2009-11-17T19:00:00.002-07:00

The Scars of a Poet

2009-11-16T21:56:00.007-07:00

Defending a master's thesis is stressful. Writing a master's thesis is stressful. At least, that's what I hear. I don't have a master's thesis. But Kylie and I did watch Annelise defend her thesis, and that was something. It was quite the experience as Annelise and her thesis committee discussed all the topics about the thesis and surrounding the thesis, often with the intellectual level of thought flying well above my head. But while my brain was busting and my own anxieties about grad school and beyond were both relaxing and intensifying, one thing came clear: writing and defending a master's thesis is doable (though don't count on doing it as well as Annelise; not just anyone can give the best thesis defense Kim Johnson has ever been a part of). But something like this isn't knocked out in a couple weeks or a semester, or two semesters. It takes a lotta time and might cost you some scars. I think we've all noticed Annelise's absence during this semester. Well, this is a big reason why (and large doses of Buffy consumption). Give her a break. The last few months her world has probably looked something like this:

But now that she's finished both of these things, perhaps, just maybe we humble undergrads will be graced by more of her presence (last weekend's camping party but a taste of what might be). Which might lift that dark shroud and soothe some of those poetic scars.

Or maybe I'm off on that. Maybe thoughts of hanging around our crazy group only send one into a severe relapse (refer to picture 1). But in any case, congratulations, Annelise, on finishing your master's thesis and rocking the academic, poetic world.

A Warm Place

2009-11-16T19:48:00.006-07:00

A Warm Place - Nine Inch Nails

Camping at The Compound

2009-11-14T14:23:00.003-07:00

The photos are a little blurred because I really hate using my flash.
Sorry I wasn't there in the morning! I went to sleep alone in a quiet room in my sister's house, and didn't wake up until 9:30. So I missed the snow. If anyone has pix of the morning, post them!

Halloweenies

2009-11-01T14:57:00.002-07:00

...at Bess' family Halloween Party. Bess was an Austrian zombie, Christian was from "Pushing Up Daisies," Tina was Artemis (not Diana), Tiffany was...a glitter hippie, I guess (and a very beautiful one at that), and Whitney was a faerie. John was a drunken miner with a pick-ax, but he didn't act any differently than normal, and I was a witch because I have a witch's hat. What all did everybody else do?
Bess' family lives in a great place, by the way. I wanted to explore down to the water, but didn't dare. They really do Halloween. It was a lot of fun.

My Royal Golden Cup

2009-09-26T20:46:00.004-06:00

I was so happy to find the Royal Golden Cup back where it should be, in the middle of the exhibition room. Sometimes when I go there is no Cup--sometimes even no 11-15C European exhibit open at all! which is a shock to my system. This time I decided to document the event--and the Cup--thoroughly. Below, the Cup and I. I figure they can keep the cup where it is at the British Museum, since it would be a great bother for me to insure it, ship it home, find a proper exhibition place for it at my house, and accommodate everybody who would want to come see it. But I do expect to see it prominently displayed when I go to all the bother of traveling to London to look at it again.
So, below are explanations of the eight main enameled panels, provenance of the Cup, and photos of each side. If the writing is not clear enough to read, I believe you can double click on the photo and it will come up enlarged.

I don't remember when I first fell under the spell of the Royal Golden Cup. I have a description of it in my journal from 1997, I believe. That was the year I gave up on souvenirs, after collecting a bag full of useless keychains. I decided that I might as well choose something truly worth coveting--and this Royal Golden Cup, with its 700 year history, life of St. Agnes, and pearls is what caught my fancy. So, when you go to the British Museum, enjoy looking at my Cup!

Holland Park

2009-09-26T20:41:00.002-06:00

What is it with Bennion guys sleeping on picnic tables (Chris B, above)? Below, Matt, Katy, etc., enjoy breakfast at the Holland Park YH:

London!

2009-09-26T17:00:00.003-06:00

St. Paul's Cathedral, photo by Bentley (above), and by Roxanne (below):
Tower Bridge, Tower guards, and Traitors' Gate, pix by Marshall:

John takes a nap on the Holland Park picnic tables, photo by Bentley:

Bath

2009-09-23T10:01:00.005-06:00

Above, Chris B. by Bentley, and below, street sculptures by Jon:

Street performers, by Jon:

John B at the youth hostel, by Bentley:
Oooh, Katy's Welsh dragon earrings, by Bentley:
Roman bath by Jon:
by Marshall:
by Bentley:
by Jon:
Bath Abbey in the background, by Roxanne:
Bath city on the walk from the youth hostel, by Jon:
Frisbee! Chris and John B. by Jon S.:

Kylie and Chris B. by Jon:

Tintern Abbey

2009-09-22T09:54:00.003-06:00

Pix above and below by Jon:
by Roxanne:
Chris B by Jon:
Emma by Jon:
Matt and Whitney by Jon:

Wells Cathedral

2009-09-20T16:14:00.001-06:00

Photos by Jon (above) and Roxanne (below):

Danywenalt

2009-09-14T21:48:00.004-06:00

By Wales some were desperate for laundry (above, photo by Roxanne):

Beautiful Wales (above) picture by Marshall, and below Sydney and Chris by Jon:

Whitney by Bentley:
Lovely photo by Marshall:

Epic Reunion

2009-09-13T17:34:00.006-06:00

I missed getting (unblurry) photos of Kylie, Annalise, Tiffany, and Roxanne. And me of course. But we were all there. Thanks so much to Sydney and her family for sharing their home with us.

Pizza Muffin Party

2009-08-27T22:02:00.012-06:00

Um, so this one time we had a super awesome party at Katy Anderson's rockin apartment. There was delicious food and embarrassing disclosures, hugs and laughs and basically everything a super awesome party should be. Oh, and we mustn't leave out how there were so many amazingly wonderful people present. I am sad to admit that some people were unable to make it due to something about being in a foreign country or physiology homework...lame. No worries though! there will be plenty more parties with lovely people. I am volunteering Katy's house again because it pretty much is awesome. Enough of me rambling; here are the pictures (sorry that they're not the best quality):

Pretty sure this is Whitney thinking of those awesome people not at the party

Glastonbury Tor

2009-08-24T16:36:00.003-06:00

Pix by Bentley (above) and Jon (below):
and by Marshall (below).
I am somehow missing photos of Glastonbury Abbey. If you have some good ones, please post!

Walking to Boscastle

2009-08-18T17:13:00.002-06:00

by Jon (above) and Roxanne (below):
By Bentley:
By Bentley:
By Jon:

Shades of Black

2009-08-10T01:05:00.010-06:00

A moment of photo editing experimentation blossomed into supreme coolness when I discovered that our personal fractures might not be so hidden after all. You just have to look with the right shade of black.

Actually no one was miserable this day. These shots are from Annelise's grand and memorable Indian food party where Kylie, Katie, Kris, and all were quite happy. But what wonderful images these are! I like to think this is how we all felt when thinking of those who could not be with us that day. We did miss you.

NO ONE WILL EVER LOVE YOU

No One Will Ever Love You - Th...

OUT OF SIGHT

Out Of Sight - Spiritualized

WE WATCHED OUR SAD-EYED ANGEL FALL

we watch our sad-eyed angel fa...

Tintagel

2009-08-09T15:29:00.004-06:00

Walking to the YH (by Bentley, above)

First evening at the YH (by Roxanne)

Photo by Bentley

Merlin's Cave (by Bentley, above, by Jon S. below)

Clothes drying on the roof, photo by Bentley

Remaining photos by Jon S.

I don't have any photos of the actual castle ruins or of the town from 2009. Post your pix of Tintagel please!

Indian food and England people

2009-08-03T21:37:00.016-06:00

Oh, hey! Here are a few more pictures of that awesome party that Annelise put together.

Annelise's Party

2009-08-02T23:15:00.002-06:00

I was too busy talking and didn't get many photos. Please people, post yours! I saw lots of people taking pix. The food was great! and the movie fun too. John and I went home inspired and watched Slumdog Millionaire tonight, which I must say was pretty sad, but good (and not quite the same as Lagaan).

Walk from Dorchester to Hardy's Cottage

2009-08-02T18:03:00.003-06:00

Valley of the Great Dairies (above), by Jon S. John B on Thomas Hardy by Roxanne (below):
Katie P and Jon with brollies, photo by Jon:
Jon and Tiffany, photo on Jon's camera (by Kylie?):
Break by the stream, photo by Bentley:
Hardy's Cottage, photo by Roxanne:
Resting on the grass, photo by Bentley:

Max Gate

2009-08-02T17:54:00.002-06:00

Photos below by Jon S.

Church in Weymouth

2009-07-31T21:46:00.003-06:00

I thought the seagull on the church roof was appropriate. This was the day that Chris sliced his finger and fainted on top of Juli.

30 May Walk/Bus to Weymouth

2009-07-31T21:23:00.003-06:00

Chris in the water (above)

Sammy and Syd (photo by Jon)

...and the leader of the day was Roxanne.

Coast Hike Lulworth to Weymouth

2009-07-29T01:28:00.004-06:00

Hiking up and out of Lulworth Cove, photo by Marshall:

by Bentley:Durdle Door, photo by Bentley:

Emma, photo by Jon:

Dancing? Yoga? Tossing backpacks to each other? Only the participants know for sure. Photo by Bentley:

29 May Lulworth Cove

2009-07-29T01:23:00.001-06:00

...and the leader of the day was Janet. We spent the day at this lovely smugglers' cove getting sunburned.

Beautiful Lulworth Cove

2009-07-29T00:57:00.003-06:00

...in Dorset, on the Jurassic Coast. Photo of Janet, Whitney, and Juli by Jon S:

Photo by Jon:

Marshall's cool new hairpiece (by Jon's camera--but who was taking the photo?):
Bess, Katie, and Tiff, photo by Lauren:

The guys skip (or in the case of Chris B, hurl) rocks, photo by Lauren:

On the pebbly beach, photo by Roxanne:

On the beach, photo by Jon:

Afterwards, Chris B and Whitney eat fish and chips, photo by Roxanne:

28 May by Marshall

2009-07-26T00:06:00.003-06:00

...when he deigns to post it (maybe after his wedding). This was the night we scattered across the Dorset coastline due to a scheduling mixup.

More pix from sites and hike of 28 May

2009-07-26T00:05:00.001-06:00

...if you post them.

Milton Abbey

2009-07-25T23:55:00.003-06:00

by Jon:

Matt sings by Jon:memorial by Roxanne:

Lori by Roxanne:

More Stourhead pix...

2009-07-25T23:54:00.001-06:00

...if you have them.

Stourhead Garden

2009-07-25T23:35:00.005-06:00

Heather W in the grotto, by Jon:Kris by Jon:

Rachel and Christine by Jon:

Stourhead temple by Jon:

Another temple by Roxanne:

Classic scene by Jon:

Garden by Bentley:

Back support in the buttercups, by Bentley:

Stonehenge pix...

2009-07-25T23:35:00.001-06:00

...you are invited to post here.

Stonehenge (more student pix)

2009-07-25T23:01:00.004-06:00

Shadow face by Jon:

by Jon:Sitting in the stones by Jon:

Tiff/Kylie hug by Jon:

Yoga by Jon:

Kylie by Jon:

All of us by the security guard with Jon's camera:

Emma by Jon:

Chris B by Rox:

and Chris by Bentley:

by Marshall:

Bentley levitating by Lauren:

Bentley levitates by somebody using Bentley's camera:

by Jon:

30 Second (ish?) Middlemarch!

2009-07-01T16:57:00.005-06:00

Hey there chums!

Finally, for your viewing pleasure, comes our 100% reliable, true-to-the-SPIRIT-of-the-novel, guaranteed to NOT make Mary Ann Evans roll in her grave, fun-for-the-whole-family version of Middlemarch. All crappiness of quality and editing is due to me not really knowing how technology works but trying real hard anyway. Enjoy!

Invitation to Post

2009-06-30T19:35:00.003-06:00

You may notice that you got an email invitation to post on the blog. Please do so! I'll try to put photos up in order of the trip, but don't hesitate to add your own. At this point the order doesn't matter, and we want to see your great pix--including photos and comments on your travels since the program ended. What sorts of adventures are you having? Have you made it home safely? This might be a good place to share stuff we were too busy to post while still in the middle of eveything.

Stonehenge (pix by Bess and Tiffany)

2009-06-13T05:31:00.003-06:00

Clyde levitates. Bentley tried it too (pix to follow), but came down a little more abruptly.

A note from the Editor

2009-06-11T09:55:00.000-06:00

Of course, in real time we're in London, dealing with a strike on the Underground and trying to cram as much as possible into our days and nights. One can either do things or blog about them. Sore knees kept me back at the youth hostel working on photos today, but I only got as far as the Jurassic Coast hike, and obviously haven't blogged that far. We're doing OK, despite minor mishaps, and after some adjustments are enjoying our time in the city.

27 May post by Whitney

2009-06-11T09:54:00.001-06:00

...when she writes it. The Editor

Bremerton Church and Wilton House

2009-06-11T09:49:00.002-06:00

Photos by Jon.

Salisbury Cathedral

2009-06-11T09:40:00.003-06:00

Photo by Chris B:
Baptismal font:
Photos by Jon:
Bentley as his true self (a Jesuit or a Puritan) photo by Jon:

More Quotes from Annelise

2009-06-11T04:46:00.002-06:00

Part the Third: In which the travelers reflect on their conditions, and on those of the universe

"I'm just so funny everyone pays me."
Lori (preserved by Heather L)

"I'm really annoyed that I'm not being quoted. I say funny things. I keep track of them."
Lori (preserved by Katie P)

"If you are using that as a baby toilet, can't you use it for something else?"
Janet, in her sleep (preserved by Heather L)

"He used to tick you off, and now he offs your tick."
Rick to Tiffany about Matt and the tick surgery
(preserved by Bess)

"Mrs. Dalloway is the only thing I've written of [Virginia Woolf's]."
Kris T (preserved by Tiffany)

"I'm just saying what I like and what I like is her... Also, I like to know where the van is. Does anyone know?"
Bentley (preserved by Tiffany)

"Why do we eat roots of things? Like carrots were never meant to see the light of day and we like misappropriated them."
Katy A (preserved by Tiff)

"I don't hate homosexuals; it's God who hates homosexuals."
Jon S. (Tiffany's disclaimer: I don't know the context of this... I just overheard that one part).

Juli: [as she falls face first on the floor] "No internet!"
Katie: "How did you get there?"
Juli: "I just pushed the door open with my body!"
Katie: "Well, why didn't you make a louder thud?"
Juli: "I don't know! I'm a little person!"

Chris B: "What if there are more spiders?"
Whitney: "In the world, or in this room?"
Chris B: "In the world."
preserved by Lauren

"You are a powerful awkward magnet--like the giant horseshoe kind."
Lori, to Julianna (preserved by Katie P.)

"I think God must be the biggest nerd in the world--I mean existence."
Tiffany (preserved by Bess)

Bentley: "You must remember that you are a person and not a student. Don't let him suck your humanity."
Annelise: "Yes. You could end up like me." [frames her face with her hands].
preserved by Katie P

"Vegetarians should not be promiscuous."
Karla (preserved by Katie P)

"She is entertained by simple objects."
Bentley's translation summary of "She is going to start the satellite operation of Ziggy's redesigned lucet business in conjunction with Ruskin lace."
(about Katy A, preserved by Bess)

Kylie: "I saw a cow pee next to me."
Emma: "I peed next to a cow."
preserved by Roxanne

"I'm workin' on my fitness! You're my witness!"
Sydney (preserved by Heather L)

"David Bowie is like salt--he just enhances everything."
Bentley (preserved by Bess)

Heather L: "Does she have a large family and a brother named Erik?"
Rachel: "No, she only has two brothers."
Lauren: "But are they large?"

Heather L: "Is that cow wearing a sweater?"
Bentley: "Except that it's a horse, but yes...One of those riding cows."

Juli: "I'm going a little overboard with this febreeze-ing."
Lauren: "Is that what you're doing instead of washing your clothes?"
Juli: "Yes. It makes me feel better because I spray them and hang them up and they're clean in the morning."

Juli [while spraying febreeze in a ziplock bag containing her shoes]: "Here's my master plan--hang them up. And maybe if I zip the bag, it will be like a washing machine."

Juli [after her febreeze-ing]: "Mmm. Smells so clean over here."

"I've got my bare necessities: water and crotch powder."
Jon S when Bess looks at the content of his cargo pockets
(preserved by Bess)

"What would Darwin do?"
Bentley (preserved by Heather L)

"We could be seeing string theory!"
Tiffany about strange oily substance in water at Boscastle
(preserved by Bess)

More Quotation Collection by Annelise

2009-06-11T04:15:00.003-06:00

Part the Second: In which the travelers plot their adventures

Whitney: "Monsters!"
Lauren: "I will go defend you from the monsters. Actually, I will go pee."
Whitney: "Pee on the monsters! Pee on the monsters!"

"I'm just gonna lay here and think about how awesome Wendell Methuselah's gonna be."
Katy A (preserved by Lauren)

"What better way to say 'I've been to Edinburgh' than a tattoo that says 'I've been to Edinburgh'?"
Bentley (preserved by Heather L)

"What would Juli's reaction be if I threw poop at her?"
John B. (source unknown)

"Heather, I think you should try an experiment where you don't wear pants for a week."
Katy A. (preserved by Lauren)

"I will give $10,000 to anyone in this room who names their child Orsino."
Katy A. (preserved by Lauren)

"Are we just waiting for someone to burst into prayer? I will do it."
Whitney (preserved by Annelise)

John B: "I don't know, but we can use Rick to measure."
Whitney: "We can just lay him out on the ground. That's one Rick, two Ricks..."
preserved by Heather L

Heather L: "I would lick it, but I can't lick my foot."
Tiffany: "I could totally lick my foot."
Heather L: "Do you want to lick mine?"

"Let me suck from your bladder...The bladder has an unsteady flow."
Lori to Emma about her camelback (preserved by Tiffany)

Chris B: "What are we clamping?"
Katy A: "My femoral artery. After it had been severed in the field of battle. In Mogadishu. In the film Black Hawk Down."
preserved by Lauren

more to come (ed.)

Goodbye to Christian

2009-06-11T04:13:00.000-06:00

We miss him a lot, and hope that he's having fun traveling with his folks. We also welcome Cheryl, who we met in Cornwall.

Quotation Collection by Annelise

2009-06-07T17:33:00.003-06:00

Part the First: In which the travelers express their feelings

"Dear John Bennion, let me write you a list of all the swear words I used today. It would be a lengthy list."
Kylie (source unknown)

"I feel like the boys on this trip enjoy being boys way too much."
Emma (preserved by Lauren)

"Bummer. Barren love."
Lori (preserved by Katie P.)

"I hate being dizzy. It is the worst feeling ever. Well, actually I'm sure there are worse ones. Hatred. Betrayal. But it's up there."
Kylie (preserved by Heather L)

"Lauren, it hurts me to look at you."
Heather L (preserved by Lauren)

"I felt like I was going to make a pearl with my foot."
Lori (preserved by Heather L)

"It doesn't make me feel good to be scorned by a sheep."
Kylie (preserved by Heather L)

Katy A: "So who brought our bags up?"
Lauren: "Whitney and heather W."
Katy A: "A blessing on their heads."
Lauren: "And on their posterity."
Katy A: "Even unto the seventh generation. [pause] And that's a lot of generations."

"Eew! Have you NO social inhibitions?"
Lori, addressing Whitney who was removing a band-aid from her foot at dinner (preserved by Lauren)

"If the Bennions were a reality TV show, I would watch them."
Anonymous

"I would get hypochondria and die."
Annelise (preserved by Tiffany and Bess)

Note: the blogging software will not allow me to cut and paste Annelise's document into the blog, so we will be adding Parts the Second and Third later--the editor.

Photo Awards:

2009-06-07T16:58:00.005-06:00

Best Portrait of Roxanne (by Bess, above), and Best Portrait of Heather W by Bess:

Above, Best Photo of Janet's First Trip to the Ocean, by Marshall, and below, Best Photo of Our Respected Professor in a Plaid by Bess:
Best Portrait of Whitney, by Bess (the blogger software rotated the picture, sorry):
Best Photo of Livestock, by Tiffany:
Best Photo of Hogwarts, by Tina:
Best Art Photo, by Jon:

26 May post by Rachel

2009-06-07T16:56:00.000-06:00

...when she gives it to me. editor

Old Sarum

2009-06-07T16:50:00.001-06:00

above and below by Roxanne:
by John B:

Titchfield Abbey

2009-06-07T15:38:00.005-06:00

Photo above by Jon, below by Marshall:
by Bess:
by Jon:
by Jon:
by Bess:
by Bess (?)
by Jon:
by Marshall:

by Marshall:
by Jon
by Roxanne:

On the Coach with Terry

2009-06-07T15:24:00.002-06:00

Marshall and Emma asleep by Roxanne:
Terry by Bess:
Rachel and Terry, by Jon:

Totland Youth Hostel

2009-06-07T15:16:00.002-06:00

pic above by Jon, below (dancing) by Tina
standing in line for the dish sink by Tina
Heather L by Christian:

Totland Bay, and Janet's first time at the Ocean

2009-06-07T14:50:00.002-06:00

Photo of Janet above by Marshall:

all other photos by Jon

The Needles

2009-06-07T14:41:00.003-06:00

Pix by Jon

25 May post by Katy A

2009-06-07T14:32:00.002-06:00

There's a lot of things I could say about the day, about what we did and what we saw, and all the things we did as a group, but I've decided instead to be selfish, and describe my favorite part of the day, which only involved 4 or 5 other people and had very little to do with studying literature or hiking or being on the Isle of Wight.

One of the many joys of being Leader is being on the meal-preparation-and-cleanup-crew. After dinner most people broke off for various fun activities--some went up to Tennyson Down, some played Frisbee, some walked down to the shore. Not I. It was my lot--and that of Rachel, Lauren, Heather L, and Bess (although actually Bess was there by choice--does everyone know how great Bess is? Dang) to stay in the kitchen putting away food, washing and drying dishes, and tidying up.

At first it was kind of a bummer--here we were, having a beautiful evening on the Isle of Wight, and I'm stuck home scraping spaghetti of the bottom of pots? Come on. But then somehow we got to singing, and somehow an hour later there we were, merrily singing 4 part Welsh rounds, trying desperately to find more clean surfaces to wipe down as an excuse to stay and stay. I've never been good at explaining why I spent a year learning Welsh--I think if someone asked me now, I would say that I took a year of Welsh so that I could spend an hour in a hostel kitchen in England teaching some of my dearest friends how to sing silly songs about cuckoos and blackbirds. Reason enough, indeed.

Sunrise on Tennyson Down

2009-06-07T14:05:00.002-06:00

Above, Tiffany by Roxanne, below by Tiffany:
by Tiffany:

by Roxanne:
by Tiffany:
Chris B by Roxanne:

More Tennyson Down

2009-06-07T13:47:00.004-06:00

Sunset by Marshall:
Matt and Tennyson monument by Marshall:
Roxanne! by Roxanne:
Katie P by Roxanne:
Emma and Matt by Roxanne:
Clyde by Tiffany:
Chris B by Marshall:

Carisbrooke Castle

2009-06-07T13:21:00.001-06:00

Kylie on bench by Jon
by Jon
Lunch signal by Jon
Warriors by Jon:

The Lady of Shalott

2009-06-07T13:05:00.004-06:00

Above photos by Jon
gleaming spires of Camelot by Jon:
Finale by Jon
Spires and river:
The mirror watches:
We did Tennyson's "The Lady of Shalott" as performance art.

Osborne House

2009-06-07T12:51:00.003-06:00

pics above and below by Bess
by Tina
by Jon
by Tiffany
by Christian
posed by the participants
by Jon

24 May blog post by Annelise

2009-06-07T12:50:00.000-06:00

...when I receive it. (editor)

Church at Newport at the Isle of Wight

2009-06-07T12:33:00.003-06:00

Rachel's hair, by Kris, photo by Tiffany
Clyde is dressed for priesthood meeting
Waiting for the fireside

23 May post by Chris B

2009-06-07T12:32:00.000-06:00

...if I get it (probably not, being his mom). editor

Tennyson Down at sunset

2009-06-07T12:26:00.002-06:00

Sammy by Christian Heather W and Kris by Jon
Kylie catches the frisbee by Jon

Ferry to the Isle of Wight

2009-06-07T12:10:00.004-06:00

Portsmouth by Roxanne:
Coach driver Terry enjoys the scene:
by Roxanne:
sunny day

Kylie and Clyde by Tiffany:

Winchester Cathedral and surrounds

2009-06-07T11:51:00.003-06:00

Nave by JonSammy, Marshall, Kylie by Jon:
Waiting in front by Roxanne:
St. Swithun by Roxanne:
lunch by Roxanne (not in the cathedral):
Heather W by Roxanne:
eating lunch by Roxanne:
Aelfred:
Gormley statue in the crypt, by Jon
Jane Austen tomb by Jon

Walk to Winchester

2009-06-07T11:41:00.002-06:00

by Jonby Jon
by Jon
by Roxanne:

22 May post by Sydney

2009-06-07T10:58:00.000-06:00

...when she gives it to me. Ed.

Walking to New Arlesford

2009-06-07T10:28:00.005-06:00

Roxanne in the wheat (Roxanne's pic): by Jon:

by Tina:

by Tiffany:

by Marshall:

by Christian:

by Roxanne:

Kris sneaks up on a cow, by Tiffany:

Juli by Tiffany:

by Bess:

Heather L in love by Tina:

Feets (at the Swan Hotel), by Tina:

Lunch in the Park at Chawton

2009-06-07T10:21:00.003-06:00

Rachel and Tiffany by Christian: Sammy and Matt by Jon:

Christine and Rachel by Jon:

Lunch on the stump:

Chawton

2009-06-07T10:15:00.000-06:00

Jane Austen's home, by Jon:Students:

Her actual writing table!, by Roxanne:

21 May post by Heather W

2009-06-07T10:14:00.000-06:00

...when I receive it. Ed.

20 May post by Kris

2009-06-07T10:13:00.000-06:00

This morning our group moved on from Stratford-Upon-Avon and continued its always migrating English tour. It’s not farewell to Shakespeare’s city, though, as we will make another pit stop here to see the Royal Shakespeare Company’s performance of “As You Like it” later on in our trip.

A coach ride took us to the beautiful but formidable Blenheim Palace, residence of the Duke and Duchesses of Marlborough. The 11th Duke currently lives there with his family. We toured the state quarters of the palace, which has become a hallmark attraction for being Winston Churchill’s birthplace. Our tour guide seemed enthralled with the fact that Churchill was gorn in a ladies’ coatroom closet, and even more enthralled with the history of the 8th Duchess of Marlborough – an American who the Duke strategically married because all of his family’s fortune had been squandered. His bride’s name was Consuelo, and she was the heiress granddaughter of the Mr. Vanderbilt. As well as saving the estate Consuelo added much needed height to the gene pool, for which the current duke (standing 6’5”) is glad.

Another coach ride took us into Oxford. Immediately we all absorbed the great collegiate atmosphere. It was afternoon when we arrived and waterways and playing fields were filled with crew and lacrosse teams, tennis players, joggers, and bicyclists. As we toured Christchurch College I’m sure we were all envisioning ourselves as graduate students and not just visiting study abroad undergraduates – I know that I was. The highlight of Christchurch was seeing the great hall where Harry Potter movies are filmed. Evensong at the chapel was also a treat.

We are all looking forward to further explore Oxford tomorrow!

19 May post by Bentley

2009-06-07T10:12:00.000-06:00

...when he gives it to me. Ed.

Oxford

2009-06-07T09:47:00.003-06:00

Ruth talks to the group at Magdelen College, by Jon: Oxford transportation, by Roxanne:

Roxanne:

Oxford and Clyde, by Tiffany:

Quadrangle by Roxanne:

Gleaming spires by Jon:

Bridge of Sighs by Tiffany:

by Jon:

Martyrs of the Reformation by Jon:

John Donne, by Jon:

Deer park, by Jon:

Addison's Walk by Jon:

Clyde's window, by Tiffany:

Jon and Clyde by Tiffany:

4 minute mile

2009-06-07T09:44:00.001-06:00

Tina and Kris run the Chariots of Fire track (pic by Tiffany):

Hogwarts

2009-06-07T09:36:00.003-06:00

Christian on the staircase, by Christian:dueling wands, by Tiffany:

Hogwarts dining hall, by Roxanne:

and by Marshall:

Christchurch College, Oxford

2009-06-07T09:31:00.003-06:00

Too much touring, by Jon: Many reactions to evensong in the cathedral, pic by Tiffany:

Beautiful Blenheim Palace

2009-06-07T09:12:00.003-06:00

Tiffany and Clyde in a tree, by Tiffany: Sydney and Whitney by Whitney:

The Secret Garden by John B:

Secret Garden by Christian:

Train to the Pleasure Gardens by Roxanne:

Julianna by John B:

Waterfall by Jon:

The palace by Tina:

Black swan by Tiffany:

Whoops! by Tina:

Living in the City Parks

2009-06-07T09:04:00.002-06:00

We have class there: We do our exercise and entertainment there:

and eventually begin to feel that we really belong there (Bess with Clyde--this photo was at least semi-posed, but expresses somewhat how I feel anyway, about our itinerant lifestyle):

We also eat there quite often--not infrequently in the rain.

Shakespeare Sites

2009-06-07T08:55:00.002-06:00

Sydney responds to Hamlet at Shakespeare's birthplace, pic by Roxanne: Rachel worships the Bard, pic by Tina:

Dress-up by Tina:

Blogging Problems

2009-05-31T14:57:00.002-06:00

Well, I have not been able to upload more photos because of a bad internet connection. Hopefully we'll have more luck in Bath or London. Tomorrow we're off to Dorchester and the Thomas Hardy sites, and then away to Cornwall.

Dinner and a Play

2009-05-31T14:52:00.001-06:00

Comment on the Blogging

2009-05-31T14:29:00.002-06:00

I currently have two weeks worth of pictures after nearly two weeks with no internet access, and a very slow connection at the B&B where we're staying. I will post photos without much comment. UK09 people--comment in the comments, now or later. I will also not identify who took photos right now--if you click on the picture you should get the date, subject, and person who took it. Of course we'll identify Photos of the Week!

Anne Hathaway's Cottage

2009-05-31T14:15:00.002-06:00

18 May post by Jon

2009-05-21T15:15:00.000-06:00

...when he gives it to me to upload. the Editor

Julius Caesar

2009-05-21T15:08:00.001-06:00

...an exhibition of mob mentality, brutality, superstition, and oratory, loved by half the students and hated by the other half. I hope to have comments from them at this site soon.

More Mary Arden pix

2009-05-21T15:06:00.001-06:00

...by students as they become available. Particularly we need pictures of the students with the falconer.

Mary Arden House (at Stratford)

2009-05-21T14:58:00.002-06:00

Jon photographing the photographer (Lauren, above).

Lori on a sod bench.

Columbine.

Making pottage.

Class on Julius Caesar and the sonnets of Shakespeare. The Mary Arden house was lovely. John B took 150 photos of the interesting farm implements - interesting to him, that is - proving that he is still a farm boy at heart.