The City of Bath

Bath is an interesting city. The architecture, the stone, the views. It's a difficult thing to describe, really. In some ways, Bath could be seen as boring. The entire city is the same color built in the same style. However, this adds to Bath. Built in the Georgian style the city is designed to the maximum of presentation. While it was cold, it certainly didn't take away from the beauty of the city.

Another draw to Bath is, of course, the Roman Baths themselves. Heated by a hot spring the water flows up to the bath houses built for the Romans. Its strange to think that in the very spot a person is standing, a Roman or even a Queen could have been in that same spot hundreds of years ago. At the end of the tour at the Pump Room, a glass of water from the spring is given to each person. This water used to be consumed in large amounts for the "health" of the people, usually women, consuming it. In all truth, the water was very metallic from all the minerals in the water (not something that is easy to down quickly without pulling a face).

The trip to Bath was sponsored by the Student Union at the University. The group who went on the trip got on the coach bus and drove for a few hours. They let the students loose on the city and then we all met again to drive back. It was a good way to experience some more of England. The cost of the trip was reasonable and a good way to get to know other students from the university.

Some things never change

Well, it wasn't technically finals week here. But, it was still the last week of term. Instead of finals we got papers and assessments. Knowing that next week is break makes it very difficult to find motivation to accomplish anything. I think that the last week is possibly even more difficult while studying abroad because the lure of doing some travelling over break was dancing in front of my face. But, I needed to find some ways to focus and get these essays done! Then I could go off travelling to my heart's content.

Some things never change. A student, no matter where we are, still looks forward to break. When studying abroad it almost seems like the norm not to go home over break. Instead, go travelling. It might sound expensive, but there are methods of safe travelling suitable for all pocket books. There are reasonable airlines and places to stay. Hostels are a good way to go. It is all down to doing your homework and researching what is available where you are going to be travelling. Over winter break, I am able to go to Paris and Barcelona. I am staying in hostels and travelling with discounted airlines. The trick is to find things to do that aren't that expensive. So far I've found a couple of things that are easily accessible and free. It makes for a good holiday.

Uni

As much as we speak the same language and study the same subjects, school in England is drastically different. For one thing, there is no High School here. The order of school is Primary, Secondary, College, University.

Another difference is that each class only meets once a week. However, some classes have two parts: lecture and seminar. One of my classes has both together. So, instead of two different days my class runs from roughly 9AM until NOON with a short break in the middle. One of my other classes meets for lecture on Wednesday from 11AM until NOON and then has the seminar on Fridays from 9:30AM until 11AM.

Everyday I am done by NOON. Its nice to a certain extent, but there is a lot of down time. Most of this downtime is meant to be used to read the extensive reading list. The reading lists aren't assigned. Its for the student to do on their own, if they choose. Obviously, some students will read more than others and some may not read anything at all. Its all personal choice.

Another thing that is different is how assignments and essays are done. There really isn't that much homework aside from reading and essays. In my English class, there are two essays spread over the term. Each essay is worth 50% of the overall grade, which means no final. In another class I have a paper and an essay and then a final during the Summer Term.

There are three terms per year. The first term is from the end of September through the middle of December and then there is a break. Then from the second week of January through the end of March the second term runs, followed by another break until the middle of April. Summer term is basically finals. That's it. There is review for a week, then a week for studying some more, and then finals. There are not finals after every semester/term.

The way that essays are handled is interesting. They set the date it's due, and you have till NOON on that day to turn it in. You don't turn it in to the Professor, however. Instead, the paper has to be taken to the Faculty of Arts office. There, a form has to be filled out. All this form does is identify which student is turning in the paper and to which course the paper belongs. Then they scan it in and you get an email telling you that the paper has been turned in on time.

Aside from all the differences, its still college, or University, rather. They use different words. For example, in the States I would say, "Yeah, I'm going to college at Western." Here, I would say, "Yeah, I'm going to Uni in Plymouth." And they aren't Freshman or Freshies but "Freshers." And, there are only three years of University here. Its more concentrated and there aren't Gen. Eds.

There are both cultural differences in the education system as well as academic differences. I am learning both, and its making for a very interesting and fun experience.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a strange place. It is magnificent even when the rain is pouring down. There is a certain mystery to the rock formation, and the mystery is what draws people to it. The tour of the city sets up some history and then the bus takes the road to the formation. The bus takes you out of town and out towards the country. Suddenly in the distance you can see it. From the road, you can see Stonehenge. The road actually lies right next to the ancient site. Getting off the bus, there is a path that leads down to the National Trust entry way. From there, a gift shop, a little cafe, and a tunnel are present. The National Trust then gives out little personal walking tour handsets. They are basically used like phones, in the sense that you put them up to your ear and listen.

In the tunnel there are murals on both sides depicting how they think that the stones for Stonehenge were carried to their current resting spots. After walking up the ramp you see for the first time up close, Stonehenge.

Even though it was raining, there seems to be the need to take your time and enjoy the site. It seems to hit you when you see it that you are standing in amongst world heritage and history. For centuries, thousands of people have stood in the exact same place wondering and marveling at the great mystery. No one knows the exact reason or purpose that Stonehenge exists, but that is part of the fun.

Complex Alterations

I've been trying to work something out these past few days. I've been attempting to work out why I've been reacting differently. Emotionally I mean. My emotions have seemed heightened lately and it wasn't until today that I randomly understand why:

I'm in a new place.

Simple answer you might think. Simple answer with complex alterations. For me EVERYTHING is new. New accent, new slang, new location, new school, new people, even some new clothes. All of this has heightened my awareness of things (apparently including emotion).

In part, I think that being in an entirely new place (while brilliant, engaging, and incredible) is extremely frustrating. A person gets so incredibly used to normal everyday things that they forget to appreciate said things. For instance, I can't get into my car to go somwhere. I can't text or call my mum or sister. I can't say to my best friends, "I'm in a real need of a hug," and go over and get one and talk things over. Everything has been reduced to Facebook, email, and AIM.

You may call this, "homesickness." Fair point, perhaps you're right. I just call it a realization of what's different in my life at this current moment in time.

Museum, Art Gallery, & Beaches

Sculptures. Lots of them. Scattered about the museum dedicated to the works of Barbara Hepworth. The house plays host to the gallery. But, outside is the garden. Around the garden more sculptures are worked in. It is an interesting place. A tropical garden in the midst of England.


Tea in a cafe above the Tate Museum. Pot of hot water with loose tea leaves. Large windows. Some views of just the ocean. White waves breaking across the surface. A whole wall of windows overlooking houses. The roofs are all covered in orange moss which contrasts against the blue of the ocean and the blue and white of the sky. Seagulls swing on the breeze. The beaches are visible on the horizon.


The roar of the wave is constant on the beach. The closer to the water, the more shells in the sand. Blue, white, and zebra. The waves crash and pour white sand flecked with black on the shore. The breeze blows across the water. Dogs run about chasing waves and seagulls. The water is cold, but not frigid. It feels strange to the toes to feel the sand being pulled away. Seashells rub against the ankles as they are reclaimed by the water.


Farther out, the water is many shades of blue. The horizon isn't defined. it is blurred by a haze of cloud and spray. The sun is shining, it's a nice day.


The train ride home is different than the train ride to St. Ives. The first was riddled with sleep. The sun is behind now and bathes the countryside of Cornwall in brilliant light and shadow. It is vividly green. Pastures, fields, and small towns fly by out the train window. Occassional ruins and old churches pass as well. Even the trees have character. A lot of them possess an acquired look of age. Some of them are knarled and twisting. Others stretch up towards the sky, tall and thin. There are even lone trees in the midst of fields.

The buildings in England seem so old. There is a lot of history embedded in the landscape. There are stone walls, hedgerow fences, and cobbled side streets. Looking out the window a wish arises to live here. Such a rich landscape, rich characters, rich history. It's like being surrounded by a story.

Saltram Manor and St. Michael's Mount

Where to begin??

I've finally started classes. Getting the books has been a bit interesting. Getting the classes in working order was interesting as well. As it stands, I have one class on Monday, one on Wednesday, one Thursday, and two on Friday. The interesting part about the ones on Friday is that they overlap by an hour. So, I've worked it out that I leave one class a half hour early and arrive at the other class half an hour late. I'm glad that worked out, because it was stressing me out.

But, other than that, I have started traveling!! Not extensively mind you, but I have travelled a bit around where I'm at. My friend Lauren and I went to the Saltram Manor on Saturday and St. Michael's Mount today. We also joined the National Trust, so we get into a lot of places like that for free. Well, sort of free. The membership fee was 21.50. But, if we go 3-4 places and use our card, we've paid for the fee already. So its actually a really good deal and very easy to get.

Saturday: Saltram Manor
This is an 18th century house that has 98 rooms!! It was incredible. You walk in to the entrance hall and you are struck by the brilliance of a house that grand. Not to mention it smells a bit stale. But, before you even go in the house, you notice the door handle. It is ridiculously low to the ground. I have my theories. The first is possibly the more correct of the two. My first theory is that people were shorter back then (a theory proven by St. Michael's Mount as well). Then, my second theory is that by having the handle that far down, when the servant answered the door they automatically had to bow to the person walking in. Just a thought ;)
There is a fireplace in the main entrance hall. And, it is a pretty large room. You walk through into various rooms. The rooms that catch in my memory were fantastic. The first was the ballroom. There were four great mirrors framed on opposing walls. There were two beautiful crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling which in and of itself was ornate. A lovely rug was laid out over the floor and simple little chairs lined the walls as well as a few tables with vases and such. On the walls among the mirrors and windows were paintings of various places such as the ruins of Rome and Greece and also of differnt people from earlier times. Its a very lovely room with mint green wallpaper and gold trimmings around the top and in the ceiling.

The next room that stands out is actually the Staircase Hall. The free-standing staircase follows three sides of the room. There are paintings all along the walls in this room as well. There is a small bookshelf with old books on it. Under the staircase, there is a baby grand piano. As we were walking up the stairs, a young man sat down and played a piece. It carried so well through the house. It was also surreal. I felt like I should have been in a dress getting ready to go to a party or something. There was also a circular table in the center of the hall. It had a green tabletop and it had drawers in the side of the top to hold important documents in. Each drawer had a golden letter on it, except there were two missing letters.

The last room of the tour was the Library. It had so many books in it!! The first books I saw after walking in were of Shakespeare! There was soo much Shakespeare! There were just soo many books. And of all shapes and sizes! For instance, there were some books you could practically stick in your pocket and then there were others that you absolutely had to put on the table. There was an illustrated two volume copy of the Holy Bible. I wanted to look at that one, but of course you can't touch anything. There was very little wall space, due to the fact that the walls were lined with bookshelves which were packed with books. There was also a piano in this room. A great deal smaller but still very neat. There were two desks as well, and a checkers table and a lot of chairs. Above the fireplace was a mirror as well and above the bookcases were more paintings. Out the windows you just gazed out into the vast green pasture. What a library!

The grounds were pretty spectacular too. There were some statues actually built into little encoves in the walls. It was a very nice walk and it was a beautiful sunny day.

Sunday: St. Michael's Mount
The weather was not sunny, warm, or inviting. But, somehow it added to the place. It would not have been the same if it had been sunny.

We got there at high tide, but we walked along the beach to get to the boat to take us across. This was one of the places we get in to free with our National Trust Cards! So, we went and watched an introductory video and then we hiked, yes hiked, up the cobbled path to the castle. The family still lives in a private part of the castle, and I asked how the family gets to the top. I was told they walk as well, which is amazing. There is a lift that they use for goods and cargo, but that's it. So, after we got to the top we looked out over the ocean. It was very windy and I was a bit cold so we went in shortly after making it to the top.

The castle is beautiful, as castles should be. Like the manor house, there is so much artwork on the walls and around the place that it is hard to know where to look. There was one room that stood out. And no, it wasn't the library. ;) It was, in fact, what they call the Blue Drawing Room. The room, as the name says, is robin egg blue. The draping curtains are a darker blue with gold embroidery. There upholstery of the chairs matches the color of the walls very well. There are a few endtables along the walls holding vases and flowers. One of the eye catching features is the fireplace and the painting above which all is framed with a white border (which stands out nicely against the blue wall).

Another important feature of the castle is the gardens. The gardens are very unique in the fact that they are really supposed to be seen from above. It is an interesting experience. And since the ground drops right away the gardens are far below. One of the guides told me a story about one of the broken bits of the terrace railing. One of the daughters was walking up on the railing and she whirled around and broke it off as she fell down to the ground over 10 feet below. She didn't die but was crippled. Keep in mind that this took place probably over a hundred years ago. The family left the piece that broke off on the ground and you can still see it there. I was amazed that it's still there. They leave it there as a cautionary tale. Sad, but still amazing.

There is a church as a part of the castle and they still use it from about May through November. Also, there is a room that holds armor and weapons. In this room is a beautiful suit of Samuri armor. There are also katanas and other swords and knives. There are also old guns and things like that.

The whole place is captivating and makes me want to live in a castle!! When we were done touring the castle we hiked back down into the little village. We had cream tea and scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream before we were able to cross back to the mainland via a causeway that only appears when its lowtide. It was amazing to walk across the bay.

We found a resturant had dinner and then caught the train back to Plymouth. A two hour ride later we were back.

A good weekend, I think!