Tales from Miss Harvey
"Oh Boy!" Moments
Journey Journey to England and Ireland
Day One: May 9, 2016
After many weeks of anticipation, the time has finally come! I have the most amazing opportunity of “going over the pond” for the very first time. I have packed and repacked many, many times in hear that I will forget something. I am excited for this new adventure, but the unknown is overwhelming. I have never traveled alone before, and I know that my parents are just as anxious as I am. I was given firm instructions to text them when I take off, land, and throughout the trip. I gave my mom a prayer box yesterday (Mother’s Day) so that she can write down her worries and prayers while I am away. I am so blessed to have a wonderful, Godly family who has prayed for me and with me. We prayed as a family last night and my emotions came out when my dad started to cry.
This, morning, my mom took me out to breakfast at a local restaurant, Joshua’s Kitchen. We talked about the trips itinerary and the many things I would do in my free time. After breakfast, it was time to head to the Edge parking lot- we arrived at 10:30am even though I did not have to be there until 11am. When I arrived, I was so surprised- my dad was there! He told me the previous night that he might not be able to leave work. He hugged me and said, “You are way more important than work.” The waterworks flowed again! Shortly after arriving, Taylor came! Taylor and I have known each other since my freshman year of college, and we are planning on rooming, sitting, and doing all things together during the trip. Once everyone was accounted for (15 people including the two professors), we took a group photo and loaded the bus. I waved good-bye to my parents, and WE WERE OFF!
After roughly 45 minutes, we arrived at the Orlando International Airport to start our journey. I am a magnet for bad luck and knew that I would rather get it out of the way sooner rather than later. It came right after I checked on my luggage. The lady at the counter forgot to reprint a readable boarding pass for me. Thus, security would not let me through. Thankfully, my dear peer, Kristina, volunteered to step out of line with me and go back to get a new ticket. It only took ten minutes and Mrs. Powell waited at the other end before getting on the “subway.” If I had not had Kristina with me I may have cried- I do not do well with curveballs. After the security process was over, we had a couple of hours to spare. Taylor, Kristina, and myself grabbed snacks and drinks, and then we went back to socialize with our group who were sitting in the waiting area. We all talked about journaling throughout the trip, the sights to be seen, and what to expect in a foreign country. The time passed quickly and our zone was called to board the plane. Taylor and I rearranged our assigned seating as we were not sitting together with Gabby. Gabby had a ticket next to Taylor so I switched tickets with Gabby. Once we were all settled, I said, “See you in two weeks humidity!” Wheels were up a little after 3:30pm.
We landed in Atlanta in a little over an hour. We had to take a “subway” to the next gate as the airport is the hub for all Delta flights which is what we were flying. The airport is huge so taking the subway is the only way to get around. Many of us found food in the food court because we did not want to be stuck eating TV dinners, not liking them, and then being hungry on an airplane for eight hours. We had some sort of spicy Chinese food- putting the chicken in lettuce and then eating it. I made quite a mess, but it was so good! Time passed by, and at 7:10pm, I said good-bye to the USA!
Day Two: May 10, 2016
The flight took a lot longer than expected- nine hours in the air instead of eight. The flight was wonderful nonetheless. We all had individual screens on the back of the chair in front which contained 50+ movies and shows free to use. We were also provided TV dinners (which I did not eat, but they looked reasonably good) and breakfast items (yogurt, muffin, cheese) that I did eat because I did not know when I would get to eat again. We arrived at London Heathrow International Airport after 9am their time (4am eastern standard time).The pilot said, “It is wet and currently 16 degrees Celsius.” I was not as tired as I thought I was going to be, but excitement overtakes weariness any day! I slept about 5 hours. I told myself on the plane that I needed to sleep because the time change was going to hurt my system. I probably could have entertained myself the whole flight with the free movies. Had I taken something to help me get to sleep I could have slept the whole time and felt refreshed getting off the plane, but I figured that I could shake tired and not medicine. I was a little nervous about going through because I heard that the questioning is overwhelming- it really was not. I was asked the purpose of my trip, details, and where I was staying throughout my time in London…the first British accent was heard! One of the members of my group was born in the UK, thus she was able to walk right past customs- lucky duck! Once we all met at the other side, we found our luggage (I was so worried that they would lose it at the layover location), and our guide. Thankfully, our luggage and guide showed up. Our guide was a young man that looked very British to me. He was easy to spot because he held up a Florida Southern sign with the symbol which becomes easily recognizable to any FSC student as you see it every day. We learned many things from him while we waited for our private coach (i.e. weather predictions, good local pubs-all restaurants are called this, entertainment). We loaded onto our nice private bus. This bus was new and had a table at the front which Taylor and I sat at- it was so nice to spread my legs out! Our driver was a nice elderly man, Mike. The drive to our hotel took some time, but I enjoyed the sights along the way. Once we arrived at Lancaster Gate Hotel (our location for the whole time in London), we received our assigned room numbers. We all switched room keys to be with the person we originally planned on rooming with. We all quickly went to our rooms to freshen up. We needed to meet back downstairs in 30 minutes to find dinner together and see the Kensington Palace. It was raining quite a bit so Mrs. Powell decided to give us the evening on our own. No one really knew what to do so we tried finding a good local pub together. We attempted a very pretty pub, The Churchill (after Winston Churchill), but went to The Black Swan because of over-crowdedness. It was hot and too crowded for us all to sit together. At The Black Swan, most of us ordered a traditional British meal- stew or fish n’ chips. I ate fish n’ chips, and it was better than EPCOT’s version. I did not want to waste the evening after dinner so Taylor, Kristina, and I along with the original game plan. We strolled through “embassy lane” trying to find the US embassy, but learned that it was a couple of blocks down. We then found Kensington Palace after having the “bobby” (policeman in British terms) direct us. We saw the palace, but did not see the garden Mrs. Powell and Dr. Rakes found- they said it was beautiful. We walked through the park in attempts to find the Peter Pan statue. We did not and did not have the energy to walk the entire park- it was very large! It was raining so we all decided to get our ducks in a row and exchange American money for pounds. We found a currency exchange place not far from the hotel in what appeared to be a tourist area. After, we wanted to go ahead and purchase an oyster card for the tube (similar to an NYC subway system). We knew that we would be using this many times throughout the trip because London is so large and walking everywhere is nearly impossible. When we returned to the hotel, we freshened up, took a cat nap even though we were told not to do so because it would mess up our sleep system even more. When Taylor and I woke up we decided we wanted to eat a snack for dinner. We agreed that we would eat the free breakfast at the hotel, a large lunch, and then a snack item (i.e. frozen yogurt) for dinner in order to save money. We went downstairs to the lobby and saw Mrs. Powell sitting by herself so Taylor and I invited her to come along with us. We first took Mrs. Powell to the tube station so that she could purchase an oyster card for herself and Dr. Rakes. Mrs. Powell and I quickly learned that we both adore chocolate a little too much and that tonight would be a great night for a sweet. We asked the hotel concierge for a recommendation for a good bakery not too far. We found a great deal at this bakery: four slices of cake for ten pounds! We picked them and hurried out of the store because they were closing right then. We took the dessert to our room to eat since Mrs. Powell’s was basically a closet. We split the cakes until we were stuffed. While eating we had great discussions about our life now, our future, our classroom, and children’s literature. This is one of the many things I love about Florida Southern- my professors truly care and they see me as a person rather than just a student.
Taylor and I went to go see Mrs. Powell’s room (hopefully she will get a new one tomorrow), and then took the remaining strawberry cake to Hannah and Lacey who were not feeling well. By this time, Taylor and I were still damp, cold and tired so we called it a night. A shower sounded delightful! As I stepped into the shower, I realized that I didn’t know how to work it! There was a dial with numbers and another dial with hot and cold markings (clearly for water temperature). When I attempted the dial, water only came out of the little shower head rather than the big one. I called out, “T, how does one work the shower?” Taylor laughed and called down to the lobby for me. They instructed her on how to use it and we both eventually figured it out. The number dial is for pressure. I figured that ‘7’ would be a good number…not at all...it was like a hurricane in the shower. After trial and error, ‘1’ was suitable. I was freezing, but there was no perfect temperature. When I went to go brush my teeth, my toothbrush was missing- I forgot it on the counter at home! I called down to the lobby and asked if they sold any. They did not, but told me there was a pharmacy a couple of doors down from the hotel. Taylor was my hero and walked with me. I did not feel like putting my clothes back on so I slipped my rain boots on and my trench coat over my night gown- I was quite a sight. I was quickly becoming known to the hotel concierge.
As Taylor got ready for bed, I called my mom to say goodnight. It was so weird knowing it was sunny and 4pm at home when it was dark and 9pm in London. My mom was comforted in knowing that I was safe, and she was thankful my professors updated the “FSC: School of Education” Facebook page. I then called my dad at work, and he was shocked that I could text AND CALL. He did not seem to know who I was when I first said ‘hello’ because caller ID said, “unknown.” He said, “I have never talked to anyone in Europe before!” I responded, “You’re paying for it.”
My bed was up against a wall because the room was so small. Americans often take large, plush hotel rooms for granted. Our London hotel was small! There as hardly any room for our suitcases. Our room was on the second floor. I found out that what Americans consider the second floor is actually the first in Europe- the lobby is ‘0’ on the elevator. Our room was right in front of the elevator so we hear all of the chatter and noise of people walking to their rooms. We quickly fell asleep because traveling is draining. What an adventurous and humorous day!
Day Three: May 11, 2016
After a restful night sleep, I was ready to hit the ground running. Taylor and I went downstairs to eat our first breakfast in London. The hotel provided a buffet with toast, croissants, cereal, bacon (actually ham), eggs, and fruit. I noticed that the buffet provided assorted meats and cheeses. I became curious as to whether or not this is constant throughout Europe. It appeared as though these were offered so that guests can make a breakfast sandwich. I ate bacon (ham), eggs, fruit, and a croissant. I was unsure when lunch time would come so I wanted to fill up. Taylor and I were the first of our group downstairs along with Mrs. Powell and Dr. Rakes. We four ate breakfast together. When we were finished, Taylor and I went upstairs to brush our teeth, grab our jackets and purses. I ordered a money pack to on underneath my clothes so that I would not have to worry about pick-pocketers (a common concern in large cities). It also helped me budget for the days spending- I put all other money (extra money from my parents, license, credit card, Ireland money) in this money belt.
At 9am we all met downstairs so that we could go to the Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guard. The tube station was only a few blocks down from the hotel so walking there was not a problem. Most of the members of the group did not have an oyster card so we all waited an extra five minutes for the card to go on sale. We then proceeded to go down the many, many, many (over seven hundred) steps to the tube. Poor Dr. Rakes had knee pain and the steps did her no good. We finally made it to the bottom and, thanks to Taylor the navigator, found the right tube line. The Buckingham Palace was some distance so we had to change to another line before arriving at our destination.
The day was cold and overcast with a little amount of people around. The changing of the guard did not start until 11:30am, but it was only 10:30am. We decided to take a walk through the park on the way to the palace. We stopped to take pictures of dogs, trees, flowers, and the casual group jumping photo. We stood outside of the palace until 11am when the rain started to pour. I originally had the thought that London rain was different than Florida rain- a mist versus a downpour. It is not. It rained hard, and we decided to leave because the bobby told us the event is always cancelled when it rains.
We made our way back to the tube station in the pouring rain- I am thankful for rain boots and umbrellas. We wanted to explore the history museum. I learned a tremendous amount about earthquakes and dinosaurs- I even experienced a simulated earthquake. After an hour or two, we were starting to get hungry. We all made our way to South Kensington for lunch. By the time we arrived, the rain had cleared and the sun was peeking through the clouds. Taylor, Kristina, Carol, Mrs. Powell, Dr. Rakes and me all ate lunch at a restaurant in South Kensington. South Kensington was a pedestrian street that appeared to be in a rich area. I ordered from the kid’s menu- a chicken sandwich with coleslaw. It was interesting to see the difference between our version of coleslaw and red onions versus theirs. Their coleslaw was basically a small salad with very little dressing, and their red onions were pink (it looked like they were dyed). After lunch, Taylor and I explored some local bookstores in hopes of finding a traditional children’s story. We did not find anything unusual, but figured traditional folklore would be found in Ireland.
Taylor and I went back to the hotel to change and freshen up because we went to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the play). It is the last year for it in London because it comes to NYC on Broadway in 2017. We had to ride the tube to the theatre district. As we walked to the theatre, I noticed a sign, “Drury Lane.” I did not see any bakeries or muffin men. The play started at 7:30pm and we all grabbed a “super healthy” snack- slushies and chocolate- to eat before the play.
The play was amazing! I highly recommend seeing it when it comes to America! The sets and the venue were spectacular. The architecture on the ceiling was what I imagined to be popular in the 1800’s when queens, kings and dukes came to see the newest production. It was interesting seeing the changes from the book to the movie to the theatre. Some things were changed (i.e. the bubblegum girl became a Hollywood star) as with anything. It amazes me how talented stage actors have to be- you cannot mess up! We were on the balcony, but we could still see everything on the stage. We were not far away at all. We were supposed to be up higher, but the management moved us down because the audience did not sell out like they thought it was going to (they had extra space). It was wonderfully preformed and the sets truly made it. I cannot brag on it enough. The play lasted a couple of hours and it was pitch black by the time we got out. Taylor and I decided to sneak down to the floor to gather the confetti from the closing singing scene. We hurried along because we have an early day tomorrow- we take on Cambridge!
Day Four: May 12, 2016
Once again, Taylor and I were the first ones down for breakfast along with the directors. I was curious to know if the breakfast buffet changed daily- it did not, and I had the same thing as the day before. Taylor and I sat with Mrs. Powell and Dr. Rakes. I love being able to casually sit down with my professors without feeling judged or unwanted.
We left the hotel around 8:30am with a tour guide named Rebecca and a driver named Mike- the same Mike who picked us up from the airport! We got onto the same bus that picked us up from the airport on day two; or at least it was a similar bus. Taylor and I claimed the table at the front. We were able to bring whatever we wanted on the bus because the drive was over an hour. I brought snacks, my travel pillow and blanket. I am still getting accustomed to the driving. I have the habit of looking to the left to see the driver instead of to my right, and I always think Mike is passing someone in the left lane rather than that lane being the designated driving one. I was so excited about seeing the English countryside. When planning the trip, I was nervous that I would only be stuck to the city of London. However, my trip directors did an excellent job in making sure we were not limited. The countryside was beautiful. It was green and slightly hilly with pops of bright yellow fields. Rebecca told us that these yellow fields were rapeseed (for canola oil). It was beautiful and Rebecca was such a wonderful guide thus far. She had a calm, soothing English accent that put me to sleep! I slept for a little bit, but awoke when we get close to Cambridge.
Entering Cambridge was so different than London or the countryside. It was filled with tall green trees. Today was going to be a warm day so Taylor and I wore dresses- although we regretted it first stepping off of the bus. As soon as we stepped off, we met another guide who took us all around Cambridge. Rebecca stood to the side and allowed this new guide to have her chance in the spotlight. She told us many things about the school as we walked along the dirt path to the main campus. She first made a firm warning point about the bicycles, “Be careful of the bicycles. They have the right away here. You do not- unlike America. If you do not move, they will run you over.” She was right! There were bikes everywhere, and they were all coming in different directions. We soon walked to a well-known and well-liked pub on campus. We walked around the back and saw an open window on the top floor. Our guide told us that this window never shuts because the English are very superstitious. She said, “There was a fire here a long time ago, and two children died inside. The owners of the pub believed that the souls of the children had to go see their mother. So they leave the window open so the children can come and go as they choose. If the window ever shuts, they believe that another fire will happen. Only this time the fire will burn the whole pub down.” I knew Irish people were superstitious but I didn’t know English people were, too. It is a little creepy to think about another fire ever happening at the pub because someone shut the window. I would not want to go upstairs. We also learned that this pub was famous during World War Two. Many soldiers, including American, would come to this pub as their last dinner before being shipped out. On the ceiling are markings (pictures, numbers, symbols, names) that the soldiers wrote in order for people to remember them by. It is quite sad to think that many of those markings belonged to people who never returned home. We walked along and saw the building where two scientists discovered DNA! The guide said they went into the pub knowing they had discovered the meaning behind life- that is so cool! I got to walk along their path.
We then walked to Trinity College- home of the “Winnie the Pooh” manuscript. Before going in, the guide talked about many useful things on the outside of Trinity College. She said that Cambridge is the university and the colleges are were the students come to do their studies and live. There are many different colleges for various academic studies, but they all make up one university. It would be like if Florida Southern was called, “Florida Southern University” and each building held one major (i.e. Edge College). There is a statue of King George on the outside of Trinity College. The statue once held a scepter and orb. One day, the scepter went missing and in its place was a desk leg which is funny because King George was very self-centered and this would have ruined his ego knowing that his beloved scepter was a desk leg. This desk leg was once replaced with a stick many years later, but many people of the university became so outraged that the board of directors put the leg back. The desk leg will remain in this spot forever- it is a part of the school’s history. We then looked over to the right and we saw a brick window with a small tree in the front. We learned that this was Sir Isaac Newton’s room when he lived and studied at Cambridge. Out front was a descendent of the apple tree that was planted in his mother’s garden. His mother became ill one day and Newton had to go home and take care of her. As he sat outside in her yard, an apple fell from the tree and this led to the discovery of gravity. It was so cool looking at a member of the same tree in which gravity was found! Gravity is such a part of our knowledge that it is hard to imagine that it was once a mystery (why things fell and stayed on the ground).
In the courtyard of Trinity College was a large and beautiful fountain. Our guide told us a story about Lord Bryon and his pet bear. In 1805, Lord Bryon came to study at Trinity College. The rules stated that he could not have a pet dog on campus; well, Bryon was a rebel and bought a bear instead. He claimed that the rules said nothing of a pet bear living with him. Byron won the argument against the college and the bear stayed with him in his lodgings. He would walk the bear around the grounds of Trinity on a chain like a dog, and delighted in the reactions he got from passers-by. He and the bear also bathed in the fountain.
All around the fountain there were students studying for their final exams. I would love to be able to live in a weather conducive place and sit outside to do my studies. I think that we learn best out in the open rather than just inside at a desk. This is one thing I hope to implement in my own classroom even if it is just having the students read independently outside.
We made it to the center of the courtyard to listen to the famous bell chimes. King's Gate houses the famous clock that chimes every 15 minutes and strikes the hour twice. The clock was installed at the request of Master of Trinity Richard Bentley in the 17th century, striking each hour once for the college of his mastership, Trinity, and once for his alma mater, St John's College, Cambridge. The bell chimes sounded so beautiful. It was prominent and echoed throughout the courtyard. When the chiming was over, our guide told us that there was a race around the perimeters of the large courtyard. She said that it is known as the Great Court Run, and students traditionally attempt to complete the circuit on the day of the Matriculation Dinner. Only two people are believed to have actually completed the run in the time. The first was Lord Burghley in 1927. Sebastian Coe and Steve Cram attempted the feat in a charity race on 29 October 1988. Coe's time was reported by Norris McWhirter to have been 45.52 seconds, but it was actually 46.0 seconds (confirmed by the video tape), while Cram's was 46.3 seconds. The clock on that day took 44.4 seconds (i.e. a "long" time, probably two days after the last winding) and the video film confirms that Coe was some 12 meters short of his finish line when the fateful final stroke occurred. The television commentators were suggesting that the dying sounds of the bell could be included in the striking time, thereby allowing Coe's run to be claimed as successful.
We then went inside to the Trinity library to see the manuscript of “Winnie the Pooh.” A. A. Milne and his son, Christopher Robin, studied at Trinity College. I learned that all of the characters of the book are based on Christopher Robin’s stuffed animals in his room with the exception of a few characters like owl. The manuscript was hidden in a glass box under a thick red velvet covering. I contained the written manuscript done by A. A. Milne and the first copy of the book I stood for a while and read the manuscript and the book, looking for any similarities and differences. Milne wrote with very proper cursive writing so some of the sentences were hard to read. I think that is why teaching cursive is so important. How are students supposed to read old manuscripts and ancient documents without knowing cursive?
After looking at the manuscript, we all agreed that food sounded delightful. Mrs. Powell gave us the freedom to roam around the college and grab a bite to eat. Many of us went to the famous pub on campus grounds. I saw the markings on the red ceiling that the director was talking about. Taylor and I sat in a cute stone out-cove. The menu looked very traditional and many of things on the menu I was scared to eat. Thus, I stuck with a hard-to-beat chicken salad. After lunch, Taylor and I had an hour to spare before meeting on the bus again. We roamed around the campus- looking in different little shops, trying teas and eating chocolate samples (which I bought packets of because they were so good and I wanted my family to try English chocolate which I told myself was different than American chocolate). We loaded back on the bus after a little after 3:30pm and made it back to the hotel a little before 5:30pm. I stayed awake this time on the bus and saw more the countryside that I missed, although it was all green and yellow. I wish that I had more time to explore in Cambridge. One extra hour was not enough to see old architecture and historic sights. As we stepped off of the bus, Mike and Rebecca said, “See you all on Saturday for the Oxford tour!” I was quickly becoming attached to these kind people. Mike helped each lady off of the bus and Rebecca waved good-bye with her sweet English accent.
That night, Taylor and I wanted to eat something so we went back to South Kensington. We had the evening free and we wanted to try the crepes at, “KC.” Taylor and I loved South Kensington because it was clean with clean-cut people. The journey on the tub was interesting- the tub line changed a little bit. Taylor and I have no idea what happened but we got on the wrong line (yellow instead of green). We even checked the map on the tube and it had South Kensington on it. Needless to say, we got on the wrong line and it took us to the opposite end of town. Thankfully, we found a nice tube worker who did not charge us to get back in and directed us in the right way.
At “KC,” I ordered a chocolate, strawberry, and banana crepe with one scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was amazing and so big! By the time we finished, dusk was approaching and Taylor and I made our way back (on the correct tube line) to the hotel. Our hotel was on the far end of the street. It was such a long walk back because I was so tired. It was such a long day, but I learned so much!
Day Five: May 13, 2016
We had an early morning- we all met downstairs in the hotel lobby at exactly 7:35am. A different coach picked us up from the airport- there were many groups of people on this bus. However, they were all dropped off at the main bus station except for us and another school trip. I have never read or seen Harry Potter so this tour did not mean too much to me. We arrived at the Warner Brothers Studio in a couple of hours. The seat belts on this coach were too tight and getting out of them felt like the pure definition of freedom. I would not have worn one, but the guide said we had to by law- no guide in America would have said that so it is interesting to see the differences. Being in a foreign country, I did exactly as she said.
The Harry Potter tour was nice and clean. Although I did not get much out of seeing the sets and props used in the movie, I did enjoy seeing how amazing they were. All of the sets and props were hand-made, and each one was very intricate and detailed. I can only imagine how long it took for them to complete the items used for one scene. Many people must have worked on it. For example, there was a room full of hundreds of “potions.” Each potion had a detailed name that could be seen in the movies. It was truly a piece of artwork. Taylor and I finished the tour way before the rest of the group because we rarely stopped to take pictures- I took a few because I figured I would run into or knew someone that was a fan of Harry Potter and they might get a kick out of seeing the sets.
We arrived back at the Victoria Station around 2 in the afternoon. The plan was for all of us to do a walking tour on our own of the area before heading back to the hotel. Many people were not feeling well so groups split up. Mrs. Powell, Taylor, Kristina, Hannah, Lacey, Abbey, Jordan, Carol and myself all did part of the walking tour- we did not want to waste any minute of this trip! We first went to a market where they sold discounted children’s books- heaven for any educator. I purchased a London pop-up book to use in my future classroom. The great thing about this trip is that I now have the memories, pictures and souvenirs to share with my students during a social studies or language arts lesson. Then, we went to see Westminster Abbey. It was beautiful! Every piece of architecture in London is so wonderful- it astonishes me to know that someone took the time to hand carve various elements. At this time, we all went into a crowded shop and many of us lost each other. Taylor, Kristina, Carol and I decided to go and see Big Ben that way we did not have to cram it into our day off. We could see it from Westminster Abbey so we decided to walk. It was huge! Way bigger than I imagined. My dad told me it wouldn’t be anything like NYC and it was not. However, it looked fake. It looked golden against the rays of the sun and I could not see the top looking straight up at it. The area was crazy packed and it was hard to get a cute picture. Then we went to see how much the London Eye cost. We heard that it was overrated and it cost roughly 40 pounds to get on a crowded section for an hour. We decided it was not worth it because we were planning on the skyline on Sunday, our day off. We crossed a very long and big bridge to get there. Once we got to the other side, there were many places to eat and seeing the food made us hungry! We saw an interesting area to the left of the bridge. It had lanterns hanging from strings in the sky, balloons, and a purple cow laying on its back. It was a huge purple cow! We walked through the area and learned that it was a music/comedy festival called, “The Belly up Festival.” The music and comedy did not start until evening time so we missed it. However, we got some delicious Gandhi food- I went to London to get Gandhi food. It was really the only thing around besides pizza so we went for it. It was chicken with spicy seasoning, plantains, yellow rice and red peppers. The chef made everything from scratch and she was making more food for tomorrow she said. I have never had anything like it and have never seen it in America. I am glad I had the chance to get some. It was good at the time, but I truly do not think I would ever get it again.
It was beginning to get cold and dark so the four of us decided to go back to the hotel and get ready for bed.
Day Six: May 14, 2016
Rebecca and Mike picked us up from the hotel early in the morning. We had a busy and full day ahead of us! We started by going to see the home of C.S. Lewis, author of many Christian books and “The Chronicles of Narnia.” I am a huge fan of the series so this made up for Harry Potter! I remember my fourth grade teacher read the first installment as a read aloud and I finished the rest of the series after. The movies were my favorite and I cannot wait for the new one to come out!
His home looked like a cottage- it was a brick home with white trimming that sat on a lush green yard. Vines were beginning to grow across the home and it gave it an English charm. We had a guide that told us everything we needed to know- from his life as a boy to a married man to elderly age. He lived quite the life! There was no real wardrobe- only a fake one- but there was a real door handle he touched way back when! The house had been updated in the 70’s when a new family moved in- no one knew how the series was going to explode. Having the original handle was a big deal. I learned that his wife was a stern little thing. She bossed him around to the point that he built a staircase leading to the outside from his bedroom that way she would not tell him what to do when he passed by (the stayed in conjoining rooms). He seemed like a funny man who truly cared about people. The children in the books were based on the children he had in his home during the war. However, his wife did not allow boys, only girls. There were many photographs of Lewis around the home. My fourth grade teacher never explained who the author was which I think is crucial in understanding any story. We learn so much background about why the story was written when we study authors. I wish I had known more about this man before coming- I did not even know what he looked like. He and his brother had a close relationship and it hurts my heart knowing that his older brother was with him from his first breathe to his last.
The area around his home as a quiet, cute neighborhood. One that I would have loved to live in. Just knowing you lived down the street from a famous authors home was a unique and fun fact. We then made our way to Oxford- on the opposite side of London than Cambridge. The countryside looked the same. I was curious to know if Oxford was any different than Cambridge and if it was, which one I would like more. I learned that Cambridge is a math and science university and Oxford is an art and English university. Both of them had their own unique charm, but Cambridge was more peaceful and calm. Perhaps the different days (week day versus weekend) had something to do with it. Taylor and I ate at a popular restaurant that two students loved. These students at Oxford were friends of Abbey and Jordan, two members of our group. They gave us insightful details about the college that our tour guide, Rebecca, could not give us. It is one thing to know about the university and another to attend (you learn all of the ins and outs). Taylor and I had time, after lunch, to explore a market in the center of the university. We bought home-made candles and clothes. Soon after, we had to meet our group back at the bus. The campus was a little more difficult to figure out than Cambridge. Cambridge, in my opinion, is more compact whereas Oxford is spread out.
We loaded onto the bus to go to the Roald Dahl museum, author of “BFG” and “Charlie and Chocolate Factory.” It was clear that his fascination for chocolate was the reason behind “Charlie and Chocolate Factory.” I was glad I was able to see the play before coming to the museum- it gave me some background knowledge I may have forgotten. There were props used in the movie (golden ticket, glasses, chocolate bar, etc.). This museum contained many ideas for implementing writing in the classroom. For example, providing a writing wall for students to share their ideas, and teachers should provide their students with a thought book so students can write down any creative ideas. This museum was not only fun for kids, but beneficial for teachers. I learned more than what Pinterest can provide.
The museum was small and we had time to spare so Taylor, Mrs. Powell and I explored the small, small town. We walked the whole thing in five minutes. Taylor and I were beginning to get hungry, but all of the restaurants were closing. Thankfully, the museum had a small café which we made just in time! We got a coke float- I had not had one in years so it was a wonderful treat! Mrs. Powell went shopping on her own and found us in the café! She said, “Caught you; now I need one!” Shortly after, Dr. Rakes came in and got one, too! I laughed about it all the way to the hotel- we all think alike.
Walking back to the bus was wonderful- it was breezy and cool and the town had many beautiful flowers for us to stop and smell along the way. We arrived at the hotel towards evening. Rebecca and Mike said good-bye to us for the last time. Mike said, “Unfortunately, I will not be picking you up Monday. Have a safe trip!” I loved both of them so much and was so sad to be departing from their kind words and personalities. We had so many wonderful conversations with them through every adventure. Conversations that may have been considered tense in America (i.e. guns and his opinion on control). I feel like London is so non-judgmental. One can talk about anything with offending the other person. I wish we had more of that in America. London is old-school: from the way they talk to the way they dress. I love it!
Taylor and I were so worn out we called it a night. Our free day was tomorrow and it was packed!
Day Seven: May 15, 2016
Today was our full free day! Taylor and I were so excited to explore more of London! We woke up early in order to get a head start on the day. We knew the day was going to be beautiful- high in the low to mid 60’s and full sunshine. We were disappointed that the changing of guards was cancelled- it is such a “London-thing” to do. We ate breakfast and were out of the hotel by 9:30am in order to be to the Buckingham Palace at 10:30am. It was obvious right away that most people knew the changing was cancelled the original day- it was packed today! Wall to wall people. Thanks to our good small genes, Taylor and I were able to squeeze our way to the gate in order to see. We waited for an hour and heard loud voices of angry policemen. They screamed at people to clear the walkway. Once bobby even came over to the gate and told a child to stop climbing them because every time she did, alarms went off in her ear. Sensors on the gate? I should have known! The changing began at promptly 11:15am. I saw groups of men in red uniforms come out of the palace at the side. They had strict uniform check before the drums and music began. They came out of the gate and swung around in a loop to the other side so that all could see them. As they marched music played. Over the music I heard, “Keep your belongings close to you!” Obviously there is a fear of people trying to take your things in such close proximity. Everyone started to squeeze close to the gate and people shoved in front of us- we could not see a thing. We only heard the music and saw the end of the formation. I noticed that some of them had various blue size feathers in their fluffy hats. I wonder if they mean something (i.e. jobs and ranks).
We decided to go ahead a leave because we were not getting much out of it and we had no idea how long it would last. We took the tube over to the London Bridge. It was quite a long hull out there. When we stepped onto the tube we saw someone who looked familiar. All three of us said in unison, “I know you!” It was the man who picked us up from the airport. We talked to him the whole way to the stop and he gave us more useful information about London. Everyone is so kind here- you can talk to them about anything. We also found that anyone is more than willing to help if you need directions. We stepped off of the tube and saw a very small bridge that had “London Bridge” engraved on it. “This is not it. It’s the big bridge over there,” I said. Taylor said, “Maybe there is more than one London Bridge.” Nope. After asking various people how to get onto the big London Bridge we learned that the big, most popular one is the Tower Bridge. “I have been lied to my whole life! That is what the songs about? That little bridge over there!” I was astonished. I had only ever seen pictures of the big bridge. I was a teacher had told me before- I will be sure to tell my own students.
After the bridge experience and getting a little turned around finding the tube station (the original street we came on was suddenly closed), we found our way to the skyline. It was so big! From the top, we saw all of London. However, the area it was in was not the cleanest; down below was a large dump pile and factories (typical of how I imagined London after watching “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”). There were four to a glass container with lots of seating room. There was not a bad view! We had to pay using our oyster card which I liked! I did not have to worry about digging out pounds. We received a large guide with notes of the various viewpoints we would be seeing. We made a nice friend on the skyline- a man with his daughter. They pointed to an arena in the distance and said, “That is where the Olympics are held.” The best thing about talking to people is you learn from them; we never would have learned that just by following the map. I have not once felt unsafe in London. Everyone is so kind and willing to help you. I love it!
The previous night, Taylor and I researched into the best locations for high tea- something that you must experience in “the heart of tea land.” We found a really cute place, Sketch. It is the most photographed tea places in the heart of London. We did not feel comfortable putting our credit card information into an unknown website and it was too late to call so we figured we would call this morning. We did and they said to stop by and there would be a 20 minute wait because everything was booked. When we got there, they said they did not have any room. The manager over heard and invited us inside. She said, “A group is late so you can have their spot.” We got so lucky! The restaurant is beautiful- everything is pink. You could see people taking photos everywhere for Instagram. I ordered a Chinese white tea, and then they brought out our food: various types of finger sandwiches and desserts. It was amazing, and I am so glad we went! We got out at dusk and had to take the tube back to the hotel. I am so sad the final night in London is coming to an end. I have had such a great time, but am looking forward to the adventures to be had in Ireland.
Day Eight: May 16, 2016
Today we left London and headed for Ireland. My dad made a remark to me before we left, “You are the first person in our family to go back to the motherland since our ancestors came.” Wow- what an amazing thing to think of! I am the first Harvey to go back. “You will come across someone’s path that you are directly related to,” he said. That is so cool! I hope I have the time to find someone with my last name.
We left Lancaster Gate Hotel at 7:15am. It was very early in the morning, but the sun was as bright as ever! Mike, as he said, did not pick us up from the airport. I was so sad. I strangely got attached to the guides. The airport was mad chaos. We had to put all liquids in a separate container. I am sure it was a trip to see me rushing to put all of my liquids from my various bags into one little bag. Liquids include shampoo, conditioner, lipsticks, mascara, etc. Basically anything that containers water. My bag was the “bad egg” and it got pulled to the side so they could test all my liquids. We were all cleared and left England. The plane was a lot smaller along with the airport in Ireland- we did not have to take a subway anywhere and we walked a long distance to get to the plane. The plane was a lot smaller than the international flight we took coming to England. There was barely enough time to eat or drink anything before we landed in Dublin. The plane ride was very bumpy and I had a huge motion sick headache when we landed. Customs was a breeze!
A kind man named Willie picked us up from the airport. The trip from Dublin to Waterford was a couple of hours. He said that he wanted to take us to his town, KilKenny, to have lunch. We agreed that we could wait a little over an hour to eat. Along the way we saw green rolling hills, cloudy blue skies and castles in the distance. We got to go into the KilKenny castle. It was beautiful and large. I wish I had more time to learn about it and explore the inside more than the outside. I hope to see more castles throughout the trip in Ireland.
Taylor and I ate a café for lunch. I had a sandwich and Taylor had the biggest hamburger I had ever seen! The waiter was trying to crack jokes with us. He asked where we were from (our accents must have given it away) and he said, “If you are from the middle of the state, why isn’t your school called Florida Middle?” Needless to say we left not laughing.
While in KilKenny we exchanged American money and pounds into euros. Thankfully, I had pre-exchanged my dollars into euros and pounds before I left home. I did not know when I was going to eat and I did not want to use to my card and get charged an extra fine. It was not a big rush for me to exchange my dollars given to me by Mrs. Powell, but I went ahead and did it anyway. I had some extra pounds left so I exchanged those, too. I got more bang for my buck here! In London, I paid more to get less. I got more money back for my pounds in Ireland!
We met back on the bus and made the rest of the trip to Waterford. It is a very small town. Taylor and I went out exploring that evening and soon found that everything closes by 6pm. There was nothing to do! We went back to the hotel to read and play cards. We received a text from Mrs. Powell to come to the pub across the street for Irish music and dancing. We were so happy to have something to do! The walk was just across the street and we got there in less than 3 minutes. When we got there, almost the whole group was sitting with our professors and a lady named Dr. Jenifer Schneider. Dr. Schneider instructed both Dr. Rakes and Mrs. Powell in their doctorate program. She is going to be the leader of our walking tour tomorrow. About thirty minutes after socializing with the group, we went to the back of the pub to hear the music and watch the dancing. There was no dancing- everyone playing an instrument was sitting. Perhaps the dancing starts later in the night. Taylor, Kristina and I left after about 30 minutes of listening. I loved the music- it made me want to get up and dance. I am sure someone would have taught me a traditional Irish jig!
Day Nine: May 17, 2016
At 8am we all met downstairs for breakfast. I was so sick of eating the same thing every day in London- the change of scenery and taste was nice! This hotel had a much larger breakfast selection than London. They even had a pancake maker! At exactly 9am, Dr. Schneider began our walking tour. We went to the original four corners of the town (brick looking cylinders). Then we went to her office building for our lecture. We learned the meaning behind the flag (both Ireland and England). 100 years ago Ireland broke off from England (their revolution) so being here this year was a big deal (1916 to 2016). We missed their independence day by a few weeks. Northern Ireland is still heavily attached to England. The orange on the Irish flag represents the Protestants, the green is the Catholics and the white is the unity between the two groups. We also learned some history of the building we were in. 20 years ago many girls were held in the building. It was known as the Magdalene Laundries. It was run by the Roman Catholics and it housed “fallen women.” These women were forced to stay silent all day, sew, clean and confess their sins to the priest. It is so hard to believe that this happened only 20 years ago (in my lifetime)! One day, the people who ran it up and left and the women in the building were finally free. However, they had nothing. I could not imagine looking outside of the windows and dreaming of being outside only to one day be there without anything. I cannot believe this happened such a short time ago- it is something you hear about happening hundreds of years ago. I do not know how Dr. Schneider works here; the thoughts would always flood by mind. Dr. Schneider said she gets to go back home (to Florida and teach at USF) in a week and she cannot wait to leave the building.
We then went to a local bakery. The owner of the bakery was so kind and I loved his accent! It was so different than the accents heard in England. It makes wonder why every place as such a different accent even if it is a part of the same nation. I wonder how accents came about. The bakery contained freshly made products made by the locals- such a cute idea! It made it even more like traditional Irish food. I ordered a hot chocolate and brownie, and they were by far the best! We continued on with our tour to Waterford Crystal. We saw some amazing pieces of glass- one cost 40,000 euros! I learned that they make the Heisman trophy here (for American football). She then took us to a local glass making shop. These workers used to work for the main crystal company until they broke off to start their flourishing company. We watched one of the owners make a glass bird; I loved seeing it being made right in front of us! I could watch it all day. I purchased small worry stones (green glass circles with a clover in the middle). I did not want to buy anything too big in fear of it breaking on the plane yet I wanted a souvenir.
We all had the chance to go back to the hotel to drop off our things, change into warmer clothes and clean up before our hike. We met everyone back downstairs in 30 minutes and Dr. Schneider showed us how the bus system worked. We took the bus out to the coast. It was extremely cold, wet and windy stepping off of the bus. The temperature changed so much in 15 minutes. We ate lunch at a café along the beach, and some people went back with Dr. Rakes to the hotel. However, half of us wanted to hike along the coast with Mrs., Powell and Dr. Schneider. We walked for hours, but it was so beautiful! I loved the sound of the waves breaking against the rough rocks. The sun came out and I was able to take off my jacket. It was brilliant- as the English would say (they call everything brilliant). I had the chance to dip my feet into the freezing Keltic Sea! I love doing that when I go to a new coast. I love bragging and saying, “I have been in the Keltic Sea!” The cold water reminded me of the Titanic. I knew we passed close to the location of it sinking coming to London in the airplane. The water’s temperature is exactly how I imagined it to be after watching the movie- I cannot imagine my whole body being in their for hours.
As dusk approached, we made the long hike back to the bus station and made some nice horse friends. They immediatly came to the fence and let us feed them- so cute! I did not realize how far we walked coming- seeing new sights allows you to walk ten times further (you feel no pain because the sights over take it). The hike was an amazing bonding experience with the members of our group. We sang songs on the way back and chattered. I do not think we would have done this elsewhere. By the time we got back and had the chance to eat dinner at quiet pub next to the one from last night. I ordered Irish vegetable stew and it was great! I was cold and so the warmth felt nice. It was a long day and bed sounded wonderful. As I looked out of the window talking to my parents, it was not completely dark yet it was 10pm. We must be near the Artic Circle.
Day Ten: May 18, 2016
Off we go Dublin! The final city of our trip. Many people wanted to get their glass work from the local glass shop from yesterday- many people had personalized stuff made. I thought it was so nice of the owners to rush and get it all done in one day! I had my worry stones engraved with the names of people who I was giving them into (including myself). Then, we went to get one last snack from the bakery. We loved the owner- it was so nice and helpful. I got another brownie and a blue cheese scone (I kept telling myself- you are not always in Ireland. You only live once). Willie picked us back up at 9am and we made the trip back to Dublin. Willie pointed out some beautiful sights along the way. He told us our rooms would not be ready until afternoon time and he would waste some of our time by showing us around Dublin. Once again, so nice! He took the time out of his day to make sure we got to the hotel when our rooms were ready instead of just sitting there with our luggage. We saw the largest park, the famous Guinness Factory and our US embassy. I learned that the USA was the first to send a representative over. It was nice to hear that America has such a strong relationship with Ireland. We have the nicest embassy in the best location. We stopped at a local park with a huge cross in the center. Many people had ice cream, we got a group photo and a nice elderly man told us stories of Dublin. After every story he would say, “How ‘bout that?” in his Irish accent- it reminded me of my grandfather. I could have listened to him all day.
We got to our hotel and our rooms still were not ready. Our rooms were ready early in the morning in the London (they must have set them aside the previous day). Thankfully, the hotel locked all of our luggage up while we went and ate lunch. Taylor and I ate at a cute little sandwich café. We did not explore too much because we didn’t have a map of the city. So we went back to the hotel to find our room and put our luggage way.
We rested a little bit and found Mrs. Powell and Dr. Rakes downstairs. We told them we were going to explore. They were hungry so we stopped by a pub with them while they ate very traditional Irish food. Then, we explored some side streets in Dublin and bought things at a market. I have never found as many markets in Florida as I have in Europe. I suppose the weather is cool enough here for it. We all wanted dessert so Mrs. Powell and Dr. Rakes got a cronut (mix of a donut and a croissant) and Taylor and I got ice cream. I am a chocolate person and wanted just plain chocolate- so good! We all ate together and had wonderful conversations about what we had learned thus far and how we would implement it into our classroom. Dublin is not as clean as London- both in looks and in people. We did not want to stay out until the sun went down so we all went to bed. The showers are much easier to work in Ireland!
Day Eleven: May 19, 2016
Our walking tour began at 9am with an elderly man with the last name of Finnegan- he was so proud of his last name! It is apparently fit for an Irish tour guide. He had us wait in the lobby for a couple of minutes while the rain calmed down. I was not wearing a rain jacket or my rain boots- I have no idea what I was thinking! It was very cold and very wet, and I just knew this was going to be a long 4 hour walk. Thankfully, the rain cleared up in about an hour and the sun rays peaked through the gray clouds. Mr. Finnegan was such a nice man and he was so proud of the Irish revolution- I wish Americans were still like that. Every other sentence was a comment about the revolution- he must have heard all of these things from his parents who would have remembered the war. He made sure we had plenty of chances to use the restroom (the Irish just call them toilets which I think is not as clean sounding as restrooms). I have noticed that all “toilets” in Europe are either tucked away and you have to climb stairs to get to them or they are out in the open and you pay to use them. He took us into a place called, “Penny’s” so that some of the girls could go with him to find a restroom. He kept saying how embarrassingly cheap the clothes were here. They were cheap, but it was wonderful! We walked over the half penny bridge (back in the day you paid half a penny to walk across it). Finnegan said, “Now everyone saves money and you can cross it for free!” I found this funny because I have no idea how you pay half a penny (that is basically free).
Finnegan took us along back streets and discussed famous Irish musicians with us and various significant places. Our last stop with him was Trinity College (why is everything called Trinity College in Europe?), home of the Book of Kells (an illuminated manuscript Gospel book in Latin, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament together with various prefatory texts and tables). He made sure he got us there at just the right time- the line is crazy long in the morning. It was nice having him know the ins and outs. As we entered the college we said good-bye to our final guide. The Book of Kells was beautiful! It was truly a piece of artwork and standing next to scripture gave me goosebumps. I was able to purchase a postcard with the alphabet used in the book. The first letter of every paragraph has these letters.
Taylor and I were getting hungry so we asked a local what a good place to eat would be. She told us about The Hairy Lemon. We eventually found our way there (after receiving five different directions from five different people). We ate wonderful Irish meal (they really like to use duck and lamb in their food), and we set off to see St. Patrick’s Cathedral- for the man who brought Christianity to Ireland. It was absolutely stunning! I think it is prettier than Westminster Abbey. I even saw the winding staircase where the priest lives. Each glass window and framework was breath-taking. I wonder how long it took them to complete the cathedral. Taylor and I went into one in London and they said it would not be completed for another 100 years.
After the cathedral, Taylor and I wanted to try Butler’s Coffee, a Pinterest-famous chocolate coffee shop in Ireland. They had chocolate everywhere! I ordered a cookie hot chocolate which was amazing and it came with a chocolate ball. We did not want to give the night up so we went shopping- Taylor got some fabric and I got some soap from Lush.
For dinner, we met Abby, Jordan, Kristina, and Carol at the Winding Staircase. It was our “last supper” together and the bonding time was much needed. I was a little sick the last few days of the trip and was amazed at how well European medicine worked! I wanted to get some more to bring home. As we left the pharmacy, the area was becoming sketchy and the sun was not down yet. I saw a man hit his girlfriend which was eye-opening. Many people saw it but no one did a single thing. In America, that would not have been okay; so many people would have stepped in. It really showed me the culture difference here. Taylor and I ran back to the hotel ad got ready for bed. Tomorrow is an early morning. We go home!
Day Twelve: May 20, 2016
The night flew by quickly and the alarm went off at exactly 5:15am. We needed to eat downstairs as a group (the kitchen opened early just for us) and leave in order to make the flight that took off at 9:40am. The airport security was a mad house again, but I was prepared and had my liquids already arranged in the saved clear bag. It went by much quicker! However, my liquids were pulled again for a “random” test- it must have been the face wash. I was so ready to see my family yet so sad that the trip I had been waiting to go on since entering FSC was over. While we waited, Dr. Rakes interviewed people and I got more chocolate from Butler’s Coffee. I texted my parents to let them know I was boarding the plane and they responded which was shocking considering the hour at home. The airplane was just as great as the one coming over except it was newer! I tried not to sleep too much on the plane because I wanted to be tired and ready to go to bed when I got home (readjusting my body clock). I took one cat nap and watched movies the rest of the way. I would not have survived without those free movies and food! The airplane served drinks, snacks, and lunch! It was a lot of food.
We landed in Atlanta in a little over 7 hours and we were all craving Chick-fil-a! We a couple of hours to spare so we got some- it was just as good as I remembered. I had been so used to not eating preservatives (Irish meat is not allowed to use that stuff by law) that my tummy did not know how to act. Chick-fil-a French fries are one hundred times better than “chips.” I got home safe and sound and told my parents all about my trip! I am so thankful for this learning opportunity and the amazing professors who kept me safe. It was basically a really, really big field trip. I have made friends I would normally not have made in the classroon. I cannot wait to take my parents there and "be the guide" to them.
