Stratford-Upon-Avon

Last Saturday a bunch of the international students were invited to go on a bus trip to Stratford-Upon-Avon. It was an interesting experience being clumped together with other people who did not claim English as their first language. When I got the email about the trip, I suddenly realized, "I'm an international student!"

Jessye, Chelsea, J and I decided to go on the trip. We woke up and began the forty minute walk to Park campus at seven-something in the morning on a chilly day. We saw...

Where Shakespeare was born:

The town:

Where Shakespeare was buried:

A small, white bunny in the park:

A rainbow:

Funny road signs:

And much, much more.

Cheltenham Literature Festival

The Cheltenham Literature Festival is, according to its website, one of the greatest literary events in the world.  I went to seven of the events. Although I started writing detailed descriptions of the stuff discussed at each event, I realized it would take a long time to type up my notes and many people would find it boring to read, anyway. If you'd like to know about a specific event, send me and email or comment and I'll gladly oblige.

Overall, I was ecstatic to be able to be involved. I wish I could come every year! The events go on for two weeks, and the festival features notable people in literature, art, film, and science.

After each author's name, I've included their most recent work. In parentheses, I have added the book I've read by that author already. Sorry about the blurriness of most of the indoor photos- I kept my flash off to avoid being rude.

AS BYATT, The Children's Book (I read Possession)

PHILIP PULLMAN, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ (I read The Golden Compass and The Ruby in the Smoke)

Photo taken by Amanda Blank

DAVID ALMOND, My Name is Mina (I read Skellig)

& GERALDINE MCCAUGHREAN, Pull Out All the Stops!

CELIA REES, The Fool's Girl (I read Pirates!)
 & MARY HOOPER, Fallen Grace

AUDREY NIFFENEGGER, The Night Bookmobile (I read The Time Traveler's Wife and started Her Fearful Symmetry)

HIGHGATE CEMETERY 

with Audrey Niffenegger and Catherine Arnold

SIMON PEGG, Nerd Do Well (I watched Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz)

Oxford and the Cotswolds

Another BCA trip! We met outside at 9:15 on a slightly overcast but overall dry day. First, we drove through a few of the Cotswolds, including Winchcombe, Cleeve Hill, Stanway, and Broadway. The Cotswolds are considered the heart of England, and Cheltenham and Bourton-on-the-Water are two of the Cotswolds I've already seen. We stopped in Broadway and looked around the town and had breakfast.

Next we drove to Oxford. Other than the optional planned activity to Christ Church, we were free to do what we wanted in the city. When I traveled with Danielle and Karen a few years ago, we went to Oxford so I saw quite a few things then. I was happy to return, though, because I didn't remember it completely, and there are quite a few things I didn't get to see the first time around.

First we went to the Ashmolean Museum. There was a special exhibit on the Pre-Raphaelites and Italy which I was excited to see since I had already been in the museum four years ago when that exhibit wasn't there. I happily scaled the three flights of stairs up, and discovered that it was for ticket holders only. We only had a few hours so I decided not to pay to see the exhibit. 

Next we went to eat lunch at The Eagle and Child pub, a location at which Lewis and Tolkien used to meet and discuss their writing - and gossip, I'd like to think. The place was packed, so we had to find somewhere else to eat. This is another place Danielle had us visit a few years ago, so I was okay with just looking around. 

I forgot to take a photo of this. This is the photo I took in 2007. 

Karen and Danielle are lurking near the doorway, there.

I went with Jessye and Cassie (two lovely girls from the BCA program) to a shop that sold many delicious things. While our paninis were being cooked, we stood to the side. I happened to glance down and discovered a twenty pound note! Just in case you don't know the conversion rate, twenty pounds is equivalent to $31.91 in US currency. I stood there for a bit to see if anyone would come back for it, and then gleefully, yet hesitantly, pocketed it.

After finishing our lunch, we began the walk across the city to Christ Church. Along the way, we went into fun shops such as Octopus, looked at the wares of various street vendors selling scarves and earrings and hats, and watched all the street performers from musicians to living statues.

When we got to Christ Church, most of the group was gathered there awaiting Denise (well, BCA) who was generously buying our entry. Christ Church is now most known for being the film location for various scenes in Harry Potter. We walked through the halls first, and then hit up the Great Hall. Cassie complained that it was rather dim in there, and I voiced my disappointment in not seeing the floating candlesticks. I sat in one of the chairs briefly so I could get the whole experience. The tables were set, and although food did not magically appear and I was surrounded by other tourists, for a moment I felt like a real Hogwarts student.

After that, we wandered around more and grabbed some snacks in a small cafe and did more window shopping. Eventually we met back at the museum to drive back to Cheltenham. We were in Oxford for only four hours, so I definitely plan on going back and seeing more of the city. 

Next week I'll be blogging about the Cheltenham Literature Festival. I've gone to two events so far, but I've booked five more, so I'll write about all of them in one entry. 

Missing you all (assuming you are a person I know and love and not a random blog-peruser),

Emily