The Bells Toll Over the Kent Countryside

This weekend I am going on yet another adventure. This time to the county of Kent…near Faversham, this is near Canterbury, so basically a very small English village. After lots of confusion I was finally able to purchase my train ticket (my credit card was acting up) and got in contact with Bridget Hailwood, my Host family. So Friday evening I boarded my train heading to Faversham, and upon arrival I wandered around slightly confused because I was meeting up with a woman I had never met or seen before, but luckily I found her within a few minutes and we were off to her house. Upon arrival I met her son and they fixed me dinner while I read my book and tried to avoid the cats…now at first it was a little awkward just going to a random persons home for a weekend and not knowing much about them, and the conversations to get to know one another are slightly strange at first, but that quickly changed for me and I loved my time with Bridget. That night we had an assortment of quiche, and then Bridget and I sat in the living room and chatted getting to know one another and deciding what to do that weekend. We decided on a visit to Canterbury to see the cathedral and Canterbury Tales Exhibition with her childhood friend. Bridget made me feel like I was so welcome in her home and life that weekend, and it was nice to just spend time with someone that kind of reminded me of my mom…a little taste of home.

The cathedral was incredible…words cannot describe it accurately. My favorite part was just the scale of how large it is, and then knowing when they build it…in the 10^th century if I am correct, but then that there are such tiny details in everything. The stained glass windows were everywhere and just endlessly cast colorful shadows through cathedral. I saw the oldest surviving drawings in the UK in the crypt, and witnessed the ringing of the bell at 11am, and watched the military personal practice for Sunday’s Remembrance Day Service. We spent a couple hours exploring the cathedral before moving on to go get a warm cup of coffee…surprisingly massive cathedrals don’t have central heating. After that we went to the Canterbury Tales Exhibition where we got to walk through certain traveler’s stories as they were reenacted by humorous sets while walking through a castle like structure. I thought this was a fun experience but then again I have read the Canterbury Tales and am slightly nerdy when it comes to literature…for lunch we had sausage rolls and headed back to Norton because we were volunteering at the Bell Ringing Contest at Teynam’s church which is the next village. When I say bell ringing I am not talking the small hand bells, I mean the large ones in the bell tower. I helped serve tea to the participants and chatted with church bell ringers from the surrounding area, it was an interesting experience…who knew there were competitions for bell ringing. That night we watched the British equivalent of Dancing with the Stars, the Remembrance Day Program which the Queen attended, and then a BBC program on Pan America. A well rounded evening of television and conversation.

That Sunday we got up and had breakfast, which consisted of porridge (actually I really liked it) and tea. Then Bridget and I were off to church to ring the bells; I got to climb up in the bell tower and watch them warm up…then they even let me ring the bells!!! They started me off on the heaviest one which weighed more than me, so I couldn’t ring it which gave them all a good laugh, but I was able to ring the next one. Who knew so much went into ringing bells?? I didn’t but I now think it’s incredible whenever I hear bells ring when I am walking around London. We attended the Remembrance Day Service which was particularly moving with the bagpipes played by a townsman that has passed up 90 years old. I think it would be very nice if we did more for Veteran’s Day in the US. After church we had a proper Sunday roast which was very delicious and for dessert a plum cobbler or that’s what its equivalent would be in the US…and to help digest the massive meal we took a walk through the countryside because the sun had come out!!! The walk took us past groves of cherry and apple trees with strawberry bushes underneath and upon a massive stately home we stumbled. This was the home of the escaped Russian Prince from the Romanov family. They told me the history of his life and then took me to his and his daughter’s grave in a church across a field. The graves had lavender growing out of them and right there on the gravestone was the Romanov’s family name and crest. There is so much history here…even in the small villages like Norton. I was sad to leave the home of Bridget because I had a really amazing weekend out in the countryside of England getting to experience things I never would get to normally.

I actually managed to post a picture this time, I hope you enjoy the Canterbury Cathedral!

“Dear Boss, ….Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper”

This week was filled with events out of the ordinary…On Monday, November 7, we went to the museum for Shakespeare class to look at the artwork from the period during Shakespeare’s life to see what the influences were like. Most of the artwork was religiously centered and it is amazing that some of the stuff has survived for so long in such quality.

Then the next evening, Tuesday, after my internship I made my way back to Vandon after finishing early. The weather was cold and the rain was spitting…the darkness combined with the light clouded with mist made it an eerie night in London’s East End. We had a walking tour through the Whitechapel area where Jack the ripper once spread terror through with his gruesome murders. Our tour guide, the same one we have had all semester is so animated and is a great story teller and actually appeared in the movie Love Actually. His stories and songs brought chills to my bones as I imagined the horrific murder scenes and the psycho who committed these murders, and all the speculations about who was Jack the Ripper or the Whitechapel Murderer. A particularly sinister letter received by the Police possibly from Jack the Ripper himself is quoted below for your pleasure:


Dear Boss,
I keep on hearing the police have caught me but they wont fix me just yet. I have laughed when they look so clever and talk about being on the right track. That joke about Leather Apron gave me real fits. I am down on whores and I shant quit ripping them till I do get buckled. Grand work the last job was. I gave the lady no time to squeal. How can they catch me now. I love my work and want to start again. You will soon hear of me with my funny little games. I saved some of the proper red stuff in a ginger beer bottle over the last job to write with but it went thick like glue and I cant use it. Red ink is fit enough I hope ha ha. The next job I do I shall clip the ladys ears off and send to the police officers just for jolly wouldn't you. Keep this letter back till I do a bit more work, then give it out straight. My knife's so nice and sharp I want to get to work right away if I get a chance. Good Luck.


Yours truly
Jack the Ripper


Henry V…in Guildford. Wednesday night I left straight from the Hoxton Trust and headed to Waterloo station to catch a train to Guildford. As I waited in the queue counting down the seconds til the train left….time quickly running out and the line moving slowly…Finally, I get my ticket and begin running toward the platform (all this with multiple bags, heals and a dress on, so basically very clumsily) and as I get to my platform I double check it is the right train…it is! So I sprint to the closing door thinking if it shuts on me it will just open back up like on the tube, no such luck. These doors just keep closing…on me this time; luckily a man standing near the door pushed back on the door allowing me to slide through…I did receive a good bruise down my right side, but I made my train. Once onboard I attempted to find a seat but it was so full so I resorted to sitting near the bike stowing area where I read my book and wrote in my journal for the next hour until finally I reached my stop. As I make my way out of the station I tried to find my bearings…looking at my map and the one near the station I head out thinking I know where I am going. Soon I realize I went the wrong way so I back track and end up asking multiple people before someone points me in the right direction. Once I know where I am supposed to be going I keep thinking I am lost, however, I actually managed to find the theater. The show was one of my favorites since I have been here; it was an all male company and they had interpreted the play in a unique manner. It was a group of soldiers who were bored so they decide to do some Shakespeare’s Henry V to pass the time. It was hilarious at time and the lighting was great…plus between scenes they would sing so it just made the show very entertaining and this helped a history play move along nicely because they tend to drag on. Overall the show was amazing!

Happy, Happy, Happy

So I have officially caught everyone up to October 30^th now which is now over a month behind but I will continue in my attempts to catch up before I get back to the States in T minus 13 days!!! As sad as it will to be leave behind this amazing experience I am ready to go home and see my lovely friends and family whom I have missed dearly during my time away.

Anyways, Halloween in London is not a big deal. In Ireland everyone was gearing up for it while we were there, but the lack of enthusiasm in London was quite surprising actually. So for the first time in 20 years I did not dress up and go trick or treating or to a party, instead I stayed in and caught up on sleep and did the essential errands to prepare for the week which included homework…This week went by fairly smoothly despite the withdrawals from the beautiful countryside and cozy cottage.  On Wednesday evening, 2 of November, I wrote my first paper that I had to do a bit of research for, use sources and pull it all together. Call me crazy, but I really enjoyed spending an evening thinking about the topic of the Euro-Zone Crisis and researching it fully so I understood when it all started and all the speculation behind what is the cause and the possible solutions presented throughout the course of events. I basically sat in the kitchen listened to my writing playlist which always puts me in a great mood, and tried all the non-caffeinated teas while munching on muffins I had stored from breakfast. The Euro-Zone Crisis has never been more fun to write about; despite the dire situation with endless consequences I managed to write a somewhat humorous paper about the subject. As nerdy as it is, I have missed writing papers for school and I am looking forward to my English classes next semester.

The next exciting, well to me at least, event that occurred was the Core Value Workshop/Semi-Annual Meeting at work on Friday November 4^th. At my internship at the Hoxton Trust (look it up on facebook and twitter if you want cause I’m in charge of those for the time being) I had to interview all the students and staff, and then I had to compile all the feedback into a cohesive document that the correspondents helping the Hoxton Trust determine their new core message and values could use. I then brainstormed some core messages and values and vision statements on my own and those were sent forward also. So basically I have spent a fair amount of time doing research for this meeting, so I was excited to see it all culminate and participate in the decision making process. It was an amazing experience to witness how an organization goes about updating the company from the foundation up. Also, I got to talk to some very wise people who were interested in what my interests were for the future. So the meeting was an overall success as we finalized decisions and I saw the work I had done actually get turned into something that is very significant in a business’s image.

Now onto one of the most anticipated days of my semester in London.

“Remember, remember the fifth of November. Gunpowder, treason and plot, I see no reason why gunpowder, treason should ever be forgot…”

Guy Fawkes Day in London was amazing, especially since I already knew about it prior to arriving here this Fall. If you don’t know the history of Guy Fawkes Day here is a brief run down. On the 5 of November 1605, Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up parliament, but was discovered and received the worst punishment during the time…I’ll spare you those details but if you’re curious  feel free to look it up. Today it is celebrated in England by children running around in Guy Fawkes masks with wheel barrows and the Guy Fawkes doll (looks a lot like the pope…hmmm ironic??) and there are bonfires and fireworks while the adults get smashed. I celebrated the national holiday with just a small portion of this list of festivities. A group of Vandoner’s and I made our way to Brixton to watch a local firework show. It was incredible. Only Disney can top it I think, and they used a lot of my favorite fireworks in the show…the ones that crackle and shimmer while they slowly fall. I was “Happy, Happy, Happy” is how Nick would describe me at the firework show! After the show we headed back to Vandon and watched V for Vendetta. A perfect way to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day in its birthplace.