2017 Harlaxton – Page 2 – The Gatton Academy News

Harlaxton 2017: Duxford Aircraft Museum and Harlaxton Manor

July 23, 2017 | 2017 Harlaxton, 2017-2018, Avatars, Morganne Williams, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Morganne Williams

When my alarm blared at 5:30 AM on Sunday, I was not ready to get up. Sadly, I still had to pack and take a shower, so sleeping in for another hour and a half was not an option. Two hours later I had eventually finished, and I dragged my heavy suitcase up the stairs and into the common room. I was greeted by my half-asleep peers and a mound of luggage. By 8:00 AM, everyone had arrived, and we proceeded out to the bus.

We spent the morning and afternoon at the Duxford Aircraft Museum, which is multiple hangars filled with World War II era airplanes. Some planes we were able to walk through and see what travelling in the early 40s was like, and others we were able to watch take flight. Most of the museum was Royal Air-Force planes, but they did have a hangar full of American planes and even a few German ones.

At 2:30 PM, we boarded the bus and left for Harlaxton Manor. I had previously looked up pictures of it online, but nothing prepared me for the sheer size of it. Harlaxton was breathtaking from the outside, but the inside was unbelievably gorgeous. As soon as my luggage was brought up to my room, my friends and I started exploring. We managed to get lost upwards of ten times, but the rooms we got lost in were worth it.

We found a ballroom, conservatory, library, giant cedar staircase, a list of crests with my family name on it, and a couple of secret passages. Sadly, our adventure was brought to a halt when we had to leave for dinner, but after dinner, we had a guided tour of the Manor. This place is truly amazing, and I feel like a rich Victorian woman walking through the huge halls and the resplendent rooms. These next two weeks are going to be amazing.

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Harlaxton 2017: Final Day in London

July 22, 2017 | 2017 Harlaxton, 2017-2018, Avatars, Ben Kash, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Benjamin Kash

Our last day in London started with a bang. And by that I mean a class quiz on short story authors and discussions ranging from a gang of schoolboys gracefully destroying an ancient house to a symbolic fox fur. The hours tick off until finally a metaphysical clock strikes 12 and in a typical High School Musical fashion we disburse into London faster than the Underground.

For our final day, some of my friends and I purchased tickets to Wicked the Musical in the West End. After some traveling woes, we arrived at the Apollo Victoria Theater. Elphaba and Glinda helped me fill in the blanks of the Wizard of Oz (and Grayson and Caleb haven’t stopped singing since), then we were back on the Tube and off to afternoon tea. My mango tango tea and pastries helped revitalize me from the emotional turmoil of Emerald City, but nothing could have prepared me for what would follow.

What started as a harmless attempt to clean our clothes would devolve into a rain-soaked, tide-pod-carrying adventure around the streets of London. The laundry machines in our building clearly despised me as they refused to operate correctly and ate all of my change. So in a misguided search for other machines we traveled across the street… in the pouring rain. Carrying dirty laundry in public while trying to avoid any water from dissolving your detergent may sound fun, but believe me it’s not. Fast forward a few minutes and you would have found us running around Seymour St. in search of a laundromat that Apple Maps claimed existed when it very much so did not. Finally, in our defeated, sullen state we stumbled upon the original laundry room across the street and successfully cleaned our garments. A 4 hour ordeal in all but a fun one.

With that, we concluded our final day in the melting pot of Europe. We have an early morning tomorrow then it is off to Harlaxton. Can’t wait to see what spontaneous adventures await us there!

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Harlaxton 2017: Trip to Oxford

July 21, 2017 | 2017 Harlaxton, 2017-2018, Arjun Kanthawar, Avatars, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Arjun Kanthawar

Today was the first day that we didn’t have to do anything before 9 A.M, and I think we were all thankful for that extra sleep. We took a train from Paddington station in London to Oxford, England where we walked to Christ Church College, a combination of a college of Oxford University and an Anglican cathedral. Our group stopped to have a picnic at a large clearing near the church. Later, we toured some of the colleges in Oxford and learned about their rich history. The traditions and buildings of the colleges were incredible! Oxford’s campus was one of the most beautiful ones I have ever seen!

We saw many of the areas where The Harry Potter movies were filmed, and we learned about the origins of Alice in Wonderland. After our tour, we walked along the streets of Oxford before getting on a train to head back to London. Many decided to grab another snack before heading back to the Nutford House to prepare for class tomorrow. Our stay in London is coming to a close. Only one more day until we head to Harlaxton!

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Harlaxton 2017: Lewis, Tolkien, and Free Time in London

July 21, 2017 | 2017 Harlaxton, 2017-2018, Avatars, Jacob Harris, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Jacob Harris

At around 7:30 this morning, a chorus of alarms sounded throughout Nutford House, and the owners of these hateful devices—our group—began preparing for class. We trudged downstairs and competed with the other occupants for a spot at breakfast. Following our meal, it was time for class. Here we received the true British experience: settled comfortably into the scattered mix of chairs and sofas, we turned our attention to Prof. Rutledge’s lecture on traditional British literature.

Today, Professor Rutledge schooled us on the lives and works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. We learned of the two men’s friendship, and how their experiences in World War I and their shared passion for linguistics drew them together. We learned how Tolkien incorporated Old English influences into much of his writing, and how C.S. Lewis was a fervent defender of the fantasy novel’s place in classic literature. Rutledge rounded off our day’s lecture with an introduction to poetry, preparation for our upcoming expeditions into the writing of English poets.

As class came to a close, we were given free time to explore the city of London. Rising from the seats of our antique classroom, we stepped out into the gentle afternoon rain of London. We strolled under the romantic, water-color sky to the nearest Tube stop: Marble Arch. From here, we were off! We raced through the busy streets of London, pencils flying furiously as we scratched items off of our “to-see” lists. The group I was with spent time at Abbey Road, and stopped by the British Library. It was a packed day, and that night we welcomed our much-needed rest!

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Harlaxton 2017: Stonehenge

July 20, 2017 | 2017 Harlaxton, 2017-2018, Avatars, Camuel Hart, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Camuel Hart

Stonehenge, among the most recognizable British monuments, is also the most distant. A days-long drive through the English countryside could easily be taken without a distant passing sight of it; finding it seemingly requires a series of diversions and detours across the pastoral roadways. Past the entrance, the site of the monument rests at the end of a great walking path, which is often bypassed in favor of shuttle bus drive. Even the stones themselves are separated from their audience by a rope and several yards. All this, of course, is fitting, for a site so out of time and place as this one.

The oddity and mystery of Stonehenge can be felt in its presence, especially when the mood is set by overcast skies and a light, cold rain. It carries a history that seems so alien to modern life, almost absurd. Despite this distance of space, time, and disposition, we were given the chance to embrace our roles as tourists and enjoy the cultural landmark and physical feat that is Stonehenge. Overwhelming? No. Underwhelming? Not quite, either. Visiting, studying, and photographing Stonehenge is a unique experience, that exists some distance from the standard metric of excitement. In any case, I am glad to have gone.

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Harlaxton 2017: Shakespeare, Free Time and the Globe Theatre

July 19, 2017 | 2017 Harlaxton, 2017-2018, Avatars, Emily Guernsey, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Emily Guernsey

We woke up bright and early this morning, all feeling a bit tired from our jam-packed day yesterday, but ready to hit the ground running. After breakfast (with a group of young ballerinas), we headed to the classroom. It was now time for our quiz. Today’s topic: William Shakespeare and his comedy Much Ado About Nothing. Following the quiz, we brushed up on our Shakespearean history, then began to discuss Much Ado About Nothing. Professor Rutledge shared some interesting insights about the title of this play and engaged the class in a conversation about different aspects of the plot. It was really interesting to see how each of us interpreted things. At 12 o’clock, we were released from class- off to free time! The 50 of us scattered across London for the afternoon.

My friends and I decided to explore Chinatown and SoHo. After a quick tube ride, we scouted out a Chinese restaurant. We had a nice meal and followed it with some bubble tea; we tried lots of flavors, from Lychee to Butterfly Lemonade. Then it was time for shopping! We popped into lots of stores, especially those we can’t easily find back in Kentucky, like Zara and Primark. Some purchases were made and we began the trek back to the Nutford House. We made a quick stop at a pastry shop for a snack and then got ready for our evening at the Globe Theatre.

Dressed in our nice attire, we rode the tube for a few stops, then walked across Millennium Bridge to the other side of the River Thames. We entered the Globe and some of us (at Professor Rutledge’s recommendation) rented seat cushions, as we would be sitting on wooden benches for the next two hours. The theatre was packed with students and adults alike. The theatre, built as a replica of the original Globe in 1997, had three tiers of seating in a semicircle around the stage, as well as standing room on all sides. It was absolutely packed! The show began, and at first, we were all a bit confused- the play was set in Mexico, rather than in Italy as originally written. This turned out to be a great adaptation; there were colorful decorations, wire horses, fabulous dancing, and even an American police officer. The play ended around 10:30 and we headed back towards the Nutford House, making a quick stop at McDonald’s on the way.

Today was full of great new experiences! I’m sure we will all sleep soundly after running around the city all day and will wake up looking forward to the adventures to come.

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Harlaxton 2017: Jane Austen (Chawton and Winchester Visit)

July 18, 2017 | 2017 Harlaxton, 2017-2018, Avatars, Grayson Fuller, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Grayson Fuller

Today, we departed from Nutford House in Westminster to travel to Chawton Village and the city of Winchester. Upon arriving at Chawton, we proceeded to tour the cottage in which Jane Austen wrote many of her novels. After this, we toured the grounds of the Knight Estate, where Austen’s cottage was located. Following the tour of the Estate, we visited St. Nicholas Church and the adjoining cemetery. Buried here are both Mrs. Austen, Jane’s Mother, and Cassandra Austen, Jane’s sister.

Next up on the itinerary was a trip to Winchester. We arrived at Winchester Cathedral, inside which Jane Austen is interred. The Cathedral was in the process of arranging things for the Jane Austen Memorial service to be held the next day on the 200th anniversary of her death. We left the Cathedral to walk along the path frequented by John Keats during his time here in Winchester. Following this peaceful walk, we arrived at the Hospital of St. Cross and, without touring the grounds, departed back to Nutford House.

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Harlaxton 2017: Arrival in London

July 15, 2017 | 2017 Harlaxton, 2017-2018, Alexa Thompson, Avatars, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Alexa Thompson

Snoozing on the bus to Nutford House after an unbearably long travel day, our eyes peep open to see the typical red, two-tiered buses driving on the wrong side of the road. We were met with the ideal English weather: mid-sixties and drizzling. Arrival at Nutford House excited all of us immediately, as the sight of the small round windows and sunflowers sitting in a windowsill created an aesthetic scene. Little did we know, we would be here for the next week, calling it out first, but temporary, home here in England.

After having a brief moment to get luggage in our rooms and our inaugural meeting, the rest of the afternoon was dedicated to exploration. The majority of the students followed Dr. Rutledge into central London via the world-famous Tube, which we are all experts at using now. Every student followed their curiosity to the sights they so desired, ranging from Big Ben to the National Gallery to Westminster Abbey.

As classes start tomorrow, preparation starts tonight; preparation being both mental and physical. Many of us took much-needed power naps, or they were forced upon us as we dozed off while trying to study. Luckily, newly found candy bars are providing us with extra energy. Presentations and quizzes are crashing down on everyone, halting some of our adventures through London for at least the night. Harry Potter fans are hoping that tomorrow’s trip to the Harry Potter filming studios makes up for this brief pause of exploration.

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Harlaxton 2017: And We’re Off!

July 14, 2017 | 2017 Harlaxton, 2017-2018, Caleb Curry, Study Abroad | No Comments

By: Caleb Curry

Wow! Over the past 24 hours I have gone from a small town in eastern Kentucky, scrambling to finish last-minute packing, to riding on a charter bus headed to the Nutford House, where we will be staying at while in London.

We (around half of the Gatton Class of 2018) began this adventure by meeting at the Louisville airport yesterday (Friday) afternoon. We were scheduled to fly from Louisville to Dallas and have a 1.5-hour layover before our overnight flight to London, but of course we had over a 1.5-hour delay. Once our plane landed in Dallas, after our planned boarding time, our group of 56 quickly and successfully boarded the around 5,000 mile Dallas to London flight with no time to spare. This morning (Saturday) we landed in London around 11am local time (5am CST) and were greeted by chilly London weather and the aforementioned bus.

In addition to the typical things a tourist would see, over the next 3 weeks we will be studying English Literature, including works such as Persuasion, Wuthering Heights, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and various short stories and poems. Following our classes, which occur every other day, we get to go physically see and experience the places where the ideas of these works came to light, the birthplaces of the authors, and other important aspects of these pieces of literature. For months leading up to this trip, we have all been excited to travel to England together and explore everything that it has to offer, and now it is finally here!

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