The Story of John and Jenny

     It’s currently 10:30 at night here in Grantham England and I promise this to be my last blog post of the day. Monday night was one of my favorite nights here at the Manor. Laura and I had a lovely dinner and visit with our host family. They came and picked us up for dinner. Once at their house was started the evening with tea and coffee. After visiting and allowing Laura and I to hang out and watch tv we indulge in dinner. John our dad made an amazing dinner of turkey and vegetable and two kinds of sauce, we also drank wine. After dinner we played hours of Mexican dominos. I am so blessed to have John and Jenny as my host parents.  I loved just listening to them talk about previous students they have had and all the fond memories with them. They like any parent love bragging about their children now grown and grandchildren. As well as all their travel journeys around Europe, to the States,  and Canada.  Jenny is just a chatter bug just like Grandma Jan and John looks at Jenny as if she’s the only person in the world. Their backyard is full of Gardening that I will post picture for Grandma Jan to see, for such a small yard it’s a pretty impressive garden. We were there for over five hours and it was delightful. On Sunday they are taking Laura and I to a flower and Medieval Festival in the next village and then over for tea. I look forward to visits with them throughout the semester for it makes me feel that much closer to home!

     This morning after breakfast I went for an independent run along the country sides of Harlaxton. The town people of Grantham were so nice. Along my run everyone greeted me with “Good morning” and wave. The view of the countryside was beautiful and I know a run in Minnesota will never compare to that of Harlaxton.

Franzi takes us around Germany

Willkommen in Deutschland

Welcome to Germany!

After two trains, a night in the airport, a plane ride, and a couch, totally twenty hours of travel we finally made it to Oktoberfest!!! It was a long night of travel but we have decided we officially learned the inn’s and out’s of travel and sleeping in the airport, we consider ourselves masters at it.

            We arrived at our Hostel, “The Tent” Which literally was a big white tent with bunk beds up in the hundreds. The site is only open in the summer and closes right after Oktoberfest. Although only a tram ride outside the city they had a bonfire at night, café, kegs, basketball court, and dinner. After arriving we walked around the local area around the tent to stretch our legs and hopefully wake us up slightly.  We hung out at the hostel that night. They had a large bonfire and we met younger aged people from all over the world. Let me tell you though I think the Aussie’s (Australians’) are invading Europe!!! They are everywhere and they put their life on hold for six months to a year and just travel all over Europe. We also met a group of Guys from Canada and of course people all over Europe traveling there just for Oktoberfest.

    Saturday was OKTOBERFEST!!!!! Laura had a foreign exchange student in high school for a couple weeks, Franzi, who lives in Germany and she along with a couple of friends came down to Munich and met up with us. She was such a doll and amazing help. Germany although beautiful was the first time here where I felt out of my comfort zone and helpless. As many of you many know I clearly no zero German, and we were surprised to find nothing was in English. It was not that we expected it for obviously they have no need for it but it was still a culture shock. Franzi and her friends were amazing with her English as well as with her patience with helping us translate anything and everything. We started at the opening parade. Each beer tent has their own floats with barrels and flowers and people dressed in lederhosen and dirndl dress. Everywhere you looked where Clydesdale horses too, decorated. The mayor then taps the first keg which symbolizes the start of Oktoberfest and all other beer tents are allowed to open and tap their kegs as well. The Parade was so neat to see, it was an excellent representation of the culture. It like Buckingham palace was crowded with people of all cultures here to celebrate that of the Germans.

            Oktoberfest was a lot of fun. It was like a big state fair with ides and food and games and of course large, extravagant beer tents. I can honestly say I have never seen so many people in one area though, which should be expected with it being opening weekend but the main way of getting around was with people pushing you, and let me tell you they are not afraid to shove their way through. The atmosphere was crazy though, people were dressed up everywhere. The beer tents had lines wrapping around the park and the beer garden was overflowing with people. Unfortunately to get into a beer tent one needs to make a reservation a year in advance (which we didn’t find out until arriving) or wait in line for hours upon hours.

That afternoon we hopped the train and rode up with Ingolstadt. I loved the small town Germany with the cubble stone streets and old buildings lining the narrow streets. Franzi and her friend Franzi showed us around town, we saw their school, the church in which was built for Mary, and town square.  We then went out to dinner at a traditional German restaurant. Laura Veronica and I each got a different dish and passed it amoung the three of us, the food was beyond amazing!   Spatzel which is a dough based noodles with cheese (but way better and nothing like then mac and cheese),  schnitzel which is breaded and fried meat served with French fries, as well as a meat entrée that was amazing but we have no idea what it was. We topped off our meal with a traditional german desert. Franzi then took us back to her house we we spent the night. We could not have asked for better hosted (Mom I was very well taken care of). We crashed very early, for we had a full day and were raising before the sun at 3:45, in the morning we had coffee and rolls with nutella on it then hit the road to catch our coach bus. When I say road I mean, the auto bound!!!! From there it was just a coach ride, plane ride, bus right and train ride back to grantham.

1600 years of History

Take a seat I have about three exciting events to update you on since my last post so it may be a while. No worries you can take an intermission at anytime you please as long as you promise to come back and finish reading.

Wednesday the 15^th Field trip to Lincoln:

It was a class field trip day to the town of Lincoln. We loaded on three coach buses’ all 130 some of us students, teachers, staff and all and drove about an hour or so to the town of Lincoln. We’ve been studying in British history many events that have shaped the UK. I wasn’t sure what to expect when going on this field trip, I mean hey I haven’t been on a field trip since the fifth grade let alone in Europe. Lincoln was amazing.  Things I learned in class directly reflected what I saw in class. How many Americans can say that they have studied the hundred year war and then stood in the exact place where it started? In lecture and seminar we’ve been studying castles and civilization and in Lincoln we stood and walked around the outer wall of the city that has stood there for over 1600 years. It’s history like this that before coming here I would have a care in the world about and would see it as any other brick wall, but after studying here it becomes all so fascinating to me. In Britain’s history for a town or city to be considered such, it would require but a cathedral and a castle. Lincoln has of course both and we received a tour of both. The Cathedral was like no church I have ever seen before. The Largest and most beautiful colored stain glass windows, pew after pew, and a large alter followed by a choir section. There was a mediation section set up in the church as well were you could light a candle and say a prayer. Laura recently that week had lost her uncle to the battle of cancer. The funeral was to be later that week so in memory of him she was able to light a candle in the church. Although I didn’t ( I played photographer for her for this special moment) I had my grandma in mind, as many of you may know she too lost the battle of cancer and I know she’s been watching over me this whole journey.

     The castle was also extraordinary. It had a large wall at the top where we walked along and could see for miles and miles of town and land. Our guide even told us we could see all the way to Grantham from there. We then were lead into a building where we could see one of the three still preserved Magna Carta. This document again is one that until arriving here has never heard of or would care much about. A Quick blub on the Magna Carta for those who may not know, the Magna Carta was the first document forced onto King John by a group of his subjects (the barons) in an attempt to limit his powers by law and protect their privileges.

     In the day we were also given free time to explore the town on our own. We stopped and had tea to go, which I learned it’s standard in Europe to have milk in your tea (which turned our pretty good!) and explored the shopping Lincoln had to offer, but that’s a given. And of course with all this beauty and history around me, my camera is head when I get there! Here are just a few that I stole from Laura's Camera.

Kilts, Cashmere, and Arthur's Seat: Scotland

Scotland the Brave: A traditional Scottish Folk Song

Towering in gallant fame,

Scotland my mountain hame,

High may your proud standards gloriously wave,

Land of my high endeavour,

Land of the shining river,

Land of my heart for ever,

Scotland the brave.

This weekend twelve of us ventured out into the land of Scotland, into a town called Edinburgh.  We left early, early Friday morning and hopped on a train. Our train ride was about three hours and once near Edinburgh it took us all along the coastline. When we arrived we headed straight to our hostel to drop our luggage off. Unfortunately the weather made this trek an interesting one with the rain and hill and windy roads. Our hostel was by far probably the nicest hostel I will be staying at for the next four months. We stayed at the Art Roch. They had a chill room that was huge with foosball, couches, a stage, a hammock and a full kitchen which we later cooked a family dinner in. They also had a garden patio and of course our eighteen person bunk bed room! Since there were only twelve of us we had a couple of roommates who needless to say “spiced” up our weekend. Carl (or as he would pronounce it Car) and Krissy were from Australia but were not traveling together, Dave Cave from Canada and a few others.

             Although it was too early to check into our hostel they do have a luggage storage room where we stored our luggage as we got lunch and explored the town a little. Our hostel was in a prime location and we could walk everywhere. We walked over to Arthur’s castle and the famous Royal Mile. Once all checked in we cleaned ourselves up and headed out for Mexican dinner. The sun was setting just after dinner and it’s at this time right outside our hostel that the picture in front of the castle was taken. All twelve of us proceeded to explore the night life that Edinburgh had to offer. We met men in Kilt that attempted to teach us traditional Scottish dance, it was quite the experience.

 

(This is the only picure with all twelve us + one more )

            The next morning we woke up the twelve of us along with some of our roommates from the hostel trekked up Arthur’s Seat. Words and Pictures can’t even come close to describing the amazing views we had. Arthur’s Seat is no walk in the park to get up to as you can be able to tell in pictures, and might I add myself and Talia did the hike in flip flops (not knowing this is what we were getting ourselves into) The hike up there consisted of grassy hill paths, stepping stones climbing straight up, lose gravel and lots and lots of Wind! The views on the way to the top were spectacular. Nothing can compare to the scenery from the top though. Once at the top we sat (as well as hung on for dear life because of the wind) for a good thirty to forty minuets just taking in the beauty of it all. It’s just a reminder as to what God’s work as to offer and that there’s so much out there in the world. You can sit at the top of this climb and look out one way and see all that Edinburgh has to offer with castles and cobble streets, winding streets, churches, golf course, local life; you can see it all. Turn the other direction and you see the Ocean stretching as far as the eye can see.

            Saturday night was “family dinner night” the boys cooked for everyone and made an amazing meal ( probably the best since I’ve been here) Andy made homemade meat balls well Mason and some of the other boys made garlic toast with cheese and basil on it, we also had spaghetti noodles, sauce, salad and cookies for desert. We made enough food to share others, some may say we over did it. But yet even with all this food it only came out to three pounds per person… way cheaper then eating out!! (Note to self… book hostels with kitchens). The hostel was hosting live music and an organized pub crawl so we definitely did all that. It was at the live music we were able to really meet people from the hostel which is an experience in itself. We met Simon and Quentin from France (although they appear to be from Spain) we spoke little English. We met a group of boys from Notre Dame who are studying in London.  People from all over Europe, Ireland, France, and Germany, it was so neat to be able to exchange about culture and life styles and other trip experiences.

            The following morning was an early one we had to be check out of the hostel in the morning but again were able to store our luggage there for the day. After having breakfast at a small café close to our hostel we headed to a Whiskey Distillery where they give tours and tastings. You ride in a barrel and it’s like a ride where it takes you through the steps of making Whiskey from water and barely. We then were led into a room where our tour guide told us more about the different kinds of Whiskey and where in Scotland they are made. It then was time for us to taste the Whiskey we had chosen, where after taking a baby sip I decided Whiskey just isn’t for me and passed the rest of my glass on to one of the boys in our group. The tasting itself was in a room in which one man had collected and never opened over 3,000 bottles of whiskey.

            After the tour we decided after being together all twelve of us all weekend we would split up and do our own things as small groups, as for Laura, Veronica and I… we went shopping! We walked all along Royal Mile which is home to shops, pubs, restaurants, and lots of people in customs. There was a women who holds the world record for most piercings, we currently has just over 2,600.  After a long day of walking around it was finally time to head back to the manor. After a long action packed weekend with very, very little sleep we looked forward to a three hour train ride to sleep. Until we were ever so lucky to have ten forty year old not married living at home drunken men come onto our train about an hour before our stop… Let me tell you that was probably the most entertainment I’ll see on the train while here in Europe.

Well as for this week we have an educational field trip to the town of Lincoln on Wednesday and then Thursday Laura, Veronica, and I head out for Oktoberfest!!

Miss you and love you all!

Monday-Thursday

Just thought I would post a little blub about my week here in the manor so it doesn't get lost in my future post on our weekend trip to Scotland which a group of 12 of us are leaving for tomorrow morning.


Monday: Monday became my much needed day of rest. I also got a work out in, which by the way for an amazing castle I live in, the workout room is embarrassingly bad


Tuesday: Tuesday was volleyball night... So I thought "oh this will be great I played Sand volleyball at the local VFW a couple times this summer improved my skills slightly, it'll be fun" WRONG WRONG WRONG it was the most miserable two hours here in England yet. Who would have thought it was an actual practice with drills and all, and let me tell you volleyball is not my sport that’s for sure! We'll see if I go back next week… I'm thinking a negative on that one.




Wednesday: We get out of class at noon on Wednesday which is nice to have the afternoon free. We had an all school picture in front of the castle after lunch then Laura Veronica and I headed into town. We are paired up with a family that lives here in Grantham and will be meeting them tonight so it was suggested to get them a gift. After town we played a pickup game of soccer. Just knowing your playing soccer in England makes it that much better. There was about twenty of us that played, no lines, two post (only one with a net) but yet it was so fun! Not to mention our cute, young, British studies professor played with us


Thursday-Tonight: Tonight we meet our Meet-a-Family. Laura and I are sharing a family so far we know their names are John and Jenny and are about young grandparents’ age.  Meet-a-Family is a way for us to really connect with the town of Grantham as well as the locals. It also gives us a change to feel a little bit more at home. Most families have their students over for dinner and invite them into their home often, some will even take them on weekend trips or out to show/dinner. The school will be hosting a "smart dress" dinner with extravagant food and wine again. John and Jenny e-mailed us telling us to bring our "dairies" planner to set up a dinner at their place. Late in the year Laura and I plan on making them some of Laur's famous tator-tot-hotdish... a Minnesota classic!


Friday: Like I mentioned earlier a group of 12 or so of us are jumping on a train and headed to Scotland for the weekend!


Overall Monday-Thursday are pretty regular around here at the manor, you find yourself forgetting you live in one of the greatest places in the UK. I find myself getting homesick during these days. Skype has seemed to help with this but it’s still not the same. I had the chance to Skype with my mom last night/ day for her for 40 minutes and I loved it.


Oh P.S the food here at the manor is bad, bad, bad too, just thought you would want to know

The City of Old and New: London

It’s taken me a few days to recuperate from the weekend but let me tell you London was like no city I have been before. I could spend hours trying to explain to you the details and post all 108 pictures from this weekend (yes I somehow managed to take 108 photos in a mere three days) but it still wouldn’t capture my weekend.

London was one of the three trips I signed up with through the school (Paris and Italy being the other two). We arrived in London around 9:30, three couch buses strong. After a long two and a half hour drive we were ready and anxious to hit the town. A group of about eight of us spent a lot of the night walking around town seeing what it had to offer. We found a club and after working our magic into not having pay cover (or as Laura would say we walked into liked VIP) we found ourselves a table in the back room and safe and drank and chatted for hours just getting to know each other. While at the club we set up a pub club for the following night ran by a few local guys (which will be explained late no worries for it was the best idea we came up with yet!) We called it a somewhat early night for we knew we had a fun filled few days head.

Friday began with Laura and I getting ourselves lost on the tub/underground. We ended up getting on the wrong train but luckily we were able to hop on the very next train and arrive at our tour of the tower of London only fifteen minutes late but still in time to catch up with our group. The tour of the tower of London relayed perfectly to what we are currently studying in our British Studies class, it was a neat experience to be able to see and visit sites that I have been reading about in a textbook. It was while on this tour I experience the real education benefits of studying abroad. While at the tour of London we were able to walk through different buildings, one in which held all the royal jewels including crowns of past Kings, Queens, Princes, and Princesses, as well as various rubies and diamonds. The second building we toured was the actual tower of London itself; which was full of armor and guns and anything needed for battled. Grandpa you would be in heaven.

After the tour of London Laura and I walked the whole day. We walked all over the pier at Westminster seeing street performers and parks. We had lunch in a little outdoor sandwich shop. Afterwards we went to the Tate Modern Museum as well as Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and St. Paul’s Cathedral. We attempted to shop but we were to exhausted from the days activities (Shocking I know but have no fear we have a separate girls shopping trip to London already in the making). After a much needed power nap we got ready for the night life. We had dinner at the local pub and watched soccer, let me tell you watching soccer at a pub in England just brings a whole new level enjoyment to the game. After that it was all about the pub crawl. On this crawl a group of fifteen or so paid ten pounds and was led to four different clubs and received a free drink at each. It was an amazing night that will go on the list of top nights here in Europe.

The next morning was an early one as well. Eight of us rose up early enough to catch the changing of the guards at Beckham Palace. Unfortunately it wasn’t early enough and we were among the hundreds and thousands of other people that turn out for the event. Thank goodness for the voom on my camera! We decided it’s something we’re going to have to attend again and go extra early so we can get a good seat. Afterwards we walked around town and hit up Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster abbey, and The London Eye. We then took the tube again over to Camden Park which was a very artsy town (and by artsy I mean body art of tattoos and piercings. It was also a place added for our shopping trip for the street barraging was amazing. By the end of the day we had a relaxed night. We went to a pizza restaurant and had pizza and wine and sat around and chatted for hours.

Sunday was another and final full day. As a school we took the buses to Hampton Court Palace in which Henry VII and William III lived. It was an amazing Palace was details that top the manor, as well as gardens that are like nothing I have ever seen before. The bus ride home although long was much needed for the nap time. My feet killed by the end and I was exhausted but I would do it all over again I have fallen in love with London.

My first week as a Harlaxton Lion

    It’s been a few days while I last posted, so I’ll try and bring you up to date. I am completely settled in my room and everything thing like that. Monday through Thursday I am a regular college student with class and reading and papers that I sometimes find myself forgetting I’m in this amazing place… silly right?!

    Laura, Veronica, Danielle (my roommate) and I went exploring through the castle this week. We found secret passage ways that lead to different rooms and floors. These passage ways are built to look identical to the wall; you would never guess it’s a door until up close. Because of this exploring that I think I became familiar the castle and made it feel more like home.

    Throughout the week veronica, Laura and I have been running through the paths that surround the grounds as well as the driveway and sidewalks. Our goal is to run a 10K while we’re here (keep your fingers crossed). It was just yesterday that we attempted to check out bikes to take into town, all the bikes were gone so we walked 4.5 miles into town. It has been perfect weather here so we have been taking full advantage of that.

   It was while in town that Laura, Veronica and I purchased our rail pass. It’s a student pass that allows up to get 1/3 of our train tickets each time we use it, ultimately paying for itself after three rides. Now for the exciting part… travel! We have booked our flights to Oktoberfest!!!!! We are going to Oktoberfest the opening weekend (September 17-19). Before arriving we booked our hostel and lucky upon meeting veronica she was able to book with the same hostel. Other trips planned we have is the London trip in which we leave for today!!!!!!! We are taking this trip through the school, which many students do. So check in sometime next week to hear all about it.

   We have hit some bumps around the way with traveling which we hope we’ll slowly fade as we become experts on finding books and with getting around. We have found that flying for anywhere is not as cheap as some had told us, we have also found it to be frustrating with matching up flight times to train times and working around our class schedule, to the point where booking have become almost like a game to us where we try and find the cheapest cost.

    A few Final notes:

          •Skyping is my new found love! I have it on pretty much anytime I’m in my room. In case you want to find me on there my skype name is Candace. Solheim

          •Yesterday was my parents 25 wedding anniversary just want to wish them a very happy anniversary I had the chance to skype with them yesterday and loved seeing their smiling face. P.S. Dad good pick on the flowers their beautiful!

          •Finally this weekend while I’m in London my heart and prayers with be in Minnesota. The annual MDA telethon is going on and all my family friends and family will be on Saturday night. Please turn on the tv, call in and pledge and make sure you look for cute ol’ Stevie and all the red shirts, the ladies worked hard on. I’m sad I’ll miss it but count me in for next year!

Until next time I love you and miss you dearly!

*The picture you see are of the castle with in

Veronica and I then Laura and I before our walk into town

And finally the castle fromthe driveway take on our walk