I promise that I’m actually going to class while I’m in England. It might seem like I’m just having the time of my life (which I am), but I’m also going to school while I’m here.
But, lucky for me, like Ball State, University of Worcester believes in immersive experiences, which is why we get to take field trips every Wednesday. Last week, because we were still getting acquainted with the area, our field trip was in Worcester. Boogey, our guide, arranged for us to view different parts of the city so we could have a better understanding of our new home.
The first thing we did was go to the cathedral. It’s magnificent — there’s really no other way to describe it. It’s so old and costs over a thousand pounds a day to keep open, but it’s amazing. We were even able to climb up the highest tower to look out over the city. The walk up there was terrifying. It was a spiral staircase with over 200 steps that became narrower as we went higher. We were all significantly worried for Drew. He’s really clumsy and we were afraid he would accidentally harm himself in some way. (He only tripped on the last step, which is impressive because I witnessed him unintentionally beating himself up with an umbrella this afternoon).
The view from the top was breathtakingly gorgeous. I could see the entire city and it made me really appreciate how lucky I am that I get to stay here for the entire summer. There’s so much to learn about and experience: I want to take advantage of everything.
Most royalty is buried in Westminister Abbey, but a few kings happen to be buried in the Worcester cathedral. That was pretty cool to be able to see, especially because one of the kings was King John and I used to want to be Robin Hood. They also let us go in the crypt which was dark and big and terrifying. The word crypt just creeps me out too much to feel comfortable hanging out in one. The cathedral has a massive library collection of old books that were so impressive. All of them were hand written in gorgeous calligraphy and perfect penmanship. Some of them were so old they were written on calf skin because paper wasn’t yet invented. They really were beautiful. I don’t know who was more content: Chelsea, looking at old typography or Tommy, taking advantage of being four and laying face-down on the museum floor, listening to Disney music.
We had a super fancy lunch overlooking the canal. And, by super fancy, I mean super fancy. I was given probably ten forks and different sized spoons that I just looked at. I have pretty good table manners, but when it comes to proper ettiqutte, I’m lost. Even when it comes to normal behavior while eating, I fail. During breakfast last week, I accidentally used a serving spoon to eat my cereal. I didn’t even notice until Ryan made fun of me. So, I was basically a lost cause.
The three-course meal was good, but the most memorable part was definitely dessert. We were given the choice between cheesecake and a cheeseboard. The cheesecake was delicious. The cheeseboard was terrible. I’m not sure how it tasted because none of us could get over the smell. It literally smelt like a pile of manure and within ten minutes of receiving our desserts, everyone was trying to leave the room as fast as possible due to gagging. Definitely not an experience I’d like to have again.
After Drew asked me to smell his breath and I refused, we went to an old Tudor house to personally experience what all the homes used to look like. The entire street is just filled with old houses like this and it’s like stepping back into the past. It’s pretty surreal. They even had costumes for people to wear. It’s a toss up between me and Tommy on who found this most exciting.
I took off my outfit and we were given a tour of Guild Hall, which serves as Worcester’s city hall building. The mayor and his wife were so nice and gave us a tour of the entire building, including the dungeons. They even let us sit on the chair that Queen Elizabeth will use when she comes to Worcester this summer. They were just adorable; I loved them. They’re also really cool; apparently, there was some sort of party the night before and there was a ton of beer left over, so they let us drink it. I don’t know many people that can say they had beer and cookies with a mayor, but I can sure tell you that I love England.
That was the end of our official field trip, but we’ve been trying to immerse ourselves within the culture on our own time. Last Tuesday was Lee Anna’s birthday and England was playing a football match. A bunch of us went to Bushwacker’s to celebrate and watch the game. The energy there was incredible. You can really tell how passionate the people of England are about their team. It’s infectious. People at Bushwacker’s are generally just really enthusiastic. The night to go out here is on Monday’s and we went to Bushwacker’s. Don’t worry, we were just as enthusiastic as the locals.
I really am going to classes, too. For my British Sociology course, Chelsea, Michael and I are researching the Mods, a lifestyle group that originated in Britain. We might make a music video because I like to pretend to sing and Chelsea likes to play with all her cool photography apps on her iPhone. In Ryan’s British Media and Communication class, my group just started a project where we’re comparing the differences between American and British children’s media. Hopefully, this means that I can hang out with Tommy and watch Peppa Pig.
Everything about this trip is fun. I love that I can explore an old cathedral and then go to a bar inside an old cathedral. I love learning everything about another culture and way of life. I love feeling independent and grown-up. I love my new friends and all the experience we’ve had together and the memories to come. I’ve never been more sure that I’ve made the right decision by coming here. It’s a perfect summer.