Goodbye Harlaxton, Hello London!

The morning of our departure, I used the lift to lug my baggae downstairs. As it made its descent, the glorious sounds of Italian opera filled the air. The lovely gentleman at the reception desk told me that there is no better way to start the workday than with the sounds of Le Divo. What a perfect way to remember Harlaxton! We all had such a wonderful experience at the Manor. The staff went above and beyond to make our stay comfortable and to make sure all the library and computer resources were available for our use. As the coach pulled away from the front oval, we all turned for one last glance. Dave, being such a sensitive driver, took us for an additional go around so all on the coach could get one last glimpse at our unforgetable stay at the charming country manor! Parting is such sweet sorrow! A moment of sad silence fell over the coach as Harlaxton disappeared in the distance. I'm sure all of us will always cherish our visit. Fellow student, Alexis , shared a passage she wrote on the ride:

A plane ride so long and over 3000 miles away

Is a place named Harlaxton where many students do stay

When you pull to the manor all sleepy and tore

You can't help but be awakened by its beauty and allure

The staff comes to greet you, as if you were kin

With a warm British welcome, the castle begged us to come in

So many stairs to climb and windows to look out

We ran quick to our rooms so we could wander about

Big ballrooms and galleries in which you explore

Many stairwells and passages some that have hidden a door

Such a warm building for being so cold

What an amazing new experience for a structure so old

When our time here was over we packed up for home

My heart did ache to leave dear Harlaxton alone

Not sure when I will make it to see you again

Remember me Harlaxton, you are always a friend!

A few hours later, the country charm was replaced with the bustle of the big city traffic. For such a big city, London is clean, friendly, and relatively safe! We all checked into our European style hotel rooms and headed our separate ways to fulfill our "bucket list" of events!

For the majority of us, that trail lead us directly to the world famous British Museum! Right before our eyes, we experienced the awe of the Glgin Marbles, The Rosetta Stone and many ancient artifacts that have influenced the world!

Afterwards, our groups dwindled to even fewer amounts as some of us had particular preferences of sights to see - for either research or enjoyment purposes. I ventured onto the Underground and used the "tube" as my main sourse of transport. The subway system is used by the majority of Londoners to reduce the amount of traffic congestion in the city. It was very easy to use and was much like the Metro in Washington, DC. As a part of my research, I had the priviledge of interviewing native British Sign Language users!

When I rode the Tube back, I found some of my cohorts and we shared details from our mini-adventures. Most of us completed our check lists of sights, but were a bit let down to find some of the tours too lengthy of a wait to partake of. However, the opportunity to experience the people and culture of London was not disappointing at all!

Later in the evening, we all met for our trip to the theatre. Everyone looked absolutely dashing and felt a bit "posh" as we walked to the Donmar to see The Chalk Garden! Strolling through the westend Theatre districh was a must see sight! The night was filled with a fun atmosphere as we saw signage of famous plays throughout the district. We all agreed with the words of UE professor, Joe Flauto, and knew that we were "not in Kansas anymore!" Most of the theatre-goers were on foot, but aligning the streets, we did see our fair share of Mercedes, Bentleys, and Porsches that belonged to the real "posh" people.

The Chalk Garden by Enid Bagnold was a delight!

"The child's a flower. She grows in liberty."

An excerpt from the program reads:

Raised in a manor house beside the sea, where the flowers struggle to grow, sixteen-year-old Laurel runs wild. As her eccentric grandmother tends to the garden, Laurel's need for love forces her into a world of fantasy. But things begin to change iwth the sudden appointment of a governess who brings a mysterious new presence to an already dysfunctional household.

Upon leaving the play, we all excitedly discussed our opinions of the outstanding performance. Overall, reviews were in consensus - we loved it! A short walk lead us back to our hotels, where most of us retired for the evening with exhilarated exhaustion!

What a day - What an adventure!