Journal

Listed below are some of my many journal entries and general
thoughts about my stay in England. . . . some personal
thoughts on our numerous trips, class, and the experience
overall. I felt the need to share this in hopes that it
would inspire others to take such a wonderful journey.

-Kim Halvorson

Tuesday, July 2, 2002

I'm in flight right now. Just left the Bismarck airport enroute to Minneapolis, then to London. Lots of mixed emotions and a rush of excitement. Got my music to keep me calm plus a window seat!! Well, might as well go back and start from the beginning. . . .
A classmate had recommended going on this trip and right away I thought there would be no possible way to pull it off. Too much work involved for the time that allowed. But for some reason, this wacky idea would not leave me alone. I finally looked into getting financial aid and was approved. The president of the university generously gave us a travel scholarship to pay for our plane tickets. I also had to deal with endless paperwork and getting my passport. With some money saved and donations coming from my family, I was ready to go.

Thursday, July 4, 2002

Happy 4th of July!! Except I'm in another country that doesn't observe it, but out of respect for us, the college is giving us a welcoming banquet and celebration. . . .very kind of them to do that. The time change is a bit hard to adjust to, but all the excitement has been keeping me awake.
Went on a walk after breakfast with Marcy and took LOTS of pictures. Everything from my room and the college, to all the animals and scenery. It almost feels like I'm just in another state, not another country! It hasn't hit me yet that I'm in England! It's just beautiful here!
The food here isn't too bad. I'm such a picky eater but decided to be very open-minded about new possibilities. I've tried some new things or a slightly different version of something.

Wednesday, July 10, 2002

Had a break from class for tea time and I tried the coffee! Had to put some milk and lots of sugar in it, but not bad. Made it to the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford today, then we went to the RSC for Antony and Cleopatra. I enjoyed it more than Much Ado about Nothing. I'm always a sucker for love stories and the stage was beautiful; lots of vibrant colors, usually in the Eygptian scenes, but not so much the Roman ones.

Class Notes

I'd never taken a summer course, so wasn't sure what to expect. Some days were long and hard, but it was worth it. I learned so much about Shakespeare and was glad to learn more about the non-typical plays that we studied. There was lots of reading and reviewing of several movies in order to prepare for the test as well as our presentations. Dr. Mason was an entusiastic instructor with much to teach us.

Excursions

We went to so many places during the course of our stay, that I probably can't mention them all. I absolutely loved London and would go back again for a visit. There is so much to see and do, but I would recommend taking a hop on, hop off bus tour as well as the boat tour. You get to see so much in a short time and it can be relaxing. I'd also recommend visiting the Hard Rock Cafe, Buckingham Palace, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, and taking in a musical.
We also went to a few castles, one in which scenes from Shakespeare in Love were filmed. Other ventures included the Cotswolds, Bath, Oxford, and many trips to Stratford. I even got to see Shakespeare's home and also his burial site at the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford.

Closing Notes

The overall experience is one I won't forget anytime soon. The culture, people, and places are astounding. After making this trip almost entirely alone, I'm not afraid to travel again. Travel is one of my passions and I only hope that others give it a try. There are so many things to experience in life and this ranks near the top!