Who Thought This Was A Good Idea?!

So far, England has not done much to facilitate sleep for me, but as a result I am writing much more. Maybe that's why there are so many great English authors. Nobody else can sleep here either! I joke. But it's true that here I am writing when I should be sleeping. This unfortunately has been the norm since I've been in England. At first I attributed it to adjusting to the time difference, but after 2 full weeks I'm not sure what's going on. Ah, well, on to the exciting update for the week.

I really wanted to take a trip this weekend. It's going to be getting cold soon, and I wanted to take advantage of the good weather. I thought about going to Ireland, but a ferry ride to Ireland is a bit pricey for only a day long visit. I thought I'd save that for another longer weekend. Instead, I decided I wanted to go exploring in the Cotswolds. Basically the Cotswolds are a couple of towns with a bunch of old iconic country cottage houses (some cottages still have thatched roofs!) and lots of cute small village sorta stuff in them. I booked a bed in a hostel in Stow-on-the-Wold, a lovely Cotswold town, and settled on biking as my transportation there so I could explore with my bike once I arrived. Stow-on-the-Wold is a good 28 miles from Oxford, but I was up for a challenge. Who knew what a challenge it would be! I didn't think 28 miles would be unbearable, but I forgot to take into account the fact that the English country side is basically all hills. Steep hills. Still doable for the first couple miles until I started seeing things that I wasn't supposed to...

This lovely sight was one of the many that I came across that I wasn't supposed to. In other words, I took a couple of wrong turns. I added a nice 2 mile detour into my already painfully long journey, but thankfully the scenery wasn't terrible. On this small, rural back road, however, I became unhappily aware that I didn't even know what road I was on! I had already turned around a couple times (sometimes that meant going up a large hill I had just coasted down...ugh) that I couldn't bare to go on any more til I knew where I was. I stopped at a farm and waited outside the gate in hopes that I'd catch glimpse of someone to ask for directions. To my relief, a nice looking elderly English woman came out to her garden to do some picking. (Her little dogs didn't like me being there very much...I don't think she was very keen either...). I explained my predicament and she directed me in the way I wanted to go. I had actually been heading in the right way, but it felt good to be sure of it. It wasn't long til I got back to the main road, and I was so happy when I did. That, of course, was before I knew what was in store for me next. Turns out that google maps thinks a 50 mph road with no sidewalk is an appropriate place to bike. When there was a sidewalk, it was either overgrown with all sorts of thorned shrubbery or so small and so close to the road that there was more danger of falling off of it into the road! Needless to say, I took much precaution on that stretch of the road which only added more time to my long journey. I started off walking my bike through the grass on the sides of the road, but it was so thick with thistles and stinging nettles that I eventually gave up and took my chances with riding in the road. Thank God for His protection. I was praying quite a lot down that highway...

After what seemed like forever, I finally made it all in one piece to my exit off the highway at the town of Enstone. I was greeted by a couple of horses in a field right along the sidewalk and finally felt my spirits lifted. I biked through town and turned onto a beautiful country road where I decided I would stop for a rest and a bite to eat. I leaned up against an old stone wall and looked out at the beautiful scenery around me.

This was the view to my left. That's the wall on the left.

Hoping that the apple I ate was a super apple and would give me the energy I needed to make it the rest of the way, I hopped back on my bike and continued through the beautiful hilly countryside. It wasn't always fun to bike through, but it was undeniably gorgeous.

And there were more sheep!! Basically, they're my favorite :)

 After what seemed like days of biking, exhausted and ready to collapse, I found myself in the charming little town of Stow-on-the-Wold. I couldn't wait to get my bed at the hostel and rest my miserable legs. I found the place without too much difficulty and parked my bike. I waited in line at the reception desk with all those feelings of joy you get when you've made it home after a long journey. Unfortunately, those feelings didn't last long. As soon as I gave the lady at the desk my name, I knew there was something wrong. "Ohhhh.... You're Maria?" You could hear the hesitancy in her voice as she got ready to break the news to me. The bed I booked? Well, due to processing complications on the computer, it was already booked by someone else. There was no bed. There wasn't one room in the entire place. I had a little Mary and Joseph moment. I almost asked if they had a stable... but I refrained. It was all too ironic for me to be upset, so I just went into town in attempt to find a room - any room - for the night. Most of the hotels required you to book friday and saturday night and nothing was cheap. How terribly miserable. I went to check out one hotel called the Old Stocks Hotel, and I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't. When I entered, the manager came out to meet me and asked what I needed. I said a room since the youth hostel turned me out. He regretfully informed me he was also full, but when he found out I was alone (and obviously not from around there), he told me he'd make a few calls and take care of me. He was so incredibly kind, asking me if I was upset or scared and telling me not to worry. He talked to a few of his innkeeper friends and arranged for me to rent a room for one night and at a discounted price nonetheless!

While that was all being worked out, I decided I wanted a good, full meal to revive me after my long journey. I went into the bar area and told my kind innkeeper friend that I'd like to have dinner before I left. He sat me down in the ordering/waiting room (yah, it was a different room than the actual dinning room - So fancy!) at a little table by a lovely fireplace and offered me something to drink. "Will it be 'just water' since you're American?" he asked teasingly as the other English couples in the little room chuckled. I impressed them by ordering a pear cider (which is by far my favorite drink that I've tried). 

It was such a cool atmosphere. The other couples waiting for their orders to be ready (like this couple that I creeped a picture of) just sat quietly unless the innkeeper spoke to them. He made jokes, and they all laughed together. They seldom said or did anything other than interact with the innkeeper. They just sat. And stared. And every once in a while they'd chuckle or whisper something to their partner. They were so English. It was adorable. I sat sipping my cider being warmed by the fire, body and soul, and reading a bit of Oliver Twist. It was magnificent. The meal was very satisfying also!

When all was said and done, I ended up in a hotel just down the street from the Old Stocks. It was a lovely inn called The White Hart. The innkeeper there was also so kind and gladly answered all my questions and was more than generous in his business transactions. He even took the extra care to give me a room with a view. When he showed me up to me room (Oh yah, he didn't just give me a key and throw me upstairs, he showed me the way. I love English propriety), he opened the door and asked me if it was alright. If it wasn't, he said, he'd find me another one I liked better. Really? I was already paying $40 less than the normal customer and I was breaking the "Friday and Saturday Night booking" rule, but he was so kind. And he didn't have to worry about me not liking my room, when he opened the door, I think I literally gasped in delight. It was so beautiful!

Here's a picture to give you an idea of the room, but it really doesn't do it justice. The bed was ridiculously comfortable and that purple throw at the end of the bed was heaven, silky and fuzzy all at the same time! Oh my, it was wonderful. Even the bathroom was fantastic.

Check this out, there was a towel warmer!! What?! I put my pajamas on there for after my shower. It was too fantastic.    

The window seat was one of my favorite parts. I wish I could have stayed there all day sitting on those rose cushions reading me a little Picture of Dorian Gray. But alas, my journey had to continue.

This was one of the Main Streets

I went into town which was adorable and explored all the different shops and boutiques. Stow-on-the-wold is famous for its antiques so I also explored several of the antique stores.



One of them had a whole display of antique books. Poets like Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Longfellow, Rossetti, the Brownings, Milton, basically anything you could dream of. I bought a little book for £5 that was (as the shop keeper phrased it) a literary curiosity. The book had "Mrs. Browning" engraved into the leather on the front, which made one think it would be some Elizabeth Browning poems, but on the inside were quotes from Wordsworth. Crazy stuff. It was just quirky and beautiful enough to compel me to buy it. And the antique shop lady was so English and very friendly. Ah it was lovely.

Momma, he reminded me so much of Zio Nino!

Also, call me a creep, but I couldn't help myself from taking some pictures of beautiful English people I saw. On the right, this beautiful english woman was walking into a store in front of me, and she was just too precious not to get a picture of her. Literally, this is how I imagine all elderly English women. And on the left, this cute old man was just hanging out around the main square. So cute!

 The town was lovely, and after exploring as much as I could, I decided to get directions to my next destination for the day—Kingham, the place of my salvation. Aka, the place where there was a train that could take me and my bike back to Oxford. Thank God for not having to bike back. I would've died.





I got directions from the adorable old Englishman at the information station and said good-bye to the little town around 2 in the afternoon. Kingham was 5 miles away, and I wasn't catching a train until around 8 so I hoped to frolic through the countryside a bit and enjoy the beautiful sunny weather. Ah, what a treat that was! After leaving the hustle and bustle of the town, I came across a "public footpath," as they call it, into a large open field. Really, these footpaths are no more than grassy areas somewhat patted down along the edge of fields. (I've experienced these before)

 I locked my bike up on a fence near the entrance to the field and journeyed out to find a place for lunch. The whole place was gorgeous. The sun was shinning, the wind was blowing. The grass was green and the hills beyond, magnificent! These bright red flowers were so cool. The only color other than green and brown for miles around. A sea of green as far as the eye could see and this spark of fire popping out of no where! Beautiful.

I sat down leaning against my backpack with this as my view. Oh it was glorious! I put on some appropriate background music (a little fiddle and guitar by the band Notorious, compliments of Matthew) and ate my delicious lunch. I couldn't help but dance around a bit in the field. It was like being a main character in a folk story. Exceptional.

Just chillin' in the grass!

Bread, cheese, cucumber. What else?

               

Oh so delicious...

This was the 'path' I took to get to my lunch spot

     
     

Well, after my exquisite lunch break, I peddled on with all the happiness in the world possessing me. Almost the entire trip to Kingham was downhill, and thank goodness because I don't think my poor legs could have done anything else. I let my bike go as fast as it wanted to down some hills (against my better judgment) and I spent the rest of the afternoon in mirth and uncontainable joy. I'm so blessed.

This was a beautiful drive way up to a farm that I passed. It was too gorgeous to deny its getting its picture taken. Pictures out of a storybook....

And then I came to the town of Bledington which I had to pass through to get to the train station. There were more quaint little village houses, and then, what I had been so longing to see....







A thatched roof cottage! And what more, it was called "The Rose Cottage"—my favorite.

I was certain I was in a fairytale at this point!

Then there were more sheep!! Ahh! I just love sheep so much! These were even the ones with black legs and heads, which in my opinion looks cooler than just all white. I was dying of happiness.

I made it to Kingham and found the train station with plenty of time to kill. I road up the darling little main road to explore. I found a beautiful, old church that I hoped to go in, but the doors were locked so I continued on into the town. It was such a cute town. After a bit of looking around, I decided it was time for a drink. I stopped at a place called the Tollgate Inn for a nice pear cider.

Oh, it was delightful. I sipped my cider and read some more of the Picture of Dorian Gray. The day was perfectly sublime. And it wasn't even over yet! I changed into warmer clothes and headed back out to the countryside.

On my way to the town, I had seen this beautiful field and decided that after my drink I would return here to recline against the trees in the middle of the field and play me some penny whistle. So, I did just that! I sat against the tree in the sunshine and reveled in the beauty of life.

             

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork - Psalms 19:1 

The view was breathtaking!

(Look, Momma, it was even your favorite kind of sky—the sun only shining through the clouds in a few glittering beams.)







It got a bit chilly after a while so I got up and walked around the field to keep warm. I found a gate opening up to another field and in the middle of that field was a big tree with a tire swing! How delightful! I swung for a while until I decided that tire swings are much more fun when you have people to swing with. The day had been extraordinary, but I began longing for the company of my friends so I made my way back across the fields (singing Sound of Music as I went, naturally) towards the train station.

I got myself and my bike on to the train with no problems at all and sat down to finish the rest of my bread and cheese for dinner. It was so relaxing and the thought of being back with my friends within such a short time made me content beyond words. I made it back to my dorm safe and sound and entered the common room right as they were getting ready for movie night. I was greeted with shouts of welcome and relief at my survival. I was overwhelmed by the love I felt for these new friends of mine. I'm blessed beyond words. What a weekend it was!


So now, send me letters :)

Adventuring in Very New Territory

One of my favorite parts of going to a new place is exploring. Since I’ve been at Oxford, I’ve done quite a bit of it! Today was supposed to be a field trip to London. Many of the SCIO people went and spent the entire day in the city. I was going to go… but when I woke up this morning at 7:20 I decided I wanted a day filled with a bit more solitude (and at least 2 more hours of sleep!). I didn’t have much of a plan when I got up, but I soon decided I wanted to take a bike ride down the Thames river. For all of you who aren’t from England and probably don’t understand English pronunciation (it’s ok, join the club) the river’s name is pronounced “Tems,” like “them” without the h. Fun history lesson - because I’m at Oxford - they pronounce it “Tems” because King George the first had a thick German accent and couldn’t pronounce it the way it’s spelled. They changed it since you can’t very well correct the pronunciation of a king! And there you go.

So today I decided I’d explore the banks of the Thames, and I’m ever so glad I did. I ended up going about 7 miles up the river making it a lovely 14 mile bike ride there and back. This wouldn’t have been very fun or exciting had it been like any other bike ride I’ve been on; however, it was not. It was the most incredible bike ride I’ve ever taken. I rode along the banks on the Thames national foot path. It’s a national pathway so you would assume that it’s going to be a nice path right? Wrong. I don’t know how they can even call it a path because sometimes it was just some grass that had been smushed due to all the walkers and bikers. And if there was a path, it was only big enough for a big wheel!

Here’s an example of the patted-down-grass path

But who could complain with scenery like this? Every once in a while there was a real path. And that was a special treat :)

Something else that made the ride very interesting was that it took me through a couple different pastures. Namely, cow and sheep pastures. And there were herds of these animals just kinda chillin’ along the side of the path. I’m riding along and then, boom! There’s a cow! (That dirt you see in the picture is the path). And the funny thing is, nobody seems to care or notice! They just walk or ride on by without a single thought to the giant cow that’s hanging out right next to the path. This is a crazy place this England. But it’s beautiful and the animals just made the ride even more exciting.

Something else I love about England is their vegetation. They have flowers and fruit everywhere! I stopped and ate some of these blackberries. Check out the thorns on that thing. Crazy!

And don’t worry, for those of you who are worried about me eating wild fruit, I didn’t die. And I didn’t get sick. Look how happy I look! (I took this picture for you, Momma. I know how you don’t like when I just take scenery pictures without faces!)

I continued on my journey after a brief berry break and soon came upon a castle type looking building. It turns out it used to be a nunnery called the Godstow Nunnery. Only part of the outer wall still stood, but it was magnificent just the same. 

Another One for You, Momma!

The next part of the adventure involved sheep. LOTS of sheep! And there were no fences keeping the sheep off the path or pedestrians away from the sheep, so naturally, I parked my bike and frolicked out to meet the sheep.

And...they got in a queue and began to run away. According to one of the leaders of the program, English people have this thing about forming queues (aka lines). Basically they can and will make a queue anywhere at any time for anything. These English sheep were just falling in line, I guess! Pun very much intended :)

This was the sheep that stopped to look at me when I got my penny whistle out and started playing to them. I was hoping that would break the ice so I could get close enough to pet one, but they continued to run away. Except this one who stopped to stare at me for a while… and then ran away. I was really hoping that I could sit with them for a while, but they wouldn’t let me get close enough. Sad day. But still awesome!

I was pretty excited about being so close to them :P

Here’s a nice example of the “bike path” which led right into the flock of sheep. You can kinda see the Thames off on the right. This particular bike path was complete with LOTS of sheep poo. That was fun... 

Oh yah, and sometimes the tiny bike-wheel-size path led me through thick woods. I had to pull my legs up repeatedly to avoid the blackberry bush thorns and whatever else which was sticking right out into the path. That was exciting! There was one stretch of woods that reminded me very much of Sherwood forest. It was all shrouded in intertwined trees which blocked out all sunlight. A perfect place for Robin Hood to ambush the rich! (And don’t worry, Mum, I took special care to ride back through when it was still light, and I, of course, had my knife handy).

I passed some breathtaking scenery and wished I could go on forever. However, I started realizing how tired I was (and I may have fell into a thorn bush...), so I eventually turned back. Before I left the banks of the Thames, I decided I wanted to find a spot to have my delicious dinner of bread, cheese, and cucumber! At that point I had been riding since 11:30 in the morning (it was a full day!) and on my ride, I kept seeing people swimming in the river. I didn’t realize you could swim in it, but it was pretty clean so I suppose why not? I had felt the water earlier in the morning, and it was really cold! But by dinner time after riding all day and getting nice and hot, the water was looking mighty inviting. Of course, I didn’t have my bathing suit on me, but what do details like that matter on an adventure up the Thames??

I decided I wanted to go swimming before dinner, and I would go even if it meant swimming in my underwear! Crazy, right? Hey, I’m only at Oxford once. So I picked a good swimming spot (which had a little cleft in the foliage where I could change my clothes without being seen) and jumped into the water. It was freezing! But so refreshing and wonderful.

 I didn’t stay in long because it was so cold, but I did stay in my little spot for a while. I got out my dinner and ate on this little grassy knoll in the sunshine while looking out onto the Thames and the moors beyond it. It was like something out of a novel! Except for the part when a fluffy white dog came up and jumped on me trying to get my food… but I was so much at my leisure I didn’t even mind.

 Overall, it was a most splendid outing. I think one of these days I'd like to bike down the Thames towards London and see what I find there. There's so much to explore and so little time. Speaking of which, I must be off to work on my paper that's due this week. Work is certainly not in short supply these days, but neither is wonder and excitement. What a beautiful balance of work and play! I think I could get used to this... :)

Also, seriously, send me letters. It's my favorite!!

Sometimes Dreams Do Come True

So, I’m not so great at blogging which I’ve mentioned in my previous entries, but I’m starting a new adventure this year and I figure this is the most efficient way to keep people updated back in the states. Yah, I can say that because, well, I’m not in the states. For this school year, I am studying at Wycliffe Hall which is one of the many private halls of Oxford University located in Oxford, England. (How is that real life????) Fun side note, Wycliffe Hall is actually the very same school at which C.S. Lewis studied when he was a student at Oxford. Right down the street is the Eagle and Child pub which the Inklings (Lewis, Tolkien and friends) often frequented. While I’m here, I will be studying English Language and Literature as well as Creative Writing. Sometimes life is really cool.

To give everyone who wants it an update, I arrived in London on Friday, August 31st, where I quickly found myself having to scramble for the key to the convoluted world of public transit. (I’m sure it wasn’t really as hard as it felt, but I had only slept 2 or 3 hours...) Without ever having to ask for directions, I eventually found myself at the coach station (bus stop, that is) where I met up with my dear friend Rachel. Quite honestly, I don’t know Rachel all too well though I like her thoroughly and would like to know her more, but she certainly is my dear friend because she was the only person in all of England whom I knew at the time of my arrival. Talk about bonding! Rachel and I ventured out to find the blessed vehicle which would take us to our new home in Oxford.  We got our bags packed onto the coach and informed the driver where we wanted to get off without looking too much like ignorant Americans. (Actually, it was thanks to Gordon that I knew how to pronounce my stop! Gloucester, like in MA, is pronounced Gloster. Hurray for not feeling silly for incorrect pronunciation!) The ride was lovely as well as the company and conversation. Rachel got off a few stops before me, and I rode the rest of the way in silence and awe at the reality of my situation. Oxford is a breathtakingly beautiful place, and it’s so alive! So much life that I get to discover while I’m here. I can’t wait to explore the city more.

The last part of my journey was a nice short taxi ride from Gloucester Greens to Wycliffe Hall during which the charming taxi driver gave me the up and up about the city while addressing me as “love” (But you know, the British way which kinda sounds like loove. So great!) When I arrived at my new home I was greeted by my wonderful jr. dean (R.A. type fellow), Geoff. He is awfully kind and was very welcoming. I was showed to my room (I have my very own!) which is a little hole in the wall and everything I could have ever wanted. Seriously, it’s like my ideal room. Here’s a little picture of it although the picture doesn’t really do it justice. I also have an entire 2 door wardrobe all to myself AND a bed stand with a reading lamp! It’s so incredibly wonderful.

When I first arrived, I looked out the window to the beautiful backyard which my room overlooks and there were 2 magnificent blue jays playing in the yard. It was all too much like my very own fairytale.

Since then I met the incredible group of students that are also in the program. (The program is called SCIO - Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford). They are all so kind and friendly. I’m certain it will be wonderful spending more time with them. Yesterday we spent the day with orientation type things and walked over to the other SCIO house where other students are staying. It’s a large mansion type house with a spacious backyard. We had a delightful BBQ (which in England has nothing to do with BBQ sauce and everything to do with cooking outside on a grill). There were some people playing croquet, some playing bocce, and many of us lounging around in the grass engaged in lovely conversation. It felt all to much like being in a Jane Austin novel, except that the students in the program don’t have accents. Some of us pretended for a while. That was amusing! When we all returned from our outing (6 HOURS of socializing. Mer.), I was exhausted and hoped to have a quiet dinner to read, but several of the other people staying at Wycliffe decided to eat together so I joined them and I’m ever so glad I did. We had such wonderful discussion about common theological debates and social controversies. We were each so open to hear what the other had to say, and although we didn’t always agree, we respected each other for our different views and listened attentively to the ideas being shared in hopes to learn something new. It was wonderful. It was so Good. After our discussions began to heat up a bit, to be iconic, we decided to continue our conversation over a pint at the Eagle and Child. (Lewis would have been proud!) Unfortunately the pub was incredibly full and there were no tables, so we just went to another pub, The Lamb and Flag (these pubs have very interesting names…) which was conveniently right across the street. We sat in the back and discussed and laughed and teased and lived. It was such a beautiful moment of enjoying life together. I am blessed.

Today was Sunday, so this morning I attended a contemporary Anglican church. It was so interesting to see the historic building on the outside turned into a modern church on the inside. It was a beautiful service. Although, I have to admit, it was a bit hard to understand the pastor sometimes. He had such an interesting accent which sorta combined African with French with English. I swear a few times he was not speaking English. But hopefully I’ll get used to the accents soon.

After church I decided to take a long time coming home and go exploring. I discovered Oxford’s covered market which a friend of mine told me about, and I went and had my first meat pie. I was a bit hesitant about the idea of a steak and kidney pie, but oh my word! It was delicious! I was pleasantly surprised. I also went down and found where the Oxford Swing Dancing takes place. :) Such a fantastic city. I went into a few shops and simply walked around. It was wonderful.

We had afternoon tea earlier with all the students in the program. I don’t actually like tea (I know, studying in England and not to like tea? A sin!), but I’ve been attempting to learn. They naturally have the tea of all teas here (PG tips that is) so I’ve been drinking it and not hating it. Hopefully I’ll grow to like it more. We also had ‘scones’ which are much more like the biscuits that Americans eat with gravy at breakfast. We paired those with clotted cream, which is surprisingly delicious despite its name, and strawberry jam. MmmMmm!

I think some people stayed in the common room for a much longer time than I did, but after 6 hours of socializing yesterday, I was in serious need for some alone time. I decided to retreat to my room and decorate a bit. As you can see, I created my picture wall and hung up my beautiful Italian flag which my darling older brother provided for me! Feels more like home now.  

Well, that’s about all I have to update right now. Tomorrow starts our program so that means more orientation and the beginning of work. Call me crazy, but I can’t wait to start school work. It will be so great. 

Oh! Also, send me letters! :) My address here is:

Maria Constantine

SCIO

8 Norham Gardens

Oxford, OX2 6QB

United Kingdom

Sometimes We're Awesome

So, I realize I have an issue with consistency. I really like to do a lot of things, but I have trouble keeping up with them all. Clearly, blogging has been among the things I have started this year and failed to be consistent with. Ah well. C'est la vie. At some point I may update my blog with all the different adventures that I've had here at college, but I have to write a paper tonight so for now I'm writing just a short post. Today's post is about a new hobby I have discovered I enjoy. That is, film making.

For one of my classes (Arts in Concert), I was put in a group and told to do something creative and then present it. Basically, being creative is my favorite thing to do in the world, so I knew right away that this project would be fantastic. My wonderful group and I decided we wanted to try to make a music video. And not just any music video, but a parody of a music video. We racked our brains to find the perfect song and finally settled on Taylor Swift's Love Story. We started writing and before we knew it, we had what we now call "Gordon Love Story" about a creep who pursues an unsuspecting girl during freshmen year at college. We wrote and recorded the song, hired a few brilliant actors, and before we knew it, our masterpiece was complete. I was able to pretend to be a director and a videographer, and I can't even begin to explain how much fun I had! The video came out exactly as I imagined, and I'm so thankful for everyone who helped out.

And now.... without further ado....the moment you've all been waiting for... For your viewing pleasure.... I give to you....(drum roll please).... Gordon Love Story!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jtm7frkyq05snah/Gordon%20Love%20Story.mov