A Thanksgiving to Remember

Every year, the English Speaking Union holds a formal Thanksgiving dinner at their headquarters in London for current scholars, alumni, and friends of the organization. You won't be surprised that I had been counting the days to this event-- after all, who doesn't love a trip to one of the largest and most culturally vibrant cities in the world? Despite regretting not spending the holiday with family as usual, I considered this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I could just not miss out on. So, I played hooky this past Friday and instead hopped on a train to stay in Great Britain's capital for the weekend.

Andrew, Bella, and Caitlin in the fancy chairs.

The (almost complete) group of all ESU scholars, looking spiffy.

The dinner itself was magnificent. After spending 5+ hours on a train (and more on a bus), I was grateful to have some good food and a chance to dress up a little. I met some new scholars and alumni, but also reunited with some old Culver friends-- Alice Dendy, Nate Vandevelde, Evan Fischer, and Alex Kerr-- which was undoubtedly the highlight of the trip. The ESU Debate Team made an appearance after dinner, igniting a lively discussion on the American Dream (which was, well, quite relevant in light of recent events).

 But the night wasn't over. Many pictures later, and of course after a bad rendition of the Culver Song from its alumni, a group of us decided to go to a bar in The Shard, a famous skyscraper in the heart of the city. It also must be said here that I was personally asked to show my ID not once, not twice, but three times, which was quite offensive. But it certainly was fun, just kids in the midst of millionaires, sharing £20 pound cocktails and enjoying the spectacular view of the city.

Apparently this is only the back of Buckingham Palace. That said, it's still Buckingham Palace.

Yes, that is a nose in the wall. There are 35 of them all over London, protesting the "nosiness" of the government. Heh.

The next day, Tricia, Evan and I got up early to catch a free walking tour of the city. Having never been in London, I enjoyed the opportunity to see as much as I could of the city and learn about its past. The tour did live up to our expectations, and then some: we were able to see Buckingham Palace, the real Nocturne Alley from Harry Potter, St. James' Palace, the Palace of Westminster, the London Eye, and so much more. The tour guide was hilarious, and also akin to a walking encyclopedia of British history. When we became cold and hungry, we diverged from the tour and treated ourselves to some delicious noodles.

Tricia, Evan and me in Trafalgar Square, the "center" of London.

The funny Canadian tour guide. 

It was excellent timing for the new movie "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" to be in theaters at the time when we were in London: what better place to see a Harry Potter movie (ironically, this one takes place in the US, but who cares)? So we made our way up to Piccadilly Circus to buy our tickets, but not before shopping shopping around a bit first. After a visit to the famous M&M's World and an outside Christmas market, we enjoyed an IMAX 3D showing of the film (which was indeed fantastic).

Four stories of chocolatey, crunchy goodness.

One fantastic Indian dinner later, we were content to wander slowly back to our hostel. However, inspired by the magic of the wonderful world of Harry Potter, a trip to the real Platform 9 and 3/4 was definitely in order. After Evan graciously took pictures of Tricia and me at the famous location, we spent a liberal amount of time inside the neighboring merchandise shop. It was quite a peaceful night, but that was what we wanted.

The next day, I was on a train back to Scotland, filled with gratefulness and happiness despite having caught a rather nasty cold. I hope that this will not be the last time in London, and now that I know more scholars based in England, I might very well plan another visit later in the year. It was so great to see some familiar faces, and I really felt a connection with the other scholars that came. But I'm also not forgetting my home in Indiana, and all those who made it possible for me to be here. Let's just say that this Thanksgiving, I couldn't be more grateful.

Rugby and Friends

After a long week of homework, test prep, and other scholarly obligations, what better way to wind down is there than enjoying a good sports game? That's what the boarding houses did here this weekend at Dollar, getting the privilege of witnessing the national Scotland rugby team take down Argentina at BT Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. The stadium itself seats 67,000 people, and really is a sight to see-- especially when watching a rugby game for the first time.

Team Scotland, preparing for their fight.

It was a chilly night, but the low temperature was balanced by the warm excitement around us from all the die-hard rugby fans. Scottish children proudly wore the Scottish flag--blue, with a white cross-- painted on their faces. The Scottish national anthem belted out from all directions. A performance from the "Red Hot Chili Pipers," complete with a rendition of "Don't Stop Believin'" on the bagpipes. Overpriced Fish n' Chips and beer sold on every corner, and a majority of men in kilts. If you think America is the center of sports nationalism, you may want to think again.

Bente and Una enjoying the game.

I'm not going to pretend that I know anything about rugby-- in fact, throughout the first half I was accidentally cheering for the wrong team (in my defense, both Scotland and Argentina have blue and white on their flags). One moment, the teams were lifting each other up like cheerleaders to catch the ball; the next, they were all interlocked together in what resembled a giant wrestling match. I could tell, however, that this particular game was more tense than usual. Fights between the players broke out frequently, much to the humor of us boarders. And as the game was tied in the last seconds of the game, the entire crowd was sitting on the very edge of their seats. 

The teams battling it out, cheered on by at least 60,000 fans.

Scotland did pull through in the end, much to our pleasure. The end score was 19-16, with a penalty shot just in the nick of time, and "I'm Gonna Be" by The Proclaimers (which seems to be the Scotland song, more so than the national anthem itself) blaring from the speakers. With our feet numb but our spirits high, we headed back to the bus home for some chocolate cake and a good night's sleep. 

All in all, I'm glad I went to the game. Yes, it was freezing, and I was generally clueless about the game, but it reminded me that I am living in a community  much larger than myself. I'm so glad to be part of a culture with so much pride and determination, not to mention a great sense of humor and fun. 

Work and Play

The countdown is on: less than 5 more weeks of school before Christmas Break. Not that anyone is waiting around, of course: life has been far from boring lately for anyone. I'm enjoying the lively spirit that is tangible here with so many exciting events occurring--inside the school and out. Students are abuzz with school projects and parties, of course, but also with the recent election results (more than a few of us, myself included, stayed up almost the whole night) and their implication on the world. As for me, I'm just glad to be busy again.

Three other Heyworth girls and I challenged ourselves this week by entering a Battle of the Bands competition held by the Yearbook Committee-- Anna on piano, Zuzana on violin, Henni as a lead singer, and me, of course, on my cello. We ended up earning second overall out of eight to a talented band who had written their own songs, which we all considered fair. I always enjoy proving people wrong, so when some people rolled their eyes at seeing "classical" instruments on the stage instead of drums or electric guitars, I took great satisfaction in the look on their faces when we started playing songs by Rihanna and The Weeknd. It really was something I want to remember for a long time to come.

I also experienced Karaoke for the first time this weekend with other boarders in Form 5 and 6 (and yes, in case you're wondering, I did belt it out to Queen). Plus, I have to say it was hilarious being sober while everyone ended up making fools of themselves after more than a few beers. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of any of these events, yet, but I will surely share them when they are available. Until then, I certainly won't be waiting around like I was in my last post. Here are some of the projects that are picking up speed for me these next few weeks.

In an extended Modern Studies assignment, I have chosen to explore the topic of compulsory voting and the impact it would have on the United States. Do not misunderstand me in thinking that I consider compulsory voting systems beneficial by any means-- in fact, I am arguing that it would threaten the United States' political system. I won't go into depth about my political beliefs here, especially so close to the election where raw emotions are still high for everyone. But I am passionate about the fact that the election turnout was a 20-year low: only about 55%. How can we call ourselves a representative democracy if just over half of the voting population participates? It has certainly been interesting to study the impacts a mandatory voting system has on countries around the world-- Belgium, Australia, and Brazil, to name a few. I will say that voting could be much easier for American citizens (even after some attempts to make it so, like the Moter-Voter Act, weren't all that successful). Not everyone who doesn't vote is apathetic or disaffected from the system. So maybe, say, a day off work or automatic registration would make the government a little more legitimate.

The other long-term project on my mind at the time is my geographical survey on the environmental safety and quality of Stirling, Scotland. For those of you that aren't up to date on Scottish geography, Stirling is a city about half an hour away from Dollar, and a favorite place for boarders to escape from the school. I chose the location originally as an excuse to get more of Gregg's to-die-for mochas, sure, but after some additional research I was curious to know if the city's pedestrianized center had an effect on people's experience of the city. After all, human geography is much more interesting to me than physical geography (sorry, all you soil-lovers). I've finished collecting most of the data needed for the report, which included taking pedestrian and traffic counts, decibel measures, and surveying people on their perception of the city. The latter was definitely the most terrifying and the most interesting, and offered perspective on much more than environmental quality. Speaking to local Scottish citizens on a personal level was a valuable, enriching experience, and I overcame my social anxiety every time I approached a stranger. Sure, most people declined to answer, but some encounters were quite unexpected. One intimidating-looking man I was particularly scared to approach ended up being one of the sweetest, kindest people I talked to that day. It's always nice to be pleasantly surprised, isn't it?

After Culver's heavy emphasis on process grades and homework, a shift to assignments being worth 40% of the overall grade is undoubtedly stressful. But it gives me a reality check for how college life will be, not to mention an effective motivation to work as hard as I can. Plus, I get to focus more in depth than ever on a particular issue, a studying method which I personally prefer. Either way, I'm enjoying the subject material in my classes while having fun outside of school, and that's all that matters.  everything else will sort itself out in time.

Another Reflection-- and Halloween

The leaves are turning colors, the hours of light are falling, and stores are already unpacking their Christmas decorations: winter is coming. Time is seeming to fly by, and I often forget to pause and assess the progress I have made in the past months (has it really been months??) here at Dollar. Soon enough, the first trimester will be over and I will be free for break--this time to Italy--which marks the first third of my entire gap year. It's a scary and somewhat bittersweet thought; part of me wants to stay here for a longer amount of time. This is all the more reason to consider what I have accomplished so far, in which areas I have struggled, and what I have in mind for the rest of the year abroad.

Heyworth House pumpkins. Ignore the one on the top left, because it is what it looks like.

No one can deny that I've had my fair share of bravery thus far on my journey. After all, jumping fully into an Advanced Higher Geography class is no easy task-- not to mention joining a boarding house with absolutely no familiar faces, or hopping aboard a plane to France and eating escargot. I would especially say that learning how to travel has been one of the most useful skills I have learned here, even though it was terrifying at first to buy a simple bus ticket to the nearby city of Stirling. I didn't realize how much planning it took: knowing the times of public transport, the cost, etc. I still have to console myself that it will all be okay: the train won't randomly change directions, and the bus has not left if I am 20 minutes early to the station. But it does take courage to go out on a limb, rising above the anxiety I may face. A few girls in the boarding house and I were especially brave recently, and entered into the annual "Battle of the Bands" contest taking place next week-- although we're playing the best band of the school in the first round, we love to make music together, so the crowd ultimately won't matter. All in all, I have done well in taking the chances I receive to jump out of my comfort zone as often as I can.

Some costumes were a little too realistic.

In addition to showing my bravery, I believe I have overall succeeded in proving myself both to my peers and to my adults here. In Harry Potter terms, the Ravenclaw in me has peaked a curiosity in the subjects I am taking, and provided a strong motivation to go above and beyond assigned schoolwork. In fact, I have (very thankfully) had the time to do some of my own reading lately in relation to my future college major: I just finished "Prisoners of Geography" by Tim Marshall, and am now making my way through "The J Curve" by Ian Bremmer. My book supplier and Politics/Modern Studies teacher, Mrs. Young, owns a plethora of this genre and is more than happy to loan them to me-- in exchange for only an interesting conversation about it later. On the more social side of things, I have been nominated to speak at the Remembrance Day Ceremony next week, along with a solo part in the next Chamber Choir concert. While I undoubtedly feel humbled by these opportunities, I cannot help but be glad that others are appreciating the hard work and respect I have for them.

I also discovered that apple bobbing is much harder than it looks.

Unfortunately, my experiences lately have not entirely been of sunshine and rainbows. After all, what would a foreign exchange be without some challenges to help me grow as an individual? Anyway, it is getting cold and dark here-- and fast. That certainly takes a toll on anyone's mood, and a constant reminder of the impending doom of winter. But that also means that the holidays are coming, which rebounds our spirits again. And although prelims are approaching soon and classes are supposed to be picking up the pace (academically speaking), I am finding myself with lots of free time on my hands. Each class in which I am enrolled poses little challenge to me at the moment, which can be frustrating, but I make the best of the situation by independent learning and reading, as mentioned above. But after a filled-to-the-brim senior year, a free period a day-- or even two on some days-- feels unnatural and even frustrating at times. I know that once I start my projects in Geography that I will have less time on my hands, but for now, I must settle for the simultaneous blessing and curse of free time.

The Hanging Donuts game. I sat this one out because it was just too fun to watch.

Another problem I have encountered lately is a more surprising one: homesickness. While I do feel at home in the boarding house, I must confess my persistent longing for the town I once thought I hated. There have been times where all I wanted was to share one more homemade dinner with my family around me, to be huddled up next to the fireplace in the Public Library reading The Week, or to see a concert series in Eppley Auditorium right next to the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee. This is the first time I have such a feeling: it's hard to miss home when it's within walking distance. But it's the little things-- the different placement of keys on a computer keyboard, the plugs on the walls, the different food-- that are constant reminders that I am still in a foreign country, thousands of miles away from where I spent my life until now.

Anna and Una being cute roommates.

But that's a minor issue compared to where I am now. I do love my classes, my friends, and the opportunities presented to me here. Home will always be there for me, especially when it is time for me to return. For now, I plan to continue being brave, working hard, and savoring the time I have here. My future goals are simple: keep my involvement in extracurricular activities, balance work with upcoming music obligations, and continue enjoying the company of the amazing people that surround me. And, of course, learn to enjoy free time. Everything else will work itself out.