Goodbye UK, Hello America

We landed in Atlanta on Friday and I wanted to recap the last couple of days of the trip in London. I would add pictures of my London adventures but I am unable to access them at the moment (sadly). By the end of the trip I realized that I enjoy the English, but even more the Scottish, countryside more than city life. The rolling green hills covered adorable fluffy sheep with their little babies.

London was a dense history filled city covered in bustling tourist, business and working class people. Much of what I saw were the main tourist attractions, like Westminster Abbey, the London Eye and various museums. I desired to escape the masses of tourists and was delighted on the last full day (with Abigail and Stacia) we went to an outdoor farmers market. It was the biggest outdoor farmers market that I have seen in a while, with a plethora of fresh foods. It was a sensory overload of a variety of smells, sights and sounds. Later on in our walk along the river we stumbled upon s few street performers, one man, Luke was writing stories. I couldn’t help but ask for one but ended up getting a poem instead. It was nice being able to speak with a person that wasn’t a tour guide or an employee of a hotel or restaurant. We talked about poetry and being a writer and it left me wrapping up my trip with a reignited desire to write. Despite the ups and downs on this trip, from climbing mountains to being swept away at Beachy Head, I am thankful for these experiences and glad I took this class.

Coping with Colonialism: A (Seriously) Edited Version of An Imperial History

Today we went on a slavery tour in Bristol and the feelings, thoughts and perspectives in this post have accumulated over the entirety of the trip. I have become confused and troubled about British perspectives on slavery and colonialism. I fear that I have repeatedly been informed that slavery really wasn’t that bad and that the legacy of such destruction, and inhumanity abruptly  stopped when England abolished slavery.On more than one occasion I have heard mention by a few guides a great emphasis on the fact that England abolished slavery before the US did, without a single mention to the fact that there were still British colonies that did not gain their independence till the 20th century. I appreciate the efforts of our tour guide today and understand that doing a slavery tour, as white person and a Englishwoman, is tricky territory. Yet, making remarks about European sugar addiction being partially at fault for the enslavement of human beings only makes listeners 1) uncomfortable, 2) is a cop out move and does not urge for accountability of British imperialism, 3) and completely simplifies the deeper, interlocking systems of race, class, gender that were formed through such a system of brutality. In addition, the casual language of “giving” certain men, like Penn, land that was not their to give is unsettling. Imperialism runs deep and still has a hold on the minds of a nation. In saying this, as an American and being half African American, I am aware of the US’s current imperialistic actions and nature and “American Exceptionalism”. I do not deny this and make efforts to be transparent and honest about what my country has done and is currently doing to other nations. I have heard a patchwork history of British colonialism that is oozing with white supremacist hetero-patriarchal rhetoric.

Castle + Tintern Abbey [5/30/15]

Yesterday I went on an unexpected hike 🙂 I knew we were going to visit a castle but was happily/awkwardly surprised. After venturing up a rocky and somewhat steep slope. I was struck with a second surprise, when we finally arrive at the top and walk a bit more to discover the littlest castle. It looked more like a transplanted piece from a much larger castle. To my disappointment I was unable to go in (since it did not open till later I believe).Later in the day we visited Tintern Abbey. It was visually appealing and I found the ruins fun to climb on and later found out I was not supposed to and had accidentally influenced children to do so.

We got stuck behind all of these adorable and milk engorged cows too! It was a big highlight #ILoveCows

Bath+Jane Austen Museum+Roman Bath House [5/29/15]

 We visited the Jane Austen house and I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that guides and staff were dressed as characters from Austen’s novels. One of my favorite museum attractions is a dress up area full of period costumes and accessories. Despite the fact that I enjoy dressing up (i did dress up at Wordsworth childhood home) in period clothing I always feel out of place as a result of my racial and ethnic makeup, knowing my position in society during that time period.  I am most familiar with Austen through film and television, viewing the many actors that played Mr. Darcy (each Pride and Prejudice is slightly different).

Sheldonian Theatre + Oxford Cambridge Review

I was starstruck and found it most sensible to lie down on the floor. From the floor I obtain the best view and was angle to be fully obsessed into the work. While on the ground I maneuvered around to see various angles. I don’t want to play favorites with the competing cities but will briefly compare and contrast *.

Oxford:

• The Grand Architecture
• The Ashmolean Musuem
• The fact that the Ashmolean was free
• We spent two days there so I was able to get a greater sense of the city and explore more
• Con: It was tourist central. I was not initially expecting it to be crowded with people touring and shopping.
• Many of my favorite tv shows have been filmed there

Cambridge:

• We had a knowledgeable and warm tour guide
• It was more of a college town and not an attraction.
• I enjoyed the open markets.
• There was a friendly vibe in the city

*I currently do not have a favorite but for the record, I did purchase a a t-shirt at Oxford

Ode to a Banana

*Written after I was able to buy banana’s at a grocery store. I was excited to finally be able to have one that through this journey of literature I was inspired to write.

Smooth yellow skin with hints

Of green toward your top, clinging

Onto memories of a peaceful life.

Skin soft like leather, somewhat littered

With small imperfections that only enhance

The beauty. Light Brown bruises shaped by

Time tell the story of your journey, lost in a

Faraway land you find yourself waiting in

Lonely cold, desperate to belong. Finding

You and your potassium rich flesh warm my

Heart as you fill my belly.

Oh Banana! How I thank thee in all your yellow glory.

Wordsworth’s Home at Rydal Mount

We drove over to Rydal Mount to visit Wordsworth’s last home. We have been visiting multiple homes of one author so I have been categorizing them as “birth house” and “death house” and the in between ones according to the historical significance during that time of their life. I do enjoy being able to tour their homes but the real excitement is in their gardens! Hiking up rocky hills, through colorful flowers is refreshing and inspiring. Most of my family members tend to vegetable gardens and grow flowers, so being able to visit these vast gardens makes me think of home. My fathers family were (and kind of still are) farmers and through that I greatly appreciate such an  appreciation and respect for the land.

 

Lost in (Flavor) Translation: American Cuisine in the United Kingdom

On Friday, I went to the Mississippi Bar and Grill with a fellow classmate. We were curious to taste and view a British interpretation of our homelands food. The name plus decor alluded to a southern cuisine and I was to scared to try their version of fried chicken or jambalaya so I choose the burrito from the Tex-Mex section. I believe it would be the safest choice. I was in for a real surprise.

I give the main entree a 5 out of 10 and the pina colada a 6 out of 10. First off, the burrito was not a burrito. It was merely a taco folded in the shape of a burrito. The chicken was like an American fast food chicken strip and the quality was on par with a chain sit down restaurant like Chili’s. By the contents of the dish and the lack of spices I feel that the restaurant the creator of the menu and dishes had never had either authentic American, Southern or even Mexican food. It was the equivalent to an American restaurant serving fish sticks, peas and fries. I give it a five because it wasn’t bad but was not actual American cuisine. The pina colada has a higher because there was a sparkle in it and I appreciate the theatrics.

A Day of Wordsworth: Dove Cottage and the Grammar School

Today’s focus was on Wordsworth’s life and his sister Dorothy. We were able to get a tour of the home in which he and his sister lived in, exploring the rooms, learning bits of history along the way. It was a comfortable sized house and despite lacking modern conventions, in it’s time I believe it would be a wonderful place to live. The back of the house had beautiful gardens and a view of the lake. I did not realize up until now for some reason how privileged the Wordsworth’s were. I always thought of them as average people but in reality their lives full of writing, walking miles to hangout with Coleridge and other writers would be what many people of their time would have dreamed of. To have the access to and education and economic means by which you could be able to take leisurely walks in ones garden and write about anything of your choice. They are a huge contrast to Burns life and history. In addition to that, I am constantly frustrated by the over shadowing of Dorothy by the men in her life. She barely got any credit for her work and Wordsworth gained all his insight from her. Who really should had been the poet laureate??? What would he be without her influence and literally her writing. Would it not be as rich and insightful? She was the one who payed attention to details and was compassionate. I also have a few conspiracy theories on the actual relationship between William and Dorothy…………… Her personal life appears to be vague and through the trip to the archives it appears that her work has even been censored. The censoring of a woman should not be a surprise to us. I really liked Jeff the curator. He had such passion for his work and I truly respect that. He persevering historical pieces that hopefully generations after mine will be able to appreciate.

The Grammar School was really interesting and our tour guide hand a wonderful sense of humor. We were able to see their library and I got to see an Archbishops bible from 1572. I was also able to hold and sim through a very old edition of the New Testament.

Scotland Day Three and Four

A highlight of yesterday’s activities was visiting Dryburgh Abbey. I don’t believe the term ruins is appropriate because they stand alone as a work of art . The building is broken apart and is more skeletal in form. Despite being disjointed it creates an open space (were a choir and chairs would have been) now filled in  with bright green grass. There is something morbidly splendid and serene about cemetery. The craftsmanship of tombstones is admirable. Living the large majority of my life in the south (aka Bible Belt) I have grown discontent with the new churches being built, there almost a church on every corner and many of them are a poor excuse for a house of god. I say this from an architectural and art history perspective. Real time, effort and money was put into old churches in the US and Europe.

Today we visited Burns childhood home and town, along with the museum.

Scotland Day Two

I have fallen for Scotland. This beautiful land has bewitched me. From the rolling and rocky hills (that are basically mountains) to the herds of fluffy sheep scaling them, I am quite smitten. Today is our first full day in Scotland and we were able to continue exploring Edinburgh, visiting shops and the writers museum, which focused on Burns, Scott and Stevenson. Edinburgh appeared large at first but after walking around (and through it) I realize how small it really is. The old and new town architecture mesh together nicely and the whole time we were walking I felt in awe of it. The city evoked very idealistic thoughts of moving there.

To the average person this might seem odd but I have been actively observing the differences in restrooms and bathrooms. I’ve been trying to pick up on cultural differences and one of the most common ones to me is restrooms. The method of flushing, toilet paper, and shower functions have been interesting to investigate. On the subject of cultural differences, I have yet to figure out how to cross the street. Even when looking both ways I can’t tell what direction traffic is coming from and despite the city being pedestrian heavy, crosswalks are not always clearly (or brightly like it is the States) defined. I do enjoy riding along the country roads with lovely green fields or hill/mountains on either side. I feel like I’m on the show “Midsomer Murders” .

Exploring the World of Charlotte Smith: A Feminist Reading of “Beachy Head”

(Image taken from here)

I have attached my research plan and annotated bibliography.

Research Plan_jjones

Bibliography_jjones

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