June 24: Better late than never... Slowing the Flow of my time in England

I have just read one of the ASE students' blogs and her diligent detailing of all our trips as well as ordinary class days has made me realize that I must sit down and reflect on my days here as well. She just wrote exactly what happened, even the small things, and her thoughts about them as they happened. It seems like it is not worth documenting, but I know that I'll enjoy reading about it, reliving my first study abroad trip, later on. Plus, by actively detailing my day, I'll get practice with writing, which will surely benefit me.

I don't know what tone to write it in, I'm aware that I'm being strangely formal right now, but something about blogging makes you want to write that way.

Ok, here goes.

Today our Jane Austen class took the train from Bath Spa to Bristol Meads, where Dr. Fallon led a tour around the industrial city of Bristol. The theme of the talk was slavery and how it characterized the town and powered it economically. We looked at Queen's Square, where merchants and slaveowners used to live. We went to this beautiful, breathtaking dockland area, which apparently did not used to be that peaceful but was filled with the bustle and dirt of slave-transporting ships. We passed a cave that is now just full of litter. It is located next to a graffitied wall. I was commenting to Chelsea that Bristol seems to be somewhere between Bath and London because it has the Bath-like architecture but the London grime and bustle.

Let's see, before I consult the handout of Dr. Fallon's tour, what else I can remember. Oh yes, we went to a Cathedral (one of many, MANY churches/cathedrals we have visited in England) called St. Mary Redcliffe. It was massive and had the characteristic detailed stone etchings in them. The stone made it nice and cool to walk into after our long stroll in the hot weather.

Today in my British Cinema class we will watch A Room with a View. It apparently is very popular in our class and features Helena Bonham Carter and Daniel Day-Lewis (sigh). He was also in My Beautiful Laundrette, the movie I wrote my first mise-en-scene paper on.

After watching the movie, I realized how much more I enjoyed it because I could analyze it knowing what that it was a heritage film. From that, the director's purpose was clear and I could identify all the things that made it a heritage film, and specifically what made it a high-quality film. The scene I enjoyed most was when Daniel's character Cecil asks to kiss Helena's character Lucy. The kiss is so awkward, so literal: they press their faces together. then part. passionless and/or novice-ish. Reminds me of a similar experience... Contrast with Lucy and George's kiss(es) of true love.

Also, I have never liked Helena Bonham Carter because she is not conventionally pretty enough for the roles she plays. She also sort of waddle-scurries, IN EVERY MOVIE and speaks snappily. But... I have to admit she was damn good in this film, though she should stick with Tim Burton.

Now for my usual philosophical musings:
As I walked with my class, I couldn't help looking at the people around me, particularly their legs and arms. Before I go further, I want to say that I am not a creep. But the bodies of my classmates led me to a contrast between Americans and Brits: most people's bodies were imperfect, out of shape, you might say. But really the extra flab on our thighs and arms and waists, the not quite sculpted calves - all indicate how free we are. As Americans, we embrace imperfections, accept less-than-ideal bodies and eat what we like. We are happier for it, I think and there is something very beautiful about people our age, not to sound self-centered or anything.

People's bodies and physical appearances say a lot about them. And everyone is attractive in their own way, I find.

Another thing I noticed was that the older students have a neater, more defined sense of style. One guy was the typical punk rocker guy, with a rock star pin-covered light brown messenger bag and scrawny figure and headphones around his neck - yet, it seemed like his style was his own, because he consistently looked that way.

At the risk of sounding like an old lady, I like being around young people, especially such interesting intelligent ones, which I find England majors usually are. I came into this program wondering how I would mesh with the people around me, and found the same relationship I have with most groups I've been a part of - not quite belonging, finding myself alone and sometimes isolated. But I had a feeling that people who liked English as much as I did would have more in common with me and I would be able to connect with them more. And I was right. They are very adept with and appreciative of language, and deep, and most of them are bad at math.

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My personal progress: I'm changing. I am becoming bolder. I ask questions I would normally be hesitant to ask, like when I asked someone to repeat a scene I missed in a movie though it was somewhat disruptive. I've also learned to speak unnecessarily, to say things that I used to think were frivolous and as yet, are still unnatural for me to say (i.e., "How are you? How is your experience with the program?" and "I like when..." and cracking jokes, rather than just "Do you know when class ends?"). Now what I still need to work on is that well, almost jealous feeling I get when I see other people seem to understand what I presumed only I understood, or when their understanding enlightens and eclipses mine.

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PHOTOS!! Don't trust/can't figure out Facebook.

Big Ben and Me

Lion statue (one of many) in Bath near the Bath Abbey

Mural of a husband and wife's lover in Bristol

Beautiful Bristol docks