A Proper Blog

My collegue from Illinois, Pat Parks, is keeping a more thourough blog of our time in Canterbury. If you wonder what else is going on--between the photographs on my blog--you will enjoy Doug's Weekly Dispatches from Canterbury.

http://canterburydispatches.blogspot.co.uk/

Walk on the Left

On Monday, Pat, my fellow mentor from Chicago, and I visited London. Transit is as easy as advertised; remembering to walk on the left in heavy pedestrian traffic was not as easy. Arrived in time to enjoy Big Ben tolling 12 noon. 

We also were lucky to catch a rehearsal at Buckingham Palace. 

I resisted wondering how many holes it takes to fill (Royal) Albert Hall.

I hope to return to Hyde Park before the end of the month to have a swim in the Serpentine Lido. 

Our return  train from London was delayed because a WWII bomb was found by construction crews near the station just past ours. No worries, just interesting.

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet_extra/news/unexploded-bomb-6389/

Another perfect day, even though there was no rain.

Broccoli Cheese Soup with My Five

One of my students hosted us in her family's home for some comfort food. A British student, Mike, joined us. He took me for a ride in his Ford Focus. When everyone drives on the other side, it doesn't seem odd to be a passenger in the front left. 

I am off to catch the last football (soccer) match and then on to find the NFL. So far, another perfect, even though it hasn't rained--yet. 

Contrasting Touchdowns

The cafes at the university are named Touchdown (Touchdown I, Touchdown II, Touchdown Express, etc.). The name refers to what people do there and not to what is sold there. So students come to the cafe to "touch down," or reconnect, as it were. It has nothing to do with our football. IN a similar way, the cathedral is the reference point for town since it is visible from nearly everywhere in town. Few buildings have more than 4 stories. I am in the library now on what we would call the 4th floor (they say the 3rd because the ground floor is not numbered), and I can see most of the town and into the distant hills with unobstructed view. The cathedral tower rises some 19 floors.

Wednesday after class, at nearly half past 17, I joined Evensong service at the Cathedral. Normally it costs £10 to visit the Cathedral, but the 5:30 evening prayer services are free to attend. I entered a side door and joined those gathered in the sanctuary. I find it difficult to describe the humility that comes in knowing I was sitting where many have prayed since 1070, and where countless more will long after I have moved on. After services, which were remarkably similar to our night prayer and liturgy of the word--except that we prayed for the queen instead of the pope, I made my way out an opposite side door and found myself in a magnificent corridor. I sat in the cathedral grounds and wept at its beauty and the opportunity that I had to be there. Touchdown.

I then walked to High Street to my flat, about a half mile. I have to admit, however, that I ate at McDonalds as the perfect antidote to the reflective experience I had in the cathedral. I was curious really, and if I were to only be here for a week, I would not have wasted a meal at McD's. The food was, as you might imagine, exactly like it is where you are, i.e., the fries were excellent. Touchdown. 14-0. Another perfect day, and yes, it rained.

Flint Walls and Seaweed

On Saturday we had a field trip to the Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre. The Romans first landed in Briton around 43 AD and stayed until the 400's when the Saxxons ran them off. It it quite a redirecting opportunity to touch a stone in a wall knowing that the last person to touch the other side of that stone had done so nearly two thousand years ago. 

After visiting the ruins, we toured Broadstairs, a "tourist" village on the English Channel. Despite the cold and seaweed, I took advantage of the sand as this is one of the few beaches that isn't stone. 

After a few pubs and some fish and chips, we discovered a community festival to be performed while we were there. Luckily it seemed to be more like a community center dance recital than a polished performance. I made my way to the staging area (back stage really) and asked a performer if her group was going to be the best, she laughed and said no. Our British liaison from the university laughed at how American my question was. "Of course, she said no, she wasn't competing with her mates." 

Another perfect day, even though there was no rain.

The North Sea and Eddie Condon

On Thursday I took the bus from Canterbury to Whitstable and Herne Bay, two fishing towns on the North Sea, about 6 miles north of Canterbury: stone beaches, warm ale, and a prawn jacket. Fabulous, or Brilliant as the locals say. 

After some time, I caught the next bus in the loop and continued on down to Priest and Sow corner. The sky cleared and there was a grass overlook. 

I sat on a bench enjoying a cappuccino when an older gentleman who was walking his sheep dog approached and began talking about the weather, then dogs, then swing jazz. He mentioned having played the trombone when he came out of the war, but that he selected a job with the civil service instead. "No complaints here, mate. No complaints. Loved it all." I mentioned being from Chicago, and he smiled and told me that the swing musician Eddie Condone was "the stuff," so I promised I would do some research and come back. He said he had a "blow" every day at 16, so I hope to run into him again. I didn't ask for a photo with him because he looked like my grandfather; I suppose he probably looked like yours too.

 Another perfect day, even though there was no rain.

Divided by a Common Language

On Wednesday we began classes and I was quickly reminded that I was, in fact, there to teach when I entered the room and the students had left the seat at the front for me. University courses here are different in that the students have an hour (or longer) lecture with the mentor (teacher) and then have a second hour or so in group discussion (seminar) either that day or another, also with their mentor. The format is more similar to our graduate school in that the students are only in the classroom a few hours one day a week. The instructor also does not assign page numbers, or chapters for weekly reading. The students are provided the topics and the books, along with a recommended reading list, and expected to read and explore what they think will be helpful. The photos here are simply shots taken during my walk to and on campus. 

English Mustard

Meals all on my own today. A good start: Coffee, Crumpets, and olive spread  for breakfast. 

A mistake for lunch: English Mustard is not just a different name for yellow mustard. Crazy hot. 

A nice recovery for dinner: a warm Kent's Best and Crinkles!  

Another perfect day, and yes, it rained. 

My Flat in Canterbury

First floor entry and kitchen:

Second floor bedroom:

View from kitchen window:

Perfect day, and yes, it rained. 

"My Five"

My students refer to themselves as the "fab Five " Just before heading through security. 

Some last minute Americana

As I get set to leave tomorrow, and in an effort to counteract the recently recurring Jim Croce "Time in a Bottle" dreams, I have been taking in as much Americana as I can: NASCAR, cherry pie, coffee, pizza, 80's Country music (Alabama, Oak Ridge Boys, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Reba, Randy Travis), cheese burgers, Miller Lite, and finally some Friday night high school football followed by Ted Drewes Frozen Custard.

Was proud to stand with my hand over my heart during the national anthem, listening to my son play the trombone, with my beautiful wife by my side, knowing it would be some time before I return, but grateful that I am sad to leave.

With Mom and Pops

Showing  my mom and dad how to follow my blog. 

Planning with Joe

With my Joe trying 

to synch my magic phone with the internets. Probably should have started this before dinner and drinks. 

Anniversary dinner

23 years and 1 month: High atop St. Louis planning our November  monthaversary in Italy! 

Senior discount

I Was asked today if I wanted the senior discount. Oh, just when you think you've got it all worked out.