I'm back home. And I'm happy to be here. I'm back with my family and friends and people I'd missed all summer long.
Of course, now, I miss all my friends from Cam Prep, but I've found them on Facebook and I hope to stay in touch.
Over all, Cam Prep was an awesome experience. I learned a lot about Social Psychology and Creative Writing, but I learned a lot about some other stuff, too. I learned financing and how to manage money. I learned about personal safety and how to live mostly on my own. I learned how to make friends and how to show my Christianity without being in-your-face about it.
I'm gonna miss the guys from Cam Prep, but I'm going to remember them, and the good times we had, forever.
I don't think I'll ever be the same after this trip. Truth is, I don't want to be.
God Bless,
Erienne
Friday, August 14, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
#20 How Quickly Can I Catch You Up?
I'm so sorry that I haven't posted a blog in so long. It's just that I've been so busy this week!
Okay, I'll start with Wednesday. It was my last day of classes with Cam Prep. The creative writing class went punting on the river. We saw some swans and a lot of ducks. It was only a little rainy.
Then we had to pack up and I took a shower and stuff like that. I put on my dress and went down to our formal dinner and awards ceremony.
I found out that I won first prize for my Canterbury tale. My reward was a Rolling Stones mug with the lips and tongue, and the Union Jack is on the tongue. It was titled "The Rolling Stones Licks Britain."
We had a dance and said our goodbyes. I know a lot of people cried, even though I didn't. Crazy things happened that night, but I just went to sleep.
Thursday I said goodbye to the friends who were left, and then my mom came. I showed her around my favorite spots in Cambridge, saying goodbye to the city. I'm really going to miss the fact that I could walk to anywhere I wanted to go.
Then we went to Aunt Kristen's and Uncle Bill's.
Friday morning we went out to Buckingham Palace and took tours through the Queen's Gallery, Royal Mews, and the State Rooms. The place is beautiful. I absolutely loved the art everywhere.
Mom and I ate "at the palace" in a little cafe some business-minded people had set up on the veranda. But then I got a migraine. It was so painful that we decided not to do Westminster Abbey like we were going to, but instead to go straight home. But before we left we bought some nifty souvenirs.
Saturday we got up early to go to Madame Tussauds the minute it opened. Just as I feared, I knew virtually none of the people there. The first person I recognized was Patrick Stewart who was hiding behind a column and impossible to see unless you happened to be taking a picture of your mom with George Clooney. Most of the people I recognized were world leaders. Like Obama. And Gandhi.
After Tussauds we spent some time trying to find the Sherlock Holmes Museum. We never did find it, instead heading out on a quest to get tickets to Waiting for Godot with Patrick Stewart. Well, that wasted a lot of time, and then we went to Les Miserables.
Beautiful production. I'm so glad I actually got to see it. It was wonderful, the staging was brilliant, and Eponine didn't sound like she was singing through her nasal passages.
Sunday we went to the Tower of London and listened to the Beefeater tour. Very funny. Then we went and got tickets for Waiting for Godot.
Sir Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart. Two of the greatest actors alive, debatedly two of the greatest actors in the world. And I saw them live on stage.
Unfortunately, I barely understood the play. It was highbrow and esoteric. At least its meaning was. As far as the rest, the two main characteras Didi (played by Patrick) and Gogo (played by McKellen) are smelly, coarse hobos. It was funny, but I missed a lot of Ian McKellen because we were in restricted viewing seats. I loved it anyways.
After that, we went on the London Eye, which was nice but overrated.
Today we're going to go to As You Like It at the Globe theatre. :)
God Bless,
Erienne
Okay, I'll start with Wednesday. It was my last day of classes with Cam Prep. The creative writing class went punting on the river. We saw some swans and a lot of ducks. It was only a little rainy.
Then we had to pack up and I took a shower and stuff like that. I put on my dress and went down to our formal dinner and awards ceremony.
I found out that I won first prize for my Canterbury tale. My reward was a Rolling Stones mug with the lips and tongue, and the Union Jack is on the tongue. It was titled "The Rolling Stones Licks Britain."
We had a dance and said our goodbyes. I know a lot of people cried, even though I didn't. Crazy things happened that night, but I just went to sleep.
Thursday I said goodbye to the friends who were left, and then my mom came. I showed her around my favorite spots in Cambridge, saying goodbye to the city. I'm really going to miss the fact that I could walk to anywhere I wanted to go.
Then we went to Aunt Kristen's and Uncle Bill's.
Friday morning we went out to Buckingham Palace and took tours through the Queen's Gallery, Royal Mews, and the State Rooms. The place is beautiful. I absolutely loved the art everywhere.
Mom and I ate "at the palace" in a little cafe some business-minded people had set up on the veranda. But then I got a migraine. It was so painful that we decided not to do Westminster Abbey like we were going to, but instead to go straight home. But before we left we bought some nifty souvenirs.
Saturday we got up early to go to Madame Tussauds the minute it opened. Just as I feared, I knew virtually none of the people there. The first person I recognized was Patrick Stewart who was hiding behind a column and impossible to see unless you happened to be taking a picture of your mom with George Clooney. Most of the people I recognized were world leaders. Like Obama. And Gandhi.
After Tussauds we spent some time trying to find the Sherlock Holmes Museum. We never did find it, instead heading out on a quest to get tickets to Waiting for Godot with Patrick Stewart. Well, that wasted a lot of time, and then we went to Les Miserables.
Beautiful production. I'm so glad I actually got to see it. It was wonderful, the staging was brilliant, and Eponine didn't sound like she was singing through her nasal passages.
Sunday we went to the Tower of London and listened to the Beefeater tour. Very funny. Then we went and got tickets for Waiting for Godot.
Sir Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart. Two of the greatest actors alive, debatedly two of the greatest actors in the world. And I saw them live on stage.
Unfortunately, I barely understood the play. It was highbrow and esoteric. At least its meaning was. As far as the rest, the two main characteras Didi (played by Patrick) and Gogo (played by McKellen) are smelly, coarse hobos. It was funny, but I missed a lot of Ian McKellen because we were in restricted viewing seats. I loved it anyways.
After that, we went on the London Eye, which was nice but overrated.
Today we're going to go to As You Like It at the Globe theatre. :)
God Bless,
Erienne
Thursday, July 23, 2009
#19 Runners to Your Mark, Get Set...
Today we had an event referred to by the staff as the "Weekday Weekender." Don't ask me why, that's just what they call it.
In the morning, I got to go to mini sessions of two classes I wasn't in: Drama and Philosophy.
In Drama we played a game called "In the Manner of the Word." One person leaves the room and the rest of the people sit in a circle and choose a word, usually and adjective. Then the person who left comes in and asks people in the circle to do certain actions 'in the manner of the word.' The person then tries to guess, from the hints given by the way people perform actions, what the word is.
Well, when I got to go outside, I decided that the first thing I would ask someone to do would be to mime getting ready for bed in the manner of the word.
When I asked my friend Lizzie to do it, the whole group started laughing crazily. Lizzie was extremely self-conscious, and asked me to pick someone else. So I did, and through the reaction of the group and the miming of the person I'd chosen, I figured out the word.
It was "sexily."
No comment.
Then I went to Philosophy, and we talked about such stirring things like, "Is it possibly to truly understand what being a bat feels like?" and "What if we're all brains in vats?"
Afterwards, I had lunch, and then we went to the races.
First up was the infamous "Drag Race." It was labeled a "Boy's Only" sport, and so we all guessed what it would be like long before it happened.
We have only one boy in the class, and we needed a pair. So our teacher chose to be the other victim.
Basically, the long and short od the Drag Race was that they all had to dress up like girls and wear high heels and run across a field. Our team won. Afterwards, the boys from all teams expressed their amazement that girls could actually walk in those things.
I entered in the Dizzy Race. Basically, I spun around a pole a couple of times, fell over, got stepped on, and nearly ran into other kids.
It was loads of fun.
Gode Bless,
Erienne
In the morning, I got to go to mini sessions of two classes I wasn't in: Drama and Philosophy.
In Drama we played a game called "In the Manner of the Word." One person leaves the room and the rest of the people sit in a circle and choose a word, usually and adjective. Then the person who left comes in and asks people in the circle to do certain actions 'in the manner of the word.' The person then tries to guess, from the hints given by the way people perform actions, what the word is.
Well, when I got to go outside, I decided that the first thing I would ask someone to do would be to mime getting ready for bed in the manner of the word.
When I asked my friend Lizzie to do it, the whole group started laughing crazily. Lizzie was extremely self-conscious, and asked me to pick someone else. So I did, and through the reaction of the group and the miming of the person I'd chosen, I figured out the word.
It was "sexily."
No comment.
Then I went to Philosophy, and we talked about such stirring things like, "Is it possibly to truly understand what being a bat feels like?" and "What if we're all brains in vats?"
Afterwards, I had lunch, and then we went to the races.
First up was the infamous "Drag Race." It was labeled a "Boy's Only" sport, and so we all guessed what it would be like long before it happened.
We have only one boy in the class, and we needed a pair. So our teacher chose to be the other victim.
Basically, the long and short od the Drag Race was that they all had to dress up like girls and wear high heels and run across a field. Our team won. Afterwards, the boys from all teams expressed their amazement that girls could actually walk in those things.
I entered in the Dizzy Race. Basically, I spun around a pole a couple of times, fell over, got stepped on, and nearly ran into other kids.
It was loads of fun.
Gode Bless,
Erienne
Sunday, July 19, 2009
#18 This Little Lutheran Church
Okay, I've got to tell you guys about the church I've been going to. Its called Resurrection Lutheran Church, and its within walking distance of Peterhouse. Well, everything is within walking distance of Peterhouse in Cambridge, but it's still nice to have it so close.
The pastor there is called Reg Quirk, and he's very nice. When I told him I was visiting here, he was very nice and talked to me about where I'd come from and my home congregation. There are some other very nice people there; the whole church is very welcoming.
It's a little church. Tiny. The sanctuary probably houses 150 people at a squeeze, and the past two weeks there have been 20-25 people at the service.
It's a very traditional church. Everything comes out of the Lutheran Service book, and they rotate the settings. Last week it was the one I know so well: Divine Service II. Pastor Quirk chants all the liturgy, and this week we were on setting three. I really like it.
It's nice to have Holy Communion in a Lutheran church. The tradition and the friendliness of the people makes me feel more at home. I really love Cambridge. I think I wannna live here when I grow up.
God Bless,
Erienne
The pastor there is called Reg Quirk, and he's very nice. When I told him I was visiting here, he was very nice and talked to me about where I'd come from and my home congregation. There are some other very nice people there; the whole church is very welcoming.
It's a little church. Tiny. The sanctuary probably houses 150 people at a squeeze, and the past two weeks there have been 20-25 people at the service.
It's a very traditional church. Everything comes out of the Lutheran Service book, and they rotate the settings. Last week it was the one I know so well: Divine Service II. Pastor Quirk chants all the liturgy, and this week we were on setting three. I really like it.
It's nice to have Holy Communion in a Lutheran church. The tradition and the friendliness of the people makes me feel more at home. I really love Cambridge. I think I wannna live here when I grow up.
God Bless,
Erienne
Friday, July 17, 2009
#17 How Wet Can It Get?
"Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun.
If the sun don't come you get a tan from standing in the English rain."
Cambirdge is doing swimmingly well. Half the town is ankle deep in rainwater. My pants are soaked all the way up to my thighs, and I'm almost scared to go back out to my minor class.
If I wasn't actually hit by lightning today, I came as near as makes no never mind. It sounds like an enormous old redwood tree suddenly cracking ready to come down on top of you.
And tonight I'm going on a walking tour of the haunted places at Cambridge! Oh Lord, help me!
God keep the Son shining in your life,
Erienne
If the sun don't come you get a tan from standing in the English rain."
Cambirdge is doing swimmingly well. Half the town is ankle deep in rainwater. My pants are soaked all the way up to my thighs, and I'm almost scared to go back out to my minor class.
If I wasn't actually hit by lightning today, I came as near as makes no never mind. It sounds like an enormous old redwood tree suddenly cracking ready to come down on top of you.
And tonight I'm going on a walking tour of the haunted places at Cambridge! Oh Lord, help me!
God keep the Son shining in your life,
Erienne
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
#16 London's Underground
I love London. It's a wonderful city.
First place we visited was Trafalgar Square, where we saw Nelson's Column and the plynth that people go up on. One of the guys sang "Happy Birthday" to my friend, Lauren, who celebrated her 15th yesterday. Since everything I did was with Creative Writing class, we wrote poems about it.
Then we got on the Tube and stood in the hot stuffy train staring around. Absolutely awful. But we got out and walked to the Tate Modern.
That's such an interesting place. Weird art + lots of tourists = great place to write poems!
Then we walked down Brick Lane in the infamous East Side of London. Again, awesome place to write poems. We saw my teacher's office. He works in a converted subway train on top of a building!
But the most intriguing and exciting place, easily the best place for writing poems, was Covent Garden. The many people there are so interesting. For example, I saw probably about ten different people being "human statues" and there were musicians playing all evening. I even had my portrait done in charcoal by a Chinese artist. All delightful experiences that I wrote about.
All in all, a wonderful and insightful day.
God Bless,
Erienne
First place we visited was Trafalgar Square, where we saw Nelson's Column and the plynth that people go up on. One of the guys sang "Happy Birthday" to my friend, Lauren, who celebrated her 15th yesterday. Since everything I did was with Creative Writing class, we wrote poems about it.
Then we got on the Tube and stood in the hot stuffy train staring around. Absolutely awful. But we got out and walked to the Tate Modern.
That's such an interesting place. Weird art + lots of tourists = great place to write poems!
Then we walked down Brick Lane in the infamous East Side of London. Again, awesome place to write poems. We saw my teacher's office. He works in a converted subway train on top of a building!
But the most intriguing and exciting place, easily the best place for writing poems, was Covent Garden. The many people there are so interesting. For example, I saw probably about ten different people being "human statues" and there were musicians playing all evening. I even had my portrait done in charcoal by a Chinese artist. All delightful experiences that I wrote about.
All in all, a wonderful and insightful day.
God Bless,
Erienne
Monday, July 13, 2009
#15 Diversity and Tolerance
You have no idea about the diversity of the students here at Cambridge. So many people here would be termed "different."
My friend Hom is lesbian. She was one of the first people I met here, and she is super nice. Her attitude and jher frankness about her sexuality and her many problems with homophobia have really opened my eyes to some aspects of the gay community.
Daphne, who is in my Social Psychology class, is from Turkey. She often has very different and wonderful insights into society because she is from such a different culture.
Jessie lived eleven years in China, and still identifies most strongly with that culture. I bet you've never heard the Tibetan story from the point of view of the Chinese, have you?
Hanna, from New York, is legally blind. But you would not be able to tell if you were just talking to her. Maybe her eyes wander a little bit, and she has to hold her books very close to her eyes, but if you are walking down the street talking to her, she can follow you and avoid other pedestrians along the way. She's frank about being blind, but she doesn't allow it to get in her way.
Lauren is a singer, Pia is a brilliant story writer, Diana comes from Puerto Rico, and half of the non-US students come from Hong Kong. We're incredibly diverse and incredibly open. I love it here.
We're so open that I can talk about God, Christianity and my faith in Jesus and how it affects my life, and I haven't once been put down for it. In fact, I haven't been put down at all. It's beautiful.
God Bless
Erienne
My friend Hom is lesbian. She was one of the first people I met here, and she is super nice. Her attitude and jher frankness about her sexuality and her many problems with homophobia have really opened my eyes to some aspects of the gay community.
Daphne, who is in my Social Psychology class, is from Turkey. She often has very different and wonderful insights into society because she is from such a different culture.
Jessie lived eleven years in China, and still identifies most strongly with that culture. I bet you've never heard the Tibetan story from the point of view of the Chinese, have you?
Hanna, from New York, is legally blind. But you would not be able to tell if you were just talking to her. Maybe her eyes wander a little bit, and she has to hold her books very close to her eyes, but if you are walking down the street talking to her, she can follow you and avoid other pedestrians along the way. She's frank about being blind, but she doesn't allow it to get in her way.
Lauren is a singer, Pia is a brilliant story writer, Diana comes from Puerto Rico, and half of the non-US students come from Hong Kong. We're incredibly diverse and incredibly open. I love it here.
We're so open that I can talk about God, Christianity and my faith in Jesus and how it affects my life, and I haven't once been put down for it. In fact, I haven't been put down at all. It's beautiful.
God Bless
Erienne
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