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
Sunday, July 12, 2009
#14 Picture Time!
Quick rundown of the past few days: Canterbury was amazing, dance on Saturday was not so cool, my legs hurt, found a charming little Lutheran church I attended this morning, and am generally busy, tired, and have sore legs and feet.
Don't have much time, so here are some pictures from my room, Peterhouse, Canterbury Cathedral, and a little baby bird that fell from its nest:
Friday, July 10, 2009
#13 Cathedrals and Characters
Wow. Yesterday I took a trip to Canterbury, and focused on the cathedral.
It was phenomenal.
The intricacy of the carvings and grotesques on the walls made me stare in awe. Each hand-carved stone and ornately designed tomb was magnificent.
It would take thousands of words to attempt to describe the marvel of the cathedral, and I'm pretty sure you still won't truly appreciate it.
So instead, I'll post pictures from the whole trip so far on Sunday. Hope you guys can wait until then.
After our astounding tour of the cathedral, I did something that will seem completely out of place: I sat in Starbucks and wrote all afternoon.
But this was because of my assignment for Creative Writing. We will be renacting the Canterbury Tales. We each have to write a short story about a character's journey to Canterbury. We will present them on Sunday. Whoever writes the best one will win a souvenir from Canterbury as a prize. Part of me wants to win, and part of me hopes I'll lose. I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes I get a little bit tired of being the best.
I had so much fun! Thank you for reading my ramblings.
God Bless,
Erienne
It was phenomenal.
The intricacy of the carvings and grotesques on the walls made me stare in awe. Each hand-carved stone and ornately designed tomb was magnificent.
It would take thousands of words to attempt to describe the marvel of the cathedral, and I'm pretty sure you still won't truly appreciate it.
So instead, I'll post pictures from the whole trip so far on Sunday. Hope you guys can wait until then.
After our astounding tour of the cathedral, I did something that will seem completely out of place: I sat in Starbucks and wrote all afternoon.
But this was because of my assignment for Creative Writing. We will be renacting the Canterbury Tales. We each have to write a short story about a character's journey to Canterbury. We will present them on Sunday. Whoever writes the best one will win a souvenir from Canterbury as a prize. Part of me wants to win, and part of me hopes I'll lose. I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes I get a little bit tired of being the best.
I had so much fun! Thank you for reading my ramblings.
God Bless,
Erienne
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
#12 I'm Feeling Creative!
Cambridge overflows with creativity. Everything, down to the tiniest brick in the walls of King's College and the advantageous positioning of the Starbuck's cafe at the mall, compounds into a condusive environment for observation and imagination.
The day started promptly at 6:45 with a fire drill. I threw on my robe and slipped into my crocks, blearily stumbling down the stairs to stand in the cold morning air. When it was finally over, I went back upstairs and got dressed.
After a wonderfully big breakfast with friends, I went to Creative Writing. First we finished a sonnet that the entire class began yesterday about the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. The art department has allowed regular people to go up on the plinth for one hour and do whatever they like. One person wore a panda costume and took calls. Another brought up a tea set and mimed high tea. It really piqued our interest, so we wrote about it.
Then we went down to the mall and Ross bought us all a hot drink. While we enjoyed our coffee and tea, we watched people and wrote down descriptions of them, eventually making up stories about them. There were some fascinating people there.
After that I had lunch. Then I went to Social Psychology, which is definitely at least as much fun as Creative Writing. We took personality tests. I discovered that I am pretty much exactly where I've always thought I was: dead center, but high on Openness. I actually score in the high middle range on Neuroticism, but it doesn't mean what you think it means.
After that, I listened to the interbationally acclaimed former Poet Laureate of England, Sir Andrew Motion. I swear I will never again read a long repetitive poem in a slow, droning voice. It's not that it was bad, his voice was just so soothing and calming, it nearly put me to sleep!
After a wonderful dinner spent chatting with friends and some free time spent in the common room, I saw an incredible performance. This man stood up there and rapped three of the Canterbury Tales! We heard the Pardoner's tale, the Miller's rather crass tale, and the very interesting tale from the Wife of Bath. This man has literally taken Chaucer's traditional story and turned it into rap. He is very fond of making parallels between the rap culture and the culture of medieval England.
I had a lot of fun times today!
God Bless,
Erienne
The day started promptly at 6:45 with a fire drill. I threw on my robe and slipped into my crocks, blearily stumbling down the stairs to stand in the cold morning air. When it was finally over, I went back upstairs and got dressed.
After a wonderfully big breakfast with friends, I went to Creative Writing. First we finished a sonnet that the entire class began yesterday about the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. The art department has allowed regular people to go up on the plinth for one hour and do whatever they like. One person wore a panda costume and took calls. Another brought up a tea set and mimed high tea. It really piqued our interest, so we wrote about it.
Then we went down to the mall and Ross bought us all a hot drink. While we enjoyed our coffee and tea, we watched people and wrote down descriptions of them, eventually making up stories about them. There were some fascinating people there.
After that I had lunch. Then I went to Social Psychology, which is definitely at least as much fun as Creative Writing. We took personality tests. I discovered that I am pretty much exactly where I've always thought I was: dead center, but high on Openness. I actually score in the high middle range on Neuroticism, but it doesn't mean what you think it means.
After that, I listened to the interbationally acclaimed former Poet Laureate of England, Sir Andrew Motion. I swear I will never again read a long repetitive poem in a slow, droning voice. It's not that it was bad, his voice was just so soothing and calming, it nearly put me to sleep!
After a wonderful dinner spent chatting with friends and some free time spent in the common room, I saw an incredible performance. This man stood up there and rapped three of the Canterbury Tales! We heard the Pardoner's tale, the Miller's rather crass tale, and the very interesting tale from the Wife of Bath. This man has literally taken Chaucer's traditional story and turned it into rap. He is very fond of making parallels between the rap culture and the culture of medieval England.
I had a lot of fun times today!
God Bless,
Erienne
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
#11 The Cambridge "Experience"
I love Cambridge! It is one of the coolest places I have ever been. The trees and flowers are gorgeous, the buildings are so ancient and beautiful, and the mom and pop sandwich store down the road sells filled baguettes for £2.65.
It's called Sam Smiley's and it's tiny. It's so small, in fact, that they don't accept credit cards for anything that costs less than £5. Nevertheless, it's a wonderful little shop. Every day I'm there, I see something that wasn't there the day before. Sam Smiley's is going to have one steady customer this month.
Peterhouse's Senior Bursar spoke to us yesterday, and I cracked up. Every few minutes, he would push his glasses further up the bridge of his nose! It was like some kind of nervous tic! Every time he did it, I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. I really hope he thought I was quivering in anticipation.
My creative writing teacher is absolutely fantastic. Today we played 'Sonnet Consequences.' Everyone starts off with a line in iambic pentameter that rhymes with a designated sound. Then we pass it on two the person on our left, who writes the next line, and so on until the sonnet is finished. The only problem is, you're not allowed to read the lines before yours. The resulting hodgepodge of endings is fantastically surreal.
We also had a guest speaker come in and talk about a Walt Whitman poem with us. Did you know he was educated in Cambridge?
No minor today. I was kind of sad about that, but it gave me a whole ton of free time. Some of the group went down to see the varsity cricket match between Cambridge and Oxford, but I chose not to go. Instead I went down to a store and bought myself a pad of paper and some calligraphy pens. (They were really cheap, Mom! Only £6.29. Similar quality pens in the USA cost about fifteen dollars!)
I decided to hang out in the Program Office, because the directors here are really nice and sitting in there made me feel connected. One of the teachers at the program saw me doing calligraphy and asked if I could make a sign for her! So my sign will be hanging around Peterhouse.
A ladybug followed me around today. When I was writing in a notebook, it started crawling on my knee. I let it keep on crawling and stood up nearly twenty minutes later, thinking it haf gone off. Nearly half an hour later, I saw it crawling on my jacket in the bathroom. I then lost it again until it showed up on my purse in the program office.
It's been wonderful here, and I'd just like to say I wish you were all here with me!!!
God Bless,
Erienne
It's called Sam Smiley's and it's tiny. It's so small, in fact, that they don't accept credit cards for anything that costs less than £5. Nevertheless, it's a wonderful little shop. Every day I'm there, I see something that wasn't there the day before. Sam Smiley's is going to have one steady customer this month.
Peterhouse's Senior Bursar spoke to us yesterday, and I cracked up. Every few minutes, he would push his glasses further up the bridge of his nose! It was like some kind of nervous tic! Every time he did it, I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. I really hope he thought I was quivering in anticipation.
My creative writing teacher is absolutely fantastic. Today we played 'Sonnet Consequences.' Everyone starts off with a line in iambic pentameter that rhymes with a designated sound. Then we pass it on two the person on our left, who writes the next line, and so on until the sonnet is finished. The only problem is, you're not allowed to read the lines before yours. The resulting hodgepodge of endings is fantastically surreal.
We also had a guest speaker come in and talk about a Walt Whitman poem with us. Did you know he was educated in Cambridge?
No minor today. I was kind of sad about that, but it gave me a whole ton of free time. Some of the group went down to see the varsity cricket match between Cambridge and Oxford, but I chose not to go. Instead I went down to a store and bought myself a pad of paper and some calligraphy pens. (They were really cheap, Mom! Only £6.29. Similar quality pens in the USA cost about fifteen dollars!)
I decided to hang out in the Program Office, because the directors here are really nice and sitting in there made me feel connected. One of the teachers at the program saw me doing calligraphy and asked if I could make a sign for her! So my sign will be hanging around Peterhouse.
A ladybug followed me around today. When I was writing in a notebook, it started crawling on my knee. I let it keep on crawling and stood up nearly twenty minutes later, thinking it haf gone off. Nearly half an hour later, I saw it crawling on my jacket in the bathroom. I then lost it again until it showed up on my purse in the program office.
It's been wonderful here, and I'd just like to say I wish you were all here with me!!!
God Bless,
Erienne
Monday, July 6, 2009
#10 Technology and Tourism
Hey y'all! Writing this from my Blackberry. Sorry I haven't been able to blog or Facebook regularly but my tech has totally been on the fritz.
The first few days have been fantastic. I showed up here to find I have a whole room to myself. First day I met two awesome girls named Hom and Sonam who are amazing.
I've met all kinds of other girls here, too. Jessie, Hannah, and Lauren are in my Creative Writing class. Iris and Tara were on my team for the scavenger hunt. Everybody here is incredibly friendy.
My Creative Writing class almost feels more like a drama class. Our teacher, Ross Sutherland, is a live poet, so his emphasis is mostly on the storytelling part of writing. As a result we play storytelling and roleplay games. It feels like an improv class.
My Social Psychology class is full of debaters. Everybody loves to speak up, and today we got sidetracked onto about eight different tangents, which touched on everything from twins to global warming! Something tells me this class is going to be amazing!
I've been having so much fun its crazy. But I have been thinking of everybody back home, and I'm so thankful you're all praying for me.
God Bless,
Erienne
The first few days have been fantastic. I showed up here to find I have a whole room to myself. First day I met two awesome girls named Hom and Sonam who are amazing.
I've met all kinds of other girls here, too. Jessie, Hannah, and Lauren are in my Creative Writing class. Iris and Tara were on my team for the scavenger hunt. Everybody here is incredibly friendy.
My Creative Writing class almost feels more like a drama class. Our teacher, Ross Sutherland, is a live poet, so his emphasis is mostly on the storytelling part of writing. As a result we play storytelling and roleplay games. It feels like an improv class.
My Social Psychology class is full of debaters. Everybody loves to speak up, and today we got sidetracked onto about eight different tangents, which touched on everything from twins to global warming! Something tells me this class is going to be amazing!
I've been having so much fun its crazy. But I have been thinking of everybody back home, and I'm so thankful you're all praying for me.
God Bless,
Erienne
Thursday, July 2, 2009
#9 Cambridge and Other Honors
I'm leaving for Cambridge tomorrow. I'm super excited and I can't wait to go! I found a group on Facebook with some of the other kids who are going on it, and I think that one of them will be on the same flight with me crossing the Atlantic. So I may meet someone just while I'm waiting for the plane.
Since this blog is now called "My Experiences," I thought it would be appropriate to tell you about another honor I was recently awarded.
About six months ago, I entered an essay in a youth writing contest. In March, I recieved a letter telling me that my essay had been accepted for publication. Then the other young essayists from across the country all voted on the "top ten" for their age group in another state. Adult judges also chose top ten winners.
In the seventh-ninth grade category in Oregon, I was awarded a place in the Top Ten.
There was no ranking system, no "#1, #2," etc., it was simply the top ten best essays in the category.
Because I won the Top Ten spot, I get a free copy of the essay anthology and a $50 savings bond. But what I really care about is the bragging rights!
One more step on the way to becoming a published novelist! Thanks, everybody, for so much of your help and support!
God Bless,
Erienne
Since this blog is now called "My Experiences," I thought it would be appropriate to tell you about another honor I was recently awarded.
About six months ago, I entered an essay in a youth writing contest. In March, I recieved a letter telling me that my essay had been accepted for publication. Then the other young essayists from across the country all voted on the "top ten" for their age group in another state. Adult judges also chose top ten winners.
In the seventh-ninth grade category in Oregon, I was awarded a place in the Top Ten.
There was no ranking system, no "#1, #2," etc., it was simply the top ten best essays in the category.
Because I won the Top Ten spot, I get a free copy of the essay anthology and a $50 savings bond. But what I really care about is the bragging rights!
One more step on the way to becoming a published novelist! Thanks, everybody, for so much of your help and support!
God Bless,
Erienne
Saturday, June 6, 2009
#8 A Little More About Cambridge
Hi, y'all! I decided to explain a little bit more about my trip to Cambridge this summer. I was invited by the Oxbridge Academic Program, because of my high PSAT scores. Basically, I get to go to college for the month of July, in England.
I was given almost forty choices for my "Major" and "Minor." I took a while, but I finally settled on having Creative Writing as my major and Social Psychology as my minor.
To those of you who know me, Creative Writing as a major makes perfect sense. I love to write, and the class is going to be taught by an English teacher and a published author. I have only taken one other writing class; a "Journalism/Creative Writing" class back in fifth or sixth grade under Mr. Haan. I am really excited to be in this class, sharing my work with other writers and getting tips and advice. Now that I'm older and my writing has progressed, I think I will be able to get more out of this class.
However, many people may be confused by my choice of Social Psychology, especially when you consider that I could've taken Art or Drama. I don't think many people know that I am actually very interested in psychology. Psychology intrigues me, because as an author I need to get inside the heads of my characters. I think I have a very good intuitive understanding of psychology, but I am excited about taking a more formal course. Social Psychology is the study of how societies impact the psychology of the individual, exploring things like prejudice and racism. I chose Social Psychology because Cambridge didn't offer regular old psychology.
I am super-excited about going to Cambridge, and I am glad I have all your support!
God Bless,
Erienne
I was given almost forty choices for my "Major" and "Minor." I took a while, but I finally settled on having Creative Writing as my major and Social Psychology as my minor.
To those of you who know me, Creative Writing as a major makes perfect sense. I love to write, and the class is going to be taught by an English teacher and a published author. I have only taken one other writing class; a "Journalism/Creative Writing" class back in fifth or sixth grade under Mr. Haan. I am really excited to be in this class, sharing my work with other writers and getting tips and advice. Now that I'm older and my writing has progressed, I think I will be able to get more out of this class.
However, many people may be confused by my choice of Social Psychology, especially when you consider that I could've taken Art or Drama. I don't think many people know that I am actually very interested in psychology. Psychology intrigues me, because as an author I need to get inside the heads of my characters. I think I have a very good intuitive understanding of psychology, but I am excited about taking a more formal course. Social Psychology is the study of how societies impact the psychology of the individual, exploring things like prejudice and racism. I chose Social Psychology because Cambridge didn't offer regular old psychology.
I am super-excited about going to Cambridge, and I am glad I have all your support!
God Bless,
Erienne
Monday, April 27, 2009
#7 Where I'm Going This Summer
Ok, so, some of you may already know that I'm GOING TO CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND THIS SUMMER!!! I am super excited for it and I know it will be a lot of fun! It will also be the first time I've gone out of the country.
I'm going with the Oxbridge College Prep Experience, and the idea is that I'm going to go to college for a month in the middle of the summer. Some people may find that boring, but I find it awesome!!! I think I'm going to have a great experience and I'd love you all to read my blogs about it!!!
Check in later to read about my "Major" and "Minor" class choices!!
God Bless,
Erienne
I'm going with the Oxbridge College Prep Experience, and the idea is that I'm going to go to college for a month in the middle of the summer. Some people may find that boring, but I find it awesome!!! I think I'm going to have a great experience and I'd love you all to read my blogs about it!!!
Check in later to read about my "Major" and "Minor" class choices!!
God Bless,
Erienne
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
#6 January 20, 2009 Sore Feet
You may well ask why the title of this blog is sore feet. The answer: that is what I had by the end of the day.
First, of course, we got up at 4:40 a.m. so we could get to the Inauguration on time. We, amazingly, did it. Which means, of course, that the administration screwed up and the bus was two hours behind schedule. We spent a lot of time singing songs, talking about random subjects, and swearing at each other (others did this, not me). I have noticed that the more frustrating the circumstances are, the more inclined people are to swear.
When we finally got to the National Mall, it was jam-packed. I think there were a record-breaking five million people on the mall this morning. So we didn't get anywhere near the capitol. As a matter of fact, I couldn't even see the jumbo-tron that we were supposed to be able to watch. I was literally shoulder to shoulder and stomach to back with people I have never seen before in my life. And there were tall people with tall heads in my only line of vision.
So basically what ended up happening was I listened to the inauguration. Which was pretty powerful and moving anyway.
The crowd was wildly excited for Obama. Chants of "Obama! Obama!" filled the Mall. "Yes we can! Yes we have!" were the feeling of the day.
Until President Bush came on. No sooner had his face, or Laura's, or any of the rest of the Bush family appeared on the screen than the crowd began to boo him. It disappointed me. He was still our president, if only for twenty more minutes, and he still deserves our respect even though he isn't president. After all, we (and I'm saying 'we' as a collective people of the United States of America) re-elected him. He served two terms for us. And he did the best he could do under the circumstances.
And then Joe Biden got sworn in. I happened to notice that his Oath was a lot longer than the President's.
When Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in, I think he screwed up a bit. It may simply have been a problem with the acoustics and logistics, but I could've sworn that the judge had to repeat what Obama had to say. I smiled when I heard the stumble. Obama's not a god. He's a human being, and he's going to make mistakes. Don't be surprised when he makes them. Because I guarantee you he will. The slip-up in the Oath just reminded me that one of these days, Obama is going to seriously disappoint the people who voted him in. Because he's human and he'll make mistakes. It's just a matter of what the mistake was, and whether people will still have faith in him.
In a lot of ways, Barack Obama has more pressure than any other president has ever had. He has to have the fortitude and determination of FDR. He has to have the guidance and generosity of Abe Lincoln. He must have the diplomacy of Wilson, the tolerance of Jefferson, and the courage of Washington. Most importantly though, he will be representing the entire African-American population. People will look at any small weakness, in his character or his policies, and they will say, 'Oh, well, he didn't do it perfect, so no more black presidents.' As ambassador for black people, Obama must be immaculate in what he says, what he does, and what he makes policy. He will be allowed no Clinton scandals, no Bush shortsightedness, and no Grant drunkeness. This is the probation period, and Obama must succeed if the African-American people are to succeed.
Then Obama gave his Inaugural Address. It was astoundingly powerful. In this high-tech culture of instant knowledge, instant solutions, and instant gratification, Obama spoke of far-reaching goals, goals that would not be fulfilled in his first term, or even a second term, if he gets one. Obama spoke of hard work and the strength of the nation as a whole, against the overwhelming propaganda that the world caters to you. Obama extended the hand of friendship to those who had once been enemies, and summed it all up with the powerful statement, "America is ready to lead again." For the first time, I feel inspired to believe in Obama's goals, and see that they can be met. It may mean he's just a good speaker. But it may mean a whole lot more.
After the Inauguration, bad things again started happening. We walked down to Nationals Ballpark, where we discovered that the line was half a mile long and moving slower than a cat who feels he has nothing to do. I stood in line with friends for over an hour, and then we decided we weren't going to get to eat and left. Which meant I got no lunch.
So we went back to our hotels to get ready for the Gala. I had a few packets of chips, but I was still very hungry. We got on the bus and headed toward the museum where the Gala was to take place.
Where we got trapped by a bus line that extended for two miles and travelled slower than a cat who has been called to come, meaning that time went backwards. Worst yet, one of the kids led us on a sing-along of some of the most terrible songs I have ever heard in my entire life, coupled with horrible singers. A recipe for disaster, all-in-all.
We got to the Gala, and I was able to meet up with Mike and his friends. And then we got separated. And I started feeling sick. And I lost my ID card. And a hundred and one other pesky little things that made me sick and panicky. The Gala was pretty much a disaster for me, because I was feeling so sick to my stomach I couldn't enjoy it.
Then we got back home, and tomorrow at five I will be headed off to the airport with Mike and his dad. My roomate, Veronica, has already left. I hope to keep in touch with her after this.
Thank you for reading my blog. I hope, eventually, to put up a blog that has all the pictures from the trip I haven't posted here yet. This is pretty much the last chapter of my experience. And as I look back across the days, I discover that I met my expectations.
I did feel a part of history, and was moved by Obama's speeches. I met knew people and got to know them, and I had fun debating about religion and politics. And this conference was much, much better than the last one I went to. I believe this is mostly because I am older, less shy around new people, and more open-minded. I also think that having a focal point helped the conference to be better.
I had two highlights for this conference. One, was being there on Inauguration day and listening to Obama give his powerful speech. But for me, what was even more wonderful was something totally unexpected and last minute, even for the organizers of the conference. Desmund Tutu's message made a huge impact on me. A person can indeed stand up in front of a crowd of thousands, a crowd of both genders, all races, every religion, and still speak a powerful truth about God and his plan for the world. It was inspiring. I think more than anything else, I will take Desmund Tutu's friendly outlook, his faith in God, and his incredible ability to laugh at himself and keep on going to heart. I may not have told you this story, but at one point during his speech, Tutu said something along the lines of "You are seeing so much bad on the Internet. It's fantastic." What he meant, of course, was that it was fantastic (as in fantasy, hard to believe) that the Internet could bash kids over and over with this kind of trash. What it ended up sounding like was, "Yeah! It's great that kids get inundated with this stuff!" At this point, Tutu realized his mistake, and did a little hopping dance around the stage while laughing at his mistake. That was a pretty big error. And he just kept right on going in his speech. That's probably the most powerful part of his speech--the fact that he didn't get flustered or mad or upset, he just kept on going and finished with a wonderful message. But for me, it was the error that made the biggest difference.
Thank you once again, folks. You have no idea how much this means to me.
God Bless,
Erienne
First, of course, we got up at 4:40 a.m. so we could get to the Inauguration on time. We, amazingly, did it. Which means, of course, that the administration screwed up and the bus was two hours behind schedule. We spent a lot of time singing songs, talking about random subjects, and swearing at each other (others did this, not me). I have noticed that the more frustrating the circumstances are, the more inclined people are to swear.
When we finally got to the National Mall, it was jam-packed. I think there were a record-breaking five million people on the mall this morning. So we didn't get anywhere near the capitol. As a matter of fact, I couldn't even see the jumbo-tron that we were supposed to be able to watch. I was literally shoulder to shoulder and stomach to back with people I have never seen before in my life. And there were tall people with tall heads in my only line of vision.
So basically what ended up happening was I listened to the inauguration. Which was pretty powerful and moving anyway.
The crowd was wildly excited for Obama. Chants of "Obama! Obama!" filled the Mall. "Yes we can! Yes we have!" were the feeling of the day.
Until President Bush came on. No sooner had his face, or Laura's, or any of the rest of the Bush family appeared on the screen than the crowd began to boo him. It disappointed me. He was still our president, if only for twenty more minutes, and he still deserves our respect even though he isn't president. After all, we (and I'm saying 'we' as a collective people of the United States of America) re-elected him. He served two terms for us. And he did the best he could do under the circumstances.
And then Joe Biden got sworn in. I happened to notice that his Oath was a lot longer than the President's.
When Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in, I think he screwed up a bit. It may simply have been a problem with the acoustics and logistics, but I could've sworn that the judge had to repeat what Obama had to say. I smiled when I heard the stumble. Obama's not a god. He's a human being, and he's going to make mistakes. Don't be surprised when he makes them. Because I guarantee you he will. The slip-up in the Oath just reminded me that one of these days, Obama is going to seriously disappoint the people who voted him in. Because he's human and he'll make mistakes. It's just a matter of what the mistake was, and whether people will still have faith in him.
In a lot of ways, Barack Obama has more pressure than any other president has ever had. He has to have the fortitude and determination of FDR. He has to have the guidance and generosity of Abe Lincoln. He must have the diplomacy of Wilson, the tolerance of Jefferson, and the courage of Washington. Most importantly though, he will be representing the entire African-American population. People will look at any small weakness, in his character or his policies, and they will say, 'Oh, well, he didn't do it perfect, so no more black presidents.' As ambassador for black people, Obama must be immaculate in what he says, what he does, and what he makes policy. He will be allowed no Clinton scandals, no Bush shortsightedness, and no Grant drunkeness. This is the probation period, and Obama must succeed if the African-American people are to succeed.
Then Obama gave his Inaugural Address. It was astoundingly powerful. In this high-tech culture of instant knowledge, instant solutions, and instant gratification, Obama spoke of far-reaching goals, goals that would not be fulfilled in his first term, or even a second term, if he gets one. Obama spoke of hard work and the strength of the nation as a whole, against the overwhelming propaganda that the world caters to you. Obama extended the hand of friendship to those who had once been enemies, and summed it all up with the powerful statement, "America is ready to lead again." For the first time, I feel inspired to believe in Obama's goals, and see that they can be met. It may mean he's just a good speaker. But it may mean a whole lot more.
After the Inauguration, bad things again started happening. We walked down to Nationals Ballpark, where we discovered that the line was half a mile long and moving slower than a cat who feels he has nothing to do. I stood in line with friends for over an hour, and then we decided we weren't going to get to eat and left. Which meant I got no lunch.
So we went back to our hotels to get ready for the Gala. I had a few packets of chips, but I was still very hungry. We got on the bus and headed toward the museum where the Gala was to take place.
Where we got trapped by a bus line that extended for two miles and travelled slower than a cat who has been called to come, meaning that time went backwards. Worst yet, one of the kids led us on a sing-along of some of the most terrible songs I have ever heard in my entire life, coupled with horrible singers. A recipe for disaster, all-in-all.
We got to the Gala, and I was able to meet up with Mike and his friends. And then we got separated. And I started feeling sick. And I lost my ID card. And a hundred and one other pesky little things that made me sick and panicky. The Gala was pretty much a disaster for me, because I was feeling so sick to my stomach I couldn't enjoy it.
Then we got back home, and tomorrow at five I will be headed off to the airport with Mike and his dad. My roomate, Veronica, has already left. I hope to keep in touch with her after this.
Thank you for reading my blog. I hope, eventually, to put up a blog that has all the pictures from the trip I haven't posted here yet. This is pretty much the last chapter of my experience. And as I look back across the days, I discover that I met my expectations.
I did feel a part of history, and was moved by Obama's speeches. I met knew people and got to know them, and I had fun debating about religion and politics. And this conference was much, much better than the last one I went to. I believe this is mostly because I am older, less shy around new people, and more open-minded. I also think that having a focal point helped the conference to be better.
I had two highlights for this conference. One, was being there on Inauguration day and listening to Obama give his powerful speech. But for me, what was even more wonderful was something totally unexpected and last minute, even for the organizers of the conference. Desmund Tutu's message made a huge impact on me. A person can indeed stand up in front of a crowd of thousands, a crowd of both genders, all races, every religion, and still speak a powerful truth about God and his plan for the world. It was inspiring. I think more than anything else, I will take Desmund Tutu's friendly outlook, his faith in God, and his incredible ability to laugh at himself and keep on going to heart. I may not have told you this story, but at one point during his speech, Tutu said something along the lines of "You are seeing so much bad on the Internet. It's fantastic." What he meant, of course, was that it was fantastic (as in fantasy, hard to believe) that the Internet could bash kids over and over with this kind of trash. What it ended up sounding like was, "Yeah! It's great that kids get inundated with this stuff!" At this point, Tutu realized his mistake, and did a little hopping dance around the stage while laughing at his mistake. That was a pretty big error. And he just kept right on going in his speech. That's probably the most powerful part of his speech--the fact that he didn't get flustered or mad or upset, he just kept on going and finished with a wonderful message. But for me, it was the error that made the biggest difference.
Thank you once again, folks. You have no idea how much this means to me.
God Bless,
Erienne
Monday, January 19, 2009
#5 January 19, 2009 Fun, Games, and Laughter
First on the agenda for today was Al Gore. He spoke (for a VERY long time) on the subject of the challenges the government faces, and (of course!) global warming. Seeing Al Gore live was very, very interesting. It meant that when we saw the political satire group Capitol Steps portray him, I laughed so hard I nearly peed my pants.
After Gore, we went on a dinner cruise on the Potomac River. The views were awesome, and there was some major dancing on the boat. There were two serious dance competitions, although I wasn't in either of them.
Then we went to the DAR building and saw Reduced Shakespeare and Capitol Steps.
I probably laughed more tonight than I have ever laughed at one single thing in my entire life.
Reduced Shakespeare did American History Abridged. There were some crude jokes, and there were some physical jokes, but the funniest part was the cynicism of the whole thing. Some of the best parts were the Bill of Rights (All men created equal? Hahahaha!) as well as the Bill of Wrongs (people you barely know are not allowed to send you "amusing" emails). Then there was WWI, complete with modern weapons of mass destruction (super-soaker squirt guns) which they then turned on the audience. Lucky for me I was seated far enough away.
Capitol Steps is a musical company! Everything they did was not only political satire, but also a parody of a song. The best were, How Do You Solve a Problem like Korea?, Obama-Mia, There's a Hole in the Middle of the Ozone, Proud to Be An American (Where at least I have an SUV), Shamlet (starring the Queen of York, Hillary), and of course, Huckabee (to the tune of Let it Be).
The lines to Al Gore's "There's a Hole in the Middle of the Ozone" go like this:
There's a hole in the middle of the ozone,
There's a hole in the middle of the ozone,
There's a hole, there's a hole,
There's a hole in the middle of the ozone.
There's a ice cap melting from the hole in the middle of the ozone,
There's an ice cap melting from the hole in the middle of the ozone,
There's a hole, there's a hole,
There's a hole in the middle of the ozone.
And so on, continuing with lines like, "There's an ocean rising because the ice cap's melting from the hole in the middle of the ozone," "There's coastal land being lost from the ocean rising because the ice cap's melting from the hole in the middle of the ozone," "There's a state called Florida that will be gone with the coastal land being lost from the ocean rising because the ice cap's melting from the hole in the middle of the ozone."
And the best line: "There's a guy named Al Gore who would've been president and really wouldn't hate to see Florida disappear with the coastal land being lost from the ocean rising because the ice cap's melting from the hole in the middle of the ozone, so heck, who cares anyway?"
If you don't get that, sorry, it may just be a "had to be there thing." Sorry you couldn't. Be here, that is.
It was the funniest night of my life. And I'm sorry I can't tell you all the jokes right now.
So, gadies and lentlemen, this is Merienne EcCray, signing off.
God Bless,
Erienne
P.S. The video below is one I took while Al Gore was speaking. Sorry about the quality, I was taking it on my cell phone.
After Gore, we went on a dinner cruise on the Potomac River. The views were awesome, and there was some major dancing on the boat. There were two serious dance competitions, although I wasn't in either of them.
Then we went to the DAR building and saw Reduced Shakespeare and Capitol Steps.
I probably laughed more tonight than I have ever laughed at one single thing in my entire life.
Reduced Shakespeare did American History Abridged. There were some crude jokes, and there were some physical jokes, but the funniest part was the cynicism of the whole thing. Some of the best parts were the Bill of Rights (All men created equal? Hahahaha!) as well as the Bill of Wrongs (people you barely know are not allowed to send you "amusing" emails). Then there was WWI, complete with modern weapons of mass destruction (super-soaker squirt guns) which they then turned on the audience. Lucky for me I was seated far enough away.
Capitol Steps is a musical company! Everything they did was not only political satire, but also a parody of a song. The best were, How Do You Solve a Problem like Korea?, Obama-Mia, There's a Hole in the Middle of the Ozone, Proud to Be An American (Where at least I have an SUV), Shamlet (starring the Queen of York, Hillary), and of course, Huckabee (to the tune of Let it Be).
The lines to Al Gore's "There's a Hole in the Middle of the Ozone" go like this:
There's a hole in the middle of the ozone,
There's a hole in the middle of the ozone,
There's a hole, there's a hole,
There's a hole in the middle of the ozone.
There's a ice cap melting from the hole in the middle of the ozone,
There's an ice cap melting from the hole in the middle of the ozone,
There's a hole, there's a hole,
There's a hole in the middle of the ozone.
And so on, continuing with lines like, "There's an ocean rising because the ice cap's melting from the hole in the middle of the ozone," "There's coastal land being lost from the ocean rising because the ice cap's melting from the hole in the middle of the ozone," "There's a state called Florida that will be gone with the coastal land being lost from the ocean rising because the ice cap's melting from the hole in the middle of the ozone."
And the best line: "There's a guy named Al Gore who would've been president and really wouldn't hate to see Florida disappear with the coastal land being lost from the ocean rising because the ice cap's melting from the hole in the middle of the ozone, so heck, who cares anyway?"
If you don't get that, sorry, it may just be a "had to be there thing." Sorry you couldn't. Be here, that is.
It was the funniest night of my life. And I'm sorry I can't tell you all the jokes right now.
So, gadies and lentlemen, this is Merienne EcCray, signing off.
God Bless,
Erienne
P.S. The video below is one I took while Al Gore was speaking. Sorry about the quality, I was taking it on my cell phone.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
#4 January 18, 2009, Inspiration
Well, the title just about sums it up. I can't think of any better compliment I could give today. It was truly inspirational.
We started the morning out with a few icebreaker games, and then we started a discussion about prejudice and discrimination. It really opened my eyes to the kinds of people who are discriminated against and the ways people discriminate. People are quick to judge others and put them down.
Then we got on the bus. "Darth Scott" gave us a 'tour' of the city. For example, did you know that elevators were invented by Sir Thomas Elevator? Or that the seat was invented by "By Golly Molly" Seat? Or, my favorite, that white water rafting was invented by Sir Thomas White, his wife Molly Water, and their son, Tommy Rafting?
Anyways, when we got to the stadium, that's when the real inspiration began. We had two keynote speakers talk to us; General Colin Powell and Archbishop Desmund Tutu.
Colin Powell gave us a moving story about his life and how we are getting ready to change. The best part was at the end of the speech, when Powell was asked about his endorsement of
Barack Obama and his comment about the accusation that Obama was Muslim. He said the truthful answer is "No, he's been Christian all his life," but the right answer is, "So what?"
Then Archbishop Tutu spoke to us. Basically, he started with "God has chosen you from eternity" and he went on from there. :) Tutu truly inspired me. His message was both funny and motivating, and he used biblical examples of young people in the Bible standing up and doing great things, Joseph, David, Jeremiah, Mary the mother of Jesus...etc. He told us all that we are 'VSPs' -- very special persons. I liked that. He was incredible.
After that, we had lunch on the buses, and travelled down to the National Mall to watch the Opening Ceremonies for Inauguration Week, with performances from such people as Beyonce, Shakira, and Youtwo (and yes, I probably spelled that wrong). Well, we didn't actually get to see it, we watched it live on a big LED screen. Which meant it was almost exactly the same as watching it on TV, except we were a lot colder. We saw Obama make his speech, which was also very inspiring. For those of you who didn't get to see it, President-elect Obama told us that he saw hope and the future in every single person out on the National Mall. It was very moving.
Then we scurried back to the University of Maryland to have dinner, and then listen to blind mountain-climber Erik Weihenmayer speak to us. It was incredible. I am telling you, this guy was amazing. He not only got to the top of Mount Everest, he walked in places where one wrong footstep would mean his death. And he couldn't see a single thing. The clips and pictures he showed were spectacular, moving, and frightening. Erik had to walk across a crevice on a bridge made of rickety ladders strapped together. It was amazing. (BTW, Erik has his wife put the pictures together for his slideshow.)
All in all, an incredible day. I can only imagine what tomorrow will bring, considering we'll be hearing from Vice President Al Gore!
God Bless,
Erienne
P.S. My leader says Vice President is a title you get to keep for life, whether you actually are currently one or not.
We started the morning out with a few icebreaker games, and then we started a discussion about prejudice and discrimination. It really opened my eyes to the kinds of people who are discriminated against and the ways people discriminate. People are quick to judge others and put them down.
Then we got on the bus. "Darth Scott" gave us a 'tour' of the city. For example, did you know that elevators were invented by Sir Thomas Elevator? Or that the seat was invented by "By Golly Molly" Seat? Or, my favorite, that white water rafting was invented by Sir Thomas White, his wife Molly Water, and their son, Tommy Rafting?
Anyways, when we got to the stadium, that's when the real inspiration began. We had two keynote speakers talk to us; General Colin Powell and Archbishop Desmund Tutu.
Colin Powell gave us a moving story about his life and how we are getting ready to change. The best part was at the end of the speech, when Powell was asked about his endorsement of
Barack Obama and his comment about the accusation that Obama was Muslim. He said the truthful answer is "No, he's been Christian all his life," but the right answer is, "So what?"
Then Archbishop Tutu spoke to us. Basically, he started with "God has chosen you from eternity" and he went on from there. :) Tutu truly inspired me. His message was both funny and motivating, and he used biblical examples of young people in the Bible standing up and doing great things, Joseph, David, Jeremiah, Mary the mother of Jesus...etc. He told us all that we are 'VSPs' -- very special persons. I liked that. He was incredible.
After that, we had lunch on the buses, and travelled down to the National Mall to watch the Opening Ceremonies for Inauguration Week, with performances from such people as Beyonce, Shakira, and Youtwo (and yes, I probably spelled that wrong). Well, we didn't actually get to see it, we watched it live on a big LED screen. Which meant it was almost exactly the same as watching it on TV, except we were a lot colder. We saw Obama make his speech, which was also very inspiring. For those of you who didn't get to see it, President-elect Obama told us that he saw hope and the future in every single person out on the National Mall. It was very moving.
Then we scurried back to the University of Maryland to have dinner, and then listen to blind mountain-climber Erik Weihenmayer speak to us. It was incredible. I am telling you, this guy was amazing. He not only got to the top of Mount Everest, he walked in places where one wrong footstep would mean his death. And he couldn't see a single thing. The clips and pictures he showed were spectacular, moving, and frightening. Erik had to walk across a crevice on a bridge made of rickety ladders strapped together. It was amazing. (BTW, Erik has his wife put the pictures together for his slideshow.)
All in all, an incredible day. I can only imagine what tomorrow will bring, considering we'll be hearing from Vice President Al Gore!
God Bless,
Erienne
P.S. My leader says Vice President is a title you get to keep for life, whether you actually are currently one or not.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
#3 January 17, The First Conference Events
Above: My Roomates, Phillippa (top) and Veronica (bottom).
Hi again, everyone! Boy, is it late out here. The conference is already off to a behind schedule start, but it's ok, because it's not my fault. :)
Tonight we heard from two incredible speakers. The first was Doris Goodwin, who writes history books, mostly about presidents. Her special interest is Abraham Lincoln, and she talked to us about him for a while. We also heard from journalist Lisa Ling, who shared with us some of her incredible experiences on her trips for reports. Some of the most interesting stories were the Lost Girls of China and the North Korea trip. In North Korea, Ling had to give up her cell phone. North Koreans are so utterly disconnected from the world, they have no concept of any other way of life.
I am in Best Western Tyson's Westpark hotel, and my "presidential group" is Taft #21. Our bus is Turbo-Awesome-Fun-Bus #138. My faculty adviser, Darth Scott, should be a fun and interesting person to be with.
My two roomates are Veronica, from Cali, and Phillipa, from Indiana. Phillipa is currently rereading Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and I'm pretty sure Veronica is on my bus. They seem very nice (a lot nicer than the roomate I had last time). I'm much more excited for this trip.
God Bless,
Erienne
#2 January 17, 2009 Travel and Rest
The above pictures are of (left to right) Muhammed, Mike Sr., Rita, Little Mike.
Hello, again, people! I'm here at Mike's Aunt Rita and Uncle Muhammed's house. Yesterday we spent a long time flying here (7 hours!!) and now we're hanging around.
Rita and Muhammed are a lot of fun to be around. They love to talk and are a lot of fun to hang around. So, I'm kind of redundant.
Last night (11-12 here, 8-9 there), we were driving around FOREVER trying to find Bowie. Mike Sr. kept getting out of the car and asking for directions. Unfortunately, most of the people he spoke to had only a limited knowledge of the area. Or English.
We did, however, finally get here. Just a hint, don't go to the Taco Bell/KFC joint here. It took us twenty minutes to get through the line. And they ran out of the yummy chicken. And they gave us drumsticks that wouldn't satisfy a mouse. This is not quality service we're talking about here.
We slept a while. Like, seven hours. Luckily for me I was able to wake up at 8:15 and still feel nice and rested. Which, for the information of people at home, would be like waking up at 5:15. I fell asleep at about one, the Mikes at two. So we slept, but tomorrow is going to feel like torture, when we have to get up at, like, six. Which is like, three, at home.
Mike Sr. didn't get up until way late. But soon we'll be heading off to the conference. I'll tell you all about my roomate(s) when I meet her/them.
Write again soon,
God Bless,
Erienne
Rita and Muhammed are a lot of fun to be around. They love to talk and are a lot of fun to hang around. So, I'm kind of redundant.
Last night (11-12 here, 8-9 there), we were driving around FOREVER trying to find Bowie. Mike Sr. kept getting out of the car and asking for directions. Unfortunately, most of the people he spoke to had only a limited knowledge of the area. Or English.
We did, however, finally get here. Just a hint, don't go to the Taco Bell/KFC joint here. It took us twenty minutes to get through the line. And they ran out of the yummy chicken. And they gave us drumsticks that wouldn't satisfy a mouse. This is not quality service we're talking about here.
We slept a while. Like, seven hours. Luckily for me I was able to wake up at 8:15 and still feel nice and rested. Which, for the information of people at home, would be like waking up at 5:15. I fell asleep at about one, the Mikes at two. So we slept, but tomorrow is going to feel like torture, when we have to get up at, like, six. Which is like, three, at home.
Mike Sr. didn't get up until way late. But soon we'll be heading off to the conference. I'll tell you all about my roomate(s) when I meet her/them.
Write again soon,
God Bless,
Erienne
Friday, January 16, 2009
#1 January 16, 2009. Getting The Blog Up and Running
Hello, Trinity, and all those other people out there!!
It's me, Erienne, and I'm really excited for this new blog. I'm going to be using this site to post pictures, reviews, and a short rundown of my day. Thanks for reading this. I hope to keep you updated about the events of the inauguration.
In about three or so hours, I will be getting on the plane to go to Washington, D.C. So right now I'm going to talk about my expectations for the Inaugural Conference.
Those of you who saw my interview on KOHD know that I'm excited about going to this because this is going to be history in the making. That's the coolest part. I am living in a period of incredible history. I remember 9/11. I have seen the effects of the War on Terror. And now I get to witness, live and in person, the Inauguration of the first black president. This is history. And I get to be there.
I'm also hoping to learn a lot about what it's like to be president. Many of the activities that the conference will be doing with us are geared toward presidency and presidential campaigning. I hope to gain many insights into the president's life and use my new knowledge of leadership to lead others when I get back to Trinity.
I also hope to have a lot of fun!!!
As I keep you guys updated, I also remind myself about what has happened and what will be happening. Once again, thanks for reading, and I hoped to keep you posted.
God Bless,
Erienne
It's me, Erienne, and I'm really excited for this new blog. I'm going to be using this site to post pictures, reviews, and a short rundown of my day. Thanks for reading this. I hope to keep you updated about the events of the inauguration.
In about three or so hours, I will be getting on the plane to go to Washington, D.C. So right now I'm going to talk about my expectations for the Inaugural Conference.
Those of you who saw my interview on KOHD know that I'm excited about going to this because this is going to be history in the making. That's the coolest part. I am living in a period of incredible history. I remember 9/11. I have seen the effects of the War on Terror. And now I get to witness, live and in person, the Inauguration of the first black president. This is history. And I get to be there.
I'm also hoping to learn a lot about what it's like to be president. Many of the activities that the conference will be doing with us are geared toward presidency and presidential campaigning. I hope to gain many insights into the president's life and use my new knowledge of leadership to lead others when I get back to Trinity.
I also hope to have a lot of fun!!!
As I keep you guys updated, I also remind myself about what has happened and what will be happening. Once again, thanks for reading, and I hoped to keep you posted.
God Bless,
Erienne
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