*Gasps*
Wow. That title was a mouthful. *clears throat*
My friends, by now you must be wondering.
Last year, during January, I believe (in this little post here), I had announced my acceptance into an English summer school hosted at none other than the esteemed Oxford University.
I also said that I was going to blog about my adventures, studies, and goings-on.
Well, I didn’t lie. I was going to go, but that trip did not happen.
At the last moment, my family and I caught cold, and there was nothing we could do. How could we get onto a plane and leave for a foreign country with a cold?
That was madness, and it was out of the question.
However, the advisors and coordinators of the summer school gave me a second chance.
And that second chance is in July of this year.
Indeed, my friends, this July (NEXT MONTH!), I shall be walking the cobbled streets of Oxford, the very same ones trodden by Lewis and Tolkien themselves.
The summer school I’m attending at Oxford has tons of courses to choose from, but I chose Creative Writing as my intensive. I will be on site at the world’s most esteemed uni for two weeks on dorm, studying with only three other students in my chosen intensive: one from Spain, one from Austria, and one from Finland.
The joy is beyond words.
Before the school, however, my family and I will be in London for a week to explore the UK’s capital city, we’ll be in France, and maybe possibly Ireland, which are both only a train/plane ride away.
While in London, my family and I are going to see all the usual sights: the Tower of London, Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, and I am overjoyed at the thought of seeing Dickens’s burial site at Westminster Abbey. I am enthralled with the Anglican churches and cathedrals in Europe, and I hope to see some of the unique ways people worship Christ around the world.
The British Museum, National Gallery, and the British Library are all on my artsy must see list. I love art. And books. And History. And old things.
Sorry. I’ll stop ranting now.
I am also excited for London as it is a kind of Sherlock fan pilgrimage. All the most iconic film locations are mapped out on our destination list…the site of 221B on what is actually N Gower Street, St. Bart’s Hospital, Adler’s flat in Eaton Square (#posh), the fake houses at 23 and 24 Leinster Gardens…ahhh. My mind palace is on fire with excitement!
And then there’s the old 60’s blue box in Earl’s Court Station that looks an awful lot like a certain time machine driven by a very British Time Lord from Gallifrey 😎 .
We may even go and visit Highclere Castle…
More commonly known as Downton Abbey ❤ !
We depart to jolly old England at the end of June, and we return around the first week of August.
Our adventures in France and Ireland will take place about a week into our trip.
Anyway, friends, I just wanted to update you all on this delightful little thing happening this summer. I am bringing my laptop with me, so I will be posting throughout my time in Europe. I also want to try to complete a few vlogs, now that I have iMovie and a MacBook Pro (my baby), and I’ve made some pretty awesome and professional looking short videos already.
So grateful for this opportunity, and I do believe it will be the trip of a lifetime.
Comment below on sights you want to see me cover on the vlogs or blog posts, and I’ll be sure to give shout outs when I post about them!
Until then, my friends!
Cheers!
Emily 🙂
(*squeals in delight*) Oh, Emily, I’m so excited for you!!! I can’t remember if we’ve discussed this before, but I actually spent two weeks in England back in 2013–and it. Is. AMAZING. You should definitely spend some time on the real Baker Street. I hadn’t even seen Sherlock back then (though most of my friends had), but I knew enough about it to shout, “HEY LOOK AT THE STATUE OF SHERLOCK” and get a big kick out of the Sherlock silhouettes painted on the walls of the Baker Street Tube Station. There’s a Sherlock Holmes Museum there as well, I believe.
Same story with the TARDIS–erm, I mean, police box–at Earl’s Court. I saw it while in a cab; we drove past it, and as soon as I saw it, my head spun around like an owl’s! Pretty sure I shouted “THE TARDIS,” and my grandparents (with whom I was traveling) had no idea what I meant. I wasn’t a Whovian then, either, but I had so many friends who loved Doctor Who at that point, I HAD to know about Gallifreyans and TARDISes. So basically, I’ve just been screaming about Secondhand Fandoms for a long, long time XD
You’re going to love Westminster Abbey! The Sunday worship service there is so beautiful; I just wish I’d had a deeper appreciation and love for cathedrals back then. And Buckingham Palace–*SWOON!* Windsor Castle is a real treat, too.
I can’t wait for all your posts about this trip. You’re going to have so much fun!
Thanks for your lovely comment, Maribeth!
I hope we can see the real Baker Street – I’m sure we will. The Sherlock Holmes museum looks very interesting.
And yes the TARDIS! Haha loved your little “erm, I mean, police box–” I giggled.
My parents actually want to take all of us to a service at the Abbey, which I am so looking forward to. I’m excited for everything! Can’t wait to cover everything and share it with you all!
Cheers,
Emily 🙂