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December 2011

Hello. I'm Brennan Girdler, a junior Creative Writing and Philosophy double major from the University of Evansville. I was born in raised in southern Illinois, a couple counties east of St. Louis.

From America,

Well, I'm back home, unpacked, twiddling my thumbs and thumbing through my thousands of pictures from the best semester of my life!

My time at Harlaxton didn't feel like school, but a fully immersed experience where I was able to learn and globalize myself with 150 other students. We parted with heavy hearts, but by the time finals rolled around last week we knew it was time to go. While several of us went to Italy, and others flew straight home, we knew then that the greatest chapter of our college experience was ending, but, on the bright side, at least a dollar in the US is worth an actual dollar.

It was strange being home for the first week. Paper was a different size, Taco Bell was on every corner, and I haven't been asked "you a'right?" for over a week! Only now am I realizing the impact my time abroad has had on my life, but luckily I came back with few regrets.

I mostly stayed in the UK, figuring that it was better to learn, in depth, about one country rather than making random excursions into the continent. I feel I know more British history than most Brits, which has led to a unique understanding about American history itself.

While it is hard to be back I am relieved that it is over. Four months ago I was worried about packing, flying, how to use the rail system and losing my passport. But now, in hindsight, I realize all of those little panic attacks I had were reflections of my excitement.

I had a good one, Harlaxton, and hopefully soon I'll be back.

— Brennan Girdler, '13

November 2011

One month left? When did that happen!

Between travelling, tests, papers and enjoying the semester, there's no time for spare time. It's been over two months, and in 30 days I'll be landing in Chicago O'Hare. It's not as depressing as it sounds, though, because I know I'll make the most of the next month.

In a day I'll be leaving flying into Venice with a handful of friends, and the week after is Dublin, meaning my days of travel are far from over. But that brings me to another point, about pacing, because I know plenty of students who traveled non-stop into October, and are twiddling their thumbs until the school-sponsored Italy trip in December. I don't regret travelling slow or taking weekends off, because I know I won't miss anything, because there's so much to see and do everywhere in the UK.

So far, some of my favorite trips have only been a day or two long. I went up to York the other day, and from there took the train to Edinburgh. All in all it was only a 48 hour trip, and the time constraint only helped me dive right into Scotland and make the most of my time. If I had to choose between several short trips, or a few longer ones, I'd pick the former because, as a compulsive traveler, I'd rather see and experience as much as I could instead of shacking up in a Barcelona for four days, only leaving my hotel to flounder about on beach (or, on second thought...).

I remember being warned about "culture shock," but after two years in college and two months in the UK, very little surprises me, though a lot of things have become more interesting. The closest I have gotten to being completely off-balance was when I solo-traveled to Stockholm, and spent three days trying to be a tourist in a city without much to do for tourists. But I survived, as students often do, and have learned that it isn't really so bad having a wonky and exhausting trip when I know Harlaxton is only a two hours flight away.

— Brennan Girdler, '13

October 2011

Five weeks abroad is a long time to be away from home…but no one is complaining here! Harlaxton has become a sort of basecamp for us, a place to plan trips, take classes, make friends and, most of all, a place to go home to.

I started my semester in London with the school-planned trip, then Stratford with my literature class, followed by a weekend alone in North Wales. I didn't go with a plan, not even a map. I had one objective in mind — go see some castles. And castles I saw, five to be precise, and a handful of other historical and cultural sights. I'd say my excursion into Wales has been the most educational and rewarding trip I've had in my life, but I still have two months to go. Speaking of which, I'm off to Stockholm, Sweden, tomorrow afternoon. Why? Not really sure, but when you can book flights for less than £30 there's not really an excuse.

Adapting to the UK is an ongoing, but within a week of landing at Heathrow it starts to come naturally. I don't think in dollars anymore, I don't check my cell-phone every minute, and I've had more fish in a month than my entire life (again, not complaining!).

But each of us, I've found, are experiencing the UK in our own ways. I went castle-hopping across Wales, relying solely upon bus-drivers' directions and a shabby map in Welsh I got from a convenient store. Others travel in small groups for Barcelona or Madrid, and some take day trips to Nottingham or see a cricket match. But no matter what you do this place changes you. From the slang the locals teach to navigating the Underground you can't help but learn something, and it's only our loss if we don't take advantage of Harlaxton and the wonderful opportunities our home away from home brings us, where you can find students cramming for exams in the library and cold pizza in every refrigerator.

— Brennan Girdler, '13

Even after 37 hours of riding a plane, waiting at O'Hare, airplane food, and a final coach-ride from London, as soon as Harlaxton Manor became visible through the drizzle and fog I knew I wasn't in Illinois anymore. In fact, it was someplace much better.

Hearing stories from previous Harlaxton students and seeing pictures on brochures doesn't give justice to what I experienced as I came into the Great Hall. I honestly didn't know what to except. Is it a castle? Do I carry a torch or sconce to class? Is there indoor plumbing? But what I soon discovered was a perfect balance between aesthetic beauty and modern amenities, and immediately became both comfortable and fascinated with the manor and grounds.

Our first priority is education, of course, but, by being in the UK and surrounded by dozens of countries just a cheap plane ticket away takes education out of the classroom. I found myself in London on the first full weekend, the largest and richest city in Europe, and if the other trips are half as good I'm going to try my best to make it back to Harlaxton in the future.

We recently had a very special event put on by actors from the Old Vic, including two UE-Harlaxton alumni and Kevin Spacey. Sounds unbelievable, I know, but that's Harlaxton. They did a half-hour of select scenes from Romeo and Juliet for the students. We were seated in the Great Hall when Nathan Darrow (UE alum) comes in with a monologue, and before we know it a side door creeps open and here comes Romeo, speaking feverishly to the skies. But soft — from the balcony above Juliet appears. The balcony scene alone was incredible, utilizing the actual configuration of the manor the way the players did. And soon enough Kevin Spacey wed the two, who, to our dismay, died. Fortunately they allowed another half-hour for questions.

It's been a journey already, these few weeks, and I already booked tickets for Stockholm, and plan on Ireland and France after that. I'm grateful to the Harlaxton Society. Their scholarship is helping to make my extra travels possible. Thanks to those who've gone before and are helping us current students.

As for the manor, my home, I'm still happy to find myself lost.

— Brennan Girdler

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