Friday, 1-5-96
5:50 PM London
11:50 AM E-Town
I am writing this from a coach (a comfy bus). Myself and over 20 other ISA students are headed for our family stays in Chester, England. By bus, Chester is about 5 hrs. NW of London. Chester is rather near Liverpool where Graham Reed, from camp this simmer, lives. But I think I will have to come back this way another time to see Graham & his town.
This morning I had orientation & registration at Birkbeck College. 2 of the staff members went over some details with us & then gave us tours of the campus, unions, and libraries.
Since Birkbeck is a division of ULU (the University of London), as a student I have access to the ULU union & sport facilities. I may even check out some clubs?! ☺︎
After that tour I took the tube back to Pembridge Gardens w/ Jill, Kelli, Aimee & another girl whose name escapes me, but she goes to UVA and lives here at Goldhurst Terrace. We got a bit lost & so by the time we got back I had to eat lunch & pack quickly!
The family I am going to visit are at the Barnes. Simon & Helen are in their late twenties or early thirties, according to the lady from Chester on the bus. They are a nice couple she said. Well, I am excited to see for myself! ☺︎
Many of the other students aren’t as psyched for the visit, but I believe we all will enjoy our stays & experiences this weekend…
It is true what they say about this time abroad being an amazing learning experience! Already I am realizing things about myself, my ideals, and attitudes towards others…
As with college freshman year, I find it interesting that certain people find it necessary to bring friends on experiences, such as college & study abroad. I, who tries to push myself to learn, often on my own, am often frustrated to see close friends use each other as security blankets.
But I try not to be overly judgmental…
We all do things & came here for different reasons…
I have heard that there are 2 kinds of experiences one can have here in Britain: a British Experience in Britain, or an American Experience in Britain. I came here for a British experience, and want to remember that when I feel drawn to “cliques” or safe hang-outs w/ Americans too often… I truly want to return home on May 6th knowing more of British culture, living, & the people, from 1st hand knowledge and experience! I believe this family stay I am about to go on will be a great beginning! ☺︎
My thoughts and prayers go out to and are with my father. As I write this he is more than likely in surgery getting his right knee replaced… May the Lord bless him & hold him in the palm of his hand during his surgery & recovery. Also my thoughts & prayers lie with Mom and & Meg, especially following the surgery, for they will be his support, while keeping up with their own lives & responsibilities w/ work & school. May they know that I am with them all in spirit & in my heart, now & always. ☺︎
— Later
P.S. After not talking to Tom Wilcott (a school mate from my Willard & Haven days) — who will be studying at Birkbeck too this semester — we finally exchanged pleasantries at the last rest stop. I knew he remembered me, but until that very moment we spoke I had yet to encounter him alone. Usually he is with his entourage of fraternity brothers from home (6 in all) whom he came with. It was good to say, “Hello.” He seemed glad to chat. ☺︎
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Note from Present Day Kathy: This is the second time that I mention, in my journal so far, getting lost while trying to navigate London on the Tube, which I found funny. Granted it was only Day 5 and clearly didn’t seem to faze me that much, other than my having to rush a bit to get ready for our trip to Chester.
I’ve noticed that at times in my journal I mention places I intended to get back to and/or people I’d hoped to see during my time abroad, knowing now that I never got there or saw some of them, which is bittersweet to recall. I did end up getting together with (not his real name) Graham from Liverpool, towards the end of my trip, in London, but don’t remember why I never made it to his hometown for a visit, as I seemed to think in this entry I might.
At 43, it’s amusing at times to read my perspective at 21, talking about the things I was “realizing” about myself, my ideals and attitudes towards others. And I was cracking up that I said, “I try not to be overly judgmental,” as opposed to being judgmental at all/in general! 😂
I also loved the part about wanting to having a British Experience in Britain vs. an American one, and how I liked to challenge myself back then not to cling to security blankets, as it seemed some of my peers were doing, by studying abroad with friends who they spent much of their time with there.
22 years later, I still try to challenge myself at times to have adventures/do things on my own, such as taking solo overnight train rides, on the City of New Orleans from Chicago to NOLA (and back) in July 2017 to attend an annual conference for health and fitness coaches that I go to every summer.
Also, it’s interesting for me to see how I spoke of my faith, when referencing my dad’s surgery. I was really into my faith during my college days, which I talk about a lot in these journals. And remembering how homesick I was at times, while studying abroad, I think I found comfort turning to God and in my faith. I still have a strong faith now, but in a somewhat different, more spiritual and less traditionally religious, way.
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Reminder: Unless I’ve been given permission to use people’s actual names, in most cases I’ve removed or replaced the names of the real people who were part of my journey/experience there, in effort to protect and respect their identities/privacy in my London Semester Journal entries. I will also not share details that I think and feel are too personal for anyone I interacted with, my loved ones, and me.
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Here’s the back story of My London Semester Journals from 1996, including what prompted me to revisit and decide to share them here in 2018. And here’s a list a list of the entries, which I will update as I share them.
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