My Reasons
“The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."--Walter Bagehot
For a while, I have had a journal that I have been typing all my experiences in, but I think I'll go ahead and get a head start on the actual travel journal made specifically for my travel to England. I was accepted to join the study abroad program with about 29 other people last spring and while there are four people, including myself, traveling to England, I am the only one heading to this specific region of England. Everyone else will be heading to the center or south to my knowledge, but in a way I am sort of glad that no one else from this region will be attending.
It's contradictory since I'm all for the buddy system, but at the same time I don't want to be constantly chained to someone I know. Some people are flying together, but I don't mind flying alone as long as I get a window seat. My mom is afraid of planes in general and was born on 9/11 (not the same year I assure you) and my dad is really into safety, and after the attempted terrorist attack they have been frightened even more about my ideas to fly to England, but I have my motivations and I will be the first person out of my family to leave the country--not counting uncle Cecil during WWII--in possibly 200-300 years. At least, that long since anyone in my family has been back to the "Motherland".
My reasons for going:
1. I am majoring in Communication, but my focus is more on Media. Unfortunately, the college I attend does not have a practical Media Communication curriculum, so many people from my major travel here to take a few classes in Media Communication. Don't get me wrong, I love the major and especially impressed with the professors within my major, but it is more focused on theory rather than hands-on (which is expected in a liberal arts college).
2. I used to work for the newspaper before they went downhill. It was almost a rite of passage that the majority of the staff travel to this college and take a few media/journalism courses.
3. Both of my parents have British roots and my last name is very British. I am interested in Geneology and would love to maybe get a clue as to where my relatives may have lived, what their namesake may have meant (other than the research I have already done on surname and etymology sites), and what legacy they might have left. For all I know, this name could be like "Smith" in America or "Patel" in India.
4. Ok, frankly I did want to study abroad in more foreign countries, but when people hear you're an American...we have very few allies left. I knew that Britian and Australia were allies and while I love and know a lot about Australia (Darren Hayes!) I am also afraid of spiders (which 9 of the 10 top poisonous kinds live in Australia). Therefore, since I figured I wouldn't have to learn another language in Britain (boy was I wrong...I fear I might understand Spanish more) and that I wouldn't be shot for being an American (since guns are illegal) I decided to go there.
5. There have been so many people that went in the past that it is sort of inspiring. I have a sort of mentor I'll call Kay and there's currently a person within my major over there now. Kay has been so helpful with information about the town and she's so enthusiastic about the subject b/c she wants to go back, so she doesn't mind if I ask her a bazillion questions. I can't wait to become that kind of mentor to others. There are two people planning on going during the next fall semester and I told both of them that I'll be available for contact b/c I'll be able to connect on-line.
When I go to England, I'm going to hopefully have a weekly weblog so I can show all of you parts of England while I show my parents that I'm ok, my friends and future travelers that I'm doing well, and my professors and parents and other powerful people that I am indeed being a good little girl and their support has made a difference.
To those who have made tireless efforts to raise me, let go enough so I can take this trip, supported me, wrote referal letter after referal letter on my behalf (though I know that all of you were busy), didn't beat me upside the head for asking dumb questions such as "does nationality mean race", and helped me in any way possible--even if it was just saying "good luck" or giving me a cookie--I thank you. To future travelers, hang in there and don't feel dumb for I assure you I will make dumber mistakes or ask dumber questions than you will ever ask.
For a while, I have had a journal that I have been typing all my experiences in, but I think I'll go ahead and get a head start on the actual travel journal made specifically for my travel to England. I was accepted to join the study abroad program with about 29 other people last spring and while there are four people, including myself, traveling to England, I am the only one heading to this specific region of England. Everyone else will be heading to the center or south to my knowledge, but in a way I am sort of glad that no one else from this region will be attending.
It's contradictory since I'm all for the buddy system, but at the same time I don't want to be constantly chained to someone I know. Some people are flying together, but I don't mind flying alone as long as I get a window seat. My mom is afraid of planes in general and was born on 9/11 (not the same year I assure you) and my dad is really into safety, and after the attempted terrorist attack they have been frightened even more about my ideas to fly to England, but I have my motivations and I will be the first person out of my family to leave the country--not counting uncle Cecil during WWII--in possibly 200-300 years. At least, that long since anyone in my family has been back to the "Motherland".
My reasons for going:
1. I am majoring in Communication, but my focus is more on Media. Unfortunately, the college I attend does not have a practical Media Communication curriculum, so many people from my major travel here to take a few classes in Media Communication. Don't get me wrong, I love the major and especially impressed with the professors within my major, but it is more focused on theory rather than hands-on (which is expected in a liberal arts college).
2. I used to work for the newspaper before they went downhill. It was almost a rite of passage that the majority of the staff travel to this college and take a few media/journalism courses.
3. Both of my parents have British roots and my last name is very British. I am interested in Geneology and would love to maybe get a clue as to where my relatives may have lived, what their namesake may have meant (other than the research I have already done on surname and etymology sites), and what legacy they might have left. For all I know, this name could be like "Smith" in America or "Patel" in India.
4. Ok, frankly I did want to study abroad in more foreign countries, but when people hear you're an American...we have very few allies left. I knew that Britian and Australia were allies and while I love and know a lot about Australia (Darren Hayes!) I am also afraid of spiders (which 9 of the 10 top poisonous kinds live in Australia). Therefore, since I figured I wouldn't have to learn another language in Britain (boy was I wrong...I fear I might understand Spanish more) and that I wouldn't be shot for being an American (since guns are illegal) I decided to go there.
5. There have been so many people that went in the past that it is sort of inspiring. I have a sort of mentor I'll call Kay and there's currently a person within my major over there now. Kay has been so helpful with information about the town and she's so enthusiastic about the subject b/c she wants to go back, so she doesn't mind if I ask her a bazillion questions. I can't wait to become that kind of mentor to others. There are two people planning on going during the next fall semester and I told both of them that I'll be available for contact b/c I'll be able to connect on-line.
When I go to England, I'm going to hopefully have a weekly weblog so I can show all of you parts of England while I show my parents that I'm ok, my friends and future travelers that I'm doing well, and my professors and parents and other powerful people that I am indeed being a good little girl and their support has made a difference.
To those who have made tireless efforts to raise me, let go enough so I can take this trip, supported me, wrote referal letter after referal letter on my behalf (though I know that all of you were busy), didn't beat me upside the head for asking dumb questions such as "does nationality mean race", and helped me in any way possible--even if it was just saying "good luck" or giving me a cookie--I thank you. To future travelers, hang in there and don't feel dumb for I assure you I will make dumber mistakes or ask dumber questions than you will ever ask.
posted by Novice Novelist | 7:38 PM
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