With our final week off to a busy start, there are only seven more days until we head for home. Finals began on Saturday and continue through Friday of this week, though for most of us they are pretty well spread out. Aside from studying, things are relatively quite around here, as half our final mark rests on the results of these tests.

Looking forward to our last upcoming weekend in London. A full day in the city topped off by our final trip to the theatre to see Shakespeare Abridged, a fitting end to all who were in the class The Plays the Thing.

It is hard to believe that the semester has come to an end. It seems as though just the other day we had arrived at Heathrow, and on the other hand we have seen and learned so much that it sometimes feels like it must have been years.

In all this has been a wonderful experience, and most certainly the highlight of my college career. So here’s to our last week at Wroxton College. My best to everyone back home.

Cheers!

KEN

Week Twelve!

With final papers completed and handed in last week, the weekend was a much welcome sight. Beginning on Thursday, Thanksgiving back in the Sates, the abbey was full of guests, former students, parents and, of course, ourselves, feasting on a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, which made for a wonderful and memorable evening, though for most of us, our first away from home. Now with the holidays un-officially in full swing, we will be decorating the tree in the great hall on Tuesday, and enjoying our last two weeks together.

With a few more classes this week, not to mention finals, which begin on Saturday, the real celebrating has not yet begun. So here’s to our final week of classes here at Wroxton College, and to a semester which has gone by all too quickly.

My best to everyone back home.

Cheers!

KEN

Week Eleven!

With the semester drawing quickly to a close, there is much to do in preparation for final papers and tests. With all of our papers due on Friday, everyone is busily working to complete them; as well as mentally preparing for what will be the first time in my life that I will be going to school on Thanksgiving Day. Think about it, ever since kindergarten this has been a four-day weekend… but over here, it’s just another Thursday.

There will be a party Thursday night however, with turkey and all the trimmings. We certainly will have a lot to celebrate, not least of all the fact that England won the World Cup of Rugby this weekend, and of course with papers in and only final tests to worry about.

This has been a challenging semester in terms of classes and the quality of work expected, yet nothing unattainable with the right balance of fun, travel and studying (on the side).

Wishing everyone back home the Happiest of Thanksgivings.

My Best,

KEN

Cheers!

Week Ten!

This past weekend was fantastic, our last full-weekend trip, we went to Scotland. Once we arrived the weather could not have been better. Staying at a hotel in the heart of Edinburgh there was much to see and do. From Castles to Whisky they had it all! On Saturday a few of the guys and myself made it up to St. Andrews for an unforgettable round of golf on the oldest golf course in the world. What a fabulous day, crystal clear along the North Sea with only the occasional 40-50 mph wind gust to contend with. We all shot a reasonable game, but that took a back seat to the precedence of the history and excitement of playing where it all began.

Back in Wroxton now, for a fast past conclusion to the semester, with only a few weeks left, time is flying and deadlines keep getting closer. Somehow it will all get done in the end, I mean it better anyway. So that’s all for now, here’s to another unforgettable weekend at Wroxton! My best to everyone back home.

Cheers!

KEN

Week Nine!

Last week seemed to end before it began, and as unbelievable as it sounds November is here and there’s less than a month and a half to go. Everyone had fun at our Halloween Party on Thursday night, lots of laughs and great costumes, though the locals don’t really give much thought to the holiday.

We spent the day on Friday in London, now almost all decked out in holiday regalia as the Christmas season lasts for a full two months over here, (with no Thanksgiving and all). We also witnessed last minute preparations for Santa, who made his debut in Harrods on Saturday. Friday night we capped off the evening with a group trip to see the London production of Blood Brothers. What a fantastic show, I don’t believe that there was a dry eye in the house.

Saturday we took a trip over to Stonehenge. It’s certainly an experience to see forty-five ton rocks still standing where they were placed some five thousand years ago (Though who on earth would try to move them, so of course they would still be there.) Regardless, they are a wonder of the world and I’m glad I got the chance to see them.

Looking forward to another great week at Wroxton, and to our trip to Scotland in just two weeks, where the boys and I are, of course, squeezing in a round of golf at Saint Andrews.

My best to everyone back at home.

Cheers

KEN

Week Eight!

Returning to Wroxton after a wonderful break seems to have given everyone a new boost to get through the second half of the semester. With many of us off to the continent or to an island get away, it is clear a good time was had by all.

My week in Paris was amazing, it was everything I had imagined and more. The people were great, the food was fantastic and an evening beneath the Eiffel Tower is enough to take your breath away. The chance to get away from it all and travel with old friends who flew in from the states, and share the pictures and stories with new friends at home, here at Wroxton, added to a really great week. Travel break has become so far the highlight of my semester, save for all the great friends I have made here at the college.

The week a head promises to be a busy one, as we get right back into the swing. However, along with a trip to London on Friday to see the play "Blood Brothers" and Stonehenge on Saturday, there is still much to do and see before the term is up.

My best to everyone back at home.

Cheers!

Week Six

With the end of another busy week, I headed to London on Friday, with my art class to the Royal Academy and the National Gallery. You can never get tired of London.

We had a great time, as usual, a really fun small group, with a great professor makes the experience that much better. If you have any interest in the arts, as many in Europe certainly do, take the art course, it is worth wile in seeing so many great collections.

Saturday we spent the day in Wales, touring the capitol of Cardiff at our leisure, surprisingly despite the warnings, the weather cooperated as well and we had a great time. A culture in many ways different from that of England it was certainly an experience to be had.

With this being the last week before travel break its crunch time to get all papers completed before we all head out. Everyone is looking forward to the break, it’s been a great seven weeks but it will be nice to get away.

Heading out to France for most of the week ahead and back to hang out with friends in London, before heading home to Wroxton.

Here’s to another great week!

Cheers,

KEN

Week Three!

Greetings from England! I cannot believe we are beginning our fourth week already. Time seems to fly by with so much to do. This past week our art course took a trip into Oxford, focusing on the galleries at the Ashmolean, Christ Church Picture Gallery, and the Modern Art Oxford. The collections at both the Ashmolean and Christ Church were breath taking. I don't particularly care for modern art, but this was somewhat bearable. The British art class is certainly all encompassing and full of information as well as history; certainly a must for anyone interested in the arts.

Saturday was the best day of the week. We left Wroxton at noon to head for the local Premier football stadium (soccer in the states). Astin Villa, the home team, played an amazing game and pulled out a win of 2-1. But I must say, the best part wasn't the team at all but the fans. The fanatical chants, cheers, songs and swears, to which we all took part in, were the highlight of the day. All directed to the smaller, segregated stands occupied by the away fans, which despite our numbers provoked and cheered just as much as we did. The experience of British football mania was all I imagined and more. The fact that we won was an interesting side note.

The weather continues to be fantastic, and daily games of American football have begun this week. Teams are at times, shall we say lop-sided, but always in good fun.

Here's to another great week!

Cheers,

KEN

Week Two!

Another beautiful week in England, save the occasional evening shower the dry, warm cloudless days have prevailed over yet another week. After a full week of classes, this past weekend we were able to enjoy Stratford-upon-Avon, London, and Brighton, a resort-like beautiful town on the Southeast English shore.

While in London on Saturday, fifteen of us attended the performance of "The Taming of the Shrew", at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. I must admit however, when I heard we would have to attend for class I wasn't exactly enthusiastic about going, as a groundling, with the ever present chance of rain. Yet the all FEMALE cast was astounding. I almost forgot I had been standing for three hours. The theatre itself was an experience alone. The recreation of the original theatre was amazing.

Discovering much of the grounds surrounding the Abbey this week. Walking the many trails was a great chance to get away from it all, if only just for an hour at a time.

Everyone here is great, so far we are all getting along quite well

This coming week is promising to be busy of course with classes, but I am looking forward to next weekend, when we will be attending a league football match, or soccer as we know it back in the states.

Here's to another great week in England!

Cheers,

KEN

Week One

Arriving in England only eight days ago, the semester, classes and weekend trips are already in full swing. Within the first few hours of our arrival to the wonderfully adorned, Wroxton Abby, we enjoyed High Tea, as we do every day, and an orientation on the foreign country we would make our home for the next three-and-a-half months. Though sharing a common language (of sorts) it did not take long to realize the differences in culture, style and mannerisms, which exist here.

For instance, the weather, quite remarkably has been beautiful for the past week. With blue skies and warm temperatures it was easy to pick-out who didn't belong, as the proper English man would never be caught publicly in shorts, quite contrary to some here from the states.

The use of words and their meanings are also different. Popularly, the word "Cheers", is used frequently and in place of; "Thanks", "Hi", "Later", and many other short hellos and goodbyes. In addition to this, at our orientation, we were informed the English have more words for the bathroom, than the Eskimos do for snow. After only a week, I can certainly vouch for that!

Classes are moving along smartly, with a full course load last week, and my first tutorial beginning tomorrow at 10:00am. Academically I am prepared for a tough semester, however the professors are great and extremely helpful, which should help ease the pain just a bit. Understanding each professor expects 100% regardless of what time one may have stumbled in from the Pub.

This evening we returned from a weekend trip to London. The University provided transportation and in turn we found a great hotel in Paddington. Taking in the sights for three days, by double-decker buss, underground, train, boat and taxi, there was little of London we may have missed.

It certainly was a fabulous weekend from the London Eye, to Big Ben and of course, "Live from Las Vegas, The Rat Pack" on Friday night. The show was to die for. As a true and sincere fan of Francis Albert, I must say this London production was tops. So real you didn't have to close you eyes to imagine a thing. You were there! Frank, Dean and Sammy, the closest I'll ever be to the real thing, was just the icing the cake to an unforgettable weekend in London and great first week at Wroxton.

My Best to everyone