Day 11

Hello everybody! This is Esther and Yu Xin! We're going to be blogging about Day 11!

So today, we woke up at 7.40 because we were ignoring the alarm (heh) and then we went for breakfast. Apparently, we are in the midst of the Bank Holiday weekend, so the hotel is extremely packed! As a result, we had to give up our family rooms of four people per room, and move into double rooms. Thus began the epic reshuffling of accomodation!

Following that, we made our way to the Imperial War Museum ON FOOT. The Imperial War Museum is extremely grand-looking, with two large cannons at the front. Below is a picture of the Museum (which will be placed here at a later date :D ):

In the museum, we were encouraged to view the Holocaust exhibition on the third floor. However, we were also given around two hours to explore the all areas of the museum. Indeed, the Holocaust exhibition was impactful and thought-provoking. It successfully managed to cover the entire topic. It was able to explain the causes of both the mass extermination of the Jews, as well as both the causes and effects of the Second World War. The exhibition contained both personal recounts and photographs. What we found especially memorable about the exhibition was the small-scale model of the Auschwitz concentration camp. The model showed tiny figurines of Jews pouring out from the mini trains, and entering the gas chambers to be executed. IT WAS SAD!! I (Yu Xin) was also somewhat angry after seeing records of the Nazis' wretched behaviour towards the Jewish people.

Another interesting section of the Imperial War Museum was the art gallery, which showed impressive art pieces created by war veterans and modern artists. For me, the most remarkable piece of art was the painting Gassed, painted by John S. Sargent. No photos could be taken in the gallery, but here is a picture from the Internet:



I viewed different things from Esther. One painting that struck me was "The Cemetery, Etaples", a relatively realistic painting of several women, mostly widows, at a cemetery in France post World War I. Behind them was placed a rushing steam train, which was meant to symbolise the fast pace of life, which goes on even after the death of the soldiers. After reading the description, I was slightly affected by the depressing mood of the painting...

Following that, we made our way to Camden Market for lunch! From the museum, we walked to Lambeth North station, and then we took about 20 minutes to reach the station Camden Town, which was buzzing with activity. It's actually a lot like Singapore's Bugis Street, except on a larger scale. Everything from clothes to food to souvenirs were sold, and actually I expected the wares to be cheaper than Singapore's but alas, it was not to be ): although the things sold at Camden Market are probably cheaper when compared to the proper shops in London.

We next made our way to Waterloo Station, and we walked to the London Eye from there! It is rather small in comparison to the Singapore Flyer, but still as grand! There was a really long queue, it being a Bank Holiday weekend, as previously mentioned, and everyone was jostling to get onto the pods. Anyway, we eventually got onto one of the pods, and there was a spectacular view! We saw many of the landmarks pointed out by our Blue Badge Guide yesterday, including St. Paul's Cathedral and the House of Lords. And we even tried to find our hotel (Travelodge Southwark), though I doubt we were successful!

The day ended with a really good but terribly filling dinner at Nando's. And now here I am, blogging to you from Travelodge London (Southwark), from room _ _ _ (don't think I can put the room number here :DD).

Love, Esther and YX

Day 8- St. Mary's and THE 39 STEPS

DAY 8: We started the day at St Mary's in Cambridge in the morning, and were greeted by one of their English teachers, Mr Peachy. The students are preparing for their O's at the moment, so we didn't get to meet any students our age. We met some of his students, aged 14-15, and split into groups for a discussion between students of the two countries.

It was interesting to note the differences between our schools and hobbies. Students at St Mary's have opportunities to take a wide range of up to 14 classes, selecting 10 for their O's. Although they are a smaller school(500 in the senior school, aged 11 to 18, and 200 in the junior school, aged 4 to 11), their subject choices are broader and more varied, including Latin, Religious Studies and Textiles. They are also offered the opportunity to take two other languages besides English, without a selection process. They were very warm and welcoming, and we exchanged contacts and gifts at the end of the discussion.

Following that, we were given a tour of the school. Here's us in the common room at St. Mary's:

The walls are lined with the students' coursework, from paintings to fashion design and textiles. It could be seen that they were very talented individuals. We stepped into a few classes, including a very engaging discussion taking place in the sixth formers' Classics class with only 4 students, and a series of very charming drama presentations by the junior students.

After the school visit, we left for London. We settled into the Travelodge there and met for a debrief, then set off for dinner at a restaurant in Chinatown. The Chinese food was surprisingly good, and we enjoyed some very "intellectual" dinner conversation.

We then walked to the Criterion to watch 'The 39 Steps'. The Criterion was a charming little theatre that was smaller than our school auditorium.

The play is a comedy based on Alfred Hitchcock's film with the same title. The story is originally from a book written by John Buchan ('The 39 Steps'), but Hitchcock changed some of the details, adding female characters to make the plot more exciting. The play is rather comic compared to the more serious movie.

The play is acted by a cast of 4 actors. There is one actor who plays Richard Hannay, the protagonist. The other 3 characters play all the other characters- the good the neutral and the bad. Altogether there are 3 men and 1 woman. Richard meets a mysterious foreign woman who tells him that there is a conspiracy going on, some very important national secrets are about to be stolen, that would threaten the whole of Britain. The woman is found the next day dead, and he has to escape both the police and the conspirators.

It was absolutely fantastic. It was amusing largely because of the excellent comic timing between the actors. The transitions of actors from one character to another, whether on stage or back stage, were seamless and flawlessly smooth to the point of laughter. The crew was also excellent. The comic timing depended on coordination between actors and the lights and sounds. Additionally, there were special shadow puppetry effects at some points of the show. All these were highly enjoyable and could not be done without the impeccable timing and skill of the crew. It was on the whole, at Charlotte says, 'sharp'.

Furthermore, the actors frequently broke out of the fourth wall. Their actions and words were deliberate (and outrageously hilarious). Often one would be stunned, or one's expectations flipped. Moreover, the actors had excellent voice and acting, and that led to the whole enjoyment of the show. All their characters were portrayed very differently, and with deliberation. The references to Alfred Hitchcock's films were also humorous in their own way, as famous films like Vertigo and Psycho were referenced at some parts of the show.

It was an enjoyable night for us (well at the very least for the two of us), and we went back to the Travelodge worn out but very happy.

Day Nine (Do you bite your thumb at me, Sir?)

Hello! This is Alicia and Hui Han. In a few words, day nine was a day of back to back activities, tired feet and much enjoyment.

In the morning, we took the London tube! (From Southwark to Temple station) For some of us, this was the first time on the tube, so naturally, there was much anticipation and excitement. The station façade really reminded us of our MRT station but the train itself had much differences. The individual carriages were separated by doors, and the seats on the train were foldable so as to maximize space. Another thing that caught the attention of some was the fact that the commuters kept strictly to the right hand side of the escalator, something that is unfortunately, a relatively uncommon sight in Singapore.

After a few stations and some walking, we arrived at King’s College (London) where a couple of really enthusiastic and welcoming students gave a short admissions talk about the UCAS, the five different King’s College campuses, student accommodation (guaranteed for only one year) and the social life of a King’s student (more than 180 clubs!). Following that, we had a tour of the Strand (one of the five King’s campus) and a visit to the campus library (which had lovely round rooms and two stories high bookshelves!). And yes, we did ask for our third and final set of prospectus. Some interesting and unique courses that King’s has include midwifery and War (a multidisciplinary study of the impact of wars on society, moral and ethical dilemmas during wars, contemporary security threats and peace support organizations ).
The first difference between King’s and Oxbridge that struck us was that the campus building was definitely much more modern (with concrete rather than bricks). Something else that we noticed was that the school population in King’s was more racial diverse than Oxford and Cambridge.

Next stop, the Globe theatre including a walk over the Millennium Bridge. There, our guide introduced the theatre to us and a managed to sneak a peek at a Macbeth rehearsal (fight scene!). The current Globe was built some 10 over years ago by an American architect. Because it is round, some people have described being in the theatre as being caught in a hug :] We also learnt that the groundlings who had no seats and had to stand and watch the play used to pay only one pence back in Shakespeare’s time. That’s roughly 5 pounds in today’s currency. The groundlings back in the old days had no access to proper toilets during the play and so they answered their calls of nature where they were standing. Guess the ground in front of the stage must have been really fertile then. Following that, we had a drama workshop that was really enjoyable! After a warm up which involved us trying to use a sword (our index finger) to stab our friends hearts (a hand placed behind our back), we split into groups to act out a scene from Romeo and Juliet (Thumb biting scene). Gradually, we added in stage movements, hand actions and emphasis on stress words.

After the globe theatre visit/workshop, we went off for lunch! We split up and had lunch at EAT/ Marks and Spencer. After which, we crossed the Millennium Bridge again and arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice. The court was a really beautiful place, a pity pictures were not allowed inside. At the court, we were taken to one of the courtrooms, while an explanatory talk was given. The talk was given by a retiree who had returned to give voluntary tours around the RCJ. He briefly shared with us the history of the RCJ, such as who designed the place and how it was designed. Every courtroom in the RCJ is different (the one we were in was the biggest one), and there is an imperfection in the RCJ which was made on purpose. He also explained to us that the RCJ does not take criminal cases (it mainly takes civil cases and appeal cases), before explaining to us the different levels of courts and various divisions of court such as the chancery division (for wills, contracts, bankruptcy, etc). After which, he explained the different roles in a courtroom and where they stood. We think that the RCJ visit was really interesting and enjoyable, and the experience of sitting in a courtroom was quite cool. Furthermore, the volunteer/retiree gave a really clear explanation, and he really sounded as if he enjoyed what he was doing!

We proceeded to walk all the way back to the globe theatre after the RCJ visit, for a dinner at Pizza Express before Henry VIII at 7.30p.m. Pizza was yummy! And some of us decided to get some gelato for dessert! After which, we readied ourselves to take on our (wonderful?) roles as GROUNDLINGS! It was free seating (rather, standing) so we rushed in at 7.00p.m to get a good spot, though we didn’t really very good spots. The play began, and I must say, I was really lost and confused at the beginning when all the dukes and men started talking and I had no idea who they were and what they were talking about! But after awhile, I began to understand what was going on, and I must say I enjoyed the play! Even though it is a historical play (hence lacking an exciting plot like Romeo and Juliet), the costumes and characterization were still very impressive. I really loved all their processions and ceremonies, especially the party when King Henry VIII met Anne Boleyn, as well as the final dance (with the cool clapping and turning). Queen Catherine’s character was also very well crafted, as her old and helpless state after the divorce evoked much sympathy in us, and the use of the servants who crowded around her also had much impact. Even though being a groundling meant aching and stiff legs for three hours (before walking back to the travel lodge!), I must say it was very interesting being a groundling (especially when the characters brushed past!) and it certainly kept many of us awake!

Day 9 was definitely the MOST TIRING day of the entire trip. There was so much walking, but at least it was good exercise, and there were many new, exciting experiences!

Day 7 - Cambridge

So the day started out with a walking tour of CAMBRIDGE (obnoxious much hahah). Our guide was a nice old lady called Mavis Drake :D And she's really cool and really likes lots of Apple products (ie. iPad, iPod). Plus, she can ring huge church bells even at her age. She is one of those who are really proud of being in Cambridge. Through the random facts she likes to share with us, we felt the (friendly) rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge.

Cambridge is the university of some very renowned people (including 87 nobel laureates) and really famous people whose our science classes are based on...

F=MA

That's Newton's first law... And Newton studied at Cambridge's Christ College. :O

Other famous graduates are Lord Byron, the mad bad and dangerous to know!

We went to a bar (which was haunted, of course) and Mavis tried to convince us that all the 007 came from cambridge.

to be continued...

Friends, food and fabulous fun

New friends at St. Mary's

Chilling out at 6th Form lounge

Rice!

The Crown

West End production of 39Steps

Oxford-Cambridge: Cambridge-Oxford: Which is which?

Avenues?

Quad or Court?

College buildings?

or

Punts?

Some pix

Dove Cottage Museum

Contemplation: Swans upon the Bowness Lake, Windermere

Oscar of Haworth: Mosey Cosy

Haworth: Horses!

Drama workshop at Stratford

W.S. Yay!

Claire, our drama teacher

More photos to come...

Oxford (Day 6)

HELLO!

This is Lauren and Crystal, and we are your bloggers for today :)

Time does fly, it is already day six! Today was full of interesting and new experiences to say the least. We tried our hand at punting, visited the Ashmolean museum/ went shopping and had an admissions talk as well as a Philosophy lecture!

Punting. Punting was indeed an unique experience. Then again, it felt somewhat like kayaking (the one we all had a go at during OBS). Some of us were really good at punting but unforturnately, some of us weren't and for those who weren't as capable in that sense, it felt pretty daunting. For one, our group wasn't able to complete the route because we were stuck going in circles for 45 minutes and eventually took another 45 minutes to get back to the rental station. Quite an experience indeed! Some groups were most definitely more successful and some even managed to establish their own methods of punting. Nevertheless, we are certain that everybody learnt a lot from the experience! :)

After punting, half of us visited the Ashmolean museum and the other half went shopping around Oxford's city district! Both parties enjoyed themselves very much! Those who visited the Ashmolean museum were full of praise for its fabulous and wide-ranging exhibits while those who went shopping came back with some great buys.

Following that, we proceeded to walk to St. Catherine's College where we had an admissions talk by an admissions officer from the college. We are sure that most of us have gained much from the talk! Personally, we gained new insights on college life, the support network as well as entry requirements.

Some information for those who did not take notes! :)

Background information on the U

The University of Oxford is the oldest English-speaking university and it has been around for over 900 years. Over time, it has produced 47 Nobel Prize winners! What's special about Oxford is it's turtorial teaching system which they claim is "unsurpassed elsewhere today". Currently, 14% of Oxford students are international students.

As an Oxford student, one would be a member of the University, a department as well as a college! There are also many sports (E.g. Tennis, Fencing, Dance, Horseriding, Ice Hockey etc) and clubs and societies (E.g. Law Society, Harry Potter Society, Oxford Optimists, Jazz Society, Wine Tasting Society etc) that one can join or participate in as a student at Oxford!

Entrance Requirements

Generally, 3As at the A Levels is a must! Oxford also seems to focus a lot on academics! During the admissions talk, they stressed the importance of being academically inclined and interested in the study area of your choice. One must also show aptitude and potential. To apply, you would have to submit your UCAS application (5 UK university choices, personal statement etc.) by 15th October and your interview application in Sept. As of now, interviews will still be conducted in Singapore. However, in the future, interviews might be conducted via Skype/ in Oxford etc!

Considerations

- High School Transcripts
- Exam/ Predicted Grades
- Personal Statement
- Teacher's Reference
- Pre-Interview Tests (esp for popular courses like medicine, law or PPE)
- Written Work
- Written Tests at Interview
- Interview(s) - Interviews are said to be entirely academic and will be discussion based. It is usually 20-30 minutes long and it should be intellectually challenging! It should somewhat take the form of a mini tutorial.

Fees

About USD$16, 000 for 30 weeks living expenses, and USD$40, 000 or less for course fees. Scholarship applications and more information can be found at the website: www.admissions.ox.ac.uk. The student union website is as such: www.ousu.org.

After the admissions talk, we had a Philosophy lecture by a Philosophy tutor from Oxford! He talked to us about "The Explanatory Gap". The philosophy lecture we had was certainly mind-blowing and somewhat different from the philosophy lessons we had in school. It was to some extent mind boggling and at times, we were not exactly sure of the direction we were heading. Despite our many questions, the lecturer was extremely kind and he tried to answer most of the queries we had. At the end of the day, philosophy seemed to leave us with more questions that answers. But as the lecturer said, philosophical discussions leave us more enlightened although we might not come to any concrete conclusions! All in all, a very enlightening lecture indeed. In addition, he added that philosophy can be applied to various other fields such as Science. For example, after a certain level, all scientific knowledge can only exist as theories and assumptions before mankind, as of now, is limited by our knowledge constraints.

Interesting huh? (:

Our day ended off quite nicely with a dinner at Browns' restaurant where we all had lots of fun! Right now, we've reached the Travelodge in Cambridge and are more or less settled in. So...that's all for now!

Goodnight!

P.S. Photos will be uploaded after the trip! :)

Day 5 (Oxford)

Hooya this is Jesslene and Hui Qi who are your bloggers for the real Day 5. We are officially in the scenic town of Oxford (which Huiqi always thought just referred to the school) that is currently on a rare heatwave (remember to drink lots of water). This can be seen in the photos by the realllly bright sunlight. Alright. So, just a mini-recap and little thoughts for the sights and sounds of today.


First of all we met our blue badge city guide, who turned out to be a real pro. Bringing us to the doorsteps of a few colleges - Christ Church, St. Catherine, Merton, and a few others that we didn't really went into. We can see the importance of their gardens by noticing the really generous amount of space that is allocated to their well kept lawns and I think this is really unique of Oxford and England. Singapore pales a little in comparison.


Christ Church is really pretty and of course we all learnt about the Harry Potter filming as well as other locations. What Huiqi really likes is the insight on C.S. Lewis and how we learn the inspiration behind his stories - the wonderful Alice and the rabbit hole, etc. Another major attraction is the cathedral itself, which really is awe-inspiring and certainly beautiful.


Alright so we went into St. Catherine and we had a lecture on Jane Eyre. We learnt more about the different possible ways we could read the book. We considered how we can read a book and approach it from different angles, which is something we've never considered. I guess we get really caught up in trying to understand the content most of the time that this is something really new and it most probably never occurred to us that we should consider the writer and the historical context in which it were written.


St. Catherine is really different though, in its clean lines and modernity. I think that today's tour of Oxford was really enriching because we got to see and contrast the different colleges.


Understandably everyone felt a bit overdressed during the dinner but I think we guys looked presentable. The dinner was very interesting because we got to speak to very friendly alumni that were eager to share as well. The shared background of a NY girl really helped to bridge any gap and we had a lovely time with them. The most valuable part of the interaction is most probably getting to know more about how they integrated into the local culture. As we heard from them, the social life of the locals are built on the basis of alcohol, pubs, and partying (which our seniors were not comfortable with). Our seniors also mentioned that although they might be able to communicate with the locals, they did not forge especially close bonds with them.


This is Hui Qi and Jesslene, signing off.

Day 4! :D

Hello everyone!

This is Joyan and Michelle, blogging for today’s events(: So the very first thing we did today was to go for the Drama workshop in Juliet Room. Unfortunately there was a small mishap when the timings were mixed up. Apparently we were to report at 9am, and the very nice trainer – Claire had been there since a quarter before 9. However due to some miscommunication, we only reached slightly before 10am. Thankfully everything was soon settled by our awesome teachers and we were able to attend the workshop successfully!

I think the Drama workshop was really quite a success as Claire was very entertaining and also introduced us to many different and eye-opening drama exercises. One example would be the exercise where we were to pretend to be objects that complemented other objects. This forced us to think out of the box and also think of apt actions to represent the objects!

Claire also introduced to us the different forms of comedy such as black comedy, miming, comedy of the manners and so on. Later, we even had the chance to act out a short excerpt of a play written by Shakespeare involving two pairs of twins. This was especially interesting and funny as some of our classmates could really act super well! It really showed us how every word, action, and movement can mean so much and bring across completely different meanings.

I think the drama workshop was truly an eye-opener, allowing us to step out of our own normal characters and try to be somebody else completely different.

After the drama workshop, we went to visit Shakespeare’s birthplace. First we went through a museum showcasing Shakespeare’s history and his works. I was really inspired by this because the various short video clips shown of Shakespeare’s works really showed how his works have been adapted and acted out throughout the years, transcending all time boundaries. I think it’s good too that the United Kingdom, in particular this place we went to today – Stratford, prioritizes culture so highly. Clearly a lot of time and resources had been spent on building the museum and every part of the museum was designed exquisitely.

Later at Shakespeare’s birthplace, we also got a sense of how Shakespeare lived his life when he was a young kid, and even a teenager like all of us! The houses then in his time were vastly different from the sort of houses we live in these days. So it was really very interesting to see how a famous writer was born and lived in those days!

Following that, we had lunch (Pasty Presto’s!) at a park in the Town Centre. The park was extremely interesting as there were many other people having their own picnics at the park! There were families, teenagers, couples and many different types of people. Not too far off from where we were eating was an entertainer who called himself a ‘magician’. Personally, I found him rather annoying but he was able to attract quite a number of people who surrounded him and sportingly helped him in his acts, giving him money afterward.

We had our mini amazing race around Stratford-upon-Avon after lunch! I felt that it was the highlight of the day as we were able to experience the Shakesperean culture of this town for ourselves and get to know more about him and his works through exploring the area and doing the tasks ourselves. We were to split into groups of 4 for this activity, with people that we had not been sharing the same room with. I grouped up with Esther, Simhwee and Charlotte while Joyan grouped up with Hui Han, Eugenia and Charis. We were given a number of tasks relating to the town, Shakespeare and literature, and we were to finish the tasks by a stipulated time. The first task we had was to take a picture in a jest pose. For my group, we had a cute family of 4 help us take a photo :D We then rushed down to the lake to take a picture with the swans at the lake. On our way to the next task, we saw a fountain designed in the shape of two metal swans and decided to take a picture of it just for fun :D Not being able to find the location of our next task, which was the Shakespeare monument, we asked a policeman where it was (:

I found the monument extremely interesting and I felt that it adequately portrayed some of Shakespeare’s best works and the different genres. To me, the masks on the monument were especially fascinating as the masks had either a smiling or a frowning face and each had various types of plants pouring out of its mouth, symbolising the many types of genres. Another of the tasks was to go to Shakespeare’s grave and write what was written on his gravestone. I did not realise that Shakespeare was actually buried within the church! (Holy Trinity Church, to be exact). We then headed to the school where Shakespeare studied at, taking a picture of it. While looking for the school, our group got lost! We couldn’t find the road that the school was on (when we followed the map) and we had to ask many passer-bys where the school was.

The second last task was to go to Waterstone’s bookstore, find three of Shakespeare’s plays and take a picture with it, making sure that we took a picture with it that depicted the title of the book. Last but not least, we had to post a letter to Juliet’s balcony in Verona!

Overall, I really enjoyed the entire experience as we were able to mingle with the locals (by asking them directions!) and we got to feel the culture of the place by running around looking for items that belonged to Shakespeare. For me, I learnt to interpret literature by experiencing it and acting it out (: Special thanks to the teachers for planning this and allowing us to run around on our own! :D

Tata! :D

--

Joyan and Michelle (:

Day Three (Haworth and Stratford)

Salutations! Greetings from the North! This is Charis and Celine, your bloggers for today.

Today we left the beautiful Lake District (sob D:) and headed for Yorkshire, more specifically, Haworth, where the famous Bronte family lived. The Bronte family are an extremely important fixture in the history of English literature, and being as this was a literary tour, it was essential that we visit. While we were coaching to the house of the Brontes, (this has now been converted into a museum to pay homage to the Brontes) we were struck by the beautiful landscape, not beautiful and serene like the Lake District, but fierce and treacherous and wild, with the rough terrain and the craggy moors with tufts of grass all over the place, almost liberating in its wildness.

When we reached the Bronte house, we were taken for a talk, which educated us on the life and times of the Bronte family, and the circumstance under which the three most famous sisters (namely Emily, Charlotte and Anne Bronte) might have written the classics which made them timeless. As many of us had not read the Bronte books, this talk was certainly an eye-opener and it really helped us understand the history behind this obscure and mysterious literary family.

Then, we took a tour round the Bronte house. It was especially impactful to see so many of the items that the Brontes themselves might have used, more notably, Charlotte's gown, and the chair in which it is said that Emily died in. It drove home the fact they were real people, not just a fixture in literature, or a fixture in the past, but they lived and breathed and they were people, real, talented people who left behind a legacy that will stay with the human race forever. And this was really a mindblowing thought and it really made an impact on us.

After that, we went to the souvenir shop and all of us attempted to buy down the store, but failed, thankfully, otherwise our luggage would have been stopped at the airport going home. :)

We then headed down in the coach to Stratford, thus leaving the North for good (sob D:) We were to watch a play that night, Romeo and Juliet, performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company. As we've all analysed the play in our Sec 2 LA classes, most of us were familiar with the play. We thought the acting was rather splendid and the whole atmosphere of the theatre and having a play brought to life was an excellent experience for us all.

Finally, we rushed back to the travelodge, fatigued but happy. We thought it was an extremely enriching and fun day, and we look forward to more happy days to come! :)

This is Celine and Charis, farewell and good night!

Day 2 (Kylie and Yu Jie)

Hey everyone, sorry about the late post (it's currently Day 5 right here and we're in the beautiful Oxford!). Right after arriving in Manchester airport, we set off for Lake District and visited poet William Wordsworth's houses. The first house we visited was called Dove Cottage, a small, rather dark cottage where he lived with his wife, sister and children for 9 years. We really wonder how they managed to live in such conditions fo so long! O:

An interesting fact is that they managed (apparently) to keep their food, wine and vegetables fresh for up to 2 weeks in a cool room. We were shocked at the size of their beds and furniture as they were quite tiny. We also visited the garden that Wordsworth landscaped. However, it was not as nice and as large as the one in Rydal Mount, his second house.

After we proceeded to Rydal Mount, where he stayed till his death, we were clearly able to see why he wanted to move there. It was a much larger house where his many children could stay comfortably. The garden was spectacular, with many picturesque scenic views and trails where we could walk. It overlooked the rivers and lakes around the house, and we even sat and lay on the grassy lawns (which was really quite well maintained!).

We also found out that the house has been owned (and is still lived in by) Wordsworth's descendants. (To digress now, the people around us are taking pictures of some spiderlings on the table right next to us. GROSS!) It must be fascinating to know that their ancestor was a famous poet; Yujie finds it really cool that there are also pictures of his descendants on the wall.

After this interesting experience, we took a cruise on the beautiful Lake Windermere, which is England's largest natural, ribbon lake (aka it is long narrow and finger like). The cruise lasted about 30 minutes but it felt much shorter as there were so many things to look at! The geography students were fascinated with the mountain and houses that overlooked the lake. :)

Dinner was at one of England's famous pub houses. We each had three different types of meat (turkey, beef or pork) and we could try the different types of sauces (eg. brown sauce) meant for each type of meat. We also stuffed ourselves with the wonderfully sweet and rich desserts! Lovely, yum yum!

Annnnnnd that concludes our post for Day 2.

DAY ONE :DD (teck and simhwee!)

GOOD MORNING NANYANG!!!

Day 1 - CHANGI AIRPORT!

Hello everybody! Today was our 'first day' at the Changi Airport. Many parents came to see their daughters off. We checked in 8pm and we had time for a light supper at Coffee Club/other food stalls. Some of us had the time to go shopping and got necklaces!

We entered Gate 14 and waited for a while before we boarded the plane. The plane ride was 13 hours, which most of us split between sleeping (or not, apparently, according to Jessica), watching movies/tv shows (Including The Spy Next Door, Scooby Doo, Percy Jackson, etc.), listening to music, playing games and eating plane food (good/bad depending on who you ask!). We also had a nice pilot who was extremely enthusiastic and entertaining, which made our trip very enjoyable.

We had to stop over at Munich at 6am for about an hour, till we travelled for another 1h and 45mins to Manchester Airport. Manchester marks the start of Day 2 :]

Photos will be added after the trip!

Love,
Teck and Sim Hwee

P.S. UK IS AWESOME <3333333333

We Have Arrived - Message for parents

We landed safe and sound in Manchester Friday morning. All the girls were instructed to call/text parents upon arrival in Manchester. Unfortunately it seems some of them did not..

We were delayed in landing so had to go straight to the Lake District. The SIM cards were not available at the airport and, due to the delays, we did not have time to make a de-tour to buy them - we hope to get them in Stratford (Saturday evening).

So to confirm: we have just arrived at our Travelodge in Bury for the night (now 10pm Friday) and we will be leaving for Haworth and Stratford tomorrow morning. Apologies for any undue concern caused - everyone is fine.

Blue Jackets - All Sorted

3/14 have donated three jackets so everyone should have one. If anyone is missing one, please let me know!

Blue Jackets

Could someone (Amanda/Yu Jie) please give me an update re: how many blue jackets we are short of pls?

Oxford University

Oxford

One of the oldest surviving universities in the English-speaking world, and among one of the highest renowned universities in the world.

University Colours: Oxford Blue

Motto: Dominus Illuminatio Mea (The Lord is my Light)

Oxford student population of over twenty thousand comprises of students from 140 countries and territories, a third of which are from outside of UK.

The academic year runs from October to June, and is divided into 3 eight week terms: Michaelmas (autumn), Hilary (Spring) and Trinity (summer).

Major events include: The Boat Race, Varsity Football Match,Varsity Rugby Match, Encaenia (when the University awards honorary degrees and commemorates its benefactors) and Degree Days (takes place throughout the year, when students graduate).

The Collegiate System

Oxford University comprises of 38 independent, self-governing colleges.

"All Colleges invest heavily in facilities for extensive library and IT provision, accommodation and welfare support, and sports and social events. The relatively small number of students at each college allows for close and supportive personal attention to be given to the induction, academic development and welfare of individuals.

Each college has its own Governing Body, comprising the Head of House and a number of Fellows, most of whom also hold University posts. There are also six Permanent Private Halls, which were founded by various Christian denominations and still retain their religious character."

History: Key Events

1096: Some form of teaching known to have existed in Oxford

1167: This developed rapidly when Henry II banned students from attending the University of Paris

1190: Arrival of first overseas student, Emo of Friesland (haha, what a name.)

1355: Edward III paid tribute to the university for its unsurpassable education and the services rendered to the state by alumni

1833: From this year, Oxford sought to revitalise the Catholic aspects of the Angelican Church

1860: Historical debate between Thomas Huxley and Bishop Wilderforce takes place in University Museum

1878: Academic halls establish for women

1974: All colleges changed their statutes to admit both men and women

Norrington Table:

The Norrington Table is an annual ranking that lists the colleges of the University of Oxford that have undergraduate students in order of the performance of their undergraduate students on that year's final examinations.

Currently, the Norrington Table is calculated by awarding 5 points for a student who receives a 1st Class degree, 3 points for a 2:1, 2 for a 2:2 and 1 for a 3rd, divided by the maximum possible score (i.e. the number of finalists in that college multiplied by 5), and expressed as a percentage (rounded to 2 decimal places) per college. Although the difference between the highest places on the table is usually very slight, the top colleges remain very competitive about their rankings on the Table. Their competitiveness has been heightened in recent years by increased media attention on the rankings.

Previously the university had refused to endorse an official table, leading to inaccuracies (see Criticisms below), so the university finally published its own rankings using examination results from all final year undergraduates in 2005.

Applications to Colleges:

· Apply around September-October in your J2 year, results are out usually in December-January

· UCAS forms (Common Application) allows you to fill in five UK schools of your choice

· You can only choose either Oxford or Cambridge to apply for, you cannot choose both

· When applying, you can choose colleges in Oxbridge of your choice; alternatively you submit an open application, which means if accepted you would be placed in colleges which have vacancies

· Some colleges look more at your academic performance as compared to your extra-curricular activities

Notable Alumni:

26 British Prime Ministers, including Margeret Thatcher, Tony Blair and most recently, David Cameron.

Bill Clinton, 42^nd Prime Minister of the United States

Authors like C.S Lewis, author of the Narnia Chronicles; J.R.R. Tolkien, author of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy; Joseph Heller, author of Catch 22; Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland, and many others.

Poets like Percy Shelley, T.S. Elliot, A.E. Housman and John Donne.

Actors like Hugh Grant and Kate Beckinsale.

The world renowned composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is also affiliated to Oxford University.

Cambridge University

Cambridge University

Said to have formed when disputes between the townsfolk and students in Oxford started to arise, thus leading to the students fleeing to Cambridge.

University Colours: Cambridge Blue

Motto: Hinc lucem et pocula sacra (From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge)

Cambridge comprises 31 Colleges and over 150 departments, faculties, schools and other institutions. Of these 31 colleges, 3 are exclusively for females. Her core values are freedom of thought and expression, and freedom from discrimination.

Cambridge University Press publishes over 2500 titles and 200 journals each year, since its first print in 1584. Its published works include academic and educational writing from around the world

Cambridge Assessment is Europe’s largest assessment agency and plays a highly influential role in the research and development of school examinations in the UK and around the world. Through its three examination boards it delivers mainstream qualifications to over 8 million candidates a year.

Tompkins Table: (similar to the Norrington Table)

The Tompkins Table is an annual ranking that lists the colleges of the University of Cambridge in order of their undergraduate students' performances in that year's examinations. It was created in 1981 by Peter Tompkins, an undergraduate mathematics student, and is compiled exclusively for the newspaper The Independent.

Notable Alumni:

Sir Isaac Newton, Physicist

William Wordsworth, Poet

Virginia Wolfe, Author

Sylvia Plath, Poet

Stephen Fry, Actor and comedian and a brilliant man

John Cleese, Actor and comedian

Advice from an Aunt

Here is an email my aunt sent me, I thought it would be helpful for everyone.

Hi Celine!

How are you? I was wondering if you are all set for the above trip. The first time I went to UK, I remember how I encountered the coldness of that country. England is a country that is cold/cool most of the time. The sun was shining like that of Singapore, and I went out in jeans and just long-sleeve blouse; it was 10 to 12 degrees, and I froze, my lips quivered and my facial muscle tighten- ha! I couldn't wait to get into the shops. Over here, we get into the shops for the air-condition, whereas in UK, we want to go into the shops quickly for the heater. (Some old people sit in the library the whole day though they are not really reading, because they want to save electricity/gas at home).

During the cold weather, I used to go for a long walk in my jumper, jeans, sports shoes, and anorack, and I like to see my nose and cheeks pink. In summer, the temperature 15 degrees is nice; you feel the gentle warmth on your face, but again, beware of the chilly wind, and the temperature can drop below 10 at night.
London is a lot warmer than places like Cambridge/Oxford where you see 100-year old brick buildings and well known universities. (Genevieve studied music in Oxford U.)

So, enough long-sleeve blouses are important, to be worn under your jumper, also a pair of rubber slippers for indoors/bathroom. The anorack is most important whenever you go out.

You may not have time to do washing as you like, and even if you do, garments may not dry in time when you need to pack again. Unlike Singapore, in UK, the provision for hanging/drying facilities in the rooms of hotels/motels does not seem to be an important factor. I remember having to put my wet garments over the gas pipe heater.
So, it is worthwhile buying some disposable panties to cover the whole trip, if you have not done so. These panties are free-size and not expensive. Gen. and Aunty Pauline always buy these from Singapore. (Know something? Whenever I travelled, in the past, I was always worried about managing my menstrual period; then the invention of the disposal panties really makes travelling a lot more comfortable).

Also, generally it is hard water in UK; after a bath, you may start scratching, which can be quite persistent and uncomfortable. So, bring a small tube of moisturiser for application immediately after a bath. In some homes/hotels, chemical is added to their water to soften the water. Not everyone would do this in their water tank because it costs money.

If you happen to buy fruits for your own consumption, remember not to touch the fruit, the grocer will scold you because you are not allowed to pick and choose. (That was the experience I could not forget. Ha!)

If the English know you all are from Singapore, they will respect you, more so, if you speak slowly and be....very very polite.

Well, if I don't see you, have a good trip. Take care. Good luck!

Love

Aunty Rita

Yes, this means I have to bring the anorak, take photos, and look happy.

Weather Update

'Spring-like'. Sunny but breezy - cardigans, jackets/light coats and umbrellas needed (warm in the sun, chilly out of it). Will be colder at night.

Cloudwatch

Manchester airport is open:

http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/

Heathrow (London) is also open:

http://www.heathrowairport.com/

The Crucible (Summary!)

The Crucible, a historical play based on events of the Salem witchcraft trials, takes place in a small Puritan village in the colony of Massachusetts in 1692. The witchcraft trials, as Miller explains in a prose prologue to the play, grew out of the particular moral system of the Puritans, which promoted interference in others' affairs as well as a repressive code of conduct that frowned on any diversion from norms of behavior.

The play begins in the home of Reverend Samuel Parris, whose daughter, Betty, lays ill. Parris lives with his daughter and his seventeen-year old niece, Abigail Williams, an orphan who witnessed her parents' murder by the Indians. Betty became ill when her father discovered her dancing in the woods with Abigail, Tituba (the Parris' slave from Barbados) and several other local girls. Already there are rumors that Betty's illness is due to witchcraft, but Parris tells Abigail that he cannot admit that he found his daughter and niece dancing like heathens in the forest.

It transpires that Abigail was keeping events from Parris; a conversation between Abigail, Mercy Lewis (Putnams’ servant) and Mary Warren (Proctors’ servant) reveals that Abigail had drank blood during the witchcraft proceedings. She did so in order to kill Elizabeth Proctor, wife of John Proctor, whom Abigail had an affair with when she was previously working for the household. Abigail attempts to seduce John Proctor but fails. Betty hears people singing psalms from outside, and begins to shriek. Reverend Parris returns, and realizes that Betty cannot bear to hear the Lord's name.

When pressed by Reverand John Hale, who specially comes to investigate the case, Abigail blames Tituba, claiming that Tituba made Abigail and Betty drink blood and that Tituba sends her spirit out to make mischief. Putnam declares that Tituba must be hanged, but Hale confronts her. Upon realizing that the only way to save herself is to admit to the charge, Tituba claims that the devil came to her and promised to return her to Barbados. She says that several women were with him, including Sarah Good and Sarah Osburn, and the girls join in the chorus of accusations, name more people they claim to have seen with the devil.

The second act takes place a week later in the Proctor's home. John Proctor returns home late after a long day planting in the fields, and Elizabeth suspects that he has been in the village. Mary Warren has been there as an official of the court for the witchcraft trials, even after Elizabeth forbade her. She returns home and gives Elizabeth a poppet that she made in court. The constable arrives and begins to question the Proctors. Proctor reminds him that those accused of witchcraft would certainly confess, if denying it means that they be hanged. Hale becomes increasingly suspicious of the Proctors. An incriminating needle is found in the poppet given by Mary Warren; claims are made against Elizabeth that she is practicing voodoo magic against Abigail, who has reported a piercing needle-like pain. She is arrested.

In the third act, John Proctor convinces Mary Warren to testify against Abigail. Both present a deposition signed by Mary that asserts that she never saw any spirits. Parris thinks that they are there to overthrow the court, and the judges question Proctor’s motives. Proctor also presents a petition signed by ninety-one people attesting to the good character of Elizabeth Proctor, Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey, all of whom are accused of witchcraft. All names on the petition are presented for investigation.

When Abigail arrives with the other girls, Proctor tells the judges how Abigail means to murder his wife. Abigail pretends that she feels a sharp wind threatening her. Proctor grabs her by the hair and calls her a whore, finally admitting his affair. The judges order that Elizabeth be brought to the court. If Elizabeth admits to firing Abigail for her affair, Abigail will be charged with murder. Elizabeth, thinking that she is defending her husband, only claims that she fired Abigail because of poor work habits. Proctor cries out for Elizabeth to tell the truth, and Hale admits that Elizabeth's lie is a natural one to tell. Abigail then claims that Mary Warren's spirit is attacking her in the form of a bird. Although Mary claims that the girls are lying, she soon breaks down and tells the judges that Proctor is in league with Satan and wants to pull down the court.

John Proctor is arrested!

The fourth act will remain a secret :D To find out, search online, read the book, or await the play :)

References:
http://www.gradesaver.com/the-crucible/study-guide/short-summary/
Brain.