Weekend update #3! I know this is a little late because it's nearly time for my next weekend destination, but I have had a very busy and quick week! This past weekend, although it was three days rather than two, went by VERY quick! I was able to go to Chatsworth House on Saturday and Stratford upon Avon on Sunday, and then shopping and to a cookout on Monday. A very full and fun weekend!
Saturday
"Completely and perfectly and incandescently happy."
-Pride and Prejudice
On Saturday, I was able to visit Chatsworth House, which is a very old and beautiful tudor home in Derbyshire. I went with Laura and her hosts Dawn and Andy. The house has been owned by the same family in England since 1500s. It is an absolutely huge and beautiful place and it has been used for lots of movies, such as Pride and Prejudice. It is famous around the U.K. for being the most beautiful country home.
When we first arrived we went to a market on the Chatsworth property. The market sold all kinds of homemade and homegrown foods from produce to sandwiches to chocolate, all kinds of things. Laura and I both got a cheese and rosemary scone, which was more or less a giant cheese biscuit but they were really nice!
Inside the house there are several pieces of priceless furniture and art and everything lavish you could think of. Every wall is painted with old detailed paintings and it was really like being inside castle in a movie.
When we first arrived we went to a market on the Chatsworth property. The market sold all kinds of homemade and homegrown foods from produce to sandwiches to chocolate, all kinds of things. Laura and I both got a cheese and rosemary scone, which was more or less a giant cheese biscuit but they were really nice!
Inside the house there are several pieces of priceless furniture and art and everything lavish you could think of. Every wall is painted with old detailed paintings and it was really like being inside castle in a movie.
The house was beautiful and very historic. Also, the grounds of the house extend for miles and miles. The property stretches as far as you can see, but the gardens surrounding the house were soooo pretty too. (see my Facebook for more pictures of this!)
After seeing all the parts of the house and the grounds that we could, we went into one of the restaurants at Chatsworth for fancy afternoon tea. ☕️
After seeing all the parts of the house and the grounds that we could, we went into one of the restaurants at Chatsworth for fancy afternoon tea. ☕️
Each of us got our own type of tea, just for fun, so I had Earl Grey and really liked it! The sugar was in little cubes set on the table. We each had our own little black tea pot. We had sandwiches (salmon, egg salad, cucumber and cream cheese, and ham and mustard). I must say, I only ate the ham sandwiches... which is awful I know, but I don't like eggs or cucumbers! I did at least try each of them. We then had "scones" which are the little biscuits, with clotted cream and strawberry jam (my favorite part). Then, for "pudding" we had tartes with some type of fruit jelly, strawberry sponge cake, and a mint chocolate brownie. It was fun being all English and fancy having afternoon tea!
Shortly after the tea, we went back to Dawn's house to rest before the big day of Shakespeare on Sunday!
Shortly after the tea, we went back to Dawn's house to rest before the big day of Shakespeare on Sunday!
Sunday
"We are such stuff as dreams are made on..."
-William Shakespeare, The Tempest
Although Saturday was great, Sunday was my favorite day of this past weekend. I definitely did not expect to love Stratford as much as I did, but it was so fun! The town looked like a small and peaceful town with lots of historical buildings, but the best part was the gardens!
We visited William Shakespeare's birthplace, his daughter Susanna's home after she married the town doctor, and Anne Hathaway's home, who became Shakespeare's wife.
At the birthplace, there were all kinds of actors dressed up in clothes that people would wear in Shakespeare's time, telling information about the building and life in the 15-1600s. They would also offer to recite or perform Shakespeare on the spot if you had requests... which we didn't. Haha
After going through the house, we stopped to look at the gardens outside. One of the actors was about to do a performance with members of his audience (which was about 10 people at most, including the four of us). He had a few bits of costumes to dress the characters in, which were young kids. Laura and I were assigned to be hungry scary lions who growled on cue... that was fun... Haha! Grrr!!
We visited William Shakespeare's birthplace, his daughter Susanna's home after she married the town doctor, and Anne Hathaway's home, who became Shakespeare's wife.
At the birthplace, there were all kinds of actors dressed up in clothes that people would wear in Shakespeare's time, telling information about the building and life in the 15-1600s. They would also offer to recite or perform Shakespeare on the spot if you had requests... which we didn't. Haha
After going through the house, we stopped to look at the gardens outside. One of the actors was about to do a performance with members of his audience (which was about 10 people at most, including the four of us). He had a few bits of costumes to dress the characters in, which were young kids. Laura and I were assigned to be hungry scary lions who growled on cue... that was fun... Haha! Grrr!!
Sunday also turned out to be a really nice sunny day, which added to why it was my favorite day.
Dawn, Laura, and I also bought matching rings from Stratford that say the Latin words 'PENCES POVR MOYE DV' or "think of me, God willing." A ring just like ours was found in the ruins of the Rose theatre, which was a playhouse in Shakespeare's time.
The gardens really were the best part. In the one nearest Anne Hathaway's home, there were Shakespeare quotes on plaques in front of flowers and trees that are featured in his writings, which was neat. There are also several artworks and sculptures in the gardens. (see Facebook for more pictures!!)
It was a wonderful day, on of the best I have had here.
Dawn, Laura, and I also bought matching rings from Stratford that say the Latin words 'PENCES POVR MOYE DV' or "think of me, God willing." A ring just like ours was found in the ruins of the Rose theatre, which was a playhouse in Shakespeare's time.
The gardens really were the best part. In the one nearest Anne Hathaway's home, there were Shakespeare quotes on plaques in front of flowers and trees that are featured in his writings, which was neat. There are also several artworks and sculptures in the gardens. (see Facebook for more pictures!!)
It was a wonderful day, on of the best I have had here.
Monday
"Just a night of well-mannered frivolity..."
-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
(You'll recognize the lack of picture for Monday because... we forgot to take one... Oops.)
On Monday, Lauren and Scott and I met up with Dawn, Andy, and Laura and went to Patrick's host family's home in Leicester for a cookout! Several other teachers from Long Eaton were there too. Patrick's birthday was on Monday so we all got together and had cheeseburgers, sausages (not hot dogs...), and birthday cake! It was good to get together with everyone and... it didn't rain!
I've had several people ask me if I'm ready to go back home next week. I'm trying to be indifferent about it so I don't seem eager or disappointed! There are pros and cons.
Pro: I really miss my car! I've had about enough of the train and walking everywhere.
Pro: I really miss my guitar. I;m used to playing just about every day and it's something I really enjoy. I like figuring out how to do new songs for myself.
Pro: Graduation is next weekend!! Ahh!!!
Pro: I want to go back and tell everyone how great it is over here, including my two past student teaching classes.
Con: I'll miss it so much... Tomorrow is my last day at Shardlow Primary... I've loved getting to know the staff and the kids there, and at Long Eaton.
Con: Real-life starts again and the job applying process starts back...
Con: I've made friends here and I hate to leave them!!
Con: 4 weekends is just not long enough to see everything here!! (but I've done the best I can and I'm very happy with it all.)
I'll update you again soon!
-Haley
On Monday, Lauren and Scott and I met up with Dawn, Andy, and Laura and went to Patrick's host family's home in Leicester for a cookout! Several other teachers from Long Eaton were there too. Patrick's birthday was on Monday so we all got together and had cheeseburgers, sausages (not hot dogs...), and birthday cake! It was good to get together with everyone and... it didn't rain!
I've had several people ask me if I'm ready to go back home next week. I'm trying to be indifferent about it so I don't seem eager or disappointed! There are pros and cons.
Pro: I really miss my car! I've had about enough of the train and walking everywhere.
Pro: I really miss my guitar. I;m used to playing just about every day and it's something I really enjoy. I like figuring out how to do new songs for myself.
Pro: Graduation is next weekend!! Ahh!!!
Pro: I want to go back and tell everyone how great it is over here, including my two past student teaching classes.
Con: I'll miss it so much... Tomorrow is my last day at Shardlow Primary... I've loved getting to know the staff and the kids there, and at Long Eaton.
Con: Real-life starts again and the job applying process starts back...
Con: I've made friends here and I hate to leave them!!
Con: 4 weekends is just not long enough to see everything here!! (but I've done the best I can and I'm very happy with it all.)
I'll update you again soon!
-Haley