Culture in the Manor (Updated!)

A re-posting of my official blog over at The Lion's Roar. If you haven't heard, it's our official student blog here at Harlaxton, and can be found at http://harlaxtoncollege-students.blogspot.com/

I added more here, though, because I like you guys. :D

One of the biggest points of study abroad is to immerse oneself in local culture. Something I wasn’t expecting was for Harlaxton to make it so easy. I was afraid being in an isolated manor with a bunch of other Americans would create a kind of barrier between us and “Britishness,” but I’ve discovered that only happens if you let it happen.

It seems like at least once a week we have some kind of cultural event. Many are run by locals. So far I’ve learned traditional dances at the Ceilidh, watched a London theatre troupe (including Kevin Spacey) perform Romeo and Juliet in the Great Hall, and participated in a group discussion of politics with Grantham-area MP Nick Boles. Other events have included poetry readings and movie nights, and tonight some clog-dancers are supposed to perform as well.

Supplemental lectures are available some evenings on special British Studies topics. Tours of Grantham and the manor were available in our first weeks. Some weeks highlight the culture of areas we might visit, such as Germany or Spain. During those weeks, the hallways will be decorated with words of the native language, and the refectory will make cultural foods. Sometimes the staff even walks around in frightening costumes.


British Studies takes field trips to several relevant areas of the country throughout the term. These include Lincoln, a town with Roman, Anglosaxon, and Norman heritage, and also St. Paul's Cathedral in London. How much would it have helped to visit the actual sites of places we studied in American history? Well, I can tell you, it's helping a lot with British Studies.

In mentioning culture I can’t forget the Meet-a-Family program. This year it was so popular that we ran out of families to pair people with. This is a fantastic way to connect with real people in Grantham. I’m learning a lot more just by being in their home, eating their food, and talking to them than anything else. They are affectionately teaching me a new language, and giving me edible food.



I've also decided that British culture is superior because there is never, ever a toilet without a spare roll of toilet paper in plain sight. If for no other reason, that would probably cinch it for me.

Basically, Harlaxton throws a lot at you. School. Culture. New people and professors. Living in a castle. Driving on the other side of the road. Questionable meat in the refectory.


If you allow, they will throw even more at you—and every second will be worth it. Principal Kingsley is living up to his claim that this would be the most intense educational experience of our life to date. I’m just trying to absorb every second.

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UPDATE:

I mentioned the clog dancing that was supposed to happen last night? Well, it was awesome. Welsh-style was my favorite. There were Clog dancers and Morris dancers (on a totally unrelated note, Nine Man's Morris is my new favorite British board game). After their performances, they went to the Bistro with us and taught us traditional English pub songs and dances. We were expected to reciprocate, but we didn't know any good songs, so that didn't work so well... but anyways. Photos!