Finishing Strong!

I think about many areas of my life using running analogies. So today I would say that I finished my internship strong like I hope to finish my races. Last night, Nadeem, my supervisor asked me to ghost a computer and edit the website, http://international.fsu.edu/london/ to add the group photo that the program had just taken. This required working with Adobe Go Live CS2 to edit the PHP files, Adobe Photoshop to edit the .jpg images and folder management tools to make sure I had everything in the right place. I was able to get this done and ghost the machine. I also downloaded and installed the proper printer driver for the assistant director's new computer.

Then today, coming in on my last day when everyone from FSU had already left, I created new DVD covers using an old trick that I learned at Rollins for DVDs that are missing their information jackets. Then I re-imaged three Dell computers for use with the SmartBoards. At the end of the day Nadeem gave me his personal contact info, I shook his hand, thanked him and walked out onto a crowded Great Russell Street. In the beginning I was so nervous that I couldn't make it as the I.T. intern but after six months I can say that I feel like I had a great internship, learned things, gained confidence and to be sure Finished Strong!

The Eagle & Child

Legend has it that Lady Margaret Beaufort had a dream of an eagle carrying a child after years of not being able to conceive and bring an heir to the throne. After this dream she conceived and gave birth to Henry VII the man who united the Houses of York and Lancaster and made England strong under the Tudor Line. Many public houses and eateries in England are named The Eagle & Child but none so well known as the pub on St. Giles in Oxford where the Inklings would spend time. The Inklings consisted of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis both beloved writers of fiction, fantasy and theology. I couldn't leave England without having a pint at this pub. I enjoyed a great hoppy, nutty ale from the pumps and had a good conversation with my colleague. What a way to end library school!

Liverpool

The above footage is early Beatles at The Cavern Club which is where I was this past Saturday night dancing and having a good time to Beatles covers. Liverpool was an amazing experience because it is just like any other midsized city in the UK except for the fact that the spirit of the place has been forever changed by a four piece band that played together only ten years. I am not sure that it can be said that any other musical group has meant more to a city than the Beatles mean to Liverpool. I was able to visit the childhood homes of John, Paul and Ringo. Even the Cathedral in Liverpool, despite being the largest Anglican church in the world, is forever known as the place Paul McCartney was rejected as choir boy. It was also the place where the memorial service for the slain John Lennon was held. All of the bars and clubs in Liverpool's city centre are named after something to do with The Beatles. Grapes was the pub where the band members would go to escape adoring fans. There is also a pub there called The Quarrymen which was the name of Lennon's first band that eventually became The Beatles. At the Beatles Story museum I was able to learn a great deal about the evolution of the band. I find their lyrics to be straight forward, catchy and heartfelt especially in the early days. As time went on The Beatles drifted apart artistically and in spirit but for ten years they created something very special and certainly put Liverpool on the map. You can't be in Liverpool and not think about them and after this weekend I have a much better understanding of what is meant by "Beatlemania".

Smart Board Video on Vimeo

Smart Boards at the FSU STudy Centre from Thomas Parker on Vimeo.

This is a preliminary version of a video that I have created for work. See I don't just travel, eat and run while I am here in London!

British Sea Power

The Spinnaker Tower


Admiral Lord Nelson's ship The HMS Victory

This weekend a took a trip to the coast again. Portsmouth is a little, somewhat sad, old sea town that is the home to the Royal Navy. There are some modern gray battleships in the harbor but also some antique ships there to attract tourists like the Her Majesty's Ship The Victory. Portsmouth also has some very modern attractions like an outlet shopping mall and The Spinnaker Tower. Both my roommate and I agreed that the tower looks like a swordfish. It was nice to get away from London for the weekend and to breathe the sea air.

We also took a Hover Boat across the bay to The Isle of Wight. Which is where Queen Victoria's summer home is. We never made it there because we got a bit lost but we did see some gorgeous homes, trails, ponies and then we happened upon an old Benedictine Monastery. There were the ruins of the abbey but also a new Abbey that was fully functional and so quiet. We took a late bus back to London and now here we are November.

English Breakfast

This morning I had a full English Breakfast. Before anyone gets worried about my health this was only after a ten mile run and I had vegetarian sausage(which might actually disqualify my breakfast from being an English Breakfast). Nevertheless the toast, egg, potatoes, mushrooms, beans,roasted tomato and sausage(I mean tofu) were great and I washed it down with a strong cup of black coffee! Then I was ready for a good day at work or maybe a nap.

Bath

The Roman Baths with the Abby in the background


Bath is one of the most beautiful places in England. It's charm is well in tact since it was the summer home of the Hanoverians and has been well preserved since the 18th century. It is also well known as a residence of Jane Austen and the scene for a few of her novels including Northanger Abbey. The Circus in bath is magnificent as the building for a large circle around a grassy, tree shaded park.

Stonehenge

My theory is that this was some sort of ancient Druid temple. These massive rocks were here before England was even on the map as far as civilization goes. The Romans were not here yet and there were no horses. Whoever these early Angles were they could move some big rocks and impressively stacked them on top of each other so that they would stay there for over 5,000 years! This was also the scene for the ending of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'urbervilles. Poor Tess

Birmingham Half Marathon

This was my second race in England and my second PR. No I don't think that it is the Fish & Chips or all of the ales. In all honesty it might be a combination of the cooler temperatures, with all of the walking and the fact that my body has finally recovered from and absorbed all of those hard 70 mile weeks before Boston.

I apologize if this post is too much about running or too much about my faith in God. Both things are very dear to me and so this post may be a bit more personal than the rest.

I will start by saying that today I ran a New York Marathon qualifying time. Still this post is not to aggrandize myself and my meager running ability. I was never a good athlete in school and will never get payed to run. For so many years I have run to deal with my insecurity, life's disappointments, failed relationships and on and on. The only reason I can run is that God has blessed me with my health and strength but that fades and will fade. I learned that lesson all too harshly this fall. A very dear friend, a British man whom I thought I would have a pint with this fall in London died of Cancer. This friend and former pastor made a huge impact on my life and I think he finished his race strong. Today I knew that I had put myself in good position to run a New York qualifier but about mile 11 or 12 was beginning to get tired. I was running behind a man whose singlet read, canceresearch.co.uk, I immediately thought of Nick. Nick finished his race strong because he never lost his faith. Even though he was in so much pain at the end of his life he still praised God. As a result I am not angry at God or disenchanted by Nick's death but encouraged by his faith and his perseverance. In my little way I knew that I had to push through the pain strong to the end today so that I could say that, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race". I want to be careful with this analogy because I know that this was hard for everyone and nothing like an unimportant road race. What I want to say is that God used Nick in so many powerful ways and I admire him for being strong until the end.

Birmingham put on a beautiful race. The fans were out, the elite runners were there and I had a blast. Around mile 7 or 8 when I was really just hitting my stride I thought about Chariots of Fire and the quote, "when I run I feel his pleasure". I am thankful to God for the gift of running. In Boston I saw the crowds as hostile aggressors closing in around me. I built a wall against them so as to not let them in but I took a completely different approach with the fans in England. I high fived the kids and the old ladies as I ran by. I embraced the English city of Birmingham and had fun with them. It seems that they had fun with me as well.

La dame et la Licorne

So far one of the coolest things that I have been able to do here in London is see the Austin, Texas based band Shearwater live in a little pub. On one of their albums the opening track is entitle la dame et la licorne and I didn't realize the significance of this until I visited Musee de Cluny or the national Middle Ages Museum in Paris. There they have many medieval tapestries but the most famous and striking are La Dame a la Licorne. The exhibit is set up in an almost glow in the dark way. The room is dark and the tapestries are lit up so that they almost glow. On one wall the five tapestries that display the five senses are arranged starting with taste and ending in touch. On the wall behind is the grand tapestry that has a vague meaning. I was inspired by the meanings and the beauty of these tapestries. I kept thinking about the Boston Marathon logo being the unicorn. The unicorn represents allusiveness or something that cant quite be caught. I think this appropriate in so many ways for art, running and Paris.

There is never any ending to Paris

"There is never any ending to Paris and the memory of each person who who has lived in it differs from any other. We always returned to it no matter who we were or how it was changed or with what difficulties, or ease it could be reached. Paris was always worth it and you received return for whatever you brought to it." Hemingway in the closing paragraph of A Moveable Feast.

For me this trip to Paris was very much about going back after nine years. I went back to the old neighborhood where I lived and went for a run in the Bois de Boulogne, where I would run in the mornings before class. I walked down Avenue de General Sarrail and past the building where I lived. I went back to Reid Hall and walked through the gardens and the glass corridor. I spent an afternoon having dinner with an old friend in The St. Michelle and walked along the Seine. The metro still smelled the same and I thought back on my time in Paris as a university student.

But Paris wasn't just about going back but also about new experiences. L'orangerie museum with all of the Monet along the walls, it was the first time that I have ever shopped at Gallerie de Layfayette, visited Pere LaChaise cemetery and climbed to the top of La Tour Eiffel. I went to the the Institut Catholique de Paris and said hello to a professional contact. I was surprised to find this school crawling with students of all ages. The art in Paris was unsurpassed and I saw many things that I had not seen before. La Dame a la Licorne was impressive in Cluny, and the Monets in L'oragnerie as were many of the works in the D'orsay.

Paris was not as busy as London. I found life there to be a bit slower and less chaotic. Still I am glad to be back in London and don't when I will be back in Paris. Even so I will always have fond memories of Paris.

Benjamin Franklin's lodging while in London

The Benjamin Franklin House is located at 36 Craven Street near the Thames in a very central part of London also close to Charing Cross Tube station. Benjamin Franklin lived there for 16 years up until 1775 when he left abruptly for America. During his time he lodged in this house and promoted good relations between the colonies and England but could not prevent the impending split. Franklin also pursued his scientific and musical interests in this house. It was here that he worked on his inventions, bifocals and the lightning rod.

Later in this house bones were found buried underneath. After Franklin left this house was apparently used as a place for surgeons to practice on dead bodies. Many times these bodies were stolen from graves as bodies to be used for medical practice were at a premium during the 18th century.

The house to this day maintains most of its original features including wood floors, staircases and marble fireplaces.

BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall and Yo-Yo Ma

This past Sunday night was the last night of the BBC Proms. It was something that I was told was one of the things to do while in London but to be honest I was resigned that to not make it. I have just been doing so many things and the Proms are expensive. Even so I ended up getting tickets for Friday Night to see Yo-Yo Ma with The Silk Road Ensemble. It was late Friday night but it was a treat to be able to see such a famous composer in the lush Victorian style surroundings of Royal Albert Hall.

The music was experimental and meant to represent the meeting of Eastern and Western culture, thus the name Silk Road Ensemble. The show opened quietly with musicians on either side of the stage playing bamboo flutes. Then some eastern style music was played on western instruments. Yo-Yo Ma performing on his cello which has made him world famous.

The composers talked about each selection played. Many of the songs were old and told stories of war or heartbreak. Sometimes the music was interrupted by the beating of drums. At one point there was even a long solo of a man slapping his chest, cheeks and legs to create rhythm and beats.

Yo-Yo Ma was upbeat and friendly with the audience who were very appreciative of his performance. It was an exciting show and definitely one of the highlights of stay in London so far.

Fireworks on the Thames

It felt like the 4th of July or New Year's Eve. Although it was just a normal Sunday night and I was tired. Standing on The Waterloo Bridge overlooking the Thames with the first bit of Autumn cool setting in and fireworks in the air against the backdrop of St. Paul's and the Gerkin made for a special moment in London.

Dover

♫Here on these cliffs of Dover
so high you can't see over♫

The above lyrics are taken from a Decemberists song. I couldn't get the song out of my head as I traveled to Dover on the English channel.

The castle on the white chalk cliffs of Dover is strategically located to protect England from invasion and just 17 miles from France. As a matter of fact when one climbs to the top of the keep you can see France off in the distance on a clear day. The castle dates back to the earliest Roman settlements in Britain, it was stormed by William the Conquerer and his men in 1066 and late played a key role in defending England from German attack during World War II. The cliffs are steep and white like chalk. Against the frigid blue waters of the English Channel they are breathtaking.

Canterbury Cathedral

The see of the Anglican Church. Even before the protestant reformation and the split with Rome that took place under Henry VIII Canterbury was the center of English Christianity. It is also a bit of a symbol of the struggle between the Church and Crown as martyrs like Thomas Beckett and Thomas Cranmer held the position of Archbishop of Canterbury. Today Rowan Williams holds the post and Canterbury is the center of attention in the Christian world as the Anglican Communion around the world struggles to define itself. The destination of the pilgrimage made in The Canterbury Tails it was an honor to visit Canterbury.

A Walk through the English Countryside and a Castle

This past Saturday my roommate and I set out on a great adventure to see the Bodiam Castle. It is a well preserved English Castle built by a Lord in the 1300s and located near the site of the Battle of Hastings in 1066. This Castle is not located near a train station and therefore requires either a car or a long walk...


We got off the train as near as possible to the Castle in Robertsbridge




Robertsbridge is a charming little English town...




We walked past a field and breathed in the fresh air...




An old church where a wedding took place...




Over a babbling brook...




More open fields and farms...





we were actually a bit lost in the woods...





Out into a clearing and around the bend...




Finally the castle http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-bodiamcastle





On the way back we walked past The Castle Inn.




Then we walked over a bridge...




past an old graveyard...





We were soooo hungry so we stopped at one of the fifty best Pubs in England and ate a wonderful handmade pizza...



we washed down the Pizza with a Pint of Harvey's Bitter.



Then we were back in Robertsbridge and we walked past a cricket match...



then back to the train station!

Borough Market

Sensory overload today at The Borough Market. Large pots of Thai food,fresh fruits and vegetables, wines, cheeses, baked breads and pastries, olives from Greece and Italy, Fresh cut flowers, juices, oils, oysters, chocolate and fresh berries. I don't think I can write any more I am making myself too hungry.

Smart Boards at The Study Centre

One of my tasks at work is to make a video on how to use The Smart Board technologies in the classroom. SmartBoards are fun and easy to use. Essentially it is like having a large computer on the wall that you can use with your finger as the mouse. You can also draw with your finger on a web page, erase things with your palm and watch videos. You can import images, save maps etc. It can be a very valuable teaching tool and just extremely fun to use. I have already made some video footage demonstrating how to use the SmartBoard but I was tired on that day and the lighting was poor so I think that I am going to redo it. One of the tricky thing was converting the footage from the mini DVD in the camera to the MPEG4 format but I was able to get it done. I am using Windows Movie Maker which is not as fun to use as Imovie but both products are free and I think it is important for me to learn to use both Windows and Apple programs.

Also notice the beautiful chandelier and molding on the roof of this classroom. The FSU Study Centre truly has a fabulous building in a very central location. I am fortunate to be working here.

Camden Market

"Punk's not Dead" in Camden


West African Food at the Camden Market

Yesterday was Bank Holiday in England and I had a very good day. While most people were at The Notting Hill Carinval, I avoided the crowds and had coffee with a wonderful person that I met at the ATLA conference and who is the director of a Theological Library in Chicago. She is the editor of a journal to do with Theology and Librarianship and I am going to try my hand at writing a book review. What I enjoyed most was the coffee and conversation, however.

Later I headed up to The Camden Market for some street food. Camden is sort of a bohemian, multicultural, goth, punk, slightly dirty, slightly seedy, artsy part of London. The market is located right next to the Canal and occupies a large building that looks like horse stables. The food is hot, ready, ethnic and not too expensive. You can get everything from Thai, Brazilian, Lebonese, African and on and on. I got some food to go and then sat by the water to read a book and enjoy it. Oh yeah and I saw a few Punks as you can see in the photo at the top but this is not an unusual sight in Camden and North London.

Cambridge

King's College Cambridge


The other side of King's College from afield



Today my colleague and I, the other intern Ginger, went to visit someone who is actually in the FSU library program and currently lives and works in Cambridge. She is employed at one of the faculty libraries. It was nice to hang out with two other library school students in Cambridge. We visited most of the major colleges and King's College Chapel. It seems that the history of King's College is deeply rooted in the end of the war of roses and the unification of the House of York and the House of Lancaster. The magnificent chapel seen in the pictures above was largely built during the reigns of Henry VII and VIII to celebrate the Tudor dynasty.

The first college that we visited was Emmanuel. It was small but picturesque and outside was the Cam with Ducks resting by the water. We also saw many punts, or small boats going down the river. Punting is a tradition in both Oxford and Cambridge where boats are guided along the shallow river by large sticks. As I hear it is quite hard and the water is very cold. We saw a drunken student enjoying the holiday weekend, but drinking and punting don't mix as he fell in the water.


Punting on the Cam


Later we visited Trinity Collge, the wealthiest of the colleges.

At St.John's College there was a wedding party. They were taking pictures and the men were dressed in full military dress with swords drawn as you can see in the picture below.



The trip to Cambridge was overall one of my favorite days in England so far. The weather was nice, I was with good company and I ate good food all while seeing one of the world's most historic and prestigious university towns.