The End of All Things...
Log Entry 50: Farewell to Shadowlands
And now, readers, we reach the part that I have been putting off for far too long—the conclusion to this grand adventure.
You will recall that this blog was begun as part of an experiment. Blogging itself was new to me, and I wish, therefore, to comment on a few things I have learned.
After nearly two months of posting on this blog, I can see the allure of blogging. Blogging is a great tool for keeping in touch with people about your experiences in something, or for distributing information. But it is very easy—as I often have done—to degenerate blogging into just random blabbing about your everyday life. It’s addicting. But I think people often forget that these blogs are readable on the entire internet. Though it may feel as if you are keeping a journal, you are effectively telling everyone in the world about your personal life. Therefore, I feel blogs should be restricted to special occasions or uses, like this one; for this reason, I will not continue to update this blog. This will be the last post. I hope you have enjoyed reading and following along.
Now, on to the trip itself. The impetus for this trip was to complete the BIC Capstone course in only 4 week, as opposed to an entire semester. And, quite obviously, I succeeded. But the actual BIC class was only a small part of the trip; in fact, save for the last few days, when I retreated to my cave for a fit of essay writing, I hardly thought about BIC at all. This, of course, made the trip much more enjoyable.
This was my third time in the U.K. I remember after the first time, I was ready to come home in about 8 days. This time, they had to drag me back kicking and screaming. I love England. I love nearly everything about it. I love being able to hop on a train and just go somewhere—something you just can’t do here, even with the atrocity that is Amtrak. While waiting in DFW for my short little commuter flight back to Waco, I pondered that it would have been so much easier to just get on a train. But I’m getting off topic.
Whilst sitting in church this Sunday, I flicked my hearing aids to the “T” position—and was promptly reminded that I wasn’t in England anymore. Everywhere—EVERYWHERE—we went had loop systems fitted for the hearing impaired. Cathedrals. Taxi Cabs. Museums. Heck, even department stores had the loop system. I suppose this must be some part of government legislation. Why can’t we have the same here?
A word about religion: every trip thus far to the U.K. has been branded a “pilgrimage” of sorts, and this was no exception. However, this was the first time that I was able to experience a wide variety of locations for services. I love being able to go anywhere in England and still attend the same service, day in, day out. Though the English people themselves may think the Anglican tradition is antiquated, I find it quite soothing—though I wonder how much longer this will be true, as more and more ministers turn to more evangelical means of worship in order to attract the youth.
As I re-read the above, I realize that I am merely repeating things that have been said elsewhere. I had thought that I would write some sort of grand conclusion to this tale, but like Iris Murdoch, I find it hard to quit. For the Baylor in Oxford experience is not something that comes to a complete halt. The experiences I had in Oxford and elsewhere in the U.K. are some of the most memorable in my life; they have changed me, and they will influence my thinking and doing for years to come. But that is something that I am not willing to elaborate upon—at least, not for public reading.
I have been home a little over a week, and I already miss the Oxford mindset, culture, and the people very much. I would go back in an instant. Ever since I went to Hawaii during High School, I have felt that a small part of me would stay there forever, and that I would have to go back to reclaim it. I feel the same way about the Oxford trip. Part of me will always dwell over there.
I have been heavily procrastinating finishing this post, because it brings a moment of finality to the entire experience. But all good things must come to an end…So it is with a heavy heart that I, like Lewis, bid farewell to Shadowlands and say goodbye to England and Oxford.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading this blog. I regret to announce that this is the end. This will be the last update; sorry if you are disappointed by this. It is simply against my principles to post the mundane activities of my everyday life. And so, readers, I bid you adieu.
“And he lived happily ever after until the end of his days.”
-CRT
-Oxford Logs: July 6th - August 20th, 2005
And now, readers, we reach the part that I have been putting off for far too long—the conclusion to this grand adventure.
You will recall that this blog was begun as part of an experiment. Blogging itself was new to me, and I wish, therefore, to comment on a few things I have learned.
After nearly two months of posting on this blog, I can see the allure of blogging. Blogging is a great tool for keeping in touch with people about your experiences in something, or for distributing information. But it is very easy—as I often have done—to degenerate blogging into just random blabbing about your everyday life. It’s addicting. But I think people often forget that these blogs are readable on the entire internet. Though it may feel as if you are keeping a journal, you are effectively telling everyone in the world about your personal life. Therefore, I feel blogs should be restricted to special occasions or uses, like this one; for this reason, I will not continue to update this blog. This will be the last post. I hope you have enjoyed reading and following along.
Now, on to the trip itself. The impetus for this trip was to complete the BIC Capstone course in only 4 week, as opposed to an entire semester. And, quite obviously, I succeeded. But the actual BIC class was only a small part of the trip; in fact, save for the last few days, when I retreated to my cave for a fit of essay writing, I hardly thought about BIC at all. This, of course, made the trip much more enjoyable.
This was my third time in the U.K. I remember after the first time, I was ready to come home in about 8 days. This time, they had to drag me back kicking and screaming. I love England. I love nearly everything about it. I love being able to hop on a train and just go somewhere—something you just can’t do here, even with the atrocity that is Amtrak. While waiting in DFW for my short little commuter flight back to Waco, I pondered that it would have been so much easier to just get on a train. But I’m getting off topic.
Whilst sitting in church this Sunday, I flicked my hearing aids to the “T” position—and was promptly reminded that I wasn’t in England anymore. Everywhere—EVERYWHERE—we went had loop systems fitted for the hearing impaired. Cathedrals. Taxi Cabs. Museums. Heck, even department stores had the loop system. I suppose this must be some part of government legislation. Why can’t we have the same here?
A word about religion: every trip thus far to the U.K. has been branded a “pilgrimage” of sorts, and this was no exception. However, this was the first time that I was able to experience a wide variety of locations for services. I love being able to go anywhere in England and still attend the same service, day in, day out. Though the English people themselves may think the Anglican tradition is antiquated, I find it quite soothing—though I wonder how much longer this will be true, as more and more ministers turn to more evangelical means of worship in order to attract the youth.
As I re-read the above, I realize that I am merely repeating things that have been said elsewhere. I had thought that I would write some sort of grand conclusion to this tale, but like Iris Murdoch, I find it hard to quit. For the Baylor in Oxford experience is not something that comes to a complete halt. The experiences I had in Oxford and elsewhere in the U.K. are some of the most memorable in my life; they have changed me, and they will influence my thinking and doing for years to come. But that is something that I am not willing to elaborate upon—at least, not for public reading.
I have been home a little over a week, and I already miss the Oxford mindset, culture, and the people very much. I would go back in an instant. Ever since I went to Hawaii during High School, I have felt that a small part of me would stay there forever, and that I would have to go back to reclaim it. I feel the same way about the Oxford trip. Part of me will always dwell over there.
I have been heavily procrastinating finishing this post, because it brings a moment of finality to the entire experience. But all good things must come to an end…So it is with a heavy heart that I, like Lewis, bid farewell to Shadowlands and say goodbye to England and Oxford.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading this blog. I regret to announce that this is the end. This will be the last update; sorry if you are disappointed by this. It is simply against my principles to post the mundane activities of my everyday life. And so, readers, I bid you adieu.
“And he lived happily ever after until the end of his days.”
-CRT
-Oxford Logs: July 6th - August 20th, 2005
posted by Cameron Talley at 11:08 PM
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