Will I play the Wild Rover, no never! No more!

"And it's no, nay! Never! No, nay never, no more! Will I play the Wild Rover. No never! No more!"

Posted below is an Irish folk song I've had the pleasure of learning with my fellow travelers. The plan is we are going to walk around Dublin, Ireland singing and harmonizing with each other as we travel and completely submerge ourselves in the Irish culture. A few words about the Irish:
The Irish love strong tradition. The country is full of them! From their meat and potato-based food to wearing green on St. Patrick's day, they hold strong traditional ties to the past. Another huge part of their tradition is, you could have probably guessed this, their music and dancing. The Irish love a good party that involves their traditional highland dancing and Scottish country dancing, usually accompanied by an upbeat fiddle, the Lambeg drum, and fiddle. The pubs in Ireland are the heart of these parties as the Irish drink, sing, and banter with one another. Lastly, about Irish culture, the Irish will conjure up any excuse to be merry and dance, so festivals and fairs are a constant factor in Celtic life.

How very excited I am to meet these wonderful and vivacious people! My plan is to completely commit myself to the culture and become a Dubliner as soon as I step off the plane into the beautiful and green Ireland. I will get to sing and dance with the people, and maybe even catch a festival! I'm only a little excited... maybe a lot.


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Facts retrieved from: http://www.discoverireland.com/us/about-ireland/culture/

The Big Question

I've been asked a lot by many about what I'm most excited about when I visit Ireland and England in the Fall. This is a pretty heavy question considering there are so many things to be excited about! Many would say London, the pubs, Big Ben, British boys (at least that's what my friends would say), or being able to finally ride those exciting, double-decker, bright red buses. All these things and more make me so excited and thrilled for my adventure, but after much pondering and consideration this is my conclusion:

I have this vision of me sitting on a lush hillside in Ireland. The grass is wet with dew and is the brightest, most vibrant green I've ever seen. The sky is cloudy and gray, but brilliantly lit with the sun shining behind the clouds. In my vision, I'm simply sitting there with a notepad and a pen in my hand, only listening to the wind blowing in ear and touseling my hair. As I look across to the other Irish hillsides, spacious valleys, and continuous rivers, I record my thoughts, feelings, and if I'm feeling inspired, write a poem or two. I am sitting in silence, tranquility, and gratitude with only my thoughts to accompany me. When it's time to go, I'll simply close my notepad and continue the rest of my adventure.

Olivia Wilde, an Irish actress, once said, "I think it's very healthy to spend time alone. You need to know how to be alone and not be defined by another person." Well I am excited for those precious and intimate moments I get to share with only myself when my tour group has free time to roam. And what greater time and place is it to get to know yourself more than in solitude on an Irish hillside? Self discovery, adventure, and the quiet journey: that is what I am most excited for when I visit the British Iles.

Walking Where Austen Walked

Pride and Prejudice was the first British Literature book I became familiar with that really led to my love for literature. I was eleven when my sister-in-law introduced me to Pride and Prejudice then several Jane Austen books after that. As I watched the movie and read the book the following year, Austen’s characters came alive to me as I dove into their thoughts and laughed at their 18th-century wit. I grew up dreaming about the hills of England countryside described in Austen’s books and what it would be like to walk across the spacious landscapes just as Elizabeth fancied. I even dreamed of meeting a man such as Mr. Darcy someday, who would overcome the bands of social expectations for love. Though I still have yet to fulfill my dreams in finding my “Mr. Darcy,” I am already one step closer to my other dream: to walk the Jane Austen countryside of England.

My trip to visit England in the fall is already a dream come true for me. For years I’ve watched and read about scenery in England through Austen, the Bronte’s, and many other beloved British authors, but finally it will be me creating my own story as I live in and breathe British air. Watching Pride and Prejudice will enhance my experience in England because I know I will feel an even greater connection with the characters I have come to know in these stories, as well as the authors who have written them. This connection I will create will aide me in my studies, career, and even life as I grow and develop my passion of writing and teaching English and Literature. I apply English Literature very much in my life, so being able to visit and experience these historical English sites is extremely exciting for me. I will use this experience I will have for the three weeks this fall for the rest of my life. Walking where Austen walked will connect me to the past where not only my family line originated from, but where some of the greatest story-tellers of time lived and told tales of love and life. It truly is an experience I will forever cherish and will hold dearly to my heart as my dreams become a reality in visiting Jane Austen’s world.

"She turned her cant's into cans and her dreams into plans."

Welcome to my blog! Currently I am attending Brigham Young University-Idaho as an English Education major with a minor in TESOL. Anyone who knows me also knows I love to read, travel, teach, and I have a passion for writing. As my family and many of my close friends know, I am traveling to England come September. I have come home to Northern California for the summer to work and prepare for this three and a half week trip I am taking to further my education and studies in the English language. As part of my preparation, this summer I have been writing essays, reading books, and getting ready to leave the country on this journey I am about to embark on, which is the reason I started this blog! I hope in this blog you will find humor, inspiration, and further insight into who I am as a person and what I stand for. Feedback, tips, and comments are always welcome. With that being said, happy readings!