OBU in London #13 - July 30 (Windsor Palace)

Windsor Castle - gloomy morning

July 16 – August 14, 2018 – “The London 15” – OBU Student Abroad in London, England

This summer, I had the privilege of spending a month in England with a group of 15 students from Oklahoma Baptist University.  Dr. Lindsey Panxhi (an English faculty colleague) and myself, along with our respective spouses, conducted a faculty-led StudyAbroad that spent four weeks on the ground in London teaching OBU courses to OBU students while being immersed in the culture and history of Great Britain.  These are our stories!

Windsor Castle panorama

Monday, July 30 – Windsor Castle

Well, today we are missing Alethea’s 15^th birthday, and I feel tremendously guilty about it.  I wish we were at home.  I’m having a great time in London, experiencing and learning SO much, but it can’t possibly be worth it to miss our daughter’s birthday.  Worse still, we’ve committed to doing the London trip next summer as well, which will mean missing Alethea’s 16^th birthday too.  What kind of a father misses his girl’s 15^th and 16^th birthdays?  I say I love her, and I surely do, something fierce – but do my actions demonstrate that love adequately?  I wonder. 

 

From where that girl started, with a difficult pregnancy, premature emergency birth, and early surgery, she continues to astound and inspire me.  She is so smart and funny, musical and pleasant – she is the most amazing kid we know!  I worry that missing her birthday conveys the impression that she matters less in our eyes than the other kids, but that is not the case in the least. 

St. George's Chapel

Our day in London … today we took a trip to Windsor Castle, where Prince Harry and Megan Markle were married earlier this year.  The town around Windsor train station was quite touristy and trendy, and a bit on the pricey side.

The Castle itself was huge and beautiful.  There was a very nice tour of the State Apartments that was quite pleasant, and then St. George’s Chapel (wedding site) was amazing.  But overall, Windsor was a let-down.

OBU in London #12 - July 29 (London Tom & GraceLife Church)

More Harry Potter pics

July 16 – August 14, 2018 – “The London 15” – OBU Student Abroad in London, England

This summer, I had the privilege of spending a month in England with a group of 15 students from Oklahoma Baptist University.  Dr. Lindsey Panxhi (an English faculty colleague) and myself, along with our respective spouses, conducted a faculty-led Study Abroad that spent four weeks on the ground in London teaching OBU courses to OBU students while being immersed in the culture and history of Great Britain.  These are our stories! 

Sunday, July 29 – London Tom & GraceLife Church

Saydi’s birthday!  At supper we sang Happy Birthday and gave her birthday cupcakes.

OBU in London #11 - July 28 (Harry Potter Studio!)

Harry Potter Studio Bus

July 16 – August 14, 2018 – “The London 15” – OBU Student Abroad in London, England 

This summer, I had the privilege of spending a month in England with a group of 15 students from Oklahoma Baptist University.  Dr. Lindsey Panxhi (an English faculty colleague) and myself, along with our respective spouses, conducted a faculty-led Study Abroad that spent four weeks on the ground in London teaching OBU courses to OBU students while being immersed in the culture and history of Great Britain.  These are our stories! 

Saturday, July 28 – Harry Potter Day!

Up early this morning – Vanessa and I took Saydi and headed to Euston station to catch a train to Watford Junction, to get on the Harry Potter Studio tour bus – a double-decker painted with scenes from the movies, which took us to the Warner Brothers Studio where the bulk of the films were made.  From 9-3, we walked through the tour buildings.  The whole experience was very impressive.

OBU in London #10 - July 27 (The Pickwick Six ... Left Behind Part 1)

July 16 – August 14, 2018 – “The London 15” – OBU Student Abroad in London, England

This summer, I had the privilege of spending a month in England with a group of 15 students from Oklahoma Baptist University.  Dr. Lindsey Panxhi (an English faculty colleague) and myself, along with our respective spouses, conducted a faculty-led Study Abroad that spent four weeks on the ground in London teaching OBU courses to OBU students while being immersed in the culture and history of Great Britain.  These are our stories!

Friday, July 27 – Shopping!

The Ubiquitous "Mind the Gap" 

We sent two groups off early this morning – four girls (Lauren, Chloe, Allison, Rachel B) flew to Ireland for the weekend, while the Panxhi’s took five others (Katie, Anna, Stephanie, Kalyne, and Rachel F) to Wales.  Vanessa and I stayed in London with the other six students (the Pickwick Six – Emma, Sierra, Sydney, Noah, Casey, and Saydi). 

OBU in London #9 - July 26 (Hampton Court)

July 16 – August 14, 2018 – “The London 15” – OBU Student Abroad in London, England 

This summer, I had the privilege of spending a month in England with a group of 15 students from Oklahoma Baptist University.  Dr. Lindsey Panxhi (an English faculty colleague) and myself, along with our respective spouses, conducted a faculty-led Study Abroad that spent four weeks on the ground in London teaching OBU courses to OBU students while being immersed in the culture and history of Great Britain.  These are our stories! 

Thursday, July 26 – Hampton Court! 

OBU in London #8 - July 25 (Westminster Abbey & The Globe)

Underground Cafe!

July 16 – August 14, 2018 – “The London 15” – OBU Student Abroad in London, England

Beautiful church - St. George?

This summer, I had the privilege of spending a month in England with a group of 15 students from Oklahoma Baptist University.   Dr. Lindsey Panxhi (an English faculty colleague) and myself, along with our respective spouses, conducted a faculty-led Study

Trafalgar Square!

Abroad that spent four weeks on the ground in London teaching OBU courses to OBU students while being immersed in the culture and history of Great Britain.  These are our stories! 

Wednesday, July 25 – Westminster Abbey, The Globe 

We swapped our morning and afternoon schedules again today.  Given the extreme heat, we moved our excursion (Westminster Abbey) to the afternoon.  That way we would be walking and touring before the heat kicked in.  Westminster opens to the public at 9:30, and was a 45-minute walk, so we left Pickwick at 8:45.  It was a lovely walk, and this time we did stumble across Trafalgar Square,  commemorating the English victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.  There is a nice pool and fountain, along with several statues of military heroes.  It was a good place for photos, so we stopped for a couple of minutes.

OBU in London #7 - July 24 (Tower of London)

July 16 – August 14, 2018 – “The London 15” – OBU Student Abroad in London, England 

Scale model of Tower of London

This summer, I had the privilege of spending a month in England with a group of 15 students from Oklahoma Baptist University.  Dr. Lindsey Panxhi (an English faculty colleague) and myself, along with our respective spouses,  conducted a faculty-led Study Abroad that spent four weeks on the ground in London teaching OBU courses to OBU students while being immersed in the culture and history of Great Britain.  These

The White (central) Tower

are our stories! 

Our Pickwick Hall room!

Tuesday, July 24 – Tower of London!