OBU in London #26 - August 12 (Hillsong London)

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, August 12 – Hillsong London

First thing this morning, Emma and I walked back to Her Majesty’s Theatre in pursuit of the missing wallet.  We found someone who knows a lot more, and he promised to go check himself and get back to us by phone.  With that promise, we headed to Hillsong Church, just down Tottenham Court Rd.  It was certainly a different worship experience for our group – very much like a YC / Falls Creek worship service.  Very loud, very upbeat, very Pentecostal!  The church meets in the Dominion Theatre, a still-working venue (currently playing, ironically, Bat Out of Hell).  You could feel the bass drums pulsing in your chest – it was a bit much for some of our girls.

OBU in London #25 - August 11 (Phantom of the Opera)

 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, August 11 – Phantom of the Opera

Good sleep last night – woke up pretty refreshed this morning.  Class at 10am, then lunch.  It was a free afternoon for our crew.  I spent almost all of the afternoon getting the budget updated.  Had enough time to go shopping with Vanessa.  We went to the corner stall guy and bought matching London zip-up jackets for me and Vanessa, T-shirts for Elaina, Mandy, Emma and Maddie.  I also bought a cool British hat.  I think it looks quite spiffy.

OBU in London #24 - August 10 (Kew Gardens)

Kew Palace

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, August 10 – Kew Gardens

OBU in London #23 - August 9 (Wells & Bath)

The Wookey Hole Hotel, aka
Hotel Transylvania

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

Wells Cathedral

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

Close Up ...

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, August 9 – Wells Cathedral & Bath

Far away ...

I overdid the food last night at the Bell Inn.  After finishing my burger, I helped two of our girls polish off their Camembert cheese, and then had my sticky toffee pudding.  Too much fat – I woke up in the middle of the night with a nasty stomach ache.  Lesson learned – again.  I wish I could remember that lesson permanently! 

OBU in London #22 - August 8 (Salisbury & Stonehenge)

Cover your eyes: bedbugs!!!

Open your eyes! Iconic Salisbury Cathedral

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! 

Wednesday, August 8 – Salisbury & Stonehenge!

OBU in London #21 - August 7 (Canterbury & Dover)

Canterbury Cathedral: Under Construction

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

Beautiful Interior of
Canterbury Cathedral

Chapel of St. Anselm -
my favorite Archbishop

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! 

Tuesday, August 7 – Canterbury & Dover!

Model of Dover Castle (at Dover!)

Most of the London 15 on a Dover hill

Today was the start of our whirlwind three-day excursion.  Up early to be at Enterprise car rental before 8AM.  It took until 8:30 to process all our paperwork and get our 3 vehicles.  Arsid drove a 9-passenger Mercedes van, I drove an 8-passenger Hyundai, and Vanessa got a Volkswagon Touring, a

View from the Tower of Dover Castle

smaller 5-passenger car.  Despite getting split up almost immediately, we all made it to Canterbury in plenty of time for our 11:00 entrance.  Canterbury Cathedral was, once again, beautiful, with soaring arches and story-telling stained glass.  Much of the exterior was, sadly, obscured by scaffolding, but the inside was impressive and spiritually uplifting.  The grounds were also very extensive and enjoyable.  It was quite warm, and Vanessa was about done with walking – but I could have spent hours exploring the grounds and the old medieval walls.  We had a quick lunch (McDonald’s for us – first fast food in Europe), then on the road again …

OBU in London #20 - August 6 (High Tea @ Kensington Palace)

Vanessa in the Great Hall @ Kensington Palace

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

Throne Room

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!

Royal Medieval Games!

Monday, August 6 – Kensington Palace!

OBU in London High Tea Table

Slept in a little bit this morning.  Class until an early light lunch.  Then to Kensington Palace to tour and then enjoy High Tea in their Pavilion Tearoom. 

The Palace itself was a pleasant visit.  We heard nice short talks on the State Apartments upstairs, and

Yummy Tea Treats

then there was a very moving display about Queen Victoria on the first floor, focused particularly on her romance with Prince Albert.  That was the highlight of the Palace Tour for me.  I didn’t make it to the exhibit on Princess Diana’s fashion – many of our students loved that! 

High Tea, however, was the REAL prime attraction.  The 18 of us (minus Arsid) were seated in a side room with only a few other guests.  The team menu itself was very delicious – five types of sandwich fingers, scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, and three desserts – a Victorian sponge, a cheesecake, and a fruit & chocolate mousse.  But the highlight was how much all the students enjoyed the experience.  They all had tea – although Emma ended up drinking a pot of coffee too – and were chatting

Casey House demonstrating proper
tea-drinking form

and laughing quite through the tea.  We stayed for almost two hours, just to enjoy the fellowship and conversation.

After tea, back to Pickwick.  We had Colloquium before supper, as no one was hungry yet.  Another good day filled with blessings.  You are good, Lord. 

Vanessa & I in the Kensington Palace Gardens