A place of wonder

After visiting Stonehenge, my class and I traveled to Stourhead. I knew it was an 18th century garden but I didn’t understand the scale until I got there. It was the most beautiful and inspiring place I have ever been too. It inspired me to write a poem about it for one of my class assignments. I think that the best part was when I walked down a hill and through some trees I saw a temple across the water. It was the temple of Apollo and has spaces for statues built in while some have statues. The scene in the film “Pride & Prejudice” where it is raining and there is an intense interchange between Lizzie Bennet and Mr. Darcy, that happens here at the temple of Apollo. As a fan of this film, I was giddy as a schoolgirl. I loved the garden (and the temple) so much that I want to visit several times in my life.

After we went to Stourhead, we ventured to Avebury. It is an old village with ritual stones, like Stonehenge, but these were actually used for human sacrifices. Now, where the stones sit, sheep range and poop abounds. None of us could really look around because we were trying not to step in the poop. I did not enjoy this place as much as the others.

Back at my home stay, I watched a television show called “Body Shock: The Girl with Eight Limbs.” It is about Lakshmi, a girl born in India with eight limbs: 4 arms and 4 legs. She is named after the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi of wealth and beauty. Many people that live in this little girl’s village believe she is the reincarnation of the Goddess. A doctor examined her and said that her extra limbs were attributed to her twin that didn’t develop a head. Her parents decided to have their daughter undergo surgery. I’m sure this show will air or has aired in the US but it reminds me that I’ll miss BBC television when I leave.

This week I am going to see three plays. A last hurrah before I depart. I have 12 days left. I am going to see The Sound of Music, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Wicked. I am very excited. I will keep you posted!