WOW-This adventure

Hi Everyone!

This fellowship has been an experience I will never forget! I've learned so very much, and have all of that to share. It's very exciting! However, it has just been too hard to post to the blog each day because of moving from location to location and not always having Internet connection. I've snapped so many pictures and just can't wait to see them on the computer or in print, and then show them to you.

Bryan asked me if I was going to talk funny when I get back, and I think I will, just for fun. I've been practicing! But a young Englishman today told me that I should stick with my original accent because "it has character." Probably, I'm not doing a good job with the new one.

I've been lost and I've been scared, but I am just in awe of England. It's amazing what lies beyond our country. Even though the weather is beautiful here, and it's very hot in Muskogee, I still want to come home. I've thought about my students every day and have something to share with each one. There are still a couple of days to enjoy before I come home, and I want you to know that all is well here with me and I'll see you soon.

Ms. Fite

The Hogwarts Dining Room

When I walked into the dining room at Christ Church in Oxford,England, I knew I'd seen it before. It gave me goose bumps because it looked just the same as the dining room in the Harry Potter movies. This dining room is actually used now for people other than Hogwarts and it was very impressive.

Oxford

On a bus to Oxford right now! There are lots of Harry Potter sights there!

Prince Harry

Can you believe we saw Prince Harry yesterday? We were walking around Buckingham Palace where the royal family lives. We saw a small group of people looking down a guarded road, so like the tourists we are, we looked too! We saw 2 Bobbys, the policemen in black uniforms, standing in the road with guards, in red uniforms with black fuzzy hats, on each side of the road. Looking down the road, we saw 3 policemen on motorcycles. Soon, the Bobbys let down the chain that was across the road and stepped aside while the guards stood at attention. Suddenly, the police on motorcycles zoomed out followed by a beautiful blue Jaguar car which carried Prince Harry in the back seat. A Range Rover SUV followed with flashing lights. I couldn't help but wonder where he was going. Maybe he had an important meeting or was just going to visit some friends. A lot of work goes into protecting Prince Harry.

Lucky for us, I took a video of this, so I'll put it online when I can. I can't wait to watch it again!

Blayne asked me if the guards ever moved and they do. I have another video of that. I still haven't gotten an answer for you on why they wear the fuzzy hats. I guess it's always been a part of their uniform.

Lacock Abbey

One more thing...muggles were everywhere. It was a busy place. I can't wait to tell you more.

This is a picture of me in the Cloisters. Much of filming was done in here; can you recognize it? I kept expecting to see Harry or one of his friends, but I think they were all behind their invisible cloaks!

Lacock Abbey

So much to tell! I haven't had much opportunity for wifi and to upload pictures, post and such. I'm skipping ahead a bunch, but wanted to tell you where I just visited. We just left Lacock Abbey where much of two Harry Potter movies were filmed. Lots of The Sorcerer's Stone was filmed there. I took pictures of the grassy courtyard where Harry was filmed. One of the rooms in this very old building was the set for the time Harry saw the reflection of his parents in the mirror.

Today

There's much to tell, but just to let you know, we are leaving London today in a rental car. We are driving to Canterbury, Brighton then Salisbury. Spending 2 nights in Salisbury...hopefully I will have Wi-fi to create a post tomorrow morning. Hope everyone is well, as we are having a blast!

Money: US versus British Pounds

Russell wanted to know if the money is different. We looked at some foreign currency in class to see what some of it looks like, but now I am using their money all the time instead of US money. I went to a bank in London to trade my US money for British money (Pounds) and they would not do that for me. I had to go to the post office to trade it. For every British pound, I had to give them $1.66 US. It's confusing but I'm getting used to it. My lunch today was 7 pounds so that means it cost me about $11.50. I have to think hard when someone tells me the price of something because their money is different.

Getting Here

Hello from London, England!

I'm here and it's wonderful! Boy I'm glad I wore my comfortable yoga pants because it took a long time. There was a little change in getting here because of a plane that was delayed. Instead of going through Montreal,Canada, they sent me through Toronto,Canada. Either way, that was cool because I've never been to Canada before. I got on the plane there at 11:15 at night and arrived in London 6 hours later but on London time it was 11:15 in the morning. In London it is 6 hours later.
I want to explain this because Darius asked me "How do you get there?"
1. Cole took me to the Tulsa Airport where I flew to Chicago, Illinois.
2. I got on a different plane in Chicago and flew to Toronto, Canada.
3. In Toronto I got on another plane and flew to London. I slept some on that flight.
4. When I got to London, I went through Customs, got my suitcase and then found the Express train that took me to Paddington Station.
5. When I got off that train, I got in a cute black cab that took me to the flat where I am now. It's in a neighborhood called St. John's Wood.

My friend, Gretchen, who lives in Houston, Texas met me here. We are staying with some friends of hers who live in London. The mom, Mary, is a teacher too, and her husband works for a company in London. They have children in the USA and other parts of the world. One of their daughters is a 4th grade teacher. She first taught in Seattle, Washington, then Morroco and now in Manilla,Phillipines. It's nice having a home to stay in while we are getting used to this foreign country. Mary has helped us a lot.

How's the trip going?

Wondering about you.  Haven't received anything yet.  All's well here.  MOM

2 more days

I've washed and packed all of my muggle clothing....maybe I will come back with a black or mauve robe and a magic wand.
I went to the bank in Muskogee to get money for my trip. I was able to get American money, but they did not have any Galleons, Sickles or Knuts. For that wizarding money, I will have to find Gringotts Wizarding Bank in England.

The day is almost here

Leaving in 5 days....

oh boy!!