Sitting in this Bed and Breakfast in Caernarfon, Wales, looking out upon the channel with its slight breeze gently lifting the fog on this beautiful morning and mildly wondering why the solitary geese are not in a flock and listening to some neoclassical music on the radio and thinking grand thoughts about the castle we are about to see and experiencing a mixture of feelings that our coach tour is over, I am looking forward to a great Welsh breakfast.
It has been a great tour full of sight-seeing, wonders, adventures, exhaustion, and mostly opportunities to learn. Yesterday we stopped at a town known as having the longest name in the world. It is: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch which means--St. Mary's Church in the Hollow of the White Hazel near to the Rapid Whirlpool of Llantysillio of the Red Cave. The Welsh language is a tough one and it would take many months to be able to pronounce most of the words. Like Scotland, Wales is a strong, lovely country full of national pride and charm.
We have our original coach again and our driver named Paul. He is an Irishman who lives in London and is full of wit and vigor as he constantly offers a creative view of the world around us. A consummate professional, Paul stayed with the coach during its mechanical problems and as soon as he could, he drove many hours to join us at Ambleside. We said goodbye to our temporary driver named Will Stewart. Will was a Scotsman quick to laugh, eager to please, excellent at driving, and made from good stock. We are glad to have Paul back as we return to London, but I am honored to have spent time with Will Stewart as well. Good people whose lives have touched mine in ways that cannot be measured.
Yesterday we toured the Beatles museum in Liverpool, further confirming in my mind they were the most influential early rock band. Their amazing songs that included folk, blues, classical, and even Indian sounds continue to be sung and covered by singers throughout the world. Not sure of my favorite but I do like Norwegian Wood, Eleanor Rigby, Blackbird, Revolution, and about 40 others! The museum allowed us to feel the surge of excitement as the band moved from small clubs to world-wide recognition. The British Invasion of music was felt in the United States as Beatlemania swept our country and began influencing future generations. All great fun and culturally significant as those who loved the Beatles in the 60s are now among the mature leaders of our time in business and in society.
Our time at Hadrian's Wall was fascinating as we reflected on the chronology of Roman rule in what is now the United Kingdom. Begun in AD 122, the wall was strategically built as a fortress to allow trade and levy taxes on travelers and deter enemies. Still standing for nearly 80 miles, much of the wall has been used for other construction projects. As I stood on the wall, looking across the rolling English hills, I wondered about my insignificant role in history and God's purpose for all of us. We are not on this earth for that long but we can make an impact during our time.
A brief stop at William Wallace's monument in Stirling, Scotland allowed us to see the castle across the way. The hero of Scotland, with his bold actions against King Edward I, has infused great pride in the people of Scotland as well as sensitivity and cognizance against governmental abuses. This makes for a veiled mistrust of leaders that permeates many of the people but also promotes nationalistic spirit. Scottish bagpipers stand tall and proud for the people of Scotland and their jovial nature does not diminish their inner strength.
It has been great to watch our students grow throughout the semester and in this coach tour through the United Kingdom. They have seen and experienced culture in ways that will change them forever. Arriving primarily with a limited framework of their lives in Texas, they leave soon with knowledge of the past, hope for the future, and an awareness of the complexities of life outside of the United States. They go back with London culture and arts, Scottish smiles, Welsh ways, lots of great food experiences, and depth of maturity. They also go back with lighter wallets!
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