Emerson College

So I spent most of Saturday on the train, I left my Hostel in Caernarfon at 830am and arrived at my Stratford upon Avon hostel about 230pm I assure you it was a very long day! Now I arrived thinking i would have the rest of the afternoon and most of the next day, only to realise upon arrival at the information centre that to be at Emerson College on time the next day I had to leave on the train at 10am!!! so as you can imagine I filled the few hours that I had there very quickly. I started by simply wandering, its the best way to get to know a new place and find its lively places and cutesy secret cafes and quiet parks and riverbanks. I was expecting a small quiet village but in actual fact it is quite a large town with big department stores and everything, very different from my expectation but also very lively and full of tourists, of which I am one, so I guess I can't complain too much. I found the Holy Trinity Church where Shakepeare is buried, alongside his wife, daughter and her husband. it right beside the Avon river and has beautiful pathways, trees and garden benches in the surrounds. My next step was to try and secure myself a ticket for the night's dose of Shakespeare theatre. When I rang they said it was booked out but to go in to the box to check for returned tickets, by a stroke of extreme luck there were 2 tickets so after realising I had to pay in cash and didn't have enough i was grateful that the woman held the ticket with only a small deposit while I traipsed around town trying to find an ATM.My next little event there was a half hour cruise on the river, very peaceful and relaxing, but also very exciting because I saw my first ever squirrel!!! The riverbank was incredibly green and lush with so many plants and trees but particularly lots of willows weeping into the water. I spent about half an hour wandering in search some dinner that felt tempting before I realising I only had about 10 minutes before the doors opened. I decided I'd give the theatre cafe a try but unfortunately the only vegetarian meal was an awful white bread wrap filled with loads of mayonnaise, and a little bit of egg, cheese and lettuce. very disappointing. I watched the Taming of the Shrew in the Courtyard Theatre, and it was absolutely fantastic, the actors were so skilled and entertaining that even the barrier that usually exists with Shakespeares language wasn't a problem. It was a very contemporary interpretation, the sets were incredible, it was really an indescribable experience, I absolutely loved it!!! Next morning I was faced with difficult decision of whether to walk the 3 miles to the train station, or give in to temptation and catch a taxi..........I gave in to temptation! It was so worth because at the other end of my trip there was no choice but to walk the 2 miles to Emerson from the bus stop.
I felt so lucky when I opened the door to my room that it was MY room and I didn't have to share it with anyone! The atmosphere here is great, everyone is so friendly, the meals a fantastic, the grounds are beautiful and I get the feeling I've only seen a small part because I've been so busy I haven't had much time to explore yet. Everyone in the course is a delight to be with, I have to say I'm enjoying the Anthroposophical component more than the herbal, although today we did a great exercise with the herbal where we told a condition and within a group we needed to come up with a treatment. It really is an intensive program and all the breaks just seem to disappear so quickly! It is a strong rhythm, helped by the fact that meals are at set time and they really a social event, the whole room is filled with conversation. So the days start with breakfast at 730, (although wednesday was a 430 start with a dawn walk) then classes begin at 9 and run till 5 but its usually been 530, with meal breaks in between of course, but not very long, then tuesday, tonight and tomorrow we are having sessions after dinner till about 9 or 10. So as you can imagine extremely full on but absolutely inspiring, fulfilling, nourishing and uplifting, its wonderful!!! I need to go now for dinner but it would be lovely to hear from all of you how things are going there!! lots of love xox the dinner gong is ringing now!