Week 8 Impressions by Meg Miller

This week my internship was cancelled. Hanover Primary School was taking its half term break. I was left to my own devices for three whole days. I was terribly distressed. I felt abandoned and oh so alone. How could these kids take a break only a week after my arrival? I considered scheduling a meeting with the headmaster to have him revoke the break and enforce mandatory school session. What could I possibly do? Where would I go? I had visions of myself sitting in my tiny dorm room glued to my computer watching Grey’s Anatomy for 72 hours straight. But, in the name of children everywhere, I took it upon myself to let them have their little break. After all, there were grandmothers that needed to be visited, and villas in the south of Spain that needed to be looked after. I would somehow have to learn to enjoy this five day weekend and make the most of it. I know what you are thinking, how did I possibly continue? Where did I find the strength to go on? What would I do without my 27 little kids from 8:30-4:30 each day? Who in their right mind could take joy in this break when they could be running after seven year olds all day? It was not easy, but I forced myself to carry on.

In all honesty, after doing some volunteer work to make up some of the missed hours at my internship, I jumped on the first train out of London. I literally leapt on to the train, one of those, “I’m free at last” leaps. The kind where your head goes back and your arms fly out to the sides. In a Broadway musical, this was the kind of leap that is followed by a song about the joy of travel and the open road. Choruses of singers would pop up out of the seats in glittery outfits and dancers would parade down the aisles with top hats on. Ok, so there was no glitter or top hats, but I was indeed free. Once I regained my balance and apologized to the old man I nearly ran over after said leap, I took my seat on the train and settled in for the roughly three hour train trip to Liverpool.

Trains have definitely snuck their way up to my favorite mode of transportation, right in front of the all-mighty Tube. Now, I am fully aware of the fact that planes are very functional and practical, and perhaps hot air balloons or po-go sticks offer a bit more thrill. But there is something about a train that tickles my fancy. They are fairly affordable, especially with our BritRail pass, and they are also relatively efficient. There is little hassle with tickets and security, unlike on an airplane, and they offer comfortable seats, heating, and even refreshments, unlike po-go sticks or hot air balloons. I mean, let’s be honest- trying to munch on some crisps or a sandwich is hardly safe on a po-go stick, even with a crash helmet.

So, yes, trains are number one on my list. You sit back and get a comfortable connection to the distance you are traveling. You have the opportunity to process the land you cover, observe the changing scenery, and soak up some sense of direction. Everything seems frozen in time as you float through the changing landscape. Birds hang in the sky, water slows to a still, and sheep stand quietly- then they are gone. Smoke from a chimney pauses as it climbs into the sky. These are the moments of life rolling past my eyes as I travel closer to my destination, brief encounters and glimpses of the world going by. Just as I began to think that perhaps a po-go stick could offer a similar experience, the rain began to fall and reconfirmed the train as my number one mode of transportation. Liverpool was great fun and I listened to the Beatles as I sat comfortably gazing out the window on the train ride home.