Aarohi's Blog

 Our adventure started with a leisurely one-hour bus journey from the hotel. This drive transported us into the heart of Canterbury. The English countryside unfolded outside our windows. It was a peaceful expanse of vibrant green. Upon our arrival in Canterbury, our first destination was clear. We headed directly for the magnificent Canterbury Cathedral. We decided against a structured guided tour. Instead, we chose to explore the cathedral's interior independently. This proved to be an good choice. Wandering through the immense nave was breathtaking. We admired the detailed chapels. Exploring the ancient crypts at our own speed was rewarding. It allowed us to truly absorb the cathedral’s profound beauty. We also soaked in its palpable atmosphere. Standing beneath the towering stained-glass windows inspired awe. We took our time reading about its history. The cathedral holds a deep connection to British history. The story of Thomas Becket resonated deeply. Following our cathedral v...

On our second day in England, we woke up early and set off for Canterbury. Our first stop was the famous Canterbury Cathedral . It was incredible to see the sheer size and beauty of the building up close. We spent some time walking around, admiring the stunning stained-glass windows and intricate details of the architecture. After touring the cathedral, we headed to the gift shop to browse around. There were all sorts of souvenirs, from books to little trinkets, but the postcards seemed to be the most popular pick among us. It was nice to find something to remember the experience by, even though the shop was pretty crowded. The garden in front of the Cathedral was very small with a few types of plants but they were growing healthily. After that we made our way to the Westgate tower. The climb up was more of a challenge especially with so many people. The spiral stairs were very small and narrow making it easy to accidentally lose your footing. When we finally reached the top of the tow...

We made it to the airport, and things started off a little stressful. One person in our group didn’t show up on time, which made us worry about missing the flight. Luckily, I had a bit of good luck at TSA, since I passed through security on the first try something I hadn’t done in a while. Since our flight was delayed, we had extra time to grab a bite to eat at the airport. I picked yogurt and fruit at this sit down restaurant near the gate, which was light but kept me full for the trip. Once we finished eating, we boarded our flight to New York. The flight was only about an hour and a half, so it went by pretty quickly. After we landed in New York, things got a little hectic again. We almost missed our connecting flight to London Heathrow, and we had to rush to the gate. We got there just as they were about to close the boarding doors, but since we had a group of seven, they were kind enough to wait a bit for us. Once we were on the plane, I settled in and watched MEG3N and played B...

  We recently held our second and final pre-departure meeting. This was a session designed to cover every last detail before we set off. Everyone presented their questions and concerns, and we went over everything from the big plans to the small details. This meeting was an important moment in our preparations because it allowed us to share a common understanding and build a sense of unity. One major focus of our prep was ensuring all our travel plans are locked in. We double-checked every booking: flights, hotels, trains, and buses. Knowing these essential details are taken care of gives everyone peace of mind. With the big chunks in place, we could shift our focus to the smaller stuff. For example, everyone picked up their official EF backpack during the meeting. These backpacks are a great way to keep our belongings close when we’re out exploring, especially on busy streets or crowded sights. We also bought a few recommended items from the packing list, such as power adapters th...

On our original itinerary, we would have begun our journey in Manchester, embarking on a guided walking tour to explore the city’s rich history and notable landmarks. Next, we would have headed to the stunning Lake District, visiting Rydal Mount, the beloved home of poet William Wordsworth. After that, we intended to journey to Haworth to discover the Brontë Museum, immersing ourselves in the lives of the remarkable Brontë sisters - Charlotte, Anne, and Emily. Following this, we had plans to visit the magnificent York Minster and then continue on to Stratford-upon-Avon, where we could have toured the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Our adventure would have included a visit to Oxford and a stroll through the elegant Georgian squares of Bath. The highlight of our trip would undoubtedly have been London, where we’d visit iconic sites such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and Buckingham Palace. To cap it all off, we would have concluded our journey with a visit to Shakespeare’s Glo...

Marxism is a socio-economic ideology developed by Karl Marx, a German philosopher who believed that history is determined by struggle between social classes. According to Marx, society is composed of the bourgeoisie (dominating class that owns the tools of production) and the proletariat (working class). He believed that capitalism survived on this dichotomy and that the bourgeoisie exploited the labor of the proletariat. Marx envisioned the future where class divisions would end in a communist revolution and be replaced by a classless society. Marx also did not see war as a matter of state affairs but a result of conflict between classes. War was to Marx an indication of the disease of the capitalist system, and he believed in neutrality. Marx extended his research from economics to culture in asserting that art and literature are shaped by economic and historical forces. Even seemingly unrelated cultural works, like poetry, are shaped by the economic conditions of their time. Cultur...

  The phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance has been debated for a long time. The Pledge was written in 1892, but the phrase "under God" was added in 1954 during the Cold War. The United States government added these words to show that America was different from the Soviet Union, which did not believe in God. Some people believe that this addition is important because it reflects America's religious values. They feel that by including "under God," the country shows respect for the faith that many Americans follow. However others feel that it violates the first amendment: people are free to practice their own religion and the Establishment Clause: the government cannot establish a national religion. For some people, the phrase "under God" is a reminder of America’s Christian roots branching from England. Many Christians believe that the phrase acknowledges the role of God in the nation's history and is what led to its success. The...