Stratford Seniors Report to PEA

Dear Exeter,

Sending our warm greetings from Stratford! To the senior class—we miss you and are wishing you all the best of luck! This fall, 12 seniors—Nate, Jiwon, Raul, Aidan, Aden, Audrey, Raul, Zea, Liz, Ellena, Sammy, Miguel, and I (Carissa)—and Associate Director of College Counseling Cary Einhaus have been studying Shakespeare, architecture and British literature on a farm. In the past six weeks, we have traveled in a bus through different landmarks in England. Some of the highlights so far: hiking in the mountains of the Lake District; seeing Rothkos, Rembrandts, Vermeers and Turners in London museums; tearing up at the Globe’s productions of “The Merchant of Venice” and “Dr. Faustus”; a week-long homestay with the Hereford Cathedral School; seeing a performance of Shakespeare’s King John in the cathedral of King John’s tomb on the 800th anniversary of his death; being in the background of BBC’s live broadcast of the Globe’s production, “A Midsummer’s Nights Dream” (we were standing in the front row!); seeing an abridged show featuring all of the deaths in Shakespeare’s plays; learning how to ring the bells in an 11th century church; seeing the White Cliffs of Dover and Stonehenge; and of course, trying Yorkshire pudding and seeing countless sheep! These are some of our reflections from our experience abroad:

“I've loved reading for longer than I can remember, and much of my reading has been connected, in some way, to England. As a child, while other boys followed their favorite Marvel superhero, I read comic book stories of Robin Hood and King Arthur, or devoured the Narnia tales of C.S. Lewis. As a young teen, my personal reading centered around historical fiction or fantasy that was inspired by English history and landscape. (Indeed, on our travels this fall driving through the windy hills and narrow lanes of the Cotswolds, one couldn’t help think of the Shire of J.R.R. Tolkien.) In high school, my personal reading list grew more sophisticated—Austen, Waugh, James—but still remained heavily Anglo-accented. My love of England has always been intricately linked with its literature and history—which is why leading these 12 Exeter seniors on the Stratford 2016 program has been one of the highlights of my career.” -Mr. Einhaus

“Throughout our time in Stratford, I’ve appreciated all of the new experiences we’ve been able to take part in. I’ve seen plays in London and Stratford that have completely changed my ideas about what a theatrical performance can do. We’ve visited places that I've spent years reading about, like Stonehenge and the city of Bath. For a week, we immersed ourselves in life with our host families at Hereford Cathedral School, and were able to make connections with students our age. Being in England this fall has changed my perspective in so many ways, and I’m so grateful that we've spent this term in such a historically and culturally rich country.” -Liz Cleveland

“Here with such intelligent and genuine peers, in an enchanted land with mesmerizing sceneries and a full, action-packed schedule, I am so blessed. Every minute I’m a child opening presents one after another and another that will each surely be more breathtaking than the one before. Stratford has taught me everything, from the importance of preserving a millennium old building to noticing techniques of “copious diction” in both a 17th-century Shakespeare play and a 19th-century Lytton Strachey biography to understanding the balance between unity and individuality when traveling with 11 dynamic peers.” -Ellena Joo

“In the Academy Center entryway, there hang two bulletin boards whose purpose seems only to be a source of entertainment for those who await the arrival of their chaperone, come to return them home.  At least, that’s how I thought of them one night my prep winter as I let my eyes wander lazily across the various flyers tacked haphazardly on their surface. That was the night I discovered Stratford.  There, amongst torn-off corners and rumpled ads for the Wal-Mart bus, an image of Exonians beaming in front of rolling green hills stood out like the first blooms of spring amidst a sea of yellowed grass. I saw a glimpse of a life an ocean away. I wondered what that would be like—to live away from home and be self-sufficient, to study courses I loved and dedicate myself completely to them for 10 whole weeks, on top of being immersed in the culture and the lands that I was reading about. Now that I have been here in Stratford for seven weeks, I can honestly say that this has been the best experience of my life. Not only have I grown as a student, but as a well-rounded member of my community. I have accomplished so many firsts and learned an immeasurable amount about the English culture.” -Sammy Merrill

“I’ve been pondering blame, chewing on hurt, consulting the stars. I’m feeling. That is what I’ve taken away from Stratford so far: feeling; at any given moment there is some ponderance—a thing sorely rare in the Stillwater of the Exeter bubble—on life flickering into and out of my head. The first few times this happened I promised myself I’d remember them—only to be interrupted by whatever adventure was on deck next—and promptly forget. Amongst the jumble of thoughts and medley of experiences and errands we partake each day, solitude is nigh nonexistent. Stories will not be in short supply on my return home.” -Aidan Wolff-King

Sincerely,

The Stratford Family of 2016