Friday, May 27, 2011

Introduction

Hello. My name is Keith Stewart. I am preparing to finish my last semester at Eastern Illinois University, capping off my collegiate career spanning five years. Beginning with a house fire at the end of my senior year of high school, two colleges and five different majors later, I've ended up here, with a soon-to-have BA in both English and Communication/Electronic Media Production. And what better way to cap it all off than to leave the country?
Through EIU, I am preparing to leave for England on May 31 to attend Harlaxton University for five weeks, in which I will study a program called English Literary Landscapes to satisfy my remaining six credit hours. What's more, I am shooting a documentary while in England on a walking trail called Isaac's Tea Trail. I will be exploring the trail and interviewing scholars and locals for an indication of how important walking has been to England, not only as a form of leisure but also in the way trails and reactions to land have in turn created identity, with specific regard to class. With the generous support of an undergraduate research grant the Honors College awarded me this Spring, I will be walking the actual 36 mile circular trail which is located in North-Western England in the North Pennines Area.
Over the last couple of months, I've been working with both my advisor, Dr. Richard Sylvia and the leading scholar in England on the trail, Roger Morris. Without their help, this project would not be possible.
The preparation involved with this project has been immense and continues. For it was just prior to beginning this blog that I made my last minute accommodation and travel arrangements for this project. However, I don't wish to overload this first entry with information on Isaac and his trail or my project so I will leave that for another soon-to-come entry.
Because as a whole, this is a very substantial undertaking, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following people/organizations for their support: the Study Abroad Office, EIU Honors College, EIU English Department, Dr. Sylvia, Dr. Ringuette, Dr. Vietto, Roger Morris, the YHA in England, the Ramblers Association, my family and last but not least, my friends.
Before closing, I would also like to say that in addition to my studies and documentary, I feel as though this is a tremendous opportunity for inward reflection. To say I was nervous in deciding to sign-up for this program, that I still am in flying to another country or that I am not a little intimidated by my independent research that will remove me from the rest of our group by five hours and leave me in a countryside as a complete stranger between four small villages is all an understatement. But I'm glad I'm taking this on. I think something like this offers a deep personal award, one that can truly strengthen a person spiritually and this may be what I look forward to the most.

Until again,

Thank you,
Keith