PPU - Pen Pals United 2000

Mary's Great Adventure at PPU 2000!

By Mary Kugel, WI

I have finally returned from the PPU adventure and caught up with sleep ( well, almost) and completed a day back at work now and I guess I am ready to write about my wonderful trip. Looking back, I waited YEARS for PPU and of course, it went so quickly and seemed like such a dream. I considered it a total assault on the senses, a different world and as, my roommate Penny and I said several times daily to each either -- "We aren't in Kansas anymore, Dorothy!"

On Friday, May 19th I took a taxi to the airport for the 1:30 PM flight. Didn't get off to a real good start as on the way there, the taxi driver ran a stop sign (luckily there were no cars coming!). I just closed my eyes and everything turned out okay. Got to the airport to see bags all over the places-most unusual in our small airport and discovered flights to other places had been canceled due to weather problems but apparently none in the direction I was going.

Since I had time before it was time to leave, I decided to get some lunch there so went to the restaurant and placed and order which didn't come by the time I had read the whole newspaper. About then the waitress came back and said they had lost my order (out of 6 or so people in the restaurant??) and what did I want again???? Not a real great start here. About that time my flight was delayed about half an hour but finally got out of there before something else went wrong!

Flew by Northwest Airlines to Detroit --- 49 minutes in the air and then 45 minutes taxiing around the airport to the terminal. Total chaos in Detroit as nothing is well marked, people all over the place, need to transfer from one terminal to the international one and just a total mess. I had thought almost 3 hours between planes would be alot but as it was I had just a little time to wait at the correct gate before it was time to board the British Airways 747 at 6:35PM for the flight to London as PPU 2000 was held in England!

All they do on that flight was feed us! I think I did sleep a little bit but I was surprised that it really wasn't dark long at all with the time change and before I knew it we were getting breakfast, the plane was 40 minutes ahead of schedule and I was landing in London! After the huge mess in Detroit, I was worried about Heathrow Airport being much busier and harder but - surprise --- English are civilized and everything was easily marked and easy to find and I did everything I needed to do and walked out of there straight over to Rosalind Horne and her mother who were waiting for me as promised.

Took off from the airport at 7AM then and spent all day driving around and what a day! I just saw so much and tried to remember it all. Tried to fit as much as possible in a short time so not time at anything to spend a great deal absorbing it all but certainly got a good over view. My very first impression of England was that it is SO GREEN! I've always thought northern Wisconsin was green but English put it all to shame -- but, of course, it rains almost every day too and I actually used the umbrella I took along.

The roads seemed narrow and winding to me and of course, they drive on the "wrong" side - I never quite got used to that. There are no shoulders and the houses and plants/bushes come right to the road and some of the roads are so tiny that when one car meets another, one must pull into the bushes! I envisioned many scratches on cars. The main highway system seemed pretty fast -- was amazed with no posted speeds though. And no billboards and very little signs of anykind - even difficult to find road signs and names. Maybe they all know where they are going!

Houses are made mostly of brick and stone or some sort of masonry work with very little wood used. There are no garages and if a car is owned it was kept right in the front yard but more often the front yard was a lovely little garden with so many pretty flowers in a small space. From what I could see it is the same way in the back yard. Houses are smaller too and most of the window coverings are lace or sheers.

Had a short stop at Runnymede - the site of the signing of the Magna Carta ---- 1215. Also all too brief glimpses at Windsor Castle (with a McDonald's right across the street!), River Thames, "Give Way" instead of Yield signs, Hampton Court Palace, parks belonging to the queen, swans on the river, traffic circles ( at first they seemed funny but after one thought about it, it seemed a good way to control traffic flow without a lot of stopping), thatch roofs on houses.

Roz and her mother have lunch every Saturday at the Surrey Cricketeers Pub and that is certainly I something I wanted to do and sure was neat --- the pub was built in the 1600's and I had Steak, mushroom and Stilton cheese pie, a huge mound of real mashed potatoes and a huge mound of vegetables. From there we rode on and got out to walk on some 2000 Roman ruins next to a church built in 1115 --- and still in use with a wedding going on there. Stopped for coffee later on and also checked out an English super market.

I spent that night and the next at the Hotel Antionette, a lovely little hotel. Was amazed at the size of my hotel room - in the U.S. we are always given so much space but I guess over there they figure you don't need all that space if you are alone. Had a single-size bed, a chair, a nightstand, a small wardrobe and a TV on an overhead stand and that was about it and all the room there was! The bathroom was the kind that you either walked in and did what you had to do or backed in! But it was clean and comfortable enough and I guess that was all that was necessary.

Sunday morning had a full buffet breakfast in the dining room that came with the room price and what an array of food. Was amazed to see several different kinds of prepared eggs, their "bacon" which is more like slices of ham, and "baked beans" (although, to me, they were pork and beans out of a can) served as a part of the breakfast meal.

Woke to rainy weather but that didn't slow us down. Roz and her mother had gone back to the airport and picked by Penny Helton and then came for me and we were off for the whole day again.

Took the car to the train stop, I was totally impressed that many people in England don't drive or have cars and that public transportation is so good) and took the train into London and got out at Waterloo station which was amazing as it was so huge - can't think of anyplace in the U.S. that would be quite the same. Walked out of there onto a London double decker tour bus. Took that bus to a main site and got on another bus and drove past famous things for hours ---- the assault to the senses and trying to take it all in. It was just brief glimpse time as we crossed the River Thames over and over again seeing London Bridge, Tower of London (I'd call it a fort but I guess here it is a castle), Buckingham Palace, horse guards, Westminster Abby ( and numerous other churches and cathedrals nothing less than 400 years old - or so it seemed!), Houses of Parliament, various palaces and huge old government buildings, numerous monuments (even Abraham Lincoln)! A replica of the Globe Theater (but next to houses built in the 1600s), the millennium wheel (this is new -- a huge Ferris wheel), St. Paul's Cathedral, #10 Downing Street, St. James Palace, Trafalagar Square, Picadilly Circus. Later in the day we switched from bus to boat and cruised down the Thames for a different view of many of the same things. Just a day in a dream!

On Monday morning, after a big breakfast again, we left the hotel at 9:30 and headed out. Since we did not have to be at the PPU site until later on in the day we spent 3-4 hours touring Hampton Court Palace built in the 1500's and a palace of Henry VIII. Just unbelievable in size and history. One could easily spend several days there seeing everything and taking in all that history but to me it was a REAL palace! Naturally I asked about the ghosts and there are at least several!

But, finally, it was time to head out for the reason we had come -- the PPU conference -- Pen Pals United 2000 planned by Maggie Chapman with help from various English pals and the PPU dream continued in a fabulously wonderful event.

This PPU was held at the Hilton Hotel in Maidstone, Kent which is about an hour's drive east of London. The hotel was similar to what one might find in America ( i.e. the room was a decent size!!) but actually it was very familiar to our hotels --- except there was no elevator( "lift") but after all it was only 2 stories! Once again a full breakfast buffet was included in our room cost. There was a lovely coffee bar and tea and coffee readily available.

PPU activities started that Monday afternoon with Registration and a coffee and tea service ( naturally!) but, for me, it started as soon as I walked in the door and saw friends I have made at other PPU's as this was the 5th time PPU had been done. This particular PPU included 60 pals and guests from 9 countries (England, Scotland, Wales, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, United States, Canada and Australia) and all TOTALLY friendly.

It was great fun to see all the old friends but also to make so many new ones -- and naturally some new pals as well. As we gathered together, it is always inspiring to realize the power of pen palling and what sharing friendships by letter can eventually cause. A lovely banquet at 7 PM was the first event and it was followed by an evening of mixer games so we could all get to know each other. There was also plenty of lobby space to form smaller groups to visit at all times.

Tuesday was workshop day with a variety of informational and craft workshops on all sorts of subjects including Creative Writing, Record Keeping, Exercises, Recycling, Another kind of creative writing, and I was pleased to give a worksho p on Time and Stress Management which brought comment back to me all week on some simple ideas I purposed to pals! After a lovely lunch with numerous interesting finger foods in the restaurant the afternoon talk was about the histor y of the post/mail boxes in England and what fascinating history to hear.

Although all PPU was wonderful, the highlight of the whole event was the evening banquet where we were loaded unto a bus/coach and taken to Leeds Castle - called " the most beautiful castle in the world" ( it is set on three small islands in the middle of a small lake) and after a most interesting tour ( although built in the 1200's, part of it was later modernized and lived in and now is a small conference facility), had supper in the castle including live music during dinner, rib roasts to carve at tableside and a band for Kentish folk dancing later --- and we all did that!! What magic!!

Wednesday morning included craft workshops on making folders, decoupage, program, creative stamping. At lunch time, a group of us walked just down the road to another old pub and I tried the English fish and chips. Later in the afternoon, I was thrilled to give a presentation on the beginnings of PPU having been on the original plannign committee. Heard several other talks about pen palling in general and how it has evolved over the world.

Another fabulous evening meal included lamb on the menu --- apparently a common enough food over there but something I had only had a time or two in my life.

Open houses sponsored by the various countries completed the evening with great fun to be had by all. Various hobbies were also on display and games available should anyone want for things to do. And always visiting time to share with simply wonderful people.

Thursday was tour day when two groups left the hotel early in the morning. One group went on a Dickens tour to the city of Rochest er and numerous Dickens sites. I choose the Hastings and Rye tour and after an hour's bus ride, ended up in the seaside town (on the English channel) of Hastings - site of the 1066 battle of Hastings with numerous historical sites, seaside attractions and windy old streets with so many interesting little sites. Had to try some seafood, and see the shops and old buildings and try to get a little history..... run, run, run!

From there we went to Rye - an even older town if that was possible and more of the same. There was just not enough time! Back to the hotel in late afternoon and a chance at winning one of the numerous wonderful prizes available --- prizes were given all along each day for the various competitions. After another lovely dinner, more open houses to go to and learn about the customs of the other countries.

Friday began with several more informative workshops followed by another trip for anyone who wanted to go --- including me not wanting to miss any chance of seeing everything. A short bus ride took us down to the River Medway and we boarded a bus and cruised along the quiet river for half an hour in one spot seeing a new bridge being built and right next to it a centuries old castle. The boat dropped us off downstream and we could either go to a pub to eat or tour an old Kent farm which I choose to do. It was a museum dedicated to the cultivation of hops ( from which beer is made) and the old ways they used to be prepared and so interesting to see the process and old buildings. Even had time for a quick lunch in the tea room there.

Back at PPU in the evening, it was time for the last meal and gathering. A special PPU quilt made by Mary Lynne Launtenschleager of Michigan ( and all shades of lavender) was given away by drawing and won by Norma Hope of Canada ( Norma happens to be my exact birthday twin who I have written yto for years and finally got to meet and it was great fun to be able to present the quilt in Mary lynne's behalf and then give it to Norma!). Following the meal there was another evening of songs and dance and general fun... and goodbyes.

I left the hotel before 8 on Saturday morning and took a taxi to Heathrow and flew back to Chicago at 11:15. Another flight on British airways where you were fed constant - including a meal of lamb!!! Got to Chicago early to discover the plane I needed to Green Bay had been canceled and I had to wait 6 hours for the next one which was not appreciated at that point --- however, I managed - but was glad to get home finally, left the luggage by the front door and fell into bed!

PPU FUNNIES

I must have seen a million sheep. When I mentioned that to the English that I found that unusual they said, "Where do YOU get YOUR lamb?" Lamb is something I have had only once or twice in my entire life - as I suspect is true of most Americans!

I am sure there is NOTHING less than 200 years old in England!

We had Yorkshire Pudding as part of the meal several times ---- to me it is a Popover recipe and I need to share that in ALUMNI newsletter which is available to anyone ever attending a PPU event.

I was taught to eat the proper English way---- fork in left hand, knife in right --- using both utensils together. We were told that the Americans learned to eat with the fork in the right ---and their guns in their left in pioneer days!

There are no wash cloths in English hotel rooms ( and they are called flannels there).

I was getting used to using English money which looks like paper play money to us --- and the bigger the coin is the smaller the value.

Doreen Green who teaches English to nuns from different countries told me a story about how she had to correct a nun who got important and impotent mixed!

Gloria Greig had some balloons made for PPU decorations with the PPU peace dove logo on and PPU 2000 words. She told the printer to "put a letter" in the dove's mouth- (meaning envelope) but he misunderstood, and instead put a "P" in the bird's mouth!

The coffee service in the room included BOTH a coffee pot AND a teapot.

Richard Evans STILL looks good in a skirt.

At one dinner, Marjorie Edwards joined her cow and moose toys and invented.... coose.

One of the pen pallers went to the castle dressed like a princess ---- but really had to be sewn in her gown! One of the pen pallers who belongs to the Salvation Army bought numerous post cards of the British Royal family including one of Prince Charles with his hand in his pants. The Scottish Open House answered the age old question of what a Scotsman wears under his kilt!