It's time...

To finish blogging! I am back in California, a little jet lagged, a lot sleepy, and amazed at all that has just happened. My time in England was so wonderful! I visited 5 countries, met tons of new British and American friends, and learned so much about myself and the world in general.

Here are some ways I have changed/things I have learned:

-I am more appreciative of my wonderful friends and family at home-three months was a LONG time to be away!
-I have been bit (bitten?) by the travel bug... anybody want to explore the world with me?
-I have learned 36 new ways to eat potatoes.
-I experienced simplicity in some areas of my life: no phone means you be where you said you were going to be when you said you would be there; no car means that at least an hour of each day is spent walking; two suitcases means less clothes to wash and more creativity in choosing outfits and a realization that we need SO LITTLE to get by.
-I think I am more open-minded and able to see the gray in many areas of life.
-I learned to drink tea with milk...and LOVE it!
-Flexiblity and "go-with-the-flow" mentality definitely increased during my adventures. The phrase "it's all good!" is the best one to have when traveling, because you never know WHAT is going to happen!

I learned and experienced so much, and I can't wait to have loooooong dates with you all and show you all of my pictures. Every single one. Get ready. Thanks for reading and experiencing this adventure with me; I appreciate your support! See you soon!!! :)

Cheers!

I know, right?

So my last week in London was spent galavanting around with some of my besties: Julie, Beth, and Mike came all the way from Seattle to hang out with me in England! We had a lovely time.


We started out in Reading, so that I could show them around my Uni. They kindly helped me pack up my stuff... what dears.


On Saturday we hit up London! It was so fun to take pictures and drink tea and explore together.


Next it was off to Bristol and Brighton. We saw the suspension bridge, the Roman Baths, and we even shared a cream tea with Jane Austen. We also went Christmas caroling around Bristol-a random and yet entirely enjoyable experience. A lot of times during this section of our trip we would look at each other and say, "Is this really happening??"


On Monday it was back to London for the day, and then to our first show: Wicked! SO GOOD!!



Then yesterday we had a full day in London, and last night we saw the Lion King. Where were our seats, you ask? Oh, you know... IN THE FRONT ROW!!! We could see up Simba's nostrils. We could smell the musk of Pumba. It was like flying first class-you always want to do it, but it's never actually a reality. Except it was. I think this show changed my life. I want to live in Africa and be a lion now.


So, that is just a small glimpse of our fabulous time this week. I was so lucky to have such wonderful friends visit me!! I am currently sitting in our empty hostel bedroom, about to check out and shop in London for a few hours before heading to Windsor to meet Victoria. Then I will wake up tomorrow and fly home! America, get ready! I am coming back! It's so strange. I think I will go now, but don't worry Annette, I will start reflecting on what I have learned here and will post at least one more blog. Thanks for reading, anyone who is still around! See you all soon!

Things I will miss...

I am currently sitting in the library, trying to write an essay about van Gogh, and going a bit stir crazy. But the sunset is VERY pretty and visible from my chair, so that's good news.

Anyways, remember that one time that I made a list of things that I missed from America? Well, it's time for installment number two: things I will miss from England! Here we go:

1. Accents!
2. Being forced to walk or take public transportation everywhere. Although it can be a hassle, I love that I walk so much here and don't have any need for a car.
3. Tax being included in the cost. You actually pay the price on the tag! A novel concept.
4. My British friends who make fun of me for my accent/are so fun to be around.
5. The opportunities afforded by a larger university.
6. Tuesday night comedy club at MoJo's!
7. Having London a 20 minute train ride away.
8. THE CLOUDS.
9. Words like "lovely" and "smart" and "brilliant" to describe people/experiences.
10. Drinking tea ALL the time.
11. Hearing things like, "Where the @$%&$ has the rubbish bin gone?!" at 3am.

12. The ability to travel to a new country every weekend, should I have the desire to do so.

13. All of my new friends! Seriously, I will miss these people so much. I guess that means roadtrip to the east coast. And maybe I can return to London for 2012 Olympics? Anyone?

14. The nice employees that work in my cafeteria and call me "dear".

15. The way everyone here pronouces my name. Pie-age. I still get excited, every time.

Just for kicks, here are a few things I WON'T miss about England:

1. Potatoes.
2. Losing money with every purchase to the exchange rate.
3. Paying more to drink my tea in a cafe.
4. Being so far away from everyone that I love. sniff sniff.
5. The freezing cold weather. Bring on the California Christmas!
6. A lack of a cell phone. It's been nice to live without one for a few months, but at times has been dreadfully inconvenient.
7. Did I mention potatoes?

Winter Wonderland!

Last night was Rachel's 21st birthday! We celebrated by eating out at The Hard Rock Cafe in London.

Then we headed over to Hyde Park to experience a little Winter Wonderland.

This is the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square. It's a gift to London from Norway every year, as a thank you for the help during WW2. Gotta love those Norwegians! (aka, shoutout to Hilde!!!)

The creepiest mechanical santa in the entire universe. Seriously.

And the party continues on the Tube ride home!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like...

Christmas?

December?

The end of my time in England?

Projects and essays consuming every moment of my life?

Goodbyes are looming?

Welcome Homes are coming?

Wait, before welcome homes, FRIENDS FROM SEATTLE are coming?!?!

(OMG 9 days!)

A warm, California Christmas is in my future?

A viewing of "The Muppet Christmas Carol" with Mom and Kyle IMMEDIATELY upon my arrival into Riverside??

There is much to look forward to, much to do right now, and much to be sad about leaving behind. Time feels SO loud and imposing; it's as though there is a big clock hovering next to my ear, ticking and tocking and screaming about how little time I have left. Bahhh!

But I have seen many places and experienced so much. And it is definitely NOT over yet-lots of adventures to come in the next two weeks! So for now I will sit, and focus on my essays, and try to not think about what lies ahead. I will also try to refrain from downloading Christmas movies on Youtube..must...do...homework...

Haggis and Nessy and Bagpipes, oh my!

This weekend, I went on my last trip...to Scotland! We stayed in Edinburgh, and we also took a day trip to Loch Ness.

Edinburgh! (The capital of Scotland)

On Saturday we took a private bus tour through Scotland, to Loch Ness. The scenery was stunning. So much snow! It reminded me of Narnia.

This deer came right up to us, as if he was ASKING to be photographed. Isn't he handsome?



This picture is for Amy. Mission accomplished, AND bonus points for a bagpipe, right?!? :)

The girls, about to board our tour boat around Loch Ness. Guess who we saw?

The Loch Ness monster! AHHHHHHHH!

Not once, but twice! Do you see her? She is hard to catch a glimpse of... good thing I have such good timing and expert photography skills.

On Sunday we went to Edinburgh castle.

We also climbed a volcano...

And saw a Hairy Coo!!!! What more could one ask for?!

Waffles and Truffles!

I would like to take this opportunity to announce that I am moving to Belgium.

Seriously.

OMG, there were chocolate shops lining the streets, waffles trucks in the streets, and french fries everwhere. The shops had Christmas displayed in the windows. It SNOWED yesterday. My friend Brian and I spent the entire weekend window shopping, eating waffles, and drooling over chocolate.

In Belgium, they eat fries with mayonnaise. Not my favorite, but they were still delish!

On our first night in Brussels, we stumbled onto a gem: a real-life marionette show...in French!! I am pretty sure that we were the only two non-French speakers in the whole place. It was located in an old theatre that has been owned and operated by the same family since the 1800's. The room resembled an attic, and there were puppets hanging from the rafters. It was so incredibly entertaining! I will have to show you all the videos I took when I get home.

This is Bruges, all lit up at night. So pretty!

Mmmmmm. Chocolate covered waffles.

One of the many chocolate shops. We spent HOURS just wandering in, looking at the displays, and debating which shop to buy from. Some of them had the BEST window displays!

On Sunday, it snowed!! How cool that my first snow of the year was experienced in Brussels. This is taken at the Atomium, which was built for the 1958 World Fair.

Oh, the waffles. How I miss them. They were indescribably delicious.