The Work Load begins...

So officially my week of classes is over, and finally the work load begins. All my classes went well, they just take some getting used to I think. Unfortunately I am rather swamped for the weekend. For Shakespeare I have to read Romeo and Juliet and take notes on it (but it does help that I have already read it a couple times before). For American Postmodernism I have 4 handouts to read and take notes on. British History I have to write another 500 word paper on "Why has Dover Castle been called "the key to England"? How successfully did it defend England between 1066 and 1945?" and I have to get my paper on Thomas Becket back either Friday after we get back from Dover or on Monday. For Ethics I have to go buy the text (it costs 5 pounds) tomorrow and then I have to read the first 2 pieces and answer the questions posted on Blackboard. And finally for Modern Britain I have to pick a topic to start analyzing and organize my first 2000 word essay which is due on the 13th. So busy busy. We are going to Dover as I mentioned before on Friday adn we should be there for most of the day, our itinerary looks like this:

Leave Canterbury 10:00am

Arrive in Dover 11:00am

Depart Dover 4:00pm

Arrive in Canterbury again 5:00pm

Now it's wed. and I have 4 days to do all this work, but it's just sort of overwhelming me... I just need to take a deep breath and take it one assignment at a time. And before long it will all be done and then another week of assignments will come and go... etc. And pretty soon the semester will be over and I'll be flying home (which reminds me I should consult with mom about how I'm getting home)

Anyway I need to write a mass e-mail and some postcards. :)

Nap was a no go... :(

I'm tired but I just can not sleep, maybe if I just go to bed early again tonight it will be better.

We got our allowances today (I feel as if they jipped us) but whatever I guess I'll just have to budget myself more than I already have. I still have to find gifts for people and I possibly want to go to various places, so I'll just have to watch what I spend my money on. :)

Things coming up:

This Friday we are visiting Dover Castle, the White Cliffs, and the War-Time Tunnels

Megan arrives in 12 days... and we are going to London for Brunch with Adi and Jean on that Sunday (October 11th)

On the 16th of October we have a scheduled trip to tour London (and I might get to see Cassie)

So all and all some pretty exciting things coming up. :)

So I am 21 as of yesterday and I feel like crap, though I did get a lot of nice notes from people, so thank you to all who remembered. :)

I've been sick since Friday morning, so it was not as good of a Birthday as I would have liked. And apparently I should be one of those people who announces my birthday everywhere I go cause I casually mentioned it yesterday and today and both times the two people basically asked me why I did not say anything... (well first of all, in my opinion I think it sounds quite self-centered and rude to tell people that it's your birthday and then they feel obligated to wish you a happy birthday or buy you a card when normally they would not have)

Mandy did decorate a corner of the Kitchen and left me a card on the table, it was very sweet. :)

The Weekend trip was good as well, we went to Oxford, the Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock, and Stonehenge. I took many pictures which I will try and put up soon. Everything was very pretty and I would love to go back at some point and spend some more time in certain areas, but all and all it was a nice weekend (if only I hadn't been sick)

Ok so I am going to nap now. but I'll write more later. :)

I'm glad it has been a rather peaceful day. I have a bit of stuffy nose and a little bit of a cough, so I think I am going to relax, finish packing for our trip and head to bed early.

My cupcakes came today. :) And they are too cute (Thanks Mom). Also got Mom and Dad's cards today. :)

Went grocery shopping, and walked around some of the shops. Did the last of my laundry too, now I think I will relax and possibly nap. :P

It was a good night. :)

We went to the Jolly Sailor, I had my first Real pint of Guinness (Happy Birthday Arthur). Hung out with Aaron, Luke, and Paul, which was awesome. And Malika when we went to the movie.
(So a night out with 2 of my housemates and some of Aaron's friends)

I had:
1 pint of Guinness
1 Baileys'
2 Double Vodkas and Coke
and 1/3 of another beer

We went and saw Ghostbusters 2 at the Oedon and ate Burger King. All and all it was a good night. :) Now I am all for bed, pleasant dreams.

P.S funny moments from tonight, Paul jumping poles and mike defending my honor that did not need defending... :P ("if any of you blokes do anything to her I'll beat your asses..." or whatever he said... he was drunk so it was probably pretty useless... but amusing all the same)

Also just as a side note: I don't like telling people here what I am studying in America cause so far they've all put it down... I guess if it is not becoming a doctor or doing anything "practical" like the sciences, it's a joke, something to sneer at...

I haven't been outside at all today, I just realized that. Kind of strange but I have been doing laundry and cleaning, as well as surfing the web and copying some recipes. And trying to figure out where I'm going to put up Megan for 5 days, cause the rule here is 1 guest for only 2 nights in a given week... (this is a problem) And even when she stays here, where is she going to stay, we have no common room (that is to say we have no couches unlike other houses) and I have no extra sheets or anything soft, the floor is rock hard and this is the first thing since coming here to make me stressed out... :(

List of Pubs and information

So far I have been to:

Penny Theatre
Jolly Sailor
Parrot
Seven Stars
Bar-Kandi
Casey's
Alberry's
Baa Bar

I still need to go to:
Two Sawyers
and any others that anyone should suggest to me.

Last night I only had two drinks, a small glass of Merlot (Penny Theatre) and a vodka and coke (Casey's).

*note to self, Baa Bar is 5 pounds to get in...

So far my top 3 pubs are: Penny Theatre cause they're cheap and they also serve cheap food, Jolly Sailor cause the atmosphere is warm and fun, and Parrot cause I like the outside terrace.

Bar-Kandi and Casey's are expensive, and I was not too impressed with Seven Stars; it was not bad it just was not that impressive. Baa Bar was expensive to get in but interesting though I'm told the Lue was absolutely disgusting and I did not drink anything there last night so I can not rate them on drinks... Alberry's the same, didn't drink anything there and really didn't go in so maybe have to give them another shot eventually.

Sarah wants me to go to Two Sawyers so I definitely have to make it there at some point. And I'm sure I will discover more a long the way, on one of my walks the other day down past the West Gate there is this pub called The Unicorn. :P

On unrelated news, my mother is sending me cupcakes from some local bakery (that's really cute) for my birthday and if it works they are supposed to be here tomorrow late afternoon (around 5:30pm) I hope they get here. :)

Saturday and Sunday we are going on our excursion, the itinerary looks something like this:

Saturday:
7:30am -Leave
10:00 am -arrive in Oxford (where we do a walking tour, and have some time to explore on our own)
1:00 pm -leave Oxford
1:30 pm -arrive in Cotswold Village (where we are touring Burford, Stow on the Wold and Bourton on the Water)
7:00 pm -Arrive at our hotel

Sunday:
7:00 am -Breakfast
8:30 am -Depart our hotel
9:15 am -Arrive in Bath (where we will have a walking tour, ending at the Roman Bath museum)
12:00 pm -Depart from Bath
12:30 pm -Arrive at Lacock
1:45 pm -Depart from Lacock
2:45 pm -Arrive at Stonehenge
4:00 pm -Depart from Stonehenge and travel back to Canterbury.

So today, I am going to shower, clean, rest my feet :P, finish copying recipes, maybe take a walk later, and relax. :P

Tomorrow, I have no idea (maybe more exploring...) :P

We finally get our allowance on Monday (too bad it could not have been in time for the weekend but oh well)

Never again am I wearing high heels on a pub tour, I had to walk back barefoot because my feet hurt so much and believe me the path back was not paved in squishy carpet, but it was better than those shoes...

Pub Tour went well, Barbie v. Action Man, I was Office Barbie. Anyway now I am tired and going to bed. Goodnight and sweet dreams. :)

I had my worst bit of sleep last night since coming here... People can be so inconsiderate... not too mention that my back is sore from this lack of a mattress I am sleeping on... and you can literally hear everything going on in the house as well as outside... there is obviously no belief in insulation. :(

It's the first day of fall, did you know that. :)

I did end up finding the library and ironically the bus station all in one moment this morning on my 2+ hour walk. Visited some more stores, things are either too expensive or not really my style. Though I can't say that for everything because I have found some things that once I have my allowance I will definitely try on. (I feel kind of out of style and frumpy here... yes I know me the fashion major...) But I think part of the reason is that the style here is not entirely my style and most of the people walking around here are stick thin, pretty and they can pull off anything... it's not fair at all... :P

*Plus I need to rethink my style a bit, I'm getting to the age where juniors clothing is just not acceptable anymore, (A.) I don't like how some of it looks on me anymore, B.) it's not well made and C.) I have curves which most younger teens do not) I need to sophisticate my style... And I really like a lot of the styles that Ann Taylor etc... do but I can't afford them on a day to day basis.

The phrase: My eyes are too big for my stomach comes to mind but in terms of my eyes are too big for my budget. :P And if you know me, I'm not a big spender, in fact I'll debate buying something until I eventually talk myself out of the whole thing. :) lol.

Another problem I have is putting things together, I can do it for others, I know what looks good together, things I put together for myself (when I have time to sit around putting outfits together) look good in the closet and on the hanger but on me, not so much... maybe it's all psychological... :P

Tomorrow it is supposed to rain, So I am going to wear Skinny Jeans, my Rainboots (if it is raining when I get up for class in the morning, flip flops otherwise) and since it is supposed to be 66 tomorrow as the high; a cream tank top and I'll bring my green zip up hoodie in case I get cold.

I'm staying in again tonight (mostly because nothing is going on (except for the comedian)... also I just don't feel like going out) Tomorrow night is the Action Figure/Barbie Pub Tour, I am going as Secretary Barbie (Black pencil skirt, Black High Heels, and either Maroon or Blue and white striped Button up, only thing I don't have is the glasses)

I started doing my laundry for the first time since I got here, and so far so good... nothing has bled unlike other people I've heard. Also it sucks not having a dryer but it's not the end of the world. It also sucks that washing anything takes like 2 1/2 hours but what can you do. :P I'm going to air dry everything, except maybe when I wash my bedding, I'll just go down the street and ask if I can use one of the other houses dryers. I kind of wish we at least had a yard with a clothesline since we don't have a dryer but oh well... maybe i'll string up my own. :P

I went to ASDA to look at baking my own birthday cake versus buying my own birthday cake and a thought struck me if I were to bake anything I would need flour, sugar, oil, eggs, mixing bowl, pan to bake in, etc... so I decided that buying was the preferred method. :P (Though i do want to bake, I miss it) And I want to cook, again once I get my allowance and I see exactly how much I get each week I will be able to plan out meals. :)

Some meals I have on a list:
Masaman Curry with Chicken
Pasta in Spicy tomato sauce with Chicken and Veggies

And From the Student Recipe book they gave us...
DIY Chicken Fajitas
Portuguese Soup
Chicken Quesadillas
Beef and Spinach Curry
Lamb with Ratatouille
Pizza (build your own)

I at least want to try a few, but I will be copying down all the recipes I like and taking them home with me to make dinners at home even if I can't make them here. :)

Classes tomorrow: Still just British History and Modern Britain, I think I will be really glad when the rest of them start, cause then I will actually have things to do... other than walk around all day exploring and what not. :P

Anyway that's all for now, write more later. :)

Still tired.

I probably have not been getting enough sleep, nor probably have I been getting particularly good sleep. The bed is not that comfortable unfortunately. The bedding they gave us is passable at best, the fitted sheet is so thin that it's like sleeping on the mattress without one, so therefore I have to sleep on top of the duvet if I am to be comfortable at all. Luckily they gave us a top sheet and I stole the little red blanket from Virgin Atlantic. :P Otherwise I would have had to buy some blankets.

I finished my paper, printed it in Ramsey along with the article from 2002, I may get a paper tomorrow and see if there is anything on Britishness in it; just in the case that he wants a more recent example. I mailed the first of the postcards to come after locating a post office that actually sold stamps. And I ate a really random combination of sandwich for lunch: Teriyaki Chicken with Mint and Cucumber Salsa. It was interesting, probably will not get it again. That is the thing I am learning about the English, they tend to put interesting things together, or have weird combinations of food. (at least weird in the sense that I have never heard of them before) But I suppose that is part of getting to know a new culture. I also decided that the English deep fry a lot of things, yet most of the people I see are stick thin, it does not make sense... (I think however that I will refrain from eating Fish and Chips, maybe just once, but honestly it's a heart attack in a basket)

I went on another long walk today, really most of my day was spent walking... a couple hours this morning and then a couple hours this afternoon. This morning was more about running errands, while this afternoon was a leisure stroll through some of the shops (which by the way I did see some things worth trying on... but I won't even try them on until I get my allowance b/c if I like them and can't buy them what was the point of trying them on in the first place. :P) But hopefully soon they will give us our allowances. (At least when I have it, I can always have cash on hand and I won't have to use my card all the time or take money out and pay horrible ATM fees or 3% on every purchase) And I can buy more groceries as well...

Speaking of food, I am for the first time going to make or but my own Birthday Cake this year. Since you know Sunday is the big day (I won't be here on Sat. or Sun during the day but Monday I am going to make a cake if I can figure out the oven, if not I guess then I'll just buy one. :P)

Apparently my mother has sent me cards and will be sending me a box, that's rather sweet. It kind of makes me miss my family and I'm sad that I will be with neither my family nor my close friends this year for my birthday. :( (And I know that my opinion may change but somehow I don't think so, when december comes although I feel like the English style is more in line with my own, and I really like it here thus far... I think I will be glad to go home, and glad to see the people whom I miss most excluding my nisky and college friends b/c I won't be able to see some and the rest I won't see until spring :-/)

I decided to stay in again tonight, I don't know if it's because i'm tired or because the party scene is definitely not me or because a part of me still doesn't feel like I fit in... My housemates go out, though Aaron is also taking a night off after he about faceplanted through the door last night, he was quite plastered. The first thing he said to me as I was helping him to his room was that he was never going out with the Americans again. :P (I could have warned him but I didn't think he would be that silly, though he told me today that he went out with not only the heavy drinking Americans but some Irish too, and all I could say was "and you didn't see that one coming" But apparently he didn't think the Irish and Americans would drink so much... (not smart) But he was much better this morning, so all is well.

I watched a movie (Coyote Ugly) and I took a nap before dinner so I am wide awake yet there is nothing to do and it would be silly to go out now... A part of me wishes I had gone out with Jenna and the rest of the Caz group but I know that I would have disliked it immensely... Kate came over with Neil (also Irish) earlier and Mandy left (for 10 minutes, though I'm not surprised she's not back yet.. lol) I just kind of wish I guess that there was a happy medium. I think it will be better when classes are underway and I will actually have something to do other than settle.

I can't wait until this weekend, lots of pictures will be in order. (I love how thin our walls are in our house as a side note I can hear all the merry drunks. :P) But anyway... back to what I was talking about, I hope the weather is nice. We are going to Bath, Oxford, Stonehenge and some smaller towns in between. (It seemed like a nice Birthday present if I do say so myself)

Speaking of presents, hopefully I can put a dent in my list...

Anyway enough chatter for now... Tomorrow I shall probably take another longer walk see if I can discover where the new library is and see what else I can see. Also should try and locate some local shops, not just the namebrand ones and maybe try and locate the best route to the bus station and the train station (that knowledge could become very useful in the near future). I should also just walk becuase it is very good exercise... I'm glad that we live out on the edge of town, walking is good exercise as i've just mentioned and I think people are silly when they complain about it... Walking is how you discover new places, it's a good way to stay fit, and in the nice weather we have been having (sunny and mid to upper 60's) it's the best way to travel. :P

But anyway i'm going to finish getting ready for bed, goodnight and sweet dreams. :)

I be Tired (said in a pirate voice)

I decided to stay in tonight. I did accomplish writing my 500 word paper on Thomas Becket though I'm not sure if I like the end of it, so I'm going to sleep on it and decide before I print it off tomorrow. I did find an article from 2002 on the BBC website for Britishness but I'm not sure if that's what he wants.

Going to call Mom, Dad and Alec soon, tried earlier but Mom and Alec were not yet back from Grandma's and no one picked up the house phone.

The last two of my housemates moved in today: Henrietta and Daniel and the last girl up here's name is Malika. They all seem really nice so that's good. :)

Malika, Aaron, Mandy, Kate, (a couple of Kate's friends, didn't catch names) and I went to the Jolly Sailor earlier today to watch the Irish football match. (Cork v. Kerry) Cork lost unfortunately... to all of our dismay. It was interesting, different but good. Irish football is different from American and even European football. It's kind of cross between the two with a little bit of basketball thrown in. :P

Well anyway another week starts tomorrow... I only have class on Wed. British History 9-11, Ethics 11-1 and Modern Britain 3-5. So it is a slow build up to a full schedule. lol. But I think I shall go ahead and call them and then maybe head to bed... :)

First paper and already I'm frustrated...

Frustration abounds... and not for the usual reasons, the length is good (only 1 page or 500 words), the topic is interesting, it is the question that bothers me and the boundaries of the paper.

We were told to base our short 500 word essays on our field trips alone, not to do extra research, to write solely based upon what we learned from the tour guide... yet, the question clearly states that I should have learned why the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket was important to Canterbury as well as England... And yet, while I can hypothesize why it was important to Canterbury based upon what little the guide told us, I can't for the life of me see the answer to the latter part of the question...

And I am also having issues starting it and writing in a coherent fashion... I wish I were better at writing... :(

I tried writing it last night and it turned out very ill indeed, I feel as if I have never written anything before; looking at what I wrote last night. :P But hopefully with a bit of focused revision I should come up with a better composition. *Hopefully*

But today I have that to revise, I need to find an article still, need to do some cleaning and organizing... Need to call the fam. later, see how they are doing...
Monday I need to see about getting my computer registered if in fact it still needs to be... I need to mail out the first of the postcards, and relax a bit.

Irish Football later with Kate and Mandy (Cork v. Kerry)

New Housemates...

So our house gained 2 new people today (and we have room for 2 more... probably tomorrow)

Downstairs lives Aaron and the 2 empty rooms (I hope for balance sake that 2 guys move in tomorrow)

Upstairs it is Mandy, Jenna, myself, and one more girl whom I can't remember her name at this point but I think it began with M.

If 2 guys move in tomorrow it will be a 4:3 ratio Girls:Guys.

I also just met Aaron's friend Paul, Aaron is from just outside of London so not too far away.

And that's pretty much all I can tell you about them... (this is a pretty sad entry) maybe I'll have more to say later... I still have to finish writing the page on TB and finding an article for MB. Anyway Cheerio.

I've been gone now officially a week.

I got up around 8 this morning, and walked to campus for breakfast at 9. (The English breakfast is not my favorite, it's not bad, just different... I had sausage, scrambled eggs and a piece of toast. The best way to describe the sausage here is that it is not as solid as I'm used to it kind of falls apart once the skin is gone. The scramble eggs (first of all need some salt and pepper) are one step away from being liquid, not to say that they are bad, they look gross and the texture is really off but they taste good. And the toast kind of tastes and feels like it was deep fried but again it tastes good even though it looks weird and the texture is really off.

After I got some food into my system, I walked into town and looked in some of the shops. I went to the Cathedral "Gift" shop, I bought 5 postcards which I will be distributing into the mail by Monday at the latest and a book on costumes from 1500 - present. (very light reading but really beautiful pictures and it was small so it should not take up too much weight)

I also looked at the different clothing boutiques along the High Street and in the various streets off of it and everything is just so expensive. However I did see a Freakum dress (as Erin would call it) It was strapless, cornflower blue, fitted, extremely short (I think when I held it up to me it only reached upper to mid- thigh, and it had an exposed zipper down the middle of the front (from the top to the bottom) :P (I am tempted however... it is at H&M and only 24.99 pounds)... But then I ask myself where would I wear it, and I can just hear what mom would say if she saw it. lol. But we shall see...

I could not find the secondhand clothing store I was disappointed I know that it is somewhere... maybe I shall find it on another adventure.

I still have to come up with gifts for people.... hmmm....

Anyway, I have 5 postcards to write, a 1 page assignment on Thomas Becket to do ("Why was the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in the Cathedral in 1170 such an important event in the history of Canterbury and England?") and also I need to get a paper so that I can find an article about Britishness... (If you see such an article send it my way)

Well that's all for now, probably write some more later. :) (I still have to tell you about the new people who moved in today...)

Pirate Night...

It was good!

I had 4 drinks, a cider that mandy gave me before we left, 2 sex on the beach cocktails, and a vodka and coke. I'm still feeling a little out of it, but for the most part I am fine. :)

I hung out with Mandy, Kate, Alice, and Elisa again. Met Sean who is from Canada on the west coast not the east coast, and Jasmine who I believe is from some part of Ireland.

They had good music and we danced and hung out until it appeared that the party was winding down and then Mandy, Kate and I walked back to our houses.

It was brought up whether I miss home, and yea I miss it but I definitely think I'm settling in well here. I don't miss it as much as I did when I fist got here and I think I miss the people more than anything if there was someway that I could transplant the people here then that would be perfect. :)

Anyway I should sleep, goodnight all. Pleasant dreams. :)

Tour of Canterbury and the Cathedral

Before I get to how beautiful everything is here, let me write a few notes for myself on Thomas Becket whom I have to write a 1 page summary on for British History:

*Under reign of Henry II
*Post of Archbishop falls vacant
*Henry tired of the church having too much power appoints his very good friend TB (whom does not want to position) to priest and then Archbishop of Canterbury
* A quarrel errupts
* TB's loyalty changed from Henry to God and the Pope (this infuriates Henry)
*Henry is frustrated at this turn of events and threatens TB, TB then threatens to excommunicate Henry
* Legend has it one night surrounded by his supporters Henry in a drunken stupor exclaims in frustration "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?"
*Several of his followers having not recently been in the good graces of the king, take matters into their own hands
* they head to Canterbury, meet with TB and they argue. They leave but they assure TB that they will be back
* They come back the next day in the evening weapons in hand.
*They hack TB to pieces, Henry is forced to do a pentence and assassins are forced to flee the country.
*TB then becomes a saint and a martyr
*Church gains much capital


Ok now onto the tour. The town is gorgeous, the Cathedral is breath-taking. There really aren't words to describe it... It's one of those things that no matter how well someone can describe it, the actual sight is a million times better, my pictures don't even do it justice and there are lots of pictures.

All the intricate details and the architecture, it is just mind blowing...

By the way I had a thought this summer... that since I love architecture and this semester being here in England I was going to be able to see all this wonderful architecture that I think maybe I will base my senior collection off architecture. The only problem becomes that they probably will want me to focus on a specific period of time and I'm not sure whether I would find that too boring or not as interesting as maybe focusing on a place and basing my collection on influences of all kinds of architecture throughout different time periods... but we shall see. I still have time to think of that.

As I said a moment ago I did take many pictures and they will be posted. Tomorrow I also plan to go into town and buy some post cards as well. :)

Tonight is a Pirate themed party so I'm going to wear my rainboots which actually being black are pretty similar to pirate boots (just not as flashy), dark wash skinny jeans, white shirt with a frilly collar, and Idk what else, kind of wish I had an eye-patch or a black bandana and I know a lot of people will go buy things, but if you have to buy things for every party it's bound to get fairly expensive and I rather spend my money on gifts, things for myself, post cards, and travel.

Speaking of Travel, it's so expensive but I think I will at least take one trip outside of our planned ones and probably going to Paris with Liz and Adi in Nov. And I think I really want to go to Scotland, but 230 pounds seems so ridiculous.

I'm sure it will all work out. :)

Look for the pictures on facebook....

Day 6

You know... I really do find the British System of what we call higher education quite charming, different... but I like it. :)

Some of the differences include:
-They divide College and University into two separate things: College to them refers to the ages of 16-18 and University is 18 and beyond.
-They also teach their courses for the entire year so essentially they are on Trimesters.
-They don't have Gen. Eds. (but most people were already aware of that fact) This is also why they operate a 3 year program rather than a 4 year program.

I would go on... and I probably will later but I must run and finish getting ready so that I can walk the 15min. to Campus in order to have a decent breakfast and then it is off on a tour of Canterbury and the Cathedral. :)

It's been a Lazy Day

At least I never have anything on Thursdays...

I woke up late and it was probably a good thing that I slept in anyway because I felt a little groggy but no headache, showered and went to ASDA as I mentioned earlier. Ate cereal for breakfast and a pizza for lunch, it was really good, and I was starving at the time. Then around 1 I decided to lay down and ended up napping until between 4 and 5. Went for a long walk around 6, saw a bunch of cool shops that I want to go in at some point and found at least 3 of the pubs I went to last night.

A word to the wise if you are looking to shop just keep in mind that most shops are closed by 6pm maybe 7pm on certain nights and most shops open around 9am.

But all and all it was a nice walk, I got back around 7:30 and I guess both my housemates went out...

It's now 10:45 almost and I'm tired again... maybe this is jet lag or maybe my walk actually did tire me out or maybe I'm coming down with something, who knows...

I should get some sleep soon, Tour of Canterbury and Canterbury Cathedral tomorrow at 10:50... So therefore I am waking up at 8, showering, breakfasting, and then meeting at the SU at 10:40. There will be lots of pictures. :)

Grocery Shopping...

So I just got back from Grocery Shopping:

I bought...
*Wheat pasta and pasta sauce (Spicy Tomato... sounds so good)
*Special K
*Whole milk
*2 boxes of frozen pizza which have 2 pizzas each in them and I can microwave them too. (since you know they didn't supply us with a baking sheet...)
*Detergent so that I can actually do my laundry, I went with Woolite for delicates... A.) b/c it's the only brand I recognized, B.) I always wash everything I own on delicate and/or cold and C.) although the very pink color of it gave me pause I figure I won't have to do laundry all that often anyway it's only 3 months... plus as a bonus D.) it was small. :P
*Bread which is in my freezer right now and I'll just thaw it when I want to eat it. lol.
*And last but certainly not least Batteries, I finally found some place that sells batteries, because I had a mishap with my rechargeable ones and the charger, I think the charger got shorted out by the old adapter and therefore since the rechargeable batteries weren't pre-charged I can't use them.

I also left my pasta sauce at ASDA because you bag your own stuff and I probably just missed it between having to sign the bill and get everything in the bags... So all and all I had to run back and get another one.

It's been one of those days... (not necessarily in a bad way, though I had a mishap with a heater this morning)
I was using the downstairs bathroom because it actually has a standup shower unlike ours up here which is more like a bath made for a 5 year old because the seat in the bath takes up literally half the bathtub, whoever designed this bathtub obviously did not have the average person in mind... But anyway I am getting sidetracked, So I took a shower just fine, had to play around with the burning hot vs. the warm just right temperature water or the freezing ice cold water... But the shower was actually really nice. I get out and I'm cold so I pull the string that turns on the heater box unit and I let it run till I'm pretty much dried off and warmed up and I go to turn it off and it won't. To make a long story short apparently sometime between me getting the Warden and us walking over to the house again it had shut off, he then explained to me that it takes a bit of time to shut down again even though the one up here shuts off right away. So whatever as long as it shuts off and I'm not going to burn down the house. Thats all I care about. :) (It just wanted me to freak out slightly... lol)

I just hope that whoever moves in this weekend will let us use that shower still...

To Do List:

-Take lots of pictures
-Explore
-Look up the murder of some Archbishop
-Organize my desk area
-Try to figure out how the hell I finish registering my computer when the sites don't even work
- clean
- relax
-maybe nap

:)

Pub Tour

Before I get to the Pub Tour...

I had Modern Britain and it was fine it is basically a class in which we compare England and America and talk about our experiences here versus our experiences in America... etc...

Then we all finally registered which was simple, I still have to finish registering my computer tomorrow, must remember to do that. I should write myself a note.

Now onto the Pub Tour...

(I'm slightly tipsy but still with it so it's ok) The Pub Tour was Golf Themed but having no traditional or stereotypical golf clothing... I wore a nice Green V-neck sweater and dark wash skinny jeans with flip flops. I went to 6 pubs. drank 3 glasses of red wine and one apple sour shot:
The Penny Theater (1 small glass of Merlot)
The Jolly Sailor (1 glass of Rose and a shot of Apple sour)
Parrot (1 glass of Merlot)
Seven Stars
Bar-Kandi
Alberrys

Then Me and my roommate Mandy decided to accompany our friend Kate home.

Mandy is from Cambridge and Kate is from Ireland, I was hanging out with no one from Caz tonight but more people from England and surrounding areas. (Mandy, Alice, Elisa, Kate)

Speaking of rooming: I live with 2 people so far (the rest move in this weekend) Mandy who is from Cambridge area and Jenna who is from Caz. Both are quite nice and I am glad that for once rooming has worked out at the beginning, but it does help when one has their own room and only have to share a bathroom and kitchen. :)

Anyway very tired, glad though that I can sleep-in in the morning. Goodnight and sweet dreams. :)

First Class British History (9-11 Weds.)

Maybe it was the first class or maybe it was more the fact that I haven't taken a history class in a very long time (over 3 years) and the last history class I did take not including Politics and Econ (Senior year of HS) was U.S. History in Junior year... So my point is it has been over 4 year since I've actually sat down and studied European History... *kind of ridiculous*

And it's not that I don't remember anything from Hirota's classes but specifics were definitely lost on me today. Not to mention that we are only covering from 43AD to 1714 so it's not like any of that history happened in the last few centuries. But at least on the bright side this course will serve well to refresh my memory. :P

And by specifics I mean... as an example: In classical times what did the Greeks call Great Britain? If you are like me you had not a clue... but apparently they called them the Tin Islands because of trade between GB's southwest region and the Greek Empire for tin.

Later this afternoon I have Modern Britain from 3-5 and then the last bit of registration which should hopefully be done by 6pm.

Tonight is the Pub tour (golf themed) and tomorrow I have nothing and can finally sleep in. :)
Now that Jet Lag is over it seems that I am tired all the time; which is quite unfortunate. (but not really surprising since I am usually tired all the time at school anyway)

Friday is our first trip... But don't get excited it's only a tour of Canterbury and the Cathedral here, don't worry there will be lots of pictures. :)

Anyway that's all for now, if i'm not exhausted from pub hopping I'll write more later. :)

Minor Mishaps.

Still settling in, giving myself minor heart attacks every time something goes a rye...

Like last night, now for a while the adapter I had borrowed from my brother "seemed to" and I mean it seemed to being the key terms.. work but last night it stopped charging my laptop and no matter what I did it wouldn't begin charging again, therefore I was forced to conclude that I needed another one and I have just come back from ASDA with a new adapter and rainboots. (cause you know it rains here)

ASDA for those of you who don't know; it is a bright neon green walmart, except better. It even uses the same lettering for the Always I noticed kind of creepy but hey whatever works.

We spent most of the day listening to welcoming speeches and powerpoints on various things here in Canterbury as well as we heard from a guy who sets up international trips.

Speaking of which we do have a list of pre-planned trips:
September 18th - Guided Tour of Canterbury and Canterbury Cathedral
September 26th and 27th (my birthday) (We are spending the weekend in one of the prettiest parts of England) - Weekend Sightseeing visit to Oxford, Bath and Stonehenge
October 2nd - Dover Castle and Secret War Time Tunnels
October 16th - Sightseeing Tour of London
November 6th - Windsor Castle
November 20th - Tower of London and Shakespeare Globe Theatre

Exciting... look for lots of pictures, hopefully it won't rain every day.

Speaking of pictures I need to take pictures of lots of things... :P (I need to be a picture whore again)

Anyway ta ta for now. :)

I'm alive and in England.

I made it all the way across the pond, I would have written sooner... but didn't have internet. The first two days have gone by without a hitch.

First day: Got to JFK around 1pm ET and hung out for 4 hours, boarded the plane around 6pm and we took off within the half hour. I had chicken and penne for dinner with a glass of red wine. :) I also watched two movies and one TV show episode. (The proposal, The hangover, and The Big Bang Theory) We landed in Heathrow between 6:30 and 7am. At this point I hadn't felt well for a good hour-hour and 1/2 cause I drank a second cup of coffee for breakfast. (silly me.. coffee = indigestion and that unfotunately made me feel quite ill) We took the bus for 1 1/2 hours to Canterbury and spent much of the day upon arrival getting settled in our respectable houses.

My address is as follows: House 2, Room 5, Parham Close, Parham Student Village, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1FJ

We then were invited out to the bar which is situated in the student union and I was there until 11pm.

Day 2: Went to the university and got my classes: I am taking...
On weds:
9-11 British History
11-1 Ethics
3-5 Modern Britain

On Mons:
9-11 Shakespeare

and On Tues:
9-11 American Postmodernism

This wed. I only have British History and Modern Britain...
Next week I only have the wed. classes...
And finally the following week, I start my last two course...

Just a bit different. But that's ok with me. :)

Just got back from the Student Union Bar actually, didn't go to Club Chill because apparently it's 5 pounds just to get through the door... seems slightly ridiculous to me. Anyway I think that's all for now, registration tomorrow at 10 to 10. Goodnight and I miss you all. :)

My last full day on this side of the pond.

Tomorrow I leave.

I've been trying for weeks to get that cemented in my brain and as I told my dad last night once I'm on the plane there's no turning back really. (Although he said I could just get a ticket to return the minute I got over there... but that's not the point).

And don't get me wrong, I am really excited though a bit nervous, but I am sure I will be fine once I get settled.

This is my first trip outside of the USA that does not involve Canada.
This is my first International Flight.
The fact that I'm not really going with anyone I would label as a friend presently.
(Though I plan on making lots of friends)

I guess all these factors are why I'm a bit nervous.


Well anyway enough nervous/excitement for now, I still have 1 1/2 days lefts. As I mentioned earlier I fly out tomorrow; at 6:25pm to be specific. Which if you know time differences and can do math that puts our plane getting into Heathrow Airport in London at 6:35am. :P

I have 2 giant suitcases, a backpack, and a purse. (This should be interesting...) But enough about England, I'm not there yet, NYC is where I am...

Yesterday was nice, though the wind made it a little less pleasant, I walked to Union Square with Mom and looked in Forever 21 (which I could not find a single thing worth trying on or buying) and Filene's Basement (where I did purchase a nice white button-up top that possesses a deep ruffled V, cute almost bell sleeves with arm bands that go to mid-bicep, and ties to make a bow in the back). Then we got sandwiches for lunch at Whole Foods, which happened to be there too, and after getting a little confused on directions walked to 19th and Broadway where a Loews' Theater is situated and we saw Julie & Julia. It was a really cute movie, funny and romantic. I would definitely reccommend it. :)


Now onto today... No plans thus far, having dinner tonight with Liz and Adi somewhere probably in midtown. It's raining and pretty grey here at 9:45am, but it is New York so I'm not entirely surprised. It is rather cool as well, but that is probably due to the overcast and the rain (a miserable 57 degrees).

Things to do:
*Finish reading my book (if you like interesting history: A Dark History: The Kings & Queens of Europe; From Medieval Tyrants to Mad Monarchs) It's a relatively easy read and it doesn't talk about the usual people you hear about like Edward I or Bloody Mary, it is an account of Continental Europe only which I find to be quite interesting thus far. Right now I'm on the story of: The King and The Vamp: King Ludwig I of Bavaria(which was part of Germany for us who are geographically impaired) and Lola Montez.
*Hem Liz's black pants
*Repack a few things.
*Relax, Draw, etc...

2 days to go...

My thoughts seem all a jumble as I try to think of the best way to start this...

I am dedicating this blog to a semester of British culture, a cup of tea and a slice of the English county side. This is where I shall record my adventurous tales, my woes, my escapades; whatever you may call them in the hope that I shall capture in great detail my 3 month stay in the UK.

I fly out of JFK in 2 days, that is where our story begins...