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...)
Saturday, September 19, 2009
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. :)
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. :)
Friday, September 18, 2009
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....
*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. :)
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. :)
Thursday, September 17, 2009
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. :)
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...
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
:)
-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
:)
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