Week Nine: London is Calling

Abbey Road 

Parliament Square 

Green Park 

With the help of three of my favorite people, I spent this past week venturing to the Carnival-esque Blackpool, good ole Manchester, Liverpool, and last but not least (drum roll please)…. London! Last week I was lucky enough to have not just one, but three visitors fly all the way from the golden coast to come explore a bit more of England with me. Although I love all you bloody Brits to death, I cannot describe how happy I was to have the company and comfort of some fellow Californians. I surprised Danny at the airport Thursday, and Christiana and Lex flew in bright and early Sunday morning, just in time for their first full English breakfasts. J  

The traveling really began on Saturday when Danny and I decided to take a little daytrip to the beach town, Blackpool. Now, when I say beach town, completely wipe any images of warm, sunny CA beaches from your mind. I would describe Blackpool as a permanent carnival/ cheap casino/ touristy town, all coincidentally set in front of a beach. This is not to say that we did not manage to have a good time in Blackpool; however, it was not your typical day at the beach. After just a quick thirty minute train ride, Danny and I found ourselves strolling down the six mile waterfront, lined with tacky touristy shops, carnival rides, arcades, questionable looking fish and chips stands, plenty of intoxicated women out for “hen parties” (aka bachelorette parties), and when it got dark: piers and streets illuminated with dazzling fluorescents. Although the wind was close to intolerable, we made the most of the day and definitely enjoyed the time together.

Sunday was spent introducing the girls to Preston starting with a nice full English breakfast, a bit of shopping, and eventually the somehow always unavoidable Source bar (campus pub). After a groggy, jetlagged start, I finally managed to wake my visitors Monday and we made the trip over to Manchester. The latest and greatest in Manchester right now is the Christmas Market that opens every… you guessed it… Christmas time. The market was very cute, illuminating the town with strings of lights and vendors selling international pastries and holiday knickknacks. We also went to the mall so Christiana and Lex could marvel at the stores we do not have in the US such as the ever so fabulous Top Shop. In my opinion the fun really started that night when I decided to take them out with my roommates and flat 62 to show them what a real night out in Preston is like. I took them, of course, to my favorite pub, Roper, for Quids night where they were in awe of the pints of cider and black for just a pound. After some time there we headed over to Assembly for a bit more fun, and finally ended up at Squires nightclub. Needless to say, we did not get up as early as planned Tuesday morning.

After much effort and a train ride with one too many delays, we found ourselves in the home of the Beatles... Liverpool! For some reason I had this notion that Liverpool was going to be sort of a dingy town, but it was exactly the opposite. It had a great city center just like Manchester’s, all decked out for Christmas, and it also had the “docks”, the Tate Museum, and the Beatles Story (aka museum). We walked all around the city and finally made our way to the docks, which were absolutely beautiful. And of course, I couldn’t go to Liverpool and not visit the Beatles Story, so we spend about two hours there gawking at the Beatlemania memorabilia and learning a bit more about the Fab Four. Christiana and Lex then experienced their first proper fish and chips complete with mushy peas, yumm. Our visit concluded with some necessary souvenir shopping and one last look around the stunning city.

And finally the trip we had all been waiting for… London! We (Dan Astley now part of the trip playing tour guide) managed to get an early start, and after a three and a half hour train ride, we arrived safe and sound in London. Since we were already at the train station, Christiana and I decided a stop at Kings Cross Station was completely necessary. Why? For Platform 9 and ¾ of course! Although the plaque is no longer located between platforms 9 and 10, there is an actual plaque and trolley stuck half way in the wall right outside the station for Harry Potter fanatics such as myself. We had a nice photo shoot and were off to our hostel. Our hostel was very nice, located right on the river and not too far from the tube station. After getting everything settled there, we took the tube over to Parliament Square where we were about to experience probably the most beautiful sight in London.

Immediately after stepping out of the station, the first thing that greeted our eyes was Big Ben. I’m not sure if it was because I was not expecting it to be there so soon or just because of its grandeur, but it was breathtaking. The London Eye (Ferris wheel) and Parliament was all within eyesight and we spent a decent amount of time just taking it all in… and then taking in some McDonalds. We spent the rest of the day walking around, lead by our tour guide Dan, seeing things such as Westminster Abbey and Trafalgar Square where the Olympic countdown is. As the sun set, we made our way to Camden (the artist district) to crawl through some pubs. Camden is a lot seedier than the center of London with tons of cheap souvenir shops, tattoo parlors, and pubs. Much to our dismay the pub crawl we planned on attending was not running that night, but not to fear, we knew of another one running back towards central London that we could still catch. The “1BigNightOut” pub crawl started at Verve and snaked its way through Oxygen, Ruby Blues, I forgot the name, and ended at the Zoo Bar nightclub. It was an insanely fun night out with all my friends, making memories to last a lifetime and losing a few along the way.

Our second day in London started nice and early with our complimentary breakfast, checkout, and a tube ride over to Buckingham Palace to watch the changing of the guards. The classic guards with the red coats and fluffy hats were not out that day so honestly, the guards were not all that great, but the palace itself was really a sight to see as well as the Victoria Monument directly in front of it. We then strolled through Green Park, made our way over to all the absurdly expensive stores located all around Oxford Street, and found ourselves on the street where the Beatles played their final rooftop concert. After walking, walking, and more walking we were finally at the Tower of London with the Tower Bridge in sight. We made our way over the bridge, past the Globe Theater, into a market for the BEST sandwiches on the face of the earth, and finally across the London bridge. With aching feet, we made a quick Starbucks pit stop before heading over to Abbey Road.

The Beatles Story Museum, hometown of the Beatles, location of their last concert, and now Abbey Road? Spot any reoccurring themes of this trip? Not that I am complaining! It took us a few tries to get the photo to turn out decent whist battling the traffic, but we did manage to replicate the Beatles album cover. We also signed the Abbey Road Studios wall that everyone signs. I signed left both my name and left a little AXO love as well. J The day came down to end and we finished our trip with one last stop to the British National Museum, home to the Rosetta Stone, the 2012 Olympic gold metals, a piece of the Pantheon, and mummies for days. Our last stop before getting on the train back to Preston was to King George’s pub for one last pint and delicious fish and chips.

Even though the adventures did not end until the girls left Saturday and Danny left far to early Sunday morning, I think it is about time to wrap up this novel of a blog. I know I left far too much out, but I do not think I could ever get all the unforgettable memories out onto the page and into words. All in all it was an amazing week, all made possible by the amazing people that I am so lucky to have in my life. 

Week Eight: J'Adore Paris

Paris, France

Hotel Modern with Reka

Eiffel Tower 

With every picture I snapped and mental note I took down, I quickly became aware that I would never be able to capture Paris through my camera lenses or through words alone. When browsing through my memory to think of words to describe the gigantic city, I think of ornate, lavish, rich, delicious, grandiose, historical, romantic, and absolutely breathtaking. Although I’ll try my best to recreate my weekend through words, Paris is really one of those places you are just going to have to venture to yourself. And trust me, it will be well worth it.

We (being myself, Bri, Reka, Noah, Josh, and Michelle) headed out of Preston bright and early Friday morning, and after a train, plane, bus, and terrifying taxi, we were finally in Paris! Considering it was relatively late and none of us had the energy to navigate the labyrinth of a metro system, we stayed in the area surrounding our hotel and enjoyed some delicious pizza and a cheesy magic show, compliments of our waiter. After dinner we enjoyed some overpriced beer at a local bar and then headed back to our hotel with a few bottles of cheap champagne to finish off the night and celebrate our arrival.

The next day began bright and early, for most of us that is. Noah, Josh, and Michelle opted to sleep in while Reka, Bri, and I headed off into the Latin Quarter (the intellectual’s quarter) for a four hour walking tour of France’s finest. During the tour our charismatic guide took us all around the city pointing out major landmarks, and keeping us entertained with some of the not so well facts about Paris’s rich history. When the tour finally came to a close and we bid au revior, the three of us girls headed down every girls shopping dream… Champs Elysees.  Champs Elysees is the Rodeo Drive, the Fifth Avenue of Paris. It is lined with the most expensive designer shops, overpriced restaurants, and window-shopping galore. The street seemed to go on forever, not that any of us were complaining, and finally ended at the Arc de Triumph, which was absolutely gorgeous. You would never guess how enormous it really is until you see in person, engraved in the finest detail. Again, this is really just one of the things that words don’t do justice to.

Now the Eiffel Tower looked relatively close, so we thought we would mosey on over…easy as that. What we soon discovered was that however close we thought we were, we were really quite far. Even when it was in eyesight, we could never manage to find our way through the twists and turns of the many streets. After what seemed like hours and a nice panini pit stop, we finally made it… and was it ever worth the trek. Since it was dark by that time the tower was all lit up and it was such an amazing sight to see. We bit the bullet and paid the twelve Euros to go all the way to the tippy top. The line was worse than the Matterhorn, but the view completely made up for it. Overlooking all of Paris from every direction, all lit up at night, was again indescribable and an experience to last a lifetime. The night finally came to an end with the group coming together over a few crepes, drinks, and a view of the Eiffel tower sparkling through the trees.

The next day we got another early start and headed off to the Louvre. Just as everything else described was gigantic, the Louvre tops them all: an enormous horse shoe museum stretching floors high and underground with the most detailed sculptures and designs carved into the entire thing. If you were to take thirty seconds looking at every piece of work in the Louvre, it would take you three weeks to get through it all. We on the other hand, opted for three hours of key works including the Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa, and the Code of Hammurabi. From there we all ventured over the bridge covered in lover’s locks, down the river lined with the best vendors, and finally to the Notre Dame Cathedral, home to our beloved Quasimoto haha just kidding J. Anyways, just like everything else, words just will not do it justice: the endless panes of stain glass, the statues, the high ceilings… I could go on and on. I lit a candle in memory of Nay and thought he would think that was pretty sik to be recognized all the way in Paris… pretty legit if I don’t say so myself.  By that time it was getting dark so we made our way over to Sacre Coeur, the artist district.

At first we just wandered the streets, strolling past vendors, creperies, and plenty of little shops. We eventually found ourselves climbing endless stairs to this Arabian looking church at the top of the district that overlooks all of Paris. We sat for a while enjoying the musicians, and made our way down to France’s version of the red light district. It was nothing compared to Amsterdam’s, more like an abundance of neon lights offering porn and peep shows; however, it is home the infamous Moulin Rouge. We found the Moulin Rouge and had a nice photo shoot in front, although I must warn you, it is nothing compared to how the movie portrays it. With the church overlooking Paris in mind, we grabbed a baguette and a bottle of wine and made our way to the top, indulging and thoroughly enjoying our last night in Paris.

Sadly the trip came to an end on Monday, but we were sure to snag a few chocolate filled croissants and snacks for the journey. The trip back seemed to take ages, but we finally arrived back safe and sound in Preston after a long day of travel. Rereading this I know there is so much that I left out, and thinking about my trip and all that there is to see, I know that there is so much that I missed and wished I could have seen. This only means that one day, hopefully in the not too distant future, I will be lucky enough to travel back and say Bonjour to Paris once again. 

Week Seven: a visit with the Scots

Arthur's Seat

Elephant House

Calton Hill 

On more or less a whim, I found myself exploring the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh, this past Monday-Wednesday. The English department decided to grace us with an independent study week, so I felt that it was only appropriate that I took advantage of the opportunity and see a bit more of the UK (Scotland is part of the UK, but separate from England). After scrambling together a few other international students, (Noah, Ashley, and Tiago) we were off for the two and a half hour train ride up to visit the Scots.

Upon arrival we did not waste anytime starting our adventures. We checked into our amazing hostel, The Castle Rock Hostel, and headed off to the Elephant House for lunch. For those of you non-Harry-Potter-fanatics out there, this place is famous for being the birthplace of Harry Potter because Rowling wrote it there, way back in the day before she could even afford to buy paper. The food, tea, and overall vibe of the place was awesome, but we didn’t linger too long… off to Arthur’s seat!

Arthur’s seat is a dormant volcano that was carved out by ice age glaciers so that it is a very steep, yet very beautiful hike up to the top where there is the best view of the city. After endless stone stairs (yes, even more than CSUSM), we reached the breathtaking top. We sat and enjoyed the view for a while, and were then driven back down the hill by the sinking sun and blustery winds. Now the question remained, what were we going to do tonight? Ashley really wanted to do a ghost tour, but a friend of ours had also told us about a highly recommended pub-crawl. To pub-crawl or not to pub-crawl.

To pub-crawl is of course the answer! While Tiago and Ashley decided to go on the ghost tour, Noah and I opted for the crawl…obvi. The crawl met at The Bank Bar in town, and then went around to four other pubs, and ended in a nightclub. There were overall about twenty participants, a good majority of them being highly intoxicated Ecuadorian teenagers. However, we did meet a really cool couple Jon and Grace from Australia who were working in London and on holiday. Over the course of four hours we made our way to an Australian themed bar, an open mic night bar, a hostel’s bar (famous for the jagger bomb dominos), Frankenstein’s bar, and finally a nightclub, receiving discounts and free shooters all the way. All in all it was definitely a good night.

The following day we went on a three-hour walking tour of the city. I know, it sounds painfully awful, but it was by far one of my favorite things. We had a very entertaining and charismatic guide that took us all throughout Edinburgh, teaching us the origins of various monuments, locations, and historical sights. We even got to see the building that inspired Rowling’s Hogwarts, heard the tale of Maggie Dickinson who inspired Nearly Headless Nick, and visited the graveyard where there is actually a Tom Riddle buried there. Although it was three hours long, I didn’t even find that I was bored or tired at the end. The tour offered us an inside look at the beautiful city and was also extremely interesting. Five stars to New Europe Tours. Onward!

The rest of the day was spent in the Scottish National Museum, home to mummies, ancient artifacts, a T-Rex skeleton, a space exhibit, and even Dolly the sheep: the first ever clone stuffed for all to see. Needless to say, we spent a good couple of hours getting lost in the various exhibitions, but eventually made our way to Henderson’s for some delectable vegetarian curry and frozen honey cheese cake. Mmmmm J We stayed in the hostel that night, but it was anything but dull. Noah described the Castle Rock as a “hipster’s dream”. Everywhere you looked were funky painting, suits of armor, various lounges like the posh lounge complete with a baby grand piano and cozy fireplace or the record lounge where you can just relax while listening to some good old vinyl, themed rooms (Scottish clans, Virgin room, Latin room…), and a great bunch of people. We enjoyed a cheesy 90s movie, popcorn, and good company and we were off to some much needed sleep.

Our final day in Edinburgh began with a trip to the St. Guiles Cathedral located on the Royal Mile (the old town city center). Here we found ourselves gazing into the seemingly endless panels of remarkable stain glass, intricate carvings, and one massive organ. After sneaking a few pictures, we headed off toward the National Gallery. By this time it was only about noon, and with nothing else planned for the trip we decided to all go off on our own adventures after spending our desired time in the gallery. I thought that I would be in and out of the gallery, but I found myself in there for a substantial two hours, in awe of the enormous paintings and the stories behind them. Now off to my own little adventure…

I began to mosey along Prince’s Street (lots of shopping), and found that I left my map and all touristy pamphlets in my suitcase. Fabulous. With no real idea of where I was headed, I started walking through the new town and off toward a group of columns up on a hillside a ways away. Eventually I made it to what I discovered was Calton Hill Park where I spent the majority of the day walking a few trails, befriending a calico, and gazing up at monuments. As my legs and stomach grew impatient, I headed first to Victoria Gardens to enjoy the sun and people watching, and then off to The Elephant House for lunch.

I couldn’t resist not visiting the place where my obsession was created one more time. I went even one step further and wrote a nice little journal entry on one of their napkins to complete my nerdy cliché fantasy. I then enjoyed my veggie chili in the company of a very nice German girl who was looking at potential colleges, and concluded my own little day of exploration. Before we bid farewell to Scotland, we made one last little trip to the Castle that was right in front of our hostel, hence the name Castle Rock. And alas, it was time to head back to the dreary reality and rains of Preston until I venture out to Paris Friday J

Week Six: Hoi! Welkom in Holland

Zaanse Schans

Twiske

Amsterdam

Hoi! Welkom in Holland! Translation Hi! Welcome to Holland: The land of fairy tale villages, wooden clogs, luscious green landscapes, the Red Light District, coffee shops, breathtaking architecture, and serene canals that line just about every other street. If you haven’t already put two and two together, I spent this past weekend in the Netherlands. (For those of you not so geographically gifted, Holland and the Netherlands is the same thing and Amsterdam is the capital.) I traveled with Tori, and we stayed with her boyfriend’s (Harold) family in a quaint little village called Oostzaan, just a quick ferry ride out of the red lights, confused Asian tourists, and city buzz of Amsterdam. Staying in Harold’s village was the perfect balance of spending the day out and about in the city and then coming home and waking up to the peaceful canal right outside the window. But now I am getting too far ahead of myself, back to the beginning.

Thursday morning started off not so bright, and far too early as Tori and I made the trek over to the train station in the grueling Preston weather. After one drowsy train ride and some pesky airport security, we were off and flying with KLM: destination Amsterdam. When we arrived my mood instantly went from tired don’t bother me teenager, to kid in a candy store. We were immediately warmly welcomed with smiles and European kisses from Harold’s parents (Nynke and Herman), probably the nicest people I have met since being abroad. I was in awe and shock of all the signs in Dutch and the variety of languages coming at me from every direction. We grabbed a quick sandwich and headed off to Zaanse Schans, a small touristy village complete with all original homes, towering windmills, tiny candy shops, a cheese factory, a wooden clog factory, and plenty of ethereal fields and gardens.

Zaanse Schans was gorgeous, not to mention the sun was out so that was a definite bonus. We made our rounds through all the little shops, stopped and watched a clog be made in about five minutes, went into a windmill, and finally stopped in heaven… aka the cheese factory. Now, I’m not really even a huge cheese fan, but this stuff was absolutely delectable. They had hot and spicy, pesto, garlic and herb, young, aged, smoked, goat, cow, you name it they had it made there fresh. Nynke surprised us later with some garlic and herb cheese to take home, yumm. Nynke didn’t stop feeding us there either… being a classic mom she put food in front of us faster than we could make it disappear: pasta, rice, tiramisu, cheese, crackers, wine, tea, and the list goes on. Although we didn’t see much of Nynke and Herman the next few days, it was so nice and relaxing being in a home with a family again opposed to my dingy little dorm room.

 We had a nice lazy morning, and eventually headed of too Amsterdam in the afternoon. It was gorgeous. We took a ferry into town and were immediately in the hub of it all. There were vendors, packed streets, and gorgeous buildings. I saw a massive building thinking it was a museum of some sorts and Harold informed me that it was the shopping mall… a little nicer than the Westfield I must admit.  We wandered through town as Harold, our personal tour guide, pointed out various squares, good places to eat, one of the Queen’s castles, and much much more. In addition to the beautiful architecture, I think one of the most enchanting things about Amsterdam is that a series of canals run through all ends of the city. They are lined with nice little benches to sit on and watch as the tiny boats mosey on by, and picturesque bridges that light up at night and glisten on the water—amazing.

After we got tired from the typical sight seeing, we ventured off to Vondel Park to sit back, relax, and enjoy the day. The park was just as awesome as the city itself. It had big open lawns, statues, towering trees, and tons of people out enjoying the weather. We laid back and relaxed, had a little picnic, and enjoyed some very entertaining people watching—a man doing meditation hula hooping, sporting tie-dye pants and a fishnet shirt to top it all off… interesting. From there we ventured off to a smaller version of one of the US’s little Italies for some tasty, and reasonably priced calzones. By that time the sun was setting so we made our way over to the ever so infamous Red Light District.

Seeing as I had heard a decent amount about the Red Light District before I went, it really wasn’t all that shocking to me. One thing that did catch me off guard was when I was trying to take a picture to capture the fact that is really is lit up by both glowing florescent red lights that line the shops and alleyways, Harold informed me that I couldn’t take picture in a few more feet because if a prostitute was in one the pimp would get mad at me. Needless to say I put my camera away after that. We did a bit of walking around and saw our fair share of “adult” shops. Down the alleyways there were all the girls in the windows and it was a tad bit on the uncomfortable side. I actually felt really bad for them. We finished off the night in a coffee shop, The Dolphins, which was completely decorated as if it was underwater with detailed murals on the walls and coral coming from the ceiling. It was a very nice and relaxing way to end a long day of sight seeing.

On Saturday we made the decision to head into Amsterdam a little later in the day, and spend some time seeing some less touristy parts of Holland. Seeing as everyone rides bikes, we rode our bikes through the village and into the Twiske, which is like a big park or reserve. We rode our bikes through a good portion of it, taking in all the greenery and nature. On the way back we rode through another little village, which was the epitome of picture perfect: clear skies, tiny homes with kids playing outside, tractors crossing the road and heading into the fields, canals with floating lily pads… After we got our nature fix for the day we headed into Amsterdam for a second time and explored the West end a bit more, seeing more sights such as the Anne Frank house, and ending up back in the city center. Exhausted from all the walking we treated ourselves to a nice beer and appetizers out on one of the terraces in Rembrandt square. It was wonderful.

Our travels ended with one last hoorah at Harold’s friend’s birthday party. It was hosted in his in a party-venue type tent in his backyard complete with fully stocked mini fridges, snacks, awesome lighting, and good company. Most everyone spoke English, but it really made me aware of how many more languages other cultures know in comparison to us. We met tons of really cool people and had a great night, which eventually ended with some tea and cookies back at Harold’s house. Needless to say Sunday morning came far too early. Staying in a home with someone who knew the area truly made my trip to Amsterdam feel like a real vacation, void of the stresses that come along with travel. Amsterdam is most definitely a city I plan on making my way back to sometime in the future but until then, tot ziens!

Week Five: Stepping out of my comfort zone and into karaoke, sushi, and a funeral?

Karaoke-Source Bar

Homemade Sushi 

Funeral Birthday

When cuddled up in a big baggy hoodie with the best book ever (Harry Potter of course), it is extremely easy to turn down offers to go out anywhere because it requires 1) getting up out of the cozy comforts of warm blankets and pillows and 2) venturing out into the cold wind, rain, and occasional hail. This past week I felt as if I was faced with this dilemma time and time again, but a saucy little fresher, Lucy, talked some sense into me. She bluntly told me that I was only here until December so I better make the most of it. With nothing terribly monumental planned for the week, I attempted to take a step or two out of my comfort zone to make the most of everyday here.

Monday night was not much different from the norm: a walk over to Roper Hall, a few quids lost, a few pints gained, and an overall good night. Since I went out Monday night, I had no intention of going anywhere out of the confines of Whitendale Hall on Tuesday, but Lucy (one of Tori’s roommates in 62) and my roommates had other plans for me. Tuesday night is Karaoke night at the Source bar, which is the bar in the campus student union. After some pushing and prodding, I found myself walking alongside my roommates on our way to Karaoke night. Source was absolutely packed, and we found ourselves standing near the bar because there wasn’t an open chair in the place. Even though it was Karaoke night, no one had enough guts or interest to actually get their name on the list. The result of the news was sad puppy-look plastered across Lucy’s face. I decided to take her original advice and make the most out of my time here and offer to sing with her. Lucy started frantically searching the books for our grand début song, while I sat back and rejected the majority of them since I hadn’t the slightest idea what they were. To make the selection process worse, the DJ turned down about five of the songs because they had already been done throughout the night. Somehow at the end of the night, we both found ourselves standing on stage belting Shania Twain’s “I Feel Like a Woman”. Although the song choice could have been better, it was still an extremely good time with extremely great people. And the week moves on…

Being the California kids that we are, Tori and I have been absolutely pining for some sushi. So when Thursday night rolled around, we decided to take matters into our own hands and attempt to make it ourselves. Although it required rushing all across town to various markets, trying to get in before they closed, we successfully bought all of the required ingredients for some delectable sushi J . We did not bother to look up any actual instructions, but in the end the sushi turned out relatively well, especially for our first time. The ideal girls night just would not have been complete without some cheap pinot grigio, tiramisu, and the definition of a chick flick: Mean Girls. Needless to say, it was the ideal night in.

Friday was welcomed in with three hours of Renaissance Literature, and a group meeting to find a hostel for the upcoming trip to Paris. In the end, the group decided on a cheaper hotel opposed to a hostel… I think some members of the group may have taken the horror film a bit too seriously, but what’s done is done. Tori’s friend Jess, who studied abroad at San Marcos, invited us to a party that night. I didn’t even think twice when Tori asked if I wanted to go. Since leaving the states I have not been to one single house party and I was definitely ready for a break from the club scene. To make sure we dressed appropriately, Tori texted Jess to ask what we should wear and Jess said: Black, it’s funeral themed. Now my instant reaction was, no way. Who in their right mind thinks it will be loads of fun to have a funeral themed birthday? However, I already had make-up on my face, and the intention to go out so there was no turning back. We reluctantly approached the house and as soon as we opened the door we were warmly greeted by her friends and promptly introduced to everyone. The party was a blast. I met a ton of new friendly faces, and actually got to have some conversations (something the club scene is rather void of). The reason it was funeral themed was because Tim, the birthday boy, was mourning the loss of his youthful 20s and moving onward into his 30s. It was actually a really great theme, and if I had let my initial reaction hold me back, I would have missed out on an amazing, memorable night.

Today I laid low, just did a bit of reading and cleaning. I do not have any plans yet so we will just have to wait and see if the night has anything in store other than howling winds and torrential rain. Tomorrow Tori, Harold, possibly some roommates, and I want to make the trip over to Manchester for the day to get out of Preston and maybe do a bit of exploring and shopping J. Next weekend is the big trip to Amsterdam so I will most definitely have some exciting updates to share after then!
Xxx

Week Four: Roaring into my 20s

20th Birthday Celebrations

Man-U Match

Haslam Park

From the guitar strumming and “Kumbayah” currently echoing through my window, the not so melodious chorus of roommates singing “Happy Birthday”, to the rowdy chants of “Glory, glory Man- United!”, this week has been filled with not only music, but busy days and busier nights. I continued my school week with Poetry on Wednesday that did not fall short the stereotype by hair: holding class in the upstairs of a café with a professor that borders a cross between Johnny Depp in both Pirates of the Caribbean and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory… I think he will grow on me. Friday’s Renaissance Literature course was just about as dull as it sounds, and lasted the full three hours even on the first day, lovely. Now for the fun stuff…

The festivities began on Thursday with another trip to (big shocker here) the school club, 53 Degrees. It was UV Rave themed, but continued to produce the same people, music, and general vibe as always (which is not bad, just nothing out of the ordinary). I actually think I may have had more fun beforehand. The usual group all came up to our room for a bit of pre-gaming and the question game where you have a celebrity stuck to your forehead and have to ask “yes” or “no” questions to figure out who you are. I ended up being Obama and then Megan Fox (I think they were trying to think American for my benefit). Surprisingly enough, Friday nights are the “quiet” night (if there is such a thing) here at Uni (what they call university). Therefore, I welcomed my 20^th birthday in at midnight on skype with Danny (very presh, I am aware). The good news is that earlier on in the day I officially booked a ticket to France! My fellow travelers will include, Bri, Reka, Michelle, Noah, and Josh, all other exchange students. All we have is the tickets booked for the first weekend in November so far, but we will plan more in depth as the date approaches. Now onto my big bad birthday…

After a much needed skype date with Kristen and my other Nookers, I started getting ready for what the night had in store. My roommates and I took Jessica’s car to ASDA (owned by Walmart) in hopes to find some Mexican food, which is near impossible to find here. The car ride alone felt like I was on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride at Disneyland, fearing that we would get into a head on collision at every twist, turn, and inevitable roundabout. It’s safe to say that where I have grown accustom to everyone calling me “Love” or saying “Ta” or “cheers” instead of  “thanks”, I have most definitely not gotten used to driving in bumper-cart sized cars that drive on the left side of the road. Anyways, the trip was successful; we were set for the night’s fiesta. Everyone from flat 62 came up around 7:00 for tea (dinner) and we had a great time thanks to some tasty tacos, cakes, and even some good ole flip cup. Eventually we headed over to, you guessed it, 53 Degrees for the final official night of Freshers, the paint glow party. To make a long night seem short, the club was the same as always but with giant guns spraying the dancing crowd with UV glow paint periodically throughout the night. Use your imagination.

Don’t worry, I am almost done… pinky promise. Last but definitely not least, Tori, Dan, and I went to the Manchester United game Tuesday night. We caught the train from Preston down to Manchester and took a tram to the Old Trafford stadium from there. When we first arrived I could not figure out why numerous police on foot and horseback were escorting a large group of rowdy guests, and was later informed that they were the away fans who flew in all the way from Switzerland. Talk about dedication. The police escort them for both their safety, and the safety of the Man-U fans. Scary? In the spirit of tourism, Tori and I bought scarves and some traditional fish and chips while waiting for the game. Inside the stadium was amazing: grass more perfect than a country club’s, red seats from floor to ceiling, and seas of fans filing into every seat.

The game started with the “Glory, glory Man- Uniteddd!” anthem and the noise did not stop from there. At every pass, possession change, kick, and call, the crowd would clap, lean forward, boo, or yell as appropriate. To save you the reading (I know it’s getting a bit excessive), the game ended in a tie in the last 30 seconds; however, I was far from disappointed. It was a great experience going to a match where everyone is so passionate about the sport, getting to know the transportation system a little more, and spending a good amount of time reminiscing on the California sunshine with Tori and Dan. All the reminiscing must have done some good because the last two days have seen temperatures of 70 degrees (record heat for September here), and I am soaking up every second of it: doing homework outside and taking walks in the park. Congratulations if you made it to the end of this very winded blog! I will try to blog more often and be less wordy in the future.. Cheers! Xxx 

Week Three: Fancy a bit of “Freshers” Fun?

 Pre-Schoolies Festivities 

 Avenham Park

53 Degrees 

Good news everyone: I survived the first week of “Freshers Fortnight” with only a few rough mornings and a little cold to pay for them. The week really kicked off on Tuesday with the legendary Schoolies party. It was hosted in the school club, 53 degrees. With over 2,600 students in attendance (a new record), the club was packed with schoolgirl and boy clones. Everyone was decked out in bow ties, painted on freckles, knee-highs, and white shirts courtesy of previous school uniforms and Wal-Mart’s clothing equivalent: Primark. With a wide array of upbeat music ranging everywhere from dubstep to Journey remixes, bottles of VK (which taste like otter pops) for a quid, and everyone in the party mindset… a great time would be an understatement. The week continued in the same fashion with another wild night at 53 on Thursday, a night at our favorite pub: Roper Hall on Friday, and the official Freshers Ball on Saturday. Needless to say my ears, feet, and immune system were thankful that this Monday school finally rolled around.

After countless meeting, emails, and frustrated hours spent in front of computer, I finally got my modules (classes) settled… I hope. At UCLan students take three modules a semester, or more according to their course. Unfortunately, this will probably set me back a bit at CSUSM, but if I took more it would be overwhelming because their course loads are much heavier. I am enrolled in British Children’s Literature (with a booklist ranging from The Secret Garden to Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone obsessed!), Creative Writing Poetry, and Renaissance Literature. Due to my horrific schedule (Monday, Thursday, and Friday) I have not yet had Renaissance Literature or Poetry, but the Children’s Literature module went very well. The class size was about twenty or thirty students seated at round tables around the room. The modules are broken up into lecture and seminar sections, which are very interactive. Being the nerd that I am, I am very excited to go to my next modules and see how they are.

My roommates could not be more ideal. I live with three girls: Jess, Becca, and Hannah. They are all very nice, clean, and a lot of fun. We have also already formed a little group of friends composed of my roommates (flat 67) and Tori’s roommates (62).  We all do pretty much everything together from the gym to pre-gaming, which is a word they have all adopted now J. They all tease Tori and I about our accents, which Calvin constantly attempts to imitate quite terribly, and we are always asking them what on earth they are talking about. But don’t worry friends at home; I won’t be replacing all of you anytime soon! I hope everything is going well at home and hope (doubt… jk J) that I am missing out on too much! Xxx (the UK version of xoxo)

Week Two: testing the waters… and a few pints as well

Move in Day Entertainment

City Center in Preston

Poster at The Adelphi

It is officially move in day for all of the UK students here and it is literally a circus. I’m not just talking students and parents running around everywhere looking like kids in a candy store. No, there is a marching band, clowns, and a man on stilts… I kid you not. I don’t know if that is UCLan’s idea of a welcome party, but it has definitely been an interesting day. I have two roommates moved in, Hannah and Jessica, and they both seem like a lot of fun. Tonight we are going to “The Opener” party at the campus club (yes, there is a club on campus) called 53 Degrees for the start of “Freshers”. Freshers is the first two weeks of school where apparently everyone just goes insane. All of the clubs, pubs, and flats are supposed to have huge parties and everyone, regardless of what year they are, partakes in the action. It seems a bit insane but I think if I can handle Havasu I can handle anything.

I am finally settled in here. I am sleeping through the night without it feeling like it is the middle of the day, I have all my necessities, and now I have roommates as of just a few hours ago. I am starting to learn the various phrases and words (que=line, chips= fries, crisps= chips, quid= pound etc.), and am becoming more accustomed to everyone’s accents. The little town of Preston is exactly what you would picture a stereotypical English town to look like. There are both little shops and bigger stores lining the streets, plenty of cafés and pubs as well. The streets are very small and people ride around in little hatchback smart cars. Everyone I’ve met is really kind and helpful. If you look lost on the street, people will just stop and ask if you need help and go on their way. Maybe they all just seem so nice since I’m still in awe of the adorable accents.

Well, I’m off to prepare for my first night of Freshers, and if it is anything like move in day, I am definitely in for a surprise. Wish me luck! 

Week One: getting settled

 Full English Breakfast

Scream Pub

Whitendale Halls 

Disclaimer: For all of you who have been pestering me about not writing, here it is. Just a heads up the style and general messages of the blog will probably be geared more toward my activities now that I am actually in the UK, opposed to my opinions and insights.

After a few tough goodbyes and bothersome lines I boarded a plane on its way to Chicago. The flight went smoothly, but took longer than expected during the landing. Unfortunately for me, that meant sprinting across the O’Hare airport full speed only to find an empty terminal and a closed gate. The attendant was still there, and in my state of panic I explained that I needed to get on that plane no matter what. I was fortunate enough to have the gate reopened for me and I was able to board. Regardless of whether I was last on the plan or not, I was on. A little shaken up from the nearly missed flight and some questionable lasagna I did not sleep the entire way to Manchester. 

After customs I headed down to baggage claim only to watch the belt spin round and round until I was the last one in the room besides the attendant. I filed a missing baggage claim and he assured me that my luggage would arrive at the “Uni” (my school, University of Central Lancashire) by 4:00pm (written here as 16:00). Before heading to the bus station where my school was picking me up, I attempted to take out 100 pounds ($160) out of the ATM. Although the transaction said it was completed, no money was dispensed. And if I thought that was bad, I had no idea what I had coming.

To make a long story short I had no luggage, no Internet connection, no roommates, no sun, no cell phone, no hot water, no money, and no idea what I was supposed to do with myself. All I could think was why on earth did I go through all this hassle for this dingy little flat and large dose of homesick. Needless to say, the first day or two were pretty rough, but my situation has only been improving from there. I managed to get an Ethernet connection, a nice brick style phone, some money, and a few friends too. I bought a couple necessities and my luggage will hopefully arrive today!

I don’t even think its necessary to buy a gym pass with the amount of walking I have been doing. We walk everywhere: to school, to the shops, to pubs, to restaurants, you name it. The weather is cold, rainy, and windy, but the sun does manage to peak out for about five minutes here and there. I have been very busy trying to get a situated getting a phone, Internet, groceries, enrolling in school, finding my way around, and meeting all the other international students.

The other exchange students are all so nice and friendly. There are probably about thirty of us and people come from all over the world: various states (a lot from CT), Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Hungary, Turkey, Argentina, China, and more. A handful of us went out to the pub the other night and got to know each other a little better over a few pints of Stella and a bit of White Zinfandel, it was a ton of fun. On Monday nights at Scream (the pub) a pint of beer is only about one or two pounds (also called a “quid”) which is good for students on a budget and a crappy exchange rate. We have tried a few local restaurants and the food is different… but not bad. I really want to try Indian food because it is supposed to be very good here (and has a lot of vegetarian options).  Basically, I’m starting to get settled in and things are definitely looking up.

Although at times I do feel homesick and miss my friends, family, and routine back home, its easy to remember just how lucky I am to be given the opportunity to study and live in another country for a few months: opening up my comfort zone, exposing me to many new cultures, and making great new memories and friends along the way. This coming weekend all the UK students move in so I will have roommates and even more people to hang out with. It is also “Freshers” week where apparently all the students and recent alumni all go out to the pubs and clubs. My international student mentor told me “its absolutely mad” and a lot of fun! I’ll keep everyone posted on how that goes!

Cheers. 

Poisonwood Perspective

                                                            Photo Credit: David Wallace 

                                                            Photo Credit: Jamie Shaw 

                                                        Photo Credit: shesingsrebellion

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbra Kingsolver is a novel that takes place in the African Congo during a time of political chaos. The Price family ventures into the Congo on a Baptist mission, completely unaware of the trials and tribulations they are about to encounter. But this is not about religion, the Price family, or The Poisonwood Bible at all, no, this is about perspective.

The only reason I mention the novel is because it was the catalyst that got me into seriously thinking about perspective and what happens when we awkwardly and usually unwillingly slip from our happy little comfort zones into the unknown, where we are forced to see life from a different perspective. When what is left of the Price family eventually make their way back to the States, they found that what was once commonplace is now another superfluous, material object. After years of living off whatever food they could scrounge up and trying to remain alive in a third world country facing poverty, political unrest, and resistance, an air-conditioned supermarket with ten different types of teeth whitener and air freshener is simply overwhelming. In the extreme case of the Price family, what were once everyday items are now a symbol of how ungrateful, materialistic, and unaware citizens of first world countries are of the lifestyle, or more so the survival style, of those in other countries. The thought of how people live in other countries then lead me down the rabbit hole of how my perspective will change when I leave to Mother England.

I am not going to pretend that moving to a different country on a continent I have never set foot on is going to be a walk in the park. In all honesty, I am really quite nervous. Why? Well besides the flight, the matter of getting to school, starting a new school with an entirely different system, moving in, becoming accustom to the new monetary and legal system, and learning the local lingo (just to mention a few), what really concerns me is leaving behind a world of friends, family, and comforts that I am entirely and completely content with.  Right now it is hard to imagine not going home every so often to BBQ with the family and bringing along the special people in my life, but soon it is going to be a reality. I do not plan on making this a sob story, but more of an inquiry as to how I am going to view the UK based on my current perspective and then how my perspective on the US will change once I am back.

I feel like my experience will be comparable to moving away to college. There is of course an ample amount of excitement and curiosity, but at the same time the butterflies just don’t fly away that easily. When I moved out I certainly gained a whole new respect for my parents, all their love and responsibilities, and in addition to the multitude of other revelations, I learned a lot about myself in the process. That is what I hope to gain from going to Preston, England. I mean, it would be a blatant lie to say that I am not besides myself with the thought of travel, new friends, and an entirely new chapter, but my main goal is to use my changed perspective to learn—learn about culture, people, countries, myself, anything really—as long as my perspective is expanding.

It is a big leap to take. Whether it is moving away from home, truly and openly listening to an opposing viewpoint, or taking off to study abroad, expanding your perspective means a step toward learning, a step toward understanding, and a step away from ignorance. 

Act Appropriately

Photo by: Robert B. Murray

Photo Via: Steezyhasadeathwish

Photo by: Alyssa Duhe

Since graduating high school I have created two new email accounts, started a blog, become an active Tweeter, joined my sorority’s message forum, signed up for Google plus, and just recently entered the endless black-hole of procrastination that is Stumble upon. This is not to mention keeping up to date with my previous two emails and the social terrain of Facebook. Basically, I would consider myself a pretty well connected person (at least via internet). But then the question remains, is all of this screen time really benefiting me? Or is it simply one massive waste of time, sucking reality right through my fingertips and glazed over eyes.

There is no denying that the World Wide Web provides us with a massive supply of resources and knowledge. We can connect with friends around the globe, manage our bank accounts, participate in virtual games, manage a business, find hours of entertainment on YouTube, and even find a “soul-mate.” The key appeal of all of this is convenience. We can find out virtually everything about anything or anyone with the touch of a button and a click of the mouse. While all of this is well and good, we have to remember that there is a world right outside your door that doesn’t require creating an avatar and a screen-name to access it.

We have to remember that no matter how hard the internet techies try to simulate reality, the memories and adventures that the real world hold are irreplaceable. Think back to a few of your favorite memories. Unless you have a highly pathetic life (sorry but it’s true), the memories probably don’t include staring into the screen of your MacBook. Real connections, enjoyment, and passions get lost behind the Times New Roman and emoticons. The key is using the tool appropriately.

I’m not going to deny that if I’m disconnected from the internet for a few days that I am not wondering how many emails I have piled up, what new notifications I have to check out, and what I missed on Twitter, but it is all about moderation. The Internet is an invaluable resource, but only when used appropriately. This means connect with some friends on Facebook, but don’t stalk everyone that writes on your ex’s page. Check your emails and get the business done, but don’t bother forwarding every chain email (I promise the threats that you will die in seven days don’t come true). Sign onto Twitter, but do something with the information other than just retweeting it. Get the picture?  Remember you are a human, not just a screen-name… act appropriately. 

The Untapped Worlds of Imagination and Adventure

The untapped worlds of imagination and adventure... sounds entertaining enough, right? Now where can we find these so called "worlds"? Maybe in travel? In film? Video games? No my dear friends, they lie in books. Now I know the second I said books a good majority of my friends immediately tuned out and tabbed back over to Facebook, but hear me out. Most books are published for a reason... because they are half decent. Books don't just hold a simple story, but they hold the lives, passions, and adventures of their characters. Books have the ability to immerse you in a world entirely different from anything you can experience in reality. Why? Because books allow freedom of the imagination...which sadly has become a forgotten resource. When we sit infront of a screen, only partially engaged to the images flashing before our eyes, our imaginations remain stagnant. Books are interactive, engaging, and spark thought. This is not to say that the internet and other entertainment outlets are bad, but keep in mind that they are not the only things out there. What I'm really getting at is READ. I'm not saying this because I'm going for an award in promoting literacy, but because I truely care about the slowly deteriorating minds and imaginations of my peers (sorry, but it's kind of true). Just give it a shot. What's the worst it could do? Waste a few hours that could have been better spend playing COD or on Facebook? Think about it.
I think everyone would enjoy The Hunger Games series and Angels and Demons for a good summer read. They are awesome.

Rhyme and Reason

I originally intended starting this blog when I left to study abroad in September, but work at the Writing Center has proved to be intolerably slow and consequently... boring; therefore, I'm begining my blog now. Until I leave for my hopefully awesome adventures abroad (fingers crossed), I plan on sharing what is on my mind: thoughts, insights, interests, etc. And as they say, there is no time like the present, so here I go....