One More Week.

One week from today, I will be on a plane heading back to good old Kansas, where the sunsets will be mesmerizing and the weather will be warm. I'm excited for that.

However, I'm also sad to be leaving glorious England, with all it's lovely people with brilliant accents and ancient cities.


It's a bittersweet feeling. I hope this last week will be a fun one, last week certainly was after I finally finished my papers. We went out to Chili White Thursday night, and having gone to bed at sunrise I woke up at 7:30am and boarded a plane to Dublin for a weekend trip with some girlfriends.

We had a lot of fun in the Jameson Distillery, the Guinness Factory, and several museums. Friday night we saw the Temple Bar district, which reminded me a lot of the bars back in Lawrence. There was music but the atmosphere was relaxed...

Today I'm going to get some laundry done and maybe go on a walk to city centre. I need to sort everything out and decide what goes home and what stays here. Tonight I'm going to go to Liquid...one. last. time.

Done.

Last night we went to Liquid...there was a "Baywatch" party. Didn't see any swimsuits though. Leicester is a little too cold for that. We stayed out till about 3:30am, and when I got back I figured I might as well do some editing...who needs sleep anyways?

I loved the sound of the heavy thud as 32 pages of hard work dropped into the submission box at 10am this morning. I'm officially finished with spring term at the University of Leicester.

Wow that deadline got here fast.

845 words...a little over a 1000 left to go. And another 700 for my next paper... 45 hours till my deadline. I didn't sleep past 3am last night.

I'm afraid I've put my grumpy pants on today.

Can't believe I'm back in Kansas in 16 days.

Back in Leicester

My trip from Bakewell to Leicester was pretty smooth. No real problems to speak of...except as I approached Leicester I began to feel incredibly exhausted. I think all this traveling has worn me down...and made me homesick. I found myself thinking about the lake I always sit by near my parents house, and our family sitting down to dinner, and seeing all my old friends again. I looked down at my overwhelming suitcase full of stuff and wished I could unpack it for good this time.

When I got to Leicester, I took a cab to my hotel. Glenfield Lodge...I chose it because it was 'close' to city centre, but to my dismay, it was in a pretty unfamiliar part of town, and walking to campus proved to be a confusing 3 mile hike through the city.

The man that opened the door was a little abrupt, and wanted to know why I hadn't called 30 minutes ahead of time. I told him I had tried (twice) but the phone just kept on ringing, and that I had sent him an email with my arrival time a few weeks ago. He said "well that's okay I have a room for you anyways"...then he led me through some dark hallways, and up the staircase to a room that could have originally been a closet, and asked me to pay in advance. It was only £20 for one night, so I can't be legitimately disgrunted about this, but it isn't like the nice bed and breakfast places I've stayed in so far. There is no homey feeling to the dark peeling wallpaper or dank smell.


It's only one night though. Tomorrow I can go back to Digby, and it'll be nice to see everyone again. Today I am at the library determined to finish my papers...though I might be here till late in the evening.

It's Raining...Day 4

Last day here, and it's a wet one. Not much to do except work on this paper. I wish I had use of the internet on my computer. Using the library one is a pain. I have 1 hour at a time, which I usually spend hurridly replying to emails and messages before doing 40 minutes of sloppy research. I'm using my last five minutes this morning to update my blog. Which, I don't think hardly anyone reads anyway.

Bakewell, Day 3

I went to see Chatsworth House yesterday afternoon. It was a really pleasent walk, and the house and gardens definitely live up to their reputation as being both grand and beautiful. I'm afraid I may have had a little bit of an idealized expectation however. I've only seen the estate in 19th century period films...so to see it with roads, cars, tourists, and scaffolding was a little odd. It was also filled with modern sculpture pieces, which seems a little out of place.

The gardens were some of the best I've seen so far in England. They are massive, just like at Hampton Court, with large fountains and a maze. The inside rooms are similar to the ones I saw at the Villa D'Este in Italy, with huge murals painted on the ceilings and walls.

I love the small town feeling of Bakewell. People are more than polite, they are friendly in a way that puts the midwest to shame. Everyone says "Hello and Good Afternoon" when you walk past, and some even stop to ask you how you are doing. The guy that sells me my diet coke in the corner store wants to know my name so he can greet me properly when I walk in the store. A kid that rides his bike at sunset when I take my walks befriended me the instant we crossed paths.

It's really charming and wonderful. I would not mind to live in a place like this when I get old. Judging from the average age of people in this town, I'm not the only person who has had that thought.

Bakewell: Day 2

Yesterday I did some work in the library during the morning, and left at noon for a three mile walk to Haddon Hall, where they filmed Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice. After a long walk, I found out that the house and gardens were actually closed. However, the gift store was still open (of course), so I went in to inquire as to why the opening times on the website and brochure didn't match the actual opening times.

Apparently, they are filming Jane Eyre (again)....so it will only be open on weekends for several months. Needless to say, it was quite a let down.

The walk back wasn't as bad. I read basicaly the whole way, enjoying the weather, but not the cars that sped by.

I've gotten a lot of reading done, and made good progress on my papers that are due in (gasp!) six days.

Today I will try to get more work done, and visit Chatsworth if the rain stays away.

Goodbye London, Hello Bakewell

Yesterday, with much despair, I left London and travelled north to Bakewell. I didn't really know what I was getting myself in to. I knew that the town only had a couple thousand residents, and the only internet access would be at the local library (where I sit right now). I knew my bed and breakfast was in a tiny cottage. In addition to this, I was very discouraged to learn that it was about 10 degrees cooler, with clouds and rain.

But, I also knew they had filmed Pride and Prejudice (both versions) here, and that the Peak District was supposed to be one of the more scenic areas of England.

Fortunately, I was relieved to discover that I had grossly underestimated this part of England. It may be a tiny town instead of a city, but it is covered in old stone cottages and quaint stores. It is on a hillside, among several huge hills (hence, Peak District?). Everything is so green, so beautiful. The people are incredibly friendly and charming, and my bed and breakfast beats the one I stayed at in London, which was very good as well. I didn't expect to have my own bathroom either, but I do, and beside my bed is a huge basket filled with books.


I don't think I'll mind being here for 5 days. This is a perfect escape from everything.

A few random thoughts from the week...

There are approximently 80 steps up to my hotel room, which I climb, on average, 4-5 times a day. I'm sure that makes up for the all the KU hills I'm not climbing.

Couples are not afraid of PDA in this town. I was going up an escalator from the Tube the other day and I noticed not one, but two couple making out on their ride up. Hyde Park is really bad. At the same time, there is an element of sweetness about it...it's nice to see happy people enjoying a beautiful afternoon with the person they love.

I went to Winchester on Tuesday. It was so beautiful. Originally, it had been the capital of England, and this is recognized by a giant statue of King Alfred which stands upon the entrance to city centre. There are homes dating back to the 1400's, and a little stream that runs through the middle of town. So quaint, so peaceful, so perfect.

Jane Austen was bured there, and she lived about 20 miles down the road in a little village called Chawton. The village is very peaceful and pretty as well. It looks almost exactly how you would picture it based on her novels and movies. Her home was a cottage, but it wasn't small. They had about four bedrooms, and a large garden. She wrote and published most of her books there in the latter part of her life.

I can't help but to be depressed though, when I think about her writing all these fantastic love stories and then dying single and alone at age 41. They said she fell in love once, when she was my age, but it only last a month and then he went away to law school. Then another guy came along five years later and proposed. She accepted, but then the next day revoked her promise.

I ate lunch at an old pub (which was delicious), and went on a walk. The countryside is so green, so quiet, so old. I can't help but to think that where she lacked inspiration from experience, she found it in her beautiful surroundings. I hope I make it back there some day.

Next week, I'll be in Bakewell...which I'm a little unsure about. It's a small town, so there really isn't much to do. I was planning on exploring the countryside where they did a lot of the filming for Jane Austen movies, and visiting the estates where they shot Pemberly and Rosings, but it might be a little bit of a let down. The forcast is for rain all five days I'm there. At least I have work to do and books to read.

Ihave to look on the bright side, I haven't seen rain yet in London and today marks two weeks since I arrived. This week will be very warm and sunny.

All in all this has been a very successful break so far. I've had some issues along the way with travel, getting lost, etc. But it's been one hell of an adventure. I think I've grown more in the last 4 weeks than in the previous two months I spent in Leicester. This growth has caused some friction in other areas of my life, but I know by now that growing pains are a part of life, and I'm happy to have learned more about myself through this experience.

London: Week 1

Unfortunately, the internet at my hotel seems to only work in 20 minute spurts. I'm going to try to take advantage of one of these spurts to do an update on my last week in London.

I visited the National Gallery, which was interesting because they had some of Vermeer's work, but overall not my favorite art gallery in London. There was a lot of art from the 12th-19th century, which I thought I liked, but after awhile it all began to look the same. I spent a lot of time outside the gallery, watching street performers. One man swallowed a sword and juggled while sitting on a rope, another man was speaking out loudly against the London police (which I have to give him credit for because he went on for hours with a booming voice and nobody really cared), and then several other men dressed up as statues and took pictures with tourists. I think I may have enjoyed watching all of them more than the museum itself.

I've also visited the National Portrait Gallery, which I LOVED, because they have an entire room dedicated to the Tudor family. Famous portraits of Henry VIII and his wives, Mary Stuart, Elizabeth I, Mary, I, Edward I...I've seen all of these dozens of times in books and documentaries. I was in utter shock when I found myself in a room surrounded by them.

Tate Britain was also pretty fascinating, more of the same except it was dedicated to the work of British artists. My favorite part of that was a large roome with no furniture, just writing on the walls. Tons of random phrases, song lyrics, etc, meant to evoke emotion based on the viewers experiences, were plastered up and down the walls and ceilings.

Tate Modern, which I had already visited in January, was worth coming back to. There were some very weird scenes, such as a naked woman covering herself in blood and rolling around in feathers, but there were also some brilliant displays. My favorite was a room full of images from the NYC Subway in 1980. The portraits of gang members, tourists, couples, homeless men and women, against the back drop of colorful street art was an interesting juxtaposition.

Enough about museums though, I want to talk about the other wonderful things I love about London. I love Hyde Park, and how busy it is with people on the weekends. There are so many people here that picnic! Both weekends I've been here there are blankets and people strewn about in the parks and by the Thames. I love China Town, where Jon (a friend from Leicester and Rome) took me last Monday to get some lunch. I love Soho, with all it's shows and secondhand bookstores. I love riding in the tube, and walking miles each day, exploring this massive city and all it has to offer.

Today I'm going to go to speakers corner in Hyde Park, and then to the Science Museum. Although there has apparently been a massive ash cloud over London, the sky has been blue and sunny for several days now.

London: Day 1

I'm officially in London! My hotel is amazing considering the cheap budget price I paid for it. It's in between Oxford Street and Notting Hill, right across from Hyde Park. My room is incredibly cozy but I figure I won't spend a ton of time there. Plus it has everything I need, including free wifi (unreliable but still a nice perk).

I spent my first day exploring the area. I walked around Hyde Park for awhile...It was an absolutely lovely day. Everyone was outside, enjoying the nice weather on a Saturday afternoon. Then I went to the Victoria and Albert Museum. I only got through half of it in two hours, but I will for sure be back soon.

The photography exhibit was amazing...but what was really incredible was the set of tapestry pieces done by Mary Queen of Scots and Countess Shrewsbury. I had just finished a 400 page novel that describes the relationship between the two women during Mary's time of captivity. Seeing the physical evidence of the characters I've been reading about for these past few weeks was so surreal and so amazing.

It's weird being here by myself. I feel like I'm an outside observer looking into the world. It's not lonely, but I do feel very small surrounded by this incredible city that I'm completely enamoured with.

Week in Cambridge

Well my week in Cambridge is just about finished. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here, hanging out and doing a little bit of sight seeing. On Easter Sunday we went to church at Kings College Chapel. The choir was beautiful, the chapel stunning. Blaine and I grabbed meals at a few of the other colleges, and went to see a few of the more famous one. I also saw people punting on the river, and ventured into the town to see The Fitzwilliam Museum and the city market.


I am heading to London tomorrow afternoon for two weeks. So far I have been having the perfect spring break. I was afraid of hopping around too much, of being exhausted, and inevitably not being able to fully absorb the beauty of my surroundings. Instead I have some busy days and some quiet days, some days where I walk miles and some days where I walk none. It is absolutely lovely.

More of Italy

I have to say, the best part of the Roman ruins weren't in Rome. The more famous monuments- The Pantheon, Collosseum, Roman Baths of Diocletion...were just a whisper of their former glory. A lot of the ruins have been converted into great churches, or left to deteioriate after spending centuries as medival fortresses. The top spots for me were primarily outside of the main city. In the ancient port city of Ostia, there are roads of ancient apartment buildings and shops. Granted, they really only consist of brick walls....but it is the first place where one can attain a greater appreciation for what an ancient Roman city must have looked like. There was one bar, from the 4th century AD, that was almost perfectly preserved. I could see where people actually walked up to order drinks, and get a sense of some of the painting originally depicted on the walls.




Another great site was the Etruscan 'city of the dead'....this was an ancient burial ground full of round houses which housed the dead. They wanted to treat their dead with the same respect as the living, so the houses look just like ordinary homes from the time.








The most beautiful place we visited was the Villa D'este. This was a villa built by a bishop in Tivoli, at the top of a mountain overlooking Rome. It was absolutely gorgeous. Every room was orantely decorated, the walls all painted to a different theme. They didn't need TV back then, you could just walk from room to massive room, looking at the stories told through the massive murals on the wall. Some were a bit creepy, but all were so impressive. Behind the villa was one of the most amazing gardens I have ever seen. The landscape was on the side of the mountain, so each level you got to you could look down and see another new set of gardens.

I love Italy. Italy does not love me.

I have now been in Italy for almost a week now. It is beautiful. The weather is gorgeous, the buildings are gorgeous, the people are gorgeous. It is absolutely lovely. That being said, I don't think I could stay here for more than a week. Since the second day I have been sick with something.

The food is very salty and greasy, not nearly as good as Italian back home. I had to go home early from our tour on Monday, and unfortunately didn't make it back in time before tossing my cookies on the sidewalk a block away from the hotel. I felt so awful, but this nice old Italian man whose store I was in front of gave me a towel and did his best to console me. I kept aplogizing in English. I wish I had learned some of the language beforehand.

Anyways, after that embarressing and rather awful memory I had another two days of fever which evolved into a bad cold. Thankfully, I forced myself out the rest of the time and didn't miss anymore of the fantastic sights even though I was ill.

I got to experience the Vatican on Palm Sunday, and several other churches throughout the week. Being in a Catholic church in Rome feels like a completely different experience. The frescoes take your breath away, and the music sounds amazing in the large spaces. Everything- from the ceilings to the floors-is incredibly ornate. Today we went into a 14th century church that was built above a 5th century church that was built on top of a 2nd century Roman house where early Christians worshipped in secret. I can't describe the feeling of being in a place where people once gathered together despite the risk of Roman persecution. It had made me feel so much stronger in my faith, and so much more convicted.

I have so much more to say, but my one euro is about to expire. I promise to add pics and give a full description of my week soon!

It's a beautiful day! The sun is shining, the air is warm, and most importantly,

MY BAGS ARE PACKED!

We're leaving for Italy on a bus at 3am tonight. I just hope that this adrenaline rush I have right now will keep me awake until then.


For the record, my essays are still not done. It's okay though. There is time while I'm traveling, and also after I get back. I won't panic...yet.

Almost there....

...In case you were wondering...I'm not dead.

I just replaced my blog time with work time. I have about 2300 words left, and two full days.
This hasn't been that bad. It just requires a lot of research.


I'm glad the slowest part of my time here (the time I'm in school) is about over. I've only left Leicester once in the past 2 months, and that was for a period of 23 hours. I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE.

Not to be dramatic, but I do really want to begin traveling.

The Countdown Begins...Now

2 Weeks till Rome....


6500 words left to go...

The Only Downside to Study Abroad...

is knowing that, eventually, you do need to study. After slacking off and having fun for a month I'm now buckling down and trying to finish my research papers before spring break. I have two more weeks, and 900 words completed out of 8000. So far those 900 words represent about 7 hours of work.


How is the European Court of Justice a motor for integration?

I would tell you but chances are you would stop reading 4 words into it.

Beautiful Sunday

Today was a beautiful Sunday. The sun was out, the air was crisp and chilly, and the birds were singing.

I can't say how many times I've heard it said that one should "take time to smell the roses." I always thought I understood what that phrase meant, but it's been so long since I've put it into practice. As I inhaled the scent of clean spring air and flowers, I had the revelation that this moment was one of the most special simple pleasures I would ever experience. Days like today don't come around very often, and when they do we rarely have time to enjoy them. Sitting on a bench amongst the fresh greenery and fountains, I realized what a gift this was.

Later I fell asleep reading a good book with my window open. The afternoon drifted by so peacefully.


"And God blessed the 7th day and made it holy"....


What a glorious blessing this turned out to be.

To be Young and in Love.

I've officially started my essays. A grand total of three, actually. And no tests.

Did I mention I love it here?

Visit to Cambridge

This last Monday (March 1st) I went to Cambridge to attend a formal dinner. Blaine, a friend of our family, is studying there and invited me up for the evening.


It was so awesome. It felt like it was straight out of Harry Potter or Pride and Prejudice. Picture long candlelit tables with benches in a grand hall decorated with massive portraits of important-looking dead people... And alcohol. Lots and lots of alcohol.

Which was a good thing, until the next morning came and I had to catch my 10am train.

Cambridge is a lovely town with some of the most beautiful architecture I have ever seen. I would be happy to lose myself all day in the windy mess of ancient buildings and green courtyards. I actually thought for a second that I had traveled back in time. No really though. I was standing in the doorway of a courtyard surrounded by one of the old colleges on all four sides of me, when I looked up and noticed a man dressed in a 19th century outfit. My jaw dropped as he strode past me with an air of self importance. Much to my dismay, a turn around the next corner revealed a group of actors carrying set pieces from one end of the hall to another.
So long story short, I didn't actually travel back in time.


Anyways, I had a wonderful time exploring the town and meeting new people, and I am very excited to be going back for a few days over Easter Vacation.


The rest of this week I have been doing schoolwork. Now that the last few weeks are upon me I'm feeling much more motivated to get things done. Today has been a beautiful day. I'm in a pretty good mood too.

That's about all the update I have for now!
23 Days until Rome!

Umm what did you just say?

Today was not a good day. There were a number of reasons for this, but I'll cut it down to the only one that is entertaining enough to rehash.


I finally found a bookstore in city center. Unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy it because of the author of a certain book...

It's probably important to mention here that the author was a Middle Eastern Islamic man and the book was about a man who tries to escape from his arranged marriage by trying to flee the country wearing a burka.


Basically, he asked me to buy it. I said no. He asked me again, I again said no. We went back and forth, and our conversation evolved into a discussion of America (this frequently happens here when people hear my accent), where he told me he lived in Kansas City for awhile, but had to leave because "people there were just so awful after 9/11"...I told him I didn't think the evil that occurred on that day was a reflection of the true Islamic faith, and I apologized for Americans who are ignorant enough to believe otherwise. I also told him that most people I know don't believe otherwise, and are very accepting of other religions.

He then thanked me for my open mindedness, told me I was a lovely girl, "so unlike other Americans" and continued to trash the US until he finally offered to let me make amends for "the terrible actions of George Bush" by buying his book.

Not. Even. Kidding.

Pre-Conceived Notions and Misconceptions

I'm pretty sure my tutor thinks that American "states" are just like European "states" in the sense that they're soveriegn, only voluntarily banding together as a union.

Also, a lot of people here think that we refer to our language as "American" instead of "English"


....These are just two of so many misconceptions I've encountered while I've been in England. Don't even get me started on the things they think about Kansas.

Then again, we're just as bad. Americans all claim that English people have bad teeth, when in fact the majority of them have very nice, straight teeth, thanks to their wonderful health care system. Also, they don't have tea and scones everyday at 4.

SNOW!!!

It's funny how it snows almost everyday here, and yet everyday it all completely melts. These pictures were taken within a half hour of each other. This country can't decide if it wants to be freezing or not.

This crazy weather makes me feel a little less homesick.

Absence

You may be wondering why I haven't written in four days.

Well, I have no news that would really be interesting to anyone.

I will say though, that the bathrooms are so nice here compared to the US. However, they are lacking in paper towels and soap dispensers. That's been a pain.

Also, I miss having a productive life. I should have gotten a work visa.


I'm sorry that this is the best I can do right now.

Mardi Gras in the UK

Mardi Gras in Leicester was a total bust. The only people who were wearing beads were in the group I came with, and everyone else at Red Leicester was either wearing campaign tshirts (student elections are this week), or was pretending to be pregnant.


Apparently, Mardi Gras is more of an American thing.

Eating Properly

Last night we made pancakes in my block. They came out more like crepes, but were still very delicious. It aways astounds me how properly English people eat. They use silverware....for everything. They even eat chips (french fries) with a fork! And the way they do it is so neat, so formal...not anything like my technique, where I stab my fork down and wrap my whole hand around my knife, sawing feverishly until I break apart my food.

I kind of feel like a neanderthal when I eat here.

Last night I asked one of my friends about this and they said proper dining etiquette was something they learn in grammar school here.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm kind of jealous.

I'm also kind of confused, because although they all have perfect table etiquette, the dining hall doesn't have any napkins.



I'm feeling much better! This nasty flu has evolved into a tolerable cold. Yippee!
.

The Most Romantic Day of the Year

Valentine's Day.

Hmmm
Not so much.


Try
"Laundry Day"

Coupled with some
"Sick Day"


And there you go!

It Takes My Breath Away

Every Austen or Bronte film I have seen has remarkable scenes of the English countryside that knocks the wind out of my lungs. It always looks as though it is so much greener in England, and so much more dramatic. I have spent so many of my nights falling asleep dreaming about the stunning English moors, abrasive cliffs, and romantic villages. It hasn't quite sunk in that I live in this beautiful place now, but there are moments where it hits me and I realize the reality of this vivid beauty.




Around 6:30am Friday morning I heard the familiar soft noise of rain falling on the roof. As I watched the water glide across the glass, I couldn't resist opening the window to the damp world outside. The sound of the rain, so gentle without thunder or lightening, and the birds singing songs in the early days of February took my breath away. I stayed there for several minutes, absorbing this unusual beauty of daybreak that I am so unaccustomed to. With no cars in the background, and no students awake to be heard, it felt as if I looking out on a scene described only in novels written long ago.




I took this picture later. It ended up being a beautiful day.

Day Four: No Improvements

I'm still really sick.
The walls are closing in on me. This is really starting to suck.


Thank God for friends and Skype.
It's so nice to have the support from back home and new friends here.

I'd give you more of an update, but unfortunately, I really don't know whats interesting about being miserable and in bed 24 hours a day.

Fever Pitch

...And the saga continues.

No sleep tonight...I've got the chills, body aches, and a sore throat with a bad cough. No medicine for now...I don't feel like walking to ASDA in this cold rainy weather.


I have never missed my electric blanket and space heater so much. I'm also concerned because I'm about to run out of bottled water and I can't drink the tap without getting sick.


Crap.

New movies to add to my list:
Up in the Air
Paper Heart

The Sick Saga Continues

I feel worse today. Thank God I don't have any class tomorrow. I may not even get out of bed to eat.

No other news...I've spent all my sick time in bed watching documentaries. So far I've gotten through Food Inc, Voices from the World Trade Center, Loose Change, National Geographic's analysis of Loose Change, Grey Gardens (the original 1975 version), and Grey Gardens (the HBO movie made based off of the original).

AND I've almost finished Nickle and Dimed, which is a book describing one reporters quest to survive on low paying jobs like serving, cleaning, and selling retail products.


Wow I feel lame. Very informed, but incredibly lame.

Feeling Icky

Last night I had an awful dream that I missed my flight to England...I thought it was strange because, while I do worry a lot it's usually about things that haven't happened yet.

I woke up with a horrible feeling at the base of my throat and itchy eyes. I couldn't get out of bed.

My plans to visit the library for a few hours before European Politics officially canceled, I laid in bed until I was forced to go to lecture. The first thing I felt as I left the comfort of my cozy home was the stinging of sleet on my face. This continued as I waited for the bus to come, and unfortunately not even my umbrella could successfully battle the harsh wind and snow.

Dinner required another cold walk from Digby to the dining hall and back again. I just got home and I feel beat. I guess all I can do now is drink water and sleep.

Sigh*

Last time I felt sick, during winter break, I had my wonderful parents to cook for me and a cute boy that made me warm tea. I miss that all so much right now.

God willing, this will pass before I leave for London on Friday with the girls.

Learning how to Act my Age

Last night I went out with some people from my hall. It was a lot of fun, but I definitely think I need to train myself to be able to last all night long. Bars don't close at 2 here on Friday nights, and a lot of students stay up until 6 dancing and drinking IN HEELS!!! They definitely know how to have fun. I feel like an old lady wanting to call it a night at 1:30am.

Mexican Food!!!!

Today the girls and I decided to hunt down a Mexican restaurant in Leicester. Trust me when I say this is more difficult than it sounds.




We ended up at Las Iguanas. They didn't have tacos, and they didn't have beans inside their burritos, but it was still delicious.

The Definition of Innapropriate Dinner Conversation

Tonight at dinner I was told by a student from South Africa that America is to blame for the majority of the problems in the world, and that we deserved to be bombed during Pearl Harbor because we had been "choking" Japan economically.

Yeah, I was offended. But I wanted to understand why he feels this way, so I did a little research.

From our discussion I gathered that he was particularly upset about things like this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4678592.stm
http://lite.alertnet.org/db/blogs/58388/2010/00/29-185031-1.htm

Reading this, it's pretty clear that hunger is a terrible issue plaguing Africa. I also think it's clear that there are a number of factors to take into consideration when determining the cause of the hunger, and the obstacles they face in trying to overcome the food shortage. Intergovernmental conflict, corruption, land locked states, multi-national actors, and countries like the US have all either contributed to this problem or not done enough to improve the situation.

Tonight I encountered someone from that area of the world. I think he had a very normal emotional reaction-point fingers, place blame, etc.. I just don't think it's that simple.

We do give aid. Compared to the rest of the world, we give an awful lot of aid. HOWEVER, percentage wise we are not giving enough. We don't allot nearly as much in our federal budget as other Western countries. Much of our aid comes with a price. We are willing to give to states who can benefit us in some sort of way. We aren't altruistic.

That being said, I don't think we should be blamed for that. We have the capabilities to do good things around the world, and we do, but we must have an agenda that puts our interests first. That's what sovereign states do. Ultimately, that's how we survive. We give, but we also take. Banks don't loan money for free, so why should we? At the end of the day, we aren't a NGO, we're a state...and just like any other state, we're fallible. The biggest priority is ourselves! It's not being selfish, because one of the main underlying functions of state is the protection of its people!

Anyways, I understand where people are coming from when they get angry at the US, but I don't think we could really do much to make it better. I'm a realist. I think anti-American sentiments will continue until we are no longer this powerful, and then it'll move on to the next super power.

British Politics 101

I began my tutorials today. Tutorials are like discussion sessions or seminars, where a group of 10 to 15 people from one lecture meet with an instructor to discuss course material. I was expecting my Current Issues in IR tutorial to be interesting, but it was actually rather dull. Surprisingly, my European Union tutorial was awesome.
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I've finally got a glimpse into the British political perspective. I was cracking up the whole time at the things students were saying. Here are a few examples I copied down during our discussion this afternoon:

Instructor: Why do you think Great Britain has been so hesitant to join and support EU policies?
Student: Because we're British.

Instructor: Was it a mistake not to adapt the euro as our currency?
Student: No! The pound is a part of our heritage. It cannot be given up. That would be like giving our queen over to France! Ugh France!

Instructor: It seems that on the one hand Great Britain negotiates with the rest of Europe and on the other we flirt with America.
Student: Well we have a very special relationship with America...good memories there.

Instructor: Should we support Lisbon Treaty's goal of a European Constitution?
Student: We don't need a Constitution. We have a good memory.

Foooooood

The food here is...interesting. It's definitely not as bad as people make it out to be, but it is a little confusing. Here are a few examples of why it is so different.

1. Ham and bacon are one in the same...at breakfast we have what looks like ham in the middle, but bacon around the edges. I'm not sure which one it is exactly.

2. French Fries are called "chips" and chips are called "crisps"...so when I tell my British friends I'm going to the vending machine to get some chips, they are probably a little confused.

3. I'm used to the standard sandwich toppings: Turkey, Ham, Salomi, etc...here they have many more combinations such as "Tuna and Corn", "Cheese and Onion", and "Prawn and Tomato", and "egg and coleslaw." So far I haven't been very brave. I'm eating a lot of chicken salad or chicken spinach and tomato.

4. When you order a pizza it doesn't come with marinara, ranch, or garlic sauce. Last night ours came with horseradish and barbecue sauce. Surprisingly, I thought it was quite tasty.

5. The chocolate candy here consists of brands I'm not really used to. There is a ton of Cadbury chocolate...I've pretty much been in heaven. Mom, you would love it here.

6. Dessert is usually cake, cobbler, or pie, covered with a hot pudding. It takes some getting used to, but it's starting to taste really good.

7. The standard breakfast (eggs, ham/bacon, and sausage) comes draped with baked beans. When you can't afford the beans (like in our dining hall) they use Spaghetti 0's, or as they call it here, Spaghetti hoops.

8. There are a lot of familiar products in the grocery store, but they don't look the same. For instance, they have "nutrigrain bars" and "Cheerios" just like we do back home, but with completely different labels. It would be interesting to find out why their ads and labels are made differently for the UK people





9. The tap water here makes me sick. I don't know why, but it does.

10. Fruits and vegetables are so much more affordable. There are also healthier menu options at places like McDonalds, which has a deli sandwich menu, and healthier fast food places such as "Eat" and "Pret-a-Manger" that like Panera but much less expensive. It is so easy to be healthy here...if you can avoid the wonderful chocolate.

The Shortest Semester Ever

It's official:

I'm going to be done with school by late March.

Technically, our essays are due on May 4th, but since those are my only assignments the whole semester I know I will finish them before Easter break.

I'M SO HAPPY!!!!!

I just need to work hard these next couple of months and then I'll have another 7 weeks for travel and leisure before returning to Kansas.

I'm going out with some of the English girls in my block tonight. I hope it will be fun!

The Simple Things

The first week of classes are finished. There isn't much to say, except that I really like the University here so far. The reading was initially overwhelming (hundreds of pages to do per class per lecture), but after speaking with instructors I learned that we aren't expected to do all of it. They just want to give us lots of reading options to study each topic we discuss.

The lecture halls here are very nice, and the library is amazing. While the housing is very old and classic, the school itself is very modern and accessible. I will try to take some pictures of the actual campus soon.

I went to the student union for the first time Wednesday night for "Red Leicester", a night devoted to cheesy music. I didn't really understand why they called it Red Leicester until I was in the grocery store today and noticed someone with Red Leicester cheese in their shopping cart.

Last night we went out again to city centre. I had a lot of fun, but my poor feet (which were in heels) took the brunt of my dancing and now have blisters. I don't think I'm going out again till next Friday.

I've been here almost two weeks now, and have had a lot of great experiences. I've only been really homesick on a few occasions, but I do miss everyone back home very much. Surprisingly, the two things I miss most are diet coke and ice chips. I know that sounds awful, but I constantly crave ice and it's never around. They do have coke here, but it just doesn't taste the same. It never fully satisfies me. On the way home from the airport in May I'm stopping at a quick trip and getting a huge diet coke...with ice.

It's the simple things you know?

America Abroad

One of the most interesting things I've discovered during my short time here is the extent of the American presence abroad. The music I heard on the radio in the US is generally the same music that blares through the speakers at the clubs here. The movies are also the same (except here you don't go to the movies, you go to the "cinema"). There is also McDonald's, and although I haven't had it yet I hear it tastes exactly the same.

However, I have to say the most interesting similarity I have discovered is in my classes. I had thought that my lectures would revolve around the UK and European politics. I was really excited for this, because I know very little about UK politics and was excited to hear a fresh perspective. However, what I've discovered is that two out of my three classes focus primarily on the US and our International Relations.

It's still very refreshing though, because now I can gain some insight into the European opinion of the US and our actions in the world. I've heard they don't have the best opinion our government over here, but so far I haven't found any evidence in lecture to support that. We discussed post cold war IR today, and assessed the "optimistic" idea that the end of the cold war brought on a New World Order, with the US leading the way into promoting a more liberal and peaceful world.
I don't necessarily agree that the US should lead the world into liberalism, but it was nice to hear this idea being taught without cynicism or sarcasm. I was pleasantly surprised that our professor didn't criticize Bush. She included several quotes from both Bush Sr. and Bush Jr., as well as a slide explaining all the good things Clinton did to promote liberalism in the world.


Next week she said she will discuss this lecture again through a "realist" perspective of the US and it's "New World Order"...I think that class will be slightly less optimistic.

First Bout of Homesickness

Classes finally began yesterday, which means my fabulous month long winter break is now officially over. So far I've only had European Union Politics, and Current Issues in IR. They seem alright, but the reading is very different. For each lecture there are 10-15 assigned readings, but I don't think we're expected to complete them all. My EU class should be the most interesting one, since I know nothing about it, except that it is a political system with twenty something European countries participating.

I have met some really nice people that live in my block (or my hall). It's really interesting to have a conversation with them. I never knew how different American English and British English were. Apparently, they never refer to autumn as "fall" here, and instead of having a "yard" one has a "garden." So cool...

Today has probably been the worst day for homesickness. It was so incredibly chilly outside today, and I've been mostly by myself since everyone has class. I miss everyone from home...a lot. I'm really worried that things will be different when I go back, and I'm finding myself regretting that I didn't spend enough time with the people that I care about.


I think I should stop before this post gets any more depressing. I hope I'll be able to go out tonight and do something fun to get my mind off of it for a little bit.

The First Weekend

My first full weekend in England has been pretty chill. After going out Friday night I spent most of my weekend recovering. I slept till noon both today and Saturday.

Yesterday the girls got together to begin planning our spring break. I think it'll be a good time. Right now my plan is to go from Leicester to Rome, to Cambridge, to Venice and Capri, then on to Greece, and finally back up through Austria and Germany.

...I don't know for sure...we'll see what I can afford haha.

Today we explored the botanical gardens by our student housing. They are so beautiful. Everytime I explore this country I feel like I am walking through the set of a movie. It's breathtaking. If only I could have some sun!

I'm not homesick yet, but I do wish I could be with my family tonight to celebrate Susan and Jared's birthday.

Happy Birthday Guys!

Night Out!

Tonight was our first night out in the city centre. Damn it was fun. Sooo much fun. I'm still very tipsy from the excitement, and I honestly can't remember where all my money went, although I can accurately assume it had something to do with the fact that I had a drink in my hand all night long.

The club here is a lot more impressive than anything I'd seen before. Very trendy, and very big, and so much more fun than America because girls aren't forced to grind while dancing! Guys actually give you space here, and truly it is just so refreshing.

The people I've come with are so nice, and we've all become such good friends. The students here are also very nice, but it's true that they are rather shy, and you have to approach them long before they will approach you.

I thought I would be much more homesick than I actually am. Perhaps it will set in later. For now I am so happy to be here. Despite the frustration and the exhaustion, it is such a wonderful experience. I can already tell this semester will be one of the most memorable times of my life.

The Elderly Englishman

I have always wanted to talk to a crazy old Englishman. This happened today as I was riding the bus back from City Centre to my Residence Hall.

A man who looked about 80 came and sat with me, and immediately initiated a conversation about the weather, which was followed by inquiries about where I was from (I'm sure my accent gave my away quickly). He told me he had been living in Leicester since 1946, and that the city used to be pretty but hasn't been for a long time.

This pleasant conversation took a very strange turn when he asked me what I was studying. Our conversation went something like this:

Him: And what will you be learning on Monday?
Me: Politics
Him: Politics?! What a rude word! Well my love, if you're studying politics then tell me this: "what is wrong with all those belligerent Muslims!
Me: (Shocked and Speechless)...I'm not sure...
Him: Well perhaps you can tell me later this spring.



....Oh dear.

It's more than a bump in the night.

One of the things that I really love about my new home is the cozy housing. Technically, I live in a dorm, but in reality, it is nothing like the resident halls at KU. I live in a courtyard next to Digby Hall, a big victorian house. My building is one of several that sit in a U shape and house only 10 or 15 students a piece.

In a way, this feels much more like home. I already know all the girls I live with, and I've met the guys although I've noticed they seem shy so I haven't talked to the as much. We share two bathrooms between 5 girls, which is not bad at all. It is nice to not have massive communal living anymore. It's nice to be in a two story block rather than an eight story building.

However, there is a downside...as I am discovering...right now.


It is 1:40am and I can't sleep. Why you might ask? Because the drinking age is 18 here, and all the freshman I live with are so happy to exercise their rights. Unfortunately, that has resulted in them stumbling in two nights in a row now in early morning hours screaming and laughing. They seem like wonderful people, really. But rightnow, I can't get a wink of sleep while they are so very, very merry downstairs.


The walls just aren't thick enough. I can only hope sleep will come soon, and pray that this stops on week nights once the term begins. Althugh with a bar attached to student housing, this may be too much to ask for.

I Arrived!

I finally managed enough time to write again. This week has been exhausting! It is all so much fun though.

I arrived in England at 5:45am on Monday the 18th. Leaving my family and friends was so difficult. I stayed in Lawrence Saturday night with my friends and barely slept from excitement. The next morning I hung out with my family until I had to go through security. It was so hard seeing Susan, Dad, and Lydia walk away as I walked through the door.

I flew a dinky jet to Detroit and then took the red eye to London. I have not fully recovered from my jet lag. I had thought it would be simple to snap into the new schedule, since I had no problems my last trip, but I suppose as I've gotten older it's become more difficult. Here is the view as I flew into London.

Our tour guide, Susana, met us at the airport. From there we went to check in at our hotel, and set off sightseeing. Our first stop was a boat ride on the Thames, which was followed by a tour of the Tower of London. It was a very cold day, but luckily the sun showed itself towards the end and I was able to get some great pictures.

That night we got back to the hotel around 4:45, and were very sad to see that the sun goes down much earlier here. The days seem to last between 8am and 5pm, but it become noticeably darker around 4. After changing and recovering from our marathon traveling day we decided to go out to eat. There were about 29 of us who split into 3 groups. I went with a group of girls and one of the boys to a pub near our hotel's tube station. The beer was great, the food terrible. The burger had a bun that literally broke in half cause it was so stale, and the burger tasted microwaved with an odd kind of meat that didn't appear to be beef.

I went to bed that night exhausted and hungry, but it didn't really interfere with my excitement.

Tuesday was a much better day. I was well rested and fed when I began the tour, and the weather was much more mild than chilly. We headed to Buckingham Palace first, and took a tour through St. James Park. The queen wasn't home, but we did see some pelicans in the park that were a part of a bird collection started by one of the early Kings (I can't remember which one specifically).

Next we headed to Westminster Abbey. I love this place. It is without a doubt my favorite historical spot in London. There are thousands of famous people buried here, including Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, Sir Issac Newton, and a slew of Kings and Queens, knights and nobles...I have read about these people so many times, but to see their tombs in person, and know that I'm just a few feet away from their final resting spots gives me the chills...and makes me feel so amazing. The Abbey itself has been around for a very long time. It was originally a monastery, and then was made into an Abbey. It was torn down and rebuilt in the 13th century so that Royalty would have a proper place to be crowned and buried. It is soooo beautiful.

Tuesday night we went on a "Jack the Ripper" tour to see where the famous murderer killed in London. The neighborhood where he killed was largely destitute, and the buildings have mostly been torn down and replaced with large modern office buildings. It takes some imagination to envision what it must have been like in 1888 when the place was crawling with prostitutes, but it was definitely a fun tour.

Afterwards we went to an Indian restaurant nearby. It was pretty good, and it was nice to give my feet a rest. Two huge blisters have developed and as the days go by I've noticed my two pinky toes have gotten swollen and blue. I should have brought tennis shoes but I am an unfortunate slave to fashion.

Wednesday was a very long day. I won't say much about it except we saw the Globe Theatre and Tate Modern. The Globe was exactly as it looked when I visited three years ago, and Tate Modern had some good displays but definitely freaked me out at times. I may not be a modern art person. The place we went out for lunch was fantastic. It had chicken that you could order with different sauces, and was located in what appeared to be the inside of an old train station.

After our morning and afternoon of sightseeing we were over the freezing rain and ready to get to Leicester. We finally got in a bus and arrived last night around 6. Since then we've been doing orientation stuff, which is not exciting enough to talk about.

My room is cozy, but it serves it's purpose, and I'm sure I can feel at home here. I have beautiful gardens around my hall and green grass behind my window. I love the street where the students live. It is so scenic, even in the dead of winter. So far, everyone here is so nice. We have all become very close these last few days.

I'm so very excited to start school here, and excited to find out tomorrow what courses I will be taking. I'm not homesick, but I am people sick. Thank goodness for the Internet.