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.