Day 3: St. Paul's, Markets, and the Eye

This was pasted on the main door when we woke up this morning.

Today, again, started early. I can't sleep in. It's awful. A lot of coffee shops aren't open on Sundays, and that was awful. We all met up to go to St. Paul's Cathedral though. It's free if you go on a service day.

The side of St. Paul's

After St. Paul's, we were free until the Eye. Me and Patricia decided to tag along with the photo class. They were going to some markets and Hyde Park. I don't have any pictures of either, because I was hungry. We took the wrong bus so we didn't have time for lunch. At the last market, I decided I needed something fast.

Pineapple, mango, orange and yogurt juice. It's Paleo!! So far, I've only had ice cream :)

After that, we went to Hyde Park to see Speaker's Corner. It's a big open area where people can go and talk about whatever they want. It's a free speech place. It was pretty cool. From there, we headed to the Eye.

Until we got on, I was thinking it was kind of small.

Westminster Abbey from the Eye!

Me with Westminster behind me

After that, me and Patricia roamed the area. We tried to find Little Italy for dinner, but we got hopelessly lost.

I did get the obligatory phone booth photo though!

Instead of Italian for dinner, we had American. We stumbled upon a 50's style diner as we searched for Italy. I was wary because I've had a lot of burgers, but once I saw the fry list, I insisted we stay. I had a burger (plain and dry) and lettuce. I also had a bowl of SWEET POTATO FRENCH FRIES. Oh, and a coffee milkshake. Don't tell anyone about the shake. The only cheats I've had since getting here is ice cream. I hope it stays that way! I like not feeling crummy after meals.

Apparently since going Paleo, my taste buds have changed. My friend tried a fry and said it was really bland. It's like candy to me.

So not ready!

I leave tomorrow y'all.

I'm packed all the way except for my hairbrush and a few other things I need tomorrow, but I still feel unprepared.

I haven't heard from the professor at all, so I don't really know what to expect. I have a friend who went a few years ago, so I'm asking her questions. Every new thing I learn about the trip helps me feel better. I learnt just now that while the dorms are co-ed, the individual flats are not. I might have guys next door, but they won't be in my flat. That's something I'd been wondering about.

Now just to figure out what time I'll have classes. I think they're twice a day, every day, except Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

See y'all across the pond.

1 year and 10 days

The title of this could be a tad misleading. It is not something that is in 1 year and 10 days or something that was 1 year and 10 days ago. It is two separate things.

First off, 1 year ago today I had my last recreational soda. I say recreational because I have one exception where I would still drink it.

I remember it well.

...Ever since that New Year's, I had been trying to stop soda. I could count the amount I had on one hand. The anniversary would have been last week, but this event spoilt it. I was on my way home from a church camp in Florida. It was probably around 10 at night and we were stopping for dinner. I hadn't had a soda all week long at that camp and I certainly wasn't planning on having one then.
A drink came with my food and I had every intention of filling it with water. The machine was broken. I got Sprite. I drank maybe a centimeter of it. June 23 was my last soda...

Now, I mentioned an exception. If I'm sick, I will drink Sprite. In November, I took medicine on an empty stomach. I needed Sprite. I could hardly stomach it, but it worked.

Now for 10 days.

There are only 10 days until I board a plane to London.

9 days until Justin Bieber, but I don't really care about him. I almost would prefer to stay home and do one last yoga session! Anything is better than Justin Bieber. I like the Jonas Brothers better :)

10 days!

I ought to start packing...I know what clothes I'm taking, so that's a start. I went shopping with my mom the other day and bought some skirts and blouses and shrugs, so now I can change up my outfits more. Yay for clothes! I still need to decide what shoes are coming things like that.

I'm freaking out because I haven't heard anything from my professor about what I need to wear/bring. I don't know if all of our outings will be business professional or if I can wear jeans and a top.

This is me before two separate dances. The left was three months ago, right before I started working out. The right was three nights ago. The dress on the right is coming with me to London to wear to the theatre and other fancy dress needing places. I can also wear it to funerals and graduations.

Highclere Castle and 148 days

So, this post starts out semi-depressing, but I promise it gets better.

Highclere Castle, the location of the popular British soap opera: Downton Abbey

In my first blog post, I said how much I wanted to visit Highclere Castle, otherwise known as Downton Abbey. Tickets for the summer weren't yet on sale, so every couple days, I checked to see if they were up. We were only going to be able to go on a Sunday because we have classes each time they're opened.

They went on sale at the beginning of February.

I checked yesterday.

Every single Sunday was sold out.

Awesome.

I wanted to cry.

But I kept looking.

I realized that the day the mini break starts could possibly work.

I spoke with my Highclere buddy and we agreed that we both wanted to go badly enough that missing part of Paris was worth it.

For £9.50, or approximately $15 each, myself and my Highclere buddy booked our tickets for the gardens and the castle.

My confirmation ticket for Highclere Castle!

The easy part is done.

Now, the waiting begins.

And after that, the trying to find out how to get there. I don't think I'm good with maps.

159 Days to Go!

Hello all!

First of all, I am starting this blog so when I'm in London my family will know what I'm up to and so when I get back, I remember what I did!

I'll be studying for the month of July at Queen Mary University in the middle of London. I picked up my International Student ID today. It's all gone so fast. Last semester, I wanted to go but eventually, I just dropped it. Then, one day last week, I decided I wanted to go. Yesterday I turned in all of my forms. I'm ready to hop on a plane now, but if I did, I would miss the Justin Bieber concert the NIGHT BEFORE I board the plane to London. Timing couldn't have worked out better, though I'd have preferred if it was One Direction.

Hopefully I'll be taking Tudor-Stuart History, but if it doesn't have enough students, I'll take World War II History. Unfortunately and fortunately, the professors are all American. Some come from each university that participates in the study abroad program. Unfortunately because I won't have a professor with a beautiful British accent. Fortunately because I'll be able to understand my teacher.

This is a section of the campus. From what I've researched, it's beautiful!

One of my friends is also going, so luckily I won't be in London all alone with people who talk funny and dress up to go grocery shopping.

The dorm setup is interesting from what I've heard also. It's supposed to be "American" styled, but each flat has anywhere from six to ten-ish people in it. Each person has a private room and they're all connected by a full kitchen and a bathroom. I've never heard of an American dorm with a full kitchen.
I think I'll be utilizing that kitchen A LOT. I'm not a big spender, so as of now, I'm planning on buying stuff at Wal-Mart and eating at least one meal a week in. Maybe I'll buy a crockpot and make soup and eat on it for a week.

So far, I've compiled quite a list of things I plan on doing while I'm there.

King's Cross Station! I will fo'sho be there taking
the cliche picture in front of the trolley at Platform 9 3/4.

I am a HUGE Whovian, so I'll definitely be at the Doctor Who Experience museum.
I've heard they film in July too, so who knows. Maybe I'll see me some Matt Smith or a frolicking Cyberman.

Highclere Castle aka Downton Abbey. You have to book tickets WAYYY
in advance, so I might go there with my mom at the end of the trip instead
of trying to coordinate the day to go with others going on the trip.

Buckingham Palace!
The palace opens for tours the last week I'll be there, so hopefully I'll get to go.
Sometimes I wish I was royalty. Oh, to live in a palace! Maybe I'll see the Queen! Do I courtesy or wave?
How does one act around royalty? What if I see Prince William and Princess Kate in Wales?!

Both Cardiff and Highclere Castle are only two hours at most by train. Both are easily single day trips. I'll probably also take in a show or two while I'm there. My dream is to see Spamalot, so I'll probably see that. I will also find and take a picture of me in a red phone booth. I would obviously prefer it to be a blue police box, but you can't always get what you want.

Halfway through the study, I'll have a five day mini-break with no classes. We're able to travel Western Europe during that time. I could go to Ireland or Spain or Germany or France or Switzerland. The possibilities are almost endless!

The plan is, as of right now, for my mom and maybe my aunt to come at the end of my study and us three spend an extra week in England. A friend is also trying to convince me to take them to Paris. Apparently it's only a two hour train ride away!

I have to do more research about my trip. Bye.