Bonjour!

Hello! Mom and I went to Paris today! We did a lot of sight-seeing and got to see some things neither of us ever thought we'd get to! Notre Dame was by far the coolest - look at the fourth picture.... see all the orbs??? I have so many pictures just like this one - it was so eerie! Totally gorgeous though, inside and out.  I've always had a thing for gargoyles, oddly enough.... 

It's been such a lovely week with my mother, I'm so grateful she came on this trip with me and we were able to do so much exploring together.  I feel a lot better about getting around and being here and I have her to thank for that (and my Dad of course).  

TOMORROW IS MOVE IN DAY. I'm beyond looking forward to having a room to call my own and a bathroom, and kitchen! The food has been awesome - but I'm really looking forward to just cooking some vegetables for a few weeks.  Eating out can get overwhelming.  Having a routine is so thrilling (I know - how cool am I?) I know I'm going to feel worlds better about being here for so long once I have classes and am running every day.  

ALI FLEW IN TODAY! I'll hopefully see her soon - it's going to be so nice to see some familiar faces that get to share this experience.  

I'll try and post tomorrow with pictures of my flat.  

Until next time. 

Jolly Good

Long two days.  Yesterday we did some shopping and just wondered around Oxford Street.  We had a nice lunch and then saw Inception!!  It was A-MAZING.  Totally awesome.  The theatres here are so funny – when you walk in you think you’re seeing a play because of the curtains and the assigned seating.  Oh and Mom and I managed to find a Mexican Restaurant!  (Leave it to us to sniff out the tequila).  Dad swore we wouldn’t find one, so I took a picture!  I ordered sex on the beach (thinking of you Alissa). 

Today was intense.  We started the day at Windsor castle, hit Bath, and then ended our tour in Stonehenge (which yes, Colby, did rock)!  Everything was really amazing.  The countryside was so pretty and I’m really excited to go back to Bath to hang out with Leah.  It was such a beautiful place with sheep everywhere!!

We had a really nice Italian dinner – I’m so unbelievably full.  Tomorrow we’re headed to the Notting Hill Festival, and then Monday I think we’re off to Paris for the day.  I’m really looking forward to getting settled in at the student house on Wednesday and seeing some of my friends.  I really want to start cooking for myself soon. 

Missing you all beyond belief.

Until next time. 

London Fog

Longest day ever! This morning feels like a week ago! Hello insomnia - Mom and I didn't sleep hardly at all last night, we both were up at random hours watching tv and reading, trying to fall asleep.  Today I haven't even so much as nodded off so I'm hoping I should be able to catch some straight solid zzzs.  

We were up early and had breakfast at a cafe in Trafalgar Square.  We then proceeded to get on the hop on hop off tour buses and did some sight-seeing! Above are pictures of London Bridge, and St. Paul's Cathedral.  We also stopped at the Natural History Museum - SO MUCH FUN, and the Tate Modern.  I have so many pictures I need to put on facebook now (soon, I promise).  One thing we didn't have time to do that I'm hoping to do during the semester is go see the crown jewels - I guess London Tower is one of the most haunted buildings in the world!! 

The remainder of the day we spent trudging around in the rain.  It poured all afternoon and Mom and I have entered the black umbrella brigade.  I explained to Alissa today how anyone with an umbrella other than black seems to stick out like a sore thumb! We did a little shopping and bought a few essentials, and then had pizza dinner! Leah, you would have loved it - it was like the pizza you order at the Mel only 100 times better.  

Tomorrow we're getting up and going for a run in Regents Park - I'm excited to do some exploring there and get a route figured out.  When it comes to running I tend to be a creature of habit, and I'm excited to see my new stomping ground.  Oh - random - saw a glimpse of the queen's personal tennis courts today! Fabulous!! 

Also really random, but something I jotted down - there is a statue of George Washington in Trafalgar Square and it's on imported Virginia soil because he swore he'd never set foot on british soil... I thought that was so wild.  

Okay, I'm watching an episode of Weeds and hopefully passing out for 8 glorious solid hours.  

Until next time.  

Mind the Gap

First full day in London, and I must say it was very eventful. I jotted this down earlier this morning - "Holy early morning.  I have no idea what time it is or what time it's supposed to be or what planet I'm on.  All I know is my head hurts and my stomach is turned inside out.  Welcome to the UK?"  Though, I'm happy to report that once I downed a coffee and started walking around, I felt much better.  Let the coffee drinking commence - it's all we can do to keep warm! 

I feel like we did so much today - right away we tried to figure the tube out and picked up maps and an oyster card, which is what I will use over and over again until December.  

First stop - Trafalgar Square! The picture below was the view from the steps of the National Art Museum.  We got in with just a small suggested donation and spent a little while browsing over all of the art.  I bought some postcards, and mom even bought a print for the bathroom at home.  One thing I noticed in the art museum as I was opening and closing doors was that everyone says cheers instead of thank you and you're welcome... maybe something I should have known already, but hearing it was funny to me for some reason. 

We did a lot of walking after the museum - we saw Big Ben up close and personal! We even came across condoms being sold that said "want to see my big ben?" Mom and DIED laughing.  I really should have taken a picture... After a long walk we had a nice lunch, and took the tube home for a nap.  I promptly proceeded to pass out for 3 hours, and then we went out adventuring for umbrellas and dinner.  Fish and Chips! Yum! Mom and I split an order tonight and it was delicious! 

Tomorrow we're going to do some more sight seeing, and hopefully get a few errands done (find a phone, and rain coat).  

Finally did some video chatting today, and after talking to Ben, Colby, and Leah - I'm feeling a lot better and much less home sick.  Today was move in day for the freshman and Rochester, and I've been missing school and everyone along with it.  I love love love you all.  

Until next time.  

Hello Heathrow!

We're here! Mom and I landed just a bit ago.  The flight was SO long.  I managed to sleep for a majority of it though, and watched the Office while awake.  The flight took about 6 and a half hours, which wasn't that bad... but then customs took forever - just a really really long line.  Though, no more intimidating than trying to get into Canada, so no complaints there.

I have to say, I'm not much for sitting by the window, but on our way in it was really marvelous to look out and see all of the city lights.  Just little glowing orange bulbs all part of this perfectly intricate spiderweb - going for miles in every direction.

So far, everything looks and feels pretty similar to America.  (I'm assuming that's just because it's dark out though).  Minus, of course, the driving on the other side of the road part.  Oh, and the military time.  I must say, despite the lack of a language barrier, I already feel like I'm doing a ton of translating.  Just trying to figure out the rules of the highway I felt myself flipflopping it in my mind just to understand how to make a left turn.  And rather than look at the clock and say - oh it's 23:04 - that means there is only 56 minutes left in the day - I say oh it's 23:04, that means it's... 23:04 minus 12... which is 11 so it's 11:04 pm! Oi.  I'm hoping after a week or so my mind begins to skip all of these extra steps and just gets used to it.

Mom and I just ordered room service, so I'm going to get a shower before then.  I'm exhausted - so I don't see the time change being an issue!  I'm very excited to be here, and can't wait to do some exploring tomorrow - I'll be sure to get a picture up soon.

Thanks to everyone who sent me messages today - it was really appreciated.  I'm so thankful for all of my loved ones.  I miss you already!

Oh, before I forget.  Shout out to my Hannah Schwager.

Until next time.

T minus 58 hours

I'm off! (well...not quite.  But soon!)

I fly out Tuesday morning at the crack of dawn! (aka 6am).  Staceface is flying with me, and we're about to spend the next week galavanting across London.  I'm very excited to share this experience with my mother - as it's her first time across the Atlantic as well.

As for packing - eeek.  I'm almost done.  Colby flies in tomorrow evening to ROC and we're going to spend the day together with the family on Monday - I'm very excited to see him before I leave!

I think now I'm more antsy than anything.  Laura being back in the ROC for orientation volunteering makes me feel like I should be doing something with myself - so thank goodness only 58 hours until the adventuring begins!

Words I hope to soon incorporate into daily vocabulary: daft, bloody, snogging, wicked, arse, bap, berk, bloke, bollocks, bugger, cheeky, dosh, faff, git, jumper, knickers, oi (as in, hey you!), plonker, rumpy-pumpy, sod (as in sod off you nerf-herder).

Phrases I desire to use once stepping off plane but will refrain from: hold your hippogriffs, merlins beard, gulping gargoyles, and crying over spilt potion.  So far no one has approached me about NYU in London's true identity being Hogwarts - but hey, a girl can dream.

Until next time.