goodbye New Cross...

It's my last night in New Cross. Goodbye Goldsmiths, goodbye Loring, goodbye hobgob, goodbye Tasty Kebab.......

So today didn't naaaat go as planned, but ya know what-it was amazing. Like a really, really good day. I went to Portabello Road (Where the first scene of Notting Hill is shot) and it's one of my favorites. Then I went into Camden, which is another one of my favorites. I didn't go to any sights, but rather shopped at markets, sat in coffee shops and wrote; I enjoyed feeling at home. I even got mistaken for a local twice! I got asked directions and wasn't even the least bit of help, but I felt pretty badass none-the-less. I have to check out of Goldsmiths tomorrow morning and am then heading to where I'll be squatting for the next two nights along with some other students. I have two days left in London. Who knows what awaits me!!!!

So little time!

Whew! Time has been flying! I can't believe it's been practically 10 days since I last posted. I really did need to buckle down! I don't think I have ever spent so much time doing work in a Starbucks then I did the last week of term. (Thank goodness for their new Christmas drinks. Yay gingerbread latte!!!) But it's done! I had my last class on Thursday (my instructor brought champagne) and turned my last paper in Friday morning. It felt so amazing. From here on out my time in London is pure relaxation...not that any of it has been very stressful =) I have been very lucky. Not so lucky is that half of my flat went home this morning....tear time. But I am very lucky that I have eight more days in England. The next four I'll be in Cheltenham (my fav!), then the last four I'll be in London...and then, I'm home at last. Tears of grief, tears of joy. They've reminded me how much I came to love this, but how much more I love where I'm returning to. Until then....

Love from across the pond
;)

Buckling Down

That's right. I actually have work.
Granted it's work that I love so it doesn't feel like work....simply and expansion of the experience. Most of these are assignments that I have had, literally since day one. But what made you think that being half way across the world would make me procrastinate any less? My assignments: A 10 minute short script (for script and screen); a 2000 word essay explaining "What a good night at the theatre is" (for London Theatre); a presentation answering "What I learned" (for Shakespeare's London); and a 14 minute final scene (for Acting).
For the presentation my flatmate and I made a storybook: "What Shakespeare can teach YOU about life." Not gonna lie, it's brilliant.
My script is significantly complete....not gonna lie, it's definitely NOT brilliant;
the essay I definitely have NOT even started...
and my scene- I literally have to be a crazy person. Done.

Oh and btw...I definitely fell in love with Spain....it may just be my fav. I'll put up pictures soon, capeshe?
=]

Mi Amor Barcelona

I do. I love Barcelona. It's such a cool mix of urban and culture and the nightlife is insane! I won't go into details but everyone can be rest assured that we are being very, very safe. One of the girls I'm here with, Kat...she's like Heather (she would look both ways for sheep too) Yesterday we did a bus tour of the north half of Barcelona and today we're doing the South Tour....which means it is on the beach. Talk about my cup of tea!!

So in Italy, the so called language barrier was basically non existent because everyone spoke English...not here. And I am bit disappointed in the lack of Spanish that stuck with me through four years of trying (and clearly failing) to learn Spanish...i know vocab and probably construct sentences like a second grader, a second grader with bad grammar! And that's not good at all. But it's an experience and I am loving every moment of it!

Here are some pictures:

The Magic Fountain Show....i think it beats Vegas

La Rambla at Night

Kat, Alex, and I in front of Palau Reial

The Beaches of Barcelona...too cold!

The view from the top of Teleferic Montjuic

Port Vell at night

Our Last night: Taller de Tapas

Puttin my hand in the Mediterrania

Going for a stroll the last morning (thats the colom in the background)

We were realaxing on the docks

Turkey Day!

My flatmates and I made Thanksgiving dinner. Not gonna lie- it was pretty legit. Exceeding our expectations by miles. I made my favorite Thanksgiving dish- yams with brown sugar and marshmallows. The rest of them were impressed, but knowing how my grandma and mommy make them....it just wasn't the same. I had to go to class, after dinner, which was a bummer, but dessert was awaiting once we returned. Talk about the longest class ever!

The nights gotten longer, as I must go to sleep immediately considering that I need to wake up in 4 1/2 hours to head of to Barcelona!!! And you know what that means!!!


Pictures and stories are coming soon!!

In the meantime, have a really happy Thanksgiving, I mean it. Be happy. Because we all have things to be thankful for. Take this day to remember what you're thankful for, I know I did.


Eat Turkey and Enjoy Each Other!

One month left

Reality check- I fly home in a month. Exactly a month from today I will be on a plane headed home, and I can't help but smile every time I think about it. Buuuut, that means there's a lot of things I still want to do here, and time's running out. This past week's been really fun-filled; I'm trying to go into Central as often as I can- even if it's just for a walk along the Thames. I went and saw Zorro the Musical last Tuesday, and it was awesome, then I get to see Billy Elliot this Tuesday. Both of those are very exciting, but the most exciting part is that I'm going to Barcelona next weekend! Alex, Kat, and I are spending four days, hopefully filled with sandy beaches, Spanish dancing, and margaritas! Okay, I guess we're looking forward to the culture stuff there too, but having a break from the cold, London weather will be absolutely magnificent!!
What am I doing? It's actually a nice day out, so why am I sitting here on the computer? I'm going to go out for a run, then maybe head in to one of the parks in Central. Sound good? Good.

Back to normal

Not that me living in London is exactly normal, but it's as normal as can be right now. Since I got back from Italy I've relaxed...a lot. As exciting as Italy was, it's rather exhausting having to be constantly aware and on guard. Travelling made me tired, so it feels good to be home, as much of a "home" as this can be without the people I love. Getting off the plane in London was one of the weirdest emotions I have ever experienced I don't even think I can begin to try to explain. Conflicted. I was really conflicted. I love London and I absolutely love my classes, the people, the surroundings. But I love you all more. Coming down the escalator at London, Gatwick reminded me how much I cannot wait for the day that I come down the escalator at LAX and get to see my family again, and hear their voices, and give them presents!

I only have three and half more weeks of school and five more weeks in London. There's still so much I want to do, so much more I could do. It's just been really odd, being at the half way point. But this is where I am....and this is where I'm happy to be.

10 days in Italy!!

Ummm, life's amazing. What a blessing it has been to have had such amazing opportunities! My flatmate and I got to travel through Rome, Florence, Bologna, and Venice with so much relaxation and so little stress, I didn't think it was possible. I won't even try to simplify my trip into one simple blog, because it would be impossible. But I can't wait to share stories and pictures! Trust, there's a lot. Because I have such an immense amount of pictures to sift through I will post some asap.

Coming back to London has kind of been a whirlwind- being thrusted back into business ((well, as business as it gets here)) The first night I was back, CIEE organized for us to go on the London Eye which began as the most hectic ordeal of my life ((I never thought I would have to do sprints in Italian leather boots......a story for another time)) but the night turned out to be amazing. We went on the Eye and seeing the city all lit up from so high above was awesome. Then three of us went to dinner and went for a walk along the Thames. Which because it is officially Christmas time ((it's not like British people celebrate Thanksgiving! lol)), the trees are all lit up; Christmas decorations are up and starbucks is on their holiday menu!!! Life is good.

Here's a very small taste of the pictures that I took ((prior to my camera dying! so I still need to get the pictures from alex from the rest of the trip))

((so this is the colosseum))


((and this is us eating some pizza in front of the colosseum))

((Here's 5/6 of our flat in front of the Trevi Fountain))

((And this, my friends, is the Trevi))

((3 coins: first for a quick return, second for love, third for marriage))

((The Vatican's a popular place))

((So this is us waiting in line))

((I understand why it's such a popular place))

((The mural of geniuses))

((I'm a thinker!))

((St. Peter's Basillica))

((We're in the freaking Colosseum!))

((Made me want to watch Gladiator real bad))

((me and alex))

((taking a drink on Palatine Hill))

((alex is playing hide-and-seek, apparently))

((Umm, amazing.))

((walking through the Forum))

((View from the Spanish Steps))

((Piazza di Spagna))

((leatttther in Florence))

((hey, lets go check it out!))

((The Duomo))

((The East Doors of the Baptistry))

...so obviously there's a ton more pictures, but my camera died mid florence.

so Bologna and Venice pictures are still to come.

On to Italy

I leave for Italy in eight hours! Which means I need to be up in five....which means I should probably be in bed right about now, which is just what I plan to do in about five minutes. But first I wanted to thank everyone for their tips and advice. I am super excited for the trip, on the Itinerary: Rome, Florence, Bologna, then Venice. And I'll be home on the 11th. I love you all!!

I saw snow!

Okay so for most people that might not be exciting, but from someone who's born and raised in Southern California, it is. I've never looked outside my very own window and seen snow falling from the sky, until now. London saw it's first snow in 70 YEARS, and it was right outside my window. I was giddy, like littl girl jumping up and down giddy. I won't over exaggerate, it wasn't a lot and it wasn't for long; but for a moment it was my snow. Other then that, this weeks been pretty lull. I barely left my bed on Monday and Tuesday, not because I felt bad or sick; I was just enjoying the time to breath- recovering from my birthday and Scotland, and getting ready for Italy! Really, there was no reason for me to get on this blog, except to tell everyone I'm alive and I miss you. And for anyone that has Italy tips or advice...send 'em my way baby!

Edinburgh: wet, cold, creepy

Those are the three words to describe Edinburgh. Though it doesn't sound too pleasant, I had a blast. The ride up to Scotland is absolutely beautiful and good thing the weather was actually good the first day we got there because we were able to explore, get to actually walk by the many statues and monuments, see the Edinburgh Castle, and the wonderful view from it. The next day, the weather was...well, absolutely terrible. The rain wasn't too hard, at least not all the time. The wind- well that's another story. The wind was indescribable torturous. Luckily, we went on the bus tour that day so we were able to see the city from the safety of a bus. We jumped off to see Our Dynamic Earth and The Museum of Childhood.
The first place was like a day at science camp. We time traveled to the beginning of the world, well, before that...the beginning of the universe! Though they left out this minor detail....uh, God, it was still interesting. We then traveled to the future, I'll pass thanks. The place was really cool though, right by the Scottish Parliament and pretty green hills. Then there was the Museum of Childhood; it was cool....I just can't decided whether it was more cool or more creepy, look at the pictures and I think you'll get the picture. Some of the galleries had scary piano music, others had a track of children chanting like nursery rhymes. yea, creeeepy. The night got creepier with The Underground Ghost Tour- exploring Edinburgh's "haunted" underground town. Tons of people used to live in these underground vaults because Edinburgh was so over populated. It was a great history lesson. Great in the creepy-terrifying, made me scream-and-almost-cry-and-pee-my-pants kinda way. It was a short trip, but after the LONGEST day of traveling ever (one coach, two trains, the underground, AND a long walk) we're finally back in London and a week from now......I'm in Rome!


Okay, so by the first couple pictures, you definitely do not get the wet, cold, creepy vibe...but trust, it's there.


((from my train window))

((Sir Walter Scott Monument))

((The Edinburgh Castle))

((The front of the Castle))

((The Royal Mile- basically the main street))

((The day we fought the wind and rain))

((I had a kick a kid outta line to get this sweet pic))

((lookin like kids at science camp, right?))

((Outside the Our Dynamic Earth))

((The Museum of Childhood. Creepy))

((Creepy again))

((These dolls may look cute, but up close they kinda look like real kids are trapped inside, creepy))

((For all you sport fans, here's the history))

((Getting ready to be terrified))

((The Underground Ghost Tour))

((Trying to get rid of the heebie geebies))

((The ride home))