If someone would ask me what my favorite part of the last three months is, then I would have to go into a long list of favorite moments, rather than one event. These might not make sense to anyone else, but here are the memories that will stay with me forever and made my experience abroad absolutely unforgettable:
Visiting Ormskirk's town center where I got lost the first time I went.
Meeting 'Asos Joe' who became one of the sweetest friends Chuck and I made during our whole time in England. He even went above and beyond to do my hair for the Halloween party. Too sweet that Joe.
Screaming my lungs out in a little aluminum trailer for a chance to win a ticket to the European MTV Music Awards.
Taking an invitation to join a group of four in my sport group to fulfill a group presentation requirement. These four amazing people--Jak, Jo, Danny, and Adam--became my saving grace in that lecture. And, we added an honorary member, Alex, too who is an always-smiling, welcoming guy who definitely made our group complete. In a module of about 100 people, I didn't expect to make any close friends, but this group in particular surprised me in so many ways by making me feel so welcome at Edge Hill and going the extra mile, giving me a going-away present that brought me to tears.
Eating with my 'crew'--Chuck, Chad, Mary, Cari, and Maura--in the Terrace every Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday at five and every Tuesday at six.
Going to Chad's window to call for him to let me into his hall to listen to Fiona Apple and Liz Phair. Then, our late-night chats about everything and our youtube video experiences of the show cat Nuni.
Finding a 'Will' to my 'Grace,' a 'Troy' to my 'Gabriella.' Chuck is everything I needed in a friend. He is bits of my mom, dad, brother, sister, and best friends. His catch phrases are still ringing in my head and finding their way into my everyday conversation.
Making friends with the band "My Auntie Sam" during the first weekend at Edge Hill. Watch out for these guys, they are going to be huge stars one day. They were very welcoming and spent the better part of an hour getting to know me and Chuck. Then, running into one of the band members--Jordan--on a train from Liverpool during the last weekend I was in England...and he remembered me!
Living with the most friendly, lovely people in Eleanor Rathbone. With a tearful good-bye, we left because we don't know when we'll see one another again. Telling someone "Good-bye" is extremely difficult and a word I don't remember actually leaving my lips. "Oh Eleanor! Is wonderful! Oh Eleanor is wonderful! We've got the Paddies, the Yanks, and the Scousers! Oh Eleanor is wonderful!" I went to sleep many-a-night to that chant and joined in a few times, too. I will miss those days in E.R. To my best friends in those halls: Matty, Jade, Matt, Lisa, Papa Noel, Willhelm, Michael, Little Aaron, Matty B., Gorilla Matt, Vicky, Tom, April, Stuart, and Claire. Thank you for everything and I promise to come back to visit you!
Rushing to get to class on time and finding that it never started less than ten minutes late. That still boggles my mind.
Taking on Dublin and London alone. My friends and family kindly provided places for me to stay, but I went around the cities by myself. These trips made me more independent than the whole three months put together. During the Dublin trip, in particular, I loved meeting Paul Nevin, an Irish singer in a pub who gave me my P.S. I Love You moment. After his show, I told him what good tone and rhythmicity he has. He was super cool and stayed around to listen to the next band with me. Looking back, I think I was a tidbit insane; but, it was necessary to experience the events I did and provided trips that probably will not happen again.
Touring Paris with Chad. The overly decorated hostel was comical and the trek through the City of Lights, the most romantic city in the world, was breathtaking and I am so happy that I got to see it all with one of my favorite 'American friends.' Seeing Chad's face when we first saw the Eiffel Tower was priceless--both childlike and endlessly imaginative. I'll always remember that moment.
Meeting friends on the trains to Preston and Windemere. Who knew that quaint train rides would lead to lifelong friends?
Turning around at the comedy show to meet Tyral and Paul. These two guys totally took Chuck and I into their circle of friends and led me to my first, and only, Premier League football game and pantomime, respectively.
Running into Jay and Eddy at the Odeon in the queue for popcorn and gallon of Coca-Cola. These two guys introduced me to the fabulousness that is Nando's and fun nights out in Liverpool--including the Krazy House.
And if I had never met Jay and Eddy, I would have probably never met Lee at a club in Liverpool in late November. Lee is the most chivalrous guy I met on my whole trip through the UK and Europe. Lee taught me about egg and soldiers, Kinder Surprises, Chester, and is someone who I shared many dates with during my last month in England.
...
Through it all, the people I met made my trip complete and formed all of my memories. I cannot wait to get back to England too see all of them again.
I'll be seeing you. I love and miss you all so much!
Peace.
Sunday, 21 December 2008
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Où est le Moulin Rouge?
It's been two years, but I made it back...to Paris! I never thought I would get to see that magical city again, but I did once more and this time with friends who had never been.
Not only did I get to re-experience France, but I got to ride high in the sky on the beauty that is RyanAir. Okay, it is the cheapest way to fly throughout Europe, but their planes are so efficient and always leave on time--what more could you ask for? Also, on the plane, my friends and I met two guys from Texas who were also studying in England for a term. It was so nice to talk to people who were studying abroad like us and we shared some stories of our experiences in England. Very similar tales we'll have to tell when we get back to our families and friends. They were complete Southern gentlemen and really cool people to talk with.
When my friends and I landed in Paris, the four of us split into two pairs because we had separate agendas for the weekend. So, my travel buddy from the Bath and Stonehenge trip and I were now taking on Paris. (The other pair were going to make a trip to Disneyland to see what the European version had to offer.) After dropping our luggage off at the hostel--which was the least scary thus far--we headed to the Eiffel Tower. My first memory of the city was le Tour d'Eiffel and so was my friend's. Among our travels that weekend, we saw the Sacre Coeur Basilica, Arc de Triomphe, Opera House, Champs Elysee, Pere Lachaise cemetery, Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Shakespeare and Company bookstore. What I love most about Paris is that no space is empty of art. Whether in a metro stations waiting under colored mosaic tiles, walking down a street adorned with unpredictably pleasant graffiti, or standing by an ordinary lamppost dignified by intricate craftiness, you can't escape the careful detail that artisans and craftspersons have poured into that magnificent city.
On our full day in Paris, Saturday, we were very fortunate to have perfect weather and we got to see everything on our agenda. Being blessed with a clean hostel and the fulfillment of our itinerary with gorgeous conditions, I couldn't be more thankful. The time we spent in Paris was approximately forty hours, so we didn't have much time to waste. And, the five years of French I took during school surprisingly came back to me for the essentials of asking for directions and speaking to waitresses and cab drivers which was nice. Chad and I only got extremely lost once, when we were looking for the infamous Moulin Rouge.
My favorite part of the trip was purchasing cliche souvenirs--a pink beret to match my scarf and a grey old man hat for Chad that a newspaper boy from the 1930s would have worn. We took cheesy photos by and on top of the Eiffel Tower at night to commemorate the occasion. Christmastime in Paris is as pretty as I imagined it would be. The Champs Elysee decked with garland and lights is nothing less than enchanting.
Now, I'm going to try to see Paris in spring and autumn...summer and winter are taken care of.
Peace.
Not only did I get to re-experience France, but I got to ride high in the sky on the beauty that is RyanAir. Okay, it is the cheapest way to fly throughout Europe, but their planes are so efficient and always leave on time--what more could you ask for? Also, on the plane, my friends and I met two guys from Texas who were also studying in England for a term. It was so nice to talk to people who were studying abroad like us and we shared some stories of our experiences in England. Very similar tales we'll have to tell when we get back to our families and friends. They were complete Southern gentlemen and really cool people to talk with.
When my friends and I landed in Paris, the four of us split into two pairs because we had separate agendas for the weekend. So, my travel buddy from the Bath and Stonehenge trip and I were now taking on Paris. (The other pair were going to make a trip to Disneyland to see what the European version had to offer.) After dropping our luggage off at the hostel--which was the least scary thus far--we headed to the Eiffel Tower. My first memory of the city was le Tour d'Eiffel and so was my friend's. Among our travels that weekend, we saw the Sacre Coeur Basilica, Arc de Triomphe, Opera House, Champs Elysee, Pere Lachaise cemetery, Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Shakespeare and Company bookstore. What I love most about Paris is that no space is empty of art. Whether in a metro stations waiting under colored mosaic tiles, walking down a street adorned with unpredictably pleasant graffiti, or standing by an ordinary lamppost dignified by intricate craftiness, you can't escape the careful detail that artisans and craftspersons have poured into that magnificent city.
On our full day in Paris, Saturday, we were very fortunate to have perfect weather and we got to see everything on our agenda. Being blessed with a clean hostel and the fulfillment of our itinerary with gorgeous conditions, I couldn't be more thankful. The time we spent in Paris was approximately forty hours, so we didn't have much time to waste. And, the five years of French I took during school surprisingly came back to me for the essentials of asking for directions and speaking to waitresses and cab drivers which was nice. Chad and I only got extremely lost once, when we were looking for the infamous Moulin Rouge.
My favorite part of the trip was purchasing cliche souvenirs--a pink beret to match my scarf and a grey old man hat for Chad that a newspaper boy from the 1930s would have worn. We took cheesy photos by and on top of the Eiffel Tower at night to commemorate the occasion. Christmastime in Paris is as pretty as I imagined it would be. The Champs Elysee decked with garland and lights is nothing less than enchanting.
Now, I'm going to try to see Paris in spring and autumn...summer and winter are taken care of.
Peace.
Monday, 8 December 2008
Chester Calling
A lot has happened within the last two weeks. I have made more friends, did loads of traveling, and actually got papers written. My plan was to not make any new connections within the last weeks of being here as to not get too emotionally attached, thus making my departure even harder. But, you can always make new friends and there are hundreds of ways to keep in touch with them whilst you are temporarily away from one another.
In particular, I have made a good friend who is from the Chester area. Chester was not in my plans of weekend trips, but when the opportunity came to have another 'proper' night out and see a new town, I thought, "Sure, I've got enough work done to not feel guilty about taking off for the weekend."
Not knowing what to expect, except maybe another quaint town with a church and shopping center, I did not set my standards too high. But, upon arriving at the train station, I was immediately taken aback at how beautiful and charming Chester is. Usually the area right outside a train station is not anything to write home about--it is mostly run down and desolate. But, Chester has taken extra steps to woo one after setting one foot off the train.
The little English town has cobble stoned roads and a unique three-story shopping area that reminds me of an M.C. Escher sketch. A visitor cannot pass through the town without seeing the secret celebrity 'Balloon Man.' Also, a must for anyone new to the city is a little club known by locals as Rosie's. On the outside signage, the building reads 'RB's Night Club'; but, the regulars know the place as it once was--Rosie's--the way it was before it was bought and sold to another owner. Around every corner, I fell more and more in love with Chester. Each awning is carefully crafted and each building, beautifully fashioned to create the seemingly perfect town. Seriously, Ralph Lauren should have a photo shoot here, if he has not already.
Topping off the scene is a hidden park with the most adorable miniature train and squirrels and bunnies in abundance. The park overlooks and leads to the riverside where the water is full of classic, old boats used mostly for late-night dinners in the glistening moonlight. Honestly, I could not have dreamed up a cuter, cleaner, more perfect town.
One last surprise awaits on the highest point of the city which is University of Chester. In the prettiest town I have ever seen is not only a friendly, relaxed vibe, but also a place where I could complete my Masters Degree one day...I have a feeling I will be back here and it could be in as little as a year and a half to do just that.
Chester is a hidden gem in England--not a place many outside the country have heard of, but definitely a truly lovely borough, nestled in the country I have fallen in love with.
Peace.
In particular, I have made a good friend who is from the Chester area. Chester was not in my plans of weekend trips, but when the opportunity came to have another 'proper' night out and see a new town, I thought, "Sure, I've got enough work done to not feel guilty about taking off for the weekend."
Not knowing what to expect, except maybe another quaint town with a church and shopping center, I did not set my standards too high. But, upon arriving at the train station, I was immediately taken aback at how beautiful and charming Chester is. Usually the area right outside a train station is not anything to write home about--it is mostly run down and desolate. But, Chester has taken extra steps to woo one after setting one foot off the train.
The little English town has cobble stoned roads and a unique three-story shopping area that reminds me of an M.C. Escher sketch. A visitor cannot pass through the town without seeing the secret celebrity 'Balloon Man.' Also, a must for anyone new to the city is a little club known by locals as Rosie's. On the outside signage, the building reads 'RB's Night Club'; but, the regulars know the place as it once was--Rosie's--the way it was before it was bought and sold to another owner. Around every corner, I fell more and more in love with Chester. Each awning is carefully crafted and each building, beautifully fashioned to create the seemingly perfect town. Seriously, Ralph Lauren should have a photo shoot here, if he has not already.
Topping off the scene is a hidden park with the most adorable miniature train and squirrels and bunnies in abundance. The park overlooks and leads to the riverside where the water is full of classic, old boats used mostly for late-night dinners in the glistening moonlight. Honestly, I could not have dreamed up a cuter, cleaner, more perfect town.
One last surprise awaits on the highest point of the city which is University of Chester. In the prettiest town I have ever seen is not only a friendly, relaxed vibe, but also a place where I could complete my Masters Degree one day...I have a feeling I will be back here and it could be in as little as a year and a half to do just that.
Chester is a hidden gem in England--not a place many outside the country have heard of, but definitely a truly lovely borough, nestled in the country I have fallen in love with.
Peace.
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
ABC's and Australian Marsupials
On Monday, when a classmate asked me what I did this past weekend, I shocked myself at the list of rather posh activities that flowed out. And none of these activities would have been possible if it hadn't been for my fantastically cool English friends because when I think about it, I really didn't plan anything, I was merely along for the ride.
Back in September, when everyone was first getting acquainted, I made a core group of friends who were from Wales, England, and Ireland. Sometimes, the friends made in the first week slowly fade away into the oblivion of uni and make much cooler mates than girls from Ohio, no doubt. But, this core group stuck around for reasons unbeknownst to me and I am forever thankful for their companionship. During the orientation week, I was asked by the group if I would be interested in going to a concert. Well, I honestly had never been to a legitimate concert, save for the Ashland County performers. . . So, of course, my answer was a big, "Yes!" Plus, a concert in England with nine beautiful British mates sounded great to me. After I eagerly agreed to go, the next question was, "Wait, who are we going to see?" A bit backwards, right?
Well, we were on our way to see The Wombats. Now, two months later, I have finally seen and heard this Liverpoolian band. Three energetic guys, roller-skating dancers, and a huge inflatable wombat adorned the stage for a concert held at the Echo Arena in Liverpool--the same arena where the European MTV Music Awards was held this year. I definitely rocked my socks off and danced to songs I had only heard once or twice before thanks to Youtube. The "support" for The Wombats, or the opening band rather, was a modern-day B-52s pop group from Denmark called Alphabeat! (I include the exclamation because that is such a fun name to say when shouting emphatically; therefore, if you should happen to repeat their band name, please say so with a punch in your dynamics. Thank you.)
In one word, my experience at the concert: deliciousness.
But the night didn't end there. Nosiree. My friends and I went for a 'proper night out' in Liverpool which included a club with five different rooms to cater to different listening tastes. On the ground floor, there was a stage that the club used to lure people to dance upon so that they could embarrass themselves by projecting their awkward dance skills onto a big screen. But, it's only awkward for the folks that got on stage and waved to the camera instead of doing their duty and dance! When my favorite song of this trip played--"Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen--I rushed to the stage and busted a move. The cameraman must have appreciated a change of pace from the waving patrons because he panned over to me and taped me for the whole song. I definitely felt like a Molly Shannon "Superstar"!!! My friend Matty came and danced with me to, I'm sure, save what dignity I may have had remaining; however, my friends know I have no shame, so it was alright either way.
Other than a slamming night out on Saturday at the concert and club, the overly posh weekend in Liverpool consisted of the following--get ready, it's a doozy:
Back in September, when everyone was first getting acquainted, I made a core group of friends who were from Wales, England, and Ireland. Sometimes, the friends made in the first week slowly fade away into the oblivion of uni and make much cooler mates than girls from Ohio, no doubt. But, this core group stuck around for reasons unbeknownst to me and I am forever thankful for their companionship. During the orientation week, I was asked by the group if I would be interested in going to a concert. Well, I honestly had never been to a legitimate concert, save for the Ashland County performers. . . So, of course, my answer was a big, "Yes!" Plus, a concert in England with nine beautiful British mates sounded great to me. After I eagerly agreed to go, the next question was, "Wait, who are we going to see?" A bit backwards, right?
Well, we were on our way to see The Wombats. Now, two months later, I have finally seen and heard this Liverpoolian band. Three energetic guys, roller-skating dancers, and a huge inflatable wombat adorned the stage for a concert held at the Echo Arena in Liverpool--the same arena where the European MTV Music Awards was held this year. I definitely rocked my socks off and danced to songs I had only heard once or twice before thanks to Youtube. The "support" for The Wombats, or the opening band rather, was a modern-day B-52s pop group from Denmark called Alphabeat! (I include the exclamation because that is such a fun name to say when shouting emphatically; therefore, if you should happen to repeat their band name, please say so with a punch in your dynamics. Thank you.)
In one word, my experience at the concert: deliciousness.
But the night didn't end there. Nosiree. My friends and I went for a 'proper night out' in Liverpool which included a club with five different rooms to cater to different listening tastes. On the ground floor, there was a stage that the club used to lure people to dance upon so that they could embarrass themselves by projecting their awkward dance skills onto a big screen. But, it's only awkward for the folks that got on stage and waved to the camera instead of doing their duty and dance! When my favorite song of this trip played--"Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen--I rushed to the stage and busted a move. The cameraman must have appreciated a change of pace from the waving patrons because he panned over to me and taped me for the whole song. I definitely felt like a Molly Shannon "Superstar"!!! My friend Matty came and danced with me to, I'm sure, save what dignity I may have had remaining; however, my friends know I have no shame, so it was alright either way.
Other than a slamming night out on Saturday at the concert and club, the overly posh weekend in Liverpool consisted of the following--get ready, it's a doozy:
- Beatles Magical Mystery Tour
- Shopping
- Dinner out
- Yellow Duckmarine tour--similar, yet quirkier, than the yellow submarine
- New haircut!
- Clubbing, yet again
- "Quantum of Solace"--the new Bond film
Overall, this past weekend was extremely fun and again, I got to do things that upon leaving the states, I never thought I'd be doing. A big thanks goes out to my friends for arranging all of these activities and introducing me to new experiences. I'm truly grateful to have made close friends abroad and they are reason enough to come back to England again and again.
Peace.
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Livin' la Vida London
I just returned from an extended weekend in London and had the time of my life. After weekend trips, I usually have done all I wanted in a city and am more than ready to return to my cozy dorm in Ormskirk. But this time, I could have extended my weekend another four weeks or so. Fortunately, I have a second cousin who lives in London who was kind enough to open his home to me and let me stay three nights with his family. I am so thankful for this because staying in a hostel by myself in a city truly too large for a small-town girl to comprehend in one weekend would have been overwhelming. It was nice to sit down to dinner with a family and watch popular shows at night--I got a true sense of what an English family lives like and it reminded me of how sweet home is.
The first night in London, I went into the first pub I passed that had live music playing from inside. Both of the bands I listened to had tunes that were hard to wrap my head around, but I stayed and their style grew on me. I knew the next day would be filled with sightseeing, so I went to bed fairly early.
Saturday, I left for the city at half seven in the morning, bought a map, and started walking to the city center. With my great sense of direction--I really have none at all--I ended up walking the completely opposite way of all the landmarks and ended up in a neighborhood on the outskirts of town. It was safe and looked like a really wealthy neighbourhood, but I was far from where I wanted to be. I took the time to find where I was on the map and saw that I was extremely close to Warwick Avenue--a Duffy song. So, I made the best of my situation and took some photos. Then, it was time to have a go at the tube. The transportation system is so easy to figure out with the tubes and buses. Basically, all of my past experience with connect-the-dots paid off and I found my way around without even asking one person for directions. Once in the city, I saw the following (yes, it's possible to do this in one day): Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, House of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, London Bridge, Millennium Bridge, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Globe Theatre, and London Eye. I went in, rode, and rocked everything because I wanted to take advantage of my time in London--I never know when I'll be able to return. That night, I met up with my friends from Edge Hill and we had Chinese food and ice cream together. It was all-in-all a great day in London and I never felt out of sorts being by myself.
The first night in London, I went into the first pub I passed that had live music playing from inside. Both of the bands I listened to had tunes that were hard to wrap my head around, but I stayed and their style grew on me. I knew the next day would be filled with sightseeing, so I went to bed fairly early.
Saturday, I left for the city at half seven in the morning, bought a map, and started walking to the city center. With my great sense of direction--I really have none at all--I ended up walking the completely opposite way of all the landmarks and ended up in a neighborhood on the outskirts of town. It was safe and looked like a really wealthy neighbourhood, but I was far from where I wanted to be. I took the time to find where I was on the map and saw that I was extremely close to Warwick Avenue--a Duffy song. So, I made the best of my situation and took some photos. Then, it was time to have a go at the tube. The transportation system is so easy to figure out with the tubes and buses. Basically, all of my past experience with connect-the-dots paid off and I found my way around without even asking one person for directions. Once in the city, I saw the following (yes, it's possible to do this in one day): Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, House of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, London Bridge, Millennium Bridge, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Globe Theatre, and London Eye. I went in, rode, and rocked everything because I wanted to take advantage of my time in London--I never know when I'll be able to return. That night, I met up with my friends from Edge Hill and we had Chinese food and ice cream together. It was all-in-all a great day in London and I never felt out of sorts being by myself.
Sunday was relaxing and calming--like a Sunday should be. I went to church at the All Souls Clubhouse, which is soon to celebrate its 50th Anniversary. My cousin gave the sermon that day and I sat with my younger cousins. After church, I met some great new people and made a friend who later showed me around Notting Hill, Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Royal Albert Hall, and Harrods department store. She was a great help, having lived in London for ten years, and she knew a lot of facts about the city, even being so kind as to answer all of my questions concerning Prince William and Harry. (There's still hope.)
Sunday evening, I was exhausted, so I called it an early night and woke up bright and early on Monday to finish seeing a few things that I didn't have time for the previous days. First, I went to Buckingham Palace--William didn't come out to see me...maybe next time. I rode on a double-decker bus, but I didn't know where it was actually heading. I just knew I had to ride one of those red buses before I left London, so I hopped on one and rode until the driver called, "Last stop!" I was the only one on the bus, so I think he figured out I was just along for the ride since we basically rode around two street corners, which I could have walked in less time than it took on the bus. But still, I rode one and had that experience. Lastly, I visited Leicester (pronounced "Lester") Square, where all the grand film premiers are held and also Convent Garden, where you can look at market trinkets and find a little quiet solace right in the center of the city.
Upon finishing my last sightseeing and gift-buying, I realized my trip to London was over. I didn't want to get on the train to go back home, though. I had such a good time and there was so much that I was unable to see in those three days. London is definitely a city that captured my heart and enlightened my imagination. I came back to Ormskirk with a revitalization and zest to see more and enter into my last month in England.
Side note: There's a man outside the canteen right now who is leading ducks along with his tempting handful of bread crumbs. He looks like the Pied Piper of ducklings. I wish I had my camera...there are about two dozen ducks and geese surrounding him and it's quite charming. The ducks are fine, but I don't think the man knows what he's got himself into.
Peace.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Old Trafford
Last week, I had the great pleasure of seeing the official Manchester United players strut their stuff at an actual 'footy' match. (Yes, David Beckham used to play for this team.) My good friend Tyral had the connections because he's a member of the Man. U. club and could get tickets easily. For a stadium that seats 76,000 chanting, dedicated fans, the particular night we went, there were only about 65,000 people in attendance. 'Only.' We arrived early to take photos outside and around the stadium. Tyral insisted that I try a bacon cheeseburger from a grill stand outside because it was 'so good' and only cost £3. So, I indulged and ended up with a delectable treat about the size of a Cool-Whip tub--40 minutes later, I was finished. The night we went, the weather was cold and wet, but when all the fans arrived, the energy rushing through the stadium was amazing and made the distraction of inclement weather disappear. Never before, and maybe never again, have I seen grown men chanting and singing songs in support of a sports team. It's true that we have chants in the states, but to the extent of, "Na, na, nuh, nah, HEY! Da, da, duh." And they have so many more songs than Take Me Out to the Ball Game--a great tune, no doubt. With every play or just urge of competition, someone in the crowd would say a line of a chant or song and everyone else would join in. It was so cool to see the camaraderie among the fans for their love of football. All of their passionate cheering paid off because Man. U. won over the Queens Park Rangers, 1--nil. I was so happy to go and blessed to find a friend willing to take me along to what most people traveling to England don't get to ever see. The tickets are difficult to acquire, with some people waiting years to get to one game if they're not members of a football club.
I'm sure all of my Liverpool friends are upset with me choosing a Man. U. game, but you can't win 'em all. Another aspect of football here that is almost inconceivable to anyone back home is the deep-rooted rivalry amongst teams. I was fortunately at a somewhat docile match, but I was warned of fights between groups of opposing fans. On that note, the rivalry is almost 'inconceivable' if you happen to be unaware of the Ohio Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines....
Peace.
I'm sure all of my Liverpool friends are upset with me choosing a Man. U. game, but you can't win 'em all. Another aspect of football here that is almost inconceivable to anyone back home is the deep-rooted rivalry amongst teams. I was fortunately at a somewhat docile match, but I was warned of fights between groups of opposing fans. On that note, the rivalry is almost 'inconceivable' if you happen to be unaware of the Ohio Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines....
Peace.
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
When in Dublin...
Usually, I don't like to place every detail of my times in Europe into a blog--I'd rather keep them private, if possible. But for this past weekend's trip to Dublin, I think the details are necessary for comedy reasons and to actually see my adventures in print because otherwise, I wouldn't believe that they happened.
Last week was the reading week for Edge Hill students to complete some catch-up work and get ahead for the remaining weeks in the term. Most of the study abroad students took that free week as a traveling opportunity to see more of the UK and continental Europe. This is how it began for me:
On Wednesday evening, at about ten o'clock, I left Edge Hill for the airport in Liverpool--my flight was for half six the next morning, which means a half four check-in at the earliest. Instead of getting a taxi in the middle of the night, I decided to take the last train to Liverpool, which is much cheaper, and spend the night in the airport. Insanity. Nonetheless, by midnight I arrived at the John Lennon Airport and asked myself, "What the heck am I doing?" I was alone, save for the thirteen others in the airport, and had no access to food that late at night. Seeing no suitable place to sleep, I got my journal out and started jotting down my thoughts and events from the previous days. Then, I dove into Bronte's ever-exciting "Tenant of Wildfell Hall." Surprisingly, midnight soon slipped into three A.M. and I was awake, but carrying myself through the corridors like a zombie. Tiredness hit like a ton of bricks and I decided that the troupe sleeping on a restaurant's carpeted floor looked rather comfortable. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em...so I did. After an hour of sleeping, I awoke to, "For security reasons, do not leave bags unattended at any time."
And I didn't. My bag was my pillow and a beanbag at times. By 7:45, I was in Dublin and had to function on two hours of sleep within thirty-six hours of being awake. My friend who I was staying with in Dublin was at work and wouldn't be off until six in the evening; therefore, I had to find ways of busying myself for ten hours in a city I knew nothing about, except there was a Guinness museum. First, I ate a gigantic, proper Irish breakfast--including black pudding. Black pudding is made with blood! I didn't know that when I devoured it along with my beans, toast, sausages, "soft egg" (fried egg), hash browns, and milk. It was delicious. All of it. Even the black pudding.
After the Irish breakfast, I went to a corner shoppe and bought a map that outlined all of the hot spots in Dublin. I conquered three museums, two churches, two parks, two monuments, and about three coffee shoppes, a Burger King, and a bagel snack stop. The tourist stops kept my camera and I entertained and the coffee, ice cream, and sandwich kept me awake. During my tour of Dublin, I also meandered through a China Town? Seriously. I think every town in the world has a part that has Chinese restaurants and clothing stores.
When I finally saw my friend Jack at seven, I was so relieved and happy that I could finally rest my head and change out of my clothes I had been wearing for two days...and take a shower. The next two days, I explored the city and saw the sights. Dublin's got great energy and the architecture is quite beautiful--including one of the largest post offices I have ever seen in my life. St. Patrick's cathedral and Trinity College were my favorite sights because the grandeur of the buildings and the intricate landscape gave my OCD a dose of much needed order. Also, the Pheonix Park was quite lovely and held the most green I had seen in Ireland.
On Saturday, the last full day I spent in Dublin, I finally reached my friends who were also in the city. My phone had unfortunately run out of credit and out of battery whilst in Dublin, so I was without friends and it ate me alive. I thought I was much more independent than I actually am. When I did reach them on the phone, and saw them in person, I was so excited that I could barely contain my emotions. In fact, I don't think I did. But, they said that they were happy to see that I was alive; so, the joy went both ways and we spent the rest of the night together watching Celtic dancing, eating a traditional Irish meal, and enjoying one another's company. It's amazing how after only two days, I realized how much I am going to miss my new friends and how hard it's going to be to leave them in just over a month.
Saturday evening was much like Wednesday in the manner that I left--a long night with not much sleep and airport announcements awaking me from my slumber on the McDonald's leather, lime green, germ-infested chairs. On Sunday, when I arrived back in Ormskirk at half ten and plopped my things down on my bed in my beloved Eleanore Rathbone dorm, I couldn't have been happier to be in a familiar place with my family of friends there. The Dublin adventure was an eye-opening experience and led me to find more about myself than I ever think I could have learnt if I had not been on my own. The city was quite nice, however, and when I return to Ireland someday, I have decided that I want to visit either Belfast or Cork to see the countryside--like Hilary Swank in P.S. I Love You.
Peace.
Last week was the reading week for Edge Hill students to complete some catch-up work and get ahead for the remaining weeks in the term. Most of the study abroad students took that free week as a traveling opportunity to see more of the UK and continental Europe. This is how it began for me:
On Wednesday evening, at about ten o'clock, I left Edge Hill for the airport in Liverpool--my flight was for half six the next morning, which means a half four check-in at the earliest. Instead of getting a taxi in the middle of the night, I decided to take the last train to Liverpool, which is much cheaper, and spend the night in the airport. Insanity. Nonetheless, by midnight I arrived at the John Lennon Airport and asked myself, "What the heck am I doing?" I was alone, save for the thirteen others in the airport, and had no access to food that late at night. Seeing no suitable place to sleep, I got my journal out and started jotting down my thoughts and events from the previous days. Then, I dove into Bronte's ever-exciting "Tenant of Wildfell Hall." Surprisingly, midnight soon slipped into three A.M. and I was awake, but carrying myself through the corridors like a zombie. Tiredness hit like a ton of bricks and I decided that the troupe sleeping on a restaurant's carpeted floor looked rather comfortable. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em...so I did. After an hour of sleeping, I awoke to, "For security reasons, do not leave bags unattended at any time."
And I didn't. My bag was my pillow and a beanbag at times. By 7:45, I was in Dublin and had to function on two hours of sleep within thirty-six hours of being awake. My friend who I was staying with in Dublin was at work and wouldn't be off until six in the evening; therefore, I had to find ways of busying myself for ten hours in a city I knew nothing about, except there was a Guinness museum. First, I ate a gigantic, proper Irish breakfast--including black pudding. Black pudding is made with blood! I didn't know that when I devoured it along with my beans, toast, sausages, "soft egg" (fried egg), hash browns, and milk. It was delicious. All of it. Even the black pudding.
After the Irish breakfast, I went to a corner shoppe and bought a map that outlined all of the hot spots in Dublin. I conquered three museums, two churches, two parks, two monuments, and about three coffee shoppes, a Burger King, and a bagel snack stop. The tourist stops kept my camera and I entertained and the coffee, ice cream, and sandwich kept me awake. During my tour of Dublin, I also meandered through a China Town? Seriously. I think every town in the world has a part that has Chinese restaurants and clothing stores.
When I finally saw my friend Jack at seven, I was so relieved and happy that I could finally rest my head and change out of my clothes I had been wearing for two days...and take a shower. The next two days, I explored the city and saw the sights. Dublin's got great energy and the architecture is quite beautiful--including one of the largest post offices I have ever seen in my life. St. Patrick's cathedral and Trinity College were my favorite sights because the grandeur of the buildings and the intricate landscape gave my OCD a dose of much needed order. Also, the Pheonix Park was quite lovely and held the most green I had seen in Ireland.
On Saturday, the last full day I spent in Dublin, I finally reached my friends who were also in the city. My phone had unfortunately run out of credit and out of battery whilst in Dublin, so I was without friends and it ate me alive. I thought I was much more independent than I actually am. When I did reach them on the phone, and saw them in person, I was so excited that I could barely contain my emotions. In fact, I don't think I did. But, they said that they were happy to see that I was alive; so, the joy went both ways and we spent the rest of the night together watching Celtic dancing, eating a traditional Irish meal, and enjoying one another's company. It's amazing how after only two days, I realized how much I am going to miss my new friends and how hard it's going to be to leave them in just over a month.
Saturday evening was much like Wednesday in the manner that I left--a long night with not much sleep and airport announcements awaking me from my slumber on the McDonald's leather, lime green, germ-infested chairs. On Sunday, when I arrived back in Ormskirk at half ten and plopped my things down on my bed in my beloved Eleanore Rathbone dorm, I couldn't have been happier to be in a familiar place with my family of friends there. The Dublin adventure was an eye-opening experience and led me to find more about myself than I ever think I could have learnt if I had not been on my own. The city was quite nice, however, and when I return to Ireland someday, I have decided that I want to visit either Belfast or Cork to see the countryside--like Hilary Swank in P.S. I Love You.
Peace.
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Splish Splash I Was Takin' a Bath
Well, I wasn't taking a bath per se, but the Romans definitely were--a few hundred years ago. This past weekend, my good friend Chad and I visited Bath and Stonehenge in southern England for a two-day-getaway. All of our friends were off to either London or Scotland, so we thought a weekend trip away might be a good idea as well. And we were right! Not expecting too much from a city of which I knew very little, other than it was 'beautiful,' I was blown away by the surprisingly intricate Roman architecture in the Roman Baths and the mystifying placement of the rocks at Stonehenge. The city and sights were nothing less than amazing and were certainly a nice change of pace from the charming, yet predictable English towns adorned with cottages and repetitive tourist attractions.
Well, first of all, if traveling on a budget in Bath, I would highly recommend staying at the Y.M.C.A. Hostel. Rarely pulling out the high maintenance card, when it comes to hostels or hotels, I would much prefer a hotel where I know who is staying in my room over a hostel with twelve other strangers. But, for one night, our hostel was not bad at all. The rooms and facilities were very clean and the staff was extremely friendly. I felt very much at ease with the hostel situation and actually enjoyed my stay in Bath.
Once entering the Roman Baths, which was our first stop, we learned all about the intricate design and functionality the Romans used in planning the complex. Besides being breathtakingly beautiful, the baths blew me away with the draining system and flow of the natural spring through the artful construct. Without modern machinery, the waters are still flowing and draining as they were designed to do. Not all of the original building is in place, however, the parts and pieces that still remain are in working order and are mesmerizing to see.
To break up the history lessons, Chad and I went on a comedy walk around the city of Bath with a tour called 'Bizarre Bath.' The guide was hilarious and for an hour and a half, we didn't venture too far, so the walk wasn't strenuous. Bizarre Bath was a great way to end the evening and was a nice alternative to sitting in a comedy club or watching a film in a silent theatre.
On Sunday, we left with the Scarper Tours' recognizable purple bus to Stonehenge. After about an hour's drive out of the city of Bath, we pulled up to a circle of huge rocks. I expected Stonehenge to be in the middle of a field with nothing around it but acres of green grass. In actuality, the circle is very close to a motorway. To enter the sight, you have to walk from the opposite side of the road after buying a ticket to see it up close and being led through a tunnel to get literally meters away from Stonehenge--which is in a field on the sides not by the motorway and have sheep surrounding it as well. The sheep were a pleasant surprise and broke up the monotony of the huge rocks. The ticket and the bus ride were worth the time and effort to see what most people only get to view in text books. After learning about Stonehenge in my art history two years ago, I didn't imagine I would ever get to see it in person, but I did!
I feel so blessed to be in England and having the ability to see things I only thought I would only ever read about. Even more than that, I am experiencing these trips with fabulous friends and meeting really cool people who I may not have met otherwise.
Peace.
Well, first of all, if traveling on a budget in Bath, I would highly recommend staying at the Y.M.C.A. Hostel. Rarely pulling out the high maintenance card, when it comes to hostels or hotels, I would much prefer a hotel where I know who is staying in my room over a hostel with twelve other strangers. But, for one night, our hostel was not bad at all. The rooms and facilities were very clean and the staff was extremely friendly. I felt very much at ease with the hostel situation and actually enjoyed my stay in Bath.
Once entering the Roman Baths, which was our first stop, we learned all about the intricate design and functionality the Romans used in planning the complex. Besides being breathtakingly beautiful, the baths blew me away with the draining system and flow of the natural spring through the artful construct. Without modern machinery, the waters are still flowing and draining as they were designed to do. Not all of the original building is in place, however, the parts and pieces that still remain are in working order and are mesmerizing to see.
To break up the history lessons, Chad and I went on a comedy walk around the city of Bath with a tour called 'Bizarre Bath.' The guide was hilarious and for an hour and a half, we didn't venture too far, so the walk wasn't strenuous. Bizarre Bath was a great way to end the evening and was a nice alternative to sitting in a comedy club or watching a film in a silent theatre.
On Sunday, we left with the Scarper Tours' recognizable purple bus to Stonehenge. After about an hour's drive out of the city of Bath, we pulled up to a circle of huge rocks. I expected Stonehenge to be in the middle of a field with nothing around it but acres of green grass. In actuality, the circle is very close to a motorway. To enter the sight, you have to walk from the opposite side of the road after buying a ticket to see it up close and being led through a tunnel to get literally meters away from Stonehenge--which is in a field on the sides not by the motorway and have sheep surrounding it as well. The sheep were a pleasant surprise and broke up the monotony of the huge rocks. The ticket and the bus ride were worth the time and effort to see what most people only get to view in text books. After learning about Stonehenge in my art history two years ago, I didn't imagine I would ever get to see it in person, but I did!
I feel so blessed to be in England and having the ability to see things I only thought I would only ever read about. Even more than that, I am experiencing these trips with fabulous friends and meeting really cool people who I may not have met otherwise.
Peace.
Friday, 24 October 2008
Food, Glorious Food
I recently discovered that I haven't been eating a 'proper' breakfast. Apparently, my danish and hot chocolate is too 'posh' of a meal to eat. So, I decided to fit in with my English friends, I would try their version of breakfast--sausages, hash browns, eggs, and beans! Yes, baked beans for breakfast! Who would have thought? But, that's not all. The proper breakfast (all on one plate): toast, sausage, bacon, beans, eggs, hash brown, mushrooms, and tomatoes. I don't know if I'll ever be hungry enough in the morning to have a whole proper breakfast here, so I may just have to try it in bits over the course of a week.
Also, the English have the cutest term for a baked potato: jacket potato. Isn't that adorable? They have a habit of putting the most unpleasant toppings on them, though. Among predictable items such as cheese and a variety of vegetables, other common jacket potato accouterments include tuna, baked beans, coleslaw, prawns (similar to shrimp), curry, mushrooms, and even mayonnaise. Some of these garnishes are put on at the same time, too. So for an adventure at the canteen, be daring and spice up your life--every boy and every girl--with a jacket potato and deli choices.
Since being here for a month, I've also become accustomed to asking for 'chips' with my meal as opposed to fries. I used to get mixed up and just thought, "Well, the waitress will understand." But, after being corrected and getting strange looks, my mind just starts functioning in another point of view--and language, almost. Surprisingly, chips with mayonnaise or gravy is a typical order for dinner (lunch) here. It's actually quite good, believe it or not, with mayonnaise.
Among other items new to my menu: Yorkshire pudding, kebabs, and Shepherd's pie. Google it.
Off to lunch! How ironic.
Peace.
Also, the English have the cutest term for a baked potato: jacket potato. Isn't that adorable? They have a habit of putting the most unpleasant toppings on them, though. Among predictable items such as cheese and a variety of vegetables, other common jacket potato accouterments include tuna, baked beans, coleslaw, prawns (similar to shrimp), curry, mushrooms, and even mayonnaise. Some of these garnishes are put on at the same time, too. So for an adventure at the canteen, be daring and spice up your life--every boy and every girl--with a jacket potato and deli choices.
Since being here for a month, I've also become accustomed to asking for 'chips' with my meal as opposed to fries. I used to get mixed up and just thought, "Well, the waitress will understand." But, after being corrected and getting strange looks, my mind just starts functioning in another point of view--and language, almost. Surprisingly, chips with mayonnaise or gravy is a typical order for dinner (lunch) here. It's actually quite good, believe it or not, with mayonnaise.
Among other items new to my menu: Yorkshire pudding, kebabs, and Shepherd's pie. Google it.
Off to lunch! How ironic.
Peace.
Sunday, 19 October 2008
"I'm Feeling a Bit Knackered"
'Knackered' means 'tired' and I sense some knackered-ness from a lot of the Americans. Like Ashland, Ormskirk is a small town and after a month of being here and exploring the streets relentlessly for new surprises, I feel as though I've seen it all. Unlike Ashland, however, Ormskirk does boast stores other than Wal-Mart and Goodwill for clothing options and has many unique pubs and restaurants to try new foods with the good company of close friends. Even on excursions to Liverpool, I look at my friends' faces and don't see the same excitement that was present whence we first set foot in that bustling city. I guess anything can become too familiar--even life in England.
I keep trying to re-energize and remind myself that I am in England and I have been waiting to come here for two years. I'm living in the most picturesque town imaginable and am extremely close to castles, rich farmland, and beautiful English countryside. I truly feel blessed to be here. There are times, however, when the mental bin of activities runs dry and it doesn't feel like I'm in another country.
The nights are starting to become very similar with my friends and I looking at one another asking, "Well, what do you want to do? I don't care, whatever you want to do," which then turns into the same cyclical conversation over and over again. Days blur into weeks and jam into what is my study abroad 'experience.' I'm not sure exactly what I'm experiencing anymore, but I feel like there is more to come. I know I've learned a lot about myself as far as living habits go, and I'm definitely a more independent person; however, I feel like I'm missing something. Part of my time here is spent traveling, meeting great new people, and trying new foods from strange folk. But the other part, the more depressing perspective of my trip, has turned boring—for lack of a better term. These valleys don't outweigh the highs that my new experiences have brought, but they inevitably find their way into my days. When I left a month ago, I never expected to be bored. I actually envisioned myself being entertained by my 'homework' and reading, studying, researching. It's not as fun as I had romanticized and I don't really crave journeying to the library. I like the idea of sitting in a library, reading, sipping on a cappuccino, and jamming out to my iPod like a real uni student. But, I haven't yet been able to fulfill that vision. Someday I'll be cool enough for that. For now though, I'm still a nerd who finds herself procrastinating, falling asleep in her bed trying to read just one more chapter for her literature 1000 course. It's not a hard or uninteresting read, I just feel like I should be doing more exciting activities…or napping.
That's just what has been on my mind recently.
Yesterday, my friend Chuck and I traveled to Southport to see a new city and meet some new people. Southport is a seaside town with a very beautiful, nostalgic carousel and arcade that reminded me of photographs I've seen of Coney Island. The first part of the day was sunny and windy and then the afternoon was rainy and windy. The weather here fluctuates by the half-hour, but it keeps things interesting. We mainly went shopping for Halloween costumes--in England, dressing up in costume is called 'fancy dress.' Chuck and I also went to a little shop for a late breakfast. Eating healthily, of course, I ordered hot chocolate and an eclair. My friend ordered a Belgian waffle with vanilla ice cream. We laughed so hard when the waitress brought out the 'waffle' because it was about as thick as a pancake and the size of a floppy disk. It was a good thing he ordered ice cream or he would have been eating a cracker of fried dough for breakfast. At least he got his dairy in for the day. It was even funnier because my eclair was the size of a foot long hot dog and doubly filled with custard creme. Needless to say, I shared with him and we were laughing about our breakfast throughout the day.
Thanks to all who have been reading this blog and commenting. I appreciate it!
Peace.
I keep trying to re-energize and remind myself that I am in England and I have been waiting to come here for two years. I'm living in the most picturesque town imaginable and am extremely close to castles, rich farmland, and beautiful English countryside. I truly feel blessed to be here. There are times, however, when the mental bin of activities runs dry and it doesn't feel like I'm in another country.
The nights are starting to become very similar with my friends and I looking at one another asking, "Well, what do you want to do? I don't care, whatever you want to do," which then turns into the same cyclical conversation over and over again. Days blur into weeks and jam into what is my study abroad 'experience.' I'm not sure exactly what I'm experiencing anymore, but I feel like there is more to come. I know I've learned a lot about myself as far as living habits go, and I'm definitely a more independent person; however, I feel like I'm missing something. Part of my time here is spent traveling, meeting great new people, and trying new foods from strange folk. But the other part, the more depressing perspective of my trip, has turned boring—for lack of a better term. These valleys don't outweigh the highs that my new experiences have brought, but they inevitably find their way into my days. When I left a month ago, I never expected to be bored. I actually envisioned myself being entertained by my 'homework' and reading, studying, researching. It's not as fun as I had romanticized and I don't really crave journeying to the library. I like the idea of sitting in a library, reading, sipping on a cappuccino, and jamming out to my iPod like a real uni student. But, I haven't yet been able to fulfill that vision. Someday I'll be cool enough for that. For now though, I'm still a nerd who finds herself procrastinating, falling asleep in her bed trying to read just one more chapter for her literature 1000 course. It's not a hard or uninteresting read, I just feel like I should be doing more exciting activities…or napping.
That's just what has been on my mind recently.
Yesterday, my friend Chuck and I traveled to Southport to see a new city and meet some new people. Southport is a seaside town with a very beautiful, nostalgic carousel and arcade that reminded me of photographs I've seen of Coney Island. The first part of the day was sunny and windy and then the afternoon was rainy and windy. The weather here fluctuates by the half-hour, but it keeps things interesting. We mainly went shopping for Halloween costumes--in England, dressing up in costume is called 'fancy dress.' Chuck and I also went to a little shop for a late breakfast. Eating healthily, of course, I ordered hot chocolate and an eclair. My friend ordered a Belgian waffle with vanilla ice cream. We laughed so hard when the waitress brought out the 'waffle' because it was about as thick as a pancake and the size of a floppy disk. It was a good thing he ordered ice cream or he would have been eating a cracker of fried dough for breakfast. At least he got his dairy in for the day. It was even funnier because my eclair was the size of a foot long hot dog and doubly filled with custard creme. Needless to say, I shared with him and we were laughing about our breakfast throughout the day.
Thanks to all who have been reading this blog and commenting. I appreciate it!
Peace.
Monday, 13 October 2008
Practically Primitive
Falling into somewhat of a daily routine, I find myself not doing incredibly exciting English activities; however, I have been spending lots of time with a close group of friends and when we get together, we always have fun. Making friends has been easier than I imagined and I'm so thankful for the ones I've made. They're all trustworthy and really kind--when we get on the subject of leaving in a couple months, I usually just block the thought out completely. I guess the issue needs to be faced someday, but I'm not ready for it yet.
On the topic of exciting activities though, I have realized how much I don't need the Internet, Facebook, instant messaging, and e-mail constantly at my fingertips. I have found that it is possible to not check my Facebook updates hourly and that conversations are so much richer face-to-face than through AIM. Granted it is easier to type in a question to friends and get a response quickly through online chat sessions; however, the meaningful facial expressions and room for a hearty laugh aren't there. Moreover, the extremely annoying AIM jargon is gone (i.e. "LOL," "BRB," "JK"). Albeit instant messaging is a great way to keep in touch with people miles away, I find phone calls to be much more heartfelt and precious.
As far as cell phones go, I do have one here for calling home and making meeting plans with friends, but the time spent texting and checking for missed messages on my 'mobile' have been significantly reduced as compared to home. I knew my addiction to technology security blankets was a growing problem back at home; but, now that I've been stripped of having the Internet in my room and accessing my mobile's inbox of mostly trivial texts countless times a day, time has slowed down. Life isn't in fast forward, skipping tracks and pausing for Facebook notification updates, spam e-mails, and inconsequential text conversations. It's hard to understand for some people who haven't taken away these 'necessities,' but if people would just try it for two weeks, I can guarantee that the change will be extremely beneficial--it's almost a restart button for the mind.
Peace.
On the topic of exciting activities though, I have realized how much I don't need the Internet, Facebook, instant messaging, and e-mail constantly at my fingertips. I have found that it is possible to not check my Facebook updates hourly and that conversations are so much richer face-to-face than through AIM. Granted it is easier to type in a question to friends and get a response quickly through online chat sessions; however, the meaningful facial expressions and room for a hearty laugh aren't there. Moreover, the extremely annoying AIM jargon is gone (i.e. "LOL," "BRB," "JK"). Albeit instant messaging is a great way to keep in touch with people miles away, I find phone calls to be much more heartfelt and precious.
As far as cell phones go, I do have one here for calling home and making meeting plans with friends, but the time spent texting and checking for missed messages on my 'mobile' have been significantly reduced as compared to home. I knew my addiction to technology security blankets was a growing problem back at home; but, now that I've been stripped of having the Internet in my room and accessing my mobile's inbox of mostly trivial texts countless times a day, time has slowed down. Life isn't in fast forward, skipping tracks and pausing for Facebook notification updates, spam e-mails, and inconsequential text conversations. It's hard to understand for some people who haven't taken away these 'necessities,' but if people would just try it for two weeks, I can guarantee that the change will be extremely beneficial--it's almost a restart button for the mind.
Peace.
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
Edinburgh Didn't Know What Hit It
Last Friday, in a whirlwind of crazied hurriedness, my friends and I ventured on to the train for Edinburgh, Scotland. After about four hours and three train cars later, we arrived in Scotland hungry and tired, but ready for an adventure. So where did our adventure start...? A hostel!
I never thought I would ever stay in a hostel, but with a student budget and a growing list of destination spots, I had to make due. I was with five of my friends in the room full of twelve bunk beds, so I felt relatively safe. The smell of illegal substances filled the air upon entering the hostel, but the other people staying there seemed nice enough. There was even a little team of elderly ladies in Scotland for a weekend getaway. Harmless enough. So, we dropped our bags off in the room, locked-up, and headed out to an Italian restaurant--something rather comforting and familiar to all of us. The tiramisu at the end made the night even better.
On Saturday, my friends and I left the hostel at half eight and marched through wind and rain to Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano in Edinburgh. Toward the top of the mountainous hill, the conditions were so windy that we practically flew off the side. Our muscles were so sore after climbing anyway that we considered just letting the wind take us away and roll us back down. We didn't, but that would have made for a better story. Maybe next time.
For all of our hard work, we decided we deserved a nice lunch at a local pub. We stopped at Jenny Ha's to rest and eat some local treats. On a sign outside the pub, I saw that they had malts, among other beverages. Thinking malt milkshakes, I was super excited. When my turn came to order my drink, I asked the waitress what kind of malts they had. She said, "Oh a lot. We have £3 malts." I heard "three pound" as in weight. I thought that was a pretty heavy milkshake, so I realized we weren't talking about the same thing. I said, "Do they come with alcohol?" And she said, "Yes, it's malt whiskey." Well, my friends and I had a good laugh about that and I just ordered a Coca-Cola.
Later on in the day, we visited the Edinburgh Castle and went through all the buildings on the premises. The castle was more a collection of small buildings making up a castle village rather than just one big castle to meander through. Both Arthur's Seat and the Castle were great lookout points into Edinburgh and we had fun learning about the history of it all through our good friend, Jared, the history major.
On Saturday night, we went into town seeing what the nightlife was like in the pubs. Well, we saw some fairly party-hardy people and I even got to dance with a Scotsman. People were laid-back and a lot of fun to talk to. Sometimes, their accents are hard to decipher even though the language is the same, but with a few repetition requests, it gets sorted.
The last day there, which was bright, sunny, and without rain, we slept in and left the hostel with all of our belongings. After visiting the Scotland Art Gallery, we watched a comedy show at The Stand. The show was a perfect way to end the weekend before heading back to Ormskirk. We all had been running at full speed and then we finally had the chance to sit and be entertained. The humour thankfully translated over cultures--something we were afraid of before going.
Friends, food, fun. The motto of all of my crew's adventures. We've got it all.
Peace.
I never thought I would ever stay in a hostel, but with a student budget and a growing list of destination spots, I had to make due. I was with five of my friends in the room full of twelve bunk beds, so I felt relatively safe. The smell of illegal substances filled the air upon entering the hostel, but the other people staying there seemed nice enough. There was even a little team of elderly ladies in Scotland for a weekend getaway. Harmless enough. So, we dropped our bags off in the room, locked-up, and headed out to an Italian restaurant--something rather comforting and familiar to all of us. The tiramisu at the end made the night even better.
On Saturday, my friends and I left the hostel at half eight and marched through wind and rain to Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano in Edinburgh. Toward the top of the mountainous hill, the conditions were so windy that we practically flew off the side. Our muscles were so sore after climbing anyway that we considered just letting the wind take us away and roll us back down. We didn't, but that would have made for a better story. Maybe next time.
For all of our hard work, we decided we deserved a nice lunch at a local pub. We stopped at Jenny Ha's to rest and eat some local treats. On a sign outside the pub, I saw that they had malts, among other beverages. Thinking malt milkshakes, I was super excited. When my turn came to order my drink, I asked the waitress what kind of malts they had. She said, "Oh a lot. We have £3 malts." I heard "three pound" as in weight. I thought that was a pretty heavy milkshake, so I realized we weren't talking about the same thing. I said, "Do they come with alcohol?" And she said, "Yes, it's malt whiskey." Well, my friends and I had a good laugh about that and I just ordered a Coca-Cola.
Later on in the day, we visited the Edinburgh Castle and went through all the buildings on the premises. The castle was more a collection of small buildings making up a castle village rather than just one big castle to meander through. Both Arthur's Seat and the Castle were great lookout points into Edinburgh and we had fun learning about the history of it all through our good friend, Jared, the history major.
On Saturday night, we went into town seeing what the nightlife was like in the pubs. Well, we saw some fairly party-hardy people and I even got to dance with a Scotsman. People were laid-back and a lot of fun to talk to. Sometimes, their accents are hard to decipher even though the language is the same, but with a few repetition requests, it gets sorted.
The last day there, which was bright, sunny, and without rain, we slept in and left the hostel with all of our belongings. After visiting the Scotland Art Gallery, we watched a comedy show at The Stand. The show was a perfect way to end the weekend before heading back to Ormskirk. We all had been running at full speed and then we finally had the chance to sit and be entertained. The humour thankfully translated over cultures--something we were afraid of before going.
Friends, food, fun. The motto of all of my crew's adventures. We've got it all.
Peace.
Laundry, Lectures, and Lateness
For the first time in my life last week, I did my laundry. Shocking, I know. But, it was rather fun and I didn't mind that it took three hours of my life to finish it all. One load, seven washing machines, eight dryers, and four hundred people living on campus always provides for bad timing in the laundry room. It doesn't help that the dryers don't exactly dry the clothes, but rather flop them around simulating the effectiveness of the wonderment of the dryer at home--which before last week, I had only used for the wrinkle-out function. I made some new friends in the laundry room so not all was lost. I also bonded even more with my friend, Patrick, who taught me how to wash my clothes and caught me just before I threw one of my dryer sheets into the washing machine. What are friends for, right?
Besides traveling and socializing, I have been going to class for a week and a half now--believe it or not. Instead of meeting two or three times a week for an hour or two for one class (module), here in England, students meet once a week for a class for an extended period of time (about four or more hours) to listen to a lecture. On top of that, most modules have seminar times set aside for students to meet and discuss what they've read or heard in lecture. I really like the set-up here because it's much more centered on individual learning rather than homework assignments and short lessons that are to be done nightly. The discussions and readings seem to be more beneficial for thought development because there is more time to think about lectures from week to week rather than every other day.
Another difference I've discovered while here in England is that people are generally way more relaxed about meeting times. So far, none of my lectures or seminars have begun on time--one even starting a half hour late. I don't really mind because this lateness is an inconsistent constant that I can count on and possibly run an extra errand or two in the morning before lectures start. Although, I still end up being ten minutes early out of habit. This pattern shows again in the start times for dances and nightly socials. The evenings at the Venue--a club on campus--get going around half ten; whereas, at AU for instance, dances usually start at eight sharp! The night doesn't end until four or five in the morning, which is hard to get used to as well, but I'll adjust.
Peace.
Besides traveling and socializing, I have been going to class for a week and a half now--believe it or not. Instead of meeting two or three times a week for an hour or two for one class (module), here in England, students meet once a week for a class for an extended period of time (about four or more hours) to listen to a lecture. On top of that, most modules have seminar times set aside for students to meet and discuss what they've read or heard in lecture. I really like the set-up here because it's much more centered on individual learning rather than homework assignments and short lessons that are to be done nightly. The discussions and readings seem to be more beneficial for thought development because there is more time to think about lectures from week to week rather than every other day.
Another difference I've discovered while here in England is that people are generally way more relaxed about meeting times. So far, none of my lectures or seminars have begun on time--one even starting a half hour late. I don't really mind because this lateness is an inconsistent constant that I can count on and possibly run an extra errand or two in the morning before lectures start. Although, I still end up being ten minutes early out of habit. This pattern shows again in the start times for dances and nightly socials. The evenings at the Venue--a club on campus--get going around half ten; whereas, at AU for instance, dances usually start at eight sharp! The night doesn't end until four or five in the morning, which is hard to get used to as well, but I'll adjust.
Peace.
Sunday, 28 September 2008
Liverpool and Windermere
While in Liverpool, our group toured the city in a whirlwind manner. We saw all the hot spots of Beatles memorabilia and most all of the buildings of importance within a three hour time span. Finally being in places such as Liverpool and Manchester feels absolutely unreal. After two years of waiting to come to England to study, each day feels like a gift and I'm soaking up every minute in my memory bank. My friends and I saw the Philharmonic Theatre where the Beatles played together for the last time, the school where George Harrison and Paul McCartney studied music together, and The Caravan Club--same name where The Beatles first played, but a 
different location. We also saw the largest Anglican church in all of the UK. It stands 100 meters above ground and it's really a magnificent sight. The architecture inside is much like the Notre Dame and the churches of France aside from the non-Catholic relics. Liverpool is great. So much energy and fashion forward teens adorn the streets of the city and brush by really quickly. To think people may actually reside in Liverpool and may possibly get bored with life there is mind-boggling. But, I suppose that can happen anywhere. I would highly recommend visiting Liverpool someday to experience the motion and energy it presents.
More so, I recommend visiting Windermere. My friends and I took a day trip yesterday to see what the Lake District was like here in England and the views were breathtaking. I was glad to get out of the city scene and breathe in the fresh air of the outdoors. No smog and hardly any cars, Windermere presents a quaint getaway from the day-to-day and is the most picturesque, practically film-worthy English countryside imaginable. Beatrix Potter lived in a cottage there and many Peter Rabbit shops were in town for tourist attractions to commemorate her historical contributions. On the train back to Ormskirk from Windermere, my friends and I 
met a boy named Tom who said he knew about Cedar Point when I mentioned I was from Ohio. Small world! The weather has still been practically perfect (in every way) here in England which makes each day just that much more enjoyable. I miss you all and appreciate all of your comments! There will be much more to come this week and next weekend, updates from a Scotland trip!
Peace.
Friday, 26 September 2008
"Queue Up for the Toilets."
Yesterday, my friends and I traveled to Manchester for a half-day trip just to get out of Ormskirk for a change. Fortunately, I traveled with people who understood the train situation and helped us all get to the city on time. When we arrived in Liverpool to switch trains, the train station was closed and they had 'sniffer dogs' going through the station and policemen patrolling the area. This was a small obstacle in the day, and a bit scary; however, we made it to Manchester, which was our goal. The city was very industrial and full of hustle and bustle. We stopped to eat at an Italian restaurant and it was so nice to have a sit-down meal rather than a 
cafeteria style eating experience.Everything here requires a queue, or a line. Absolutely everything. Even if the line is extremely long and people are waiting for a meal and all you want is a small order or a grab-and-go beverage, one must wait in the queue.
Another cultural difference is the name for a restroom. Normally, 'restroom' and 'bathroom' are used interchangeably back at home; however, if I ask where the bathroom is in a restaurant, the server will just make a strange face. Apparently, bathroom is a room with only a bath or shower. To use the restroom, one must ask for the 'toilets.' It's way different than I'm used to because I feel inappropriate just saying 'toilets.' I guess I will get used to it, especially if I absolutely need those services.
Although I may only be 21 years old and comparatively young in the grand scheme of life, most of the other students in my dormitory are about 18 and they seem to be indestructible with much more resiliency toward late nights out. Their average bedtime is 4 o'clock in the morning and they are somehow up and out by 7:30 or 8 in the morning for breakfast and meetings. I can't keep up with their schedule and living in a dormitory is more difficult than I had imagined in terms of going to sleep. My iPod has turned into a saving grace in terms of escaping the noise of the halls and finally getting some shut-eye.
Today, my friends and I will be touring Liverpool and seeing all that the city has to offer. Photos and more blog entries will come this weekend when Freshers week comes to an end.
Peace.
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
Liverpool, Trip 1
Last evening, Edge Hill University sponsered a night out in Liverpool for all of the students here. They provided transportation and rented out three clubs for us to take over. The club scene is very different here than in the states. The English seem more reserved than the Americans, thus taking more time to wait until most of the people are busting moves on the dance floor. We were downtown for about four hours in Liverpool by the dock and the city just glistened at night. It was really beautiful. On Friday, the international students will be able to travel for the day to visit the city and see the sights away from all of the nightlife.
In the States, it is common to hear, "Hi! How are you?" But here, the common way to great someone is, "Are you alright?" At first, I thought I looked ill or sad to the person asking; but, I've learned that this is just the way to great someone here. And to hear someone say "cheers" in place of "thank you" is different as well. I just respond with "cheers" or "you're welcome." It's working so far, but I'm sure once someone laughs in response, I will learn exactly what to say.
We are still having great weather here. Today was extremely pleasant and sunny and the English have been saying that it's the best weather they've had in weeks. The campus is over populated with ducks and rabbits and they just brighten up the scenery even more.
The latest news for American students is how we are all planning future trips to other countries, since we're so close. Hot spots for me to visit, most likely, are Scotland, Ireland, France, and Estonia. The train system is used so frequently over here and it is a great alternative to taking taxis or even trains. Having travel buddies will make the trips safer and more fun, of course, and so many of us want to go to new places that it's not hard at all to find someone to take with you. The best part of traveling from one city to the next is hearing all of the different accents--even within the same small country. It seems as though each town carries with it a new culture and point of view, which is nice and adds to the diversity I see day-to-day. I love meeting new people and during this Freshers week, it seems as though everyone is open and inviting to talking to each other about their stories and from where they come.
Peace.
In the States, it is common to hear, "Hi! How are you?" But here, the common way to great someone is, "Are you alright?" At first, I thought I looked ill or sad to the person asking; but, I've learned that this is just the way to great someone here. And to hear someone say "cheers" in place of "thank you" is different as well. I just respond with "cheers" or "you're welcome." It's working so far, but I'm sure once someone laughs in response, I will learn exactly what to say.
We are still having great weather here. Today was extremely pleasant and sunny and the English have been saying that it's the best weather they've had in weeks. The campus is over populated with ducks and rabbits and they just brighten up the scenery even more.
The latest news for American students is how we are all planning future trips to other countries, since we're so close. Hot spots for me to visit, most likely, are Scotland, Ireland, France, and Estonia. The train system is used so frequently over here and it is a great alternative to taking taxis or even trains. Having travel buddies will make the trips safer and more fun, of course, and so many of us want to go to new places that it's not hard at all to find someone to take with you. The best part of traveling from one city to the next is hearing all of the different accents--even within the same small country. It seems as though each town carries with it a new culture and point of view, which is nice and adds to the diversity I see day-to-day. I love meeting new people and during this Freshers week, it seems as though everyone is open and inviting to talking to each other about their stories and from where they come.
Peace.
Monday, 22 September 2008
This is a photo from my Wales trip. The Conway Castle was one of our stops as I wrote about in my previous post.So far, I am making loads of friends here and meeting someone new everyday. We are technically in "Freshers Week"; however, all years are here on campus. I was surprised to learn that they have a whole week of orientation and meetings with tutors before they even attend their first class beginning Monday, September 29. Also, when referring to any university, it's more common here to say "uni." "College" here is "high school" back in the states. That difference took awhile to get used to, but I've worked it out now.
Last evening, my dorm neighbors and I stayed up late talking about all of our differences in slang, which lasted a long time and I'm sure will continue for the next three months. Two words commonly used are "wicked" and "posh" meaning "awesome" and "trendy," respectively. Some accents are especially hard to understand and I have to ask people to repeat themselves, which I feel extremely rude doing and sometimes it takes four or five tries to understand them. It's worth the work though because making a new friend is such a joy--and I believe they like hearing our accents as much as we like to hear theirs.
The uni held a dance and party last night in the campus club. Again, seeing alcohol served on campus and people carrying it out and into their dorm rooms is such a foreign sight. Most of them are responsible with their drinking privileges, but some get very loud and out of hand. Most of my American friends don't drink and it's nice to have that reassurance and security. I'm sure after Freshers Week, things will settle down a bit and more studying and less drinking will be happening. As long as people are being safe though, it doesn't bother me.
Peace.
Sunday, 21 September 2008
"I Love Americans!"
Hello family and friends!
I arrived in England safely and have been here for three days, but it feels like two weeks. The English are extremely friendly and I have heard, "I love Americans!" four times already. It's nice to have praise and excitement everytime an English student or staff member hears one of us American students speak. Very different, but we're eating it up. There are no huge cultural differences to note yet; however, I'm sure as the days go on with all of the English students arriving, there will be a new one daily.
Ormskirk is a beautiful market town and the safest city in England, which is reassuring for me, and I'm sure you as well. So far, there have been many trips into town because it only takes about ten minutes to walk there and it has many pubs, shops, and exciting, fun-loving locals. Football (soccer) is all the rage here with the Uni students and most of them are in the Student Union right now watching a match. At the S.U., alcohol is served almost any time of the day and there is a club in the back, separate from the eating area--much different than the Eagles Nest back home. We have also been warned that the alcohol is twice as strong here than in the States; but, if you don't drink, then it's not a problem and it's also a lot cheaper. I'll save the money I don't spend on alcohol on trendy English fashion statements so I can bring them back and start new fads.
So far, I have visited Conway, Wales--an adorably quaint town about two hours from here. All of us American students traveled together on a Coach that the school provided and spent the day there. A huge castle sits at the corner of town and the whole village is surrounded by castle walls. All the streets are cobblestone and there are many shops with intricate detailing around the windows and roofs. It looked like a scene from a Disney movie. Right outside one of the castle walls is a waterfront where many people were fishing for crabs. Since it was a tourist sight, there were also many families who brought dogs on their trip. It reminded me of home to see the little puppies, which was nice.
"Take an umbrella." I probably heard that twelve times before I left for England. I did bring one; however, it has not rained yet. The beginning of school should be sunny, though. We're all still optomistic about our studies and this school year. Once the exams come, then the rain is sure to follow.
I have more than enough photos to upload; however, I forgot to bring my connector to the library. I plan to blog nearly everyday, though, so photos will be coming soon. This is the first time in three days that I've had Internet access, so typing alone is a real treat.
Peace.
I arrived in England safely and have been here for three days, but it feels like two weeks. The English are extremely friendly and I have heard, "I love Americans!" four times already. It's nice to have praise and excitement everytime an English student or staff member hears one of us American students speak. Very different, but we're eating it up. There are no huge cultural differences to note yet; however, I'm sure as the days go on with all of the English students arriving, there will be a new one daily.
Ormskirk is a beautiful market town and the safest city in England, which is reassuring for me, and I'm sure you as well. So far, there have been many trips into town because it only takes about ten minutes to walk there and it has many pubs, shops, and exciting, fun-loving locals. Football (soccer) is all the rage here with the Uni students and most of them are in the Student Union right now watching a match. At the S.U., alcohol is served almost any time of the day and there is a club in the back, separate from the eating area--much different than the Eagles Nest back home. We have also been warned that the alcohol is twice as strong here than in the States; but, if you don't drink, then it's not a problem and it's also a lot cheaper. I'll save the money I don't spend on alcohol on trendy English fashion statements so I can bring them back and start new fads.
So far, I have visited Conway, Wales--an adorably quaint town about two hours from here. All of us American students traveled together on a Coach that the school provided and spent the day there. A huge castle sits at the corner of town and the whole village is surrounded by castle walls. All the streets are cobblestone and there are many shops with intricate detailing around the windows and roofs. It looked like a scene from a Disney movie. Right outside one of the castle walls is a waterfront where many people were fishing for crabs. Since it was a tourist sight, there were also many families who brought dogs on their trip. It reminded me of home to see the little puppies, which was nice.
"Take an umbrella." I probably heard that twelve times before I left for England. I did bring one; however, it has not rained yet. The beginning of school should be sunny, though. We're all still optomistic about our studies and this school year. Once the exams come, then the rain is sure to follow.I have more than enough photos to upload; however, I forgot to bring my connector to the library. I plan to blog nearly everyday, though, so photos will be coming soon. This is the first time in three days that I've had Internet access, so typing alone is a real treat.
Peace.
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