England: The Hangover

So I thought a follow-up on life back at home since I left the UK. Well it's been two weeks and it been an experience to get myself back together!
It took a week just to get my mind back on track. I was in a haze. Everything was foggy and jumbled and I couldn't get my thoughts together, forgetting things and still suffering from jet lag I suppose. That was another thing I had to readjust to...5 hour time change! I was tired all the time and took a lot of naps.
By week 2 I had gotten back into my daily routine work, work, work! Lol! I also got back on track on planning my wedding which is only 6 months away! I have been asked a hundred times how my trip was and I've narrowed it down to "It was interesting." Which it was but I only go into detail to those who truly want to know about my trip. There's A LOT to talk about!
I also wanted to tell you my TOP 5 THINGS ABOUT ENGLAND:
5. Public Transportation- Even though sometimes it was crowded the public trans was fun and a great addition to the trip. We got to travel all over using trains, buses, and the Underground with our travelcards.
4. Pubs- I really wnjoyed going to the local pubs with my friends and having good times!
3. Flats- I loved having a community of people who were so close and tight that it made being away from home easier than I expected! I made some life long friends :)
2. 1/2 off dinners at the Black Lion- Every Monday I got to go to the Black Lion for 1/2 off steak dinner which was AMAZING! Service wasn't always great but the food never failed me!
1. CIDER!!!- I hadn't been drinking for a while but I have been introduced to cider, beer made from apples instead of wheat, and it is sooo GOOD! Much better than regular beer! I drank it almost everyday! LOL! But seriously I was over excited when I found it here in Michigan! Lol!

Well I needed to write and I thought this would be a great subject :) Until next time!

~Ly

My Final week in the U.K. and Final thoughts

First I have to recognize how blessed I am that this trip was even possible for me. I have an amazing experience with amazing people who have become amazing friends. My final week in London I went to Freud's house with my Creative Writing class, a Sikh Temple with my Brit culture class, and photographed London at night.


Freud's House was interesting. I got to see his study and watch some of his home movies. The coolest part was this 15-year-old dog named Bobby who lived there. He was a sweet old dog.


The Sikh Temple was an experience. It was an intersting place and the religion was different. We had to wear scarves on our heads and wash our hands before entering. We had pudding which was made with water, sugar, oatmeal and fire. :) I wouldn't convert but it was nice to expersience something new and eat some tasty Indian food!
I went to the club on Wednesday which wasn't as fun as I hoped but oh well I went with friends.


On Thursday was our Farewell Dinner and we got to see everyone dressed to impress. It was a unique menu but it had potential to be better. It was a great end to a wonderful month. We ended the night at Coronation Hall. Good Times with Good people.
For my final night in London I decided not to sleep since I had to leave at 3:00am. I went to dinner with the girls and while the rest went to Hippodrome me, Ashley, and Natalie wandered around downtown London so I could take pictures. It was amazing! I had a great night!



Saying goodbyes and see ya laters was hard. I almost made it through without crying until Ashleigh hugged me crying and I saw Courtney...I lost it! LOL after about 30sec I composed myself and I got packed up in the taxi and on to the airport.
Being home is kinda surreal. Realizing the differences and getting back into routines. It's crazy but I'm glad I went. So many stories, experiences and friends. :)

Week three in England!

So here's my recap of my third week in England:
Last weekend we got to go to two of the nightclubs here in Kingston. On Friday we went to Ama-gi (which we were mispronouncing until a nice Englishman corrected us!)Which had glow sticks and uv lights. It was a blast and we got to take a free shot out the ice luge! lol! The music was great but near the end some English guys got to frisky with a few of the girls and we left :(. On Saturday we went to Hippodrome in Kingston. This is the first time I stayed at a club from open to close! It was so much fun! The first 100 people were free so me and the girls got there early. It has 3 different rooms playing different music but we stayed in the main room since that's where they played more American music. I got to see some Englihmen who could really dance and who saved me from a creeper! It was so fun! We spent Sunday doing homework and feeding the Queen's Swans :)
On Monday I went to Stonehenge and the city of Bath. It was an amazing experience! Stonehenge is pretty cool but we were there for an hour which was more than enough time. But I did get some tasty ice cream while we were there at 10am! The city of Bath is were one of the world natural springs exist. It was cool to learn about how they were discovered and how the Romans knew how to use them and show the town. They still use the water but in a more sterile environment. The Roman baths haven't been used for years and the water is green and untreated.
Wednesday was a LONG day but I'm happy about it. We went to Parliament but we couldn't take pics inside. Our tour guide was a blast and kept us entertain. We got to see the House of Lords and he told us how they work which is crazy! He also told us some crazy trivia about the paintings and parts of the building. We also went to Greenwich which is the center of the world! So we got to see the Queens House (Queen Anne I believe) and got to go to the Prime Meridian and stand in both the East and West at once! Then we ended our day at the Globe theater 9created by Shakespeare) and go to see the comedy of Errors which was hilarious! It didn't even matter that we had to stand for a few hours especially since we were on the stage :P

Thursday my creative writing class went to Highgate Cemetery were a few famous authors and philosophers were buried. it was interesting to see such old graves. I had an encounter with a very rude Englishwoman but it's okay. That night we went out to one of our local pubs and hung out since majority of people left for Paris this weekend...I wish I could have went but it's ok I will some day with my hubby :)
This weekend is the last one here in England so me and a couple friends plan on making the best of it...and I'll get the last bit of homework done! :P
Next time my fourth and final week in England and final thoughts stay tuned...

Week one in England

So it's been crazy since I got here! I've been busy everyday! Classes, field trips and pubs. Last weekend I went out to Windsor Castle with some new friends which is cool because that's one of the places the royal family lives. It's crazy that I got to stand in the same place as the Queen of England! Wow! It was amazing to see and very beautiful.
I also go to go to Hampton Court Palace where Henry VIII lived along with the Tudors (which I still don't understand what that is) it was very cool to see where he lived with his six wives including Anne Boleyn mother of Elizabeth I. It was another large estate and had pretty amazing chimneys!
This country is full of history and it's crazy! I also feel like it was made for a shorty like me because everything is smaller here: the houses, streets, cars!
My classes are going ok also. My creative writing class is living up to it's name and our professor, Anna is making sure we have plenty of pieces when we go home. My brit culture class is fun because we go on a lot of trips and he tries to make it enjoyable. Going to Oxford this Wednesday!
I'm becoming more comfortable with the transportation system: the trains, the Tube and buses which is nice. I'll definitely miss that when I go back to the US!
We've also gotten lucky with the weather. NO RAIN! It's been really hot since we've been here which is okay because I didn't pack to well for rain!
ANOTHER THING: I don't think I've walked more in my life than here in England! That's all we do! I'm hoping to be in great shape by the time I return!
So so far so good. New friends, new experiences, oh and I am getting over a cold or Whooping cough I have no idea!