"You sound like you are from LONDON"

Alexa and I took our very first adventure together to London and we survived! It is amazing to think we bought our train tickets a little over 2 weeks ago and now I am back in my room (eh), writing this blog (yippee), explaining about our trip; I can't believe we actually went. We always talked about meeting up and going on trips together as a big group, but it it is a lot more challenging organizing days with everyone and it almost never works out, so I am really excited Alexa and I picked this weekend and went. Now, I could go on and talk about our trip and explain every detail, but I like to make it short and sweet (Sar, take a note of this)!

Ok, so Friday morning came and Alexa and I met at the train station at 9 (or actually 915 by the time Lex got there) and we boarded the train, found our seats, got situated and the way we went. It was about a 5 hour train ride, which actually was not that bad. Lex slept and I read a book (very exciting). The train took us through the country side, over a few bridges, traveled along the water and made about 6 or so stops on the way. On of the stops was New Castle...I took a picture just for you Nick.


Before we knew it we were in London and hugging Erin, who met us at the train station. From there they took us to Platform 9 3/4 and they were right such a disappointment. It is literally a brick poster board glued onto the wall with a fake carriage sticking out. Even though it was kind of a let down, we still took some pictures, just to show that we were there. 

From there we got onto the Tube (pronunced chube) and headed towards Natasha's and Erin's flats. There flats are just like ours so it was a nice feeling that they are living the same way we are. Then we met their friends, and all of use headed into London and went to Harrods and lets just say it was HUGE and very posh (rich, expensive, snobby people). We probably walked around for at least 2 hours or so and only made it through a section of the building. We went to the pastry section and had Red Velvet cupcakes, then went to the Wine section and tasted a new pink gin; it is only one of two gins that are actually made in London. From there we headed upstairs and made it to the toy room were we learned how to make snow, took pictures with stuffed animals...lets just say we found our inner child again.

After walking around we went to Roadhouse for happy hour and got some dinner. That is when Lauren and Kristen met us. It was so nice to be reunited with our friends from RWU. This weekend really felt like we were back at school. As we sat around drinking, laughing, eating and talking about what our plans were for like tomorrow, I couldn't help but just be so proud of all of us for making this journey and coming to a whole new culture. It really just shows how grown-up we have become (yuck!). Ok, so enough with the sentimental stuff. After we stuffed our faces and could barely walk we went back to Tash's and Erin's flat and got ready for the night. We first started off with a few games of beer pong and I would just like to mention that we flew 3000 miles to play against each other...we could have done that at school for a lot cheaper (oops!). No worries, Tash and I won again (we kicked butt), we really are beer pong teammates! So on and so forth, we went out, came back and went to sleep.

Saturday, we got up early to go see the changing of the guards. Well, guess what they don't do it on Saturdays (oh well)! We did take a few (more like 100) pictures of Buckingham palace, the guards, the monument in the front. I looked like the biggest tourist ever (mission accomplished)! From there we saw Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Oxford Circus, went to Notting Hill (yes, where the filmed the movie) and a bakery called Hummingbirds, which apparently is really famous (and yummy)! We eventually made it back to their flats, were we all watched The Jersey Shore (ridiculous as ever...will Sammi and Ronni ever not fight?) and took a nap. That night, we went to a pub called Spread Eagle, yes that is the name of it, and we are still trying to figure out if it was a gay bar or no. But it was really cool, and had a great "atmosphere" (read that they way mom did it). Any who, after a few drinks we went back, slept, got up early and Lex and I packed up to leave. Here are a few pictures from this weekend.

Monument at Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

Tash and I on the monument

Parliament

Big Ben...not so big actually

Westminster Abbey

Notting Hill

Notting Hill again

Our trip back to Edinburgh was a bit long. We ended up getting delayed an hour at some point (I don't understand how that happens on a train) and at one stop about 6 men got on the train, smelled of booze, were drinking, played poker, were screaming and listening to music. It was a lot to take in at 12 in the afternoon. Needless to say they got off a few stops later (woohoo!). Overall, I would say it was a very successful trip and I had so much fun. It was really nice to see Lo, T and Erin and spend time with them. I wish we could have stayed longer, London is very similar to New York, it is really big and no matter how many times you go there will always be something new to see. I had such a great time, and now I am currently getting my game face on to tackle this weeks worth of work. My mission is to write two essay before Superbowl Sunday!!

Cheers and again Happy 21st birthday Erin!!
XoXo

Burns Nicht

In Scotland, they celebrate what is known as Burns Night. Burns Night is a celebration of the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns. He apparently wrote many famous poems, died at a young age and now to celebrate him, on his birthday (January 25th) they eat Haggis and do some Scottish dancing. Personally, I think it is just another excuse to drink on a weekday, wear some kilts and dance around making a complete idiot of yourself...my kind of night!


So, case in point a bunch of us bought tickets to this wonderful celebration the school was putting on in one of the buildings. We arrived at 830ish, feeling pretty happy and full (we eat before we came), got a few drinks and then, yes your not going to believe it, had some HAGGIS. Now, I have been telling people that I was going to eat it, but I didn't want to know what was in it until I had some. So, I Wiki-ed it and this is what came up:

Haggis is a dish containing sheep's 'pluck' (heart, liver and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally simmered in the animal's stomach for approximately three hours. Most modern commercial haggis is prepared in a casing rather than an actual stomach.

 Yup, here is a lovely picture of the "famous" Scottish meal. Can you believe that I, the one who will eat the same sandwich every day for lunch and dinner actually tired this? Scotland is really making me pretty adventures if you ask me! Here are two pictures to prove that I actually had some:

My first bite

Chewing and swallowing!

 

Ok so I am sure all of you are wondering, what did it taste like? Was it good? Did you eat the whole thing? Personally, I felt it tasted similar to stuffing, but with a little more "bam". It really was not that bad, and no I did not eat the whole thing, I was pretty full from my lovely chicken salad sandwich before, but if I was offered it again I would have some.

After this interesting meal, we headed to the pub in the same building to have a few drinks and wait for the ceilidh. I still can't believe they have pubs in school buildings, I think it is an awesome idea! Now, for those who don't know a ceilidh (pronounced Kay-Lee) is a traditional Scottish dance and it was so much fun! Forget about the electric slide at weddings, Americans need to start doing the ceilidh dance! The band started playing, and those who knew the dances started dancing. It was so cool watching them. Then they broke down the dances and taught them to the ones who didn't know them. Everyone was really nice and if you were standing out, they would just pull you in. There was no just watching, you had to try and that was what made it so fun. Spinning around, dancing with people you don't know, messing up, laughing, making a complete fool out of yourself is what it is all about. I highly suggest everyone to learn a few of them. Well, because I was dancing so much (about 2 hours or so) I didn't have the time to take a lot of pictures, or get my picture taken trying the dances, but here are a few.

Scottish people doing the dances

All of us doing something

The band playing

Dancing again

Spinning; there was a lot of that

That was about it. Now, Nick I think I accomplished my second goal and third so now I need some more things I can accomplish/ try when I am here...any suggestions?

Alexa and I leave for London on Friday and like I have been saying I am really excited to go. And oh, for those who don't know yesterday we recieved an email stating:

The University is to close for the public holiday on Friday 29 April.
The UK and Scottish governments have declared the date a holiday to celebrate the royal wedding between Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton.
No exams are scheduled for the public holiday. 

Now that they know I will be available to attend I am expecting my invitation any day now!

Instead of reading and doing some work for my classes tomorrow, I wrote this blog and now I think it is time for a game or two of Rummikub!

Cheers!

St. Andrews

Yes that is correct, we adventured to St. Andrews on Saturday. And for those who don't know (because apparently not everyone knows what St. Andrews is) it is a cit in Scotland, Prince William attended school there and it has the world's oldest golf course and the British Open is played here.

On Thursday, a few of us decided it would be a fun experience to adventure over to another part of Scotland on Saturday. So after waking up at 8:30, meeting everyone at the train station at 9, buying our tickets and getting some breakfast (mainly coffee, we were all extremely tired) we finally sat down to wait for our train at 9:29, not 9:30, but 9:29. Why can't trains leave at normal times; why does it have to leave at 9:29 and not 9:30 does the extra minute really matter? Anyways, after spending a few minutes trying to find a garbage, they don't have trash cans in train stations, apparently you are supposed to leave it out and people come around and pick up after you (gross!), we put our tickets through, get onto the platform, press the open button door and nothing happens. As we stand around trying to figure out why the doors aren't opening the train ahead of it pulls away and guess what...we were supposed to be on that train...oops. We all started laughing and blamed our misfortune on the fact we had to be up so early.

The train official very nicely told us to catch another train headed toward Dundee at 10 and get off at Leuchars. This time, determined not to miss another train, we waited on the platform and got on the train 15 minutes before it was due to leave.

The train ride was very pleasant and scenic. There wasn't too much leg room (public transportation never thinks about tall people), but it was fine. It took us through different valleys and for the first time we got to see what life looks like outside of Edinburgh. Mainly just land, groups of houses bunched together and then more land. Nothing to exciting, but of course we took pictures.

 After about an hour train ride (it didn't really feel that long) we got off at Leuchars and then hopped onto the bus. As we were paying for the bus two older women (probably early 70s) commented on the pair of jeans I was wearing and how there is a whole in the back pocket. They proceeded to ask me why there is a whole and if it is annoying, I tired explaining to them it was just fashion and they looked at me like I had two heads. I laughed and smiled and said, "I don't understand why they make jeans like that, most people throw them out once they get rips in them" and they said very honestly "well, if we had legs like you and your cute butt, we would wear jeans like that too"! I had no idea how to respond to such a comment. I quickly just paid the bus driver, grabbed my ticket and walked to the back of the bus, laughing to myself. The only thing I could think of was picturing my grandma saying that...oh boy!

After about a 10 minute bus ride we were in the center of St. Andrews. Got off at some random stop and started walking around. We went and took pictures at the church, or really what is left of the church, then went to the castle, talked our way into getting in for free, walked around, took pictures and really just took time to look over the water. It wasn't a sunny day, but then again there aren't really many of those here, it wasn't too cold or too windy; I would say we picked a pretty good day to go.

Here are a few pictures of what is left of the church...

Graves...kind of creepy!

Entrance of Church

Back wall of Church

Somebodies tomb stone

Yup we sitting on the wall of the church

No idea what this would be...but we thought it was a cool picture

The people would sit in here

Me sitting in someone's grave...couldn't quite fit

After we took numerous amounts of pictures of the church, we made our way too the castle...or again what is left of the castle. Here are a few pictures of our experience...

Everyone who went on the trip: Alexa, me, Katie, Morgan, Victoria and Kelsey

Morgan could stand in the door, but I can't 

The crew on the wall of the castle

Katie and I with the castle in the background

Caption Morgan anyone?!

Me sitting in the section they used to keep prisoners

After making ourselves look as touristy as possible, we decided it was time for lunch. We walked back into the "city" part of St. Andrews and found a cute restaurant that had exactly what we were looking for...BURGERS! As we sat starving and trying to think of topics to talk about to distract us from being so hungry our food finally came. We literally waited probably 45 minutes for our food and eat it in 10 minutes that is pretty gross, but the food was really good! After figuring out how much everyone owed, getting change, taking a toilet break, not a bathroom break we finally made our way to St. Andrews golf course. It was pretty cool opportunity to get to see a golf course so many people never have a chance to ever see in person. However, most of the time when I see the course on television, which I'm dying not being able to watch by the way, the grass is always burned and does not look very nice; the course was actually green! We walked around, went into the pro shop, took a few pictures on the green and of course on the bridge.

Us on the bridge!

18th hole of the Old course

Some of the winners grips...John Daly being one of them

I guess people don't realize golfers are actually playing

Some golfers brave enough to play in 40 degree weather

The flags

18th Hole again

The marker

Some part of the green

The Pro shop

After our walk around St. Andrews we decided it was time to head back to the bus station and catch the 5:29, again 5:29 why not 5:30, train back into Edinburgh. Once we got on the train, we all settled in and fell asleep for a bit. The trip was a lot of fun and I am very proud of us just deciding to go and going. We had no plan, and didn't know where anything was, but I would say it was a pretty successful trip. I am looking forward to the two more times I will be going...and one of them will be with the family! Maybe our next Christmas card will be us on the bridge; who knows, all I know is we will have more choices for our Christmas card this year than we have had in the previous years!

Cheers!

P.S only 80 more days till I get to see my family...I'm really excited (never thought I would ever say that)!