It's a Squirrel's Life

Symphony Time 

Once you have lived in London for an extended period of time you begin to notice subtle things that others may pass by without a glance. I have seen many strange sites since being here but one of the most interesting things I have witnessed is the relationship between people and squirrels. Yes, squirrels. I thought the ones in Worcester were weird, always darting in front of you when you're walking to class and creepily staring at you from the trunk's of trees, but the squirrels here are living the life. Let me set the scene for you:

I'm sure this happens in all London parks but particularly in Russell Square Park, right at the end of our street, there are people that climb through the bushes summoning squirrels to feed. The call they use is unique, I am not quite sure how one learns it. Maybe there is a secret squirrel society, the SSS? We can never be sure, but you must understand the power that is obtained once you have mastered the call. Squirrels come from all over, climbing up and down people's arms and legs waiting for little scraps of food and nuts to pop right into their mouths.

If you aren't used to seeing this it can be very shocking and a little alarming that the squirrels are willing to get so close to humans. But can you blame them when all they have to do is sit back with their little legs up waiting for the next person to come along and feed them? I'd have no problem coming back as a London squirrel in another life.

My Saturday 

As weird as I may sound I promise this is all true. Anyways... On Saturday Helen and I went to Portobello Market (yes again) and sat outside at a cafe for hours reading in the sun. There were a ton of people walking around the market and various musicians playing along the road. Zoe met up with us and we shopped our way back up the crowded street. It was really nice and peaceful sitting outside with the sun shining down on us as we took in the sites and people. We left the market and decided to go to Oxford Street, the main shopping street in Central London. We were in the shopping mood that day apparently. We went into a couple stores, tried on armfuls of clothes but none of us bought anything exciting. The UK sizes are confusing and misleading so trying clothes on just becomes a depressing and overwhelming experience. I guess it is good though since we don't need to be spending all of our money on clothes!

Tonight we went to the London Symphony. This was my first time going to anything like this and I really loved it. The music was beautiful. The first half was a little slower but the second half had a pianist who commanded the stage and stole the show. It was incredible how fast his fingers were moving. The whole experience was great and I am so glad I went. Lots of clapping too!

I wish I had more exciting things to share but it was a fairly uneventful week, which is good I guess. We have a lot planned for this week coming up though and next weekend is jam-packed with activities so we are looking forward to that. Also, let the countdown begin for my parents arrival in London: 11 days!! I am so excited for them to come and show them around the city.

XX.

How I Met My Boyfriend

It all started with a snotty tissue. He took me by surprise, as these things often do, leaving me in a wake of memories from an afternoon that ended too soon. But before I tell you this tale, of how I met my boyfriend, let me take you back to the beginning of the week when I had no idea my life was about to change forever.

Compared to previous weeks I've had in London, this one started and ended rather uneventfully. I stayed home every night, curled up on my bed reading and watching TV. I ate one too many chocolate cookies and enough rice to feed a small village. It was much needed. My life has been in constant motion since arriving and although it has been fun, I needed some relaxation.

You may be wondering how I could meet someone from the confines of big-bed, having shut the world out each night, entering the lives of Katey Kontent, Meredith Grey, Alicia Florrick and Ted Mosby. But the world is funny that way. You often don't have to go too far to find someone who can change your life.

I woke up early on Saturday and took a train to Oxford. I was tired but pressed on knowing the day would be worth it. I just had a feeling. When I got to the station I hopped into a taxi and got dropped off at Oxford Academy. It was overcast, the sky threatening to open up, reminding us all that we can be caught in a rainstorm at any moment. I was there as a volunteer for the Whizz-Kidz Ambassador Club where young people get to spend the day, participating in fun activities and it gives them a change to meet others who have disabilities as well. It was on this Saturday, in Oxford, that I met him.

Like me, it was his first time at an Ambassadors Club. When he first came in he was nervous and shy unlike most of the other young people who had become friends years earlier, picking up right where they left off, fighting like siblings. His quiet demeanor quickly vanished when we formed a circle to introduce ourselves and catch up on what had happened in everyone's lives since the last meeting. Besides myself, there was one other volunteer, two nurses, the group leader and seven young people. I quickly learned who the outgoing ones were and who kept to themselves. Most had cerebral palsy, confined to wheelchairs but unwilling to let that hold them back. Their openness about their disability and the affect it has on their lives was both moving and heartbreaking.

It was in the circle, as I leant him a tissue for his runny nose, that I learned his name was Hamzah. He turned out to be the furthest thing from shy, cutting off the others when they were sharing because he remembered something else he wanted to tell us. Although everyone was getting frustrated with him, the stories he shared were raw and honest. He told us about his family and an older brother who died too young from a disease he couldn't beat. He talked about how his dad doesn't understand his disability and how he is homeschooled by his mother and step-dad. He has been through a lot and is only eleven.

I say Hamzah became my boyfriend but clearly not in the traditional sense. Although we will never see each other again, his friendship that day and willingness to share his story was something I will remember for a long time. He is smart and knows more about American current events than I do. He loves Animal Planet and his mom teaches him about American history. He is fascinated by it all and wants to live in the US one day. I hope he can make that happen. It was so refreshing to see how this boy could be so kind and open with me, someone he just met.

Although Hamzah and I bonded and spent most of the day talking in between activities, the other young people were just as inspiring. One in particular, Aidan, has an amazing voice and sang 22 by Taylor Swift in front of the whole group. It was beautiful. He sang it better than Taylor...yes, I just said that!

I am so glad I got to go to one of the Ambassador Clubs and meet some of the young people everyone in the head office works so hard to help. After the club I walked around Oxford before catching my train home. It was a nice little town and reminded me a lot of New England.

Although a quiet week, it was a memorable one and I have Whizz-Kidz to thank for that.

XX.

Spring has Sprung in London

I think it is safe to say we brought the warm weather and blue skies back to London with us from Spain. This past week we have had the best weather since arriving. Our two month anniversary was this past week, which means only five weeks left of the program. Where has the time gone?

With the weather taking a major turn for the better, we have been outside a lot more this past week. There are so many beautiful parks to sit in and relax, read a book or people watch and we have been taking advantage of every minute we have to be outside.

It was a pretty slow start to the week, getting back into classes and internships. Oh how we missed CAPA the week we were away. NOT!! It's still exactly the same. I don't normally discuss grades and I never post those annoying "look at me, I got a 4.0 gpa status" but I got an 86 on my economy midterm!!! For those who have been following my economy saga, I can hear your claps from here. Thank you, thank you. I didn't even get the lowest grade in the class either, which made me happy. This really annoying kid, who told me in the first class he didn't know much on the subject either and then proceeded to have a debate with someone about economic policies, only scored a point higher than me too. So watch out buddy, I'm coming for you.

On Wednesday night Perri, Helen and I went to see The Drowned Man an immersive theater production. Immersive theater, for those who don't know (I didn't until just recently) is unlike a regular theater performance because the audience takes on an active role in the show. Basically, it was a huge warehouse that has been transformed into a set, with many different rooms and floors and the audience is dropped into one area, left to explore and figure out the story on their own. There is only a small amount of information given at the beginning and in order to figure out the rest you follow members of the cast from room to room, wandering around the building, touching and reading anything you wish. I don't know if I am giving justice to what this experience actually was because it was honestly one of the coolest things I have ever done.

I was very hesitant when buying the tickets because from what I had gathered, mostly from the website, things jump out at you, it is dark and you are alone. Being someone who freaked out when entering a halloween store this past October through a really scary haunted house maze (why they would set it up that way I don't know??) I was really scared I would have to escape through an emergency exit halfway through the show. I can't handle things jumping out at me. But I loved it! It was so mind blowing and beautiful we are still talking about it.

The set itself was so intricate and amazing with so many rooms to explore and props you could pick up and look at. It was encouraged to wander around by yourself and not stay with friends so that is what we did. We were given masks before we entered, to help distinguish the actors from the audience and also to give it a more intimate and private experience, all of your emotions being covered by the mask. Once the doors opened it was up to us to chose where we wanted to go and which actors we wanted to follow. It was a big free-for-all for three hours, everyone wandering around trying to figure everything out. Although at the time you think you are seeing so much, we realized after, when discussing it, that we each missed things the other two saw. This show was the reason Perri wanted to come to London and I can now see why. It was spectacular! At the end we still couldn't figure out the story but the dancing and music was so unbelievable, it didn't matter.

Pub Crawl 

On Thursday night Tara got to London!! We all screamed so loud the security guy knocked on our door because he thought someone was breaking in. He is a bit of an over-reactor though. We went to Roxy that night which is always a good time and on Friday night we did the Camden Pub Crawl (again). Last time I did it I couldn't make to the last place and I vowed not to let that happen again this time. But I failed. Miserably. I don't know what it is but I just can't do it. It starts so early and they make you walk what feels like miles from bar to bar. It is just too much and I get really hungry on the walks which makes it difficult. I think it is safe to say I may not be a pub crawler, at least not this one. But Tara had a great time! She could not have had a better weekend in terms of weather to be in London. Helen made sure she got a little taste of everything and I think she was successful.

Oops we did it again...

Saturday during the day we (including Scott) went back to Portobello Market, the one with the legendary crepes. Luckily this time it wasn't raining, which made walking around much more enjoyable. I found a lot of great things and bought them all. Oops. Perri and I had another crepe and Tara tried one too. She said it was everything she had imagined it would be and more, so there's proof that Perri and I aren't crazy. It was even better the second time. That night we kept it low-key which was nice and went to the rooftop bar at The Shard with Scott. The views were beautiful and so was the building. The people were a bit stuck up and snobby but I am glad I can at least say I have been to the top. I think we may have even seen half of One Direction there too but don't take my word for it. After that we took Tara to Madison's Cafe the other rooftop bar we went to a couple weeks ago with the amazing views of London. She liked that a lot too and Perri was able to join us after work. It was a wonderful evening.

Today we walked around showing Tara the sights. It was so beautiful out and at one point we ended up laying in the grass of a park overlooking the London Eye. It was great. Although it was really sad to see Tara go we are going to see her again really soon when we go to Scotland to visit her. I know we all can't wait!!

There has also been a major update on my internship as well (partially thanks to Scott's encouragement). I had been researching and doing mundane tasks for too long and finally on Wednesday I had enough. I talked to my boss and asked if there was any more substantial and longer-term project I could be working on because I thought I could be doing more than just researching. She agreed and gave me a really cool project. I am now currently contacting and interviewing PR worthy runners who are running the London Marathon for Whizz-Kidz. I then get to write up press releases for them which will be sold to local newspapers and other publications and hopefully larger running magazines as well. I am so excited and happy that I spoke up and asked to be working on something else. This will be great experience and I have been talking to some really interesting people.

I would say I had a pretty great week. I wanted to also just take a minute to acknowledge some of the people here in London with me that I may not single out all the time in this blog but who have really made my time in London wonderful. I know you guys read this and it means a lot to me that you do even though most of the time you are with me during these adventures. Rena, Zoe, James, Charly, Kyle, Teddy and Scott, thank you.

Cheers. XX.

Spring Break Part Two: Fiestas and Siestas, Doses and Mimosas

My spring break is officially over and I am on a flight back to London. The past four days in Barcelona have been wonderful. We got there late Tuesday night and settled in. The apartment was right downtown in the heart of the city. It had a great terrace that overlooked the side street we were on and just at the end was La Rambla, one of the main streets that runs through the center. There were lots of shops and a long strip running straight through the center where vendors would set up, selling souvenirs and flowers every day. The whole city was beautiful with so many quiet little side streets. You could wander for hours and never get bored. 

We took it easy on Wednesday and Helen, Perri and I took a much needed girls day away from the boys.  Traveling with a group of boys turned out to be a more challenging task than anticipated and we were exhausted. We explored the neighborhood and had a really long lunch in a sunny square, catching up on what had happened during our days apart. Four days was a long time not seeing each other after having spent the last couple months together so it was great being reunited. Helen and I missed Perri so much and she missed us. It was a beautiful reunion. We ordered paiaya and sangria and talked for hours, basking in the sun. A lovely afternoon. 

On Thursday Helen, Perri, David and I went to Montserrat, an absolutely breathtaking multi-peaked mountain about an hour outside of Barcelona in Catalonia. I think the pictures speak for themselves. It is something I recommend everyone tries to see at some point in their life. So amazing. We took a cable car up the mountain and then followed trails up to higher peaks seeing more and more of Spain the higher we climbed. We took an excessive amount of pictures and stopped along the way to have lunch, more of a picnic really, of bread and Brie while looking out over the area. A truly wonderful day and one I will always remember. 

Way too Happy 

Friday we went to the beach!! The weather was beautiful the whole time we were in Barcelona so we decided to take advantage of it and hit the sand. As we were walking there in our sandals, bathing suits and dresses, we passed people in full on wool jackets, jeans and boots. It clearly wasn't as warm to them and we felt a little ridiculous. Such tourists but we didn't care, we were so excited to be able to lay on a blanket and read in the sun. When we finally got there we saw there were other crazy people like us too, so we felt better. We stayed all afternoon and got sunburns!! So great. I'm feeling really tan right now even though I'm not at all. At the beach there are people that walk up and down selling all sorts of things from drinks to tapestries to massages and Henna tattoos. I saw a man selling a blue and white tapestry and had to have it. (My favorite color combination how could I not?) I watched him walk up and down the beach with it and when he finally came closer to us I decided to go for it and buy it. I was really excited and can't wait to hang it in my room at a school this summer!! 

Friday night we went to a club which was very different than the clubs we have been experiencing in London. These didn't even open till 12am and stayed open until 6am. Perfect for us since we can never get our act together and be ready on time in London. It was a long night but lots of fun and dancing. I think it is safe to say we all had a great time. Even Kyle.

On a side note, we realized that living with a group of guys is in itself an experience worth noting. I am not sure if it is just our particular group of friends or if the majority of guys do this but they are absolutely disgusting. Just one example: We had an issue with the shower not draining the entire time we were there but on Friday night, after one of them took a shower (I will let him remain anonymous) the tub was completely full of water. The four girls (Zoe joined us at this point) were sick of cleaning up after them and told them to figure it out. They proceeded to use a fork to clean out the drain but nothing happened so they took a cup and started scooping water into the sink (???) It stayed this way for an entire day, no one able to take showers until one of them realized the drain was in the whole time. No one stuck their hand in to see. WHAT?!?! I don't even know. Marlena, if you are reading this, I give you props for living with three guys. I really do not know how you do it. You are a superwoman!

Sagrada Familia 

On Saturday we walked to El Encants, one of Europe's largest flea markets, which has been around since the 14th century. It was outside but four-stories high and sold anything imaginable, new and used. I bought this really cool old red tin and Helen bought a silver pendant. After the market we walked to Sagrada Familia, a basilica built by architect, Antoni Gaudi. It was never completed but Gaudi devoted the last years of his life to the project. It is still being built and restored today so there was scaffolding around a good portion of it. The architectural details though were unbelievable. It was so beautiful. We didn't get to go in but we walked around the outside staring in awe. The guys actually enjoyed it too. 

We ate amazing food the entire time we were there and it just so happened there was a frozen yogurt place right down the street from the apartment. The woman knew us by the second day we went so many times. Delicious, and I felt like it was a healthier alternative to the gelato I had been eating in Lagos. At least that's what I told myself. We had a bunch of traditional dishes and tried some new things too. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Zoe also introduced us to a new word 'hangry' which I had never heard before but instantly realized how often it pertains to my life. It  is basically a word you can say when you are super hungry but can not find a place to eat or decide on something when with a group. I have been hangry a lot in my life and now I finally have a word for it. Thank you Zoe and you are welcome everyone; you now have a word for that situation. 

I had a big epiphany while in Barcelona as well. Being in foreign countries, especially ones that don't speak English made me feel really ignorant. Here I was in a Spanish country and I didn't know any Spanish. Most people were able to speak English but I hated being that American tourist who expected them to adapt for me instead of the other way around. After being so frustrated with myself I vowed that this summer I am going to learn Spanish. I have never had the best luck with learning languages before but I am going to try my best with this. I think learning in a more relaxed environment without pressure of having to take tests on it will make it more enjoyable. Fingers crossed I can do it. 

It is going to be difficult transitioning back into real life with classes and my internship but I am excited to be back in London. I missed it. We are officially halfway through the program and I can not believe how fast it is going. I know this next half will probably go even faster so I am going to try to experience as much as possible and really enjoy every minute.  

Have a wonderful week!  

XX. 

Spring Break Part One: Deep Conversations and Too Much Gelato

Rossio Square 

Today is a Tuesday and I am currently sitting on  a bus making the four and a half hour journey back to Lisbon from Lagos. These past few days in Portugal have been relaxing and fun despite the fact that we picked a very bad time of year to come. 

We arrived in Lisbon on Friday and spent the afternoon walking along the streets, lined with cafés and small shops. We made our way down to the water and were able to see the 25 de Abril Bridge, which is supposedly what the Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco was designed after. It was absolutely beautiful and the sun was shining. Down by the water was Rossio Square with the Column of Pedro IV in the center. You can tell all of the buildings are old and many were falling apart but the colors were so vibrant and the limestone used to construct many of the buildings and streets were gorgeous. So pristine. We had lunch outside and walked around some more. 

25 de Abril Bridge 

After trying all afternoon and failing miserably to find a hostel or hotel to stay in for the night that was reasonable and close to the bus station (the only part of the trip that wasn't planned ahead and the one thing we regret most not planning) we made a quick decision to hop on a bus and get to Lagos a night early. Traveling all day Friday was a lot but worth it because we were able to have three full days to explore in Lagos. When we finally made it to the bus stop in Lagos an extremely kind taxi driver who spoke very little English helped us find a hotel just up the road. It was perfect for the night and we were all very grateful. We had dinner at a Mexican resturant that had amazing burritos and all got drinks to celebrate finally making it there. We called it a night early, all exhausted after getting up at 4am and traveling all day. 

Lisbon 

The next morning we headed down to the center of town, which had a ton of restaurants with outside tables and small boutiques (our favorite was a store that only sold Jeggings in various colors and designs) so funny. The town was beautiful and right along the channel. Just beyond that was the ocean and in the hills, off to the side, you could see other towns with houses and trees dotting the landscape. The town was very simple but elegant and beautiful none the less. It reminded us of a movie set. 

After we had a three hour lunch we headed to the apartment we would be staying in for the rest of our time in Portugal. We lucked out and got a room upgrade so the place was huge for just the five of us (me, Helen, Kyle, Charly and David). We had a deck that overlooked town and in the distance you could see the water. It was perfect. Great job getting us that place Helen!! 

Lagos 

After being in Lagos a short time we quickly realized that it was not really what we were expecting. For some reason in our minds, it was going to be warmer and we would be able to sit on the beach and the town would be bustling with people. However, it was overcast almost everyday and we were among the few people that brave the cold of Lagos in winter. We were dumb. But never the less we still had a great time and were able to relax which was nice. 

Lagos reminds me a lot of Cape Cod in winter. Being a coastal town, we were completely surrounded by beautiful blue water and there was a large marina with more sailboats than you could count, all docked awaiting the warmer weather. There was hardly anyone around and not all of the shops were open this time of year. We quickly learned that Lagos is a summer destination and the city comes alive in the warmer weather. Resturant waiters and shop owners told us you can hardly walk down the street because there are so many people. Sadly, we didn't see any of that. 

Although we didn't pick the ideal time to come, we made the best of it and still had a great time. The boys were very keen on staying in the apartment and not wandering too much but Helen and I walked the 15 minutes from our apartment to town eveyday and explored. We wandered up and down the streets for hours, fascinated by the quaint homes and the beautiful and unique doors everywhere. (Helen took close to 50 pictures of doors alone) We were able to see the town from higher up and got to know our way around the winding streets that seemed to be a maze you could easily get lost in. We ate authentic Portuguese food and found a jewlery store nestled in the corner of the street run by such an interesting man who we stayed and talked to for a while. 

"The Boys" and Helen

On Sunday we ventured to see the beach which was right down the street from our appartment. It was really windy and chilly but we were able to get a closer look at the ocean and sit on the sand for a little while. All of the guys decided to go in the water despite its freezing temperature and shivered in their boxers the entire walk back. They claimed it was worth it though and they were probably right. 

We ate a lot of good food while we were there but the highlight of Lagos was hands down the gelato. I consumed 7 scoops in the three days we were there, never repeating a flavor. (Excessive? Maybe but I didn't care) It was soo good and a great thing to eat while walking around. 

One of many cups of gelato

Although we didn't get to lay in the sun on the beach like we were planing to and there weren't a lot of people around, we still had a wonderful time. Helen and I spent many afternoons reading and talking at coffee shops in town and at night we all hung out in our apartment, listening to music and having really intense conversations about life and our futures. We are all eager to get to Barcelona but glad we were able to spend time in Portugal. I would definitely go back but most likely in the summer when there is more going on. 

We are almost to Lisbon where we will take another bus to the airport and arrive in Barcelona tonight. I can't wait to see what Spain has in store for us!! 

Out with the Old, in with the New

It is really easy to say you have changed as a person and let go of the things in the past that have weighed you down, but to actually do it, to completely let go of everything, is the most liberating feeling in the world. Although I have been letting go piece by piece in the time I have been here, I feel like in the past few days I can finally say I feel free. I can't decide what sparked this change, maybe it was the fact that my phone memory was full and I deleted all of my old messages and voicemails or the fact that I finished all my papers and mid-terms that had been stressing me out at the beginning of the week. Regardless of what it was exactly, I can honestly say I have completely let go. I am happy and having the time of my life in London. There are so many great things I have to look forward to in these next few months and even years and I am so excited to embrace every minute of it.

But like I mentioned I spent most of this past week writing papers. I had three due on Thursday and I only gave myself three nights to write them. So unlike me but when in London, right? Who has time for actual school work? Once the insanity of Thursday was over though it was time to relax and have fun again. Thursday night a group of us went to Dirty, a club in Soho. It was a lot of fun and we danced until about 2am. It was a much needed break after a crazy week.

On Friday I had work in the morning (it was a little rough) and then I met up with Perri, Helen and Rena at Free State for the afternoon. On Friday night we went to a roof-top bar, Madison's Cafe, which is Scott's go-to spot. He had said it was amazing and he wasn't kidding. The views were breathtaking. One whole side of the bar was all windows overlooking London. There was an outdoor seating area too where we sat and had a drink taking in the views. Absolutely wonderful! Such a nice low-key and classy night out. Could we really expect anything less from Scott though?

Saturday morning was warm and sunny so I got up early and went for a long run by myself around our area. It was really nice just to run and explore, not worrying about time or work. A lot of the flowers are blooming which is so pretty to see and there were so many people sitting on benches talking. So lovely. I was walking around Russell Square Park after my run and met up with Perri who was going on a run too. We continued together and then did some arm strengthening exercises. We are trying to get buff for spring break. We were joined by this older man who started doing exercises with us. He was in jeans though and struggled to keep up so decided to let us be. He was funny. That afternoon we did some work and then that night we went to a bar/club called the Horse and Groom. It is a real challenge to pick places to go because the websites make it seem one way and when you actually get there it is often different than you anticipated. That was the case on Saturday but we made the best of it.

Perri and I decided to leave early so we walked to the bus stop. Of course we had to wait for it to come but we actually found the right one we needed. After waiting about forty minutes in the cold we finally got on. Little did we know Charly and Kyle had left about 20 minutes after us and went to a different bus stop. Everyone else left 20 minutes later, saw them on the street and told them they were at the wrong bus stop. They all preceded to get on the right bus and to their surprise there was Perri and I. WHAT?!? I seriously don't understand how this happens. Perri and I left so much earlier than everyone else, waited in the cold and somehow all ended up together. Classic night bus.

Today we did a little shopping to pick up some last minute things we needed for spring break. We leave on Friday!! I am so excited. We are headed to Portugal and then Spain for the week so hopefully it will be sunny and warm.

An update on my internship: not much has changed. No one talks to me and no, I am not exaggerating. It is so weird. The other day I was making tea in the kitchen and this woman walked in. I said hi, she looked directly at me and didn't say anything. I had no idea what to do it was so awkward. All I have been doing is research and compiling media lists for upcoming events and projects. It is just a lot of the same even though I have asked to try other things but it will be alright. I am already almost halfway done so I can stick it out for another couple weeks.

I probably will not be able to write another post until after I get back from spring break so for all of you amazing people who actually take the time to read this you will most likely have to wait two weeks. Sorry. But I am sure my spring break adventures will be great!

On a more serious note I just want to take a minute to acknowledge, John Durkin, an American from Bates College studying abroad in Rome who passed away this week. It is a tragic story and one that really hit home for Perri, Helen and I. We realized just how fortunate we are to be so close and to know that we are watching out for each other no matter what.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

X.

Twenty-One in London

Turning 21 in London has been one of the best experiences of my life. Although I am far from home and miss my friends and family a lot, the people around me here have made my birthday one to remember.

This week started off with a lot of work and papers; I guess it is mid-terms already. I had to write a paper for my Economics class and I know absolutely nothing about economics (like is the word economics even capitalized??) No clue. Luckily I am pretty good at making it sound like I know more than I do, well at least I think I am. After finally getting that done though and pushing all of my other papers to this coming week, my birthday weekend began! 

Friday Night 

Thursday night we had the greatest intention of singing karaoke at the International Students House, another international program that allows CAPA kids to use their facilities and join clubs and things there. We were going to their bar though for karaoke Thursday. As a side bar I just want to say how confusing the London night bus system is. London has to be one of the easiest cities to navigate because of all the signs and easily labeled streets BUT the night buses are more complex than the current economy of China (that was the topic of my paper so I would know!). Despite all the planning I did before leaving to figure out how to get home, we somehow got lost going to the bar that night. So lost that we never even made it to karaoke and ended up fighting in the streets with Kyle, Charly and David. A woman approached and asked if we were alright and we said yes but then she flashed her badge and said she was an undercover cop and could help. We kindly declined and laughed the whole way home. I guess we will just have to wait for another week to sing. 

Despite the craziness of Thursday, Friday night may have been hands down my favorite night in London so far. We went to Imperial College bar (they were having a Valentines Day party encouraging everyone to wear white or pink.... we wore black). We danced for hours and I knew all but maybe 5 songs, which for me is a huge deal considering I have "awful taste in music" and never know many of the songs anyways. THEY PLAYED SClub7!!!! Like what? When does that happen? It was seriously amazing in so many ways. After the catastrophe from the night before and not being able to figure out the night buses, I spent a solid hour that afternoon planing our route home. But it ended up taking us almost 2 hours with a combination of a bus, walking and breaking down and getting a cab for a small part of it. We finally made it back around 4am but regardless the night was perfect. 

Saturday Night 

On Saturday during the day we went back to Camden Markets (I have decided the food here is the best in terms of markets). Perri and I couldn't decide between two things so we ended up getting both and splitting them. One was a falafel wrap with humus, veggies and chickpeas and the second was freshly made pita bread with melted mozzarella and Brie, homemade pesto sauce, arugula and tomatoes. So yummy!! We also splurged since it was my birthday and bought freshly squeezed lemonade but it was awful! I really didn't think someone could make lemonade taste so weird but this was not good. He squeezed orange into it too which makes me gag just thinking about it because I HATE juice. But even Perri and Helen said it wasn't good so I know it wasn't just me. 

Saturday night I got home and Perri and Helen had decorated our room with balloons, streamers and candles. It was so festive!! They also made me homemade macaroni and cheese and a wonderful salad. It was such a great dinner. Later that night we went back to Camden Town to a club called Proud. We had to basically go through airport security to get in ( I was actually patted down) but once we were in it was a lot of fun. The building used to be an old horse stable which they have converted into the club but the original stalls for the horses are still there, giving the place a really cool look. I have to admit by the time 12am hit and I officially turned 21, surrounded by the greatest friends, I was so tired and ready to leave. Although it was kind of early, after partying hard for three nights in a row I was ready for bed. Rena bought me an amazing Mexican quesadilla, which I devoured on the walk to the bus and we actually made it home without much trouble.

Oh Sunny Days 

Today we took it easy and relaxed. The sun was out all day and it was gorgeous. London gave me the best birthday present. We couldn't pass up not being outside so we went on a run through the parks. So perfect. We ran for maybe twenty minutes but then walked around the parks and sat on the stairs in front of our flat for a while, soaking in the sun. Perri and Helen also surprised my with fresh cut flowers all over our room and cupcakes and carrot cake!! Can anyone really know me better than them? Come on!! 

Tonight my wonderful, amazing parents treated us to dinner at this really cute Italian restaurant outside of central London. The food.... no words can describe it ( I had risotto with asparagus) and we just sat for hours eating and drinking wine. It was such a wonderful surprise and a great end to a really terrific birthday weekend. 

This whole weekend really could not have been any better. I have the best friends and parents in the world and could not be more appreciative. Turning 21 is such an exciting time and I am more than ready for whatever this year brings. I have a really good feeling it will be amazing.

X.