A Farewell to London

I wanted to wait and post this week's blog now, instead of last Sunday, so I could include all of the happenings from my final week in London. 

After my parents left last Tuesday, which now feels like weeks ago, I was busy finishing papers and studying for finals so I could enjoy my last weekend. We all were. We finished everything and were so releaved to be done and relax. We started off our weekend on Thursday and tried to go to The Roxy one last time BUT there was a huge line when we arrived. It was unbelievable, we were baffled that our little Thursday night spot had been invaded by hundreds of people. I waited in line for at least twenty minutes and reluctantly had to give up and go home (I had to pee so badly) I literally ran home, which didn't help the situation at all!! 

Pure Happiness 

On Friday I didn't have work because of the bank holiday/Easter so we kicked off our day at Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station. Yes, this exists even though the scenes in Harry Potter weren't even filmed there so... I'm confused. This has been something Perri and Helen have been talking about doing the entire time we have been here so they HAD TO GO!! And they dragged me along to be the photographer. Great fun! We got out of the station and had to ask where the platform was. After the tube station man laughed at Helen he pointed us in the right direction. When we walked over there was a huge production in front of it. "Conductors" were taking professional photos and mingling with the people in line chatting about the movies, books and secret Harry Potter gangs that meet and practice their wizardry (I'm assuming). Anyways we walk up and there is a huge line wrapped around to go up and take a picture with the trolley that has been pushed halfway through the wall already. Magic!! The girls got in line and I found a seat and got some tea. About 45 minutes later it was finally their turn so I positioned myself in the perfect spot to take pictures of them. Now I have never been to a professional photo shoot before but I imagine it was something like this. Perri and Helen, no where near the youngest waiting in line, which is weird but I won't comment further. Everyone has their thing right? proceeded to have a full on photo shoot for a solid 15 minutes as the crowd cheered them on. First individuals and then group photos of them casting spells on each other. The crowd was loving it. I'm not sure if they were laughing at them or with them, maybe both but they didn't care. Thankfully they finally finished up and I had over a hundred photos proving just how much they love Harry Potter. 

Oh Helen your wizardry

After that we met up with Rena and Anna, a friend of hers visiting from Scotland, and went to Brick Lane. This is where they have traditional Indian restaurants... But of course I will get to the food in a minute. FIRST the vintage shops! Wow thank God we didn't make it here earlier or I would have had to buy another suitcase to take home. It was a street lined with vintage stores. More clothes than you could sift through in a lifetime. We went to one shop first and I bought a scarf/ headband thing (yes, mom another one). But Rena knew of a cool underground place so we went there before it closed. It was an underground vintage market. So many little stalls set up with different people's treasures it was a lot to take in. But.. I found this one man who was selling Levi high waisted jeans, 20 quid!! I was like OKAY! I tried on a bunch of pairs in this small dark corner that was the "dressing room" all by myself. I had lost the other girls and was going in blind, making a major fashion decision without consulting my friends first. Oh no! (It wasn't as dramatic as I'm making it seem I was calm, cool and collected so the guy would give me a good deal. I bought high waited jeans and black shorts and a tshirt all for 35 pounds! What a steal. I love getting a deal. The stores were closing so I ran around trying to find the girls, high on life after the purchase I made. They loved them! (Hugh sigh of relief) the jeans were a little 'mommy' but I got all crafty with them when I got home and with the guidance of Helen and Perri distressed them, and bam, they were perfect. I couldn't have lucked out more. 

After shopping we went to dinner with Ravina and one of her friends that was visiting too. Ravina and Rena had been before so they knew the best restaurant to chose. All along the street men from the restaurants stand out front and bargain with people on the street to chose them for a place to eat. One place offered us four bottles of wine and 25 percent off. I tried to be funny and said why don't you just give it to us for free but no one heard me... I laughed to myself anyways. So we picked a place and sat down. We got our free bottle of fine Italian wine (at an Indian restaurant none the less) and our free papadum. I had pakora and saag masala with rice and Perri and I split naan (garlic naan, Perri insisted). Yummy!! It was delicious and the perfect amount of food. Good job Rena and Ravina. 

It was the perfect day until... Helen lost her license and Oyster Card. I'm honestly surprised her or Perri haven't lost something important yet just based on the way their sides of the room look. No one's perfect, me included. Maybe I'm just slightly more organized. Anyways, I helped her look. We retraced our steps because we hadn't gone far but no luck. It was gone. It was also sad. She surprisingly handled it very well (unlike I did the one time freshman year I thought I lost my phone and ID. I'm sure those of you who remember this are laughing or shaking your head in disgrace at how I acted) I got my stuff back but Helen's has yet to turn up. Good thing we only had a few days left. 

On Saturday Helen and I went to Regents Park and sat and people watched for a while. It was nice to go one last time and just sit in the sun relaxing. I'm going to miss that park. That night we all attempted The Roxy ONE MORE TIME!! But when we got there, the cover charge had mysteriously (hmmm) gone up to 8 pounds and we only brought the 5 pounds it was supposed to be so we went home. Well, we did some questionable eating first and then went home. But we were alright with it, we have had some amazing memories at The Roxy and I will remember it fondly. We all will. 

Sunday was our last full day at Free State. We ate all of our favorite foods and drank a lot of coffee and tea while we finished a few little things that needed to be done and I studied for my Econ final, which was the next day. I won't bore you with details but the final was alright. I did the best I could with what I could retain. Fingers crossed my professor liked me enough not to grade me too harsh. But if you need to know anything about the Japanese or Chinese economies, I'm your girl.

This past week seemed to fly by with my last few days of work and taking exams. All of the exams were fine and we are all officially done with CAPA!! Hurray! Thank god. What an eye opening experience that place was. I love you so much Clark!! 

My last day of work was Wednesday and my team was so sweet. I misjudged the situation and, to my defense, I think the British work culture had a little to do with it but they actually really liked me and appreciated all the work I did. The team took me to lunch and gave me a nice card and a gift certificate to an accessories store, which I went to after work and bought a ton of rings. My favorite. It was really sweet and I was sad to say goodbye to them. I really have learned so much there and I wouldn't have wanted to trade my internship for anything. Whizz-Kidz you have been good to me! 

So, as of today, Friday, we are all officially done with everything and pretty much all packed up and ready to go. This is our last full day in London and tomorrow we leave for Scotland to see Tara!! 

It's bittersweet leaving London. We are glad classes and work are over but saying goodbye to this city is hard. I have really fallen in love with this place with all of the food, shopping, museums and landmarks that make up this intricate and diverse city. I couldn't have picked a better place to study abroad or had a better experience. Although I didn't have the typical, 'made so many friends from everywhere' experience (we had a strict no new friend policy) (jokingly but it kind of didn't happen) (we blame CAPA). But the people from Clark who I wasn't really friends with before coming here have become some of my closest friends. You all know who you are and I will fake a text message every time I walk by you back at school. That's how much I love you guys! 

Some of my favorites:

Market- Portobello for shopping and Borough for food
Club- Toss up between The Roxy and O'Neils
Pub- Princess
Coffee Shop- Free State
Restaurant- Amico Bio
Monument- Big Old Ben
Park- Regents Park
Sweet Treat- Portobello Market Crepe
Tube Line- Circle Line
Tube Line Name- Hammersmith and City Line
Tube Station- Picadilly Circus
Tube Station Name- Cockfosters
Mush- Rice with refried beans, salsa, a little cheese and when I was lucky, avocado
London Saying- Cheers! Bye yea (in an upward inflection)
London Memory- When Perri and Helen jumped on an old desk chair in front of our flat one night and instead of sailing down the street, like intended, crashed down hard on the pavement. They woke up the next morning with bruises on their body and it took a couple of hours for us to realize what they were from.
BigBed Moment- Getting hit by Helen in my sleep and waking up holding her hand
Picture Taken-

No caption needed 

For those tearing up thinking this is my last post, don't fear. It is not. I had to give Kyle my computer yesterday to take back home with him since I am traveling so I wrote this on my phone. Impressive right? I think so. My fingers are cramping up but I will continue to document our travels as we go. The posts will be sporadic but I will fill you in after each country we visit. We are off to Scotland this weekend and then Amsterdam and Prague. I will be heading home after that but Perri and Helen will continue their journeys without me. I will see you on May 10th America and I can't wait!  

XX. 

Mom and Dad in London

Madison's Cafe 

I am exhausted, have blisters on my feet and papers to write but I could not have had a more perfect weekend with my parents. I knew I missed my family a lot being away but after seeing my mom and dad these past five days I realized just how mush I miss them, SO MUCH. We have done a lot these past few days but I would say they got to see the best of London from their personal tour guide, me.

They got here on Thursday morning while I was at class but took a long nap, to help with the jet-lag, and by the afternoon they were ready to go. We walked to Regents Park to see all of the beautiful flowers and sat on a bench in the warm sun. They were so excited it was actually warm and that the flowers were already in full bloom, unlike back at home. We walked around my area a little more that afternoon and went to a few furniture stores (my mom was ready to ship a lot of stuff back home but restrained herself). That night we went to Princess, the pub Helen and Perri and I always go to, before dinner. My dad loved it and we went back a few more times while they were here. If he lived here it would be his hangout for sure. For dinner we went to a Greek restaurant down the street from me that I have been wanting to go to. It was delicious. I was definitely spoiled getting to go to all of the places I have had my eye on but never got the chance to get to.

Regents Park 

On Friday we got a jump start on the day and took the tube down to Westminster to see the London Eye, Big Ben and walk along the River Thames. I must say I was a little hesitant with how they would do on the tube since they are not the best city people but boy was I impressed. They did great! I showed them once how to swipe in and out and they picked it up so quickly. By the end they were pros.

I feel like they fell in love with London as much as I have in just the few days they were here and I could tell, despite all of the people and the faster pace, they didn't seem overwhelmed at all. They are already planning to come back again just the two of them. You really gotta love this city. It can make the most unlikely people want to keep coming back.

So back to Friday... they saw what I would say are some of the essential London tourist spots and really liked them. We almost went up in the London Eye but the line was really long so instead we just walked along the river and ended up at Borough Market. I forgot that although there is a lot of meat there, it also has amazing desserts and produce. They loved it! We got a bunch of different things to share and they couldn't get over the fact that there are markets like that set up all the time. We walked around some more that afternoon and ended up in Victoria, so they got to see where I have been working. We had a late lunch in the area and then went to Buckingham Palace, which is literally two streets over from my office. Who knew? I realized a lot of things were a lot closer and that places even existed after walking around more with my mom and dad. Very eye-opening. We took a tour of the Mews at Buckingham and then walked through Green Park and took the bus back to my area.

This guy got oysters at Borough Market 

That night we went out with Perri and Helen to Princess, again, for drinks and then to a pub in Brixton. It turns out that despite the great pictures and reviews on the website the pub was less than average. We left not long after getting there but I knew of a Mexican restaurant in Victoria, which was not too far from where we were and we went there instead. It was delicious. We got pitchers of margaritas and a ton of food, we were all so full after. We took a cab home because my dad really wanted to get the "full London experience" which was nice. It was great to be able to have Perri and Helen there with us as well. (I was having separation anxiety from not seeing them the past few days... well not really... but maybe a little)

In the Mews of Buckingham Palace 

On Saturday it was my mom's birthday so we made the day extra special. We went to Portobello Market with Perri and Helen and spent the morning and early afternoon walking around and shopping. We bought a lot of cool things and my parents, again, loved it. There were a lot of antiques and vintage things which was right up their alley. We also discovered that the market goes past this restaurant Helen, Perri and I always go to. We were amazed and there were so many more great shops we had never been to before. We had lunch a great pub and my parents tried the crepes I am always raving about. They liked it too. Later that night we went to this all vegetarian and organic restaurant for my mom's birthday dinner. It was so amazing and wonderful not to have limits on what we could order since everything was vegetarian. I think my mom had a really great birthday and I am so glad we got to spend it together.

On Sunday my mom and I went to Camden Market in the morning, my dad unfortunately, had food poisoning (from the vegetarian restaurant, yes, I know seems ridiculous but the poor guy was down for the count). We let him rest while my mom and I walked around the market. I had only been one other time, at the very beginning of the program, and I have to say I don't remember it being as awful as it was on Sunday. It was a lot of cheap touristy junk but it was still fun walking around and letting my mom see another area of London. We had lunch at the market and then sat in the park in the afternoon. My dad was able to join us too. We went to Freestate that afternoon too which was another highlight for my parents, getting to see the place I spend so much of my time. My mom and I went out to a great Italian restaurant that night and got pizza, my first actual pizza since being away and yumm did it taste good!!

Today I had to go to class in the morning but my mom and dad took the tube, all by themselves, to Kensington and walked around Hyde Park and the Kensington Palace. We met for lunch and then went to Harrods, the big department store, which I actually hadn't been to yet. It was impressive but all high end designer clothes and accessories which got old pretty fast. At least we can say we have been though. In the afternoon they took me grocery shopping, the nicest thing ever. We have enough food to last us till the end of the program and it is really great stuff. We are so excited!

Tonight we went to Madison's Cafe, the rooftop bar overlooking the city for dinner. I have only ever been for drinks so actually sitting and eating was nice. Huge shoutout to Scott for telling us about that in the first place, it really was a great and classy place to go for a relaxing night out.

We were so busy the whole weekend but I think they were really able to see the best parts of the city. I could not have had a better time with them here and I am so glad they were able to come. They really are the best. I loved hanging out with them and getting to show them around. It was tough saying goodbye but I know it will be a quick month and then I will be back home again.

Only two more weeks left in London and then 2 weeks of traveling and I am home. Where has the time gone? I have a lot of work and finals to study for in these next two weeks but we are determined to go out with a bang and have an amazing last weekend and week coming up. My parents took all of my clothes home with them so the only clothes I have left are the couple of things I am traveling with after the program. It will be a challenge to see how it goes wearing the same things over and over again, but it will be good for me to rough it a few weeks.

Have a wonderful rest of your week.

XX.

The Day We Saw the House that Shakespeare's Cousin's Best Friend Lived In

Oh what a week. We have been so busy and I feel like I haven't slept at all. What rockstars we are. On Thursday night we went to O'Neill's, which we had gone to when we first got to London but with a 10 pound cover charge we weren't quick to go back. Thursday night was free though and we like free!   It was a lot of fun and nice to be back out after being hermits for the past two weeks. We were dancing like our crazy selves and people were either laughing and admiring our skills or really shocked and convinced we were on something. (We weren't I promise you!) It was a really great night and Perri even danced with a 40 something year old woman. Priceless!!

Saatchi Gallery

 On Friday I had work in the morning, which is   going well. The London Marathon is next weekend so I have been working on stuff for that and I get to go to the expo on Wednesday and help hand out the Whizz-Kidz race packs. I will get the opportunity to meet a lot of the runners I have been interviewing these past few weeks which is exciting and I won't have to sit in the office all day. 

In the afternoon I met Helen at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea. It was amazing and all of the art was modern and interesting. I loved it. The area the gallery is in is very upscale and very wealthy. We were looking around for celebs but sadly didn't see any. 

Shakespeare walked by this house once 

On Saturday we were up early and went to Stratford Upon Avon and Kenilworth Castle. It was a tour through CAPA which means we had a tour guide. She was so annoying. I usually really appreciate tour guides and all the knowledge and fun facts they share but she just kept repeating herself and barely stopped talking the entire two hours we were on the bus driving there. Stratford 'Upon the River', Shakespeare's birth and death place, was a pretty town but very touristy. We decided that if you were a Shakespeare enthusiast, like a real die-hard fan, then this is the perfect town for you. Most of the home's Shakespeare and his family lived in have been torn down and rebuilt, which made walking around looking at his daughter's replicated home a little tiresome. We joked, hence the title of this post, that we saw everything that was in some roundabout way related to Shakespeare. But don't get me wrong, no disrespect to the man, the town was great. We got lunch at this cute cafe and walked around a little before we had to get back on the bus to head to Kenilworth Castle. 

The castle was the highlight of the day. It was so big and beautiful and we were able to explore in all the little rooms and climb to the top. The views were breathtaking. I took so many pictures and Perri ran around exploring in her expedition shirt. Thank god she was wearing it yesterday. 

Frolic Young One 

Last night the three of us, Rena and Margo, who was visiting this weekend from Siena, went to Bubbledogs, a champaign and hotdog restaurant. Don't get too excited (Scott) I didn't eat an actual hotdog. Perri and I got veggie dogs which were actually pretty good. I got the Mac Attack which was macaroni and cheese and onions. WOW so great. Everyone loved theirs and it was a really cool concept for a restaurant, one we could even bring back to Worcester with us?? 

We are down to our last couple weeks which is just so sad. We definitely have a mix of emotions about leaving but we have such an amazing adventure ahead of us too. Spending so much time together can be challenging but I wouldn't have picked better friends to share this experience with. When else am I going to get to fall asleep in big bed listening to Helen and Perri take a Harry Potter quiz for a solid 45 minutes. 

COUNTDOWN 4 days till my parents come!! 

I will leave you with this quote Helen heard from a drunk man outside our flat at 2am on Wednesday. Although a little ridiculous there is some truth to it: 

"Get in there and headbutt somebody, shag somebody, have a glass of wine, go and live your life and don't be a coward."

XX. 

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.