well all, the time has come to say goodbye to UEA, Norwich and England!! Its 4 am here... just got up from a little nap - thanks AJ for the wake up call!! I'll be getting on a bus in 20, headed for Heathrow! Flight is at 11:15 here, so 3:15am in LA, arriving at 2:45.
Can't wait to be home!
Just worried about this luggage that I have - SO heavy! and SO much! and its super windy outside! Its howling!! and I think it's starting to rain!!
Goodnight all, its been real!
Peace
signing off, Natty K in the UK
Friday, December 12
the bus was fully booked!!
so, now i have to catch one at 4:30 in the morning!! what am i supposed to do for 10 hours?! ahhhh
my biggest fear is luggage... its weight, how much i have, getting through check-in... once im on that plane i'll be great! but thats not for another 16 hours or so! ahh
said goodbye to justine today - it was so surreal!! who knows when i'll see that crazy and fun aussie again!
seriously, i'm staying up til the bus comes, so skype away for the last time! it'll keep me occupied!!
my biggest fear is luggage... its weight, how much i have, getting through check-in... once im on that plane i'll be great! but thats not for another 16 hours or so! ahh
said goodbye to justine today - it was so surreal!! who knows when i'll see that crazy and fun aussie again!
seriously, i'm staying up til the bus comes, so skype away for the last time! it'll keep me occupied!!
Thursday, December 11
last days...
feel asleep and woke up to the pattering of rain on my window last night/this morning... its such a relaxing and soothing sound! that is one thing i will miss - the rain... i love it! the more i think about it, the stranger i think it will be to just jump back into life in LA again in a couple of days. there will be things and people i've missed from this experience, but i think that my desire to be back home with the people that i love far outweighs any inkling that i could possibly have to be here for much longer (although, now that i'm FINALLY used to it here, i feel like i could be ok here for a bit longer... hehe)... its just strange to be packing up my suitcases, an entire room of stuff accumulated from my adventures (and clothes to keep warm!) knowing that all i'll be leaving behind is the empty room that i found myself overwhelmed with in september and all i'll have to take away are the memories, pictures, this blog, my journal and the nick-nacks i've acquired.
what will i miss... i will miss the rain, and when it snowed! i'll miss train trips to london. i'll miss germany! i'll miss haribo!! i'll miss justine and ben and gioia, and margaret, and james and the other brits and americans i've met along the way (now i just have more people to visit!). i wont miss the people downstairs being ridiculously loud 4 nights a week til 2 am... i'll miss the old buildings and the cobblestone streets. i wont miss driving on the wrong side of the road and being paranoid of being hit by a bus!! thats a satisfactory list for now, don't need to bore anyone with more details than that!!
but, had a christmas dinner tonight with justine and her entire flat. i've never seen boys get so in to cooking!! they even made a turkey!! in the microwave!! like, a real stuffed turkey (i found it at the grocery store, such a superstar... hehe), and yorkshire pudding, and potatoes and veges and all of the other fixings. it wwas fun!! granted, its nothing compared to real christmas eve and day dinner, but it i was shocked at how good and festive it actually was!!
justine is leaving tomorrow... i'm going with her to see her off at the train station. after that, my last trip to town (searching for something for dad), packing, gym (just to thoroughly exhaust myself so that i can fall asleep on the uncomfortable bus ride). in LA, it will be 6pm Friday that I begin my journey home. I'll get to heathrow around 10. and i'll be hoping on a plane at 3am sat morning. lots of time to kill there!
the past 3 months seem to have flown by, but i'm so looking forward to being home and seeing everyone again!
wish me safe travels tomorrow!!
what will i miss... i will miss the rain, and when it snowed! i'll miss train trips to london. i'll miss germany! i'll miss haribo!! i'll miss justine and ben and gioia, and margaret, and james and the other brits and americans i've met along the way (now i just have more people to visit!). i wont miss the people downstairs being ridiculously loud 4 nights a week til 2 am... i'll miss the old buildings and the cobblestone streets. i wont miss driving on the wrong side of the road and being paranoid of being hit by a bus!! thats a satisfactory list for now, don't need to bore anyone with more details than that!!
but, had a christmas dinner tonight with justine and her entire flat. i've never seen boys get so in to cooking!! they even made a turkey!! in the microwave!! like, a real stuffed turkey (i found it at the grocery store, such a superstar... hehe), and yorkshire pudding, and potatoes and veges and all of the other fixings. it wwas fun!! granted, its nothing compared to real christmas eve and day dinner, but it i was shocked at how good and festive it actually was!!
justine is leaving tomorrow... i'm going with her to see her off at the train station. after that, my last trip to town (searching for something for dad), packing, gym (just to thoroughly exhaust myself so that i can fall asleep on the uncomfortable bus ride). in LA, it will be 6pm Friday that I begin my journey home. I'll get to heathrow around 10. and i'll be hoping on a plane at 3am sat morning. lots of time to kill there!
the past 3 months seem to have flown by, but i'm so looking forward to being home and seeing everyone again!
wish me safe travels tomorrow!!
Tuesday, December 9
T minus 3.5 days!
thats what Virgin Atlantic is telling me, I promised I didn't calculate that myself!
But, I turned in 2 of my papers today! Its quite a complicated process... trying to find a computer in the lab to use, putting money on my card to print, getting the printer to work, going to the office, filling out the form for anonymous grading, getting my recipt... it took forever!! but, I'm glad to say that I've gotten those 2 things out of the way!
Attempted going to a gym class tonight, but then I got there late, so I couldn't go... so I decided I'd just go running. It wasn't too cold, I was wearing proper attire, I felt up for it, the sky was clear... when I started. Decided I'd run to town, and I was almost there when it started to pour!! It was kinda cool at first, but then my ears started to hurt! Like another ear infection! It wasn't so much fun anymore...but now that I'm dry and inside (and I can just enjoy the rain for the sounds it makes on my window, not for drenching me and seeping through my shoes), i'm not worried about the ears anymore.
Decided against finishing my last paper (not sure why though, once its done I'm done for good!!). So, i opted for packing and listening to Christmas music :-) I'm pretty worried about the weight of these bags though, and I don't have a scale to measure them. And I'm more worried about the suitcase I just bought because i dont know the brand, and for all I know it could bust on me! but, that wont happen! thinking positively...
even though my bags are nearly entirely packed, my room still has stuff all over it! Im not sure what I'm going to do!! I just hope the airline people don't give me a hard time about it all... fingers crossed...
enjoying my last few days here, and the rain because I do love it, and I wont get much back in LA!
cheers!
But, I turned in 2 of my papers today! Its quite a complicated process... trying to find a computer in the lab to use, putting money on my card to print, getting the printer to work, going to the office, filling out the form for anonymous grading, getting my recipt... it took forever!! but, I'm glad to say that I've gotten those 2 things out of the way!
Attempted going to a gym class tonight, but then I got there late, so I couldn't go... so I decided I'd just go running. It wasn't too cold, I was wearing proper attire, I felt up for it, the sky was clear... when I started. Decided I'd run to town, and I was almost there when it started to pour!! It was kinda cool at first, but then my ears started to hurt! Like another ear infection! It wasn't so much fun anymore...but now that I'm dry and inside (and I can just enjoy the rain for the sounds it makes on my window, not for drenching me and seeping through my shoes), i'm not worried about the ears anymore.
Decided against finishing my last paper (not sure why though, once its done I'm done for good!!). So, i opted for packing and listening to Christmas music :-) I'm pretty worried about the weight of these bags though, and I don't have a scale to measure them. And I'm more worried about the suitcase I just bought because i dont know the brand, and for all I know it could bust on me! but, that wont happen! thinking positively...
even though my bags are nearly entirely packed, my room still has stuff all over it! Im not sure what I'm going to do!! I just hope the airline people don't give me a hard time about it all... fingers crossed...
enjoying my last few days here, and the rain because I do love it, and I wont get much back in LA!
cheers!
Monday, December 8
for Sean...
I promised Sean that I would update this thing when I finished my paper, and I'm done with it so here I am!!
Not too bad, I got that done relatively quickly, but time passes by so much quicker when you are actually doing something productive! Granted, its the first draft, and I have 3 more days until its due, but it feels great to have it done! I got my presentation grade back today as well... an A- at the very least (it might be an A... the scale is very strange, but above 60 is A-, 40 is passing, and they will have to convert it all for me). But, not too bad considering the horrible state that I was in that morning with my ear infection! I couldn't think well enough to answer questions directed at me! The more that I thought about it, the more worried I got, but getting that grade back is very reassuring, considering that it was 50% of my overall grade!
But, lets see...
I need to turn in my Nature Nurture paper tomorrow by 3, but I'll do that in the morning. And then look over this paper a few more times, and then format my last one and I'm done!! Then I can just have fun the last few days! yay!!
Its really too bad that it took so long for me to half-way like it here and get over being away. Now that I'm in the groove of things here, its not so bad (and now that I actually have something to keep me busy and give me a bit of purpose, i feel better).
BUT, HOME IN 5 days!!
i think thats all I wanted to say at the moment... yeah
peace!
oh, but it has gotten cold here now! icy cold!
Not too bad, I got that done relatively quickly, but time passes by so much quicker when you are actually doing something productive! Granted, its the first draft, and I have 3 more days until its due, but it feels great to have it done! I got my presentation grade back today as well... an A- at the very least (it might be an A... the scale is very strange, but above 60 is A-, 40 is passing, and they will have to convert it all for me). But, not too bad considering the horrible state that I was in that morning with my ear infection! I couldn't think well enough to answer questions directed at me! The more that I thought about it, the more worried I got, but getting that grade back is very reassuring, considering that it was 50% of my overall grade!
But, lets see...
I need to turn in my Nature Nurture paper tomorrow by 3, but I'll do that in the morning. And then look over this paper a few more times, and then format my last one and I'm done!! Then I can just have fun the last few days! yay!!
Its really too bad that it took so long for me to half-way like it here and get over being away. Now that I'm in the groove of things here, its not so bad (and now that I actually have something to keep me busy and give me a bit of purpose, i feel better).
BUT, HOME IN 5 days!!
i think thats all I wanted to say at the moment... yeah
peace!
oh, but it has gotten cold here now! icy cold!
Saturday, December 6
Thursday, December 4
Blog Post – Post Germany
I have arrived “home” to Norwich, only an hour behind schedule! I had decided to take the bus from Stansted instead of the train because it required the least amount of changes, and there is a drop-off point right on campus, a quick 2 minute walk back to my flat. However, I wasn’t expecting a 50 minute delay, changing my ETA to UEA from 11 to midnight. But, what can you do?! I found some busy work to do in the meantime (like writing this, as though I had already experienced the drive to Norwich, not sure why…), uploaded pictures from my last mini-vacation within a vacation and composed a nice e-mail to Anja letting her know that I made it safely back to school and relentlessly thanking her for her hospitality and her generosity over the last 4 days.
Why is it that when looking for something, or scoping out the shopping scene (no matter what it is for), 9 times out of 10 you end up right where you started?! Aside from seeing Connor play and visiting the Marquardts again, I had a goal of finding another Christmas Pyramid – to replace the one that I carelessly left in the Hannover Airport bathroom in September – and lo and behold the Karstadt Christmas store in Celle was my first and last stop!! But, I must say that I am very pleased with my purchases (prices in Euros converted to US dollars ignored)! At first I had decided just to get one for Jon and Tovah as a unique wedding gift, but then I realized that if I like them so much, why don’t I get one for myself?! So I did. A 40 minute shopping experience in one tini-tiny store making decisions (with the lovely help of Anja), 2 boxes packed and secured, and a trip to the DeutschePost (with a hefty air mail fee for each), I am ecstatic about getting it all done!! Jon and Tovah, you should have a box arriving within 6 days. Mom, the box going home will take a bit longer (it was heavier, so I just sent it non-air mail so it’ll probably get there the Monday I’m home… even though I wrote you a lovely explanatory letter inside, but now it is insignificant as I’ll be there to receive the package myself!
I can’t even tell you how much I enjoyed Germany. If I had only started learning it earlier (freshman year) or if SOMEBODY taught me growing up, I could have studied there. England was a default location – and don’t get me wrong, I HAVE enjoyed being here despite all of the negativity that comes out of my mouth and fingers – but, had I gone somewhere that I really had my heart set on, I do believe it would have been a different experience in a positive way. But, how true is it that we always want what we don’t have?
I have 9 more days here, and I really can’t believe that the appropriate time has come to start thinking about coming home (as opposed to me thinking about it and be excited about it in October…). But, this next week will be busy! As I have really waited to do my work (I work better under a bit of pressure. Enough to get me motivated, but not so much to stress me out and make me pull all-nighters). Between work, a bit of shopping left to do (some of you people are hard to shop for, even if they are souvenirs!), and as much social fun and fantastic Norwich nightlife as I can fit in with all of the fantastic people I will probably never see again (and while I can still legally drink until March – but don’t worry, I’m always responsible), I think I’ll be plenty busy until my bus ride at 4am next Saturday morning.
I think that is enough update for now! I might get into what I’m actually thinking and get a little too contemplative on such a broadcast...
love and miss you all!!
xoxo
I have arrived “home” to Norwich, only an hour behind schedule! I had decided to take the bus from Stansted instead of the train because it required the least amount of changes, and there is a drop-off point right on campus, a quick 2 minute walk back to my flat. However, I wasn’t expecting a 50 minute delay, changing my ETA to UEA from 11 to midnight. But, what can you do?! I found some busy work to do in the meantime (like writing this, as though I had already experienced the drive to Norwich, not sure why…), uploaded pictures from my last mini-vacation within a vacation and composed a nice e-mail to Anja letting her know that I made it safely back to school and relentlessly thanking her for her hospitality and her generosity over the last 4 days.
Why is it that when looking for something, or scoping out the shopping scene (no matter what it is for), 9 times out of 10 you end up right where you started?! Aside from seeing Connor play and visiting the Marquardts again, I had a goal of finding another Christmas Pyramid – to replace the one that I carelessly left in the Hannover Airport bathroom in September – and lo and behold the Karstadt Christmas store in Celle was my first and last stop!! But, I must say that I am very pleased with my purchases (prices in Euros converted to US dollars ignored)! At first I had decided just to get one for Jon and Tovah as a unique wedding gift, but then I realized that if I like them so much, why don’t I get one for myself?! So I did. A 40 minute shopping experience in one tini-tiny store making decisions (with the lovely help of Anja), 2 boxes packed and secured, and a trip to the DeutschePost (with a hefty air mail fee for each), I am ecstatic about getting it all done!! Jon and Tovah, you should have a box arriving within 6 days. Mom, the box going home will take a bit longer (it was heavier, so I just sent it non-air mail so it’ll probably get there the Monday I’m home… even though I wrote you a lovely explanatory letter inside, but now it is insignificant as I’ll be there to receive the package myself!
I can’t even tell you how much I enjoyed Germany. If I had only started learning it earlier (freshman year) or if SOMEBODY taught me growing up, I could have studied there. England was a default location – and don’t get me wrong, I HAVE enjoyed being here despite all of the negativity that comes out of my mouth and fingers – but, had I gone somewhere that I really had my heart set on, I do believe it would have been a different experience in a positive way. But, how true is it that we always want what we don’t have?
I have 9 more days here, and I really can’t believe that the appropriate time has come to start thinking about coming home (as opposed to me thinking about it and be excited about it in October…). But, this next week will be busy! As I have really waited to do my work (I work better under a bit of pressure. Enough to get me motivated, but not so much to stress me out and make me pull all-nighters). Between work, a bit of shopping left to do (some of you people are hard to shop for, even if they are souvenirs!), and as much social fun and fantastic Norwich nightlife as I can fit in with all of the fantastic people I will probably never see again (and while I can still legally drink until March – but don’t worry, I’m always responsible), I think I’ll be plenty busy until my bus ride at 4am next Saturday morning.
I think that is enough update for now! I might get into what I’m actually thinking and get a little too contemplative on such a broadcast...
love and miss you all!!
xoxo
Wednesday, December 3
Germany, Aufweirdersehn... almost
well, its been a great time here at the Marquardts'!! On Monday Anja met me at the Celle Haupbahnhof and we made it back for Mittagessen with the boys and Wolfgang. In the afternoon, which quickly turned to evening, Anja, Rolf and I made our way to check out the Celle Weinachts Markt... no porchases (aside from the mass amount of candy for a particular cousin) and some Eiswein for Christmas Eve... Elke knows what I'm talking about :-)
I feel a bit bad 'sleeping in' in the mornings - but waking up early with everyone only to have not much to do in the morning seems pointless, and sleep is always nice :-)
Tuesday morning I went to 3 classes at the Gymnasium (Middle/High School). I went to an advanced English class (9th graders), a 12th grade History-in-English class (taught by Wolfgang) on the Arab-Israeli conflict and to Georg's english class. I really had a great time, and all were very different, which made it really fun! The girls in Georg's class all screamed my name when I walked in the room... lol... and I think they really enjoyed seeing me again, as much as I did them! We'll see if I get some email coorespondance out of it within the next few days...
In the afternoon we all went to the Braunschweig Christmas Market, driving through the countryside between Celle and Braunschweig we passed the turn off for Volkse and Leiferde, and I prayed that by the slim chance that there was, that I wouldn't run in to any Kolos, and I seem to have made it out safely! I continued the hunt for Christmas Pyramids, and came out empty handed, but I found some other things along the way, which was great! oh, and had some Glühwein... SO good (Mom, you know what you are talking about), and it warmed me right up!! I was beginning to lose feeling in my toes despite the 4 layers covering them...
Today the boys got out of school early (which may be the #1 reason why they secretly love having me around) and we made our way to Bremen for another Christmas Market. We went to this great little restuarant underneath the town hall in the vaults, and Wolfgang took us to see these ridiculously narrow streets, which was really cool to see. EVERYTHING IS SO OLD HERE! but its great! houses built in the 1500s, cobblestones everywhere, mini doors and narrow streets... its great! but then theres the free flying Autobahn to connect it all :-)
The market in Bremen was nice, big... lots of food stalls and carnival rides. The boys won a soccer ball from some game they played, which was a fun treat for them.
Back to the Celle market in the morning to get some last minute things that I saw and was interested in before but didn't buy out of impulse, and then back to England in the evening! Not sure what I'm going to do about luggage space, and shipping... but I#ll figure it all out I guess!
All in all I've really had a great time here! Anja and Wolfgang have both been so great!! and the boys are fun and funny in their I-don't-understand-English-but-am-silly-and-still-a-kid sort of way (as i come to think of it, I dont think ive ever really been with kids for an extended period of time since i was one, and vacation in Hawaii doesnt count because then i only got to hangout of the fun stuff, not for the not so fun stuff)
so, that is Germany in a nutshell! I'm so glad I came back! Even though I have a paper due monday and wednesday and another to finish by friday! its been freezing here, though. and i think england will be a bit better (and by better i ONLY mean warmer, by no means is England actually better than Germany, I've decided). and LA will be heaven! 9 days!!!
I feel a bit bad 'sleeping in' in the mornings - but waking up early with everyone only to have not much to do in the morning seems pointless, and sleep is always nice :-)
Tuesday morning I went to 3 classes at the Gymnasium (Middle/High School). I went to an advanced English class (9th graders), a 12th grade History-in-English class (taught by Wolfgang) on the Arab-Israeli conflict and to Georg's english class. I really had a great time, and all were very different, which made it really fun! The girls in Georg's class all screamed my name when I walked in the room... lol... and I think they really enjoyed seeing me again, as much as I did them! We'll see if I get some email coorespondance out of it within the next few days...
In the afternoon we all went to the Braunschweig Christmas Market, driving through the countryside between Celle and Braunschweig we passed the turn off for Volkse and Leiferde, and I prayed that by the slim chance that there was, that I wouldn't run in to any Kolos, and I seem to have made it out safely! I continued the hunt for Christmas Pyramids, and came out empty handed, but I found some other things along the way, which was great! oh, and had some Glühwein... SO good (Mom, you know what you are talking about), and it warmed me right up!! I was beginning to lose feeling in my toes despite the 4 layers covering them...
Today the boys got out of school early (which may be the #1 reason why they secretly love having me around) and we made our way to Bremen for another Christmas Market. We went to this great little restuarant underneath the town hall in the vaults, and Wolfgang took us to see these ridiculously narrow streets, which was really cool to see. EVERYTHING IS SO OLD HERE! but its great! houses built in the 1500s, cobblestones everywhere, mini doors and narrow streets... its great! but then theres the free flying Autobahn to connect it all :-)
The market in Bremen was nice, big... lots of food stalls and carnival rides. The boys won a soccer ball from some game they played, which was a fun treat for them.
Back to the Celle market in the morning to get some last minute things that I saw and was interested in before but didn't buy out of impulse, and then back to England in the evening! Not sure what I'm going to do about luggage space, and shipping... but I#ll figure it all out I guess!
All in all I've really had a great time here! Anja and Wolfgang have both been so great!! and the boys are fun and funny in their I-don't-understand-English-but-am-silly-and-still-a-kid sort of way (as i come to think of it, I dont think ive ever really been with kids for an extended period of time since i was one, and vacation in Hawaii doesnt count because then i only got to hangout of the fun stuff, not for the not so fun stuff)
so, that is Germany in a nutshell! I'm so glad I came back! Even though I have a paper due monday and wednesday and another to finish by friday! its been freezing here, though. and i think england will be a bit better (and by better i ONLY mean warmer, by no means is England actually better than Germany, I've decided). and LA will be heaven! 9 days!!!
Monday, December 1
Ich bin ins Deutschland, again!
hello one and all!!
disclaimer: if there are z´s where y´s are supposed to go, and random ß ö ä ü inserted, i apologize - the keyboards in germany are different than english ones!
but, i seem to have made my way back to germany, again, and am loving it all the same! i think that if i really had a completely open choice of where to study this semester it would have been in germany (the language issue pending, of course). its far more interesting - the english kind of hate americans and are pretty resistent - the germans are much more friendly, and the small-old-town feel of germany is really nice. that, and they go crazy with christmas stuff here, and christmas is myfavorite holiday!!
i spent this past weekend in Wolfenbüttel with some Oxy friends. We stayed with Connor at his apt both nights. And contrary to what I had imagined it to be, it was actually really spacious. Connor is living with the other American player on his team (the guy who took Sam Bettys place last year) and a New Zealander. Both guys were really cool, and fun to hang out with! We went to the Hergözes game on Saturday night, which was so much fun! They ended up losing, which was a tad depressing, but it was still fun to go!! The gym was relatively small, but packed. The other team just got this American who had 41 pts, and shot 56% from the field, ridiculous! I guess you cant really compete with that...
Wolfenbüttel itself it a nice little town - lots of buildings from the 16 and 1700s, a couple whose walls were literally angled outwards with the roof lines slanting in one direction or the other from the foundations not holding...haha
Yesterday we ventured into the Stadtmitte to look at the Weinachsten Markt, which was so cool! there was a mini ferris wheel with 4 carriages for kids, and there was lots and lots of amazing German food, beer, mulled wine, crafts, Christmas decorations, etc.
The one down side to all of this - its freezing!!! LITERALLY as we were walking around yesterday I stopped being able to feel my toes for a while, and my nose... and my hair wasnt competely dry from washing it (BAD idea...). But, I can put up with the bitter cold for a few more days here in Germany, and it'll possibly be a bit milder in Norwich, and then back to SUNNY and WARM cali in 12 days!! (I can't believe it!!!)
Made it back to Anja's today (Mom, Dad and all, she sends her love). She's so hospitable and nice! And I get a real kick out of her boys, and Wolfgang, her husband, is good company as well. We are going on a Christmas market tour (thats what I'm calling it) over the next few days - Celle, Braunschweig, maybe Lüneburg, and possibly another. They will all have similar things, have a similar Disneylandísh feel, but I'm pretty excited about it! I'm also planning on going back to the Gymnasium for a few classes - to Wolfgang's class on the Ar-Israeli conflict (which I need to know a bit about as far as the US perspective so I don't make a fool of myself being completely ignorant to it, even though I honestly don't know much - Dad, Elke, your summaries please... haha); to Georg's English class (where he pretends to not know me because I'm really a friend of Mr. Marquardt and no kids know that his Dad is a teacher at the school); and to the advanced English class. So, that is the basic plan for the next few day - and trying not to completely overeat and gain weight the way I think I did in september with all of this amazing food around and the lack of real (purposeful) exercise...
but, thats the update of the last few days, and a brief glimpse into my future!!
and Cambridge was cool to see last friday - the entire place is colleges - there are 31 different ones!! its one of the oldest towns in England, and the roads show it! they are tiny, and windy and there is no city planning... a fun place to visit!!
Tschüss!
disclaimer: if there are z´s where y´s are supposed to go, and random ß ö ä ü inserted, i apologize - the keyboards in germany are different than english ones!
but, i seem to have made my way back to germany, again, and am loving it all the same! i think that if i really had a completely open choice of where to study this semester it would have been in germany (the language issue pending, of course). its far more interesting - the english kind of hate americans and are pretty resistent - the germans are much more friendly, and the small-old-town feel of germany is really nice. that, and they go crazy with christmas stuff here, and christmas is myfavorite holiday!!
i spent this past weekend in Wolfenbüttel with some Oxy friends. We stayed with Connor at his apt both nights. And contrary to what I had imagined it to be, it was actually really spacious. Connor is living with the other American player on his team (the guy who took Sam Bettys place last year) and a New Zealander. Both guys were really cool, and fun to hang out with! We went to the Hergözes game on Saturday night, which was so much fun! They ended up losing, which was a tad depressing, but it was still fun to go!! The gym was relatively small, but packed. The other team just got this American who had 41 pts, and shot 56% from the field, ridiculous! I guess you cant really compete with that...
Wolfenbüttel itself it a nice little town - lots of buildings from the 16 and 1700s, a couple whose walls were literally angled outwards with the roof lines slanting in one direction or the other from the foundations not holding...haha
Yesterday we ventured into the Stadtmitte to look at the Weinachsten Markt, which was so cool! there was a mini ferris wheel with 4 carriages for kids, and there was lots and lots of amazing German food, beer, mulled wine, crafts, Christmas decorations, etc.
The one down side to all of this - its freezing!!! LITERALLY as we were walking around yesterday I stopped being able to feel my toes for a while, and my nose... and my hair wasnt competely dry from washing it (BAD idea...). But, I can put up with the bitter cold for a few more days here in Germany, and it'll possibly be a bit milder in Norwich, and then back to SUNNY and WARM cali in 12 days!! (I can't believe it!!!)
Made it back to Anja's today (Mom, Dad and all, she sends her love). She's so hospitable and nice! And I get a real kick out of her boys, and Wolfgang, her husband, is good company as well. We are going on a Christmas market tour (thats what I'm calling it) over the next few days - Celle, Braunschweig, maybe Lüneburg, and possibly another. They will all have similar things, have a similar Disneylandísh feel, but I'm pretty excited about it! I'm also planning on going back to the Gymnasium for a few classes - to Wolfgang's class on the Ar-Israeli conflict (which I need to know a bit about as far as the US perspective so I don't make a fool of myself being completely ignorant to it, even though I honestly don't know much - Dad, Elke, your summaries please... haha); to Georg's English class (where he pretends to not know me because I'm really a friend of Mr. Marquardt and no kids know that his Dad is a teacher at the school); and to the advanced English class. So, that is the basic plan for the next few day - and trying not to completely overeat and gain weight the way I think I did in september with all of this amazing food around and the lack of real (purposeful) exercise...
but, thats the update of the last few days, and a brief glimpse into my future!!
and Cambridge was cool to see last friday - the entire place is colleges - there are 31 different ones!! its one of the oldest towns in England, and the roads show it! they are tiny, and windy and there is no city planning... a fun place to visit!!
Tschüss!
Thursday, November 27
an observant thanksgiving
i thoroughly enjoyed "sitting" in the kitchen today, the way i normally would have had i been home... seeing all of the cooking going on, catching up with everybody, helping out if needed... sadly, it was a 2D and dual-sensory experience, and i wish i had been there!! but alas, a skype date with my family was the best that could be done, and i can accept and appreciate that for what it is....
enjoy the turkey, potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, YAMS, veges, waldorf salad, veges and DESSERT!
off on my final adventure in the morning - more to report from Deutschland! Tschuss! (i need to brush up on my vocab and phrases, I wont have Elke around this time!)
enjoy the turkey, potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, YAMS, veges, waldorf salad, veges and DESSERT!
off on my final adventure in the morning - more to report from Deutschland! Tschuss! (i need to brush up on my vocab and phrases, I wont have Elke around this time!)
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!!
I've spent my morning/day trying not to dwell on the fact that I am missing the holiday, and so far so good! Of course I miss seeing everyone, and the food... well that's self explanatory, but I'd have to say that I'm pretty OK missing it - and by that I mean I am not terribly homesick! Potentially Skyping tonight with the fam and "sitting" at the table as mom likes to call it will induce some homesickness, but I'l hoping that that isn't the case. I've got myself some yams to make! Yay! Although, it seems as though I'll be using the microwave to make them ... ? and I don't have marshmallows, and I'll be having to crush the pineapple from chunks... but, they'll turn out fine I'm sure. Being sick will have the advanage, being that I can't really taste much, I'll just pretend that they are as fantastic as usual... hehe
Let's see... what else... I've been steadily working on my papers and what not. And by steady I do mean SLOOOOOOWLY. But, I have 2 pretty much completed, and one outline/thesis to write up tonight, and I will have met my most recent timeline goals (that timeline has been changed and pushed back so many times, and yet I still haven't "fallen behind" regardless of how little time I've actually spent doing my work - a true testament to the expectations here... and yet I find that I'm just doing the assignment, not really obsessing over it the way I normally would, and probably should...)
Going to Cambridge tomorrow! Justine and I are going down for the day and then I'm off to Germany in the morning! I'm pretty excited about it! More details to follow, and hopefully some fun stories to tell!
You all are still sleeping in - except for the cooks who are probably getting turkeys stuffed and into the oven right about now...
But, Enjoy the holiday!
xoxo
I've spent my morning/day trying not to dwell on the fact that I am missing the holiday, and so far so good! Of course I miss seeing everyone, and the food... well that's self explanatory, but I'd have to say that I'm pretty OK missing it - and by that I mean I am not terribly homesick! Potentially Skyping tonight with the fam and "sitting" at the table as mom likes to call it will induce some homesickness, but I'l hoping that that isn't the case. I've got myself some yams to make! Yay! Although, it seems as though I'll be using the microwave to make them ... ? and I don't have marshmallows, and I'll be having to crush the pineapple from chunks... but, they'll turn out fine I'm sure. Being sick will have the advanage, being that I can't really taste much, I'll just pretend that they are as fantastic as usual... hehe
Let's see... what else... I've been steadily working on my papers and what not. And by steady I do mean SLOOOOOOWLY. But, I have 2 pretty much completed, and one outline/thesis to write up tonight, and I will have met my most recent timeline goals (that timeline has been changed and pushed back so many times, and yet I still haven't "fallen behind" regardless of how little time I've actually spent doing my work - a true testament to the expectations here... and yet I find that I'm just doing the assignment, not really obsessing over it the way I normally would, and probably should...)
Going to Cambridge tomorrow! Justine and I are going down for the day and then I'm off to Germany in the morning! I'm pretty excited about it! More details to follow, and hopefully some fun stories to tell!
You all are still sleeping in - except for the cooks who are probably getting turkeys stuffed and into the oven right about now...
But, Enjoy the holiday!
xoxo
Tuesday, November 25
for AJ...
per her obsessiveness of checking this thing, i will write this lovely post, and dedicate it to her! haha - and Gingerbread house making will be a huge highlight of my first week back!! YESSSSS
143!!!!!
its tuesday, i woke up thinking and wishing it was friday, but i feel so well rested! and my ailments are getting better! yay!! still not good, but better, and i'll take what i can get!!
determined to be productive today - actually going to the library to work on a paper, and finish a draft - thats my goal! it shouldn't take too long. once i actually sit down and work i get stuff done pretty quickly, but my attention span is that of a 6 year old boy with ADD these days, so thats something that is going to need to be fixed by January when school actually starts up again.
Bummed I'm missing Thanksgiving on THursday, and that I missed Dad's bday - age not to be disclosed ;-) - last night, but thats life being in England. a Skyped Thanksgiving will have to do, at about 10pm here I'll be "sitting" at the dining room table, eating my attempted yams from 6000 miles and 8 time zones away.
Getting excited about Germany next week!! Going to see Connor play with be great! I'll get a taste of what it was like for my dad when he was there. And then going to Anja's again will be great! Hopefully she doesn't overfeed me, again (I don't think a person can eat 4 pieces of afternoon cake, a huge lunch and then 10 slices of bread for dinner! ahhh) But I really am looking forward to that as well.
Less than 3 weeks!!
Miss you all! Love you all!!
xoxo
Natty
143!!!!!
its tuesday, i woke up thinking and wishing it was friday, but i feel so well rested! and my ailments are getting better! yay!! still not good, but better, and i'll take what i can get!!
determined to be productive today - actually going to the library to work on a paper, and finish a draft - thats my goal! it shouldn't take too long. once i actually sit down and work i get stuff done pretty quickly, but my attention span is that of a 6 year old boy with ADD these days, so thats something that is going to need to be fixed by January when school actually starts up again.
Bummed I'm missing Thanksgiving on THursday, and that I missed Dad's bday - age not to be disclosed ;-) - last night, but thats life being in England. a Skyped Thanksgiving will have to do, at about 10pm here I'll be "sitting" at the dining room table, eating my attempted yams from 6000 miles and 8 time zones away.
Getting excited about Germany next week!! Going to see Connor play with be great! I'll get a taste of what it was like for my dad when he was there. And then going to Anja's again will be great! Hopefully she doesn't overfeed me, again (I don't think a person can eat 4 pieces of afternoon cake, a huge lunch and then 10 slices of bread for dinner! ahhh) But I really am looking forward to that as well.
Less than 3 weeks!!
Miss you all! Love you all!!
xoxo
Natty
Sunday, November 23
its still snowing!!
at first i was a bit skeptical of my weekend in Norwich, i wasn't sure if it was going to amount to anything. but, im so glad to report that it did!! Its been snowing for 2 days now!! last night when i ventured over to a friend's flat and it started to snow we all ran out side and had a huge snowball fight, and then proceeded to make our way around campus to see whoelse would come out and have a war with us - so much fun!! and now i'm waking up to snow, again!
although, i must say, there isn't much to be said for productivity when it snows... i just don't want to do my work! snow, plus being sick is not fun! sore throat, turned runny nose, turned sinus headache, turned earache and watery eyes (and as i write this my nose is bleeding from blowing it too much :-/ ). but, i jjust hope i get this sickness out of me before i come home! i don't need to be bringing english germs with me to get everyone sick!
getting medicine, and attempting to write an essay now.... have a great sunday everybody!
although, i must say, there isn't much to be said for productivity when it snows... i just don't want to do my work! snow, plus being sick is not fun! sore throat, turned runny nose, turned sinus headache, turned earache and watery eyes (and as i write this my nose is bleeding from blowing it too much :-/ ). but, i jjust hope i get this sickness out of me before i come home! i don't need to be bringing english germs with me to get everyone sick!
getting medicine, and attempting to write an essay now.... have a great sunday everybody!
Saturday, November 22
Monday, November 17
Edinburgh!
Went on a trip to Edinburgh this weekend with the International Student Society, and had such a great time!! I really wish we had been there for longer, that I had done and seen more, but that tends to be the way I feel about most places!
Being that it was a pre-organized trip, the transportation and accommodation was included in the price, but looking back it would have actually been more economical to take the train up (instead of a 10 hour bus ride with people talking loudly behind me non-stop both ways!!) and to stay at a different hostel. But, nonetheless, it was still fun! And I got to know some other students better, which is always a plus!
So, we left early Friday morning, got there after dark (which isn't actually saying much because its pitch black at 4 these days) and it was nearly 7 by the time we got situated in the hostel, which was a 30 minute shuttle ride/10 pound taxi ride to the city center. Justine and I ventured into town that night to find something to eat for dinner and then quickly found our way on a Ghost Tour of Edinburgh. I knew where we were to meet, which tour group, etc. and we were running a bit late, so when we saw a group starting we jumped in - little did we know it was going to be a Boys Rugby team! Regardless, it was still lots of fun, and we were taken down into the underground vaults in the city and heard loads of ghost stories.
Saturday we woke up at a decent hour, and made our way into town, again. We decided to do one of those hop-on hop-off bus tours because they take you to all of the "must see" places and point stuff out along the way. Came to realize that Edinburgh isn't that massive of a city - but it is really hilly! The Castle sits atop the highest hill in the center of the city, with the Royal Mile on the slope down towards everything else, and a cliff on the opposite site. The castle was quite interesting - like its own little enclosed village inside! It was so windy up there, too! I was literally being blown sideways! needless to say, my hair didn't like that very much... haha
Had a look around the old prison in the castle (which housed prisoners of war), as well as the Scotish crown jewels, and some of the state apartments.
What else... did a lot of shopping! I still need to go through all of the bags and see what exactly it was that I bought! Oh, and saw a tartan mill where they make all of the different tartans for the different scotish clans which is a HUGE deal. Oh, and yes! men do walk around in kilts like its a normal thing! That was something slightly unexpected, I must say...
As part of what we paid for for the trip, we got free entry to a nightclub, which was so much fun! I had a really great time hanging out with the other people in our group and meeting some Scots along the way! For a big city though, I was a bit surprised that the club closed at 3 (which may seem late, but for a big city like Edinburgh, I would have expected something a bit later), and taxis could not be found at that time of night! We were all waiting for taxis for an hour! and it was freezing!!!
Sunday we got a bit later of start, decided to sleep in past check-out, and missed the instructions about when and where to meet at the end of the day to head back, an hour of constantly calling the tour leaders' phones, one of them finally picked up and told me what I needed to know. And, we found that we only had 3 more hours in the city!!
I had really wanted to climb up this huge hill that overlooks the city, but Justine would have none of that, not feeling 100%, so we had fun wandering around the city some more.
Again, I wish I had more time there! I would have loved to go to the Highlands for a day trip, to see Loch Ness, to tour the Holyrood Palace, seen a Scotish dance show, and gone to some of the art galleries, but time did not allow for that, and I didn't want to drag someone along who wasn't interested in some of that and make them pay, too... any takers for next time?! In the summer months perhaps when its not so cold!!
Well, there is ACTUALLY work to be done! Finally! But, I must run off to a seminar now, but another update to soon follow with some more "normal" but equally interesting (?) things in my life...
but, all I can say is that the next 3 1/2 weeks are going to fly by! I'm actually getting past culture shock, and enjoying myself now! I really am disappointed that that took far too long for me to get over, because now I'm just getting ready to head home!
Oh well...
Seminar, presentation work, gym til late... back on Skype if anyone will be around!
Being that it was a pre-organized trip, the transportation and accommodation was included in the price, but looking back it would have actually been more economical to take the train up (instead of a 10 hour bus ride with people talking loudly behind me non-stop both ways!!) and to stay at a different hostel. But, nonetheless, it was still fun! And I got to know some other students better, which is always a plus!
So, we left early Friday morning, got there after dark (which isn't actually saying much because its pitch black at 4 these days) and it was nearly 7 by the time we got situated in the hostel, which was a 30 minute shuttle ride/10 pound taxi ride to the city center. Justine and I ventured into town that night to find something to eat for dinner and then quickly found our way on a Ghost Tour of Edinburgh. I knew where we were to meet, which tour group, etc. and we were running a bit late, so when we saw a group starting we jumped in - little did we know it was going to be a Boys Rugby team! Regardless, it was still lots of fun, and we were taken down into the underground vaults in the city and heard loads of ghost stories.
Saturday we woke up at a decent hour, and made our way into town, again. We decided to do one of those hop-on hop-off bus tours because they take you to all of the "must see" places and point stuff out along the way. Came to realize that Edinburgh isn't that massive of a city - but it is really hilly! The Castle sits atop the highest hill in the center of the city, with the Royal Mile on the slope down towards everything else, and a cliff on the opposite site. The castle was quite interesting - like its own little enclosed village inside! It was so windy up there, too! I was literally being blown sideways! needless to say, my hair didn't like that very much... haha
Had a look around the old prison in the castle (which housed prisoners of war), as well as the Scotish crown jewels, and some of the state apartments.
What else... did a lot of shopping! I still need to go through all of the bags and see what exactly it was that I bought! Oh, and saw a tartan mill where they make all of the different tartans for the different scotish clans which is a HUGE deal. Oh, and yes! men do walk around in kilts like its a normal thing! That was something slightly unexpected, I must say...
As part of what we paid for for the trip, we got free entry to a nightclub, which was so much fun! I had a really great time hanging out with the other people in our group and meeting some Scots along the way! For a big city though, I was a bit surprised that the club closed at 3 (which may seem late, but for a big city like Edinburgh, I would have expected something a bit later), and taxis could not be found at that time of night! We were all waiting for taxis for an hour! and it was freezing!!!
Sunday we got a bit later of start, decided to sleep in past check-out, and missed the instructions about when and where to meet at the end of the day to head back, an hour of constantly calling the tour leaders' phones, one of them finally picked up and told me what I needed to know. And, we found that we only had 3 more hours in the city!!
I had really wanted to climb up this huge hill that overlooks the city, but Justine would have none of that, not feeling 100%, so we had fun wandering around the city some more.
Again, I wish I had more time there! I would have loved to go to the Highlands for a day trip, to see Loch Ness, to tour the Holyrood Palace, seen a Scotish dance show, and gone to some of the art galleries, but time did not allow for that, and I didn't want to drag someone along who wasn't interested in some of that and make them pay, too... any takers for next time?! In the summer months perhaps when its not so cold!!
Well, there is ACTUALLY work to be done! Finally! But, I must run off to a seminar now, but another update to soon follow with some more "normal" but equally interesting (?) things in my life...
but, all I can say is that the next 3 1/2 weeks are going to fly by! I'm actually getting past culture shock, and enjoying myself now! I really am disappointed that that took far too long for me to get over, because now I'm just getting ready to head home!
Oh well...
Seminar, presentation work, gym til late... back on Skype if anyone will be around!
Saturday, November 8
oops... its been nearly 2 weeks!
just realizing today that I hadn't updated this thing in nearly two weeks, which can mean only one of two things: 1 - i have been far to busy to sit down and take the time to update or 2 - nothing all that interesting has happened... more likely 3 - i've been waiting for something extremely interesting to happen to give me some inspiration to write, but that hasn't come...
last weekend i went to London, again, yay! (alright, so that was actually REALLY fun, but I just was being lazy all week about not writing). I had 2 friends come up from Spain for Halloween, and Justine and I took our litle train ride down to see them. Marissa and Katie were staying with some of her H.S. friends who are studying in London for the semester, and Justine and I stayed at a hostel nearby, which was actually really nice! Went on on Friday night to the biggest night club in London, which was a blast! On Saturday we had a lazy day, and Justine and I opted to avoid the pouring rain at all costs and go see Phantom of the Opera in the afternoon. It was so great! Bummed we weren't able to make it into Westminister Abbey, but I am determined to make my way into that place before I leave London! Even if that means getting myself to London quite early on Dec 13, checking my bags in at Heathrow and taking the Tube up to see it!
Nothing too eventful this week here... just been going to the gym everyday - which is quite necessary as I don't get much inadvertent exercise because I'm not up walking around from class to class, or walking to get food, etc. Took up a bit of swimming for exercise and leisure - which I'm finding that I really should have been in Ms. Welch's 7th grade swim class, because I never really learned the strokes properly (and Mom, you can't even argue that Peggy teaching me when I was 5 counts). Let's see... what else... got a pedicure on Tuesday :-) and walked into town yesterday (it took nearly an hour!) just because I felt like it and did a little bit of shopping.
If there is any day that I wish I had been home for, it would have been Tuesday! There was election coverage, but being that we are 8 hours ahead it was announced at 4 am, and I was sadly asleep!I went to take a nap I had set my alarm to get up around 2 to make my way down to the pub to see the excitement, but this genius set it for the wrong am/pm, so I woke up around 7, bummed at myself, but checked online to see that Obama had won :-)
Oh, and I registered for classes for next semester! Yay! I've nearly gotten in to all of the ones that I want, and if I'm able to get into a psych class I need then I'll be taking 18 units, and I want to see if I can get in on some directed research with a professor, or get some sort of 2-unit internship (I'll have to use some networking there...)
Anyways, that enough for now! Its Saturday, I have no plans, I could do some work, but really? I'll find some adventure to do, hopefully...
last weekend i went to London, again, yay! (alright, so that was actually REALLY fun, but I just was being lazy all week about not writing). I had 2 friends come up from Spain for Halloween, and Justine and I took our litle train ride down to see them. Marissa and Katie were staying with some of her H.S. friends who are studying in London for the semester, and Justine and I stayed at a hostel nearby, which was actually really nice! Went on on Friday night to the biggest night club in London, which was a blast! On Saturday we had a lazy day, and Justine and I opted to avoid the pouring rain at all costs and go see Phantom of the Opera in the afternoon. It was so great! Bummed we weren't able to make it into Westminister Abbey, but I am determined to make my way into that place before I leave London! Even if that means getting myself to London quite early on Dec 13, checking my bags in at Heathrow and taking the Tube up to see it!
Nothing too eventful this week here... just been going to the gym everyday - which is quite necessary as I don't get much inadvertent exercise because I'm not up walking around from class to class, or walking to get food, etc. Took up a bit of swimming for exercise and leisure - which I'm finding that I really should have been in Ms. Welch's 7th grade swim class, because I never really learned the strokes properly (and Mom, you can't even argue that Peggy teaching me when I was 5 counts). Let's see... what else... got a pedicure on Tuesday :-) and walked into town yesterday (it took nearly an hour!) just because I felt like it and did a little bit of shopping.
If there is any day that I wish I had been home for, it would have been Tuesday! There was election coverage, but being that we are 8 hours ahead it was announced at 4 am, and I was sadly asleep!I went to take a nap I had set my alarm to get up around 2 to make my way down to the pub to see the excitement, but this genius set it for the wrong am/pm, so I woke up around 7, bummed at myself, but checked online to see that Obama had won :-)
Oh, and I registered for classes for next semester! Yay! I've nearly gotten in to all of the ones that I want, and if I'm able to get into a psych class I need then I'll be taking 18 units, and I want to see if I can get in on some directed research with a professor, or get some sort of 2-unit internship (I'll have to use some networking there...)
Anyways, that enough for now! Its Saturday, I have no plans, I could do some work, but really? I'll find some adventure to do, hopefully...
Monday, October 27
over half way!
despite my impatience and longing to come home, the weeks seem to be flying by! i'm almost sad about it, almost...
went back down to London this weekend. the Internation Student Society had a day trip to Windsor Castle on Saturday, which was a lot of fun! The Queen lives there (as much as any of her other homes), but most of it is open to the public. Went into St. George's church, saw Queen Anne's Doll house - which is 10 feet tall, with everything miniature, but made by the real companies (i.e. a mini Hoover vaccum that works, real portraits by the artists, fully functioning electricity and plumbing as well). It was my friend Sam's birthday Sat night as well, so I took the train into London from Windsor and hung out there til Sunday morning.
One bad thing - I thought that I lost my credit and debit cards, so I cancelled them right away (in fear that they were stolen and would be used in London). and then it turns out that Sam had them on accident, but by then it was too late and I had already cancelled them. So, BofA has to mail new ones home, and then they have to be sent here. A great, snail mail process!
Oh, and I was almost run over by a car. London drivers are mean! The intersection was cleared (I made sure by looking all around me in every direction possible), and then I stepped into the street (mind you it was a side cross street, not even a major one). And then this woman who was just sitting there trying to make a right turn into the street (which would have been like trying to make a left) decided to try to beat me across the street! even though I was half way through! So I jumped back, but the ground was slick from the rain, and my foot slipped and I landed on my tailbone, with my leg sprawled out 6 inches from her front bumper! So, I got all wet, and now my tailbone is all sore, and my lower back is cracking like crazy! I'll be totally fine, just a funny anecdote. THe drivers in Norwich are nice - they all stop ALL the time! London, not so much...
Last night I went to a Dwali festival, put on by the Indian student association here. Had some GREAT Indian food! and Bollywood music... there's something catchy about it!
This week should prove to be a productive week - I'm determined to finish one of my papers!!
oh, and I got my ballot, mailing it tomorrow!
random, but my friend Tom Logan (President of SAE, he went on my Cabo trip last year) is running for State Assemblyman... hes on the ballot!
hope you all have a good week!
went back down to London this weekend. the Internation Student Society had a day trip to Windsor Castle on Saturday, which was a lot of fun! The Queen lives there (as much as any of her other homes), but most of it is open to the public. Went into St. George's church, saw Queen Anne's Doll house - which is 10 feet tall, with everything miniature, but made by the real companies (i.e. a mini Hoover vaccum that works, real portraits by the artists, fully functioning electricity and plumbing as well). It was my friend Sam's birthday Sat night as well, so I took the train into London from Windsor and hung out there til Sunday morning.
One bad thing - I thought that I lost my credit and debit cards, so I cancelled them right away (in fear that they were stolen and would be used in London). and then it turns out that Sam had them on accident, but by then it was too late and I had already cancelled them. So, BofA has to mail new ones home, and then they have to be sent here. A great, snail mail process!
Oh, and I was almost run over by a car. London drivers are mean! The intersection was cleared (I made sure by looking all around me in every direction possible), and then I stepped into the street (mind you it was a side cross street, not even a major one). And then this woman who was just sitting there trying to make a right turn into the street (which would have been like trying to make a left) decided to try to beat me across the street! even though I was half way through! So I jumped back, but the ground was slick from the rain, and my foot slipped and I landed on my tailbone, with my leg sprawled out 6 inches from her front bumper! So, I got all wet, and now my tailbone is all sore, and my lower back is cracking like crazy! I'll be totally fine, just a funny anecdote. THe drivers in Norwich are nice - they all stop ALL the time! London, not so much...
Last night I went to a Dwali festival, put on by the Indian student association here. Had some GREAT Indian food! and Bollywood music... there's something catchy about it!
This week should prove to be a productive week - I'm determined to finish one of my papers!!
oh, and I got my ballot, mailing it tomorrow!
random, but my friend Tom Logan (President of SAE, he went on my Cabo trip last year) is running for State Assemblyman... hes on the ballot!
hope you all have a good week!
Tuesday, October 21
Susy has changed her plans to come and visit me here in December... so now I really have no motivation to get any work done before I absolutely need to... Looks like I'll still be coming home December 13, happy birthday mum!
No motivation to do work + having 2 days to do nothing = me watching tv on my computer all morning until realizing how pathetic I seem, so I'm going to venture to the gym now, even though that is getting boring as well...
I definitely thrive on busyness, and this situation is so NOT that...
No motivation to do work + having 2 days to do nothing = me watching tv on my computer all morning until realizing how pathetic I seem, so I'm going to venture to the gym now, even though that is getting boring as well...
I definitely thrive on busyness, and this situation is so NOT that...
Sunday, October 19
Back from Bath!
What a peaceful and relaxing weekend I've had!
I caught an early train from Norwich to Bath on Friday morning and arrived there around noon (by early, I mean I had to wake up at 6 and the stars were still out!), walked to my little B&B and set off to explore the city in the afternoon! Being the genius packer that I was I only brought half of a swim suit (which I needed on Sunday), so I went on a hunt for one - which took all afternoon! Didn't have any real plans for Friday, so I just walked around the city, window shopped, and enjoyed being directionless for a while. Per my mom's suggestion, I looked into what the theatre had to offer that night, and I was able to get in to see Sherlock Holmes "The Hound of the Baskervilles" for $15 in the 5th row! It was actually quite good, and something out of the ordinary (for me anyway).
The B&B was so great! I was in a big suite the first night, had a queen sized bed all to myself, a view of the park, private shower, it was so great! The breakfasts were good as well - tea, scones and soft boiled eggs :-) It was nice to be cooked for and served for a change.
On Saturday morning I set out to be a tourist - I climbed the Abbey steps (all 212 of them) and had some great views of the city! Bath is actually quite hilly and very unlike the rest of England that I've seen thus far. After I toured the Roman Baths. In the afternoon I met Justine at the rail station and we were off to see Stonehenge. It is literally on the side of a highway! It was interesting to see, and very necessary to have the audio guide. The most extraordinary thing about it is how 1- they got those rocks there from Wales! and 2 - how they positioned them that way with the one on top of two and 3 - WHY?!
had an early night, watched a movie on TV (which is something all you people in the states can take for granted!)
Sunday was the big day.. SPA DAY! We got to the spa around 10 for our 2 hour spa time, and then had massages at noon. The Spa was quite cool... all of the water is heated by the hot springs in Bath, and there are multiple levels and spas. Theres one pool on the rooftop, another on the ground and 4 steam rooms, each with a different scent (Lavender was my favorite!) The massage was so great! She worked out all of the kinks and knots in my shoulders - no more cracking or popping! The spa was so relaxing! I wish I was still there!
We sadly had to head back to Norwich on our 6 hour trek from Bath to "home"... what an adventure that was. Between rail replacement buses, missed connections, malfunctioning Oyster cards, switches and bus drivers who decide to abandon a busload of people at 9:30 on the dot, I seem to have made it back to Norwich unharmed and relaxed. I'd say it was a successful weekend :-)
I caught an early train from Norwich to Bath on Friday morning and arrived there around noon (by early, I mean I had to wake up at 6 and the stars were still out!), walked to my little B&B and set off to explore the city in the afternoon! Being the genius packer that I was I only brought half of a swim suit (which I needed on Sunday), so I went on a hunt for one - which took all afternoon! Didn't have any real plans for Friday, so I just walked around the city, window shopped, and enjoyed being directionless for a while. Per my mom's suggestion, I looked into what the theatre had to offer that night, and I was able to get in to see Sherlock Holmes "The Hound of the Baskervilles" for $15 in the 5th row! It was actually quite good, and something out of the ordinary (for me anyway).
The B&B was so great! I was in a big suite the first night, had a queen sized bed all to myself, a view of the park, private shower, it was so great! The breakfasts were good as well - tea, scones and soft boiled eggs :-) It was nice to be cooked for and served for a change.
On Saturday morning I set out to be a tourist - I climbed the Abbey steps (all 212 of them) and had some great views of the city! Bath is actually quite hilly and very unlike the rest of England that I've seen thus far. After I toured the Roman Baths. In the afternoon I met Justine at the rail station and we were off to see Stonehenge. It is literally on the side of a highway! It was interesting to see, and very necessary to have the audio guide. The most extraordinary thing about it is how 1- they got those rocks there from Wales! and 2 - how they positioned them that way with the one on top of two and 3 - WHY?!
had an early night, watched a movie on TV (which is something all you people in the states can take for granted!)
Sunday was the big day.. SPA DAY! We got to the spa around 10 for our 2 hour spa time, and then had massages at noon. The Spa was quite cool... all of the water is heated by the hot springs in Bath, and there are multiple levels and spas. Theres one pool on the rooftop, another on the ground and 4 steam rooms, each with a different scent (Lavender was my favorite!) The massage was so great! She worked out all of the kinks and knots in my shoulders - no more cracking or popping! The spa was so relaxing! I wish I was still there!
We sadly had to head back to Norwich on our 6 hour trek from Bath to "home"... what an adventure that was. Between rail replacement buses, missed connections, malfunctioning Oyster cards, switches and bus drivers who decide to abandon a busload of people at 9:30 on the dot, I seem to have made it back to Norwich unharmed and relaxed. I'd say it was a successful weekend :-)
Monday, October 13
ireland!
what a great trip! im not sure where to begin, so i guess i'll just tell the story...
thursday night...
justine and i left norwich around 5pm and caught a coach to stansted airport, which took about 2 hours. the flight was so short! about 45 minutes long and we touched down in dublin around 11. we made our way to the hostel, only to find that there was a random person sleeping in one of our beds. the people at the front desk were not quite coherent at that time of night, and it took them 45 minutes to find us another room! we were just about to go to the hotel down the road, but the maindesk guy wouldn't refund us, so they found us an alternative room. bed by 2ish, up at 7!
friday...
the tour we went on was called "shamrocker tours" for young-ish people. there were some other students studying in england (americans staying in london), a bunch of aussies, some south african women, a canadian couple... all english speaking countries represented! we hopped on the coach and off we went!
our guide, a full irishman, was super knowledgeable! he talked and talked and talked and talked (which got quite irritating when trying to nap...). but it was great to be able to hear about so much of irelands history, the mythology attached to it, its culture, etc etc.
our first stop on friday was to Locke's Whiskey distillery, where we learned all about the distillation process of whiskey. what makes irish whiskey far superior to that of american bourbon and scotish? its distilled 3 times! (because i know you all wanted to know that :-) ) had a whiskey sampling after, and i can wholeheartedly say that i DO NOT like whiskey, its terrible!
after that we hopped back on to our little coach and headed for a monestary, Cloimanouis (or something like that...) it had some really cool stone buildings, lots of graves...
final stop of the day was the Cliffs of Moher. breathtaking!! it was really rainy, windy and wet but it was beautiful to see! pictures to be shared later....
we spent friday night in a town called Doolin, on the west coast of Ireland. the town was literally one street long! the hostel was great, clean, friendly, very homey. in the evening we all went out to McGann's pub to grab some irish stew for dinner (many a pint of Guiness) and to hear some traditional irish folk music. we stayed for about 5 or 6 songs, but they were all so slow so we decided to head back down the road to the hostel.
Saturday.. lots of driving! We made our way along the western coast for one of the most beautiful scenic rides around the world, or so Kevin told us. at one point we ventured down to the water. at another stop we hiked to the most western part of Europe! if we were to continue westward we would run in to Newfoundland... when i heard that it finally registered just how far north we were! ahh! ... heard lots of stories about the sleeping giant and the 3 maidens, all of which are island formations you can see from the coast.
we spent saturday night in Killarney, supposedly one of the most popular tourist destinations of Ireland, also where the male to female ratio is 3-1. but was more like 10-1! lots of farmers! (kevin, the guide had loads of laughs poking fun at the Killarney farmer stereotypes... haha)
we had a great dinner at a pub, then continued on with our evening at a night stop called the the grand hotel. it was a fun night, but still very rural, very country (even more so than Norwich!)
Sunday... was the best sightseeing day by far!
our first stop was at Blarney - what beautiful grounds! and the castle is amazing! I kissed the stone, which was very creepy to do dangling upside down, being held by an old irishman. We'll see if i got the "gift of the gab" ...
our next stop was at some caves, which were so cool! huge cathedral-sized spaces, lots of amazing geological formations.. we weren't supposed to take pictures, but being the little rebel that i am i snuck a few anyways
all in all, it was a lot of driving through the countryside, but i guess thats the best thing that ireland has to offer! I wish that we had another day or so just to explore dublin, but i really enjoed what we were able to see and do! the tour company was great and it was pretty well priced, i'd say.
had a lovely long commute back to norwich late last night...
coach to airport in Dublin: 30 minutes
waiting at airport: 90 minutes
flight: 45
train from stansted to cambridge, to stowmarket, to norwich: 3 hours!
taxi to uea: 15 minutes
it really makes you miss the convenience of a car and the closeness of things in LA!
so, thats my weekend...
thursday night...
justine and i left norwich around 5pm and caught a coach to stansted airport, which took about 2 hours. the flight was so short! about 45 minutes long and we touched down in dublin around 11. we made our way to the hostel, only to find that there was a random person sleeping in one of our beds. the people at the front desk were not quite coherent at that time of night, and it took them 45 minutes to find us another room! we were just about to go to the hotel down the road, but the maindesk guy wouldn't refund us, so they found us an alternative room. bed by 2ish, up at 7!
friday...
the tour we went on was called "shamrocker tours" for young-ish people. there were some other students studying in england (americans staying in london), a bunch of aussies, some south african women, a canadian couple... all english speaking countries represented! we hopped on the coach and off we went!
our guide, a full irishman, was super knowledgeable! he talked and talked and talked and talked (which got quite irritating when trying to nap...). but it was great to be able to hear about so much of irelands history, the mythology attached to it, its culture, etc etc.
our first stop on friday was to Locke's Whiskey distillery, where we learned all about the distillation process of whiskey. what makes irish whiskey far superior to that of american bourbon and scotish? its distilled 3 times! (because i know you all wanted to know that :-) ) had a whiskey sampling after, and i can wholeheartedly say that i DO NOT like whiskey, its terrible!
after that we hopped back on to our little coach and headed for a monestary, Cloimanouis (or something like that...) it had some really cool stone buildings, lots of graves...
final stop of the day was the Cliffs of Moher. breathtaking!! it was really rainy, windy and wet but it was beautiful to see! pictures to be shared later....
we spent friday night in a town called Doolin, on the west coast of Ireland. the town was literally one street long! the hostel was great, clean, friendly, very homey. in the evening we all went out to McGann's pub to grab some irish stew for dinner (many a pint of Guiness) and to hear some traditional irish folk music. we stayed for about 5 or 6 songs, but they were all so slow so we decided to head back down the road to the hostel.
Saturday.. lots of driving! We made our way along the western coast for one of the most beautiful scenic rides around the world, or so Kevin told us. at one point we ventured down to the water. at another stop we hiked to the most western part of Europe! if we were to continue westward we would run in to Newfoundland... when i heard that it finally registered just how far north we were! ahh! ... heard lots of stories about the sleeping giant and the 3 maidens, all of which are island formations you can see from the coast.
we spent saturday night in Killarney, supposedly one of the most popular tourist destinations of Ireland, also where the male to female ratio is 3-1. but was more like 10-1! lots of farmers! (kevin, the guide had loads of laughs poking fun at the Killarney farmer stereotypes... haha)
we had a great dinner at a pub, then continued on with our evening at a night stop called the the grand hotel. it was a fun night, but still very rural, very country (even more so than Norwich!)
Sunday... was the best sightseeing day by far!
our first stop was at Blarney - what beautiful grounds! and the castle is amazing! I kissed the stone, which was very creepy to do dangling upside down, being held by an old irishman. We'll see if i got the "gift of the gab" ...
our next stop was at some caves, which were so cool! huge cathedral-sized spaces, lots of amazing geological formations.. we weren't supposed to take pictures, but being the little rebel that i am i snuck a few anyways
all in all, it was a lot of driving through the countryside, but i guess thats the best thing that ireland has to offer! I wish that we had another day or so just to explore dublin, but i really enjoed what we were able to see and do! the tour company was great and it was pretty well priced, i'd say.
had a lovely long commute back to norwich late last night...
coach to airport in Dublin: 30 minutes
waiting at airport: 90 minutes
flight: 45
train from stansted to cambridge, to stowmarket, to norwich: 3 hours!
taxi to uea: 15 minutes
it really makes you miss the convenience of a car and the closeness of things in LA!
so, thats my weekend...
Sunday, October 12
back in the UK
made it back to school a few moments ago. i'll write all about ireland tomorrow, though, its been a LONG day of travelling (buses, planes and trains! and a taxi...) - been up since 7 and it is now 2am.
but just wanted to say that im alive and well, safe and tired (like any traveler should be!)
but just wanted to say that im alive and well, safe and tired (like any traveler should be!)
Tuesday, October 7
Monday, October 6
London Town
had a great 36 hours (or less than...) in London this weekend! Justine and I caught an early train Saturday morning from Norwich to London and got there mid-day. I have a couple of friends who are working there with an internship program for a year who offered to let us crash on their couches, but we opted for a hostel. It was called 'Clink'. It was my first hostel experience, and I wasn't expecting much. It was nice though, clean, spacious, well kept. But, next time, for expenses sake and logistics, I'll stay with my friend there. On Saturday we had great weather! We walked down past Buckingham Palace, past St. James park and down to Westminister Abbey. The Abbey was closed when we got there (big bummer!), but we were able to see it from the outside. Oh, Big Ben, too. Only its not so big... We walked around the city for no less than 5 hours, our feet we so sore! We got some discounted tickets to go see Chicago that night, which was so great! Of course we could have gotten better seats for £5 more had we known we were going to be in the last row! But, so be it... we had a great time! Next time it'll be Phantom of the Opera :-)
Met up with my friends after the show and had a fun night! Went to a place called the Jazz Cafe... wouldn't go back there again, not worth the cover, but it was still fun.
Sunday it was pouring rain! We were both so exhausted from the night before and we had to get up early to check out of the hostel. We opted to do one of those Hop-On Hop-Off bus tours that takes you around the city. Good choice considering the weather and our tired legs, but our desire to see the city as more than a tube line (with too many necessary stops closed!!! that was frustrating...) We got off our little tour bus near Hyde Park and walked along that shopping corridor. Went into Harrods and Harvey Nichols... so expensive! I wanted to buy something from there, but couldn't bring myself to spend that kind of money... everything was designer!!! Next time maybe I'll get something from the tourist shop, cheesy yes, but economical...
36 hours later were had made it back safe and sound (tired and feeling gross about not taking a shower since saturday morning before we left) to good ol' Norwich, home...
Now that I've been I have a better feel as to what I'd like to do next time I'm down in the city with other friends (Katie and Marissa for Halloween weekend and Susy in December). All in all I was so happy that we got out of Norwich, wouldn't have had nearly as much fun!
I'll post some pictures as soon as I can. I took my computer to an IT guy this morning to get it fixed. Hopefully that wont cost me too much (money, stress or time...)
Cheers!
Happy week 3! Enjoy October, I heard it rained... ?
Met up with my friends after the show and had a fun night! Went to a place called the Jazz Cafe... wouldn't go back there again, not worth the cover, but it was still fun.
Sunday it was pouring rain! We were both so exhausted from the night before and we had to get up early to check out of the hostel. We opted to do one of those Hop-On Hop-Off bus tours that takes you around the city. Good choice considering the weather and our tired legs, but our desire to see the city as more than a tube line (with too many necessary stops closed!!! that was frustrating...) We got off our little tour bus near Hyde Park and walked along that shopping corridor. Went into Harrods and Harvey Nichols... so expensive! I wanted to buy something from there, but couldn't bring myself to spend that kind of money... everything was designer!!! Next time maybe I'll get something from the tourist shop, cheesy yes, but economical...
36 hours later were had made it back safe and sound (tired and feeling gross about not taking a shower since saturday morning before we left) to good ol' Norwich, home...
Now that I've been I have a better feel as to what I'd like to do next time I'm down in the city with other friends (Katie and Marissa for Halloween weekend and Susy in December). All in all I was so happy that we got out of Norwich, wouldn't have had nearly as much fun!
I'll post some pictures as soon as I can. I took my computer to an IT guy this morning to get it fixed. Hopefully that wont cost me too much (money, stress or time...)
Cheers!
Happy week 3! Enjoy October, I heard it rained... ?
Friday, October 3
trip #1
on my way to London in the morning! a quick trip, 2 days, 1 night. justine and i are going to do some sightseeing, i think we're going to stick around westminister abbey, buckingham palace, hype park, big ben (i'll do the tower, the eye., etc later...). really excited to get out and explore!
computer is really broken. getting a new harddrive on monday... :-(
computer is really broken. getting a new harddrive on monday... :-(
Tuesday, September 30
computer virus
i am sad to report that my computer got a virus this morning. it has been at the IT desk all day, and i've been in-and-out checking on it. very frustrating, but at least i had no real plans today (or tomorrow for that matter) to get it sorted out. if not... sigh... who knows.
trying to plan a little weekend trip to cambridge, being that the tickets sold out for the trip this saturday when i went to get it this morning, but i'll figure something out.
better news tomorrow, hopefully (from all ends)
trying to plan a little weekend trip to cambridge, being that the tickets sold out for the trip this saturday when i went to get it this morning, but i'll figure something out.
better news tomorrow, hopefully (from all ends)
Monday, September 29
happy monday :-)
not too sure where to begin, but im happy to report that my long day of the week is over :-) and by that i mean that i had class sporadically from 10 to 5 today, 4 hours total. I'm getting a bit more excited about my assignments, and am interested in doing this research for my architecture class - as of now it s the Victorian Era country house. The presentation isnt for 9 weeks, but I really don't have anything else to do...
I'm feeling so much better about being here! Classes going well, meeting new people, making travel plans, and getting my endorphins going has really helped. I went to the women's basketball gym time yesterday, and sadly to say, but I don't think I'll be playing with them for the semester. Its not worth it to me. They practice on the weekends, and I'm planning on traveling then. It would also set me back $100 for the semester, plus a new pair of shoes. And, the level isn't anywhere where it would be beneficial. So, I'll just keep in shape the best way I know how (good ol' cardio equipment, a track, jumprope and weights), and see where that takes me through December. Dad, you and your key to the gym will come in handy when I get back :-)
Tomorrow is a research and work day, and laundry (in the sink, perhaps?). Getting my crocieries delivered on Wednesday, if that works out well I'll be so happy - no more heavy carrying fro the bus stop to my room 15 minutes away!
Its finally getting cooler - fall weather is here!
I'm feeling so much better about being here! Classes going well, meeting new people, making travel plans, and getting my endorphins going has really helped. I went to the women's basketball gym time yesterday, and sadly to say, but I don't think I'll be playing with them for the semester. Its not worth it to me. They practice on the weekends, and I'm planning on traveling then. It would also set me back $100 for the semester, plus a new pair of shoes. And, the level isn't anywhere where it would be beneficial. So, I'll just keep in shape the best way I know how (good ol' cardio equipment, a track, jumprope and weights), and see where that takes me through December. Dad, you and your key to the gym will come in handy when I get back :-)
Tomorrow is a research and work day, and laundry (in the sink, perhaps?). Getting my crocieries delivered on Wednesday, if that works out well I'll be so happy - no more heavy carrying fro the bus stop to my room 15 minutes away!
Its finally getting cooler - fall weather is here!
Sunday, September 28
getting better...
well, as my first full week here has come to an end, i am happy to report that it has gotten better, im finally settling in. all of my initial frustration came when things didn't go according to plan, or at least the plan that i imagined would occur (the plan that everything would be ready for me once i got here, which is a very unrealistic and quite selfish perspective to have). but, i was finally able to get my gym membership, which made me the most happy, i think. i've been meeting new friends along the way, lots more foreign students (mostly from the states) and i've been getting to know my flatmates better as well. the weather has been beautiful, sunny and warm! (i thought i was going into the depressing cold and rain for 4 months, but that hasn't been the case so far). i guess i just bring the sunshine with me :-)
had my first mini-adventure yesterday - took an afternoon trip to blickling hall, one of the Boylen (sp?) houses. The grounds were beautiful, and it was nice to see some of the Norfolk countryside. Aside from that, I've just been planning little trips here and there ... Ireland, Bath/Stonehenge, London. Hopefully I'll get some serious work done this week with the papers that I have due later in the semester - my little plan (me and plans, i know) is to do school work intensively mon-thurs, and then go have fun fri-sun, we'll see how well i do
off to church, not sure how long its going to take me to walk there, but its a nice day out so i dont mind it at all.
miss you all dearly!
had my first mini-adventure yesterday - took an afternoon trip to blickling hall, one of the Boylen (sp?) houses. The grounds were beautiful, and it was nice to see some of the Norfolk countryside. Aside from that, I've just been planning little trips here and there ... Ireland, Bath/Stonehenge, London. Hopefully I'll get some serious work done this week with the papers that I have due later in the semester - my little plan (me and plans, i know) is to do school work intensively mon-thurs, and then go have fun fri-sun, we'll see how well i do
off to church, not sure how long its going to take me to walk there, but its a nice day out so i dont mind it at all.
miss you all dearly!
Wednesday, September 24
Mid-week vacation, week 1
oops, accidentaly posted nothing with that last one.
but, i haven't been up to much the past 2 days. yesterday Justine and I went into town to get groceries and some school supplies. We also booked a weekend trip to Ireland for Oct 10-12, which im really excited for! I stopped by the student travel office and was able to get a million and a half brochures about different options, which I'm getting excited about. I need to travel as much as I can while I'm here (because who knows when I'll be back), so hopefully it will all work out. Some musts on my list: Bath + Stonehenge, London, this mini-cruise thing across to Amsterdam or Rotterdam or Bruges... any suggestions?
Attempted to go for a walk into town this morning, I've been curious to see how long it might take. Only it started to pour down rain 20 minutes into it, so we turned around and came back, a little bummed about it, as that was going to be my "big exercise" for the past few days. the rain of course stopped when I got back to my room, with the bottom half of my jeans soaked, and my hood dripping with water (and I was using an umbrella). Oh well, I still love the rain! (we'll see how i feel about it in a few weeks).
International student party, Icebreaker thing tonight, which should be fun. Hopefully the rain will subside for that as well, because that wouldn't be fun...
My accuweather says its sunner and 85 at home, jealous a bit...
but, i haven't been up to much the past 2 days. yesterday Justine and I went into town to get groceries and some school supplies. We also booked a weekend trip to Ireland for Oct 10-12, which im really excited for! I stopped by the student travel office and was able to get a million and a half brochures about different options, which I'm getting excited about. I need to travel as much as I can while I'm here (because who knows when I'll be back), so hopefully it will all work out. Some musts on my list: Bath + Stonehenge, London, this mini-cruise thing across to Amsterdam or Rotterdam or Bruges... any suggestions?
Attempted to go for a walk into town this morning, I've been curious to see how long it might take. Only it started to pour down rain 20 minutes into it, so we turned around and came back, a little bummed about it, as that was going to be my "big exercise" for the past few days. the rain of course stopped when I got back to my room, with the bottom half of my jeans soaked, and my hood dripping with water (and I was using an umbrella). Oh well, I still love the rain! (we'll see how i feel about it in a few weeks).
International student party, Icebreaker thing tonight, which should be fun. Hopefully the rain will subside for that as well, because that wouldn't be fun...
My accuweather says its sunner and 85 at home, jealous a bit...
Monday, September 22
over due berlin
Final Day, Berlin
Elke and I had a good final day today. Got an early start from the hotel, but neither of us were in quite a hurry. We first went back to the center of town, “Mitte” and walked through the streets there. We walked through checkpoint Charlie, which was the border between the East and the West during soviet occupation. We both wanted to go back to the Holocaust Memorial and walk through the grid with a labyrinth-esque feel. Then, it was a short jog over to the Parliament building to walk through the transparent globe that overlooked the entire city. Our guide yesterday gave us a good tip to make a reservation at the restaurant at the top of it so that you don’t have to stand in the hour+ line to get in, so we were able to get up without waiting at all! In the middle of the Parliament building there is this massive globe with a ramp that you walk up to get to the top. If you look down into the center of it you see the main Parliamentary chambers, and looking out you can see the entire city! From one side the Spree River that runs through Berlin, from the other the Tiergarten where the Prussian Kings would hunt; to yet another the Brandenburg gate, TV tower of East Berlin and several other century old domed buildings and cathedrals. After our afternoon snack, for which we had TERRIBLE service (you would think that the servers that cater to members of Parliament would be decent at their jobs, but think again…), we walked through the city on “unter den Linden” – the main street of the city. We quickly had made it to our last destination of the afternoon – the Hofs that Elke wanted to visit on the East side. It was comprised of several connected courtyards which once served as apartments, but are now being used as boutique shops and restaurants. Definitely wish I had more time to spend there! It was really relaxing being there and one could easily spend a day there window shopping, looking through art galleries and sipping on a coffee… Ate dinner at this little bistro in one of the courtyards and had the best meal of our trip, a great way to end our short stay in Berlin!
Off to England in the morning!
Tschuss!
deep breath....
i keep telling myself that, to just take deep breaths...
i can not even begin to describe how ludacrious the system for registering, finding classes, class schedules and the entire organizational system is here. it makes no sense, and its impossible to figure out. i thought that i would thoroughly enjoy today, being that i am no longer disconnected from the meager world of UEA, but instead my mind if flying at 1000 miles per minute and i don't even know where to begin tackling frustration and all that i need to do today. include eat. that may be my current problem... anyways, i will try to write this with as little subjectivity as possible, to be fair to UEA and my experiences thus far.
oh, but it would have been nice to have been told by the school of psychology that i was actually supposed to reguster on friday, as opposed to today and showing up and them saying ''why weren't you here on friday?'' and it would have been nice to have been told that i had a class this morning at 10:00, instead of walking into the art building at 9:55 simply to enquire about the class as opposed to having to walk over to the seminar room completely unprepared to have a class and being overwhelmed by the professor and his architectural lingo.
no more ranting, im sorry, all.
so....this weekend was entirely uneventful, had very little to do both saturday and sunday, and ended up reading most of the afternoons, which was quite nice. met some more americans (large group from dickenson and the UCs), and all of my flatmates arrived. went on a Norwich city bus tour which gave me some better bearings as far as where things were in relationship to one another in the city, etc. would have loved to have been able to use the athletic facilities, but alas! i couldnt because i dont have my campus card, which i couldnt turn the paperwork in for until today because i had to get my registration information first, but i'll be getting the card in 3 days so then i can actually go to the gym (why they don't have students register AND get the cards on the FIRST day is beyond me... crazy, illogical Brits...)
so, classes ...
i have 3 classes - 2 psych classes (lecture + seminar) and one architecture class about the english country house. i have classes on monday and thursday only, 2 hours for each. oh, and i dont have any exams, just papers and presentations. i suppose i'll spend my tuesdays and wednesdays working on school stuff and hopefully i'll be making little weekend or day trips around the UK and neighboring countries.
i hope my day gets brighter and takes an uphill spin, and im sure it will...
last bit - experienced my first english rain today, and i would be wearing flip flops (we've had nice weather the past few days, so i figured i could continue the trend, but i have been mistaken)
i can not even begin to describe how ludacrious the system for registering, finding classes, class schedules and the entire organizational system is here. it makes no sense, and its impossible to figure out. i thought that i would thoroughly enjoy today, being that i am no longer disconnected from the meager world of UEA, but instead my mind if flying at 1000 miles per minute and i don't even know where to begin tackling frustration and all that i need to do today. include eat. that may be my current problem... anyways, i will try to write this with as little subjectivity as possible, to be fair to UEA and my experiences thus far.
oh, but it would have been nice to have been told by the school of psychology that i was actually supposed to reguster on friday, as opposed to today and showing up and them saying ''why weren't you here on friday?'' and it would have been nice to have been told that i had a class this morning at 10:00, instead of walking into the art building at 9:55 simply to enquire about the class as opposed to having to walk over to the seminar room completely unprepared to have a class and being overwhelmed by the professor and his architectural lingo.
no more ranting, im sorry, all.
so....this weekend was entirely uneventful, had very little to do both saturday and sunday, and ended up reading most of the afternoons, which was quite nice. met some more americans (large group from dickenson and the UCs), and all of my flatmates arrived. went on a Norwich city bus tour which gave me some better bearings as far as where things were in relationship to one another in the city, etc. would have loved to have been able to use the athletic facilities, but alas! i couldnt because i dont have my campus card, which i couldnt turn the paperwork in for until today because i had to get my registration information first, but i'll be getting the card in 3 days so then i can actually go to the gym (why they don't have students register AND get the cards on the FIRST day is beyond me... crazy, illogical Brits...)
so, classes ...
i have 3 classes - 2 psych classes (lecture + seminar) and one architecture class about the english country house. i have classes on monday and thursday only, 2 hours for each. oh, and i dont have any exams, just papers and presentations. i suppose i'll spend my tuesdays and wednesdays working on school stuff and hopefully i'll be making little weekend or day trips around the UK and neighboring countries.
i hope my day gets brighter and takes an uphill spin, and im sure it will...
last bit - experienced my first english rain today, and i would be wearing flip flops (we've had nice weather the past few days, so i figured i could continue the trend, but i have been mistaken)
Friday, September 19
disconnected in the UK
so, i seem to have made it in one piece to Norwich! I've written a blog post on my computer about my last day in Berlin, but I can only use an internet cafe for now because I wont have access to UEAs internet until after I register for classes which will be on Monday morning. So, it will seem quite outdated when I post that in a few days, but it will be there, nevertheless.
Got in to UEA yesterday evening and it was such a strange feeling being on a confusing campus, in an unfamiliar place, all alone. I got to my room and unpacked as well as I could, but I soon realized that I was lacking in several necessities - like towels and food, etc. I decided to venture into the cinty center to get some groceries, which I did successfully! too bad it took a while... I got back late, at around 10 and realized that I was all alone in my flat. The few people that were here already were out having a good time, and I was just wanting to be comfortable in my new ''home''. The walls are pretty thin, and my room is right next to the kitchen, so every time someone walks through the hall or into the kitchen I can hear it. The room itself is a decent size, but the bed is tiny!! smaller than a twin... i have a huge window that overlooks a lake, or a river, or something facing west, which is nice to see. Oh, and my room's heater is perminently stuck on 85, too hot!!
Today was orientation, and I sat through a few hours of talking heads telling all of the international students about the student resources available. Made a few friends, Justine from Australia and Mathide from France and we went shopping in town together. Which brings me up to date, as i sit in an internet cafe in the center of town above a chinese restaurant, wishing that i could use the internet from the comfort of my own room, but i'll have to make the best of this for now.
So, until I am able to register I can't do much. I can't use the internet, i can't go to the library and i can't use the gym. one would think that upon arrival students would be issued their ID cards, but instead i get to wait 4 days... lovely.
more orientation stuff in the morning, i think theres a karaoke thing tonight (something to do, i guess), and sunday a norwich city tour.
as of now, just trying to get situated, catch myself up on somr R&R, not get sick and step outside of my comfort zone and be social with complete strangers... yay!
time to head back to the bus stop, and then hopefully take a run by the river,. but we'll see.
catch you all up again in a few days!
Got in to UEA yesterday evening and it was such a strange feeling being on a confusing campus, in an unfamiliar place, all alone. I got to my room and unpacked as well as I could, but I soon realized that I was lacking in several necessities - like towels and food, etc. I decided to venture into the cinty center to get some groceries, which I did successfully! too bad it took a while... I got back late, at around 10 and realized that I was all alone in my flat. The few people that were here already were out having a good time, and I was just wanting to be comfortable in my new ''home''. The walls are pretty thin, and my room is right next to the kitchen, so every time someone walks through the hall or into the kitchen I can hear it. The room itself is a decent size, but the bed is tiny!! smaller than a twin... i have a huge window that overlooks a lake, or a river, or something facing west, which is nice to see. Oh, and my room's heater is perminently stuck on 85, too hot!!
Today was orientation, and I sat through a few hours of talking heads telling all of the international students about the student resources available. Made a few friends, Justine from Australia and Mathide from France and we went shopping in town together. Which brings me up to date, as i sit in an internet cafe in the center of town above a chinese restaurant, wishing that i could use the internet from the comfort of my own room, but i'll have to make the best of this for now.
So, until I am able to register I can't do much. I can't use the internet, i can't go to the library and i can't use the gym. one would think that upon arrival students would be issued their ID cards, but instead i get to wait 4 days... lovely.
more orientation stuff in the morning, i think theres a karaoke thing tonight (something to do, i guess), and sunday a norwich city tour.
as of now, just trying to get situated, catch myself up on somr R&R, not get sick and step outside of my comfort zone and be social with complete strangers... yay!
time to head back to the bus stop, and then hopefully take a run by the river,. but we'll see.
catch you all up again in a few days!
Wednesday, September 17
Berlin
1spending yesterday in Berlin was great. We went on a bike tour of the city, 16km, 4.5 hours... we were able to see all of the touristy stuff - parliament, the brandenburg gate, the TV tower, victory tower, the tiergarden, the house of the president, checkpoint charlie, part of the wall, the "memorial for the murdered jews of wwii" (yes, that is the name and by far it was my favorite thing we saw), ate lunch in a biergarden, and of coursei several old buildings and cathedrals. for only being here for such a short amount of time it was perfect for showing us the necessities and the guide was super knowledgeable about so many things about the city. and it was in english (yay!)
too bad it was 45 degrees. i was FREEZING. i dont do well in cold weather... so i really need to learn how to keep myself warm in England. Elke was having a grand old time on her bike while i was peddling along with this slight breeze pushing my hood off my head, with my fingers wrapped in my sleeves so i couldnt really control the brakes. quite funny to picture im sure....
after that tour we went on a little shopping excursion in search of a new coat. we first went to this KaDeWe place and had a little snack at the restaurant that overlooked berlin, then browsed around there for a while. too bad they didn't sell an article of clothing for less than 200euro, which is about $300... pass! Found a great coat at united colors of benneton, its red :-) and wool :-) and has a hood :-) and did i mention that its red :-)?
throughout this entire leg in berlin all that we have wanted was something freshly made for a meal - SALAD. but that doesnt exist here. its like, lettuce? what is lettuce? you dont want a cup of milk fat, i mean dressing with that? So we ended up searching online for a place, and found one in the middle of town that we thought would suit our needs. but of course, it didnt. we ended up wandering down the street and found this little place called "good choices" and they had salad :-) so we sat down, and the food was great! exactly what we wanted! and i was thoroughly entertained by the gay bar atmosphere that was brewing 20 feet away... i was watching these guys through a mirror on the wall the whole time. im such a people watcher.... oh, and then there was the prostitute standing outside the restaurant. i wanted to see her get picked up, just to be able to say that i had and i was curious about the way the transaction would go down, but no takers....
and as for today, beautiful sunny skies! and we've got a plan to go into the parliament building because they have this glass globe thing that you can walk through and have great views of the city (and its free), and then elke wants to go and see this "hof" thing and some art galleries. we'll be leaving for hannover as late as possible, and we'll be on our merry ways to london and la in the morning.
can't wait to finally be settled in england....
tata!!
too bad it was 45 degrees. i was FREEZING. i dont do well in cold weather... so i really need to learn how to keep myself warm in England. Elke was having a grand old time on her bike while i was peddling along with this slight breeze pushing my hood off my head, with my fingers wrapped in my sleeves so i couldnt really control the brakes. quite funny to picture im sure....
after that tour we went on a little shopping excursion in search of a new coat. we first went to this KaDeWe place and had a little snack at the restaurant that overlooked berlin, then browsed around there for a while. too bad they didn't sell an article of clothing for less than 200euro, which is about $300... pass! Found a great coat at united colors of benneton, its red :-) and wool :-) and has a hood :-) and did i mention that its red :-)?
throughout this entire leg in berlin all that we have wanted was something freshly made for a meal - SALAD. but that doesnt exist here. its like, lettuce? what is lettuce? you dont want a cup of milk fat, i mean dressing with that? So we ended up searching online for a place, and found one in the middle of town that we thought would suit our needs. but of course, it didnt. we ended up wandering down the street and found this little place called "good choices" and they had salad :-) so we sat down, and the food was great! exactly what we wanted! and i was thoroughly entertained by the gay bar atmosphere that was brewing 20 feet away... i was watching these guys through a mirror on the wall the whole time. im such a people watcher.... oh, and then there was the prostitute standing outside the restaurant. i wanted to see her get picked up, just to be able to say that i had and i was curious about the way the transaction would go down, but no takers....
and as for today, beautiful sunny skies! and we've got a plan to go into the parliament building because they have this glass globe thing that you can walk through and have great views of the city (and its free), and then elke wants to go and see this "hof" thing and some art galleries. we'll be leaving for hannover as late as possible, and we'll be on our merry ways to london and la in the morning.
can't wait to finally be settled in england....
tata!!
Monday, September 15
Berlin, day 1
got to berlin late in the afternoon. internet, finally!!!
had a fun busride to get to our hotel, which is really nice :-)
ekle got sick from our lunch today, her body doesn't like meat :-/
getting plenty of exercise running around with this 50 lb suitcase, loading it on and off trains, carrying it up flights of stairs (i.e. up 3 flights to our room in this hotel. not going to lie, was a bit winded by that).
elke is now curled up in her bed, still feeling really sick. both of are bodies are freaking out from the amount of sugar and fat in the diets of rosie and others. they wonder why everyone is dieing of cancer...
we had plans to go out to a jazz club tonight, but we'll see how she's feeling.
PS - you all should get skype! let me know if you do, my username is nkolodinski
had a fun busride to get to our hotel, which is really nice :-)
ekle got sick from our lunch today, her body doesn't like meat :-/
getting plenty of exercise running around with this 50 lb suitcase, loading it on and off trains, carrying it up flights of stairs (i.e. up 3 flights to our room in this hotel. not going to lie, was a bit winded by that).
elke is now curled up in her bed, still feeling really sick. both of are bodies are freaking out from the amount of sugar and fat in the diets of rosie and others. they wonder why everyone is dieing of cancer...
we had plans to go out to a jazz club tonight, but we'll see how she's feeling.
PS - you all should get skype! let me know if you do, my username is nkolodinski
recap....
Disclaimer: This is a post that recaps a lot of what I’ve been doing while in Münster with my dad’s friend Kai and his family, and in Volkse with my dad’s family, i.e. Tante Rosie. It is quite long, but if you do decide to read it all don’t complain that I didn’t warn you J
Recap: Münster, Germany
Dad, sorry I wasn’t able to post this on Friday when we left Münster, but I didn’t have access to the internet to post a blog about all of my adventures. But, here it is!
Münster was fantastic! It is a relatively small city, in both population and kilometers, but it is such a great place. Elke and I stayed at a hotel within walking distance from the Haupbahnhof in one direction and the center of town in the other. Good sized room, apparently a large bathroom for Germany (so Elke told me). Münster is a university town with 50,000+ students there a year. It is also a very mobile city with a 2-1 ratio bikes to people. It was really easy to get around via foot, bike or car – there was equal space for people to walk (in the Fussgangerzone), ride bikes (via bike trails on every sidewalk and through all of the public places – to the Alstadt.
Kai and Marion were such good hosts for Elke and me! (Kai was my dad’s teammate from ’84 when he was in Germany playing professional ball in Gottingen) On Wednesday evening Elke and I went over to their house and met the family and talked. I spent Thursday with Kai and Marion around Münster to lots of the shops and old buildings in the city. On Friday I went for a run around the Promenade, and got lost, went to breakfast with Kai and Marion and then hopped on a train to Braunschweig where Rosie and the relatives live.
I am amazed at the friendliness of everyone and the generosity that I have been welcomed to here in Germany. Like Anja and Wolfgang, I have not seen Kai and Marion since I was a child and they are practically strangers to me. Needless to say I was a bit nervous about my time in Münster, but it turned out to be great! I felt very at home in Münster with the Limburgs. Both Kai and Marion speak English, which made it all so much easier for me. Kai showed Elke and I some watches in transit from the jewelry store he manages (where Rolexes are the cheapest watches they sell) and was able to take me on a bike tour of Münster on Thursday afternoon all around the city. We biked through the suburbs, down by the Aasee, through the center of town, down to the canal, past the castle, through some gardens and back (it took 2 hours!). Everyone in Münster is very active, and I think that that was one of the things that I liked about it the most.
So, that is Münster in a nutshell. Mom was right, that I’d love it, and I would definitely want to go back soon! Now, if only they all spoke English/I wasn’t intimidated to speak German…
Moving on to my next leg: Family in the countryside.
So far on this trip I have visited one of the only cities not destroyed in the war, Celle; an eco-friendly, active, modern and young town rated as one of the best places to live in the world, Münster; and now, the countryside in a village with only 200 inhabitants in it, at a little farm house in Volkse with my Tante Rosie, my dad’s (and Elke’s) aunt (Opa’s sister). Rosie doesn’t speak English, nor do most of the relatives that I have met while here in Volkse.
Elke and I took the train from Münster to Braunschweig on Friday and arrived in Volkse late Friday afternoon, just in time for “Kuchen und Kaffee”. The other Elke Kolodinski (my Elke and dad’s cousin) picked us up from the train station and drove us to Rosie’s. We passed through several towns on the way, one of which was Wolfenbuttel, where Connor is playing basketball right now (I think…), as well as one of the VW plants.
It has been a very eventful weekend for both Elke and I, but more so for Elke. Tante Rosie doesn’t speak English, not do most of the relatives. So, I’ve have a relatively mute few days with not really being able to communicate with anyone without the assistance of Elke or just talking to a few people, which has been very frustrating for me. As for Elke, she’s been getting plenty of practice with her German, which is so good! She has been complimented by nearly everyone for how well she speaks German, and in her modest way says thank you but disagrees. I on the other hand, can’t speak it to save my life and get by with the “spanglish” version of German and English only when necessary.
On Saturday there was a little family reunion of sorts with over 20 people. It was nice to meet several of my dad and Elke’s cousins and aunts and uncles. Dorothea and her father-in-law came down from Hamburg (the one with the book for my dad), Elke and her two sisters, their families and mother were there, Herta’s daughters and families and a few others. I kept wanting to make a family tree to make sure that I had it all straight. But, with all of the time that I had to sit there and think about it, I think I figured it all out J I know that it made Elke really happy to be able to see people that she hadn’t seen for at leave 15 years, and I know people were happy to see us as well. I kept getting requests to come back with my family (Andrew, Jon and Tovah and parents) next summer! I wish that were the case (maybe to purchase a BMW or VW, perhaps …ha).
That night Sabine, Elke and Berbel took Elke and I out to Braunschweig for a night on the town. We went to 2 different restraint/bars and had a really great time! We went to the tallest building in the city (with 17 stories) and had a great view of what was around the city and of the sky (full moon, stars to see and a few clouds, sehr sch
n!)
Sunday morning Elke and I slept in a bit, ate a late and small breakfast and went for a good walk with Rosie around the countryside through some farmland. Rosie made a big Mittagessen – roast duck, rotkraut, boiled potatoes and baked plums and apricots (like stuffing). It was so good! Rosie is suh a good cook! She has made so much food these past 3 days, and I’ve eaten so much! I didn’t think that the day would come when I would reject the idea of cake, but sure enough it has come. My body can’t handle this much sugar, or coffee! But, I’m only in Germany once and it is all al good, so my body will just have to survive.
After lunch we went to the Flohmarkt (Flea market) in Gifhorn. It was pretty much a 2 mile long garage sale. Elke was looking for this one song “Eine Mu, eine Meh” (sp?) on an LP or CD or something but was unsuccessful. We went with Rosie, Elke’s cousin Rhea, her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter, Josephine (this little girl can scream like no other! It’s so high and ear-piercingly loud). Got back around 4:30 and of course it was time for more Kaffee und Kuchen. We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing.
The funniest thing about this place is Ronja, the dog. She is a hunting dog, but she is so mischievous and a terrible listener! Gerhardt will yell at her “RRRRRRRRRRonjaaa! AUS! RRRRRRRonja!!” its like a TV sitcom. And the dog will stop what she is doing, look and then keep doing whatever it is she wants to do. This morning we were sitting at breakfast and she was lying there, and then just got up and chased her own tail for 5 minutes straight! She never got it, but it was hilarious to watch! Growling at this little wagging stub that is a part of her….haha Elke has been trying to get a video of Gerhardt yelling her name, but she has been behaving today so she is a bit disappointed.
Rosie is quite the German country wife! She has an insanely beautiful garden with nearly everything in it; makes her own marmalade and honey to sell in the markets; has geese and chickens (sells the eggs); cans nearly everything that she grows (she has rooms of equipment in this house and shelf after shelf after shelf of storage space in the cellars); and makes this amazing Schnapps liquor with Quintin (a type of fruit that she grows in her garden, we don’t have it in the states I don’t think). Rosie has been very generous with Elke and I, giving us both some marmalade, honey and this fantastic liquor, as well as giving Elke a fur coat (she’s pretending that it’s not) and me a necklace.
Visiting Rosie has been really great, and I know that she really enjoyed Elke and I coming to see her (probably Elke more than me, I can’t really talk to her, and I’m a bit farther removed). But, I’m glad that we were able to come and stay with her and I couldn’t be more grateful for Elke being here with me! I could not have done this without her!!
Done for now… next post about Berlin!
Tuesday, September 9
Celle, Germany
Needless to say, my 24 hours in London were eventful. Took the tube all by myself across town (took about an hour or so) to meet up with Katie and G. Hung out with them that night (what a trooper I was ;-) )
The next morning I got up and took the tub to Heathrow to catch my flight to Germany. It was a short flight, and I was met by my mom's friend, husband and two sons (8 and 12). I haven't seen Anja and Wolfgang in 16 years, so I was a little skeptical about how the visit would go, but it has been so amazing! We visited the Fussgangerzone (town shopping center) on Monday with Elke, saw the castle in Celle with an amazing chapel, looked through some of the shops, etc. I felt like I was at Disneyland (and I told them that) because of the cobblestone streets, the old architecture and buildings ( a castle ... ?! need I say more), the miniature cars, the art...
Cultural note: kids are done with school at 1 everyday, and so their lunches (Mittagessen) is the biggest meal of the day, unlike the US, and dinner is snacky-sandwiches.
had soom great Reisling Eiswein last night (thanks, Elke). New favorite :-)
Today I went to Gymnassium (which is like junior high and high school, but only for the higher end of the selected school population) and sat in on Wolfgang's 12th grade history-in-english class about the Arab-Isreali conflict. Lots of questions about politics and social climate in the US. Then I went to a 6th grade class (Georg's, their son) and the kids really liked that. It was their English class, so they got to practice and I didn't have to pretend to speak bad German. some of the girls wanted my e-mail address and wanted to know when I'll be coming back (maybe for another visit later this semester).
After Mittagessen today, which was take-out from Mai Thai (hearing a little Thai woman speak German in a trip...) we went into Hannover to look at the old Town Hall (more amazing architecture and views from the tower) and at the Gardens of the old Palace of the Hanoverian king. Again, more beauty...
We've had great weather so far! Really pleasant and warm. Hopefully tomorrow will be more of the same as I move on to Münster to reconnect with Elke and to visit Kai and Marion, more parental friends.
Sorry for the length of that one, Tschüss!
The next morning I got up and took the tub to Heathrow to catch my flight to Germany. It was a short flight, and I was met by my mom's friend, husband and two sons (8 and 12). I haven't seen Anja and Wolfgang in 16 years, so I was a little skeptical about how the visit would go, but it has been so amazing! We visited the Fussgangerzone (town shopping center) on Monday with Elke, saw the castle in Celle with an amazing chapel, looked through some of the shops, etc. I felt like I was at Disneyland (and I told them that) because of the cobblestone streets, the old architecture and buildings ( a castle ... ?! need I say more), the miniature cars, the art...
Cultural note: kids are done with school at 1 everyday, and so their lunches (Mittagessen) is the biggest meal of the day, unlike the US, and dinner is snacky-sandwiches.
had soom great Reisling Eiswein last night (thanks, Elke). New favorite :-)
Today I went to Gymnassium (which is like junior high and high school, but only for the higher end of the selected school population) and sat in on Wolfgang's 12th grade history-in-english class about the Arab-Isreali conflict. Lots of questions about politics and social climate in the US. Then I went to a 6th grade class (Georg's, their son) and the kids really liked that. It was their English class, so they got to practice and I didn't have to pretend to speak bad German. some of the girls wanted my e-mail address and wanted to know when I'll be coming back (maybe for another visit later this semester).
After Mittagessen today, which was take-out from Mai Thai (hearing a little Thai woman speak German in a trip...) we went into Hannover to look at the old Town Hall (more amazing architecture and views from the tower) and at the Gardens of the old Palace of the Hanoverian king. Again, more beauty...
We've had great weather so far! Really pleasant and warm. Hopefully tomorrow will be more of the same as I move on to Münster to reconnect with Elke and to visit Kai and Marion, more parental friends.
Sorry for the length of that one, Tschüss!
Saturday, September 6
Leg 1, complete
Made it to London Heathrow today. The flight went well, shorter than I had expected and it went by quickly. The taxi driver got lost trying to find the place I'm staying at tonight, granted he did give me a bit of a discount, but it was still outrageous! I'm currently trying to get my cell phone to work, and the lady wouldn't just tell me the number over the phone for some reason, which was frustrating. Off to try to get in contact with Katie (and G) ....
Wednesday, September 3
Pre-Departure, countdown 50 hours
Test run blog post, just to see how all of this works....
Getting really excited about leaving! I feel like I've just been preparing to leave for 4 months, and I'm getting so anxious about it all (in a good way).
A few more things to do before I leave - exchange money, finish packing, say my last good-byes to everyone.
Gotta get this day started, peace!
Getting really excited about leaving! I feel like I've just been preparing to leave for 4 months, and I'm getting so anxious about it all (in a good way).
A few more things to do before I leave - exchange money, finish packing, say my last good-byes to everyone.
Gotta get this day started, peace!
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