Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Crazy days

I know it has been absolutely forever since I blogged, and I am ashamed of my neglect, but to make up for it I’ll write entries covering all the cool stuff I did over the few weeks I haven’t written and we’ll get all caught up, yeah?

But I just HAVE to write about what happened this last weekend as it was too crazy not to have recorded somewhere. Saturday, four other UF kids and I decided to go to Dover to see the White Cliffs. If only it was that simple.

We should have known the day was going to have some hang-ups when we went to Victoria Station to buy our train tickets. They usually give us a group rate if there are four or more people and everyone can pay separately on their credit cards or by cash or whatever. Apparently we got the one woman who didn’t want to be nice and split our bill so that was really annoying. But we got on the train just in time for our two hour ride to Dover.

And, actually the train didn’t actually go TO Dover. We found out later that the Dover station (last one on the route) and the station before it were closed for work on the tracks, so we had to get off in the middle of absolute nowhere (“Shepherd’s Well,” to be exact.) Then we hopped on a rickety rickshaw of a bus to take us over to Dover. There were, for some reason, a lot of Korean people on this bus. With babies.

So finally we get off the bus in Dover and we try to find the white hills. “But they’re huge,” you may say. “How hard could they be to find?” Well, pretty hard, actually. We started wandering around following brown historical signs. When that didn’t work, we tried following the sounds of seagulls to the water. Also, not a good idea.

So Jaime and Nancy stopped on the side of the road and asked some people sitting out front of their house for how to walk up the cliffs. They looked at us funny said, “Why would you want to walk there? It’s REALLY far.” Then they offered us a ride in their car, to which I refused because, A. there were five of us and only four seats in the car, and B. I’m not getting in the car with strangers. That’s Rule #1, obviously.

But we wandered around for a while and, after asking two more people for directions, we finally were headed up the hill.

Then, I understood why the people thought it was so absurd to walk.

It was FAR, and uphill all the way, and there wasn’t a footpath so we were walking along the road the whole way. (Also, following a hobo by accident, but oh well.) It wasn’t too hot outside, but the hike was still a pretty steady workout.

But we finally made it up, and when we looked out over the water we saw… a harbor full of big ass cruise ferries. Lame. But it was still a pretty nice view and it there were loads of trees and countryside on top the mountain (I keep saying “mountain,” but I don’t know what it is.)

We decided to take a ferry from Dover to Calais, in the north of France, so we found a footpath down the hill right to the ferry port. We bought tickets (fairly cheap, actually.) and, after a brief wait for the tram from the ferry terminal to the boat, we were on the ferry. It was a really nice boat, actually! Huge seats, lots of room, lots of FOOD. We bought lunch on the ferry—I got a huge plate of fish and chips, yummm. But ketchup was 20P a packet. Laaaame.

We asked this French woman working at the French ferry terminal when the next boats were and she told us at 6 and 8pm, which sucked because if we took the one at 6 we would only have about 45 minutes in France, but if we took the 8pm one we would miss the last train home to London. But after asking someone else at the terminal we found out there was one at 7 and that would be perfect.

Anyway, off the boat and into France! Calais is a pretty quiet town, just a marina basically with some shops, nothing too fancy. We walked around a bit, then went to the beach which was totally beautiful. The sand was so soft and nice and cool even though the sun was out all day. The water was freezing, though. We just hung around there for a few hours, then I bought two croissants and two pan au chocolat for only €2! I had to speak in mangled French to get them, but it was wonderfully worth it. My only French language experience was one semester Freshman year of college, so the conversation involved the mention of many numbers, some gesturing and face-making.

So we rushed to get back to the ferry so we could make the one that could get us back in time for the last train. We ran to the counter and asked the woman (same one who told us the wrong ferry times) if we had to check in, and she said no. So we went through security, got our passports stamped and got to the waiting lounge right on time.

BUT. The ferry was running late and they wouldn’t let us on the tram to take us over. So we didn’t get on the bus until 25 minutes or so after the boat was supposed to leave. BUT. Before we could get on the bus we had to give them our tickets and the same stupid woman wouldn’t let us on because “We didn’t have the right passes” and when we tried to explain that SHE was the one who told us we didn’t need anything she said, “Don’t waste your time!” But she said it all snooty and French.

So we ran back to the counter as fast as we could, got the right passes, ran back through security (who made us go through again) and the passport man (who yelled at us and made us show him our stamps) and got on the bus.

Well, we were on the ferry, but it decided not to leave until AN HOUR AND A HALF after the scheduled time, which as all the time we had budgeted to get back to the train. So we were like, what are we going to do? Stay in Dover overnight?

When we get back to Dover we decided to see if we could just make the train so we took a cab to the Shepherd’s Well station (with cabbies who were absolutely crazy drivers) and found out that, because of the construction, the trains were actually running later than expected, so we caught a train no problem.

I think all in all we spent eight hours in transit. There were many more crazy things that happened. But these are just the highlights.

Tonight I saw Wicked on the West End. I loved it! It was a great show, but I think I just really enjoyed the plot/story because it’s very clever and interesting, plenty of twists. Plus the performers were amazing.

It has been so hot here! And by here, I mean inside every building in England. They do not believe in A/C. As a Floridian, I am a firm believer in A/C. The dorm doesn’t have it, so we’ve had the windows open, but that doesn’t help, it just lets the bugs in. I tried to buy a fan today but the store was sold out, so I reserved one and I can pick it up tomorrow. I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE EXCITED FOR ANYTHING. A fan!

Last week and this week weren’t very exciting because I’ve had a ton of schoolwork. My classes here in London end Friday. I’ve got a presentation to give in class Thursday and two papers due in the next week, but after that it’s just online classes!

Plus, my mom is coming for 10 days in July! We are meeting my Aunt in Paris for five days. It will be epic.

Joe is in Mexico, climbing ruins, swimming in the Caribbean, chatting with locals, learning Spanish and winning titles of some sort. I miss his guts.

I have too much junk to do but I’m feeling lazy.

Goodnight! I plan on writing some catch-up entries about the cooler stuff I’ve done in the past few weeks. Look for then soon-ish.

Love,
Amy

Monday, June 8, 2009

Punk rock prom queen.


This weekend, as I said before, my roommates were all in Paris. Saturday, I went to the British Museum for a little while. But Sunday I went to Camden Market to explore all the shops and the nonsense.

Camden is a community known for its humongous market and for its... diverse crowd. Punks, hippies, Bangladeshi and Pakistani people, ravers, hipsters, Japanese and old people alike all gather in the hundreds of market stalls.

When I got off the tube at Camden High Street, the first couple shops around me were definitely punk-oriented--loads of spikes, neon fishnets, and things to pierce yourself with. I was a bit out of place in my cardigan sweater but it was fun so I carried on.


There are different markets of the three or four main streets; I found myself in the Stables, which used to be actual horse stables under the Camden Lock bridge but were converted into an outdoor market years ago.

It was vintage every-which-way! I was overwhelmed; were just those vintage markets there by themselves I could have spent all day browsing, but they were just one of the many, many awesome things I had to look at.

I finally bought a vintage dress from Berty & Gerty, which I love. It's blue, knee-length, fits me like a glove and was only £s;15. When you see something you really like, it fits like it's made for you, and it's that price, you HAVE to buy it. I'm just saying.

I also bought a birthday present for someone, but I cannot divulge because it's a surprise. But it's gorgeous.




AND! I bought a giiiiiiant doughnut! Chocolate and almond-covered with Bavarian cream inside. Fresh and homemade. Mmmm. AND! I got an adorable little panda pin from this store that exclusively sold items with adorable cartoon animals on them and phrases in badly worded Engrish.


There was also a store called Cyberdog that you'd have to see to believe. Four phrases: Robots. Blacklights. Rave music. Go-go dancers. And this was all in a store. You couldn't take photos inside but I got one of the outside which would probably give you a good enough impression.

So all in all a good day. I came home exhausted, which is (sometimes) a sign of a very productive day.

Love,
AMY

Saturday, June 6, 2009

The Ancient Commonsense of Things

Me with a giant scarab beetle in the British Museum.

This entry is dedicated to Joe-seph because he has put up with dating me for 7 months (as of today.)

So this week hasn't been too exciting--I had three tests over Wednesday and Thursday, so I didn't have too much time for fun on those days.

My Management test on Wednesday was a fiasco. They accidentally (or correctly?) gave us the same exam already posted to the class Web site, so we knew all the answers already. I told the proctor, and I guess they contacted UF, but I have no idea what we're going to have to do about it or when we're going to take the test again.

Thursday night I went out to a very American-like sports bar with most of the UF group; it was kinda fun, but I was tired (as were most of the people there, I think) and we came back to the dorm by midnight.

Friday my BLC class took a field trip to the East End of London. It was cold and rainy, which is what everyone says London's usually like, but we'd had such good weather over the past two weeks that I sort of got used to the sunshine.

Anyway, the East End was kind of neat. We saw where the Jewish immigrants used to live during and after WWII; it's where a large Bangladeshi population lives now. It's really interesting to see the area with all the old buildings butting up to modern ones, with Skyscrapers in the background.

We also went to the Women's Library, which I loved; it's where they keep all the documentation of important things in women's history, like the suffragist movement. Some people from the program were being kind of... well, ass-ish, I guess, but that's not unexpected.

Then, we had lunch! Which was pretty much the best part! FIE used our tuition to pay for a giant group lunch at Tayyabs, a really well-known and respected Indian and Pakistani restaurant. SOOO MUCH FOOOOOOOD. I had only had Indian food (or Asian food, as they'd say here--China, Japan, etc. are known as the "far East") a few times, but I really liked it. Plus naan is like the best thing ever.

The best lunch of all time.

So I ate a veggie Smosa, basically a whole loaf (??) of naan, chickpea curry, eggplant/potato/veggie curry, rice, and tons and tons of mango lassi. I think it's the best food I've had (and the most I've eaten since it was already paid for) since I've been here.

After lunch we went to Bloomberg, which is in this very unassuming-looking building from the front, but inside it's all glass and neon and funny-shaped cushions to sit on and load of windows everywhere. The whole operation was kind of over my head, at first, and I started having a mini-mental panic when the guide was talking about what it takes to work for Bloomberg. But, then she started talking about their news channel and all the journalists they employ, and she said, "We want people with journalism backgrounds for that; you can teach someone about the market and about finance, but you can't make them a good writer." So that gave me some hope that my college degree wouldn't be a waste were I to work for a place like Bloomberg.

Not only was the building awesome, but there was also a free canteen that we could eat whatever we wanted from. But I was so stuffed so I just took some candy and Nutella packets for later.

My roommates are all gone until Tuesday night; they're in Paris. I'm excited for them, a little bummed they're gone, wondering what I'm going to do with hardly anyone here, and also kind of excited to explore by myself and have some alone-time. Meaning I can go to bed at 8 p.m. and no one will judge me.

Outside the British Museum. I had to ask strangers to take my picture all day.

Today I went to the British Museum. Or, I did for a little bit. It was so crappy outside this morning, my shoes got all soaked and my stockings were falling down the whole time I was walking from the tube to the Museum. Then, I got sort of lost so I just wandered around and looked at all the neat shops. I found a nice little area I'll probably never find again, but that's the fun of getting lost. But, I pulled out my trusty map and figured out where I was and found the museum.

Statue of Venus, one of my favorite things I saw in the museum.

A word of advice: when looking for a Museum or some other giant location, don't just look up above the buildings and go, "Oh, that big one looks like it could be the top of a museum; I guess I'll walk in that direction." You will end up at a lot of banks and hotels. Trust me; I know.

Also interesting, to get there I walked up Drury Lane, where the muffin man lives! I didn't find him, though.

The museum was HUGE. I was overwhelmed. And already exhausted by the time I got there. But, I spent about two and a half hours looking at the exhibits on the first floor, then told myself it was alright to come back another day, so I left.

Rosetta Stone!

Highlights of what I saw: loads of sarcophagi, Greek and Roman statues, Native American jewelry and weapons, and the Rosetta Stone. I wanted to get a photo of myself in front of the stone, but people were crowding all around it (as if they could read any of the languages... yeah, right.) and I didn't want to get an elbow to the face.

Wandered about SoHo for a little; tons of bookstores, I found, but that was pretty much it. Then I went down Oxford Street (which is the street Primark is on). Because it's the weekend everyone was out shopping so it was a madhouse.

I walked through a couple stores, didn't buy anything. Then, I found myself in Topshop.

For those of you who don't know, Topshop is fashion megacenter. Not designer-expensive, but definitely too much for my price range. But it's full of the trendiest, hippest, up-to-the-second clothing and accessories. And this Topshop was four stories high and includes a hair salon, nail place, fashion advisor, and candy store, among other things. And don't get confused; it's not a mall. It's ONE STORE.

I think it would have been nice had I just been able to browse and enjoy myself, but if was so full of people, and so loud, and I was starving, that really it just frightened me. And everything was too expensive.

So, yeah, hopped on the tube, came home, had someone ask me for directions (FINALLY. Someone thinks I'm LOCAL. Couldn't help them, though.) Just ate dinner, and I'm considering going to watch Angels and Demons tonight at the movies.

I might go back to the museum tomorrow and see the rest of it since I think it's going to rain again and it's a nice, indoorsy activity. Maybe then I can get a photo in front of the Rosetta stone.

That's it for now; hope everyone is having a nice weekend.

Love,
AMY

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

"Everyone's a little bit racist, it's true."


Not a ton to report about yesterday. Saw Avenue Q last night; it was pretty good. I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it. I think hearing the songs over and over for a few years without actually seeing it messed it up a little for me, since some of the jokes didn't surprise me. Also, they made some weird choices with casting. But whatevs, it was a fun show and a fun night with five of the other girls from UF. We even got Rolo McFlurrys afterward! (Oh, Britain, how I love you...)

Yesterday morning, instead of studying, I went to Primark, which is basically like a clothing superstore where everything is super-cheap. But, it was a zoo in there, even on a Tuesday morning! Let me describe to you:

Got there around 10:30 a.m., was busy but not too crowded. By 11, it was packed full of people. I was trying on basically every skirt in the place, so I got in the line to get to the fitting room. That line? About 50 women long, took half an hour to get through. By the time I was done with that, I was like, no thanks on trying on new sizes for some stuff.

I guess everyone else felt the same way because there were women trying on stuff on the sales floor. And I don't mean trying on jackets, I mean taking off their pants to try on new pants. It was really surprising and crazy. Also, when they didn't want something, they didn't hang it back up, they just left it on the floor! Guess people go crazy for bargains.

I did, indeed, try on stuff on the sales floor, but I did not remove any of my clothing (except my belt, haha.) I just pulled the skirts on over my clothes so I could check if they fit my waist. Success! Bought 3 skirts, a pair of tights, and a pair of shoes for about £40! What an awesome deal. (I'm wearing one of the super-cute new skirts in the photo above... be jealous.)

So, yes, that was my Primark adventure. It's a store everyone here tells you to go to for super-cheap clothes, but I definitely couldn't make a habit out of going, because 1. I'd spend all my money, and 2. because I was afraid for my life.

Today I have a management exam at 5 p.m. London time, tomorrow a marketing exam at the same time and a BLC test in the morning, plus some homework, so today has to be 100% studying or I'm done for.

Later, friends.

Love,
AMY

Monday, June 1, 2009

Life update: Classes start, fun does not end. When to study?

The Nouvello Theatre where I saw Spring Awakening.

So, when I last left this blog, I had hopped on at Platform 9 3/4 for Hogwarts. It was lovely.

(Actually, sorry to spoil it for you, but it's sort of hidden near platform 6 in King's Cross next to some Dumpsters. But it's the thought that counts.)

That was last Wednesday (wow, was it that long ago? Weird.) On that day, some of the girls and I went tube-hopping until we got to a Mexican restaurant called "Tortilla," which is basically the British version of Chipotle, only there's not a million of them everywhere. It was delicious, and a nice change from my soup or cheese sandwich diet.

That night, the study abroad people had paid for all of us to see Spring Awakening. It. Was. AMAZING.


It had been so long since I saw a real, professional theatre performance. It made me remember why I loved it so much in the first place.

(But, friends, if you catch me talking about doing any plays... stop me, please.)

Anyway, the music was amazing, set and costumes gorgeous, actors were outstanding, plus it was neat to hear everything with British accents. The one male lead with all of the really rocking songs sounded like Morrisey, kinda. Well, not really, but he LOOKED like Eraserhead, which was hilarious.

Thursday: Classes start. Still fun to be had.


Thursday I had my first British Life and Culture class. It was an hour in the classroom going over syllabus, assignments, tests, etc. One class a week is in the classroom, the other is a Friday field trip.

Then we hopped on the tube and went to Parliament! We took a tour with this nice little old woman.

It was all quite interesting, learning how Parliament works and all that. We even saw a couple of MPs! Well, people in suits. But she said they were MPs.

That afternoon I also had my other class, the elective Media in Britain. There are only five people in that class, including myself, but it's not a difficult class work-wise; it's mostly discussion about newspapers, TV, documentary, etc. Right up my alley. And as the only journalism major in the class I pretty much always have something to say or contribute. Fun fact: there comes a time when you realize you're very involved in your major. That time is when you speak using industry jargon, and the teacher has to tell the rest of the class what you mean. Ah, being on a trip with non-J-school students... how strange!

So, yeah, I think I'm really going to enjoy that class. We get to take field trips, too, and we're going to a TV studio and a newsroom. So cool!

Friday: Canary Wharf business-y stuff. Also, I party.

That big iron circular structure in the middle of the picture is the 2012 Olympic stadium!

Bright and early Friday morning we had our first field trip. We started off at the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). They had just moved into a new building, and everything was super-modern and futuristic-looking. Ridiculously clean. It reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada.

A man there told us all about futures trading, which is exactly as exciting as it sounds. Maybe less so. But, I paid attention as best I could for the early hour, then we toiled on.

Our next stop was in Canary Wharf, which is an emerging financial center of London. We went to the Barclay's bank headquarters. It was huge! Six thousand people work in that building alone. It's like a city. Another guy talked to us all about Barclay's banking industry, credit crisis, bailout, etc. That was WAY more interesting than futures trading. I was quite intrigued, actually.

Then, we took the elevator up to the 30th floor of Barclay's and looked out to this great view of the wharf and the city. We could see where the 2012 Olympic Games stadium is being built. Everyone in London is already excited about the Olympics, from what I've heard from various people with accents. It's all pretty cool.

We also went to the Canary Wharf Group headquarters. To be honest, I have no idea why we were there, only that it's the tallest building in the city and there were fancily-suited men and women everywhere. We also sat in this giant boardroom.

After all that field-trippin' in our Business Casual (or b-caj, as I might like to say.), two other girls and I took the tube to this ridiculously big mall (again, another city. I've never seen a mall this big, except when I was 8 or so and we went to the Mall of America.) I bought tights, that's all, because I had washed-and-worn the same pair three times that week, so I figured buying another pair wouldn't be outrageous. My roommate Liz bought an entire outfit. Girl can shoppppp.

We came home, ate, and four of us got ready to "go out." Now, I never really go "out," so to speak. I'm much more indoorsy. A homebody, if you will. But I decided to be bold because, hey, I'm young, I'm in Europe, and if I have a crappy time at least I tried it and I don't have to go again.

So after many unsuccessful tube stops in places with expensive dance clubs and promoters trying to corral girls inside, we finally ended up at a pub full of football (soccer) fans who were drunkenly cheering about their team that had just won (I guess. They seemed too happy to have lost.) After the first hour, in which we were hit on probably 6 times by every bloke in the place, it had finally settled down.

Nancy saw a boy she thought was cute, so she got him and his (basically mute) friend to come over. Turns out they were French, in London for a few days. So it turned into a night of repeating sentences over and over, doing hand gestures, and them using my trusty reporter's notebook to illustrate what they were trying to say. I think Nancy and her dude had a looooove connection.

Oh! And! I drank a beer! Mom, don't be angry with me. I (again) thought I should try it, at least once, because I'm young, in Europe, and it was legal for me. So I had a Fuller's Organic Honeydew. It was... not entirely repulsive. Still, I think I'd rather have a milkshake, but pat on the back to me for trying something new.

Anyway, a fun night. I may go again, but I'm definitely not up for going out every night of the week like some (read as: most) of the people on this trip.

Saturday: Did not see Hugh Grant


Saturday was an odd day. Woke up and went to the travel agency with the girls to buy train tickets to Paris for the following weekend. I have a class on Monday, so I would have to leave Sunday night, leaving me (theoretically) almost two entire days in Paris. BUT my train ticket was going to be almost $300 American, and we would arrive 1pm Saturday and I would have to take the 3pm train Sunday, so I said no thanks, and the girls are going without me. But, that is alright since MY MOM IS COMING TO VISIT IN JULY! Yaaaaay! We're doing London stuff for a bit, then she had suggested Paris in her original e-mail, but I had said Rome instead because of the trip we were planning, but now it's Paris with my mom!!

After the debacle in the morning, I went walking about High Street Kensington until I was waaaaay far away. Found a tube station and went home, then went to Notting Hill, which has this huuuuuuuge street market on Portabello Road on Saturdays. It's a beautiful, picaresque little area of town. The market must have been at least two miles long. I got a pretty blouse in the vintage clothing area, though I don't believe it's vintage. But I like it anyhow, and it was cheap.

Sunday: Brighton Beach memoirs.


On Sunday, Allison, Kelsi and I took the train to Brighton. It was really fun, and a beautiful sunny day. We walked about the beach and the pier (which had carnival games and rides.)


I also finally got my fish and chips! And on the seashore! That, strangely enough, was one of my to-do things in England: go to Brighton and eat fish and chips on the pier. So I haven't eaten them before Sunday in preparation for this momentous event.


The beach at Brighton was packed! Also, it has no sand, just rocks! Weird. But a very fun day.

Today (Monday): To be, or not to be. That is the quest(ion).

Gators at the Globe.

Today we had a field trip to the Globe theatre (not the original, obviously. That burnt down.) for BLC. Learned tons about Shakespeare. The man who showed us around is a director in the company, and was hilarious.


Also bought a ticket to see Romeo and Juliet next Wednesday. £5 for a standing-room ticket, just like a peasant. I'm excited!

After that, had my media class, where a documentary filmmaker came and spoke to us about his work. Very, very interesting. I think I love this class. My homework last week was to watch TV.

Tomorrow is devoted to studying for my three tests this week. And I'm seeing Avenue Q tomorrow night!

Cheers!

Love,
AMY