how to take a London study break

A quick side note for starters: this past weekend a girlfriend and I went to see Usher in concert at the O2 arena. The O2 arena is a famous venue in London for concerts and large events of the sort and is on a peninsula in a beautiful area. I swear Usher sounds ever better live than on my itunes and he put on an incredible show! So much fun!                     This week, however, consisted of midterms and I spent most of my week studying, but mid-week it was two of my good friend's birthdays. So we went to dinner at a !place called The Texas Embassy (not an embassy) because they wanted mexican food and then we went to  an Irish pub for a beer after - home by 8:30 and back to studying. BUT I have a pretty good feeling I aced every single one of my midterms! I definitely studied a lot, but compared to Wofford exams they were practically along the lines of Aiken High material. Needless to say it feels good to have the loads of studying behind me and Ireland ahead this weekend!
Now back to midterm week though. As a reward after each midterm I had I treated myself to seeing 1 of the millions of wonderful places in London. 1st stop was the Courtauld Art Institute. I know I haven't been in half the museums here, but so far, this has definitely been my favorite venue. Having an art history minor, it is absolutely fascinating to me to see a famous 16th century work on the wall that I spent weeks studying in a textbook at Wofford. Anywho, I was astonished and absolutely shocked with every other painting in this institute. They had works by Picasso, Rubens, Monet, Manet, Caravaggio, and so many others - it was absolutely breathtaking and definitely my kind of study break.

Next stop: the London Bridge! I walked the bank on both sides and the bridge itself. It really is absolutely gorgeous and as most places in this world, nothing until you actually see and step foot on it. Of course it was tourist central and packed with runners and dog walkers, but the structure, architecture, and feel of the bridge and it's surroundings couldn't be more British. There are coat of arms everywhere you turn and between those the guards and the Thames underneath your feet you can't help but feel and know the importance of the British establishment you're standing on - such a neat experience.

Finale stop for midterm week - St. Paul's Cathedral. I know you're not supposed to take pictures and every establishment I have ever been in I have respected that rule fully...until today when I snuck in 3 photos. It was too gorgeous, and it's St. Paul's! I walked around the enormous and immaculate structure for a while and then headed to the stairwell that lead to the top of the dome. The man checking my ticket said, "Get your adrenaline and knees ready." I knew climbing to the top had 528 stairs, but I didn't think it could be too bad and come to find out it wasn't. I definitely felt a some burn in the legs and had a little perspiration going on, but it wasn't near as bad as I thought - only 528 stairs. On the way up you stop at the Whispering Gallery which is the roundabout at the bottom of the dome, and then you go up to the outside top of the dome which is breathtaking and has the best and most brilliant views of London I've seen thus far. It's not everyday you can say you took a study break by climbing up and down to the top of the St. Paul's Cathedral dome now is it?
So on top of acing the midterms and being thrilled they are over, I would say I had a pretty successful week. Leaving for IRELAND at 7am in the morning!!!! ...I love being a busy Londoner

lovely random GB facts

Londoners are 27% more likely to visit a cultural destination
Over 3 million people use the London Underground (aka tube) daily
PDA is very acceptable
What class of society you are in is the equivalent to your race in the states
There is a large population of Indian and Jamaican, but British born people descendants of immigrant during the World Wars ...so weird to hear an Indian or Jamaican person with a British accent
Majority of locally brewed beers are not carbonated because they think the carbonation takes away from the true flavor
You rarely see "English restaurant" - many Indian, Thai, and Italian places with the occasional places being known for chicken pot, shepherds, or kidney pie
Brits in the music industry still have trouble distinguishing themselves from American music stars and that's why most popular ones wrap themselves in the British flag in their music videos, etc to distinguish themselves (Beatles being the first)
Space and privacy are treated completely differently. Considering there are 8 million+ in London alone and who knows the total on this little island almost the size of Wisconsin space and privacy are very important because they are stacked on top of each other. Example: not talking on the tube
Football (soccer) is hugggggggggge here! Imagine all college and professional sports combined and that's the popularity it has here...it covers the news pages daily and IS the sport you watch
Over 50% of the US youth population listen to hip-hop and rap whereas less than 20% of British youth do
The British Conservative party is much more liberal than ours - the Civil Partnership Act in 2004 sailed through Parliament (Tony Blair asked Elton John to be the first gay man married in England)
Crossing the street is the main cause of injury in London
No London police carry guns (it's that safe!) unless guarding the Royal family, etc
Royal wedding china is considered to be one of the most valuable collector's items in the world
Say CHEERS! constantly...I'm still not sure what it means. I though "thank you" at first but people say all the time, in all different contexts, and with 'thank you' ...just a British term to say
One of my professors told us never to ask someone for a "fag" outside of the UK. It means cigarette here, and he said when he visited the states he asked a guy if he had a fag and got a pretty dirty look.
Wedding rings aren't common (big time secular society). I found it very surprising to hear some of my professors discuss their husband or wife but wear no wedding ring...apparently that's common
Children before marriage, living together, and not getting married - all of the above very common
Most parents would rather than children bring someone home of a different race rather than of a different class
"posh" = upper class, wealth, very nice. Example: Chelsea is a very posh area
Awesome is never used.
Brilliant, lovely, fantastic are used in every other sentence
When you ask how someone is doing they normally reply with an ok or alright...never great! good! wonderful! or even bad! terrible! ...they give very neutral answers to people they don't know - back to that idea of privacy
The reason a pub is practically on every corner is because back in the day and even now they were "neighborhood" pubs. After work, on the weekend, etc you would go to your neighborhood pub to enjoy a drink with your friends, family, and neighbors. This is very very very much still a very important cultural value practiced in London and the UK today.
Brits love American accents just like we enjoy listening to theirs
Almost all movements and eras in Britain are reactions to another
Their government, in all aspects, is slowly but surely and currently heading towards more American principles. examples: students paying tuition, people paying for health insurance, more difficult ways to get welfare, an alternative voting system rather than a first past the post system
The building my classes are held in in Bloomsbury is older than America
London seems really big and is but everything is surprisingly easily connected and close
They are shutting down the tube for the Olympic games
Kings Road (the road I live on in Chelsea) is the famous road where the world's first super model, Twiggy Lawson, wore the first mini skirt and where famous designers from then on such as Vivienne Westwood opened their first stores...it's quite the "posh" area
Markets are huge here and an absolute blast to go to - Saturdays and Sundays
The city of London is actually only one square mile - first called Londoninium and boundaries set by the Romans
There is no set style of architecture...it is unbelievably diverse and varies building to building which makes it so beautiful
Few people drive cars in London because you have to continually pay a fine to be within city limits...hence popularity of public transport
Key Gardens are garden squares in the middle of blocks (they're everywhere) that only the people in the area have access to...wouldn't it be nice to have a private garden for you and your neighbors? :)
I am yet to see a large dog (all small or medium)
I am yet to see anyone wearing saggy, baggy jeans, a flat billed hat, gold/diamond teeth, hear blasting rap music, see someone completely ungroomed, someone in sweats or dressed down
When they say London is based on class it's true. Everyone is always well dressed and groomed and polite...I love that!
Tea is lobster to maine, peaches to georgia, and horses to aiken...so important! Many businesses even require that at 3 pm daily everyone leave their desk and go have a cup of tea together
In America when we say lets have a drink and talk about it, Brits say lets have a cup of tea and talk about it
Jewelry isn't worn much if at all
The weather is not really rainy at all...if anything a drizzle but hardly ever a rainstorm. What it definitely is often though is overcast
There is never nothing to do or see

I LOVE LONDON

WALES

No wonder Prince William is hiding out here...such an absolutely beautiful place! Our trip began Friday with a 6 hour train ride which was hell to say the least - not because it was 6 hours but because our first train was delayed so we missed our connection by 4 minutes. Therefore, we had a layover in Cardiff, Wales. Since nothing was in the station we decided to go wonder and ended up at the Prince of Wales pub at about 6/7pm and we were the only females in the whole 2-story place as well as the only ones not wearing football jerseys. Come to find out that Wales was playing England that night and it was 'the game of games' in the UK...definitely a fun atmosphere. Then we headed to the station, caught our second train, and finally got to Pembrokshire! Thankfully a Preseli Adeventure guide was there waiting for us, we hopped in an van, and she took us out in the dark to the middle of the Preseli hills of Wales to a lodge. It literally was like a mancave in Wales. Bunks, home cooked meals, and nothing for miles but gorgeous scenery. After a delicious lasagna dinner (1st real meal in 2 months) we headed for bed and woke up to go sea kayaking! We were geared up head to toe in wet suits, helmets, booties, vests, you name it...the 2 guides (as Welsh as they come - long hair, love the outdoors, strong accent, really enthusiastic). They took us through the basics, on a bus to the coast, and in the water we went. Officially LOVE kayaking! We went for hours along the cliffs, coast, and out at sea - absolutely breathtaking and a blast! We even played tag in our kayaks with a tennis ball...now that was fun! Back for homemade vegetable soup and then the afternoon consisted of coasteering - an activity I'd never heard of. Basically you're geared up once again and free hand/foot the outdoors. We started out swimming to cliffs, through caves, climbing the rocks/cliffs, jumping in and out of swells...it's basically what you make it. But it is such a blast!!! A little bit of fearful because it was

freezing (who would do all of these adventures in north Wales, mid-winter, and with 30 mph winds???) and because the wind and chill was so bad the waves were huge...but we managed and the guides were great. It actually made the afternoon even more of  a thriller.When we got back and defrosted we had delicious curry for dinner and then played pool and tried some home brewed Welsh beer that was made 10 miles down the road in Gwyn Valley - delicious!
The next morning came bright and early and we had it free all to ourselves and decided to hike along the every so rocky, hilly, and gorgeous coast of Wales. The staff took us out to some great hiking spots, gave us a map, and off we went. We hiked all the way til lunch rolled around and it was such a blast - the great group of girls I was with definitely made the trip. What a get away and thriller of a weekend!

u fancy art?

Two of the girls who live on my hall are very "artsie" and express themselves in many ways because of that, one being poetry. I was doing homework in the common room when one of them, Kristin, popped her head in and asked what I was doing tonight (past Friday). She said they were going to and performing at a poetry reading and she was trying to get a big group together. Having my 'want to experience the culture, when in London, I'm up for anything' approach to current life I said sure. Plus, I doubt this is anything I would ever attend at home.
So a group of girls from the hall and myself headed for Soutwark (pronounced Suffuk).

After an hour tube ride and 20 minutes of walking (I'm beginning to feel like this is the norm in London) we arrived at a pub filled with roaring students, we walked in, up the stairs, and it was absolutely quiet minus the person at the front with everyone's direct attention.
It was unlike anything I've ever experienced. I was expecting sappy love poems Shakespeare style. However, almost every poem (written by the individual) was politically geared. There were some love poems, but the majority by far were about politics for current events - I guess outside of the riots and labor unions you can join this is another form of expressing your anger.
Students got up there talking about how Nick Clegg is screwing them over, how they can no longer afford school, strongly dislike the crown, are angry at the government...some rapped to a tune while others were slow and dramatic. One even read a poem about how a white, British man was in love with a black woman and his parents didn't care for her not because she was black but because she wasn't of their social class. Side note: the English are solely about class! Race not so much, but class entirely. Class to them is basically race in America. Anywho, the entire event was shocking for me.
The two girls from my hall performed with shaky hands but produced very humorous love poems which everyone seemed to enjoy including myself. Definitely another verrrrrry interesting experience to add to my list of London experiences. I am really happy I got to see first hand something like that, and plus, the two girls continually thank all of us for supporting them...attendance was definitely a good choice. 

a busy londoner

Wales was absolutely amazing and I am currently getting pictures developed from my waterproof camera and should be able to pick it up on Monday, so stay tuned!
In the meantime, my week was a pretty normal one filled with classes Mon-Wed sun up to sun down followed by homework and going out yesterday to a place called "China White." Ck it out here: http://www.chinawhite.com/
As you can tell it is a very upperclass, funky place complete with lingerie dancers holding sparklers, loud techno/dance music, and drinks that start at 25 pounds and only go up from there. There were bottles of champagne on the drink menu for 5,000 pounds! Needless to say I sat/danced and looked pretty while taking in the scenery. As always on the London scene, it was an experience.
On a even more adventurous note, I have been such a busy Londoner today! I started out my Friday morning bright and early by attending a famous and very traditional criminal court session at The Old Bailey courthouse. It was definitely not like a U.S. Senate meeting that's for sure. You can't take pictures and I couldn't even find any on google of the courtroom (guess they're that strict), but hopefully that image will give you an idea of the setting. Every member on the floor as well as the judge had a white wig on, flat on top and tons of rolled white curls going down the sides. They were all in black robes, the jury was on the side opposite us, and then the public gallery (where I was) is located in the far left, top corner - sounds bad but actually quite a panoramic view. The case on trial was a murder case and they were heavily interrogating a black, English college student. Granted she was up for murder but the interrogation was intense - I almost felt bad for her, but then again, it just further emphasized that in the Old Bailey or any courtroom they don't play and definitely mean business!!! So, that was super interesting to say the least.

My next stop was the Banqueting House at the Whitehall Palace. I actually studied this palace and my professor at the time, knowing that I was going to be in London this semester, said I couldn't leave London without seeing it in person. Well now I know why. Located on Parliament Street, within feet of No. 10 downing street it lies. This Banqueting Hall is the only surviving in-situ ceiling painting of Peter Paul Rubens is also one of the most famous from a golden age of painting as well as one of Charles I’s last sights before he lost his head. The King was executed on a scaffold outside in 1649. Furthermore, the canvases were painted by Sir Peter Paul Rubens and installed in the hall in 1636 and have had little refurbishments since. 
Within the absolutely magnificent hall they had mirrors set up on the grounds so you could get a close up of the ceiling and it was incredible! Seeing works of Rubens from 1636 in tact, in person, in the very room is like walking the Great Wall of China versus seeing pictures - it's one of the aspects of life where your descriptions do it no justice unless you experience it yourself. The Banqueting Hall falls into that category - absolutely amazing! ...and so does St. Paul's Cathedral, my third stop for the day. I don't know what William and Kate are thinking, but as brilliant as Westminster Abbey is I would probably have picked St. Paul's as my royal wedding venue. I was taken aback by St. Paul's beauty even more than Westminster's as far as interior. I could spend hours and days looking at every single detail and analyzing the interior and never get the slightest bit bored. I have never seen anything like it in my life, and as large as the structure looks from the outside, it's even larger on the inside. Gold trimmings, statues, paintings, moldings, fixtures, and unbelievable architecture are all within inches of each other. When I walked in, I got a student donation ticket which is valid for a year. Soooo for the next 2 months I can take a 25 minute tube ride and go to St. Paul's anytime I would like...one of the perks of being in London.
I continued by little Friday touristic journey by getting back on the tube towards Parliament Street where Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Parliament are at one end and Trafalgar Square is at the other end. I swear everything in London meets at Trafalgar Square. It's in the heart of London and within it are numerous statues, fountains, the National Gallery, among other things. This picture is from me standing with Trafalgar Square to my back - this is Parliament Street...one of my favorites in London.
Figuring I should start heading back now I couldn't resist not getting a picture with one of the guards and horses at the museum. While smiling for the picture I felt something nibbling at my jacket...it was the horse! I'm not sure if he was being friendly or it was close to lunchtime, but anywho, what better way to end my day then with almost being bitten by a royal horse?
CHEERS!

sheep, scots, and whiskey

Scotland is by far the MOST beautiful place I have ever seen. It is filled with breathtaking scenery and the most incredible and endless views you could ever imagine. I needed to be pinched every other hour and found myself continuously in awe and staring into space at what was in front of me.

The trip began with a 6 hour train ride on the traditional and oh so classic UK railway. That was my first real train ride which to a European sounds absolutely bonkers, but for me, it was pretty exciting. Even though it felt like it took forever to get there it was such a beautiful ride! The train went all the way along the coast and through the rolling hills of the United Kingdom…gorgeous!

When we got off the train and began walking the streets I was immediately in love with Edinburgh, Scotland. They have a population of about 500,00 and Scotland's biggest city, Glasgow, has about 1 million people. Either way compared to London's rough 8 million estimate, let's just say it was much less crowded and loud than London which I loved! The city was very hilly with cobble stone walk ways and the most gorgeous architecture. 

We checked into our hostel, which was my first hostel experience, and it wasn't bad at all - just big rooms filled with bunk beds and community bathrooms, but yeah, when seeing the world all you need is a bed, right? 

The first thing we did was get a very touristy bus tour of Edinburgh. Many of my pictures aren't too great because they are from the top of a double decker and there were flurries coming down, it was freezing!, but we got to see the main streets and parts of the city which was nice. It seemed so small compared to London or what we've been used to, but it was such a neat city. There were big and small buildings, gorgeous churches, green mountains with snow caps, rolling hills, and even an underground mall. Plus, everyone there talked like Fat Bastard off of Austin Powers which made the entire trip that much more entertaining - absolutely loved their accents!

After the bus tour we had the evening to ourselves. There was a big group going to see the birthplace of Harry Potter and even though I've never gotten into the books or movies I figured it was worth seeing. It was simply a tea cafe located on one of the main streets of Edinburgh where the author wrote the first Harry Potter book - now a historical landmark, so that was pretty cool. Then we went back, freshened up, and decided to check out the Scotland nightlife. 

It was a BLAST! We started out at a place called Rush which was a very pretty pub-like atmosphere with funky couches and it was filled with locals. We hung out there for a little bit and then headed to another place down the street for the night called Three Sisters which is a huge 2-story brick building where they have monster flat screens,  etc...it's a very popular place to watch all big football games and such. It was a blast though! Every Scottish person we met couldn't have been more friendly - they were the funniest and nicest people yet! 

After a good nights rest, we got up bright and early for the hostel's buffet style breakfast (sounds bad already doesn't it?) However, it was the most interesting and absolutely delicious breakfast I've had yet. The buffet had scrambled eggs, very weird tasting yogurt, haggas (sausage made from sheep's stomach and yes I tried...so good!), grilled tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, and toast - not your typical breakfast. Then we were on a bus, all 44 of us, and off the Highlands! Our bus driver was red headed, balding with big bushy eyebrows, and greeted us with a big smile saying, "Halo lads and ladies! Get ya knickas pulled up and off to ye Highlands we go!" Needless to say he made the trip with his very Scottish comments throughout. 

The beginning of the ride felt like we were going through the mountains in North Carolina...very steep and really windy. After we got past a couple of hours of that we soon reached an open stretch of the most gorgeous scenery I've ever come across. A straight endless road surrounded by rolling hills filled with sheep everywhere, mountains of all shapes and sizes, some snow capped and others not....incredible! There were also the occassional backpacker and photographers in the middle of the scenery, but other than that no sign of life. 

I quickly noticed the sheep had markings on them. Apparently the owners/farmers have a very unique system of marking the sheep - when they need to be shaved, who's pregnant, etc because every sheep we saw had either a spray painted pink dot, yellow dot, or blue dot but in all different places.  We got out of the bus a couple of times to take pictures, but for the most part most of my pictures are from the inside of that bus but they turned out pretty well. Also, the bus tour lady kept asking if any of us needed to take a comfort stop. Apparently that is the equivalent of asking if we needed to use the bathroom. I just thought it was funny to think of it as a comfort stop. For the rest of the trip we coined that term anytime anyone needed to take a "comfort stop."
Our main stop was at Glencoe which is part of the Highlands. We stopped, had a picnic and then hiked through the Highlands. It was UNBELIEVABLE!!! I found myself standing still and just staring trying to soak in what I was looking at and the fact that I was actually in Scotland. It was gorgeous! We had about a 4 hour ride back to Edinburgh and kept up with the very Scottish things to do. They are known for their beef, shortbread, whiskey, and fudge - quite the combo! We went to a local restaurant on a cobble stone alley and ordered "ultimate burgers" and a whiskey/ginger ale. Best burger, minus the ones Bobby or my Dad cooks, that I have ever had! It was huge and so so so good! I'm also not a whiskey girl, but when in Scotland....the drink was great as well. Uncle Tony and my brother would have had a field day!
 After another breakfast consisting of tomatoes, mushrooms, and sheep stomach we spent Sunday morning in the Edinburgh castle. A lot of people say that once you start to see a lot of castles they all begin to look the same. Well, I agree but I am still continuously fascinated. This particular castle is where Mary Queen of Scotts was born which we saw the very room as well as the original royal dungeons (pretty creepy) and most of the original canons used were still there. It was one of the few castles where as little refurbishment as possible has been done; therefore, most of the castle is pretty open and almost feels like ruins rather than a castle. It was still a very very cool place to see. Afterwards we had about 2 hours of free time before we headed back to London. Knowing that golf originated in Scotland along with the famous St. Andrews course being there I had to stop by the Edinburgh museum because there is a famous golf exhibit there which Papo would have gone nuts over! When we got there the entry fee was out of this world, so I just took a picture of the entrance to the exhibit and then the guard (wearing a kilt may I add) made me delete the picture. I knew pictures weren't allowed in the exhibit, but not even of the entrance?? Anywho, I then headed to the gift shop in hopes of getting a score card of the course or something along those lines and the only thing they had were books...I feel like I could find the same thing at Barnes and Noble haha Anyways, other than that bit of a downer the trip was absolutely incredible and completely surreal!!! Along with everything else going on it flew by and was absolutely amazing in all aspects! If and when my family ever makes it across the pond Scotland will definitely be visited. Until next time, cheers mates!

EU class...normal?

I'm still going through pictures of Scotland so look forward to that post soon! In the meantime, yesterday was my typical Monday filled with classes in London, minus my professor for international marketing management walking in the door and saying we were taking a field trip to the European Bank. It took 20 minutes of finger printing, picture taking, and security to even be let in the door but it was unbelievable. He took us into a board room called the aquarium (all glass) to hold the first half of class which was awesome. He told us about the foundations and purpose of the bank, private sector investment, who they let in and out and why, how they market and advertise to clients they're pursuing, etc - so interesting! I also learned that he, my professor, is the second longest serving board of directors member for the European Bank, ever, which I thought was pretty cool.
The second half of class was held all the way on the top floor in the official European Bank board of directors members meeting room - it was awesome and a room that'll make you feel very important! Between the microphones at each chair to the technology to the member flag surrounding the view you get the feeling...Also, the walls are all windows and have the most unbelievable view of London! We were expecting more lecture, but he informed us that the next morning (today) at 9am there was a very important board of directors meeting there about whether or not to let Egypt into the European Bank. I won't get into it but because of the Egyptian president Mubarak and the countries current state there is much opposition about whether or not to take the country on; therefore, we learned the pros and cons of the case/situation and that the decision will either be catastphoic or a huge success. We spent the rest of the class arguing the case in the main area of the directors room - it was awesome!
So just your typical Monday night class...in the EB board of directors meeting room. It was great! I'll let you know what happens with Egypt :)