Friday, March 28, 2014

Halfway There

So I'm trying to keep up with my blog and I'm currently looking to do anything but my American Politics essay.
Procrastination at its best.
I am now halfway done with my semester abroad.
I cannot believe how fast time has flown.
I feel like it was just yesterday when I was arriving and settling in.
When I look back at everything I have done since I have arrived I am astonished and thankful.
I have had opportunities of a lifetime and I can't imagine what the next half holds.
I also cannot believe how easily and quickly I caught on to navigating one of the world's biggest cities.
Coming from such a small town this was a huge feat for me.
I could actually live here if you know I was filthy rich and didn't hate crowds and cement.
I came here with so many misconceptions of England and London.
Sure there are things where I was right about, but I want to focus on the myths that I or people back home believe.

1. Contrary to what we believe Brits do not walk around saying "cheerio" or "bloody hell".
 I'm sorry to break all your hearts but the most common phrases are things like "cheers".

2. THEY DO NOT DRINK WARM BEER!
I need to make this point for all the boys out there (Steven Mallow) who believe that they drink warm beer.
Their beer or ales are actually at cellar temperature which is about 40 degrees F.
This is relatively cool and honestly it's better because you can taste the flavor more.

3. That if you travel to London you will get taken.
Yeah I didn't get taken nor have I felt like I was going to.
Except for the brief instant when I was walking to the bus station at 3 am by myself.

4. All they eat is fish n' chips. Even though this is one of their most well-known foods it is not the only thing they eat.
The food here is very diverse and delicious.
Indian food is actually incredibly popular.

5. They hate Americans.
On the contrary, they LOVE us.
Our accents, our food, our money, and our politics.
I have not found one person who says they hate America.

Now these are just a few myths about things I have learned living here.
It is incredible all the things I have learned in such a short amount of time.
I hope after I leave that this isn't the end of my visits to London.
It is an incredible historical and culture packed city.
If you ever have the chance to come to England, DO IT!

Until next time,
xoxoxoxo Sam

Thursday, March 27, 2014

There Are No Whales In Wales

Hello everyone!
It has been quite awhile since I have posted.
I have just been so busy with school and trips.
This entire month has been filled with adventures and plans.
This past weekend was another chance for me to tick off another country on my list.
We went to Wales on Saturday and Sunday.
Basically the whole trip was a bus ride and no sleep.
It was awesome.

Saturday:
We started out by meeting at the tube station to get on our coach bus.
Because of our early start I slept the entire time until we got to our first part.
(Let me just pause for a minute and say that I don't have a single clue to where we were the entire weekend.
I know we were in Wales and that's it.
I was extremely disoriented because every time I woke up on the bus I was in a different city or town.
So please don't ask where I went in Wales because I will not be able to tell you. )
The first place we went were Roman barracks.
It was cool but there wasn't much left so you really had to use your imagination.
I imagined myself not falling down the muddy hills.
I was successful.
Then we walked over to a Roman amphitheater.
This was so cool!
We all pretended we were gladiators and Kings (or Queens) of the world.
I also got to climb parts of it.
Basically I was Roman.
You cannot tell me any different.
Then it was back on the bus to somewhere new.

Our next stop was a castle in another city ( I told you I have no idea where I was).
I know the name of the castle was Caerphilly.
Don't quote me on that because I read the sign in Welsh and it could very well be goat or something.
Anyways this castle was so cool.
Honestly if I keep seeing castles I am going to refuse to come home until someone builds me one of my own and names me the princess.
I don't think that's an outrageous demand.
I did have an issue with the small spiral staircases.
The fear of heights and claustrophobia kicked in big time.
But we had fun and I watched some of my friends dance around like idiots while talking in a British accent.
It was a jolly good time.
And you guessed it, back on the bus!

The next place we went was the Museum of Welsh Life.
This was pretty cool because it is set up like an old small town.
It even had their own sheep.
AND THEY HAD BABIES!
The lambs were seriously the highlight of my life.
They were cute and cuddly, but I couldn't get close to them.
Also this museum was set in the woods so I felt like I was taking a walk back home.
We weren't here for long and I mostly stood outside and stared at the lambs.
Then back on the bus!

Our final destination was our hotel!
Thank goodness because we were all exhausted!
We had free time as soon as we checked in and the night was ours.
I ended up having dinner with Taylor, Natasha, and Tori.
Then we had a night out on the town.
I saw some pretty sweet characters in Swansea that night.
This included an Elmo, a group of Smurf women, a group of pirate women, women dressed as Disney princesses, and tons of CUTE boys dressed in togas.
It was quite an interesting night and turned out to be one of the best nights I have had abroad.
A huge thanks to my sweet girls for that because it could of been awful.
It was a late night and an even earlier morning.
Back to the bus!

Sunday
We had breakfast at the hotel and let me just say it was probably one of the best hotel brekkies (I say this, deal with it) I have had in like forever.
Our first stop after we left Swansea ( I remembered the city) was a coal mine.
It is called Big Pit and then it has a more elaborate name in Welsh that I do not know how to say therefore I do not know it.
We got to go down in the mine 300 feet below the ground.
I was semi-freaking out because our guide told us that it was still an active mine.
This means that we weren't allowed to have any electronics just in case we hit a methane pocket.
COOL.
I'm 300 feet underground with no escape except this unbearably slow elevator that you can fit 30 people in. Basically my worst nightmare.
I was planning the whole time how I could survive a methane explosion.
Fun fact I learned on my tour, you don't survive it.
See where I'm getting at.
Honestly though it was a really cool experience and our guide was incredible!
He was a sassy and sweet old man.
We all wanted him to be our grandpa.
We did the tour and some walking around then it was back on the bus!

The next place we went was Tintern Abbey.
This is an old monastery and it was gorgeous.
Seriously how they built these beautiful places amazes me.
Even now it is just ruins many of the walls were still standing.
I was in awe and wanted one for myself.
Of course I would call it my castle.
Here they had monks and they basically had no clothes and only got one meal a day.
That's no life for me.
After we toured the Abbey it was time to go home.
Honestly we were all ready and exhausted.
I kept falling asleep on the bus but would wake up when I smacked my head on the window or fell out of my seat.
Before I leave the UK I will master the perfect sleep on a coach bus and plane.


I just want to say thanks to everyone who keeps reading my posts and liking my pictures.
I say I miss home and can't wait to come home, and I do!
But this is a once in a lifetime chance that I will never get again.
I am enjoying every second and loving it here.
I have made friends that I will never forget and I'm lucky that a lot of them are coming home with me.
I will try to post more frequently after I get all my essays done.
Which is exactly what I'm avoiding by writing this post.
Priorities!
This weekend is Oxford and the Cotswolds on Saturday.
Then it's HARRY POTTER STUDIOS on Sunday!
I have been waiting my whole life for this experience.
I plan on drinking my weight in Butterbeer and having a wand-off with Taylor.
Prepare for the pictures.
Then next Friday I'm off to Greece!
You can bet that there will be hundreds of pictures a day.
Thanks for reading all!


xoxo
Sam

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Missing Home

Okay, so I said I wouldn't do this but I need to.
I feel like this is the only way I can feel better.
The homesickness has hit me guys.
Hit me hard too.
You want to know what triggered it?
Beautiful weather in London.
How crazy is that?
I should be out enjoying it but I can't because I procrastinated on homework.
Yeah yeah save the lecture.
I had to binge watch Chicago Fire.
I don't regret it.

Seriously though, I am really missing home this weekend.
I just keep thinking that if I was home with this weather about all the things I would be doing.
I would go fishing with my dad.
I would meet my family for lunch at the lake.
I would go visit my Nike fam.
I would sit outside with homemade lemonade, my nook, and the sunshine.
I would go down to the creek with my nieces and play with them.
I would go on a Sonic run with Jess and Caroline blasting our music and acting like the idiots we are.
I would be doing something with someone I love.

I am just really missing home and the things I do when there.
I am craving hearing birds tweeting and Jack barking rather than buses, cars, and sirens.
I know I have no right to complain and trust me I do not in any way regret coming to London.
I never will.
I just needed to share this.
It doesn't help that my flatmates are in Amsterdam this weekend...
That probably isn't helping at all actually.
I'm glad they're having fun though!

I think I need a visit to an animal shelter or farm for a day.
I feel like that is going to be my next Google search.
I just want everyone at home to know that I love and miss them all very much.
I am so thankful for everyone who makes weekly and even daily efforts (Jess) to talk to me and check on me.
You guys are the reason why I know I am so lucky to be here.
It may sound weird, but I am eternally happy that I have people and things that make me so homesick.
I think that says tremendous things about my town and my family.
Now that I got this little homesick session over I'm going to take a deep breath and remember how awesome my life is.
That and the fact that I'm seeing Les Miserables on Broadway this week.
Nobody can be upset about that.
So after you read just take a minute to think about how awesome it is to have a great family and friends around you.
I know I will.