The Uncertain Future

Right now studying for exams, it is extremely difficult not to think of the future and where I'll be this time next year.  I graduate next May and still have no idea what career path I'll end up taking or even what the right decision is for me.  I've always had a hard time making decisions; I just want someone to tell me what the perfect job would be for me and how to go about getting it. 

Throughout my college experience, law school has always been something in the back of my mind as an option if something else didn't fall into my lap.  At this point, law school is most likely in the plans for my future, but not immediately after I graduate.  I only have class two days a week next semester so hopefully studying for the LSAT and pushing myself to make a decision will help solidify whether it is or isn't the right path for me to take.  I'm enrolled in various law-based classes at the moment and it's hard to back up my occasional interest in law school when so many studies say that the opportuniites afforded to law school graduates today are not what they were years ago.  Law school could potentially be a very expensive and time consuming mistake, so I hope to be 100% certain that it's the path for me before I make any serious commitment.

My major is sociology and all of my courses have always interested me and, in particular, the classes with an emphasis on the criminal justice system and its counterparts.  This summer I will be staying in Madison and completing an internship for the Criminal Justice Certificate that I am fulfilling along with my sociology degreee.  I've applied for four different programs with an emphasis on the juvenile correctional system.  I think that the amount of crimes committed among today's youth and the way that they are treated in the criminal justice system is a huge problem and something that I'd like to have a role in changing.  I'm really excited for my internship this summer and hope that it is another factor that helps in my career decision.

In the mean time, I'm trying to stay in the present, finish my exams, and save the extra stresses for my month long hiatus where career searching should be my number one prority.  I hope that a year from today, I will not be in the same place I am today, wondering what the future has in store for me with no idea what I actually want for myself.  My goal for next semester is to explore as many opportunities as possible and really open myself up to all of my options, in order to determine how to  incorporate my passions in life into a career field.  Whether I end up with a job in community corrections, in grad school, or law school, I have hope that I will eventually figure it all out.  Even if it's not in the near future, I know that I have time to explore my options in order to get me to where I belong and what I'm meant to do.

Looking Back..

One year ago today things were looking drastically different from the future decisions that confront me in the present.  I was anxiously attempting to finish up my exams, while trying to work as many hours as possible so that I could fund the four month vacation I was preparing to embark upon in London.  Other than my limited financial status, the reality that I would soon be spending the next semester in London hadn't quite hit me yet.

With finals over I returned home with thoughts only on spending time with my family and friends that I had missed all semester.  It wasn't until after New Years that I finally faced the realization that I would be an entire ocean away from my family, friends, and everything familiar to me in just a few days.  With each coming day I got more and more nervous for my upcoming trip.

I spent hours attempting to search for my fellow program participants on facebook and came to the conclusion that most of them seemed weird and that I wouldn't make any friends while I was there.  I was basically a nervous wreck.  Avoiding packing and talking about the upcoming departure day was my way of escaping reality and refusing to face my growing anxiety.  My mind kept flashing back to the miserable month I spent at the University of Iowa my first semester of college and how I wished nothing more, but to come back home to where all of my friends and family were.  These thoughts left me angry with myself because applying to study abroad was one way for me to prove to myself that I could push my boundaries and experience something completely new and foreign to me.

The day before I left for the airport was by far the most stressful point in my preparations.  In typical Lizzie fashion, I left packing until the day before.  I'm a complete hoarder and over-packer so packing a suitcase is nothing that has ever come easily to me (as a youth I even packed a full size stapler, jumbo coloring box, and tape dispenser for my two hour flight to Florida).  My courageous sister assisted in my packing chaos, in which we piece-by-piece went through my clothing attempting to choose the bare necessities for my trip.  Each item of clothing that got tossed into the "stay home" pile tore at my heartstrings.  After hours of packing and rolling my clothes into the smallest balls you could ever imagine (it allows you to fit MUCH more), I was ready to go, or so I thought.

The next day was one of the most stressful of my life.  I've taken many trips and flights throughout my life, but never have I traveled alone.  The thought of traveling completely alone to London and somehow finding my way to my flat petrified me.  For this reason, I made certain through the UW Madison Study Abroad group on facebook that I would be traveling with other people.  However, on that fortunate day, for some unknown reason, my flight was set back hours and I would not even be able to get into London until after check-in and orientation.  My frazzled and stressful mom called me repeatedly throughout the day, warning me that I would have to travel alone if I could not find someone to travel with.  I thought, how the heck am I supposed to find someone to travel with when I don't remotely know anyone who was going to London with me?

Somehow, once again through Casey's brilliant facebook group, I found Katie Trokey and my mom (who's a travel agent) got us both on the same flight so we were set to arrive in London together.  On the drive to the Chicago airport, I was completely silent with hundreds of  terrifying thoughts flying through my mind.  My mom insisted to the airport attendent that she walk me through security, like a six year old, until I was able to meet up with Katie.  Upon meeting Katie, I was immediately reassured and grateful for her presence because had she not been there, I would have most likely burst into tears the moment my mom turned away and headed back out of the airport. 

Looking back on all of the fear and irrationality that possessed me those days before London I can now laugh at how foolish and unnecessary all of my concerns were.  I was immediately able to meet friends in the program and eventually got to know every single person I traveled there with.  Today, when I am studying for exams and feeling the growing doom of career decisions closing in on me, I am jealous of my life a year ago and wishing more than anything that I was packing my bags for London (and bringing much more stuff!)

My Life of Pets

There hasn't been a day in my life that I haven't had a loving pet in my life.  The love I have for my pets is stronger and more unyielding than any other relationship than I have had in my life. I learned to walk alongside my black-lab mutt of a dog named Mackey.  She was the sweetest and most loyal dog that anyone could ever ask for.  Mackey was there for the first sixteen years of my life and is present in all of my childhood memories.  My parents didn't have the heart to put Mackey down, and she rode in the car with my mom every single day to work, even when her legs started to fail her and she had to be lifted up onto the seat and back out again.  She lived until she was eighteen years old, 126 in dog years.  The strongest dog there ever was.

 

While Mackey roamed the house, there were many other friendly pets that habited the Herrick household.  Shannon, the oldest, was the first to be permitted to get a pet hampster.  My dad, being allergic to almost every kind of pet besides dogs, was not too pleased.  His attitude only worsened when, a few weeks later, we learned that Shannon had purchased a pregnant hampster and there were six more, not so furry friends in her hampster's cage.  This is where my hampster-obsessed craze began.  I was banned from entering Shannon's room and playing with the babies, but this could never stop me.  I would creep in and play with them where they were hidden, in the small closet at the back of her room.  Looking back on this I probably should have listened to mom, since mother hampsters are prone to killing their babies that smell like humans, but as far as I recall, things turned out alright.

 

Not long after, mom caved and got me my first hampster, Lucy.  Lucy and I were immediately best friends.  I played with her every day and watched her race around and run into walls in her clear-globe ball.  Lucy was a freakishly smart hampster.  She soon learned how to escape her cage by biting through the mesh cover.  Mom would make me say a pray to St. Anthony of lost things and she'd always come back, bribed by food and water.  One time she worked her way into the wall of my house and down from the second level to the first.  My dad heard her scratching through the wall of our downstairs bathroom and had to hammer a whole in the wall to get her out.  Once again, he wasn't too happy with my little rodent.

 

After Lucy passed away came Sid, who liked to chew on toys so she was named after the evil kid from Toy Story.  Then there was Milli, named so because I got her the year of the Millenium (very creative, I know).  Milli was a beautiful little dwarf hampster.  After a couple months of having her, she developed a tumor on her ear.  After it grew at an alarming speed, my dad took my little two inch pet to the vet.  They had to remove her tumor and she "died" on the operating table.  The vet shocked her little heart back to life with her two fingers and she was with me for many months after.  Even though the hampsters gave dad a hard time, he put up with quite alot of the nonsense that came along with them.

 

My current best friend moved into the Herrick household the last year that Mackey was around.  Her name is Darby, named after a city in England called Darby.  Darby is one of the puppies of my nanny Priscilla's dog, so she was named after Priscilla's hometown.  Darby was the naughtiest puppy ever and bit holes in all my clothes.  As soon as Mackey passed away, Darby started to show her true colors and is now the biggest sweetheart you'll ever meet.  My parents like to say that a little bit of Mackey rubbed off on her.  Darby is one of the main reasons I come home from college and we spend hours lounging and watching tv together, which are two of our favorite things to do.

 

When Mackey was 6, Abby, another yellow lab, became a visitor in our house because my uncle was going through a change in living situations and needed to find her a temporary home.  Now nine years later, Abby is still living with us and uncle Jimmy has a new puppy, so apparently she's here to stay.  She may be an incredibly stinky dog, but she's grown on us all.  You can find her on youtube as Abby the Amazing Rock hound because she dives up to five feet down in the water to get rocks, which has caused her lack of teeth.

 

I believe that everyone should have pets in their life.  They have been such an important and loving part of my childhood.  Every time I'm going through a hard time, I know I always have my dog's chubby fur to cuddle up next to.  I'm sure that there will always be a dog living with me throughout my life and  I won't have it any other way. 

Pink Flutter

Pink Flutter, by Sam Gilliam, is a bright and colorful painting created with acrylic paint on canvas.  This picture (shown below, but in person is brighter) immediately caught my attention with the bright colors and splattering of paint. 

 

The pinks, purples, and oranges remind me of a forest at sunrise. The dark, vertical streaks of color resemble the thick trunks of trees and the splattering of paint looks like rain drops lightly falling from the branches. This painting really struck me because it reminds me of my house when I was growing up.  I grew up in a wooded area, surronded by cornfields and tree-lined paths.  This painting is an abstract picture of the trees lining my childhood road, North Lake Drive, the morning after a storm.

 

This picture makes me sad and happy at the same time.  Sad, because I miss home while I'm at school and the beauty surrounding the town I grew up in.  But happy at the same time because it brings back such happy memories from my past.  I feel that I need to take the time to explore more of the beauty of Madison, instead of just the city and the litter that seems to play too big of a part of it.

 

Halloween

Holloween has always generated mixed feelings for me.  It's that time of year where fall seems to be getting too cold and once it passes, all there is to look forward to are finally completing midterms and, if you survive it, Christmas break.  However, there are some good things that come with the Holloween.

Candy.  It's been a passion of mine all my life.  My mom never could get me to eat healthy.  It was either candy, cookie dough, or butter, or food being spit into my napkin and fed to my dog.  The candy obsession continued when my mom would send me off to hockey camp during the summer and instead of packing my gatorade and granola bars like my older sister, me and my friend packed donuts, candy, and beef jerky.  This sweet tooth has stuck with me into my college years.  I'm now 22 years old, have endured many cavities and root canals, but when you get one of those chocolate cravings, you've just got to give in.  Anyway, back to the subject of Halloween. This festive holiday gives me an excuse to endulge without judgement.

Costumes have always given me anxiety.  I don't know what it is about getting dressed up in a costume that irritates me so much.  I think it can be rooted back to my traumatic childhood experiences with costumes.  My mom thought it would be cute to make all of the kids in my family dress up like disney characters. I got daffy duck.  The duck would have been fine, if it butt didn't shake so horrificly every time I took a step.  Then there was Jasmine (from Aladdin of course).  The costume by itself was actually pretty cool, but I spent the entire night throwing up at my aunts house and then the next day all over my mom's car.  Since then there have been generic firefighter costumes, ghostbuster girls, and last minute greek goddesses. They all have just left me cold and sloppy wandering on state street at night.  I do have one costume I don't regret though, a ketchup bottle complete with a pointed hate and a best friend endorned as mustard.

Another positive about Halloween are the scares. I will never turn down a good haunted house or scary movie and definately need to partake is those festivities as soon as I complete my third midterm this week.  Going along with this, of course, are pumpkins. Whether your carving them, eating them (the seeds), or just enjoying their presence, I've got nothing bad to say about pumpkins, but do have a few negative words for those hoodlums that think it's funny to smash them. 

While I may have had some negative feelings about Halloween, or at least those particular bad memories that come with it, I'm planning on making the best out of this one and partaking in all the festivities. I'm even going to attempt to think of a good costume, so if you're got any good ideas, throw em this way ;)

Autumn!

Growing up in a small, picturesque town in Wisconsin, there are many things that I have come to associate with Autumn.  The changing leave colors, the brisk chill in the air, and the nights of football games.  Returning home this past weekend to relax with my family brought me back to those memories from my childhood.

 

I was lucky enough to venture home for a weekend where my two favorite seasons collided: summer and fall.  It was a weekend full of comfort foods and entertainment characteristic of fall, with the lingering presence of a long, peaceful summer coming to an end.  As I layed out on my pier for one last time this year, I was perfectly content, lounging in my swim suit (in October!), observing the warm fall colors that had transformed the landscape since I had last been home. My dogs, Darby and Abby, also seemed to be well aware that their days of swimming were coming to a close, and spent the afternoon fishing, in Darby's case, and diving for rocks, in Abby's (strange I know).

 

 

That evening, the all-mighty Arrowhead Warhawks had a "hugeee" football game that the whole town was gearing up for.  My sister Bridget got all dressed up for the "red-out" that would be taking place in the student section and left for home hours before in order to tailgate for the game.  I pictured in my head a tailgate full of kids getting wayyy to hyped up on redbull and 5 hour energies and told Bridget that she had to come to Madison to take part in some real tailgate festivities, but I remembered those fall days during highschool where the whole school seemed to look forward to those brisk, friday night football games. 

 

The next day I went for a walk in Monches park with my parents and the dogs and was once again grateful for another day suitable for shorts and hopefully a bit of a tan. The foliage was speckled with the burnt orange, amber, and beige colors of fall. The leaves of autumn always remind me of my childhood home.  Spence Road was lined with great big trees that the neighbors and I would play pom pom pola-way between and build tree forts in for the "beaver club" (beaver because we lived on beaver lake).  There was a go-cart track behind my house where we would cruise along the corn fields and towards the path we called "the secret garden".

 

More then anything fall reminds me of family.  Days spent lounging by the fireplace and watching the packers.  Nights spent cheering on my highschool team and then retreating to a friends house.  I was happy to reminense on some of my memories of autumn while I was home this weekend.  I returned Monday morning with a little pack full of fall comforts courtesy of mom: pumpkin bread, zukkini muffins, apples, and of course, chilli. I'm planning on taking advantage of every second of this beautiful fall weather while I can, and am praying that the blistering winter takes a lot longer to encroach upon us.

Transition

It's a hard adjustment to go from London life to life back in Wisconsin.  However, I have found that Madison life proves to be much more enjoyable than those long, tiring days working at home this past summer.  It was amazing to return to Madison and see all of my friends that I spent every single day with over in London.  I'm even living with one of them (LC)!

 

Nights and days in Madison have turned into an interwoven social scene of my life before London, with bits of the great people and friends that I met while I was abroad.  The friends that I met in London made a big impact on my life, and caused me to expand my social boundaries with new people that are interested in new and foreign things to me. 

 

I'd like to think that we've brought a little bit of London back with us to Madison, although Madison could never compete with the classic sophistication of London.  Instead of enjoying the exotic cousine at local markets, we dine on Madison's "cart" food.  And instead of spending nights sipping cider and waitrose brand vodka, we drink tequilla shots and fishbowls.  We won't ever be able to match the elegant museums and ballet performances, but there is always movie night at the Union where you can watch intellectual flicks like Bridesmaids.

 

One thing that I am immensely grateful for here in Madison, are the prices.  And the coupons!! Gone are the overpriced meals and drinks, and back are the amazing deals that Madison has to offer.  Oh ya, not to mention the 3 dollar fees every single time I attempted to take money out of my account in London.  I'm very happy to say goodbye to the pound and welcome the dollar back into my thrifty life.

 

I'm depressed to find that Madison classes have not changed during the semester that I was absent, but I'm hoping that the 8 month long break that I recently experienced from them will help me pull through for just one more year (and then likely excruciating years of law school after that, but let's not focus on the future).  London classes were like a breath of fresh air to this anxiety crazed student that will likely have a nervous breakdown before graduation, but it's given me a whole new outlook and appreciation for the teachers we had abroad and their unique and refreshing way of teaching.

 

While I miss London and my travels abroad every day, I'm glad to be able to spend one more year with the people I spent those days with and to be able to relive the experiences a bit every week with the incorporation of travel journal in my life.

Summer

It's hard to explain my reaction to summer "vacation" after the 5 amazing months I had spent abroad.  To put it simply, it was boring.  After the novelty of seeing my precious dogs again and visiting with my friends from home wore off, I was left sleeping way too much and watching way too much criminal minds and law and order.  Life in London was full of energy, new experiences, and constant activities.  Life in small town Hartland, Wisconsin was filled with nights glued to the tv and the occasional night out with my parents to the townie bar down the street, "Woodies". 

It also was overwhelmingly dedicated to work.  After I spent those first few weeks in bed, which I insisted to my parents were because I stillllll hadn't gotten used to the time difference, I was pushed out of the house and into the search for a job.  I swear there were times my parents still wished I was in London, and my mom demonstrated this feeling of agitation by searching for jobs for me on craigslist.

Of course mom's efforts proved to be much more successful than any of my own at finding a job, and that's how I landed at the Sandbar Sports Bar.  At first sight, this job looked promising. Nights making great tips for the wealthy lake goers and spending more time with two of my best friends that also got jobs there.  Little did I know, I was in for quite the experience.  After spilling two large margaritas on a gentleman's blackberry, I learend that the owner of the establishment was not quite as "laid back" as he attempted to make himself out to be.

The job consisted of constant screaming by owners and managers and the endless bitching by my fellow female empoyees. Remind me never to work with that many girls ever again.  After two months of dealing with the leering stares of scumball men and way too many 15 hour workdays, I decided to not show up one day.  My parents, always urging me to do the right thing, pressured me into getting my job back, in which I faked "pink eye" for both a doctor and my manager.  Two weeks, after the expiration of my two weeks notice, I was home free.

While this job almost ruined my summer, I had days on the lake to ease my pain and two other jobs that I loved.  I spent time interning at the American Cancer Society and helped plan events and I worked as the assistant to a lawyer.  I also had my family and friends with me every single day, which helped me make it throught those busy days.

Returning to reality after London was tough, but it made me further appreciate the time that I was able to spend studying abroad.  It's amazing how much we were able to do while we were oversees and my repetitve summer days of doing the same thing again and again made me yearn for London, but it's time to snap back to reality and struggle through this last year in Madison.  I'll keep praying that someday, after I graduate, I can return to London and relive those days, but until then, I'll hold on to the memories that I've made.

Lessons Learned from London

This past semester here in London has taught me a lot about myself. Before arriving in London, I was anxious and nervous about what this semester would bring me and the group of people who I would be spending the next four months with. In the past I have been shy when it comes to meeting new people and instead stayed in my comfort zone with the same best friends that I have had since high school. After transferring schools from Iowa to be closer to home and the people closest to me, I was nervous to spend a semester in London, but also anxious to push my boundaries.

After arriving in London, I pleasantly surprised to be greeted with three friendly roommates and one that I was even able to travel here with, Katie. This fortunate situation, that left me instantly at ease, paved the way for the rest of the semester. I gradually got to know the other girls on our flat and the remainder of the participants in our program. I was shocked to find that I was not at all home sick; what with the busy itinerary of events provided to us by Josh and the constant company in the flat, it was hard to find a second to miss home.

One important thing that I learned here in London is not to judge anyone before you’ve had a chance to get to know them. I myself should have already known this, having being told that I come off as a really quiet person at first. The people in our program are all so very different from one another and that’s one of the things I love so much about it. There are those that take time, even months to be able to understand, and those that are so loud and outgoing that I feel I understand them from the first day. Our living circumstances and the busy daily scheduled surrounded by this group of people helped me to get to know a great group of individuals that I never would have met if it wasn’t for London.

Another thing that London has taught me is to push myself to try new things and be more adventurous. I’m ashamed to say that it took me at least the first month to brave the tube by myself, but it was an empowering moment. My friends and family could tell you about all the countless times that I’ve gotten lost or put myself in some hilariously awful situation, and that’s one thing I wanted to avoid during my time in London. But I’m proud to say that I now know how to read the tube map and almost never get lost during my daily excursions.

All of my travels during my semester here have all shown me how to be a more responsible and independent person. No longer is my mom by my side to hold my passport or present my boarding pass. During these past couple months it was either being organized and prepared or I would basically be screwed, for lack of a better term, during my travels. There was also the issue of money. I either had to learn how to balance my money during these expensive last few months, or miss out on all the fun activities and travels that I experienced.

One thing that I am very grateful to have experienced is the amazing group dynamic and interactions within the study abroad program. Coming from a huge university such as the University of Wisconsin, it’s hard to form close relationships and bonds with teachers and faculty. I loved having the opportunity to get to know Steven and all of the great British faculty members that have been involved in our London education. And let’s not forget Josh and Mary. Mary for being there to step in and either scare us out of traveling or receiving noise complaints, and Josh to be there every step of the way, doing the dirty work and planning the events called pound trips that we’ve all grown to love.

This semester has taught me so many different things about myself and about this great group of people I have traveled here with. I am very sad to already be leaving in just four days, but I know I will remember this experience with only positive thoughts and look back on it as my favorite college experience. I hope that my semester here in London has made me a stronger and more accepting person. I also look forward to seeing my fellow London classmates, and hopefully Steven back at the UW Campus. Hopefully someday I’ll return here to London, but until then I have my pictures and travel journals to remind me of all the great times we’ve had this semester.

Saying Goodbye

I cannot believe that we've already reached the point when it's necessary to create our last minute London bucket lists, but spring has arrived and in less than two weeks we'll have to say goodbye to London and return to reality. London has not only taught me many things about a country completely foreign to me, but also about myself. I am sad to see this semester coming to an end, but am living in the moment and spending all of my last days doing something that I haven't experienced yet or have grown to love.

The first things on my list are those that I have yet to experience here in London. I'm ashamed to say that I have yet to take a corny picture inside a phone booth or take the infamous stroll across Abbey Road. These touristy shots are a bit embarassing, and maybe even hazardous in the case of Abbey Road, but I know I can't leave London without them.

 Having missed our trip to Oxford, a day trip is in the making for this coming weekend. Another thing that I am anticipating for this coming week is lunch in the beautiful Hyde Park and a trip on the park's newest addition: a ferris wheel without the rediculous prices of the London Eye! While this new ferris wheel is a little less classy than the posh glass bubbles, it will give me the birds-eye view of London that I've been yearning for.

One thing that I'm really going to miss when I return to the states are the London markets. Our study abroad program has really made the rounds on the markets, but I still have two that I have to visit: The Burrough Market and The Flower Market. These visits will be packed into a hectic day that also incorporates The Brick Lane Market, my favorite one yet. This market has the largest selection of goods and souvenirs. My mission for the return to Brick Lane Market is to purchase the numerous souvenirs that I have failed to buy during these past months in London. After these purchases are made, and perhaps a little something for myself, I will venture over to the food portion of the market and endulge in the foot long burrito for my last time in London. However, I'll have to save room for Burrough Market, a market just for food!

While I'm on the subject of food, I have a heftly list of places to return to before I leave London. Now people always ask me with pity and concern how I've been handling the food here in London. Well, unfortunately I've been doing just fine. After my first ever experience yesterday of My Old Dutch Pancake House and Ben's cookies, I am hooked and much too late! I devoured a savoury chilli con carne pancake with sour cream and one of the loves of my life, guacamole. After this meal we ventured over to Ben's cookies for my first ever taste of these gooey, melt-in-you-mouth cookies that I had heard so much about (I mean we had to--it wasss on the bucket list). Other must have meals will occur at Churchill Arms, an amazing thai restuarant in a pub surrounded by flowers, something that you would only find in London and then Benito's Hat, my go-to Mexican restuarant when I'm having my frequent withdrawals from hotsauce and margaritas.

On a different note away from food, I can't wait for Hyde Park, and myself, to witness its first ever Mifflin, or Hifflin on Saturday and to spend it relaxing and paddle boating with the lifelong friends I've met here in London. My bucket list is still in the making, but I'm convinced I'll spend the remainder of my days in London with plenty to do and loving every minute of it.

A Classy Evening with Tea and the Ballet

This past week was filled with various pound trips and experiences that brought me closer to British culture. It was probably my busiest week here in London, but I loved every minute of it. The week started off with another trip to the theatre, then afternoon tea on Wednesday followed by Cinderella, the ballet. Thursday we went on the Camden music tour and were able to witness the London music scene and the following day visited the Linley Sambourne House and stepped straight into 19^th century London. Saturday was busy with a daytrip to Stonehenge and Salisbury and then Sunday we were finally able to attend a London football match! My favorite part of this event-filled week was when we attended traditional English afternoon tea at the Gore Hotel and then later traveled to the London Coliseum for Cinderella, the ballet.

 I had been anticipating our classy afternoon of tea since my arrival here in London and it was well worth the wait. The elegant Gore Hotel was the perfect destination for our classy meal of tea and delicious delicacies. Our meal began with scrumptious, petite sandwiches with various fillings, followed by two soft and delicious scones, topped with cream and succulent jelly. My favorite part of the meal came at the end: dessert. Dessert is often my favorite past-time, but these delicious sweets exceeded my expectations. There were melt-in-your-mouth éclairs, dangerously rich brownies, and small lemon tarts that were the perfect treat to top off the meal. The tea was, of course, a constant essential to the meal and was refilled throughout our meal.

            After tea, I was left feeling more stuffed than I ever anticipated an English afternoon tea affecting me and wanting to change out of my restrictive dress clothes and into my sweats, but I dealt with my discomfort and looked forward to my night at the ballet. I hadn’t had much exposure to the ballet prior to my sophisticated night out, other than the few trips to the Nutcracker over Christmas with my grandmother, but was excited to experience something new and foreign to me in London. I found the ballet extremely beautiful and moving. I’m not exactly passionate about dance, but was amazed by how beautifully the dancers moved and their flawless perfection throughout the ballet’s entirety. I was mesmerized by the ballet and impressed by how they were able to incorporate comedy into such a stunning performance. My trip to the ballet was a success and left me with a new interest in ballet that I never would have foreseen.

            This day where we experienced traditional English afternoon tea and Cinderella at the ballet left me feeling like a true Londoner. I have always been struck by how classy and elegant the people of London are and this day seemed to capture the essence of the sophisticated socialite in London. I loved sipping tea with my new friends and then ending the night with a relaxing trip to the ballet. This seven pound week made me feel more at home here in London and much too aware of the fact that I will be leaving London in less than three weeks. However, I need to live in the moment and enjoy London while I can, instead of dwelling on my departure date.

Theatre

London is renowned for its excellent theatre and its dignified portrayal of the arts. Theatre is available in almost all areas of London in various venues and forms. London has made theatre a part of its culture through its abundant availablility for people of nearly every demographic area. While studying here in London, I have been fortunate enough to experience the phenomenon of London theatre on a weekly basis. I am currently enrolled in a theatre class and we discuss the different aspects and history of theatre here in this great city. We also venture to different theatres every week to experience the many different types of theatre available. The numerous plays that I have seen during my stay in London, in addition to the knowledge afforded to me through my theatre professor, have made me extremely appreciative of London's culture and portrayal of the arts. Throughout this past semester we have seen many different plays, each unique in both form and venue.

My first glimpse of London theatre occured when we saw 39 Steps. I wasn't able to fully appreciate this light comedy due to my jetlag, but was impressed by the acting and, in particular, the ability of the actors to carry on numerous roles. I didn't exactly know what to expect from this play but was, overall, happy with the performance. My second experience was at National Theatre in my viewing of Hamlet. This famous play, which originated with Shakespeare, is something that I've studied three times previously throughout my education. I found the National Theatre a great setting for the play and the acting, for the most part, impressive, especially in the case of the actor playing Hamlet. This play lived up to my expectations as being extremely dramatic and not overly exciting. I will admit that I did fall asleep at certain parts of the play, but I am satisfied to have finally seen the play that I have learned so much about it school.

My next trip to the theatre brought me to War Horse. I was entranced by the "puppets", if you could even call them that, that stole the show and left the human acting to seem amateur in comparison. These horses are created out of wood and in most instances have at least three puppeteers operating them at one time. The horses have been crafted and perfected to exhibit the natural appearance and movements of a real horse. War Horse was a play unlike anything I have ever seen before. By the end of the performance I stopped noticing the puppeteers maneuvering the horses, which has left me amazed and able to certainly state that it was a job well done.

Then came Vernon God Little, a play that has left everyone in our program with a drastically different opinion and reaction. Vernon God Little is a play that demonstrates a Texas community's reaction to a school shooting and how the media tends to portray these horrific events. It's odd to say that I found a play that in some way revolved around a school shooting humerous, but I did. It was rediculous and exaggerated the situation to such an extent that I was in no way offended. My introduction to this play in theatre class prepared me in some way to this performance because I learned that school shootings do not exactly occur here in England because of their strict gun control laws and people in England see them as common occurances over in America. I found the English portrayal of our American culture and stereotypes very interesting and at times extremely funny. I was able to agree with the rediculous way that the media in our country exaggerates and misleads information and with how the issue of gun control is viewed in different areas of our country. This play was bittersweet to me because it is a very sad and traumatic topic, but they're humerous portrayal of the aftermath of the events were not poking fun at these tragedies, but at the people who attempt to benefit from the fame of the media. I know that many people from our study abroad group would strongly disagree, but this is one of my favorite plays we've seen yet.

I don't have much to say about A Flea in Her Ear other than the accents left the performace inaudible for me and that it carried on about an hour too long. After A Flea in Her Ear came The Boy on the Swing, an extremely different and experimental performance that raised the issue of religion and whether god truly exists. I was extremely skeptical about this performace when I arrived at the venue, which was in an extremely sketchy building in a dark-lit alley, but was pleasantly suprised by the great acting and dark humor. The last play I have seen here in London is Mogadishu. This play made me feeling puzzled and a bit depressed. So many different issues and storylines were woven throughout this play that it left me with a headache and desire to leave at intermission. Racism, assault, dead fathers and mothers by suicide, wrist slitting, expulsion, and teen suicide were all integrated into the play in that exact order. I don't know what message was meant to be left by that play, or how it came to be called Mogadishu, since that city was mentioned for about half a second in the play, but I do not think I would recommend it to anyone.

Today I have another play to look forward to in about an hour, Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, which is supposed to be a comedy, but I've lowered my standards for theatrical humor after A Flea in Her Ear. However, I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to see every one of these plays here in London. I am amazed by how drastically different each play has been from each other. Whether it's the venue, the stage, the cast, or even puppets, each play has had something unique to offer us. I am impressed by what London has to offer by means of theatre and look forward to our final performance of Frankenstein, a play I've looked forward to seeing all semester.

My London Routine

My days here in London have left me with a very unusual "schedule", if you could even call it that. My time revolves around my classes, local food deals, the weather, and the amount of money left in my bank account. Here in London there is no set schedule like my days in Madison. My life in Madison consists of a strict weekly schedule stuffed full of classes, library time, and weekends meant to blow off all the steam which has built up throughout the week. Here in London my time is much more fluid and diverse.

My semester of classes abroad are much less time consuming than my classes in Madison. I have a set schedule for every day of the week, Fridays excluded of course, but my classes and days vary with which new excursion or activity we partake in. Mondays I have theatre class from 2-5, but occasionly take visists to plays, pubs, or areas of interest as a substitue for class time. Tuesdays I have museums, where we either explore a new museum each week or take time to learn more and further appreciate art. Wednesdays are by far my most demanding of days. There is my interpretation of popular culture class in the morning, where we discuss things such as the history of rock and roll and the beatles; rough, I know. And then my afternoons consist of travel journal, where we share our fun and quirky stories and views on different aspects of London life. Thursdays there is History of London in the afternoons, which generally leads us to new and exciting areas that examine British history. These five classes fulfill the basic "routine" to my life here in London, even though they vary in new and exciting ways each week.

My eating habits here in London always vary and fluctuate, but do in fact fall under a certain routine based on what types of food are available and at which times. Buying groceries in London is an irritatingly expensive task for food that typically lasts less than a week. Those days where the food runs low i opt for my bag of generic pasta with butter or whatever type of sauce or condiment I have left. When the pasta stops doing the job, the sandwich shop is always the answer. At the sandwich shop you can get sandwiches, pasta, pizza, or curry, all for an affordable price. They also offer half-priced sandwiches after 5 pm, a fact that our entire program was pleased to discover soon after our arrival. Other than the sandwich shop, there are other local eateries and London's trademark pre-made and packaged sandwiches. McDonalds has also, pathetically, become a part of my daily life here in London. I discovered that it is available, and affordable, in every country i have visited. On those nights out where we're completely starvvvvinnnggg McDonald's is always the first stop on our way back to the flat.

London's infamous weather has become another deciding factor to my days. If I happen to wake up in the morning and see the gray and rainy skys, I typically decide to go back to bed until my afternoon class at two. If the skies are clear and blue, such as recently, I generally try to pull myself out of bed to go running in beautiful Hyde Park. These gorgeous spring days seem to urge me to go out, be productive, and explore London on a whole new level.

The last, and most depressing aspect to my London routines are my bank statements. They're a constant reminder to how drastically expensive life in London is in comparison to my plain, old life in Hartland, Wisconsin. Not only do they dictate how frequently I'm able to go shopping or out to eat, but how often I can travel. One of my favorite aspects of being abroad is how easy it is to travel around Europe. I love travelling and experiencing new things and my London experience has taught me that not only is it impossible to do and afford everything in one semester, but that it's worth it to experience as much life in London as I can, because those other places will always be there to come back to.

I know that I am extremely lucky to be able to spend this semester studying in London. It's an amazing city with many different things to offer and an opportunity that I will never have again. My "routine" here in London is never consistent, but always changing and adapting for new field trips and excursions. These inconsistencies to my life have left me anticipating and looking forward to each new week here in London. My lack of routine here in London has left me feeling a bit unorganized and irresponsible, but I know it is something that I will miss next semester when I am back to the grind in Madison.

My Study Abroad Soundtrack

            Throughout my experience abroad I have encountered many different kinds of music in different venues and situations. Music has been a part of my life here in London as well as in my travels throughout Europe. My love and appreciation for music has deepened and varied in style since my arrival.

            From my first week of classes I became aware of music’s importance in London culture. Through my interpretation of popular culture class I have witnessed, first hand, an individual who is more dedicated and entranced by music than anyone I have ever met. This class has taught me the history of rock and roll and how it came to be such a huge phenomenon across the world. Justin, our teacher, demonstrates his love for music through his lessons each week and his passion instills in me a greater understanding and appreciation for music from both the past and present.

            From outside the classroom, music is still a significant part of my daily life. Whether it’s bonding and listening to music with flat mates or enjoying the music played on a night out, there is always some type of soundtrack narrating our experiences. In the flat, the music played is a mix of songs from our past and popular songs of the present. On nights out, music has, for the most part been a collaboration of obnoxious techno beats and popular songs that are continuously overplayed and are eerily similar to nails on a chalkboard. However, I have been fortunate to discover various venues that offer great music. There is the Notting Hill Arts Club that has death disco and hip hop nights and Ain’t Nothin but the Blues Bar which has live blues music every night and is always a unique and enjoyable experience.

            Through my travels abroad I have been able to experience and look at music in a whole new light. No matter where I traveled, whether it was Portugal, Italy, or Greece, American music dominated the various bars and clubs. This phenomenon baffles me, especially because in most of these countries English is not the dominant language. My nights out, across the world, have all been encompassed by the same chart-topping American beats. It’s amazing, and a bit irritating, to see the influence that American popular culture has had world-wide. There has been one exception to these bars with corny American music and that has been Dublin. The weekend that we visited Dublin there was an Irish music festival going on in which every bar had amazing live music being performed. Those nights out in Dublin were some of my favorite during my stay abroad. I felt I was truly immersed in Irish culture and able to bond with the Irish citizens on a whole new level.

            So far my study abroad has deepened my love for music and given me an idea of popular music in different countries. My class, travels, and days in London all offer a unique view and perspective to the world of music. By far the best musical experiences that I have been fortunate enough to witness are the nights with live music. Live music enables you to relate to the performers and people you are with in a new way. I have loved all the live music I’ve seen, whether it was Irish, Blues, or hip hop and look forward to many more nights out that offer live music and new experiences.

Athens, Greece

Greece is somewhere I've always dreamt of visiting. I had visions of the picturesque beaches, and perfectly blue waters and couldn't wait to make these illusions a reality. Athens, Greece was the first stop on our spring break excursion and while some aspects of Greece and its beauty lived up to my expectations, other features left me feeling uneasy and completely out of place.

I planned my trip to Athens without any further knowledge regarding the city beyond the Parthenon being located there. Upon entering Greece, I was immediately struck by the desolate appearance of the city and its buildings and the looks of despair among many city-goers faces. It wasn’t until after my arrival that I came to understand that Greece was in the middle of a huge economic decline due to political and economic corruption. The past two years have left many citizens of Greece unemployed and the affects were notable throughout the city.

When I stepped off the metro and onto the streets of Greece I was dumbfounded. Where were the happy, smiling people I saw in Mama Mia and where were those picturesque beaches that I so longed to see? Graffiti and garbage littered the streets of Athens. Beggars and bleak street stand owners hassled us every step of the way to our hotel. On our first excursion out to the bars at night, we stumbled through eerily abandoned streets in an unsuccessful attempt to find the night scene we had heard so much about. Upon our first encounter with someone else on these streets, he appeared to be shooting up heroine so we quickly scurried away and on with our quest for the bars. Finally, we found a taxi driver who rescued us from the sketchy streets and safely delivered us to a small bar with Greek music blasting from within.

We were immediately struck by how friendly the people inside the bar were. These happy, friendly faces were in great opposition to the despair I witnessed on the streets just moments before. They chatted with us and helped us figure out where this mysterious night life really was located in Greece and even let my friend assist the DJ in the night’s music selections. This night lifted our spirits and gave us new hope in what Athens had to offer. The next day, after passing through the poverty driven streets, we reached a beautiful square in which we could see the Parthenon perched atop a massive mountain. After dining on the best Greek salad I’ve had in my life, we began our hike up the mountain.

This day where we climbed and explored the beauty of Greece was by far one of my favorites throughout my entire break. Gone was the despair and sadness that rang throughout the city. The view from the top of the mountain was completely breathtaking. We could see the entire city beneath us, along with the mountains and enticing blue sea in the distance. We explored the mountain for hours, never tiring of the beautiful views. Even after we discovered that we arrived a half hour too late and that the Parthenon was in fact closed, we kept our spirits high and opted to return again the next day.

That night we returned to our new favorite Greek restaurant for more delicious gyros and tazaki sauce. The previous night at this restaurant, we were treated like royalty and received endless baskets of bread along with heaping portions of gyros and fresh plates of fruit for dessert. The friendly service at this establishment led us to return to the same place for all but one meal during our stay. The next day we returned to the great Parthenon and were entirely satisfied with what we saw. After this we went to the Greek island of Aegina, where I was able to witness the great beaches and waters I had been longing for.

My stay in Greece has left me with mixed feelings. I now understand to not judge a city right from the start and also, to watch my belongings much closer while riding the metro, a realization that I obtained after my wallet was stolen from me. Even though the city is a bit scary and poverty ridden, the people are generous and friendly. Athens may be overrun by graffiti, bit there is still great beauty to be found, you just need to look for it.

Shoes.Shoes.Shoes.

Fashion week instills in me a deeper sense of appreciation and longing for the trends and perfectly put-together outfits that surround my everyday life here in London. Since my arrival in London, I’ve come to the dreadful realization that shopping, for anything that exceeds my life essentials, is out of the question. This insight has left me helpless and stylishly insignificant next to the fashionistas strolling the streets of London in five inch stilettos. Shoes have always been my weakness. Some think that it’s a bit of an obsession or an issue that I have, but I figure that since my petite size six feet haven’t grown since fifth grade, there has to be an occasion, someday, for every pair. And while my shoes aren’t even close to London standards, I can take comfort in the few shoes that were lucky enough to survive the long trek over to London. I have shoes for every occasion here, and while they may leave my feet blistered, wet, or cold, they help to add a little something to the simplistic outfits I’ve learned to accept during my stay.

My shoes and I have had quite the experience since our arrival in London. On day one, my Uggs were the first shoes to step foot on London soil. I soon learned that, yes, it does in fact rain quite frequently here in London and, to my dismay, yes mom, you were correct in advising me to leave my Uggs at home. My beloved Uggs may resemble a loaf of bread encompassing my feet, but they never failed me during the cold Wisconsin winters. These cherished shoes survived the rain; a little water damaged, but have yet to leave the apartment since that first day. To make up for the misfortune that the Ugg boots have faced, my Ugg slippers have stepped up and left me warm and germ free during my days in the brisk and, typically, less than clean flats.

Since the inevitable failure of my Ugg boots, I have learned to cherish and rely on my brown boots that I received this year for Christmas. These boots are the superhero of boots. They’ve survived the torrential downpours in London and have kept me warm through countless pound trips. I realized that these brown boots should not be taken advantage of and purchased some black boots on Portabella Road for only 15 pounds! They are, of course, fake leather, but I figured they would do the job. These boots served me well for about two weeks, but I soon learned that you really do get what you pay for here in London. They may have been cheap, but those few blissful weeks of the black boots may not have been worth the swamp feet I dealt with on numerous occasions due to the four holes deteriorating my newest member of the London shoe family.

When it comes to going out in London, heels are my go-to shoes. They instantly make me feel better about my five-foot-two height and dress up an outfit at the same time! They may not be the most practical of shoes, but they really are the most fun. These shoes have seen the best of times in London and I’m forever grateful for the woman at the British Airways check-in desk, who allowed me the few extra pounds so that they wouldn’t have to be sacrificed. I have my basic black booties, which have seen better days and may be fraying at the heels, but still do their job to the best of their ability. I also have the impractical stilettos that always seem like a good idea at the beginning of the night, but tend to take my nights to a whole different level. Such as the night where I wasn’t let into the club because I was told I was too drunk, when in reality I tripped in my four inch heels. I snuck in anyway bouncer, try not to be so naïve next time when it comes to shoes. These heels often leave me in pain and walking home barefoot, but the few extra inches truly are worth it when you’re standing next to a six foot tall supermodel.

Shoes are a girl’s best friend. You don’t need to worry about the extra double cheeseburger you ate the night before or your pants being too baggy because they haven’t been washed in weeks, which is pathetically realistic due to washing machine facilities that we have been equipped with. My shoes make me feel better about myself and help narrate my life here in London. I have my pink puma’s that accompany me on my runs through Hyde Park, my boots that keep me warm during sightseeing, my heels that go out on the town, and my slippers to spend days in bed sleeping, recovering, and keeping warm. Unfortunately, my style and closet haven’t been able to change much during my stay here in London, but I am grateful that my shoes are always there to add a bit of spunk to my outfit or comfort me through the less than sunny days. Hopefully someday I will return to London and splurge on the bright wedges and stilettos I see sauntering down the street, but until then, I’m happy with my comfortably worn-in shoes.

Chocoholics Anonymous

Food. Where do I start? My entire being revolves around food. From the moment I wake up and crave a delicious sandwich from The Sandwich Shop to my late night binges on McDonalds and one pound frozen pizza. Now my extreme love for food has been hampered a bit by the unnecessary prices upon my beloved Domino's pizza and Wheat Thins, but somehow I’ve found a way to survive…

Chocolate. How can anyone not love chocolate? I'm convinced that any single item of food would only be enhanced by the addition of chocolate. Now here is something that, to my physique's dismay, has not been effected by my pricey and posh London living.

Soon after arriving in London, I had one of my frequent chocolate cravings and discovered Cadbury chocolate bars. These heavenly candy bars are so dangerously delicious; my mouth starts to water just from thinking about them and they’re astonishingly only a pound!

Every once in a while I decide to take advantage of the fact that Cadbury chocolates are only one pound and I treat myself to Ben and Jerry’s half-baked ice cream. This delicious ice cream is almost too good to be true, but is extremely pricey so I try not to spoil myself with it more than once a week. For those sad days that Ben and Jerry’s is out of the picture, there’s always McDonalds hot fudge sundaes which are also just one pound!

This past weekend I had two of my most memorable food experiences yet in London. We had two pound trips where we went to Windsor Castle and Greenwich. After the trip inside the castle, we decided to take advantage of the local Chinese restaurant since we had yet to find good Chinese food here in London. After the delicious meal, where I jealously watched two of my friends devour the all you can eat special, I decided to push my stomach to the limits and caved for an advertisement in the nearby window: Warm waffles topped with two different kinds of ice cream and hot fudge, a chocoholics dream. After the waffles, crème brulee and nutella ice cream, topped off with hot gooey fudge, I was thoroughly satisfied with my day trip to Windsor Castle.

The next day brought me to Greenwich. Upon arriving in the city, we walked through a market encompassed in the aroma of ethnic delights. The entire tour my mind kept going back to that amazing place where I witnessed Thai, Chinese, Ethiopian, and Portuguese food. As soon as Brit told us that we were free to spend the rest of the day however we wished, I rushed back to the market. After a few hectic and glazed moments in which my mind and stomach battled with what to get, I settled on the Thai food, which gave me two different choices along with rice and a box the size of my face; why not? After this delicious meal that left me painfully full, I decided that I also had to try the brilliant kabob of strawberries and bananas coated in warm milk and white chocolate and sprinkled with almonds, hazelnuts, and marshmallows. This perfectly painted kabob was worth every penny and, after all, when am I ever going to be in this exotic little market in Greenwich again anyway?

My time here in London is overpowered by the constant reminder and craving for food. Whether it’s cookies from Ross’s market on my way to class or brownies and cookies made by my generous roommates in celebration of a birthday, I’m forever grateful for the chocolate in my life that has helped me to overcome the expensive food prices here in London. My body may not agree with me and my love for chocolate after my stay here in London, but chocolate will forever hold a warm place in my heart.

37 Hyde Park Gate

The flat located at 37 Hyde Park Gate can be described in many different ways: Posh and sophisticated, with a classic décor; out of place among embassies and multimillionaires, and the bonding grounds which provide the means for 42 strangers to become friends.

Once you venture inside the second floor flat, you’ve entered sorority central. Cat fights over food and the occasional bickering over dishes. You’d never know how much drama could erupt in a kitchen until you dare to enter flat 2.

The common area in the flat could be considered cozy, if it wasn’t for the frigid air that encroaches upon its occupants.  If only the picturesque fireplace would step up and serve its purpose.  However, the beautiful view that overlooks our front yard, Hyde Park, is enough to make you forget about the bitter cold.

The place that I’ve truly learned to call home is 2A. There’s nothing glamorous about this little cubby I call home, but the pen permanently stuck in the sink, ghost that occupies the bathroom, and the constant drip of water down the wall is something I’ve started to find comfort in. There’s never a dull day in our little room. The rare nights in are spent devouring ben and jerry’s ice cream and listening to our favorite jams from the 90’s, while nights out end with parties in 2A and sleepovers in our already too-small beds.  

Mornings are less than pleasant. Four girls attempting to get dressed in the morning is a bit of a struggle with the lingering eyes of the Dutch embassy peering directly into our room. If you’re lucky enough to not have 9:30 a.m. class, you’re pleasantly awoken by construction workers who are trying to tear the building down, but claim to be renovating the mysterious flat on the first floor. I’m convinced that my beloved 2A, which is conveniently located directly above these mad men, will collapse into their destructive hands any day now. 

The maids have learned to leave our room till last, with hopes that they will never again be greeted by the 2A hurricane that left our cubby in a disarray of pizza pans, oven mitts, bottles, and miscellaneous clothes.

The chaos and havoc that erupts in flat 2 of 37 Hyde Park Gate is something that has become a part of my everyday life here in London. I’ve learned to appreciate the cramped coziness of my room in 2A and to find comfort in the outdated bunk beds, the peeling paint on the walls, and even George, the ghost who lives in our bathroom. These odd flats where 42 strangers have been thrown together as roommates are now my home, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Transporting a Thought

            So there we were on the tube: a rowdy and enthusiastic group of American students looking forward to what our next adventure had to offer. I’ve never thought to think about our loud nature, but in this moment, as the rest of the passengers remained eerily silent, I could feel a blush of crimson spread upon my cheeks as the unspoken resentment spread throughout the passenger car. I’m an observer. I love to listen and watch people. Yeah this may seem a bit nosy or be distastefully referred to as “eavesdropping”, but I’ve learned a lot from my people watching. This day on the tube I can’t help but notice two posh Londoners staring and snickering among one another as they contemplate our brash and unruly American conduct.

            Why should the tube hold this unwritten code of silence? What has made the tube this place of silent contempt against those unaware of the British principals? I think back to America, a nation where I’ve spent the entirety of my life. Riding the bus in Madison there’s a mixture of contempt, haste, and yelling. Everyone talks over each other to be heard amongst the chatty passengers. I would love to observe these posh Londoners on a Madison city bus. Traveling throughout London I’m overwhelmed by a culture that is blatantly similar to ours, and yet at the same time remarkably diverse. The language barrier that by all grammatical measurements is minor is significant every time I use an “American” word and am scoffed at or receive a lingering glance glazed with confusion.

            My family is loud. Coming from a family of six you have to learn to scream over each other to be heard. Any London student would be appalled by the undignified speech that resonates around my kitchen table. My mother, maybe the loudest talker I’ve come across yet, would surely be exiled from the London tube. Being one of eight kids, she’s developed her booming and raspy voice that resonates in every room. This voice, that has comforted and scolded me throughout my life, would surely be received by silent disdain, painted on the faces of those superior London natives. What caused this unspoken hated for Americans?

            Is it merely our loud and unkempt voices, or maybe our polite disposition that is deemed suspicious by the people of this alien city? It is unnatural for me, along with many other Americans, to go about my day without the three simple words that dominate the American dialogue: “Please, thank you, and excuse me”. These three words are sparse and rare among my days in London. In instances where the light and friendly “cheers” is uttered as a substitute for, as far as I’m concerned, any word at all, I’m left feeling content and grateful for this friendly Londoner who proved to me that not all British people are without good manners. But what makes our American standards of manners good or superior? Are we the unusual ones for being friendly to all of those we encounter?

            I hope that my time in London and traveling throughout Europe will instill in me a sense of acceptance for these alien cultures that I yearn to understand. Maybe it’s not a matter of cultural superiority, but an understanding that we are all different and yet alike at the same time. One thing that I am certain of is that my loud booming voice and irritatingly American tendencies, which have been bestowed upon me since birth, will not be swayed by the glares of the posh passengers sitting across from me. Instead of being intimidated by this gossip and passing judgment, I return the critical glances with my expert American smile and opt to not change a bit for these skinny fashionistas. I find comfort in knowing that if the situation were reversed, their cynical sentiments would veer towards gratitude once encountering our overly polite dispositions in America.

Capturing A Moment

Capturing a Moment

            After less than five hours of sleep, I rolled out of bed on a Sunday morning and into the brisk London air, anticipating my tour of Little Venice.  After successfully taking the tube and meeting Brit, our tour guide, I waited for what seemed like an eternity for the rest of the group to arrive so that we could begin our trek to the boat. I had been looking forward to this boat tour for weeks and decided that the sleep deprivation from the night before was well worth the sights we would encounter on our tour of Little Venice. Little did I know that our charming boat tour was not going to turn out quite as expected.

            After the whole group was gathered together, we unfortunately started the walking tour that I was not previously informed of. I can’t say I remember much from the walking tour…besides the freezing cold temperature and Brit hollering at the group to gather closer together and insisting that the “little ones” get a first row position, as if they were missing out on something by being short and listening from the edge of the group. Brit led us to various spots on the walking tour, one being an ancient hotel that Sigmund Freud stayed at and many others that I wish I could remember. The walking tour eventually led us to the canal that we would be taking our boat ride down.

            The walk alongside the canal towards our boat consisted of rows of “houseboats” that looked like small rickety shacks on  water. At the end of the walking tour we reached another small and narrow boat that made me look around and wonder where we would be led next. It was then that I was informed that this was the boat we would be taking along the canal. After climbing down into the boat and sitting, much too close, to my friend in the three foot wide seats, we sat in the freezing cold boat waiting for it to fill up so that we could leave. As I was sitting there shivering, the boat finally glided away from the dock and past the island that Brit informed us was called “Rat Island”. Soon after, our boat slowed down and reversed so that a group of French passengers could board the “shack”. As the boat floated away for the second time we were bombarded by French chatter that screamed over everything that Brit was trying to tell us on the tour. We were surprised to hear Brit translate her language to French so that the other passengers could be informed of the sights and as soon as they heard their native tongue the chatter stopped and we heard a loud “shhhhhhhh” directed at the American students in the back.

            The sights consisted of old, attractive houses and a short sight of the zoo’s most boring exhibits. The combination of my attempts to stay warm on the freezing cold boat, crouching down by my knees and Brit’s soothing British voice soon put me to sleep. I was pleasantly surprised to be woken up at the end of the freezing boat tour and greeted by Camden market. We exited the dreadful boat and could not wait to get indoors. We thanked Brit, said goodbye, and after a short indoor break where I attempted to get the feeling in my toes back, walked back out into the cold on a search for the food that was overpowering the air. The ethnic food that we soon encountered was devoured within minutes and made me soon forget the miserable morning that led me to Camden market. The rest of the day was still unbearably cold, but the amazing food and unique shops made me realize why I love London and look forward to the unique experiences it has to offer.