11 October 2010

Woo! Back from Wales. And it was absolutely amazing. Easily one of the best weekends of my entire life. Friday afternoon we met at the Foundation House (school) at 12:30 to pick up our train tickets and find out a little more information about our journey. After, all 33 of us (plus 2 "chaperones") head off to Glouster tube station where we were taking the circle line to Paddington. From paddington we caught another train to Swansea, Wales which is about a 3 hour train ride. Then once again switch to our last train from Swansea to our final stop in Wales. We get out of the train and didn't know where to go next. We're looking around to find a woman with short blonde hair, crazy loopy earrings and a tongue ring come running up to us. "HEY ARE YOU LOOKING FOR PRESELI VENTURE?" It was Libby, one of the women in charge of making sure we have an incredible weekend. She piled us all into a van and we ended up at Preseli Venture.

Since by the time we got there it was already 7:30 we got our room assignments and headed straight for the second cabin for some delicious homemade dinner. I was bunked with Bree, Erin, Maddy, Emma, Megan, Alysse, and me. It was a really cute pink/girly room with 3 bunk beds and a single bed. (We made Emma take it!) For dinner we had a homemade vegetable lasagna with one of the best salads I've ever had and toasted rolls. It was delicious. Except we were exhausted so after having apple pie with vanilla ice cream and a mug of hot chocolate and baileys we played a few rounds of 'asshole' and went straight to bed. Unlucky for me, I went feeling very sick; stuffy nose, big sore throat, achy body (same symptoms as the past post, unfortunately) so while everyone else was tucked in and sleeping I was up until 3am with no service on my phone, and no ipod. Whoops! Plus I was so excited for the following morning.

Saturday morning! YES... woke up at 7:30 and was ready for our breakfast at 8:15. Hard boiled eggs, toast, and the most delicious granola cereal which I added a banana to. ALSO they had free tea/coffee whenever you wanted so I had become very close with apple and cinnamon tea. Very delicious! During breakfast we found out our groups and which activities we were doing at what time. Our first stop? COASTEERING! Couldn't have been happier. The only thing was, it was 9am, still a bit cold out, and we were going to be in the water. Good thing we got wet suits. After breakfast we scooted over to the equipment barn and they helped us pick our right size for wetsuits, which were quite flattering (not.) We also received spandex shorts, and spandex socks. (lots of spandex) Next we had to put on our life jackets and helmets, and we were finally good to go. We had two instructors for coasteering, they were so awesome. This one guy who sort of reminded me of Steve Bell, probably because of his large stature and blonde hair. And this little frail woman who we learned was on the Wales olympic squad for diving! She was sooo nice. They piled us into the same van that brought us there and off we went to the cliffs.

When we got there, all we saw was cliffs and ocean. There were some surfers out there and a little seal popping his head out of the water every so often. We hiked for maybe 5 minutes and then it was down into the water we went. The guy instuctor jumped in first, and warned us that the first few minutes in were going to be chilly. Of course I volunteered to get in first (otherwise I might have chickened out) and oh man it was cold. I couldn't catch my breath for a second as I let the chill of the water saturate my body and regulate my temperature again. When everyone got in we swam around a little, and then began to attempt to climb up the rocks. It was tricky because you had to find the right ledges to put your feet, and you couldn't exactly see what you were doing. There was a little cavern in the wall of one of the cliffs that went through to a bit of a rougher part of the water. We clung to the rocks and let the waves push over us. It was so fun. Sometimes we'd get whisked away with the wave but the instructors called it "whirlys." I didn't like them very much. Especially since one "whirly" tossed me into one of the sharp rocks and cut open my ankle. Ouch! After being in the water for some time we went to the jumps! The first one was so cool, it was a rock that was sloping downwards sort of like a slide. They gave us the choice to either slide down on your butt or to run down it. The first few girl slid on their butt, and then Emma ran down. Running looked SO fun so when it was my turn I slid a little down the rock and decided I wanted to run. (I was SO scared!) it was basically running straight toward the water and when you couldn't stand on the rock anymore you jumped! It was such a thrill. After that we went to the high jumps. The first one was maybe 5-10 feet so we all just jumped in and climbed back up the rocks to get to the taller ones. Then second jump was a bit scarier. Around 20 feet all you saw was the edge of the cliff and the water in front of you. 1....2....3 JUMP! But you had to make sure your hands were holding onto your life jacket because otherwise if they hit the water it would hurt real bad. The third jump was the 30 foot jump and I was first up. I was petrified but I knew how bad I wanted to go. I stepped really close to the edge and just went for it. It was like nothing i've ever done before, it was amazing. We weren't there too much longer after the jumps so we headed for the van to change out of our wet suits and grab some lunch.

Back at Preseli Venture we eagerly waited our lunch of hot soup with a delicious flatbread and salad. It was so delicious and soup was perfect to get us ready for our next activity. SURFING. After lunch we geared up again. This time we had another wetsuit and surf booties. I liked the surf booties instead of wearing sneakers, they got really heavy when they were saturated with the water. Then we met our two instructors and they went over what to watch out for when surfing, proper etiquette, and then some information about Pembrokeshire where we were going to surf. When we first got there we crossed a road, climbed over a hill of rocks, then walked down a sandy beach to the water. It was so beautiful, and the waves were perfect for people just beginning to learn (like us). We first learned how to ride in a wave and balance on our stomach/knees. They brought us all out, and helped us catch a few waves in and practice balancing and turning. Then we learned how to stand. This was tricky! We went back out and a few waves in, and I couldn't do it. First I went too far forward and nose dived, then I chickened out and just rode it in on my knees. Finally I just jumped up and I did it! I stood and it felt so cool. Just balancing on the board and letting the waves push you forward. Of course toward the sand my board went sideways and I fell off but it was awesome. I felt so comfortable running right back out into the water and waiting for my next wave. I was so surprised how at ease I was with not only the water but the huge waves brushing over me. The last time that I was actually in the water at home was at Robert Moses, but this water was just so much cleaner and less sea weed so I felt like I actually wanted to be there. It was so fun, we caught a few more waves and it was back to the cabin we went for dinner time.

After showering we were greeted by the smell of our home cooked curry and rice. It was pretty spicy but I had a yogurt sauce and a mango sauce that I mixed in with it to cool down the spice a little. It was really good but I couldn't handle the whole thing. Maybe it was the strawberry cheesecake that just seemed to have caught my attention! It was so good. Plus there was a bon fire that night and I really wanted to grab my hot cocoa and baileys and sit around the fire. It was so nice, and the stars were amazing. I forgot how nice it is to see hundreds of stars and I even saw my first shooting star! It was so cliche, we all huddled around the fire and told ghost stories and it was really fun. Erin had really good ones from when she went to New Orleans on a ghost walking tour and they told her stories that were based on true stories, but you can believe the haunting parts after if you want to or not.

Then in the morning we had our delicious eggs and cereal again and it was off to our hike! Surprisingly my body wasn't killing me from all the work out I put it through the day before, but I was still exhausted from being sick. Libby took us out in the van to drive us to where we'd start. She gave us the option of going on the short hike (3 miles) or the long hike (7 miles) and our whole group picked the long hike! I was surprised that she actually wasn't going to be hiking with us. She just left us with our maps and said to follow the trail and keep the water on our left. So off we went. It was the most beautiful thing i've ever seen. It went from cliffs and water smashing up against it, to gorgeous green hills with dots of sheep across of it, to redish plants climbing down the mountains. Then we came to the beach which was so beautiful. From there we trekked through the woods for a little while, crunching on autumn's leaves and putting our hands out to touch the trees. Lastly we came to a gate that opens up to a meadow. The sun had just come our and lit it up so beautifully. I've never seen anything like it. The entire hike was one of the most amazing things i've ever done. Each activity just kept getting better and better. We got back from our hike in 3 hours, so it was lunch time! But unfortunately it was also time to pack up and get ready to go home. We had for lunch a huge baked potato which we could fill with our own choices. I chose tuna, corn, and cheese. It was amazing! I never would have thought to put those all together but it was so delicious.

So after one last glass of my apple and cinnamon tea, it off we go. We were all SO sad to leave. The weekend just flew by and we all agreed that it was probably the best weekend of our entire lives. I know i'll never forget this weekend as long as I live, and i'm so thankful that I got to do this opportunity. Not many people can say that they've been to Wales, but I'm so in love with my memories that i'll have with me for the rest of my life.

Now I hope that my trips to Barcelona and Prague will be just as amazing! I'm sure they will be but it will be tough competition! With two weeks left of classes, and my internship's interview coming up this weekend I should be keeping extremely busy. AND my mom and dad will be here on Thursday! I'm loving studying abroad... I hope it doesn't go by too quickly!

Always more to come...xxx

6 October 2010

Today, after my presentation on the humongous corporation we know as Nestle, my marketing class went to a little museum called The Museum of Brands. It's in Notting Hill (which is underrated in my opinion) a few blocks from the tube tucked away on a little Mews. When we first got there the first thing we learned from our professor was the reasoning for there not being any signage indicating where the location of the museum was. She told us because it was set on a mews, which is a private road that they are technically not allowed to put up signs toward the mews. So it's kind of a hidden gem of London! (As timeout.com says)

It was really fascinating, actually. It was segregated by decade, which i just love. My favorite was the 20's because not only did they have food products, but also clothing and signs from that period. It was really interesting to see the old coloring of all the products and the advertisement slogans that were placed on their packaging. One thing that I found most intriguing was on a cigarette advertisement and it had written on script on the bottom "Will not affect your throat." Hmmm.

After they broke it down into decades they had sort of a little evolution area where they put the packages in order from oldest to the modern day version of it. A lot of the products I didn't recognize because they were British but a few I did were Pepsi, Coke, Roses, Nestle chocolate milk (yum!) and snickers. I loved the evolution part the most! And then after that they had a "sweet room" where it was all the old packaging of candy products. Not going to lie it made me want some candy !

Overall, it was a really interesting museum. It's such a different experience having field trips instead of class time, so that it's not all lecture but going out in London and actually seeing what we're learning about for ourselves. And they pay for it, too! Not a bad perk.

Tonight might be another quiet night in. I didn't post yesterday because I unfortunately finally caught the bug that was flying through our flat. Except now i'm the only one sick because everyone else had it at the same time. Nothing fun, just your typical closed throat feeling, stuffy nose, achy body. I figured I might as well rest up so that I can fully enjoy Wales! (http://www.preseliventure.co.uk/outdoor-activities/coasteering/) That's the website of what we're doing- and the company we're doing it through. Can't wait!!

4 October 2010

Another day in the British life! Unfortunately I have class at 9am on mondays-wednesdays. Booooo classes! This week, however, I do have something extra exciting to look forward to! I love having something to be excited about for the weekends so I don't focus too much on when my parents or Anthony is coming to London. (Not soon enough!) Also, the weekends here do get a little stressful when we're still unsure (a month into it) of where to go out, and what will be fun. We also do SO much during the day that night time is just tiring.

The exhaustion that I feel every night before bed is lessening as I get used to the constant running around during the morning hours and the relaxed sensation of actually sitting on our couch at night. Last night I could not fall asleep with all the events on my calendar bouncing around in my head. Dates of projects, and presentations, field trips, and trips in general just circling around distracting me from the peace and quiet that comes on sleepy Sunday nights. I finally fell asleep to be rudely awoken for a fire drill at 6am. Could've been a little less cranky but it's a Monday and i'm allocated a grumpy spell or two once in awhile.

Today wasn't bad though! I knew we had a field trip to the Chelsea football club (aka "the bridge" from Stamford Bridge), but I wasn't sure if we were going to get a tour around it or not. (We did!) It was great to be there and not be swarmed by the 41,000 people that attend almost every game. We got to sit in almost every section (including private areas for the wives'/girlfriends' of the team) and take a lot of pictures. We sat in the press conference room, and went in both the away and home team locker rooms. There was a vast difference between the two! The tour guide (His name was Elvis) said they use it as a psychological thing to put the other team in a bad mood before the match. The away teams locker room was extremely tiny with hooks around it for their jackets and small little cupboards on the ground toward their feet so if they want to store anything they'd have to bend all the way down! And "hopefully pull a muscle or their back out on the way down." Mean, i know, but strategic? Yes.

I also learned that when Chelsea FC was first built, the men were deciding whether they wanted to name is Chelsea, or Kensington. (Both being affluent/posh areas nearby) The men thought and thought but just couldn't decide; so they went to the pub to have a pint. Over their pints they got the idea to just flip a coin -chelsea for one side and kensington on the other. It ended up landing on Chelsea, and low and behold that's how the team got its' name. My tour guide made a joke saying that it was a good thing it landed on chelsea and became Chelsea Football Club-CFC or else it might have been KFC and they'd wear red and white stripe shirts and be really fat from all the fried chicken they'd eat. :-) too funny

Overall, it was a pretty solid trip that I wasn't expecting. I came home famished from traveling on the bus (there was a tube strike today). I made dinner almost immediately from walking in the door. I cooked up some penne pasta with fresh cut basil and small slices of tomatoes and a little olive oil. Also a caesar salad on the side for some greens! I also brewed a nice cup of tea because my throat is starting to hurt and I don't want to be sick for my WALES adventure this weekend. I'm so excited I barely want to do the work I have to do tonight! I do have a midterm tomorrow so I will have to study for that right this minute.

Tomorrow isn't going to be that exhilarating but will probably post new updates and write a little more about what's to expect for this weekend x

3 October 2010

Day two of posting- so far so good! I uploaded one picture from all the major places that i've been to so far. I have the British Museum, Paris, Stonehenge, Bath, and my latest trip to Oxford! I didn't take pictures when I went to the Chelsea FC game but I will stalk the other girls and upload them to my computer.

I think that the European's love of football is just amazing. I know some people at home like soccer but it's nothing compared to the die hard fans that i've witnessed. Even today there was a Chelsea v Arsenal game and since i live in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea obviously there was a pretty decent turn out at the pub around the block from my flat. When we went to the Chelsea game last Tuesday, we decided it would be interesting to go to a pub straight across from the field. Other girls in the flat told us it was a must do so we manned up and put on our Chelsea gear and decided to see what the fuss was all about. I'm thinking we should have found out a bit more before we strolled into a Chelsea war zone. Not only were we the only 4 girls in the bar but we were the only Americans. And literally the ones not cheering along to all the screaming chants by the English men. To go again wouldn't be stupid, but it really is a once in a lifetime thing that you have to see for yourself. I even picked up a few chants to teach to my dad when they come to visit in a week and a half!

I do however, have a project and a midterm on Tuesday that I have not done much work for. The pub seemed like a way better of an idea.. but must do some work while i'm in london! more to come... xx

2 October 2010

My first official blog post. What an accomplishment. It's been thirty-two days that i've been overseas and time has been just been flying by. The first two-three days were pretty blurry. It was like freshman year all over again. This time however, I was the only person that was technically new. Coming into study abroad I had the pre notion that this was an individual thing that people do to expand their horizon and meet new people. FIE on the other hand, is a big 'lets-take-everyone-from-three-schools-and-put-them-into-one' kind of place. Needless to say, I was lumped in with 12 girls from Marist, NY. I thought that was quite funny. Especially since all the tours (bus tour/walking tour) on the first few days were for "Marist/SUNY Albany" people. AKA Marist and Kelly FItzgerald. Good thing i like my flat :) When I first walked in, it was a complete shock. I'm on the 3rd floor (no lifts!) So getting my luggage up the stairs was interesting. Thank god that Anthony was here. He helped so so so much. I walked in alone, and was the first person to arrive. I expected since I was paying a decent amount of money (over 10k) that it was going to be a nice flat. Especially since it was in South Ken nonetheless. To my dismay, it was pretty similar to a UAlbany dorm. As I said earlier, there's 13 of us in the flat. I'm one of two girls that got a single (SWEET!). Oh I picked that word up from one of the girls I became close with, Erin. She lives the door next to mine with three girls (Emma, Maddy, and Megan). I really like them. I would say i've become closest friends with them and a girl Christina who lives in the room across from mine.

Anyway, about our flat. It's pretty small considering there's 13 of us. There's one gala style kitchen that is big enough for maybe three people tops to be in at once. And our common room/Living room has a old tv hitched up in the corner and a small round table that fits four. And a sectional couch, which is good for about six people. There are three bathrooms, but they are small as can be. Even the showers are super small! To shave my legs is quite the hassle. And i'm one of the short girls in the flat, im sure the taller ones have way more issues than I do!

More about London? South Ken is heaven. I'm in love with our little neighborhood. We live on Manson Place, which is a little dead end road off of Queensgate Mews. I learned that mews means stables, because a lot of houses used to have stables for their horses back in the olden london days. It's a really pretty street, except for the scaffolding that has been up since we got here. They claimed it would be down in three weeks but I give it until mid November. Literally. Anyway, Our flats are student accommodations but you can see into the flats across from us at night (not to be a creep) but they are so beautiful. Some are nicer than others, but I guess it's how they chose to decorate. Apparently they're worth thousands and thousands of pounds. So whoever lives there i'm sure spent every cent on just living there in the first place, forget decorating! Down the road from us about a 15 minute walk is Kensington gardens, Hyde park, the natural history museum, the victoria albert museum, SNOG!, a private/secret club, the South Ken tube station, Glouster road station and tons more.

Sure there are other parts of london that are fabulous but I've really come to feel like south ken is my home. We went on a day trip to Paris and although I was infatuated with every single building, I was really homesick for my little Manson flat. I guess it could have been the language barrier, or unfriendly faces, and creepy sales people trying to sell remote control cows by the Eiffel Tower but something rubbed me the wrong way. We didn't have much time there (wish we had more) but it made me want to come home faster.

I've done SO much since i've been here and have so much more planned. Today we went to Oxford! Later posts to come. I'm going to try to post as much as I can as to never forget my study abroad trip. xxx