London-bound

Monday, September 01, 2003

September 1, 2003…I feel like I am doing MTV’s “Diary”. So much to do in two days. It still hasnt set in yet…well, it is starting. It’s hard to say goodbye to a summer that was actually good and drama-free! Ah, but alas, everything must eventually come to an end for something else to begin. So I have too much to pack. And I dont want to take half my wardobe, because I know I will just buy more stuff once I am out there. But what do I take and what do I leave behind? IT’S SO HARD! I feel like a dodgeball captain, trying to figure out who will outlast the others. Do I take the gym shoes that will last longer, or the ones that look the cutest?? And is this all I am worried about? (wouldnt that be nice for a change?) Seeing as it is only 4:15 pm…I should start packing. Cheers for now!

Mixed Emotions

Wednesday, September 03, 2003

I am sitting here, an hour before I have to leave for the airport, and I am a mix of emotions. Staring at these beautiful roses, looking at the room around me, I cant help but feel lucky. I have had one, if not the, best summer of my life…which is unusual for me, seeing as most summers are filled with drama angst. I am anxious about leaving for another world..literally, but excited. I am scared to leave my comfort zone of Chicago. It has helped me realize how much I love it here, and wonderful it is to be able to still come home and feel that way…so, even though I must say goodbye to a wonderful summer, I cant help but smile at how great it has been, and all the wonderful memories I have of it. And how many memories I will have from London. I knwo the first couple of days of confusion will be rough, but I am looking forward to starting yet another chapter of my already crazy life! The next time I write, I will be in London! Cheers for now!

Getting to London

Sunday, September 07, 2003

Well, top of the morning to you all! I am finally in jolly old London, and finally gave in and paid the pound to get some computer face time at the internet cafe…it only took three days!! So much to tell, so little time…So I arrived on Thursday morning, after a long flight, to London…we were taken to the flats, which are unbelievable…they were supposed to have housed us in Clerkenwell, a good 15-20 minute walk from our school, but they ended up putting us up in flats that are literally two minutes away in a great little area called Bloomsbury. Across our street is a famous writer’s club called the Penn Club, so the area is quite nice. I lucked out and got flat B with Jen and Faralyn, both of my good friends, and we ended up not having to lug our overly stuffed bags up the stairs…where everyone else is living. It is a flat consisting of four apts…and its fabulous. The place looks like an IKEA catalog, and although we only get five BBC channels (complete with Murder She Wrote and Columbo reruns) I dont think I will have much time for TV because…I’M IN LONDON!

The first night we busted a move at this little tiny pub that became our party central. They were playing BonJovi and Beyonce, and it was just a great time. The pubs around here close at 11:00, but then the clubs start opening up. They ended up locking us in the pub until 1am, where we then journeyed to a nearby club filled with all sorts of boys…but no British ones! Wasnt that the whole point of the journey? (J/K G) My boycrazy comrades all made out with someone from Europe, but alas, no Brits It was a grand time though.

We have had some walking tours and coach tours…today we saw the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. I am excited for the Rhetoric of London class because it is based on everything in London, so we will be travelling around instead of having class…which is so easy here using the Tube (the subway). We have mostly walked around and I swear I will lose at least 10 pounds by the time I come back to the States…we walk everywhere, and although I miss my baby Celica, I am glad for the change of pace…I havent shopped yet, that is tomorrow…I am trying to pace myself! But the london fashion out here is incredable…I absolutly love it! And the British men really know how to wear their jeans! I have no idea why, but it is true. Its only the third day here, but I feel like I have been here forever! I am loving it, and I am just excited about everything, which is great, because I havent been this excited about school since I started college way back in 1999…so, its just been great.

I have a schedule that I love (Tues 2-5pm, Wed 10-5pm, Thurs 10-5), so I think I may be travelling to Italy and Germany and Scotland soon…that I cannot wait for. The only complaint is that I havent gotten any mail (hint, hint) and that things are two times as much here…but alas, i would rather be in debt now and enjoy myself than the other way around…We are going to visit the Baths and Stonehenge, and then Paris in November…in-between are are seeing shows at the Globe and musicals in the West End…and I have even eaten the Weetabix cereal, and its not bad! I still have yet to venture into clotted cream, but that is another story…I have taken up drinking tea in the morning, and so far, so good! I have stayed away from pub food as much as I can, but not away from the pub beer! That and the Cadbury chocolate out here are going to be the end of me…

So that is all for now, I will write more when I can…the student internet is going to be open 24 hours, so catch me online when you can! Email me if you want my schedule, otherwise, keep checking back for more stories!

Cherrio for now! -LondonChik

Clubbin’ in London

Tuesday, September 09, 2003

Well, its 3:24 am on Tuesday morning, and I find myself at the computer lab at the school with Jen. We just came back from yet another club in London, and man, am I tired of dancing until the wee hours of the morning…yeah right It was a club in Piccadilly Circus called Tiger, Tiger, and the DJ did NOT know how to spin…but it was still fun jamming on the dance floor with my crew, and checking out all the hot British men…I spotted a few fellows sittin in the corner and invited them to dance…turns out, they were gay! I know how to pick them, dont I?? But it was still fun. I did some damage on the shopping end…shopping from 11am-6pm, then clubbing from 9pm til 2am…I dont know if I can keep up with this lifestyle! But it has been so much fun…although reality strikes tomorrow, as I have classes! AHH!! So, I will let you know what happens next in the continuing adventures of the Chik!!

My website is pretty screwed up, so you might not be able to see all the pictures I am trying to upload…hopefully you will see some..they are awesome!

And Trish…get your ass out to London!

Thats all for now folks. I am actually starting to get tired

Cheers for now!-LondonChik

Sightseeing London

Wednesday, September 10, 2003

Ok, so I just experienced London weather…not bad, started out a mild autumn sweater weather, and quickly turned into COLD! I had class today with my first British professor from Oxford in my Rhetoric of London class. Its mostly about the history of London and whatnot, and was interesting if it wasnt for the fact that most of us didnt get to bed before 2am, so we were all falling asleep to his powerpoint…but the class itself should be good, nevermind the text is 1,000 pages long! Then we went on a field trip all around London…today was to St. Paul’s Catherdral, walked across the Millenium Bridge (the one that closed when it started swaying because too many people were on it!), and finally the London eye, a kind of enclosed ferris wheel where you can see all of London (or lose your lunch..which thankfully, I did not St. Paul’s Catherdral was beautiful as usual… but this was the third time I have seen it, so it wasnt that exciting…but I am still in awe that someone built that thing! Actually, it was the first time that I climbed the 550 steps to the top of the dome…only to almost lose my lunch at the top! The windy staircases and narrow (I am talking about a 2 foot passageway) didnt help much, but man, did my bum burn!!!! (Like the fact that I am using British lingo now? So, after my bun toning, and having vertigo on the way down the steps, we walked across the Millieum Bridge, which was cool because I never got to do that, but it was cold! We walked along the river, and got to the British Airways London Eye, where enclosed capsules take you up way too high for way too long..but it was fun and I got some good piuctures…I just forgot NOT to look down…so besides a quezy stomach and people playing by the doors that say DO NOT LEAN ON THESE DOORS! I was all good. Now I am back home, and am probably going to relax tonight. I have yet to get a spiral or any sort of supplies resembeling school, partly because I cant find any, and partly because it is freezing outside and I dont want to walk Tomorrow we are going to see a production of Taming of the Shrew at, get this, the Globe Theatre…the actually theatre where Shakespeares plays were performed!!! I am sooo excited…even though we have tickets in the standing trough, and it is at night, and it is outdoors…so even though I will probably be tired, wont see a thing, and freezing cold, I will have a smile on my face:):)

Hope y’all are doing well. Email me or better yet, send carepackages full of food and FEBREEZE!!! The one thing about Europeans…even when their cigerrette pack reads “Will cause harmful death”, they still smoke!!!! I am too lazy to do laundry, and all my clothes smell! So, if u are thinking about sending a package (which I know you all are!) send me a febreeze

Cheers for now! -LondonChik

Lounging in London

Sunday, September 14, 2003

hey all-it’s been a while since I have written, and, of course, so much has happened! Thursday night we all went to see an all women show of Taming of the Shrew at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. It was rather cool, well, until we realized we had ‘lawn’ tickets which meant we had to stand for it all…that would have been fine had I not worn the 3 inch heels I thought would help me see better, which actually made me see less, and then made my feet hurt. The production was ok, although I like shakespeare, this production was nothing special. there was a really good actress, but the rest was meadiocre…plus I could hardly understand what they were saying admist their thick accents…but alas, it was an adventure!

That night I think we all stayed in, I actually dont remember…must’ve been good…:)

Friday I spent all day lounging around and walking around London with Jen (my roommate) and just seeing what was going on in our hometown Friday night we went out AGAIN to a club…I CANNOT keep up with this group! But I did end up dancing on a bar, showing up some New York girls who thought they owned the place…psh! Yeah right! Not when I know all the dance moves to the Christina Aguliera mix! We partied until I couldnt party anymore, and went home.

Saturday we just lounged around really. I was feeling under the weather, so we all walked around Portabello Road in Notting Hill…its an outdoor market with goods and fruit…looks nothing like the movie…but speaking of movies, since I have been here, I have seen more celebrities and more fights than I have seen in LA. Case and Point: We saw Minnie Driver at Portabello Road, Jiles (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) at the pub we frequent, and Rupert Everrett the first day we got here. I have also been witnessed to a nasty bloody head banging at portbello road with mobs of people (I do NOT do mob scenes), where they guy ended up bloody, and the women ended up screaming…and a traditional Irish fistfight outside a pub on Friday…I was never in danger (ok mom? but saw it from afar…but come on! Celebrities and violence? Dont I get enough of that at home?

Today we went to Camden Market, notorious for punk rock and fetish boot…along with a guy selling homemade ‘brownies’ on the side of the road…it was a nice market though, but I will definitly be buying my shoes from Covent Garden if u know what I mean…next weekend, I am planning a trip with a few girls to Brussels, Belgium for some chocolate, some waffles, and maybe a day trip up to Amsterdam! Why Brussels, you say? Becuaase it was only $35 roundtrip! And the hostel (private room) we have is only $20 making the grand total for my first official trip outside of London to a whopping $55!!! Can you believe it? If only Italy were like that….

thats all for now. Catch up with y’all later! Cheers for now-LondonChik

Buckingham Palace

Wednesday, September 17, 2003

It is a heat wave in London, folks! Just got back from the annual wednesday tour of london…we went to Buckingham Palace to see the state rooms…which closes in two weeks, so we were lucky! I saw a Remembrant! What is that? It was amazing, these rooms were huge and stately, and filled with gold, and silver, and original paintings and sculptures, and grand hallways, and stairways…it was a sight to see…I just could not imagine living in such a place…it seemed a fairy tale, none of the gold or sculptures looked real…but they were! this one table made out of porcelin took 7 years to make!!!! They also showed some secret passageways into the rooms that the queen used. It was a sight to see. it was nice to journey into the rooms instead of just looking on the outside. Very cool. I got myself a shotglass to mark the occasion

I also saw fame the other night. Mediocre singing and dancing, and a lot of Brits and Irishman who could not carry the NY accent…it sucks being hyper-critical because you just know you could do 10 times better…but whatever. i know london has better theatre somewhere…

It is 80 degrees outside and I brought no flipflops or short skirts…I am just going to have to go buy some!

 

Belgium

Monday, September 22, 2003

I went, I saw, I ate a hella lot of chocolate. We left on Friday’s early morn, while the air was still crisp with dew. The taxi driver was psycho, but we what could we do? We got to the airport on time, and oh what a delight, when the flight took off it nearly landed in less than a blink of an eye. We got off the plane, and got on a train, and then started walking uphill, and then we kept walking, and walking and walking, with backpacks overfilled. After hours of walking and no end in sight, we found our little hostel up the hill and to the right. Vincent Van Gogh once painted in there, but now it was out turn to make a home here. So off and exploring we went day in and day out, there were French and Americans and Spainards about. There were Germans and Greeks, and Italians galore, which made me think, Brussels? Give me some more! The sights were amazing, although I’ll admit, the people werent always friendly, they’d say hola, and hiss-hiss. But the chocolate we ate, and waffles too, and even tried some Gosh-awful Belgium brew. We visted a square with old buildings galore, I took lots of pictures and became known as the ‘camera whore’. We visited statues and gardens around, and even went to the coast side of the lovely European town. Brugge it was called, and a little town indeed, the locals spoke German and paid us no heed. We enjoyed it so much, eating chocolate again, I even found a store called ‘Stefs chocolate’ and bought a box of ten. We met some great people from all over the place, but by the time Monday came along, to home we made great haste. For although it was nice to travel abroad, we finally discovered what our true home was called. To London we returned, by plane, bus, and train, by the time we arrived in rainy London, travelling was driving us all insane. But for my first European adventure to start, I must admit Brussel now has a place in my heart. And for all of you who could not join me, please click and see, some wonderful pictures of Brusselians and me!

Harry Potter Time

Monday, September 29, 2003

well, the week has ended, and its back to homework time…this weekend I did absoulty nothing, and it was wonderful! It has been cold here for the last couple of days, but today was the first bit of sun we have gotten, so I am making the most of it…there is a park (called Russell Square) right outside our flat, so I have been reading there all day. Last friday we journeyed to Oxford University and Warwick Castle, both of which were fun, but both of which got me bus sick…Oxford looks liek any old East coast school, mostly like Cornell, or Vassar, but it was the place they filmed Harry potter, so that was cool. I even got a picture of the dining hall they filmed it in. Each student in Oxford gets their own servant too! What is that? Spoiled Brits…Then I bought some shirts, and things, and we headed off to Warwick Castle, which is just another castle that some rich aristocrat had, with his many wives and whatnot. It was cool, but after a while (I know this may sound spoiled) they all start to blend together. I got some rather good pictures though, so I was happy….you can view them online via the link below…this link is called London Sightseeing, and is updated every week, so check back! Hopefully I will have plenty of photos when I get back to make a collage of my journey…Not much elese to report…classes start again on tuesday, I have a hard time having a four day weekend, and then trying to get into school mode is so difficult! I am going to see Les Miserables tonight with Maggie, I love that show. I have seen it so many times, but I still love it! I am missing my guitar terribly, but hopefully I can cope without it! Thank you all for your letters, you make me so popular out here! Hope all is well with everyone, and let me know how everyone is doing!

Cheers for now, -Londonchik

We’ll Always Have Paris

Tuesday, October 07, 2003

How do I even beginning to sum up the last week of my life? so much has happened in such little time, I have seen more in the last few days than I have in a lifetime. But alas, I digress. Let’s start from the beginning…

So we last left LondonChik with a lot of homework to do. The readings here have been terrible, we are talking 40-50 pages each week times 2 times 4 classes. Most of which I skim with disinterest. Our trip to the Docklands and Greenwich proved little excitment, but I did get to stand in two hemispheres at once in Greenwich on the prime meridian. The day trips are fun, but some of them just seem useless to me. But I cannot complain. Because I am in Europe. And it is wonderful.

The week flew by and before I knew it, my full-fledged American “I am never leaving the States…why would I ever need to leave?” boyfriend flew his red, white, and blue butt out here to jolly old England. Honestly, if you asked me last week, I would have told you I was as surprised as you that he, midwestern-loving boy that he is, would journey half way around the globe to visit me in London. But he got on a plane Wednesday morning, and we here by Wednesday night!

It was sooo wonderful to not only have Gordon* out here, but it was also cool to see someone experiencing a new culture for the first time. And culture-shocked he was. From the tube stopping in the middle of our journey home, to him smirking everytime he heard a British accent, it was so funny to see these things come out of him. We explored a little of London, finally venturing into the British Museum that I pass every day on the way to classes, and never fully appreciated…I went in and saw a lot of old rocks and stone, and history and stuff…it was culture, but not the kind of culture I was interested in…plus, why do you come to london anyway, if not for the fashion?

So I took Gordon* to H&M, my new favorite store that is very familiar with my bank account. There, I single-handedly turned my Tommy Hilfiger boy into the London lad he was meant to become…ok, slight exaggeration, but I did manage to get him a pair of London jeans…the men out here, they know how to wear their jeans! So with a bag full of Nick Lachey shirts and new jeans, we headed to Waterloo Station and hopped the Eurostar to Paris.

Yes, yes, I know y’all are jealous, I mean, when am I ever going to go to Paris with the man I am currently dating?? I know how lucky I am, dont even get me started. Plus, my roommates and company had already reamed me out the prior week…seems that people were already jealous of Gordon* and me before he even came out here, but now he was taking my butt to Paris??? I know, I am VERY lucky…:)

So…Paris. Ah. What to say about Paris? Well, for starters, we arrived near EuroDisney because it was cheaper to arrive at that train station than the one in Central Paris. One thing I have noticed about Europe, they love their mickey mouse. So after battling the whining kids on the train (and doing a little whining of my own), we headed to Central Paris. I would just like to thank my mother for her sense of direction, because, in the middle of a country that spoke jibberish, I found our hotel! So thanks mom! It probably helped that Gordon* had a Frommer’s book as well…:) So we hike up to the fifth floor of this hotel and open the door…to discover the effiel tower outside our bedroom window! I know, I was freaking out too! Here I am, in Paris, with my boyfriend, whom I adore, staring at the Effiel Tower! Again, lucky stars lookin down on this girl.

Traveling in a country that doesnt speak the same language as you, where you are a minority, is the most intimidating thing I have ever done…almost equal to that of performing…at least in performing, I can fake it…here, I was terrified. Gordon* spoke a little French, which helped my self-confidence, because I made him ask for everything By the end of the first night, our American self-esteems were pretty low, and we headed back defeated to our room…only to discover the Effiel Tower lit up in a cloudy night sky. It was a beautiful sight, something I will remember for years to come. When the computer in this stupid lab decides to upload my pictures, you will see how beautiful it was…although the pictures will never do it justice.

The next day, seeing as it was our only sightseeing day, we headed bright and early to the Arc de Triumpe. We walked. And Walked. stopped in a French street market to buy some unimpressive pain au chocolat, and some delicious framboise (raspberries). And then we walked some more. By the time we reached the Arc, I was ready to sit. So we sat and ate some crepes. They were good. Why is it I am always eating when I travel? Then we took pictures at the Arc. And Gordon* had this WILD idea to CLIMB to the TOP of the ARC! Eh, you only live once though, right? So up and up and up we climbed these spiral staircases to nowhere, and finally got to the top. Mind you, my butt was hurting and all I wanted to do was sit down. But the top of the Arc, in my opinion, the BEST view of Paris by far! We took loads of pictures, some of which DIDNT come out! But it was all good.

We continued our sightseeing with more walking on a street that I still cant pronounce called Champs de Lyons (?) I have no idea. I dont speak French. (Je ne parl pa franses.) I tried to shop, but shopping on a Saturday with thousands upon thousands of pushy people who speak French was not my idea of fun. We visited the Lovuve and saw my girl Mona Lisa, who in my opinion, has had her originality ruined by the reproductions that have bombarded my life since I was born. I was more impressed with the fact that I was in the Lovuve, seeing the Mona Lisa with Gordon*, in Paris, than I was with the picture itself. But I saw her, and I took pictures, that’s all that matters. I also saw the Venus de Milo, which was far more impressive. I like statues of marble I felt like I couldnt fully appreciate half of the artwork in there becuase I didnt know the history behind it, and my attention span was far to short to take a tour. Plus the Euros were being spent on chocolate crepes…

Did I eat more than chocolate crepes? This I did, but dont talk to me about the French food. So far in Europe, not impressed with the food selection of France and England. I miss my Mac and Cheese, and Market Day. Oh, how I miss Market Day…my American boy and I ended up at McDonalds and a Chicago Pizza Factory…I know, I know, but what can you do when you crave American food? It’s so hard to eat out here, but I am coping…with my chocolate crepes and crossiants…:) So, but the end of the night, we were exhausted from walking everywhere. We must have walked 7 miles at least….the last morning in paris, we woke up to the best sight ever…a rainbow across the effiel tower! I, being of photographic sound, mind, and body, took pictures. It was one of the best pictures I took out there. God bless digital cameras. Seeing the effiel tower everyday made us want to climb it, and climb we did. We thought we were so cool, passing all the tourists waiting in line for the elevators to the top…not only were the stairs cheaper than the elevator, they didnt look that intimidating….my friends, I was wrong. Through the cold chilly wind, I bitched and moaned my way to the top (Gordon*, I dont know how you put up with me!) Got there, took pictures, took the Willy Wonka-vator to the top top of the tower, had vertigo on the way up (we were sooo high!), took more pictures, then walked my butt down those stairs again…let’s just say, the view from my hotel window was enough…:) But I did it! I walked the Effiel Tower. Which I will probably never do again…but I DID IT!

I was so excited to get back to London, as I think Gordon* was too, and for the first time, didnt feel so out of place here in London. Going to another country, with another language, made me appreciate my own culture more, and made me feel a part of a culture. It was a life lesson. I grew up a little with that trip. I might have even learned a few lessons too..about patience, understanding, and kindness. None of which had anything to do with Paris, and everything to do with Gordon*…can I dare say that we grew up a little more with each other? Two Americans in Paris…I feel like breaking out into song…

So after another London day of shopping and sightseeing, it was time to say goodbye to the boy. And I miss him already. But I was so excited that he came. So, Gordon*, thanks for the best weekend of my life! I hope you had fun and an eye-opening experience, and, even though I know you will never venture out into international waters again, I hope I somewhat opened your eyes up to another culture…y’know, beyond Vegas?

Having Gordon here also reminded me of how much I love home…how much I really do miss Chicago, and how much Chicago really is my only home. It makes me think about the future, where I want to go, what I want to do, becuase the more and more I think about it, the more Chicago sounds like the place for me. Wouldnt it be funny, all the traveling I have done, from Miami to LA to London, and end up back where I started? We shall see, but that is another chapter of my life waiting to unfold.

So now I have another task at hand…school work. Blah. and I hate it. I really do. I learn so much more from traveling and talking to other people, and hanging out, that I tend to put school on the backburner. I just think that after five years of studying, why would I want to study when I could be out learning on my own? I am planning another trip to Paris with USC, as well as Barcelona (Marlene…get out here!), and Italy is thrown in there somewhere. I HAVE to go to Italy, its been a dream of mine since I took Italian! But I am trying to justify all this school work with my real-life experiences, and I just cant understand it at all! Why study when you could be out doing?? Maybe my mentality is skewed, but I am having way more fun outside the classroom than inside…but dont think your money is going to waste, mom. They are pumping me with knowledge like you wouldnt believe. One thing I know when I graduate Annenberg, I will have definitly earned that degree! And with that, I must go study…:)

Pictures are too come, once the computer stops being tempremental…keep the emails coming…care packages too?

Love and cheers from LondonChik

*More than five times…count them yourself. And as cheesy as it sounds, you know, we will always have Paris…:) L&Fs, Stef