Australia Day

January 26th is a very unique holiday that I had not heard of until I arrived here in London.  It's called Australia Day and basically you celebrate the awesomeness that is Australia.  To celebrate we went to a local Aussie bar called WalkAbout.  There were probably between 20-30 of us from the Central program that went.  I used the time to try and get to know some more people and get to know some others a little bit better, and we all had a really good time.

Bailey and I waiting in line for the hottest place in London on Australia Day.

Our table group.  We had test tube shots that tasted like candy.

We brought the fist pump to London.

Let me tell you, Aussies know how to party.  There was a live band that played a whole bunch of classic hits, mainly from the US but with a smattering of Aussie songs.  You should have seen the crowd go crazy when they played "Land Down Under".  The bar didn't close until 3 but I had already spent too much money there at around 1:30 (There was a 7 pound cover, which I would probably not pay anywhere else), so a few of us decided to walk back.  It's a little over a mile back to Vandon House from Walk About and I was wearing heals, so needless to say my feet hurt a little bit today.  I believe that we want to do some dry runs to internships today and get my mobile situation sorted.  Not too much going on, but enough to keep me busy.  See you all later.

The London Eye at night.

Pip Pip Cheerio!

1st Tube Ride

Yesterday was your basic introduction day.  They took everyone in the program to a room in the chapel across the street and talked to us for about 3 hours.  We heard from our program director and the head of Westminster Police on safety.  It surprises me how safe London really is.  There biggest crime is theft of handbags, which as a female isn't too awesome because I carry a handbag, but as a student it's nice to know that that's basically my biggest worry.

After lunch we went on a walking tour.  It started at Tower Hill and ended back at the Vandon House.  We took the tube from St. James to Tower Hill where the Tower of London and Tower bridge are located.  We didn't actually go inside but the castle looks pretty awesome.  We went to some notable places.  One being the London Bridge.  I was disappointed that's no longer extravagant like it was in Shakespeare's time, but it was fun to know that I was walking in a place that both Shakespeare and Charles Dickens and other great minds had once traversed.

The Tower of London Castle keep.

The Tower Bridge is not the same as London Bridge.

The United States purchased the ground under the George Washington Statue outside the National Gallery so that he wouldn't have to stand on British soil.  Lol we're snobs.

After our walking tour we had meetings about internships and house rules.  Those were not so much fun.  Vandon House has a ton of freaking rules.  Some of the more stupid rules being that I have to be dressed for the day to eat breakfast (that means no PJs and no sweatpants) and no food in the rooms.  I like to eat and I don't want to walk all the way down stairs to grab the bread I bought the night before, that to me just seems silly.

Everyone has a really great attitude and I can't wait to get to know them better.  I had my advising meeting today and found out where geographically my internship is at.  It's about 40 minutes by tube.  While Bailey is in class next week I will do a try run and find out where the building is.  We are still figuring out what to do today, but It will be great I'm sure.

Pip Pip Cheerio!

1st Walk Around Town

I'm up a little bit early today - 6:35.  Didn't mean to, just couldn't sleep for whatever reason.

Yesterday was a pretty great day.  Bailey and I went out for walk just before noon.  We decided to go to Buckingham Palace.  As it turns out we were able to see the changing of the guard, kind of.  It was the tail end of it.  The guards were wearing Gray which I believe means that the queen is out.

After Buckingham Palace we walked through St. James park, past a few museums and ended up at Westminster Abbey and Big Ben.  It was pretty freaking cool, and bigger than I thought, and by bigger I mean wider.

We then walked across the bridge and got a close up look at the London Eye.  From there we went west to Waterloo Bridge and crossed.  We walked along the north bank of the Thames River to Millennium Bridge.  That's the bridge that's featured in Harry Potter 6.  We originally planned to walk all the way to Tower Bridge but that is forever away and decided to turn around.  We walked probably 5-6 miles.  Bailey's knee was killing her and still is today.

This is Millennium Bridge.

1st Meal - Travel Day

London has been nothing short of interesting so far.  I love the brick buildings and the architecture.  It's so old school and awesome looking.  Bailey and I are roommates.  Our room is kind of small.  There is one desk, a tiny TV, one dresser and one closet that will have to be used by 3 girls.  I already feel as though luggage is taking over the room and we still need our last roommate.

Basically after touring our room and getting acclimated to the power situation we skyped our families.  Bailey was so exhausted she took a 3 hour nap.  My nap was only about 1-1 1/2 hours.  I practically had to shake Bailey so we could could go to dinner.  Two girls on Bailey's flight in our program told us of a Pub nearby that had cheap food.

A lovely sign, don't you think?  It was by the bathroom which was right behind us at the pub.

Before we went to the pub we stopped at the 02 store and got new phones.  The man who helped up behind the counter was beautiful and had a perfect accent.  I think I'm in love.  We got the cheapest phone and the cheapest plan but its supposed to be unlimited texts and data for 15 pounds.  My new phone is barely visible on the right side of the picture below.  After that we got dinner at a local pub, and that's where the highlight of my day comes.

After we were seated and looked at the menu 3 out of the 4 of us went up to order.  There was a lady there.  She had just payed and turned around to me and Bailey and just started talking.  She said she was a Danish Princess working against the struggle of female prostitution or human trafficking or something along those lines.  I was smiling at her, thinking "O good for you!  I'm glad someone is doing work against that."  Then suddenly her attitude changed and she became really pissy.  She said she was sick of  people like me going and pissing all over her work.  I think that means that she thought I was a prostitute.  I don't know why though.  I was dressed in jeans and a pea coat.  Basically no skin was showing.  Maybe it's because I am blonde, or because she didn't recognize me, but either way that woman was crazy.  She shoved Bailey to get out and slammed the door behind her.  People who were closest to the incident spared a glance in our direction.  Good start right?  Haha!  Anyway, I ordered the ham and mature cheddar sandwich with chips.  I know that it doesn't sound or look like much, but it was cheap and pretty tasty.  Well, this has my travel day in a nutshell.  More to come later I am sure.  More pictures will be posted as well.

Pip Pip Cheerio!

1st Flight - Travel Day

My journey has just begun.  I’ve traveled a total of 100 feet from the baggage check-in, through security and to my gate.  I arrived about 2 hours ahead of time and I’m already going a little bit crazy.  There are so many emotions going through me right now.  I’ve got some nerves and so anxiousness to get over to London, but my eyes are also slightly filled with tears.  Not enough to spill over, and probably not enough for the casual passerby to notice, but enough for me to feel them there.  I feel them when I think of my family.  As I left my mom just before security her eyes were red and I could tell tat she was trying as hard as she could not to cry in front of me.  But the allusion of tears is enough to make me feel for her and fight back my own.

I’m not sad that I am going, but I am sad for what I am leaving behind.  Sure it’s only four months, but that’s four months of not seeing my family face to face.  Four months of not seeing my best friends.  Four months of not playing cat and mouse (you know who you are).  But I know that this experience is well worth it.  I love you all and will keep in contact as much as possible.  Skype dates anyone?

This morning when I woke up I was slightly nauseated.  I’m not entirely sure why.  I mean the obvious answer would be that I am going to a completely different country by myself.  But I’m sure of myself.  I think I can make it anywhere and hold my own just fine.  I’m not worried about me.  Although everyone constantly telling me to “be safe” is slightly daunting.  I mean, how much trouble can I, Rachel, get into?  I’ve heard horror stories, and I know there are dangers out there.  I don’t think that they can’t happen to me, but I don’t dwell on the possibility that they will happen either.  Like I said, I am resourceful.  I don’t wish that the worst will come, but if it does, I’ll deal, and I’ll be ready.  Black belt say what?  Lol.

Anyway, now that I here by myself for a little while, my nerves are calming.  I have this huge urge to nap.  I don’t want to subject myself to reading just yet.  I now wish I would have packed my Sudoku book.  I’ll probably bust out the ipod soon.  Texting Bailey helps.  (sidenote: I switched my American phone to my brothers old phone, so I now have only family numbers and Bailey’s number, so don’t offended if I don’t text you right now.  I want to)

Great, I just looked up and my flight has been delayed 40 minutes.  Awesome.  Good thing I switched my flights.  Now I will only have 2 hrs and 20 minutes between flights, which should be enough, but just a little bit less downtime.

The Internet here at the airport is pay Internet so I wrote this and was forced to post it later.

New Haircut - 3 days & 3 hrs

Today's big accomplishment was getting my haircut.  It's pretty different from what I had.  I have bangs once again.  I probably won't be getting my haircut while I'm over there so I decided that my new look has to be something that will grow gracefully.  My brother saw me and didn't mention a thing.  I had to be all cliche and say "notice anything different about me?"  At which he responded, "Well you got a haircut."  Men, take notice.  When a girl does something like get a big haircut, MENTION it.  you don't even have to tell us you like it until we lead you into that.  Just say something like "Hey, you got a haircut."  I don't know why it's a big deal, but it is.  Just say that you've noticed, that's all we want.

Here is your classic image.  Not feeling very photogenic today.

And here is your classic myspace pic.  I couldn't help myself I had to take one, toilet and all.

I am so white in these pictures.  I can't wait to get some color in my skin.  Anyway, I work tonight. 3:15 - 11 ish.  I'll be driving 2 hrs to film a high school basketball game and the weather is supposed to get a little icky.  But my friend and fellow London traveler, Bailey, will be going with me so it's not so bad.

Pip Pip Cheerio!

Nature Adventure - 3 days & 17 hrs

I made this video while visiting family in Arkansas.  I just thought I would post it here for fun.  It's called "Nature Adventure."




Let me know what you thought in the comments.