Cheers all!
So today was a quite an eventful day indeed! I got to see the Queen, Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Prince Harry! Today was the "official" birthday of the Queen and so they honor her with a ceremony and a parade which we went to. It was really cool! The whole royal family was there (all of Charles' siblings). For those of you who are unaware, the Queen's official birthday is not her real birth day (which is in April) rather it is the date of her coronation or "birth" into the crown. Anywho, a ton of people came out for it and it was really fun.
We started off the morning by a visit to Westminster Abby. Wow I had forgotten how neat of a place this was! It was originally a Catholic Church but was changed to a Protestant one later on. It holds tons of dead people, some famous and some not, and it was amazing to walk through and see the stones and graves of hundreds of people. I learned several things from out tour guide there, including the Queen of Hearts (from the deck of cards) is Elizabeth of York who really doesn't have anything exciting about her other than the fact after she died, some card makers made her the queen of hearts in the deck and the picture of her on the card is exactly how she lays dead (and what her grave stone looks like). Funny hat with her hands together.
Later in the day we took a double decker tour bus all around the city. We saw everything! It was chilly on the top deck though! During to tour, we were rudely interrupted by nude bikers. Yep, thats right. There were about 1,000 nude bikers pedling through the streets of London to promote awareness about global warming. Apparently it's National Ride Your Bike Nude Day. Who knew? So yea there were a ton of men women and pregnant woman naked, half naked, and pretty darn close to naked that they wasted clothes pedaling past us. Trust me, I it was quite a site and I may never get those horrible pictures out of my head. Can you imagine how uncomfortable that must have felt. Eww yuck. Glad we have laws against that it the states!
Other than that things are finally calming down. Each day gets better and we are all getting less intimidated by the fast walking, loud, and insulting British. One good thing is that is you ask someone a question, they are willing to help you out and tell you were to go.....IF they understand you that is haha. We went to a few pubs last night and the tube closes that same time as the pub (midnight) which we didn't know and we had a heck of a time getting back. We finally had to take a black cab and out driver was really nice and gave us some helpful hints on how to get home next time.
Guess that's about all. I'm sure there are a ton of details that I have left out but I'm too tired to type anymore! Don't worry...I start work week after next so I actually won't have enough fun stuff to send in an email every day.
Ciao,
Kathryn
Words of the Day:
bobbie: police officer
kip: sex
trainers: shoes (like tennis shoes)
PS-I have a little bit of home with me......the top of my legs are peeling from when I got burnt a couple of weeks ago. Don't worry. I'm not getting ANY sun here although it has not rained in two whole days!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Bad news.....I can never be Queen
I was very distraught by some news I heard today. Because I am Catholic, I can never be the Queen of England. Now I know the English Church has been through turmoil throughout the years, but you would think that love would conquer Parliament and I could be the Queen. Looks like I better forget looking for William and stick to Harry. At least I can still be a Dutchess (a Mrs. Duke?)
So today we had orientation with the company that put together the program and they said it would be a good idea if we didn't look too much like Americans and tried to fit in with the English. The suggestion they had was rather than going to a Pub late and "smashed" and lining up a row of ten shots each for us to take one at a time to instead go early to the pub and have a pint and complain about such things as the weather and the tube. Its pretty funny the stereotypes they have for us American college students (UGA ones no less).
Then we had a break and grabbed some lunch at the a deli nearby where I had chips minus the fish substituted with a chicken sandwich. Not to shabby I might add.
Then we had a lecture on British culture that I feel asleep during but was awake to hear about the part where I could never be Queen. The lecture was interesting though. I learned alot about England in a very little amount of time but it was cool.
Most English people we have talked to thus far think they are the funniest people on God's green earth. In reality, their humor is ridiculously dry and sometimes over our heads. Also alot of the jokes are making references to Americans so you kinda gotta take what they say with a grain of salt. On the streets I've almost been run over twice.....by people not cars. Everyone walks at 90 mph here. We were looking in H&M and I got pushed out of the way twice! Seriously, there is no rush, there are no sales or deals over here. And the cars are crazy...I'm terrified to cross the street because cars are coming from EVERY direction. Thank goodness the department of motor vehicles over here knows we are all idiots and at the end of a lot of sidewalks it says "Look Right" or "Look Left."
Tomorrow we finally get to tour the city. We are meeting at Westminster at 10 am because word on the street we will be able to see the Queen! I'm really excited especially since I haven't taken any pictures yet. (Andrew I know you are disappointed).
Until later,
Kathryn
Words of the Day:
mash-mashed potatoes
lounge-den area
rubbish-trash
chips-french fries in every situation...American chips are crackers
So today we had orientation with the company that put together the program and they said it would be a good idea if we didn't look too much like Americans and tried to fit in with the English. The suggestion they had was rather than going to a Pub late and "smashed" and lining up a row of ten shots each for us to take one at a time to instead go early to the pub and have a pint and complain about such things as the weather and the tube. Its pretty funny the stereotypes they have for us American college students (UGA ones no less).
Then we had a break and grabbed some lunch at the a deli nearby where I had chips minus the fish substituted with a chicken sandwich. Not to shabby I might add.
Then we had a lecture on British culture that I feel asleep during but was awake to hear about the part where I could never be Queen. The lecture was interesting though. I learned alot about England in a very little amount of time but it was cool.
Most English people we have talked to thus far think they are the funniest people on God's green earth. In reality, their humor is ridiculously dry and sometimes over our heads. Also alot of the jokes are making references to Americans so you kinda gotta take what they say with a grain of salt. On the streets I've almost been run over twice.....by people not cars. Everyone walks at 90 mph here. We were looking in H&M and I got pushed out of the way twice! Seriously, there is no rush, there are no sales or deals over here. And the cars are crazy...I'm terrified to cross the street because cars are coming from EVERY direction. Thank goodness the department of motor vehicles over here knows we are all idiots and at the end of a lot of sidewalks it says "Look Right" or "Look Left."
Tomorrow we finally get to tour the city. We are meeting at Westminster at 10 am because word on the street we will be able to see the Queen! I'm really excited especially since I haven't taken any pictures yet. (Andrew I know you are disappointed).
Until later,
Kathryn
Words of the Day:
mash-mashed potatoes
lounge-den area
rubbish-trash
chips-french fries in every situation...American chips are crackers
Turbulance Starts with a T
Hello!
Well I FINALLY made it to London, and much to my surprise, when we landed it was not raining......but it rained soon there after.
The flight over wasn't the best because we flew threw three different storms that caused quite a stir in the cabin. Of course a child sat in front of my and cried for some of the flight, but over all was not too terrible. There was a man that got kicked off the plan because he was being too drunk (before we even left the gate) and "disrupting the people around him" and it was cool to see him get escorted off. There was also a guy at the end of my row that had mini bottles of liquor and while we were still sitting still at the gate in the Atl he opened one up to make him a drink. The flight attendant came over and informed him that this was not a "self serve" flight and made him pour it out. Looks like Lombard was lucky......I am happy to report we got a complimentary drink the our dinner which I fully partook in, it help to chicken to taste more like chicken.
Of course I did not sleep on the plane and the movies were bad (which btw we did NOT have our own individual tv's to pick and choose what we wanted to watch booo Delta) so I have been up for two days and I'm beyond confused and tired and feel like I've been in London for alot longer than I really have been.
I'll have everyone know I was the one of two people (besides the boys) that checked one bag. In fact, 4 girls checked bags that were 75 pounds or more.....some of them had BOTH overweight. Can you imagine?!!! We were told that coming back we can only take ONE carry on which makes me glad I'll be able to check that second suitcase.
I would say that there are at least 7 girls that have absolutely no regard for how much money they spend. On several occasions they were like "Oh I'll just charge it" or oh well I don't care how much it costs. One didn't even know that she was supposed to get her phone switched over and every email she has received (she has a blackberry) has now costed her $100...and we had only been in London for a couple of hours.....the others are not concerned about they're luggage because there dad will pay to get it all back....puhlease
So our flats are pretty cool. They are older than old but HUGE!!!! Mine has three bedrooms (only one with two beds) two full baths, one half bath, a full kitchen with mini fridge, a washing machine and a huge den area. It's really nice and the location is too terrible. We are close to Oxford Street which is a really nice shopping area.
We walked around to get out phones working and some girls needed some moolah and we walked in the same circle twice then got really lost, ended up circling around again, and then finally I realized the girl giving directions had the map upside down. Needless to say we had our exercise. Oh and my flat is on the fourth floor---talk about exercise! The elevator is small and we could not fit in there with the luggage so two people were on the first floor (actually it's floor zero and yes there is a floor -1) and the other two ran up the stairs to catch it when the elevator reached the top. This place is really old!
Other than that everything is good. People are already rude and bumping it to me which is to be expected and believe it or not we have hit several language barriers with us not understand the British and then them not understanding us.....needless to say trying to workout getting a phone for one girl was an hour ordeal. Mine is up and working now, so if you see a 15 digit number calling, don't ignore it, it might be me!
That is all for now. I'm doing my best to stay awake for at least four more hours. Talk to you later.
Good day then,
Kathryn
Roundup:
Clothing count: still wearing clothing that was worn when left Savannah (now two days old)
Luggage lost: none
Number of times it has rained today: 3
Number of times we've had to ask directions: 10
Well I FINALLY made it to London, and much to my surprise, when we landed it was not raining......but it rained soon there after.
The flight over wasn't the best because we flew threw three different storms that caused quite a stir in the cabin. Of course a child sat in front of my and cried for some of the flight, but over all was not too terrible. There was a man that got kicked off the plan because he was being too drunk (before we even left the gate) and "disrupting the people around him" and it was cool to see him get escorted off. There was also a guy at the end of my row that had mini bottles of liquor and while we were still sitting still at the gate in the Atl he opened one up to make him a drink. The flight attendant came over and informed him that this was not a "self serve" flight and made him pour it out. Looks like Lombard was lucky......I am happy to report we got a complimentary drink the our dinner which I fully partook in, it help to chicken to taste more like chicken.
Of course I did not sleep on the plane and the movies were bad (which btw we did NOT have our own individual tv's to pick and choose what we wanted to watch booo Delta) so I have been up for two days and I'm beyond confused and tired and feel like I've been in London for alot longer than I really have been.
I'll have everyone know I was the one of two people (besides the boys) that checked one bag. In fact, 4 girls checked bags that were 75 pounds or more.....some of them had BOTH overweight. Can you imagine?!!! We were told that coming back we can only take ONE carry on which makes me glad I'll be able to check that second suitcase.
I would say that there are at least 7 girls that have absolutely no regard for how much money they spend. On several occasions they were like "Oh I'll just charge it" or oh well I don't care how much it costs. One didn't even know that she was supposed to get her phone switched over and every email she has received (she has a blackberry) has now costed her $100...and we had only been in London for a couple of hours.....the others are not concerned about they're luggage because there dad will pay to get it all back....puhlease
So our flats are pretty cool. They are older than old but HUGE!!!! Mine has three bedrooms (only one with two beds) two full baths, one half bath, a full kitchen with mini fridge, a washing machine and a huge den area. It's really nice and the location is too terrible. We are close to Oxford Street which is a really nice shopping area.
We walked around to get out phones working and some girls needed some moolah and we walked in the same circle twice then got really lost, ended up circling around again, and then finally I realized the girl giving directions had the map upside down. Needless to say we had our exercise. Oh and my flat is on the fourth floor---talk about exercise! The elevator is small and we could not fit in there with the luggage so two people were on the first floor (actually it's floor zero and yes there is a floor -1) and the other two ran up the stairs to catch it when the elevator reached the top. This place is really old!
Other than that everything is good. People are already rude and bumping it to me which is to be expected and believe it or not we have hit several language barriers with us not understand the British and then them not understanding us.....needless to say trying to workout getting a phone for one girl was an hour ordeal. Mine is up and working now, so if you see a 15 digit number calling, don't ignore it, it might be me!
That is all for now. I'm doing my best to stay awake for at least four more hours. Talk to you later.
Good day then,
Kathryn
Roundup:
Clothing count: still wearing clothing that was worn when left Savannah (now two days old)
Luggage lost: none
Number of times it has rained today: 3
Number of times we've had to ask directions: 10
Kathryn Goes to London
Hi there!
I know I've been sending everyone emails about my experiences in London but I have decided that rather than clog people's inboxes with my mile long tales of tard moments and experiences, I think it will be better to start a blog. I need the experience at blogging for my classes anyways. Please comment on them if you would like! Also I am posting all of what I have emailed thus far (so not all three blogs happened on the same day) so that I can have all of my London stories together.
Cheers,
Kathryn
I know I've been sending everyone emails about my experiences in London but I have decided that rather than clog people's inboxes with my mile long tales of tard moments and experiences, I think it will be better to start a blog. I need the experience at blogging for my classes anyways. Please comment on them if you would like! Also I am posting all of what I have emailed thus far (so not all three blogs happened on the same day) so that I can have all of my London stories together.
Cheers,
Kathryn
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