Cheers to London!

Big Ben, the London Eye, a double decker bus and a black taxi all in one picture!

The perfect London picture :)

Today is my last day in London! That is, as long as my flight isn't cancelled tomorrow. There was so much snow today! It made my last day of exploring London quite challenging as the cold was rough. I survived though! I went to Abbey Road, Westminster Abbey (and I loved the Poet's corner) and to Big Ben one last time. Here are some pictures from today:

Liz and I crossing Abbey Road... I'm the one with the umbrella

Abbey Road Studios! Renamed to "Abbey Road" after the Beatles came up with the album title.

My contribution to the wall of postings outside Abbey Road Studios

Me at Westminster Abbey, earlier today.

Parliament

The past semester has been an amazing journey, but as the saying goes all good things must come to an end. (Unfortunately!) Tomorrow I will not say good-bye to London, but instead so-long as I promise I will soon be back. Perhaps for graduate school. This entire semester has taught me so much about myself, my life and others. My independence, appreciation for other people and cultures, and interest in learning about the world have all grown significantly, if not exponentially. I am so unbelievably grateful for this experience. It has taught me so much yet also made me curious to learn more. So thank you parents for your support, thank you 900 Degrees for employing me this summer, and thank you readers for your feedback and for keeping me excited to write as often and as detailed as possible!

I hope I have inspired some of you to travel to places you've never visited and to try new things. Learning and having new experiences is truly living. It sparks your brain and makes you feel refreshed and alive. But if travelling isn't your thing or isn't possible, start with taking a chance and stepping outside your comfort zone. Above all, stay adventurous and keep this piece of advice in mind I was told on orientation day: "Some things are just different here. You can't compare them to home. You need to be willing to accept things without trying to relate them to what you already know." This piece of advice has been so valuable this semester. It is human nature to compare things to what we are comfortable with, but just think of how if you were born somewhere else your opinions and point of reference would be completely different. By trying to forget my frame of reference (if only momentarily) I was so much better able to step into another person's shoes and grasp other cultures. So please, give it a go sometime.

I'm sad this is my last post, but I'm excited to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday season.

It has been a pleasure. Cheers. :) xx

Second to last day in London!

Today is my second to last full day in London. It is so sad! This is the most bitter sweet thing I have ever done. I miss my friends and family, but I do not want to leave this amazing city. It will be so weird to not be able to hop the tube and go wherever I want and do literally anything I can imagine. I love London!

Regent's Park

Today it snowed in London! This is a picture of the park I live in. I see this every day when I leave the back gate from my dorm to the Baker Street tube. Everyone freaked out because of the snow and ice because London doesn't have the budget really for salting the streets and side walks. It only snowed for maybe a maximum of two hours and it barely even stuck to the grass! It did make the side walks slippery though!

The most fearless birds ever. They are ALWAYS here at the park :)

This morning I went to a store on Brick Lane which is at the Liverpool Street tube stop. It was on the same street as Aladin (the Indian Restaurant I went to). The shop was full of London designers and I bought a tweed jacket that is very Londony horse-back riding looking.

Silly design I saw in a parking lot. I guess it means beware of bird droppings!

Street art on Brick Lane

Liverpool station area is in the east side of London, which is known for being less wealthy, but it is actually blossoming quickly and is becoming quite a vibrant, fun place to live. There are lots of markets (Spitafields is there) and it has lots of vintage stores and boutiques. It is also an interesting place to explore because it is one of the most mixed places architecturally. This is because some buildings are new because the area was harmed so badly during the Blitz (WWII bombings). It is so interesting to see really old buildings from the 1800s next to brand new ones like the London egg! (The giant egg-shaped building. All offices inside)

Liverpool St station area... that's the "egg" in the background.

After exploring brick lane, I met up with Jenna and Becky at the London Coliseum which is a theatre on St. Martin's Street right near Leicester Square. There we watched the Royal National Opera perform the Nutcracker. It was so nice to just enjoy a ballet as it snowed softly outside. It really put my in the Christmas spirit!

The Nutcracker

Tomorrow is my last full day here in London for this semester. It is such a bitter sweet feeling. I am going to try to make the most of it and visit Abbey Road, Westminster Abbey and say good-bye to my dear friend Big Ben!

Icebar London & High Tea in Covent Garden

This last week has been a ton of fun as we have spent the entire time enjoying London. I went to see Phantom of the Opera on Tuesday night and absolutely loved it. The choreography, stage design and singing were all so impressive!

The Phantom Stage before it started

Then yesterday I went to ICEBAR LONDON which is a bar made completely out of ice. You enter for 40 minutes and have to wear a poncho (which they give you) because it is so cold inside! Our glasses were even made out of ice! It was so cool! (No pun intended, haha I'm a Harris.)

Me inside the Icebar with my drink!

The bar

Then today I went to high tea at a hotel right outside of Covent Garden. We sipped tea and enjoyed small sandwiches, scones and mince pies. (I didn't eat any mince pies though.) I really enjoyed high tea because it basically is just relaxing and talking with friends. The eight of us just sat and relaxed and talked about our favorite thing we did in London and our favorite trips from the semester. It was a really nice way to end the semester!

Me at high tea

Yummy goodies!

Me at high tea again

Then after I wandered around Covent Garden which was sooo cute! I had only been there at night, and never seen the market area of it before. People literally set up booths to sell jewelry, pictures, hats, scarfs, vases, food, you name it under this giant dome in the main square area which keeps everything dry. It looks a lot like Fanuel Hall actually!

The covered market in Covent Garden

Covent Garden

Covent Garden

Hope you enjoy my pictures! Tomorrow I am off to see Abbey Road and the Nutcracker! So excited to see a ballet! Take care! xxxx

The tube! "Mind the Gap please! Mind the gap!"

Regent's Street at night. All lit up Narnia style for Christmas

Canterbury, Indian Food and a Chocolate Festival.

Leeds Castle

I had quite an exciting weekend! Etana visited, we went out to dinner for Indian food at this famous restaurant called Aladin, I took a day trip to Canterbury and attended a Chocolate Festival!

Moat outside Leeds Castle

This past weekend I took a day trip to Canterbury, England, Leeds Castle and the white Dover cliffs. Seeing Leeds castle was cool because King Henry VIII lived there at one point. The white cliffs were very beautiful as well and Dover reminded me somewhat of Rye, NH. I also really enjoyed seeing the English Channel. I had no idea that the beach would be made out of rocks. I expected sand. But it was made out of rocks, not tiny pebbles, but legitimate rocks!

Outside Leeds Castle

Dining Hall in Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle Library... I want it.

Dover Cliffs

Jill and I

Our shadows on the beach

I really enjoyed Caterbury because the Cathedral there was so impressive. Since the sun was setting, the Norman white stone of the Cathedral reflected the sunlight and shown. It was very gorgeous. It was also interesting to be in Canterbury because we took the Roman roads there which have been in place for thousands of years. Also, the famous Thomas Beckett was murdered at this very Cathedral. This year is the 840th anniversary of his death. Not only did I see the sight where he was murdered by 4 knights sent by the King, but I also saw his tomb. It was errie.

The Cathedral in Canterbury

Courtyard/Graveyard. People may no longer be burried indoors

Murder site

Canterbury lit up at night

After the day trip on Saturday I joined up with Etana and her Dutch friend Mirre and went out to dinner with some other friends here at Regent's to an Indian restaurant. The restaurant is called Aladin and is famous for its food because it was pronounced the best Indian restaurant in London by Prince Charles. The restaurant has also been featured on BBC. Although we made reservations online, the restaurant lost our reservation somehow and we had to wait a little over an hour. That was OK though because once we were seated, they told us the table was ours for the entire night. Plus, since the place does not have a liquor license, instead of giving the normal 10% voucher to the nearby liquor store, they gave us a 20% voucher. Sweet deal!

The restaurant

Etana and I

Jenna, Me, Becky

I ordered something called Chicken Tiki Masala with rice (Or something like that). It was delicious! It was this red, yogurt based mild sauce with chicken in it. I really enjoyed it. I also shared some red wine with Jill. It was a really enjoyable meal and it was fun to go out to dinner with the girls. It was nice to not eat at our uni's dining hall!

Everyone

Then on Sunday Etana and Mirre left. Jill, Jenna and I woke up at 4 am to walk them to their bus stop which brought them to the airport. Then after sleeping for a few more hours, Jill, Liz, Sheila, Eliza, Jenna, Becky and I all went to a Chocolate Festival that was in town near the Thames/London Eye. Apparently this festival is touring the country and was in London for the weekend. I watched a demonstration and learned all about fair trade chocolate and how certain types of cacao beans grown in the rainforest are better than others because, if workers are paid to do so, they are fermented for up to 4 days and thus have a more developed taste. We also learned that few chocolate bars in grocery stores are anything more than 80% sugar and 20% chocolate! Like anything else, you have to pay for quality. And fairness apparently. If you buy a £3 or £4 bar of chocolate, only around 10pence goes to the farmers! yikes!

Chocolate Festival Presentation

Today I had 2 finals. I am officially done Shakespeare and English Country Houses and Palaces! I have to write 1 more paper for Literary London tonight and then take that final tomorrow. Then I'll be done with classes at Regent's forever... weird!

Hope you enjoy my pictures from this crazy weekend!

Etana and I reppin' 900 :)

Visitors! / Christmas Party

My (first and only) visitors arrive today! Etana and her "Dutch sister" Mira arrive today from Amsterdam. They are staying in my room. This afternoon I am bringing them to Abbey Road, Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, then Covent Garden. Should be a busy day! All of that is in the same area though, minus Abbey Road.

I was just looking at a map this morning to see where Abbey Road is, and it's only 1 tube stop north of where I am! This whole time I pictured it off somewhere in the distance -- like the suburbs -- but nope! Ha, so i'll have to go there today. Etana will definitely want to go there because I know she is a big Beatles Fan.

Last night was a Christmas party! It was so fun. It was in hono(u)r of Christmas & our North Londoner Jewish friend Natasha Lipman. It was her 22nd birthday. She said for her birthday she wanted a Christmas party because she's never had one! It was really nice. We all dressed up and brought food and wine. We took lots of pictures too.

Natasha & her cake!

Natasha cried because she is sad that we won't all be here next semester. She said that although she teases us, we really aren't annoying Americans! It was so sweet that she cried. We were all kind of sad too, because London Fall 2010 is already coming to an end. I can't believe it! I only have 9 days left. Oh well, for me this will not be the end. I am determined to come back. It will just be good-bye for now. That's how I plan to look at it. But stay tuned, this shall not be my last post! I have too many fun things planned for this last week!

Sheila & I

Back Row: Me, Liz, Jackie, Sheila, Eliza

Front Row: Natasha, Jenna, Jill, Becky

Jackie, Me and Sheila

Take care! xx

Stay adventurous.

I am not a fan of winter. Humans don't have fur, so clearly we are not meant to live in freezing cold conditions. We weren't designed to. I'm going to remember this logic and move back to London when I'm older. Yes, London. I love it too much, it's worth it. damnit. Looks like I'm suffering for awhile longer...

As a result of the cold weather, (and stuffy air since windows are closed,) everyone here is getting sinus infections/colds. I thought I was going to escape the trend, but I started getting symptoms today and they're progressing quickly. I took a 4 hour nap today, but I still feel all sinus headache-y. How bloody brilliant.

Also, my cold has come just in time for finals! Ha, typical. Tomorrow I have my history of London final, and then I have the weekend off. (Well I have to write 2 papers.) My friend Etana is visiting me in London with the daughter of her Dutch "Mom" though! So that will be nice. Her Dutch family is the family she was assigned to when she moved to Amsterdam. Her Dutch mother bought Etana a plane ticket to London as Christmas present, so they are staying with me!

Unfortunately, I won't be around Saturday so Etana and her friend will have to show themselves around the city. Instead, I will be taking a day trip to Leads Castle, Dover Cliffs and Canterbury with Becky! I'm really excited to see other parts of England. Besides London, I've only really seen Bath and Oxford. Everywhere else I've only seen from the inside of a train.

After my history exam tomorrow I am doing some last-minute Christmas shopping. Then tomorrow night I am attending a Christmas party! My friend Sebastian, who is part German, part Belgian, grew up in Switzerland then moved to England, (he goes by "European") is hosting the party at his apartment! A bunch of us are going and bringing desserts and hor d'oeuvres. I'm pretty sure Eliza even ordered a chocolate cake, yum! I'm bringing Ben's Cookies, 'cause they're simply the best! (Plus I wouldn't be caught dead bringing something HEALTHY, ick!) haha

So then next week I have 2 finals on Monday and a paper due, then Tuesday I have a paper due and 1 more final (Shakespeare). Then I'm done at Regent's College forever! Weird! This semester FLEW by. I feel like I just arrived!

Next week my friends and I are all trying to squeeze in as many last-minute things as possible. Here's a list of things we'd like to do: Phantom of the Opera, High Tea, Fondue, Indian Food, go to the Absolut Ice Bar (they give you coats to wear because it's freezing), return to the Ministry of Sound (club), and who knows what else! I'd personally like to go back and stand next to Big Ben one more time. :)

Sorry this isn't the most exciting post ever... even world travellers like myself need a day off, haha. ;)

Take care everyone! Stay warm if you live in New England! Stay cool if you live in Qatar! :)

And stay adventurous too... it's fun and you learn a lot!

Walking in a Winter Wonder 'Dam!

Etana and I

This past weekend I went to Amsterdam with Jenna and Jill to visit my friend Etana who is from Hooksett, NH and who I worked with this past summer at 900 Degrees in Manchester, NH. We stayed at her apartment and met her friend Matteo, who is Italian and had friends visiting from Italy. The Italian guys cooked us dinner both nights! It was so delicious! We made them apple crisp the second night because Matteo loves cinnamin and apparently they don't cook with cinnamin very often in Italy. Matteo liked the apple crisp so much that he had seconds!

L to R: Jenna, Jill, Etana and I

L to R: Vincente, Jenna, Alessandro, Jill, Matteo, Etana and I

There are bikes EVERYWHERE in Amsterdam! They have their own bike lane and stop lights!

We arrived in Amsterdam Thursday around noon. First we got some food at a Bagel & Beans resturant, which was extremely delicious and had the best hot chocolate ever! Then we visited the Van Gogh museum that afternoon. We really liked it! Especially Jill. It was so amazing to see such famous paintings! After the Van Gogh, we also went to the I AMsterdam sign since it was nearby.

Friday we explored the city while Etana went to the library and got homework done. We went to the Heineken Experience as well on Friday. It was so fun! We were given 2 free drinks.

Me, Jill and Jenna at the Heineken Experience

All of the different international labels used over the years

The development of the bottle.

Then on Saturday we went with Etana's Dutch class to the Anne Frank House, which we got in for a very discounted rate because of Etana (thanks again girl!). That was very moving. It was pretty amazing how you could not see the Secret Annex from the street (the top floor that thye live on.) Also, I did not know that the the street/ground level was a warehouse. The people working in the warehouse did not know that Jews were hiding in the attic area! So the Frank family as well as the others in hiding there had to be silent during the day and avoid flushing the toilet and running the sink as much as possible. Only the people who worked in the offices on the next floor up were aware of the people in hiding.

Anne Frank House

We were able to tour the entire house as well as see THE actual bookcase which blocked the entrance to the Secret Annex. It was realy amazing to pass through the bookcase and enter the rooms they lived in. I even saw Anne Frank's bedroom and saw how she had decorated her walls with newspaper and magazine clippings and pictures in order to bring some cheer into their sad lives.

The bookcase which blocked the entrance to the Secret Annex

The whole experience in Amsterdam was very amazing. The city was FREEZING COLD but beautiful because of the snow. I at first didn't care very much whether or not I visited Amsterdam, but now I am so so so glad that I did. The city was so old because it wasn't bombed, and it was extremely beautiful with the snow. Plus I very much enjoyed being able to visit Anne Frank's house. It was such a moving experience.


Then we visited the I AMsterdam sign again before we left so we could take some pictures during the day. Hope you enjoy my pictures!

Me. I AM Amsterdam!

Being creative, and taking my picture with the "d" backwards so that it can be a "b"!

Being Dutch.

water taxi!

The city was built on canals.

Dutch architecture/roofs

pretty house

World War 2 monument in Dam Square

So pretty at night.