Okay so I came on here to update the blog for all you great people, and of course am watching top gear. and just as i went to write i realized HEY IVE TOUCHED THAT CAR! The formula one red bull car was on top gear! As you may remember from previous posts, we had Christian Horner at the club for an event and along with him came his car! They said it was the leading red bull team car, and if they arent lying then I TOUCHED THAT!!! (I wasnt supposed to but I did it anyways and now im glad I did haha) one of the formula one racers is on the show and he brought the car! I feel like a celebrity. Im so excited to have a real life connection with top gear i feel very cool.
Anyways I am very sorry its been a while since i last wrote, but life has been hectic! First was Paris and now the program is ending (I just went to my last class actually...now all I have is one exam and one more day of work and my JR year is DONE! WHAT!?) and this weekend will be windor castle tomorrow londony things on saturday, seeing dad saturday night, brighton on sunday, last day of work on monday, tuesday - thursday I will be with my WONDERFUL family in Lincoln (very excited... this is not sarcastic i actually am very excited!!) then friday dinner with the ethiers (family friends) then saturday OFF TO CROATIA WITH KELLY!!!
see what I mean? HECTIC!!
But anyways Paris was great for the most part....apart from an unfortunate passport situation (not my passport....). I never realized just how beautiful the Eiffel tower is! I mean I knew it was cool but i dint think it would be so HUGE and no one ever told me it SPARKLES!? How do more people not know about this! Every hour it sparkles for about ten minutes and it is magical! I know that sounds cheesy but it is really really cool. We also went to the Louvre and saw the mona lisa, went under the Arc de Triomphe, ATE SNAILS! (I actually ate two snails cause I really like them), walked down the Champs Elysees, rlaxed in the tullie (spelling?) gardens, went up the Eiffel at night and picnicked by it during the day. It was all great!!
This past weekend I climbed to the top of the st Paul's cathedral (530 steps!), went to regent park and saw the queen marys rose gardens (which had a very little amount of roses....), went to the British library, walked the millennium bridge, and other londony things!
I think thats all my updates for now!
Sorry if it takes a while to update again but im busy busy busy!
<3 Lea
Friday, April 15, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wooopsies! (aka Kelly came to London!!)
I MEANT to write this on monday when kelly left....
i forgot.
oops.
sorry.
Anywho Kelly came to london last weekend! It was great! I has been a while since ive done londony things it was very refreshing and very eventful! It all started when kelly arrived at victoria station at about two oclock on saturday. Little did I know she had just had quite an ordeal on the other end. My wonderful and lovely friend kelly, as brilliant as she usually is, decided to wake up an hour before her plane took off from cork. Not get to the airport, wake up. And she wasn't packed. But being the resourceful one that she is SOMEHOW she made it to London on time anyways haha. WHICH is good cause i had already bought us tickets for the London eye!
which was the next adventure! Me, Kelly and my two friends from London Kelsey and Lauren headed off to the London eye! First we walked around and looked at Parliament square then moseyed our way to the London eye. We got on around 530(ish) which was perfect timing because the sun was just beginning to set so it was really pretty views but still able to see everything. We decided they say its 30 minutes but it definitely didn't feel that long at all. ooohed aaahed took some pictures and that was pretty much that haha. Its a fun thing to do once but there's not a whole lot to say about it really lol.
*** i tried to insert some pictures here and its not letting me! so you'll have to use your imagination or look at my facebook haha***
Then we headed off to see Westminster abbey, however it was late so it was closed and we couldnt go in :( but we stared at its beauty for a while before heading home to make nachos for dinner. Which we inhaled. Right before we went to a place called Proud, which is a bar in the old stables of london and it was circus night! so there was a man eating fire and girls hanging from the ceilings. Always a good time!
Saturdayyy we went to the tower of london! very cool place with some very sad stories! Kelly and I got the audio headphones because we had limited time to see it all, and i kept frowning at her because of all the sad stories. For instance, two little princes disappeared to the and were never seen again and the theory is they were killed in the bloody tower. The worst part? they think it was their uncle who did it! Or Lady Jane Grey who watched her family and husband being taken off to execution from her chambers and then saw him being wheeled back with no head. SO SAD!! And they didnt even do anything wrong! It was all because of their religion! Craziness.
After that we took the tube (forever) to the very edge of london to see the cambridge oxford boat race! This does not include motor boats.... its crew! It was...thrilling? Not really but it was cool to see! Oxford won! It took them about 17 minutes to get to the finish line from the start (we were at the finish line) and they race down the river thames every year and have done it for... a lot of years before that haha. Its pretty impressive! Id like to be able to say ive rowed down the thames, however given all the history of that river I have heard I would not be getting in that water. Lots of dead people in there.
Sunday kelly and I spent the day at Hyde Park because it was BEAUTIFUL out so we sat on the grass and watched london pass by. Then walked down to Buckingham Palace and said hey to the queen!
It was a great weekend and I loooved having Kelly in London!!! She clearly wanted to stay because she almost missed her flight going back too... haha sorry I'm kinda exposing you but it was funny :)
Im sure I forgot stuff but you got the gist! (is that how you spell gist?)
Tomorrow.... PARIS!!!
<3 Lea
i forgot.
oops.
sorry.
Anywho Kelly came to london last weekend! It was great! I has been a while since ive done londony things it was very refreshing and very eventful! It all started when kelly arrived at victoria station at about two oclock on saturday. Little did I know she had just had quite an ordeal on the other end. My wonderful and lovely friend kelly, as brilliant as she usually is, decided to wake up an hour before her plane took off from cork. Not get to the airport, wake up. And she wasn't packed. But being the resourceful one that she is SOMEHOW she made it to London on time anyways haha. WHICH is good cause i had already bought us tickets for the London eye!
which was the next adventure! Me, Kelly and my two friends from London Kelsey and Lauren headed off to the London eye! First we walked around and looked at Parliament square then moseyed our way to the London eye. We got on around 530(ish) which was perfect timing because the sun was just beginning to set so it was really pretty views but still able to see everything. We decided they say its 30 minutes but it definitely didn't feel that long at all. ooohed aaahed took some pictures and that was pretty much that haha. Its a fun thing to do once but there's not a whole lot to say about it really lol.
*** i tried to insert some pictures here and its not letting me! so you'll have to use your imagination or look at my facebook haha***
Then we headed off to see Westminster abbey, however it was late so it was closed and we couldnt go in :( but we stared at its beauty for a while before heading home to make nachos for dinner. Which we inhaled. Right before we went to a place called Proud, which is a bar in the old stables of london and it was circus night! so there was a man eating fire and girls hanging from the ceilings. Always a good time!
Saturdayyy we went to the tower of london! very cool place with some very sad stories! Kelly and I got the audio headphones because we had limited time to see it all, and i kept frowning at her because of all the sad stories. For instance, two little princes disappeared to the and were never seen again and the theory is they were killed in the bloody tower. The worst part? they think it was their uncle who did it! Or Lady Jane Grey who watched her family and husband being taken off to execution from her chambers and then saw him being wheeled back with no head. SO SAD!! And they didnt even do anything wrong! It was all because of their religion! Craziness.
After that we took the tube (forever) to the very edge of london to see the cambridge oxford boat race! This does not include motor boats.... its crew! It was...thrilling? Not really but it was cool to see! Oxford won! It took them about 17 minutes to get to the finish line from the start (we were at the finish line) and they race down the river thames every year and have done it for... a lot of years before that haha. Its pretty impressive! Id like to be able to say ive rowed down the thames, however given all the history of that river I have heard I would not be getting in that water. Lots of dead people in there.
Sunday kelly and I spent the day at Hyde Park because it was BEAUTIFUL out so we sat on the grass and watched london pass by. Then walked down to Buckingham Palace and said hey to the queen!
It was a great weekend and I loooved having Kelly in London!!! She clearly wanted to stay because she almost missed her flight going back too... haha sorry I'm kinda exposing you but it was funny :)
Im sure I forgot stuff but you got the gist! (is that how you spell gist?)
Tomorrow.... PARIS!!!
<3 Lea
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Sorry
This is a small post just for the purpose of apologizing for my terrible grammar and terrible spelling. I clearly never spell check. That is all <3
Green with Envy??
Yes, thats right I was in IRELAND!! Cork to be exact!
AND WHAT MADE IT EVEN BETTERR.... part of JA15 was there!!!!! I was sooo excited to see them and even thought it was only a couple hours with katie and megan it was MAGICAL!!! I was of course so excited to see my wonderful host kelly as well but i got all weekend with her....and all next weekend!! (WOO HOO kelly comes to london on friday!!)
Anywho so my trip started on friday morning bright and early left from heathrow at 9:55am! (meaning i woke up at 5...womp!) This flight was by far the loudest and most fun flights I have ever been on. They were all chatting and laughin in their cute irish accents which was really impressive seeing as they were also all talking about how drunk they were the night before , because it was St. Pattys day of course. So that was fun (I actually found it very entertaining). Then got to Ireland at about eleven and RUSHED to copley house to EMBRACE and LOVE my long lost JA15ers. We had a great time all day wandering around cork ,it was a beautiful beautiful day! And even more fun at night! Went to a few of kelly's favorite hot spots and stayed up until 5 am when katie and megan very sadly got in the cab to go home :( :(.
And by we stayed up.... i mean they stayed up and I made it ALMOST till 5. But then I passed out on the couch haha.
Anywayss the next day was unfortunately really rainy but we still went out and explored cork and the stands that were up from st pattys day. I had my first hot whiskey.... the first sip i thought was TERRIBLE but then it actually kinda grew on me... though I dont think it will be my usual drink. THEN i tried my frist guiness!! Again, I dont like beer so this was impressive and I actually kinda enjoyed it. I mean I still like my ciders and my fruity drinks more but it wasnt too bad!
on sunday we did my favorite part... BLARNEY!! Blarney is magical so pretty and i loved loved it. We climbed the stairs to the top of the castle (ive been doing a lot of that) and kissed the stone!!
They say kissing the stone gives you the gift of gab..... cause i clearly had a lot of trouble in the gabbing area before the stone....
Then we walked around the poison garden, which is exactly what it sounds like. It is a garden full of all of the poisonous plants with descriptions of how they poison you. Me and kelly spend a long time reading all of the descriptions. VERY interesting stuff.
Then we wandered around the park which is absolutely gorgeous. I couldnt even describe it so ill just put a few pics!!
Monday I flew back to london :( bittersweet cause ireland was so much fun!!! Before my flight we took a little wander around kellys school SO PRETTY. I forgot to upload the pics of that...so youll just have to wonder.
So i guess the moral of this story is that Ireland is gorgeous and I had an amazing weekend!!!
Next adventure: Kelly comes to London!
AND WHAT MADE IT EVEN BETTERR.... part of JA15 was there!!!!! I was sooo excited to see them and even thought it was only a couple hours with katie and megan it was MAGICAL!!! I was of course so excited to see my wonderful host kelly as well but i got all weekend with her....and all next weekend!! (WOO HOO kelly comes to london on friday!!)
Anywho so my trip started on friday morning bright and early left from heathrow at 9:55am! (meaning i woke up at 5...womp!) This flight was by far the loudest and most fun flights I have ever been on. They were all chatting and laughin in their cute irish accents which was really impressive seeing as they were also all talking about how drunk they were the night before , because it was St. Pattys day of course. So that was fun (I actually found it very entertaining). Then got to Ireland at about eleven and RUSHED to copley house to EMBRACE and LOVE my long lost JA15ers. We had a great time all day wandering around cork ,it was a beautiful beautiful day! And even more fun at night! Went to a few of kelly's favorite hot spots and stayed up until 5 am when katie and megan very sadly got in the cab to go home :( :(.
And by we stayed up.... i mean they stayed up and I made it ALMOST till 5. But then I passed out on the couch haha.
Anywayss the next day was unfortunately really rainy but we still went out and explored cork and the stands that were up from st pattys day. I had my first hot whiskey.... the first sip i thought was TERRIBLE but then it actually kinda grew on me... though I dont think it will be my usual drink. THEN i tried my frist guiness!! Again, I dont like beer so this was impressive and I actually kinda enjoyed it. I mean I still like my ciders and my fruity drinks more but it wasnt too bad!
on sunday we did my favorite part... BLARNEY!! Blarney is magical so pretty and i loved loved it. We climbed the stairs to the top of the castle (ive been doing a lot of that) and kissed the stone!!
They say kissing the stone gives you the gift of gab..... cause i clearly had a lot of trouble in the gabbing area before the stone....
Then we walked around the poison garden, which is exactly what it sounds like. It is a garden full of all of the poisonous plants with descriptions of how they poison you. Me and kelly spend a long time reading all of the descriptions. VERY interesting stuff.
Then we wandered around the park which is absolutely gorgeous. I couldnt even describe it so ill just put a few pics!!
This is me climbing the wishing stairs! you cant tell but i have my eyes closed and i had to walk back down them backwards to make my wish come true!!
poison garden!
We continued to walk around a bit and found some of the famous irish countryside WITH BUFFALOS! so exciting.
then kelly pushed me on a tire swing... so romantic hahaha
So i guess the moral of this story is that Ireland is gorgeous and I had an amazing weekend!!!
Next adventure: Kelly comes to London!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Dear time, please stop flying.
Well I have now been back from italy for a week, and been back to work and classes. (woot!) same old same old.
BUT I had the lovely addition of seeing my lovely Aunt (yes I used lovely twice...) on tuesday AND on friday! Bonus was being able to follow her and her children around some museums I had yet to see yet! Now mother, pay attention to this part because both days we went to SCIENCE museums. Im sure youre very proud, Im also pretty sure you would have appreciated it all more then me. But in any case it was fun! On tuesday we met at the science museum and on friday at the Natural History museum. The natural history museum is in a BEAUTIFUL building so im glad i went just for that!
On thursday I had a very eventful day as well, which began with hosting an event with the RAC! I met one of my coworkers at the Royal Hospital which evidently was down the street from me, didnt know that! And we did a tour of the hospital (No, i did not lead the tour, one of the pentioners did). Though it may seem this is a hospital, with surgeries and patients and doctors. HOWEVER you would be wrong (if thats what it seemed like to you). pentioned It is more like a vetrans home, aka a VA in the states? But whats cool about the hospital is that there are soldiers living there who give up their pention to live and go back into service at the hospital. Our tour guide was decked out in the full red-coated uniform and very funny. I told him I was the intern and he said "INTERN?!?! Do you mean GOPHER!?!?" I laughed but im still not totally sure if he gets what an Intern is, but gopher doesnt seem that far off. (side note no one calls it an intern here so he wasnt weird for not getting it). So the tour was followed by my marketing class, immediately followed by our CAPA spring dinner and then me and two of my roommates headed out!
London is starting to feel like spring! More sun less rain and its getting WARMERR!!! However this means that my time is coming to and end. NOOOOO!!!
I spent yesterday and today at my Nana's house in Peterborough (about an hour north of london). We had a great time chatting and shopping and eating (typical of my Nana and I!) One of the big perks of being in london is getting to see all of my family that I hardly ever get to see when I'm in the states!
While on that trip I found out some interesting things... Such assss my first family doctor was the father of Alan Thicke (actor in growing pains) and my grandparents were only dating for two months before they got engaged. Oh the things you learn! (theres much more but it would take pages and pages to list!)
Back to work tomorrow! IRELAND ON FRIDAY!!!! cant wait!!!
<3 Lea
BUT I had the lovely addition of seeing my lovely Aunt (yes I used lovely twice...) on tuesday AND on friday! Bonus was being able to follow her and her children around some museums I had yet to see yet! Now mother, pay attention to this part because both days we went to SCIENCE museums. Im sure youre very proud, Im also pretty sure you would have appreciated it all more then me. But in any case it was fun! On tuesday we met at the science museum and on friday at the Natural History museum. The natural history museum is in a BEAUTIFUL building so im glad i went just for that!
On thursday I had a very eventful day as well, which began with hosting an event with the RAC! I met one of my coworkers at the Royal Hospital which evidently was down the street from me, didnt know that! And we did a tour of the hospital (No, i did not lead the tour, one of the pentioners did). Though it may seem this is a hospital, with surgeries and patients and doctors. HOWEVER you would be wrong (if thats what it seemed like to you). pentioned It is more like a vetrans home, aka a VA in the states? But whats cool about the hospital is that there are soldiers living there who give up their pention to live and go back into service at the hospital. Our tour guide was decked out in the full red-coated uniform and very funny. I told him I was the intern and he said "INTERN?!?! Do you mean GOPHER!?!?" I laughed but im still not totally sure if he gets what an Intern is, but gopher doesnt seem that far off. (side note no one calls it an intern here so he wasnt weird for not getting it). So the tour was followed by my marketing class, immediately followed by our CAPA spring dinner and then me and two of my roommates headed out!
London is starting to feel like spring! More sun less rain and its getting WARMERR!!! However this means that my time is coming to and end. NOOOOO!!!
I spent yesterday and today at my Nana's house in Peterborough (about an hour north of london). We had a great time chatting and shopping and eating (typical of my Nana and I!) One of the big perks of being in london is getting to see all of my family that I hardly ever get to see when I'm in the states!
While on that trip I found out some interesting things... Such assss my first family doctor was the father of Alan Thicke (actor in growing pains) and my grandparents were only dating for two months before they got engaged. Oh the things you learn! (theres much more but it would take pages and pages to list!)
Back to work tomorrow! IRELAND ON FRIDAY!!!! cant wait!!!
<3 Lea
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Ciao Bella!
So this weeks blog is about Italia!!! And it may very well be in storybook form... because I just figured out how to add pictures! haha
I just got back from a VERY exhausting yet amaaazing week in the land of pasta wine gelato and oh yeah all that history and stuff too!
We stared the week of in beautiful Venezia (Venice). Its such an amazing little city for a lot of reasons. for one its a city completely built on water and there are as many bridges and canals as there are sidewalks. Which comes in handy when you are going on a gondola ridge through it , which we did!
That was one of my favorite parts so I'm glad I took the plunge and we split the insane cost it is to ride in one of those. Im also glad we made it into the boat without falling into the Grand Canal, which knowing me was probably more likely to happen then not.
Another very fun part of venice is that it was Carnevale!! So we saw all the masqueraders around St Marks Square in their very VERY intense costumes. And of course we bought masks so we could fit in :) LOTS of people had them
sorry its sideways!
and here is my mask!
While in venice we also climbed the bell tower! You really have no concept of the city as a whole until you see it from above so im so glad we did this. Heres a view!
andddddd
(I really wish i knew how to flip them on here....)
I think thats all the big stuff we did in Venice .... (im trying not to make this a complete novel)
SO THEN we went to Firenze!! (Florence!!)
Florence was also very beautiful but COOOOLLDDD brrr.
we started our andventures exploring the leather markets and then walked toward the Arno River which was really pretty. On the river is the Ponte Vecchio; a line of shops that are kind of made into a bridge over the river.
it looks so much prettier in real life......
and This is the river Arno!!
THEN we toook a very adventuroys little walk and discovered the Michelangelo Piazza and saw the MOST breathtaking view of florence at night. Too bad it was extremely windy and ice cold up there but it was very much worth it.
so we froze a little bit thennn
found fake david!! you might think this is the real one... youd be wrong.
But the next day... WE SAW THE REAL ONEE!!!!
And I definitely was not allowed to take this picture.... snapped it real quick then got yelled at in italian. I donno where the guard lady even came i swear they have camera radars or something!
Anyways David is amazing he is 516cm tall and beautiful! No really, hes not bad lookin! There is a quote by the statue that says after seeing david you neednt see any other sculpture because you will never see one as perfect as this one..... I think I might believe that.
From there we went and saw the Duomo which is one of the coolest churches I have seen as of yet. Purely because the outside is really colorful and not like anything else I have seen its greens and purples and white and beautiful.
Thennn we climbed 414 steps to the top of......
this tiny picture doesnt make it seem very impressive.... by anyways it was a tiny staircase with lots of turns and twists which makes it a little difficult cause not only are you hiking up the tower but you are also trying not to fall all the way back down the 414 steps....
BUT WE DID IT! so worth this view....
Okay so then... (are you still with me? is the storybook version helping you get through it? I hope so...)
We headed off to a small and ADORABLE little town called Greve which is in Chianti.
Now all you wine freaks out there I expect you to know what this means! Vineyards!! This may very well be one of the best parts of the trip. Greve was amazing and so cute such a quintessential tuscan town and to top it off it was one of our best days weather wise. So we wandered around the town and then found a vineyard got a tour and did a wine tasting!! (Im not classy enough for stuff like this....)
But heres the vineyard!
theres lots of wine in that building..... yummmmm
i want to sit in those chairs out there!
PS- im writing this blog while my friend Devon cuts my hair. Fingers crossed!
Back to Italy....
So after that we returned to good ol Florence for our last night in our second city of Italy and of course ate more pasta and gelato (as we did quite a bit) Before we woke up and headed off to Roma!!
Tursday morning arrived and ROMA HERE WE COME!!
Now I did love rome, just like i loved all the places I saw in Italy but I do have to say the city itself was not my favorite. Florence and Venice were so amazing to me because they are so different then any other city id been to at this point in my life and the culture was different and a really great experience. Dont get me wrong, I loved all the things I saw in Rome but to be honest It was my least favorite place of the three. However nothing will replace the feeling I got when I walked out of the rome metro station (they have NOTHING on london tubes.... just sayin...) and seeing the colosseum just right there!! IT IS AMAZING. its just such a larger then life feeling being by it, walking around it and thinking about all the history you are surrounded by. I LOVED THE COLOSSEUM. I know its very typical touristy...but for a very good reason!
did you know... Colosseum means "the thing next to the colossus" Which was a giant sculpture next to the amphitheater that we now call the colosseum. Seemingly they cared more about whatever that thing was then the colosseum....wish i could see it! But its gone....
ANYWHO so with your ticket to the colosseum (which I got a discount on by the way... it pays to be an EU citizen!! I got a few handy discounts along the way!) you also get into see all of the ruins for free!
It was fun to walk around and imagine what all of these things looked like when they were in full form and what they might have used it all for and the kinds of people who lived here....
Other things we did in rome....
Found the Trevi fountain!
When im rich Im going to have this put into my backyard....
Made my wishes!! Yes mom... i made one for you! Just like you asked!! (I really did, im pretty sure its the one in this picture too because I asked my friend to document it!)
i dont know what this fountain is called...but we found it too haha
this one will be in my foyer
Our last day in Italy was sunday, and we decided since we had until 6 to catch our flight, that we would use this day to see the vatican! No better day to go then sunday!! Its pretty much just fake life in there. Its amazing that its its own country with its own laws ruled by the pope. And its beautiful!
st peters square
and an added little bonus about going on a sunday, we saw the pope! He gave his service...
.... then spoke to "his pilgrims"
this is a very zoomed picture because he was VERY far away in one of his many high high windows. He wished us a blessed day in rome, Thanks pope!
So this brings my Italian trip to and end! I dont know if this seems too short or too long for a weeks worth of stories in italy but I tried to keep it bearable!
It was an amazing adventure and amazingly exhausting!
Came back to life in london (I missed it! It feels like home!) and went straight back to work! Now I have a lovely haircut (Thanks Devon!) and am going to the Royal Hospital tomorrow with work! Then the spring dinner with capa (the program I am in).... WAIT that means its spring! I CANT BELIEVE THIS IS HALF OVER!!!
Got to see my lovely aunt and her children (students) on tuesday and again on friday! then off to see my lovely Nana on saturday! busy busy!!
Cant wait until my next adventure when I get to go see KELLYYYY in Ireland WITH MEGAN AND KATIE!!! (I did the caps so you would all notice your shout outs in my blog hah)
Until next time everyone! If you made it this far and are still reading I give you a lot of credit!!
<3 Lea
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Open Mouth ... Insert Foot.
So I am starting off todays blog with my embarrassing work story. We all knew there was bound to be atleast one....
So I helped host one of the bigger and fancier events of the year with one of the girls from the events team on thursday. The event was a black tie Motoring dinner with 210 guests and the guest of honor formula one driver Christian Horner who is now the principal of the red bull team.
so anyways to the part where you get to laugh at me... my boss sarah told me my job for the night was to greet the guests take their names and show them to their seats. Basically just be lovely and welcoming haha. So in my eagerness to do well, the first two guests approach the reception hall and are talking to some of the other staff. Which is not uncommon because all of the guests usually know the staff as they all see each other all the time. So again just trying to do my job I give the two men a big smile and say to the man standing closest to me "Hello! welcome to the motoring dinner with christian horner! May I take your name please?"
He responds "Yeah, I AM Christian Horner.... and my mate here is the Chairman of the Motoring club"
To add insult to injury the head of catering was standing behind them waving his arms trying to get me to shut the hell up.... but of course. I did not.
Anyways they both just laughed at me as I turned bright read and basically hid behind my clipboard. AND before you all start saying oh Lea you should have looked up Christian Horner before the big dinner! I DID!! I googled him and looked at some pictures but I challenge any of you to try and match a race car driver to a fancy fellow in his tux. Its harder then it sounds I swear. oy.
Other work news: (I know there are a few select people reading my blog who would like to hear about this so..) I have also helped set up and host a Bordeaux wine tasting (no I didn't get to drink it all... I was working ya know!) I am pretty much given the responsibility of keeping the website up to date and such, I also help with the hanging room. which is an area of the club where we display artwork from either a group of artists or a specific artist. Right now we have the royal photographic society in the hanging room. So i make all the order forms and have shipped a few that people buy. My boss called me "A Star" becuase I wrapped a giant picture to be shipped to Chicago. I credit my abilities to my mother who gives me the challenge of wrapping christmas gifts every year haha. I also help with our magazines and general communication with members. I helped set up a ski trip that we are sending a bunch of members on. On friday I went shopping for work! They decided to send the skiers off with goodybags so I went out in search of hand warmers chapstick tissue packs whiskey nips chocolates. Cant complain shopping on company time! haha.
CAN YOU BELIEVE I have been in london for almost two months!?!!? Yeah neither can I. But on that note i think we are all starting to become very comfortable here and feeling like true Londoners. I find myself getting annoyed with the people on the tube who dont understand the rules. Such as ... on the escalator you stand to the right and I walk on the left. Please dont stand in my way while im trying to run to work haha. OR when the doors open and people try to push on when not everyone is off yet. Haha this makes me sound like a jerk but I think everyone who lives here gets annoyed by that stuff
Just a few things about London I could do without.... The constant rain. It kinda gets to you after a while. and whats kinda funny/annoying is that you can go into one tube stop and its nice out and come out another and its pouring. or visa versa. That does some serious damage on the hair day haha. ALSO. When I am Queen (yes I have arranged for that, the paperwork should go through in a few weeks) I am going to instate a nation wide side of the sidewalk to walk on law. It took me forever trying to figure out which side the brits pass each other on when walking. Then it occurred to me, I dont think there is one.....
One would assume its the left because thats the side they drive on here...but no... they appear walk in zig zags and its very unsettling doing the "oops sorry just trying to pass you" dance many times a day. haha.
A Brit recently said to me "Yeah the English...welll... We dont get too emotional or excited" and its VERY TRUE! But funny because london could be burning down and i feel the general opinion would be "well thats a damn shame... going to be a real hassle to clean up". And London did burn down once....
WHICH leads me to another point I have thought about. People talk about that a lot here... haha. The great fire is a big topic especially when talking to tourists it seems. Which I find interesting and funny all at the same time because it was in 1666.... you do realize you werent there for it and it seems its been under control for quite some time now... yes? But it is a very interesting topic!
... this is the blog of random thoughts apparently haha...
It also seems ive been doing a lot of complaining in this post but that was not my intention. Just my observations!!
In the past two months I have had such an amazing time I cant believe how fast both my time and my money are going. But that is to be expected when youre trying to do it all in a matter of four months!!
So tomorrow I am off to ITALYYY!!!! First stop Venice then Florence then Rome. Im sure I will have lots to talk about then! But hold tight because I wont have access to the internet until next sunday!!
Love you all thanks to those of you who are still loyally reading the blog!!
<3 Lea
So I helped host one of the bigger and fancier events of the year with one of the girls from the events team on thursday. The event was a black tie Motoring dinner with 210 guests and the guest of honor formula one driver Christian Horner who is now the principal of the red bull team.
so anyways to the part where you get to laugh at me... my boss sarah told me my job for the night was to greet the guests take their names and show them to their seats. Basically just be lovely and welcoming haha. So in my eagerness to do well, the first two guests approach the reception hall and are talking to some of the other staff. Which is not uncommon because all of the guests usually know the staff as they all see each other all the time. So again just trying to do my job I give the two men a big smile and say to the man standing closest to me "Hello! welcome to the motoring dinner with christian horner! May I take your name please?"
He responds "Yeah, I AM Christian Horner.... and my mate here is the Chairman of the Motoring club"
To add insult to injury the head of catering was standing behind them waving his arms trying to get me to shut the hell up.... but of course. I did not.
Anyways they both just laughed at me as I turned bright read and basically hid behind my clipboard. AND before you all start saying oh Lea you should have looked up Christian Horner before the big dinner! I DID!! I googled him and looked at some pictures but I challenge any of you to try and match a race car driver to a fancy fellow in his tux. Its harder then it sounds I swear. oy.
Other work news: (I know there are a few select people reading my blog who would like to hear about this so..) I have also helped set up and host a Bordeaux wine tasting (no I didn't get to drink it all... I was working ya know!) I am pretty much given the responsibility of keeping the website up to date and such, I also help with the hanging room. which is an area of the club where we display artwork from either a group of artists or a specific artist. Right now we have the royal photographic society in the hanging room. So i make all the order forms and have shipped a few that people buy. My boss called me "A Star" becuase I wrapped a giant picture to be shipped to Chicago. I credit my abilities to my mother who gives me the challenge of wrapping christmas gifts every year haha. I also help with our magazines and general communication with members. I helped set up a ski trip that we are sending a bunch of members on. On friday I went shopping for work! They decided to send the skiers off with goodybags so I went out in search of hand warmers chapstick tissue packs whiskey nips chocolates. Cant complain shopping on company time! haha.
CAN YOU BELIEVE I have been in london for almost two months!?!!? Yeah neither can I. But on that note i think we are all starting to become very comfortable here and feeling like true Londoners. I find myself getting annoyed with the people on the tube who dont understand the rules. Such as ... on the escalator you stand to the right and I walk on the left. Please dont stand in my way while im trying to run to work haha. OR when the doors open and people try to push on when not everyone is off yet. Haha this makes me sound like a jerk but I think everyone who lives here gets annoyed by that stuff
Just a few things about London I could do without.... The constant rain. It kinda gets to you after a while. and whats kinda funny/annoying is that you can go into one tube stop and its nice out and come out another and its pouring. or visa versa. That does some serious damage on the hair day haha. ALSO. When I am Queen (yes I have arranged for that, the paperwork should go through in a few weeks) I am going to instate a nation wide side of the sidewalk to walk on law. It took me forever trying to figure out which side the brits pass each other on when walking. Then it occurred to me, I dont think there is one.....
One would assume its the left because thats the side they drive on here...but no... they appear walk in zig zags and its very unsettling doing the "oops sorry just trying to pass you" dance many times a day. haha.
A Brit recently said to me "Yeah the English...welll... We dont get too emotional or excited" and its VERY TRUE! But funny because london could be burning down and i feel the general opinion would be "well thats a damn shame... going to be a real hassle to clean up". And London did burn down once....
WHICH leads me to another point I have thought about. People talk about that a lot here... haha. The great fire is a big topic especially when talking to tourists it seems. Which I find interesting and funny all at the same time because it was in 1666.... you do realize you werent there for it and it seems its been under control for quite some time now... yes? But it is a very interesting topic!
... this is the blog of random thoughts apparently haha...
It also seems ive been doing a lot of complaining in this post but that was not my intention. Just my observations!!
In the past two months I have had such an amazing time I cant believe how fast both my time and my money are going. But that is to be expected when youre trying to do it all in a matter of four months!!
So tomorrow I am off to ITALYYY!!!! First stop Venice then Florence then Rome. Im sure I will have lots to talk about then! But hold tight because I wont have access to the internet until next sunday!!
Love you all thanks to those of you who are still loyally reading the blog!!
<3 Lea
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Hello Lovey, You Alright!?
SO sorry its been a week since my last post but I unfortunately spent this week with a stomach virus so there wasn't much to report...
Given that I dont have anything to say about the week I thought I would use this time to share with my american followers a little english to american translation dictionary!
Que- Line (like getting in line)
Boot- Trunk of a car
Pants- UNDERWEAR this is a big one because talking about ones "pants"...not acceptable
Trousers- Pants
Lift- Elevatory
Bloak- Guy, man, boy
Till- Cashier
Cash Point- ATM
Crisps- chips
Chips- french fries
Flat- apartment
Aubergine- eggplant
rubbish- trash
Tube- subway
biscuit- cookie
motorway - highway
car park- parking lot
banger- sausage (bangers and mash!)
jumper - sweater
Quid- slang for pound (as in pound sterling, their money)
Just a few ive picked up along the way! Im sure ill think of eighteen more once i post this.
Other small news; I went to see some family friends in Purley yesterday! Just a little outside of the city for a nice dinner and reunion. It was very nice I like having people to see here! It makes things more interesting!
Hope this keeps you tide over until I have more news to post!!
<3 Lea
Given that I dont have anything to say about the week I thought I would use this time to share with my american followers a little english to american translation dictionary!
Que- Line (like getting in line)
Boot- Trunk of a car
Pants- UNDERWEAR this is a big one because talking about ones "pants"...not acceptable
Trousers- Pants
Lift- Elevatory
Bloak- Guy, man, boy
Till- Cashier
Cash Point- ATM
Crisps- chips
Chips- french fries
Flat- apartment
Aubergine- eggplant
rubbish- trash
Tube- subway
biscuit- cookie
motorway - highway
car park- parking lot
banger- sausage (bangers and mash!)
jumper - sweater
Quid- slang for pound (as in pound sterling, their money)
Just a few ive picked up along the way! Im sure ill think of eighteen more once i post this.
Other small news; I went to see some family friends in Purley yesterday! Just a little outside of the city for a nice dinner and reunion. It was very nice I like having people to see here! It makes things more interesting!
Hope this keeps you tide over until I have more news to post!!
<3 Lea
Sunday, February 13, 2011
the Dammed Amstel
History Lesson!! Amsterdam was named after the dammed river Amstel ... a long time ago. Okay so im not the best history teller.... anyways..
So I went to Amsterdam this weekend!! We left friday BRIGHT AND EARLY and arrived friday evening. We took a coach over the english channel....yes... a bus....over the english channel. Well a nice large ferry helped us out a little with the floating aspect I suppose. The ferry was really cool cause we got to walk around the boat while in the channel. Never thought id be doing that! Oh and we ate croissants in french water. How appropriate.
Arriving in amsterdam we took the tram in to the center of the city to get some dinner, keep in mind we had to decode dutch to find our way there, not as easy as you may think. Anyways much to our surprise we had stumbled into the red light district, not on purpose so trust me it was a big surprise haha. I don't know how appropriate it is to write about this in a public blog but it is part of the culture.... so I'm going to take the risk haha. Anyways this was the most culture shocking thing I have seen yet. To see the girls standing in the windows, and better yet the people looking at them was very....interesting. But the whole cultural custom seems to be very laid back and no judgement whatsoever. I think the laid back aspect might be influenced by other legal things in the country... haha.
SO the rest of our trip consisted of doing a river boat cruise through all the canals and the harbor. VERY cool. The house boats are amazing. When the city became overcrowded they made it legal to live in your boat to save space...so all over the waters you can see people just walking around in boats or even in house shaped things just floating on the water. Not something you see in america thats for sure. Plus all the bridges are amazing * another history lesson! there are 100+ canals in amsterdam and over 1000 bridges. cool right!?! ALSO the houses in amsterdam have a very long narrow look to them with really cool tops (see pictures those of you who haven't seen this already!) anyways the tops are called gables. My favorite was the bell gable. but there are lots of different types. And they are long and narrow because they were taxed based on their width. Which is why they are all built tall and deep! I know you feel more worldly already don't you? I sure do.
random: more then one car a week drives into the rivers and canals of amsterdam. haha funny.
We also went to the heineken brewery. For those of you who know me know I dont like beer, OR DO I!?!? This was an especially rewarding trip because GUESS WHAT!?!!? no seriously guess. I drank a beer (two actually) willingly...and liked it!!! I know there are multiple people reading this who will be more the proud haha.
Now Momma Derrick: I have a bone to pick with you. all these years of your poor daughter not liking beer and you never thought to point out HOW to drink beer?!
They told me that most girls dont like beer because they sip their drinks (like me) which means they are only tasting the head of the beer. Which is the most bitter part and you are getting none of the sweetness. SO you have to gulp in order to get the sweetness of the beer which comes from the 'Wort'. Basically sugar water.
ALSO Momma Derrick: I won their quiz question cause they asked what makes the beer bitter and I was the one who knew to say Hops. Be proud.
so yeah the tour was great very very cool so much to see and do in there. We got brewed...yep they took you through this interactive show and brewed us like beer. We also got two free beers and some samples. At which point we met some brazilians who made fun of me for drinking too slow. Little did they know however that I was only just learning to appreciate a beer at all. They also said that canadians are great but americans not so much haha. we did convince them to give americans a shot though. Spreading acceptance one Heineken at a time.
So yeah thats pretty much all the excitingness of Amsterdam to tell! I kinda wish we had more time I would have tried to see more but I got all the things I really wanted to do done. So all over a success!
Today (sunday) we woke up bright and early ... again but this time we took the coach to Bruges! I LOVE IT. I am moving there and you cant stop me!!! Its like a fairy tale! Its all so quaint and beautiful cobblestones horses and ponds and green and castles and beautiful gabled buildings. AND DONT FORGET GREAT CHOCOLATE!! Oh and of course waffles. We had both, don't you worry. yum yum yummmmmm. So yeah if I don't arrive back in New Jersey as scheduled, you can come find me in Bruges.
So we ended the trip in a chocolate factory/shop (cant complain) and then took the long journey back home! and now I'm back in London! I loved Amsterdam and I REALLY loved bruges. But I have to say coming back to London felt a lot like coming home! (Don't worry I'll still return to real home again haha)
Other slightly older news: We saw the 39 Steps on thursday. A play put on by four FOUR actors who played like hundreds of characters. it was VERY impressive. And very funny. Highly recommend it.
So I know this was painfully long but it had been a while and I apologize for that but people gimme a break I was in the Netherlands!!
Love you all and miss you!!
<3 Lea
So I went to Amsterdam this weekend!! We left friday BRIGHT AND EARLY and arrived friday evening. We took a coach over the english channel....yes... a bus....over the english channel. Well a nice large ferry helped us out a little with the floating aspect I suppose. The ferry was really cool cause we got to walk around the boat while in the channel. Never thought id be doing that! Oh and we ate croissants in french water. How appropriate.
Arriving in amsterdam we took the tram in to the center of the city to get some dinner, keep in mind we had to decode dutch to find our way there, not as easy as you may think. Anyways much to our surprise we had stumbled into the red light district, not on purpose so trust me it was a big surprise haha. I don't know how appropriate it is to write about this in a public blog but it is part of the culture.... so I'm going to take the risk haha. Anyways this was the most culture shocking thing I have seen yet. To see the girls standing in the windows, and better yet the people looking at them was very....interesting. But the whole cultural custom seems to be very laid back and no judgement whatsoever. I think the laid back aspect might be influenced by other legal things in the country... haha.
SO the rest of our trip consisted of doing a river boat cruise through all the canals and the harbor. VERY cool. The house boats are amazing. When the city became overcrowded they made it legal to live in your boat to save space...so all over the waters you can see people just walking around in boats or even in house shaped things just floating on the water. Not something you see in america thats for sure. Plus all the bridges are amazing * another history lesson! there are 100+ canals in amsterdam and over 1000 bridges. cool right!?! ALSO the houses in amsterdam have a very long narrow look to them with really cool tops (see pictures those of you who haven't seen this already!) anyways the tops are called gables. My favorite was the bell gable. but there are lots of different types. And they are long and narrow because they were taxed based on their width. Which is why they are all built tall and deep! I know you feel more worldly already don't you? I sure do.
random: more then one car a week drives into the rivers and canals of amsterdam. haha funny.
We also went to the heineken brewery. For those of you who know me know I dont like beer, OR DO I!?!? This was an especially rewarding trip because GUESS WHAT!?!!? no seriously guess. I drank a beer (two actually) willingly...and liked it!!! I know there are multiple people reading this who will be more the proud haha.
Now Momma Derrick: I have a bone to pick with you. all these years of your poor daughter not liking beer and you never thought to point out HOW to drink beer?!
They told me that most girls dont like beer because they sip their drinks (like me) which means they are only tasting the head of the beer. Which is the most bitter part and you are getting none of the sweetness. SO you have to gulp in order to get the sweetness of the beer which comes from the 'Wort'. Basically sugar water.
ALSO Momma Derrick: I won their quiz question cause they asked what makes the beer bitter and I was the one who knew to say Hops. Be proud.
so yeah the tour was great very very cool so much to see and do in there. We got brewed...yep they took you through this interactive show and brewed us like beer. We also got two free beers and some samples. At which point we met some brazilians who made fun of me for drinking too slow. Little did they know however that I was only just learning to appreciate a beer at all. They also said that canadians are great but americans not so much haha. we did convince them to give americans a shot though. Spreading acceptance one Heineken at a time.
So yeah thats pretty much all the excitingness of Amsterdam to tell! I kinda wish we had more time I would have tried to see more but I got all the things I really wanted to do done. So all over a success!
Today (sunday) we woke up bright and early ... again but this time we took the coach to Bruges! I LOVE IT. I am moving there and you cant stop me!!! Its like a fairy tale! Its all so quaint and beautiful cobblestones horses and ponds and green and castles and beautiful gabled buildings. AND DONT FORGET GREAT CHOCOLATE!! Oh and of course waffles. We had both, don't you worry. yum yum yummmmmm. So yeah if I don't arrive back in New Jersey as scheduled, you can come find me in Bruges.
So we ended the trip in a chocolate factory/shop (cant complain) and then took the long journey back home! and now I'm back in London! I loved Amsterdam and I REALLY loved bruges. But I have to say coming back to London felt a lot like coming home! (Don't worry I'll still return to real home again haha)
Other slightly older news: We saw the 39 Steps on thursday. A play put on by four FOUR actors who played like hundreds of characters. it was VERY impressive. And very funny. Highly recommend it.
So I know this was painfully long but it had been a while and I apologize for that but people gimme a break I was in the Netherlands!!
Love you all and miss you!!
<3 Lea
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
You've got Fringe!!
So new lesson for the week, bangs are called fringe!! How did you learn this you ask? Well, im glad you ask! (you did ask, you may not realize but you did ask....trust me.) anyways...on saturday. My friend cut my hair off. yep she did just took some scissors and snipped until I had some sweet side bangs. Or so you'd think, cause so did I. I thought they were bangs, so when I went to work and my boss said "Oh you've got fringe!!".... I was quite confused. Took a while for us to get on the same page, but don't worry we got there. I know you were worried....
In other news, the group took a little trip to chinese new year on sunday. Which would have been a good time if it hadn't been like herding cattle through trafalgar square... but still an experience!!
Saturday night we decided to go to the enchanted forest...yep there was an enchanted forest bar in which we danced with people on stilts. One of these people on stilts was covered in vine... so yeah! That was a lot of fun I'd go back there any day haha. Though I wouldn't be volunteering to walk around on the stilts... anyone who knows me could definitely imagine the kind of disaster that would be.
Work yesterday was fun got to explore more of the amazing building I work in (I can't get over it). Including the trophy/ gun closet? I had to get the trophy's engraved (of course) ... which involves finding the trophys.... which had descriptions like "silver trophy with two handles and a lid"...... yes THANK YOU cause clearly that isn't the description of EVERY trophy on the planet.... just saying. But between my boss and I we hunted them down and took them across the city for some engraving (woo hoo!!). For those of you keeping up...this weeks car is a Lotus 21.
As you all know, sunday was the superbowl. Well we all stayed up (it started at 11 here) to watch the steelers lose (ha HA) but much to our disappointment THERE WERE NO COMMERCIALS!! I mean I know the BBC doesn't believe in commercials, and normally I wouldn't complain but they need an american to inform them that the commercials are part of the superbowl. Its more then the game basically.... especially when the Jets aren't playing :'(. But anyways we made some great nachos and had a good time.
Until next time!
<3 Lea
In other news, the group took a little trip to chinese new year on sunday. Which would have been a good time if it hadn't been like herding cattle through trafalgar square... but still an experience!!
Saturday night we decided to go to the enchanted forest...yep there was an enchanted forest bar in which we danced with people on stilts. One of these people on stilts was covered in vine... so yeah! That was a lot of fun I'd go back there any day haha. Though I wouldn't be volunteering to walk around on the stilts... anyone who knows me could definitely imagine the kind of disaster that would be.
Work yesterday was fun got to explore more of the amazing building I work in (I can't get over it). Including the trophy/ gun closet? I had to get the trophy's engraved (of course) ... which involves finding the trophys.... which had descriptions like "silver trophy with two handles and a lid"...... yes THANK YOU cause clearly that isn't the description of EVERY trophy on the planet.... just saying. But between my boss and I we hunted them down and took them across the city for some engraving (woo hoo!!). For those of you keeping up...this weeks car is a Lotus 21.
As you all know, sunday was the superbowl. Well we all stayed up (it started at 11 here) to watch the steelers lose (ha HA) but much to our disappointment THERE WERE NO COMMERCIALS!! I mean I know the BBC doesn't believe in commercials, and normally I wouldn't complain but they need an american to inform them that the commercials are part of the superbowl. Its more then the game basically.... especially when the Jets aren't playing :'(. But anyways we made some great nachos and had a good time.
Until next time!
<3 Lea
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Life of a Londoner
Hello all!
I am very sorry that it has been a while since my last post BUT reality has set in and I'm living a londoner day to day now. I work a full day at the RAC on mondays, class on tuesdays work wed thurs morning class wed thurs afternoons/evenings. Its so weird to think that I am just living in london! doing day to day things! no big deal or anything.... hahah
So I have decided that I really do love this city, but the problem with me is that I am way to interested in everything. So I spend all day in a daze staring at everything around me haha. All the excitement of city living makes for some pretty exhausting days. But its worth it!!
I have started some projects for work and things are going well! I have done a lot of work on the website and some stuff that will be used for the next magazine issue. good stuff!!
What else what else. hmm well we went to portobello market today in notting hill. I have to say this is one of my favourite outings yet! Very cool place with lots of antiques and other cool stuff cool people. Pastel houses pretty streets pretty everything! I will definitely be going back there. We ahd baguettes for lunch SO good. I have to say whoever said england has bad food was just looking in all the wrong places. They have lots of things! from lost of places. its great. oh and now we have conquered all the big markets to see. Camden, spitalfield, portobello and borough.
anyways I think I'll be heading down to china town tonight to walk around and see all the chinese new year things! should be goood!!
Till more stories arise!!
<3 Lea
I am very sorry that it has been a while since my last post BUT reality has set in and I'm living a londoner day to day now. I work a full day at the RAC on mondays, class on tuesdays work wed thurs morning class wed thurs afternoons/evenings. Its so weird to think that I am just living in london! doing day to day things! no big deal or anything.... hahah
So I have decided that I really do love this city, but the problem with me is that I am way to interested in everything. So I spend all day in a daze staring at everything around me haha. All the excitement of city living makes for some pretty exhausting days. But its worth it!!
I have started some projects for work and things are going well! I have done a lot of work on the website and some stuff that will be used for the next magazine issue. good stuff!!
What else what else. hmm well we went to portobello market today in notting hill. I have to say this is one of my favourite outings yet! Very cool place with lots of antiques and other cool stuff cool people. Pastel houses pretty streets pretty everything! I will definitely be going back there. We ahd baguettes for lunch SO good. I have to say whoever said england has bad food was just looking in all the wrong places. They have lots of things! from lost of places. its great. oh and now we have conquered all the big markets to see. Camden, spitalfield, portobello and borough.
anyways I think I'll be heading down to china town tonight to walk around and see all the chinese new year things! should be goood!!
Till more stories arise!!
<3 Lea
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
You're havin a laugh!
Please say the above title with a british accent because it is one of my favo(u)rites of their sayings. From what I have gathered it means something like "you must be joking" "oh, you're havin a laugh!"
Well the reason for the title today is that I have a funny story to tell...
I have apparently gotten way to confident in my londoner ways, because today I thought I was being very clever and hopping on the tube a little late....just as the doors were closing. Well, I got stuck. I had to fight my way into the train while the doors were squishing me and my bag/arm got stuck. So some man on the inside had to jump up and pry the doors open so my arm and bag could break free haha. Meanwhile the London tubes are silent during commuting times and I was laughing the whole time, AND I had my ipod in so I'm pretty sure when my arm finally broke free I basically screamed thank you at the man trying to help me. Then I had to ride it for many stops while everyone stared at the stupid american haha.
I hope you laughed, cause then its a funny story instead of just plain embarrassing
~Lea
<3
Well the reason for the title today is that I have a funny story to tell...
I have apparently gotten way to confident in my londoner ways, because today I thought I was being very clever and hopping on the tube a little late....just as the doors were closing. Well, I got stuck. I had to fight my way into the train while the doors were squishing me and my bag/arm got stuck. So some man on the inside had to jump up and pry the doors open so my arm and bag could break free haha. Meanwhile the London tubes are silent during commuting times and I was laughing the whole time, AND I had my ipod in so I'm pretty sure when my arm finally broke free I basically screamed thank you at the man trying to help me. Then I had to ride it for many stops while everyone stared at the stupid american haha.
I hope you laughed, cause then its a funny story instead of just plain embarrassing
~Lea
<3
Monday, January 31, 2011
Vroom
I have now discovered that they change the car in my works lobby every week. I have no idea where they store these magical vehicles but I am definitely in support of it. Today it was a Brabham Repco Rt 20 a very sweet racing car. please see my fbook for the pic!
So today was my first 9-5. woo hoo! My boss and my bosses boss took me out to lunch which was very nice and we had a good time (I think). Both very easy going and like-able I think this should be a good time! I wrote a piece for the website today and helped sort some artwork we sold at an art show recently. And of course some other interny things like delivering papers and laminating but all around a good day!
This weekend we did a few londony things. Borough market for lunchies and london bridge. Then went to the Victoria and Albert museum and saw some very VERY gorgeous jewlery. Like tiaras and diamonds for days. My bday is in may... just sayin. (also pics on my facebook of that)
Its a little cold here. HA and by cold I do not mean im getting 20 inches of snow HAHA massachusetts....
I think that may be all I have to report today. field trip with my psych class tomorrow. I feel like im in 4th grade but I guess its cool.. lol
~Lea
So today was my first 9-5. woo hoo! My boss and my bosses boss took me out to lunch which was very nice and we had a good time (I think). Both very easy going and like-able I think this should be a good time! I wrote a piece for the website today and helped sort some artwork we sold at an art show recently. And of course some other interny things like delivering papers and laminating but all around a good day!
This weekend we did a few londony things. Borough market for lunchies and london bridge. Then went to the Victoria and Albert museum and saw some very VERY gorgeous jewlery. Like tiaras and diamonds for days. My bday is in may... just sayin. (also pics on my facebook of that)
Its a little cold here. HA and by cold I do not mean im getting 20 inches of snow HAHA massachusetts....
I think that may be all I have to report today. field trip with my psych class tomorrow. I feel like im in 4th grade but I guess its cool.. lol
~Lea
Friday, January 28, 2011
Workin' for a Livin'
.... well not really. Cause they don't pay me.
BUT I started work at the RAC club! I got all set up with my work email and phone and desk and computer. The whole deal. I feel like a real person! haha.
The building (as I know I have said but I feel the need to reiterate) is GORGEOUS. Even though I didn't get a chance to look at this weeks car in the lobby =( . The only problem is that it is, as my supervisor calls it, a labyrinth. AKA a maze and as any of you who know me at all I am not exactly directionally savvy. So she's already expecting to find me wandering around aimlessly trying to find my way back to the office.
I don't have a lot of work things to tell you about cause it was mostly setting me up and getting used to everything, but my first full week starts monday! And they are taking me for a welcome lunch then! So updates about work to come soon!
In other news, we have been having an amazing time here. We love to go out and wander and discover new things. Yesterday we discovered china town, had some chinese food and saw all the gorgeous decorations they put up for chinese new year which is very soon (we will be going back). Afterward I made my first visit to one of the favorite bars around here called O'Neill's (shout out to my fav O'Neill, Katie haha). LOTS of fun it is three floors of live bands and dancing and very fun people. Will be making more visits there it has my favorite component; dancing!
Random news; made a friend with the last name Scott. My grandmothers maiden name is scott and is from the area that he is from. So i quizzed him on his family (for fun) turns out his grandfathers name is John (my grandmother had a brother named John... I think... right mom?) and has the same amount of siblings as my grandmother. SO BASICALLY I found a long lost relative haha. AND yes to all of you judging my excitement on this, I realize how common a name John is but we decided to believe what we want. So, cousins it is. AND YES he was just as excited as me.
My friend Devon and I witnessed a boy doing this game on the tube on the way home from the pub. every time the tube came to a stop he would start SPRINTING out of the doors touching the wall and back into the tube to touch the center pole as many times as he could before the doors closed on him. VERY entertaining. especially since there are tube monitor people who tell you to get inside the train before the door closes and she was FREAKING out yelling at him to get in.
more random- some guy introduced himself to me as"Hi Im english, not a gypsy" then walked away. thought it was funny
Okay I be out to do more londony things.
Seeee yaaa!
~Lea
BUT I started work at the RAC club! I got all set up with my work email and phone and desk and computer. The whole deal. I feel like a real person! haha.
The building (as I know I have said but I feel the need to reiterate) is GORGEOUS. Even though I didn't get a chance to look at this weeks car in the lobby =( . The only problem is that it is, as my supervisor calls it, a labyrinth. AKA a maze and as any of you who know me at all I am not exactly directionally savvy. So she's already expecting to find me wandering around aimlessly trying to find my way back to the office.
I don't have a lot of work things to tell you about cause it was mostly setting me up and getting used to everything, but my first full week starts monday! And they are taking me for a welcome lunch then! So updates about work to come soon!
In other news, we have been having an amazing time here. We love to go out and wander and discover new things. Yesterday we discovered china town, had some chinese food and saw all the gorgeous decorations they put up for chinese new year which is very soon (we will be going back). Afterward I made my first visit to one of the favorite bars around here called O'Neill's (shout out to my fav O'Neill, Katie haha). LOTS of fun it is three floors of live bands and dancing and very fun people. Will be making more visits there it has my favorite component; dancing!
Random news; made a friend with the last name Scott. My grandmothers maiden name is scott and is from the area that he is from. So i quizzed him on his family (for fun) turns out his grandfathers name is John (my grandmother had a brother named John... I think... right mom?) and has the same amount of siblings as my grandmother. SO BASICALLY I found a long lost relative haha. AND yes to all of you judging my excitement on this, I realize how common a name John is but we decided to believe what we want. So, cousins it is. AND YES he was just as excited as me.
My friend Devon and I witnessed a boy doing this game on the tube on the way home from the pub. every time the tube came to a stop he would start SPRINTING out of the doors touching the wall and back into the tube to touch the center pole as many times as he could before the doors closed on him. VERY entertaining. especially since there are tube monitor people who tell you to get inside the train before the door closes and she was FREAKING out yelling at him to get in.
more random- some guy introduced himself to me as"Hi Im english, not a gypsy" then walked away. thought it was funny
Okay I be out to do more londony things.
Seeee yaaa!
~Lea
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
"Loving the Rituals"
So today I discovered my favorite part of the Tube. They put 'Poems in the Underground' and the one I read today was very cute. So im going to share it, it seems appropriate :)
"Loving the Rituals"
"Loving the rituals that keep men close,
nature created means for friends apart;
Pen, paper, ink, the alphabet,
signs for the distant and the disconsolate of heart."
I thought it was cute, and the theme for this blog!!
So anyways.... IM GOING TO ITALYY!!! I feel like such a world traveller!!
Amsterdam in february! Ireland in March! Italy for spring break in between!!
We are flying in to venice and out of rome and hopeeefully doing florence in the middle! It is extremely painful parting with the money that I worked so hard to save up BUT this is why I did it!! So very excited to be dirt poor in may when I return haha. It was extremely stressful to plan but we took the plunge and just got it done. feelin good! still lots more to plan though....
Some new things I have learned in london,
~They will celebrate for anything. Give them an occasion and they will gladly drink to it! For instance, apparently they celebrated Canada day last year by shutting down Trafalgar square and playing hockey in it! hhaha love it
~Also their keyboard are different, really really throwing me off.
~I bought a jar of peanut butter today and I could not find a normal size one for the life of me. The 'costco' sized things would absolutely shock and appall the brits.
I start work tomorrow! My internship advisor told me that I will definitely be given lots to do and hes not worried about me, so I'm not sure how to take that but wish me luck!
Till tomorrow!
<3 you all who read this cause you are amazing and thats all
~Lea
"Loving the Rituals"
"Loving the rituals that keep men close,
nature created means for friends apart;
Pen, paper, ink, the alphabet,
signs for the distant and the disconsolate of heart."
I thought it was cute, and the theme for this blog!!
So anyways.... IM GOING TO ITALYY!!! I feel like such a world traveller!!
Amsterdam in february! Ireland in March! Italy for spring break in between!!
We are flying in to venice and out of rome and hopeeefully doing florence in the middle! It is extremely painful parting with the money that I worked so hard to save up BUT this is why I did it!! So very excited to be dirt poor in may when I return haha. It was extremely stressful to plan but we took the plunge and just got it done. feelin good! still lots more to plan though....
Some new things I have learned in london,
~They will celebrate for anything. Give them an occasion and they will gladly drink to it! For instance, apparently they celebrated Canada day last year by shutting down Trafalgar square and playing hockey in it! hhaha love it
~Also their keyboard are different, really really throwing me off.
~I bought a jar of peanut butter today and I could not find a normal size one for the life of me. The 'costco' sized things would absolutely shock and appall the brits.
I start work tomorrow! My internship advisor told me that I will definitely be given lots to do and hes not worried about me, so I'm not sure how to take that but wish me luck!
Till tomorrow!
<3 you all who read this cause you are amazing and thats all
~Lea
Monday, January 24, 2011
Platform 9 and 3/4
Hello all!
I am sorry to all of you who were deeply insulted that I did not post yesterday *cough*chrisharris*cough* i just don't always have something to say! I promise I'm keeping you updated whenever I have news!
So on saturday I joined my the fam (aunt uncle and cousins who I was staying with before the program started) in the east of london to see a Pantomime. Another thing I can check off of my list of traditional british things to do! They come out every holiday season and it is a funny version of a kids story with a Man always playing the main woman's character. In this case the show was Little Red Riding Hood and the Granny was played by a hilarious man. So funny. It was very exciting/cute. These shows are very audience involved so we all yelled at the people on stage. For example they'd say where did the three little pigs go!? and we would yell THE WOLF ATE THEM! hehe so fun. AND! me and my two cousins got a shout out from the cast! Their aunt (my uncles sister by marriage) is the stage manager at the theater so we got all the perks, seeing backstage and everything haha. Anyways it was good fun to be had.
Tooooodayyy we went on a Harry Potter walking tour! Very cool we say platfor 9 and 3/4. We went to a lot of the places where they shot scenes in all the movies. I like it because we got to see parts of london I may have never got to on my own. HOWEVER one of the coolest parts was the alleys that we went through and the tour guide decided we would...(this is not a joke)..."fly" through them on our "brooms". Coulda done without RUNNING trough london to try and keep up with her haha. Would have liked to actually looked at where I was....but she was a SERIOUS harry potter buff so what can you do...yeah.
Miss you all back home! come visit me! (ha)
till something else fun happens!
~Lea
I am sorry to all of you who were deeply insulted that I did not post yesterday *cough*chrisharris*cough* i just don't always have something to say! I promise I'm keeping you updated whenever I have news!
So on saturday I joined my the fam (aunt uncle and cousins who I was staying with before the program started) in the east of london to see a Pantomime. Another thing I can check off of my list of traditional british things to do! They come out every holiday season and it is a funny version of a kids story with a Man always playing the main woman's character. In this case the show was Little Red Riding Hood and the Granny was played by a hilarious man. So funny. It was very exciting/cute. These shows are very audience involved so we all yelled at the people on stage. For example they'd say where did the three little pigs go!? and we would yell THE WOLF ATE THEM! hehe so fun. AND! me and my two cousins got a shout out from the cast! Their aunt (my uncles sister by marriage) is the stage manager at the theater so we got all the perks, seeing backstage and everything haha. Anyways it was good fun to be had.
Tooooodayyy we went on a Harry Potter walking tour! Very cool we say platfor 9 and 3/4. We went to a lot of the places where they shot scenes in all the movies. I like it because we got to see parts of london I may have never got to on my own. HOWEVER one of the coolest parts was the alleys that we went through and the tour guide decided we would...(this is not a joke)..."fly" through them on our "brooms". Coulda done without RUNNING trough london to try and keep up with her haha. Would have liked to actually looked at where I was....but she was a SERIOUS harry potter buff so what can you do...yeah.
Miss you all back home! come visit me! (ha)
till something else fun happens!
~Lea
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Don't be Daft!
I've decided I need a blog of random thoughts because i've gathered quite a few.
~ One of the funniest things is when a Brit answers a question in their "dont be daft" tone of voice.
~ As much as I love London I may be crippled after sleeping on a springboard for the next four months. it will be worth it though. even if I'm standing at a 90 degree angle for a while
~ The sound on the tube when the doors are closing is exactly the same as my alarm clock at home. So that makes me a little jumpy, but other then that the tube and I are now BFFAEAE.
~ Newcastle accents are IMPOSSIBLE to understand in a loud bar.
~ The tube app is my new favo(u)rite thing. Thanks Mark!
~ English may be a common language between England and America but sometimes I feel there is a language barrier anyways. All the spellings and pronunciations are throwing me off. Why do you not use Z's Brits? Organise? even my computer is telling me I'm spelling that wrong......
~My cousin hates that I say his name 'wrong'. (Angus) so apparently I need to work on my A pronunciations
~ I've decided im going to take up on the English way of making fun of ones self. Everyone is so brutally honest with others and themselves and it makes everything funnier/less tense. "Well I was just Rubbish wasn't I?" (for those of you who are avid readers this should be ringing bells haha)
this may be the most useless post ever. Sorry Mom! I know you were looking forward to reading news!
~Lea
~ One of the funniest things is when a Brit answers a question in their "dont be daft" tone of voice.
~ As much as I love London I may be crippled after sleeping on a springboard for the next four months. it will be worth it though. even if I'm standing at a 90 degree angle for a while
~ The sound on the tube when the doors are closing is exactly the same as my alarm clock at home. So that makes me a little jumpy, but other then that the tube and I are now BFFAEAE.
~ Newcastle accents are IMPOSSIBLE to understand in a loud bar.
~ The tube app is my new favo(u)rite thing. Thanks Mark!
~ English may be a common language between England and America but sometimes I feel there is a language barrier anyways. All the spellings and pronunciations are throwing me off. Why do you not use Z's Brits? Organise? even my computer is telling me I'm spelling that wrong......
~My cousin hates that I say his name 'wrong'. (Angus) so apparently I need to work on my A pronunciations
~ I've decided im going to take up on the English way of making fun of ones self. Everyone is so brutally honest with others and themselves and it makes everything funnier/less tense. "Well I was just Rubbish wasn't I?" (for those of you who are avid readers this should be ringing bells haha)
this may be the most useless post ever. Sorry Mom! I know you were looking forward to reading news!
~Lea
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Spice up Your Life!!
I realize how random the title of this is but I would like to share with all of you loyal readers that the bar we've beeing going to seems to only play music that dates before any of us went into highschool. For instance SPICE GIRLS (so appropriate for london I know). But really they played all really old stuff and the best part was all the local brit students didnt even notice that the music was on. Haha I would comment on the fact that soulja boy was on and that its so old and they didn't know what the song was OR THE DANCE THAT GOES WITH IT!
Anyways I'm becoming a trip booking fiend! Im going to Amsterdam in February and Ireland in March!! we are in the midst of planning Italy for spring break and Paris maybe in April? One of my roommates also wants to do a trip to wales which i would LOVE to go on but lets be honest. I am poooooor! So we will see how all of this pans out!
This may only be exciting to me but I got asked directions!! Do I look like a Londoner!?!?
I obviously had to tell her that I am a) useless with directions and b) not from around here , so I was not helpful at all but still. She thought I looked knowledgeable!
Side Note: My roommate and I may return to the states absolutely insane. Why, you might ask? Well because we have some absolutely crazy birds outside of our window who ONLY chirp between the hours of 12am and probably about 4am. They chirp loudly and not in a soothing sleepy kind of way in a WAKE UP ITS MOOORNINNGG!!! kind of way. And what we cant figure out is well obviously why they are doing this but also WHERE ARE THEY CHIRPING FROM!?! there are no trees outside our window!
SO anyways! those are the updates for now
<3 Lea
Anyways I'm becoming a trip booking fiend! Im going to Amsterdam in February and Ireland in March!! we are in the midst of planning Italy for spring break and Paris maybe in April? One of my roommates also wants to do a trip to wales which i would LOVE to go on but lets be honest. I am poooooor! So we will see how all of this pans out!
This may only be exciting to me but I got asked directions!! Do I look like a Londoner!?!?
I obviously had to tell her that I am a) useless with directions and b) not from around here , so I was not helpful at all but still. She thought I looked knowledgeable!
Side Note: My roommate and I may return to the states absolutely insane. Why, you might ask? Well because we have some absolutely crazy birds outside of our window who ONLY chirp between the hours of 12am and probably about 4am. They chirp loudly and not in a soothing sleepy kind of way in a WAKE UP ITS MOOORNINNGG!!! kind of way. And what we cant figure out is well obviously why they are doing this but also WHERE ARE THEY CHIRPING FROM!?! there are no trees outside our window!
SO anyways! those are the updates for now
<3 Lea
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Squirrel Bate!!
So today was the first day of classes and psych was good and blah blah blah
BUT THATS THE BORING PART!!
Me and my friend Lauren decided to explore Hyde Park because it was such a beautiful day! (unlike in massachusetts hahahahah) So while we were there we decided to look at a war memorial....so we had to cross a grassy area to get to it. almost as soon as we went on the grass about five squirrels and four or five pigeons came right up to our feet. And just as Lauren was awwwwing at them one of the fat squirrels ran UP MY LEG!! this is not a joke it happened and it was one of the freakiest things that has ever happened to me in any park haha. I may be scarred of squirrels for life. Anyways Hyde park was beautiful cant wait to go when its all green!
A small(ish) group of us went to the Imperial college student union tonight and discovered a drink called snake bites. They are very good and as close to beer as I will get haha.
thats about all I have for today but lets be honest no story will beat the squirrel ON MY LEG story!
till tomorrow!
~Lea
BUT THATS THE BORING PART!!
Me and my friend Lauren decided to explore Hyde Park because it was such a beautiful day! (unlike in massachusetts hahahahah) So while we were there we decided to look at a war memorial....so we had to cross a grassy area to get to it. almost as soon as we went on the grass about five squirrels and four or five pigeons came right up to our feet. And just as Lauren was awwwwing at them one of the fat squirrels ran UP MY LEG!! this is not a joke it happened and it was one of the freakiest things that has ever happened to me in any park haha. I may be scarred of squirrels for life. Anyways Hyde park was beautiful cant wait to go when its all green!
A small(ish) group of us went to the Imperial college student union tonight and discovered a drink called snake bites. They are very good and as close to beer as I will get haha.
thats about all I have for today but lets be honest no story will beat the squirrel ON MY LEG story!
till tomorrow!
~Lea
Monday, January 17, 2011
Got the Job!
So today I had my interview at the Royal Automobile Club and it went really really well. The woman I am reporting to seems great and is very flexile with scheduling etc. As I walked in to the club I was greeted by .... an Aston Martin DBR1. (really really nice racing car for those of you who dont like cars haha) I think im going to like this place. It is one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever been in .... it is honestly along side beautiful old cathedrals in my opinion. My supervisor gave me a tour around and it is even equipped with a full size marble pool.... in the center of london! It has a really interesting history too, I feel like I have a lot to gain from working here!
Anyways the grind has begun and I have my first class tomorrow! Its all starting to feel real! I have also decided to sign up for an Amsterdam trip in february which should be good. (its through the program i am in)
ALSO.. we discovered snog. its a frozen yougurt place kinda like pinkberry. IT IS AMAZING.
thats all for today!
~Lea
Anyways the grind has begun and I have my first class tomorrow! Its all starting to feel real! I have also decided to sign up for an Amsterdam trip in february which should be good. (its through the program i am in)
ALSO.. we discovered snog. its a frozen yougurt place kinda like pinkberry. IT IS AMAZING.
thats all for today!
~Lea
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Mind the Gap
Day four! already!?!? how is that possible
so far so good! I am finally starting to get my bearings and figuring out where things are and how to navigate around the city. kind of... i am TERRIBLE with directions so this basically means i know where a tube station is close to me and a grocery store and some pubs haha.
We went on a three hour panoramic bus tour of london today which was really really really interesting. I swear the tour guide knows everything. just everything. period. Thats another thing ive noticed about the brits, they pride themselves (the ones ive talked to) on knowing at least a little bit about everything. They like to be well read and the definitely know their history. Especially british history. Im not saying americans arent well read or knowledgeable (because they definitely are!) but its a different kind of thing I feel like we tend to study specific things to our interest. (more random useless observations haha)
one of the most interesting thing i found about what he was telling us is that it seems most of english history and english present is based on the unplanned. they take things as they come and deal with them as best as they can. and have always done a pretty damn good job at it. I'm gonna use this as the basis for my time here!
we also bonded with some local brits at a pub tonight. VERY good conversation. I don't know if I could have held such conversations at home but it was definitely a good night!
More stories tomorrow!
~Lea
Friday, January 14, 2011
This could be a long one!
Yay now for the real update!
I have now been in London for two nights and things are going well, and definitely adventurous!
Spend the first night doing a little walking around getting our bearings. We ended up at the pizza express (so very british of us i know). Where we ordered a bottle of wine, yes, wine. I am now officially of age and sophisticated enough to order wine from a restaurant. Hehe. Then we did a little wandering around Sloan square and found the tube station we need to use to get to our programs headquarters and such. It was all very unreal (still kind of is). I can not believe im in london!
Then on thursday all of the orientations began so I spent the majority of yesterday sitting through 3 hour talks about London and the Internships. The only exciting thing to come out of that one is that I got my Interview time and date. I know what you are all probably thinking. You thought I definitely had the job at the RAC club. Well you're not wrong my fine friends these interviews are mostly a formality and it is VERY unusual that the company turns away the intern after the interview. KNOCK ON WOOD. with my luck after saying that I will be the ONE person who that happens to haha.
So anyways Monday at 2:30 I will have to be dressed to the nines and ready to impress. wish me luck!
After the orientations me and my roommate decided to venture to the big grocery store that is closest to our program headquarters. WHICH to our defense is where everyone told us to go. So we did.... Keep in mind that my flat (hehe) is a couple tube stops away from headquarters and a good walk to and from the station. SO we were dumb and bought WAY too much groceries and then realized after we paid how difficult carrying it all back would be. Did not go so well haha.
Anyways after all that a big group from the program ended up going to a pub/bar called the Shakespeare. If only drinks didnt cost a ridiculous amount .... I may be very poor very soon. even one drink puts me back.
More adventures to come!
(and im not going to say that no one will be reading this for the benefit of Chris Harris...who pointed out that someone would have to read my blog to see that i wrote that probably no one wants to read what im saying haha.)
=)
~Lea
I have now been in London for two nights and things are going well, and definitely adventurous!
Spend the first night doing a little walking around getting our bearings. We ended up at the pizza express (so very british of us i know). Where we ordered a bottle of wine, yes, wine. I am now officially of age and sophisticated enough to order wine from a restaurant. Hehe. Then we did a little wandering around Sloan square and found the tube station we need to use to get to our programs headquarters and such. It was all very unreal (still kind of is). I can not believe im in london!
Then on thursday all of the orientations began so I spent the majority of yesterday sitting through 3 hour talks about London and the Internships. The only exciting thing to come out of that one is that I got my Interview time and date. I know what you are all probably thinking. You thought I definitely had the job at the RAC club. Well you're not wrong my fine friends these interviews are mostly a formality and it is VERY unusual that the company turns away the intern after the interview. KNOCK ON WOOD. with my luck after saying that I will be the ONE person who that happens to haha.
So anyways Monday at 2:30 I will have to be dressed to the nines and ready to impress. wish me luck!
After the orientations me and my roommate decided to venture to the big grocery store that is closest to our program headquarters. WHICH to our defense is where everyone told us to go. So we did.... Keep in mind that my flat (hehe) is a couple tube stops away from headquarters and a good walk to and from the station. SO we were dumb and bought WAY too much groceries and then realized after we paid how difficult carrying it all back would be. Did not go so well haha.
Anyways after all that a big group from the program ended up going to a pub/bar called the Shakespeare. If only drinks didnt cost a ridiculous amount .... I may be very poor very soon. even one drink puts me back.
More adventures to come!
(and im not going to say that no one will be reading this for the benefit of Chris Harris...who pointed out that someone would have to read my blog to see that i wrote that probably no one wants to read what im saying haha.)
=)
~Lea
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Quick Update!!
SO i got here yesterday (MY NEW FLAT!!) in the early afternoon and did all my unpacking. Was about to go on a walking tour AND I LOSE MY KEY. I was the first roommate here by a long time so I just had to wander around tearing the place apart for about an hour and half until i found it haha. Then I try to go on the internet with the password and stuff they gave me. NOPE that didnt want to cooperate either.
Oh well! I got all the sorted out now so no harm no foul right!?
Everything is going very well the flat is really cute and the roomies seem very nice. I can only do a quick update as of now for those of you who were curious (maybe no one) haha
Anyways off to both my london and Internship orientations! woo hoo good times.
Ill write again later!
~Lea
Oh well! I got all the sorted out now so no harm no foul right!?
Everything is going very well the flat is really cute and the roomies seem very nice. I can only do a quick update as of now for those of you who were curious (maybe no one) haha
Anyways off to both my london and Internship orientations! woo hoo good times.
Ill write again later!
~Lea
Monday, January 10, 2011
Life of the English
So now that I am settled I've started making some observations of the english, because I had a day to myself to wander around Lincoln so I had to kill time somehow.
* please note none of these are new and/or insightful
First off, i LOVE love LOVE their sense of humor (something I already knew but I am relearning) everything is either sarcastic or brutally and hilariously honest.
also, every statement is somehow turned into a question. i.e "well it was a great time wasnt it?" or "I was feeling rather poorly wasn't I?" "we've done well here haven't we?"(poorly means sick...)
everything is smaller here. EVERYTHING. and yet so much more quaint.
everything is also BRILLIANT! or BLOODY BRILLIANT!
Toooodayyy I wandered around the town and chapel got lunch with my aunt went to a yoga class saw "the kings speech" pretty sure thats not out in the states yet.
and now im sititng here watching a british comedy called Miranda. I am CRYING laughing. again i love british humor.
Off to bed children! I'm a bit exhausted aren't I? hehe catch my britishness!?
~Lea
* please note none of these are new and/or insightful
First off, i LOVE love LOVE their sense of humor (something I already knew but I am relearning) everything is either sarcastic or brutally and hilariously honest.
also, every statement is somehow turned into a question. i.e "well it was a great time wasnt it?" or "I was feeling rather poorly wasn't I?" "we've done well here haven't we?"(poorly means sick...)
everything is smaller here. EVERYTHING. and yet so much more quaint.
everything is also BRILLIANT! or BLOODY BRILLIANT!
Toooodayyy I wandered around the town and chapel got lunch with my aunt went to a yoga class saw "the kings speech" pretty sure thats not out in the states yet.
and now im sititng here watching a british comedy called Miranda. I am CRYING laughing. again i love british humor.
Off to bed children! I'm a bit exhausted aren't I? hehe catch my britishness!?
~Lea
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Lincoln-ing
So I have now had my first real day in good ol' England!
To clarify to all of those interested... I am in Lincoln right now (a city about three hours north of London) I wont be in London till wednesday. So I am with my family so today was all about getting my bearings here.
Woke up a little late...half way through the day here .. BUT to my defense it was early back home. At which point I had tea and crumpets for breakfast. As you can see I am still doing as many English things as physically possible haha. The youngest cousin (Euan) went off to football ( NOT american football... the ACTUAL football that the rest of the world knows it to be haha). Then my oldest cousin (Angus) my Aunt and I took a walk into the center of Lincoln to get him some new squash shoes and me some things I needed .... and some things I didn't. But they were pretty things so its okay.
After a walk back up steep hill (yes thats the name of the street into town is called. I'll give you three guesses as to why, and the first two don't count) We went to a hotel for a few drinks... MOJITOS! before supper. My first legal drink in a bar! Followed by supper which was a traditional sunday roast...at a pub! WOO HOO MORE ENGLISH THINGS! haha
Fun Fact: my aunt and I are both EXTREMELY and embarrassingly bad at holding our own accents whenever we are around someone with an accent we pick it up in all of 20 minutes. Not on purpose and neither of us realize we are doing it. So since I have been spending all of my time with her we have come up with some weird american/british combo accent, and I'm sure it will only get worse by wednesday haha.
KELLY- I doubt you are reading this BUT in response to one of your first posts... I SAW THE DARTS ON TV! youre right the crowd is very very excited for...darts... haha AND apparently one of the guys in the finals right now lives down the street from my nana. weird right?
Okay thats all for today!
I feel like I have more to say... but I also feel like no one really wants to read every thought that comes to mind haha
~Lea
To clarify to all of those interested... I am in Lincoln right now (a city about three hours north of London) I wont be in London till wednesday. So I am with my family so today was all about getting my bearings here.
Woke up a little late...half way through the day here .. BUT to my defense it was early back home. At which point I had tea and crumpets for breakfast. As you can see I am still doing as many English things as physically possible haha. The youngest cousin (Euan) went off to football ( NOT american football... the ACTUAL football that the rest of the world knows it to be haha). Then my oldest cousin (Angus) my Aunt and I took a walk into the center of Lincoln to get him some new squash shoes and me some things I needed .... and some things I didn't. But they were pretty things so its okay.
After a walk back up steep hill (yes thats the name of the street into town is called. I'll give you three guesses as to why, and the first two don't count) We went to a hotel for a few drinks... MOJITOS! before supper. My first legal drink in a bar! Followed by supper which was a traditional sunday roast...at a pub! WOO HOO MORE ENGLISH THINGS! haha
Fun Fact: my aunt and I are both EXTREMELY and embarrassingly bad at holding our own accents whenever we are around someone with an accent we pick it up in all of 20 minutes. Not on purpose and neither of us realize we are doing it. So since I have been spending all of my time with her we have come up with some weird american/british combo accent, and I'm sure it will only get worse by wednesday haha.
KELLY- I doubt you are reading this BUT in response to one of your first posts... I SAW THE DARTS ON TV! youre right the crowd is very very excited for...darts... haha AND apparently one of the guys in the finals right now lives down the street from my nana. weird right?
Okay thats all for today!
I feel like I have more to say... but I also feel like no one really wants to read every thought that comes to mind haha
~Lea
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