Well, almost two weeks have flown by since the last update (why do I always update during the busiest moments in life?) and the time in Oxford is slipping out of my hands. I really don't have time to write about travels right now (that's this weekend, I'm hoping to finish spring break by sunday night) but I do have time to tell you the few random things on my mind:
1. Oxford: It's sinking in how much I'm going to miss this place. It's been a fabulous year of personal growth, and I really cannot imagine being home right now. I know once I'm home, I'll be happy to be there, but I have very mixed feelings about going home right now.
2. Speaking of going home, it just sank in that I leave the UK in less than five weeks. And I leave Oxford in four weeks. Eek!
3. Friends: I would never have imagined meeting so many amazing people here, and forming the deep friendships that I have formed, but now that I have, I cannot imagine leaving them either. So much can happen in 10 months. Who knew?
4. Composition: speaking of growing and things happening, I looked down at something I was writing out a minute ago (a four voice arrangement of Loch Lomond if you must know) and realized that composition is finally feeling effortless some of the time. I'm learning to trust my own instincts for composing, and that is fairly nice.
5. Student housing phenomena #267: Every single house that contains students only will end up in a stand-off over small things like taking the trash out, buying toilet paper, and cleaning the bathroom. It's not just your own house... it's everyone.
6. Cooking for a person who is nut, gluten, and lactose free isn't as hard as it sounds. Promise.
7. My book list for the summer is going to be really long. Why am I friends with all the English majors?
8. Politics from the 18th century: actually really interesting. I do not care what you think.
9. Using a book your tutor wrote for your tutorial with him: intimidating.
10. My to-do lists have become itemized detailed lists that take up a full sheet of paper. I may be busy. I dunno...
All for now. Watch for a flurry of travel updates this weekend, as well as photos and etc.
25 May 2010
11 May 2010
Randomness
Okay, here's a link to some random photos, most are from Hilary term, the winter term in Oxford, but a few are from break as well, including the little period that I went home for. :)
Photos
Photos
07 May 2010
Article
http://doc.mediaplanet.com/all_projects/4827.pdf
This link leads you to a neat series of articles on Celiac's Disease that USA Today put on. Good for them!
This link leads you to a neat series of articles on Celiac's Disease that USA Today put on. Good for them!
Celiac Coping
I've been gluten-free for almost a year and a half. That's almost enough time to be good at something, right?
Not so much.
I still struggle when I go out to eat, fearing what I should order. I still struggle when I have people over for dinner, and they want to make something. I have this irrational fear that the world is out to get me occasionally.
I know it's not. I know my friends love me. I know they don't really want me to get sick, even if they do fight over who gets to use the epi-pen if I have a peanut reaction (thanks guys...).
But how do you fit in, when everyone in your social group can just eat anywhere? Eat anything?
Well, they may not be perfect, but I've come up with a few coping techniques:
1. Carry a snack. It doesn't have to be big, but you should have one. I ended up staying at a friends house for several more hours than I expected the other day, I was really happy I had taken along some carrot sticks and hummus to munch on. "Just in case"
2. Suggest where to go. Most people will take suggestions. I did that just recently in London when we were on a day trip. Just quietly steered the group toward a place I knew about. Worked out fairly well, if I do say so myself.
3. Be ready to talk to a cook. I'm still getting over my fear of asking people what is in things. But I've noticed no one else seems to mind when I question someone, so why should I?
4. Play the host/hostess. I've found most people are willing to pitch in a little money if I play hostess and do the cooking. I've also discovered that Mexican goes over well, which is made so easily gluten-free. Plus people can contribute things to a Mexican night super-easy. "Go grab four bags of tortilla chips". Was that so hard? Not for them. And it's much less stressful for me!
5. Visit ahead of time. If I know our group is going to eat somewhere, I try to pop in before the night of the event and ask the wait staff questions. Usually someone can help me out, and then I know precisely what to do, I don't hold up anything, and I don't have to feel awkward. It's a win-win scenario from my point of view.
6. Be honest. I sometimes get so self-concious that I hate talking about my health problems. But when people ask questions, I think it's because they're genuinely curious, not because they're "being nice" or about to be mean. I love it now that I have a group here who knows what's what, because they tease me a lot, and I feel very normal most of the time despite my glaring difference from everyone else.
Continually learning, striving, coping. Wishing I didn't have to, but thanking God I've had the opportunity to learn more about me, and to help others occasionally. :)
Not so much.
I still struggle when I go out to eat, fearing what I should order. I still struggle when I have people over for dinner, and they want to make something. I have this irrational fear that the world is out to get me occasionally.
I know it's not. I know my friends love me. I know they don't really want me to get sick, even if they do fight over who gets to use the epi-pen if I have a peanut reaction (thanks guys...).
But how do you fit in, when everyone in your social group can just eat anywhere? Eat anything?
Well, they may not be perfect, but I've come up with a few coping techniques:
1. Carry a snack. It doesn't have to be big, but you should have one. I ended up staying at a friends house for several more hours than I expected the other day, I was really happy I had taken along some carrot sticks and hummus to munch on. "Just in case"
2. Suggest where to go. Most people will take suggestions. I did that just recently in London when we were on a day trip. Just quietly steered the group toward a place I knew about. Worked out fairly well, if I do say so myself.
3. Be ready to talk to a cook. I'm still getting over my fear of asking people what is in things. But I've noticed no one else seems to mind when I question someone, so why should I?
4. Play the host/hostess. I've found most people are willing to pitch in a little money if I play hostess and do the cooking. I've also discovered that Mexican goes over well, which is made so easily gluten-free. Plus people can contribute things to a Mexican night super-easy. "Go grab four bags of tortilla chips". Was that so hard? Not for them. And it's much less stressful for me!
5. Visit ahead of time. If I know our group is going to eat somewhere, I try to pop in before the night of the event and ask the wait staff questions. Usually someone can help me out, and then I know precisely what to do, I don't hold up anything, and I don't have to feel awkward. It's a win-win scenario from my point of view.
6. Be honest. I sometimes get so self-concious that I hate talking about my health problems. But when people ask questions, I think it's because they're genuinely curious, not because they're "being nice" or about to be mean. I love it now that I have a group here who knows what's what, because they tease me a lot, and I feel very normal most of the time despite my glaring difference from everyone else.
Continually learning, striving, coping. Wishing I didn't have to, but thanking God I've had the opportunity to learn more about me, and to help others occasionally. :)
03 May 2010
Salzburg
So it’s time to start the Spring Break posts. I still have a few trips to catch up on, but I’d rather do Spring Break while it’s fresh in my
mind. Once I extract some photos from my little brother, I’ll post about London and Oxford while Michael and Mom were visiting.
But for now, let’s start with my trip to Salzburg.
Salzburg was so great, I loved it a lot. From the first moment on the train and we crested a hill and I could see the Alps clearly, to the last morning when I left Salzburg with a little longing.
When I first arrived around 12:30, the afternoon was clear, bright, and hot. I found my hostel quickly, checked in and got settled in and went to explore the city, map in hand. The first place I ended up were the gardens they used in the filming of the Sound of Music. They’re right across the River Spree from the historic center, and they’re absolutely gorgeous. I easily spent an hour just wandering around and soaking in the amazing beauty.
It was in these gardens that I saw my favorite sight of perhaps my entire trip, because of how perfect it was.
Bruce, you’re with me everywhere I go.
After a wee bit more wandering in the gardens I headed across the river Spree to see the historic side of town. The historic part of Salzburg is almost all pedestrian streets, and everything is very “clean” and “neat”. So therefore it ends up having a very safe and closed in feeling, but not in a bad way. It was a really easy city to walk, I’m not sure why tourists think they need to use the tram and bus systems, it’s seems entirely needless to me, unless they’re taking one of those “Sound of Music” tours I guess. I skipped.
After walking around and getting my bearings in the historical end of town, I decided a lunch break was necessary, and what better spot than on the steps of the fountain in front of the Dom Cathedral (also used in the movie, but way cooler than the movie, and I like Julie Andrews).
When I exited the cathedral after walking around and oohing and ahhing, there was a guy sitting there playing the didgeridoo... now how many times is that going to happen in my life. The guy in the red shirt is dancing, which is kinda funny, and he sorta looked completely crazy, which isn’t so funny.
I spent the rest of the day just walking around and soaking up the culture of the place. After awhile I got tired, ran by a grocery store and headed back to the hostel. The other girls in my hostel dorm were super nice, two American students from Paris, and one girl from NZ, who lives in Qatar teaching on a two year project.
The next day, I got started early by hiking up the hill(mountain) to the fortress. The views were amazing, even if the fortress was a little pricey. I got some of the best pictures of the trip from that fortress.
After the fortress I went back down and hung out in the Mozart Residenz and Birthplace museums. The birthplace was a ripoff, but the Residenz didn’t do too badly overall. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour through it.
I was glad I did a combo ticket though and not just the birthplace. :P
After that I went and walked around the newer districts, more shopping oriented (found the 1 euro store Mom!) and just enjoyed the people. After a break at the hostel for dinner, Anne Maree (from NZ) and I went for a walk to see the city at night. I have some amazing nighttime photos, that do NOT do the city justice, it was more beautiful than it shows in these photos.
I also went and posed on the bridge that in the movie they cycle over and across to the banks of the River Spree.
All in all, the visit was really wonderful, and I enjoyed myself and awful lot during my two days there.
Full photos from the two days can be seen here!
23 April 2010
A Reflection on Traveling Alone vs Traveling with Someone
When I first announced to my friends in Oxford (both Americans and English) that I was going to travel alone, most looked at me like I was crazy. Some even voiced that opinion.
"You mean, you're not even going to meet up with someone along the way?"
"Do you think you'll be safe?"
"Aren't you worried?"
Well I wasn't before, but maybe I was then after those opinions.
I continued to research and pray, but I really felt that I trip alone would be a really good way to grow in my trust of God, and a good way to figure out just what I really am capable of doing on my own.
I've taken trips with other people before, which can be really interesting, it's nice to have someone who's there to experience things, help take photos, and someone to talk about it with after you come home. I had a friend tell me that:
"If I traveled alone, I would be afraid none of it had really happened, because I would be the only one there."
I guess that could be true, but I think if you don't travel alone occasionally you'll never know yourself entirely. I have such a better understanding of myself now. I've been lost and had to figure it out by myself. I've had to make friends with strangers (a strength I don't usually possess). I've had to stand up for myself in a country where I don't speak the language (someone tried to cheat me out of 5 euros worth of change. I got cranky). I've had to make every decision, from food to sights, to sleep, to trains. There's a serious thrill in being that independent. In just hopping trains and wandering cities, and hoping you find your way, but not really caring about getting lost along the way, because you're the only one it affects.
During my week all alone in Germany (and Salzburg) and then my week of wandering around Vienna and spending the evenings with Denise, I've learned a lot about myself. Like the fact that I tend to keep a running commentary going in my head, or that I really enjoy talking to people in hostels. I've made two good acquaintances, that I hope will turn into real friends, because both of them were lovely. I've been adventurous, I've been scared, and I was even homesick. But the real thing is, I made the decision to be those things, I didn't let someone else influence me, exhaust me, or make the decisions for me.
Like I said at first, I don't have anything against traveling with someone (hello, I traveled with Rebekah all through Michaelmas!) but I think it's important to experiment and try things on your own. I wouldn't recommend 3 years of this, but I would recommend a few weeks. It's envigorating to get lost... to look around and realize you've seen the buildings around you six times, but you have no idea where those buildings are on the map you're looking at.
That's all. Just a brief recommendation to figure yourself out.
"You mean, you're not even going to meet up with someone along the way?"
"Do you think you'll be safe?"
"Aren't you worried?"
Well I wasn't before, but maybe I was then after those opinions.
I continued to research and pray, but I really felt that I trip alone would be a really good way to grow in my trust of God, and a good way to figure out just what I really am capable of doing on my own.
I've taken trips with other people before, which can be really interesting, it's nice to have someone who's there to experience things, help take photos, and someone to talk about it with after you come home. I had a friend tell me that:
"If I traveled alone, I would be afraid none of it had really happened, because I would be the only one there."
I guess that could be true, but I think if you don't travel alone occasionally you'll never know yourself entirely. I have such a better understanding of myself now. I've been lost and had to figure it out by myself. I've had to make friends with strangers (a strength I don't usually possess). I've had to stand up for myself in a country where I don't speak the language (someone tried to cheat me out of 5 euros worth of change. I got cranky). I've had to make every decision, from food to sights, to sleep, to trains. There's a serious thrill in being that independent. In just hopping trains and wandering cities, and hoping you find your way, but not really caring about getting lost along the way, because you're the only one it affects.
During my week all alone in Germany (and Salzburg) and then my week of wandering around Vienna and spending the evenings with Denise, I've learned a lot about myself. Like the fact that I tend to keep a running commentary going in my head, or that I really enjoy talking to people in hostels. I've made two good acquaintances, that I hope will turn into real friends, because both of them were lovely. I've been adventurous, I've been scared, and I was even homesick. But the real thing is, I made the decision to be those things, I didn't let someone else influence me, exhaust me, or make the decisions for me.
Like I said at first, I don't have anything against traveling with someone (hello, I traveled with Rebekah all through Michaelmas!) but I think it's important to experiment and try things on your own. I wouldn't recommend 3 years of this, but I would recommend a few weeks. It's envigorating to get lost... to look around and realize you've seen the buildings around you six times, but you have no idea where those buildings are on the map you're looking at.
That's all. Just a brief recommendation to figure yourself out.
21 April 2010
Marooned, stranded, stuck, however you put it, it's not pleasant
Once again I'm sitting in the computer lab at Denise's school. What a gracious friend. Her graciousness is almost as wonderful as her friendship, humor, and kindness. As I have struggled through the weekend and continue to muddle through this week post volcano-explosion (as Eric put it: Dr. Harris must be so excited, this is the first time Iceland's been in the news in forever!) she has been there for me every step of the way, making sure I eat, talk, fuss, and occasionally sigh in frustration.
Frankly, being here hasn't been too bad overall. But let's back up. Originally I was going to take a daytrip on Friday last week. My plans changed slightly and I decided to go on Thursday instead, since Denise was free most of Friday (noon onward!) and I wanted to spend my *last* night with her, not in Eisenstadt. So Thursday morning, off I went to Eisenstadt, the town the Esterhazy family lived in. Terribly cool, I got to see Haydn's house. But the second I walked into her apartment that evening, full of crazy stories, Denise says "look at RyanAir. A volcano errupted, and flights are shutting down."
Sure enough, Friday evening I was notified my flight had been canceled. What followed from there was a frantic rush to get myself back in time for Monday lectures.
Or my Wednesday meeting.
Or just ever.
I first booked a Eurostar train for Monday evening, since that was the next available time I could go. I then Saturday went and stood in line, twice, trying to get a train out of Vienna and over to Paris. That was a no-go, since that was what everyone wanted to do. I spent a total of 4 hours and 30 minutes at Westbahnhof waiting in line. On Saturday. After a little conferencing with my family that night, I went back to Westbahnhof on Sunday and spent almost 3 hours trying to sort my life. Again. And then... here's the kicker, I couldn't get a train until Wednesday. So I booked it, thinking I could get ahold of Eurostar and change my booking with them.
I couldn't. So then I was going to be stuck in Paris, unable to get a hostel, unable to get a train. I panicked. I called my sister and she and I spent almost three hours on Sunday total trying to sort my life. Eventually we found a flight that was going to leave on Tuesday. I was so excited!
And then Monday night they canceled it.
I moved to this coming Monday.
I'll have missed an entire week, but hey, at least I'll get back, right?
Maybe wrong. The volcano errupted again yesterday, I may just have to move into Denise's apartment permanently.
On the plus side, I met her landlady today, she's absolutely a precious person, and is refusing to let me pay the extra rent to stay there since it's "such a pity! you being stuck here!". She gets flowers. And maybe chocolate.
Plus, Denise's roommates are SO cool. So wonderfully chill, and just absolutely lovely about the fact that they have an extra person in the house taking up space, shower time... etc. They've all been really sympathetic, and just incredibly gracious and kind. Such a relief to at least be stuck/stranded/marooned with friends. I've discovered so many new happy things about being glutenfree too! More on that at some point (and just how I managed to survive... although barely... I lost 5 pounds and about two inches on my waist in the last three weeks).
Life continues to be an adventure. In so many ways ...
Frankly, being here hasn't been too bad overall. But let's back up. Originally I was going to take a daytrip on Friday last week. My plans changed slightly and I decided to go on Thursday instead, since Denise was free most of Friday (noon onward!) and I wanted to spend my *last* night with her, not in Eisenstadt. So Thursday morning, off I went to Eisenstadt, the town the Esterhazy family lived in. Terribly cool, I got to see Haydn's house. But the second I walked into her apartment that evening, full of crazy stories, Denise says "look at RyanAir. A volcano errupted, and flights are shutting down."
Sure enough, Friday evening I was notified my flight had been canceled. What followed from there was a frantic rush to get myself back in time for Monday lectures.
Or my Wednesday meeting.
Or just ever.
I first booked a Eurostar train for Monday evening, since that was the next available time I could go. I then Saturday went and stood in line, twice, trying to get a train out of Vienna and over to Paris. That was a no-go, since that was what everyone wanted to do. I spent a total of 4 hours and 30 minutes at Westbahnhof waiting in line. On Saturday. After a little conferencing with my family that night, I went back to Westbahnhof on Sunday and spent almost 3 hours trying to sort my life. Again. And then... here's the kicker, I couldn't get a train until Wednesday. So I booked it, thinking I could get ahold of Eurostar and change my booking with them.
I couldn't. So then I was going to be stuck in Paris, unable to get a hostel, unable to get a train. I panicked. I called my sister and she and I spent almost three hours on Sunday total trying to sort my life. Eventually we found a flight that was going to leave on Tuesday. I was so excited!
And then Monday night they canceled it.
I moved to this coming Monday.
I'll have missed an entire week, but hey, at least I'll get back, right?
Maybe wrong. The volcano errupted again yesterday, I may just have to move into Denise's apartment permanently.
On the plus side, I met her landlady today, she's absolutely a precious person, and is refusing to let me pay the extra rent to stay there since it's "such a pity! you being stuck here!". She gets flowers. And maybe chocolate.
Plus, Denise's roommates are SO cool. So wonderfully chill, and just absolutely lovely about the fact that they have an extra person in the house taking up space, shower time... etc. They've all been really sympathetic, and just incredibly gracious and kind. Such a relief to at least be stuck/stranded/marooned with friends. I've discovered so many new happy things about being glutenfree too! More on that at some point (and just how I managed to survive... although barely... I lost 5 pounds and about two inches on my waist in the last three weeks).
Life continues to be an adventure. In so many ways ...
14 April 2010
Misc. Adventures
So here I sit, in the computer lab of Denise's school, chatting away with various folks, both online and not, and realizing, I never updated the blog while I was in Germany. So a brief rundown, with some more specific information to come.
Monday, April 5th:
Arrived in Vienna (re previous post on my own stupidity) and spent the evening with Denise, a lovely hostess. Who even cooked!
Tuesday, April 6th:
Wandered most of the first district, got lost once or twice, made ideas about what to do when I come back to Vienna.
Wednesday, April 7th:
Started early in the day by catching a train to Salzburg. After checking in at the hostel I walked around the old part of town and visited the Dom Cathedral. Tried to find the Mozart Residence, but was completely unsucessful.
Thursday, April 8th:
Started early again by hiking up the hill (small mountain is more descript) to the Salzburg Fortress. After touring around the fortress I came back down and went to both of the Mozart museums (it was glorious!) and did more walking and piddling around. After a break at the hostel for dinner and a little relaxing, I met up with Anne Maree, someone from my dorm, and we went for a twilight walk of Salzburg. The city that had been incredibly breathtaking during the day, was astounding at night.
Friday, April 9th:
Once again, early day! Took the train into Munich, checked into the hostel, and proceeded to walk the entire city (including the Englischer Gardens) in one afternoon. I also toured the Residenz, which reminded me in a bizarre way of a mix of Versailles and Buckingham ...
Saturday, April 10th:
Took the train to Berlin, although I started a little later that particular morning. I had plenty of time on my hands. Dealt with rude German students, and the most adorable family that made me a little homesick.
Sunday, April 11th:
Decided that since I didn't get to visit Auschwitz, touring Sachsenhausen, the very first concentration camp was a good idea. It definitely was, and I'm glad I took one of the guided walks as well. It was really informative, and helped me understand what was what. It was also incredibly depressing. I've done a little research in addition to that visit, so I plan to write up some information about the visit at a later date.
Monday, April 12th:
After tooling around Berlin for the morning, I took one of the Fat Tire Bike tours for Berlin. I just did the basic city tour, and it was such a wonderful way to see the city. I had only the one day to basically do everything, and it was a little overwhelming, so definitely worth the price to pay up and get to do it all on a bike. Someday I'll go back and spend more time and do it properly. After the tour I grabbed my bags and hightailed it for the Hauptbahnhof (which is an attraction in and of itself) and caught the next train to Leipzig. By the time I made it to the hostel I was super tired and it was about 7:00, so I pretty much just ate dinner and collapsed.
Tuesday, April 13th:
The most convenient train for Vienna left at 10:36, so I tried to see as much of Leipzig as was possible in three hours. I definitely didn't succeed, but I saw the two Bach churches, one of them being a famous one from the Monday Marches from 1987. ;) After that I hopped my train and spent the next nine mind numbing hours heading back to Vienna. Whew.
Wednesday, April 14th
Oh wait... that's today! I walked around the Hofburg section of Vienna today for awhile and then once I was really good and soaked searched out a museum. The most convenient one was a bundled ticket for the actual Hofburg (palace) with the Schönbrunn. So after touring the Hofburg museums: Silver Collection, Imperial Apartments, and the Sissi museum (exploring the myth!) I headed over to meet Denise so I could attend her music history class with her. It was a riot, I'm so glad I went. He talked about a lot of stuff that I had written papers on this last term, so it was especially interesting for me to hear a Viennese person explain it. Very interesting.
Tomorrow I plan to tour the Schönbrunn palace (the summer palace) after meeting Denise for all you can eat salads. Super great plans. I'm happy. Friday is still yet to be determined. Saturday I go home ... sad days. I have to go back to the real world....
Monday, April 5th:
Arrived in Vienna (re previous post on my own stupidity) and spent the evening with Denise, a lovely hostess. Who even cooked!
Tuesday, April 6th:
Wandered most of the first district, got lost once or twice, made ideas about what to do when I come back to Vienna.
Wednesday, April 7th:
Started early in the day by catching a train to Salzburg. After checking in at the hostel I walked around the old part of town and visited the Dom Cathedral. Tried to find the Mozart Residence, but was completely unsucessful.
Thursday, April 8th:
Started early again by hiking up the hill (small mountain is more descript) to the Salzburg Fortress. After touring around the fortress I came back down and went to both of the Mozart museums (it was glorious!) and did more walking and piddling around. After a break at the hostel for dinner and a little relaxing, I met up with Anne Maree, someone from my dorm, and we went for a twilight walk of Salzburg. The city that had been incredibly breathtaking during the day, was astounding at night.
Friday, April 9th:
Once again, early day! Took the train into Munich, checked into the hostel, and proceeded to walk the entire city (including the Englischer Gardens) in one afternoon. I also toured the Residenz, which reminded me in a bizarre way of a mix of Versailles and Buckingham ...
Saturday, April 10th:
Took the train to Berlin, although I started a little later that particular morning. I had plenty of time on my hands. Dealt with rude German students, and the most adorable family that made me a little homesick.
Sunday, April 11th:
Decided that since I didn't get to visit Auschwitz, touring Sachsenhausen, the very first concentration camp was a good idea. It definitely was, and I'm glad I took one of the guided walks as well. It was really informative, and helped me understand what was what. It was also incredibly depressing. I've done a little research in addition to that visit, so I plan to write up some information about the visit at a later date.
Monday, April 12th:
After tooling around Berlin for the morning, I took one of the Fat Tire Bike tours for Berlin. I just did the basic city tour, and it was such a wonderful way to see the city. I had only the one day to basically do everything, and it was a little overwhelming, so definitely worth the price to pay up and get to do it all on a bike. Someday I'll go back and spend more time and do it properly. After the tour I grabbed my bags and hightailed it for the Hauptbahnhof (which is an attraction in and of itself) and caught the next train to Leipzig. By the time I made it to the hostel I was super tired and it was about 7:00, so I pretty much just ate dinner and collapsed.
Tuesday, April 13th:
The most convenient train for Vienna left at 10:36, so I tried to see as much of Leipzig as was possible in three hours. I definitely didn't succeed, but I saw the two Bach churches, one of them being a famous one from the Monday Marches from 1987. ;) After that I hopped my train and spent the next nine mind numbing hours heading back to Vienna. Whew.
Wednesday, April 14th
Oh wait... that's today! I walked around the Hofburg section of Vienna today for awhile and then once I was really good and soaked searched out a museum. The most convenient one was a bundled ticket for the actual Hofburg (palace) with the Schönbrunn. So after touring the Hofburg museums: Silver Collection, Imperial Apartments, and the Sissi museum (exploring the myth!) I headed over to meet Denise so I could attend her music history class with her. It was a riot, I'm so glad I went. He talked about a lot of stuff that I had written papers on this last term, so it was especially interesting for me to hear a Viennese person explain it. Very interesting.
Tomorrow I plan to tour the Schönbrunn palace (the summer palace) after meeting Denise for all you can eat salads. Super great plans. I'm happy. Friday is still yet to be determined. Saturday I go home ... sad days. I have to go back to the real world....
07 April 2010
Austria!!!
As of this moment, I am currently sitting in my hostel in Salzburg, whiling away a little time because the museums are closed, and I don't feel up to just wandering about today.
So on Monday I flew into Bratislava, which for those of you who are not away, is in Slovakia. While I knew this before leaving, for some reason it never dawned on me to brush up on my Slovakian. Hence the following story.
Everything was fine until I was about 50 feet out of Immigration. I reached for my passport, which I thought I had stuck in my back pocket, I was going to transfer it back to my purse while I tried desperately to figure out what "train station" was in Slovakian. As I reached back, I realiyed (dramatic music cue...) it wasn't there. Uh-oh. Where did it go.
I sat down and searched through my bags, not there. Not in any of my pockets. I retraced my steps up to that point, not there either. Uh-oh.
Next, I pursued a search for the info desk, and managed to walk right by it four or five times. Smooth. If it hadn't been for the English guys from my flight who I had befriended before takeoff, I might have stayed wandering for a bit. Of course almost none of the signs are in English, so I'm dreadfully confused the entire time. After finally locating someone who speaks English at the info desk, I am directed to the Lost&Found desk... where my passport lies waiting.
*phew*
I would lose my head if it wasn't screwed on, I'm pretty sure.
So on Monday I flew into Bratislava, which for those of you who are not away, is in Slovakia. While I knew this before leaving, for some reason it never dawned on me to brush up on my Slovakian. Hence the following story.
Everything was fine until I was about 50 feet out of Immigration. I reached for my passport, which I thought I had stuck in my back pocket, I was going to transfer it back to my purse while I tried desperately to figure out what "train station" was in Slovakian. As I reached back, I realiyed (dramatic music cue...) it wasn't there. Uh-oh. Where did it go.
I sat down and searched through my bags, not there. Not in any of my pockets. I retraced my steps up to that point, not there either. Uh-oh.
Next, I pursued a search for the info desk, and managed to walk right by it four or five times. Smooth. If it hadn't been for the English guys from my flight who I had befriended before takeoff, I might have stayed wandering for a bit. Of course almost none of the signs are in English, so I'm dreadfully confused the entire time. After finally locating someone who speaks English at the info desk, I am directed to the Lost&Found desk... where my passport lies waiting.
*phew*
I would lose my head if it wasn't screwed on, I'm pretty sure.
01 April 2010
The new plan
So as my previous post stated, there have been a few complications as far as the traveling goes.
As soon as I get a chance I will try to post some photos from when Mom and Michael visited. I don't actually have the photos, Michael took all of them except for one or two.
So for now I'm lonely in Oxford. I may try texting a few people and seeing if they want to do dinner. Up to this point I haven't felt well enough to get out of bed. I'm not entirely sure I'm up to getting out of bed just yet anyways. :D
My new plan is to leave Monday morning, decently early from Oxford, get to Bratislava mid-afternoon, and Vienna a little later than that. I'll spend Monday and Tuesday nights with Denise, friend extraordinaire (who's also going to feed me! yay!).
On Wednesday I'll leave for Salzburg, spend Wednesday and Thursday nights in Salzburg, Friday night in Munich, Saturday and Sunday nights in Berlin, and Monday night in Leipzig. I'll go back to Vienna from Leipzig and spend the rest of my time just hanging out in Vienna, taking day trips, seeing Vienna, and just hanging with my other half. This trip, should it actually happen, should be great!
Just pray that public transit works for once....
*sigh*
As soon as I get a chance I will try to post some photos from when Mom and Michael visited. I don't actually have the photos, Michael took all of them except for one or two.
So for now I'm lonely in Oxford. I may try texting a few people and seeing if they want to do dinner. Up to this point I haven't felt well enough to get out of bed. I'm not entirely sure I'm up to getting out of bed just yet anyways. :D
My new plan is to leave Monday morning, decently early from Oxford, get to Bratislava mid-afternoon, and Vienna a little later than that. I'll spend Monday and Tuesday nights with Denise, friend extraordinaire (who's also going to feed me! yay!).
On Wednesday I'll leave for Salzburg, spend Wednesday and Thursday nights in Salzburg, Friday night in Munich, Saturday and Sunday nights in Berlin, and Monday night in Leipzig. I'll go back to Vienna from Leipzig and spend the rest of my time just hanging out in Vienna, taking day trips, seeing Vienna, and just hanging with my other half. This trip, should it actually happen, should be great!
Just pray that public transit works for once....
*sigh*
31 March 2010
Complications of a World Traveler
The title for today's post is a play off of my friend's newspaper article, which she entitled "Confessions of a World Traveler". It's Complicated, because of my yesterday. I learned some important lessons, and was shown both the frustrations and kindnesses of different strangers in life.
Let me back up.
For the past week my Mom and my younger brother Michael (note the word younger... I can no longer say "little", he only has an inch to go before he's my height) have been visiting me here in Oxford. We had tons of crazy adventures, and I even found out Mom can have the smoothies at Moo Moo's, the best milkshake place this side of the Atlantic. It was a really exciting moment for all involved.
Being able to show Oxford to them was really great, and I enjoyed almost every moment.
I say almost, because halfway through the week I developed a sinus infection. I'm semi-famous for having bad sinuses, and for having some of the worst infections known to man. But this one kicked every other infection I've had in the face. It's inflamed the nerves on the right side of my face, and I've been swollen and tender to the touch there for close to a week as of now. Yay for Oxford's perpetual damp.
The pain was so bad one night I couldn't function, was entirely miserable, and almost hysterical from the pain, despite having taken prescription strength ibuprofen, some tylenol, and two benedryl. My Mom was so worried she kept threatening to take me to the JR, the hospital here. Fortunately for me, Megan (who was staying with us for the week) told Mom how far away the JR is, and how much trouble it would be. They finally gave me some really strong prescription meds that I use when the arthritis pain is bad and put me to bed. Finally.
That was Sunday night. Monday I mostly stayed on the couch, and took pain medicine frequently. Monday night the pain amped up again, not as badly, but to the point where I was miserable again. I took a lot of pain medicine and went to bed around 12 with the idea of getting up at 6:30 am so everyone could catch their respective coaches to go to their airports and catch flights.
7:15am I finally roll over and realize we've all overslept. A mild hurry descends on the house as we try to get out the door by 8 am. We're really unsuccessful, but I had wanted to run Mom and Michael early for their coach so I could catch the 9:05am coach to Luton. Around 8:50am we finally get to the coach station in Oxford and I put them on their coach and rush off to the National Express office to buy a ticket. Now the fact that you have to buy the tickets from a centralized office instead of a kiosk or on the bus like EVERY OTHER BUS COMPANY IN ENGLAND really frustrates me. Clearly.
The following is the rest of my day, post dropping off Mom and Michael at their coach. They told me later they made it in plenty of time.
8:52am - Enter NatEx office, two people in front of me. A man in his 30's who doesn't speak very good English and is incredibly confused about where he's going, and then a woman who's about 25/26 who DOES speak English, but is incredibly confused about what she needs, and even though the slightly incompetent girl behind the counter is explaining it, the customer continues to argue about what she needs. Even I knew she was wrong, and I'm not originally from here. Go figure.
9am - I finally make it to the counter, but am informed that the coach is leaving in just a moment. Having checked the schedule before I left I know this is incorrect, and tell them I should have five minutes. The man behind the counter refuses to sell me a ticket, saying everyone else is on the coach and it's leaving. I'm really frustrated, but what can I do at this point? Not much.
I explain that my flight is at 13:40 and I need to be at Luton before that. He tells me to hop the next OxfordTube coach to London and grab a coach from Victoria station to Luton. I'm doubtful, but he's rude, and I'd like to get away from him, so I agree. The guy who sells me the Tube ticket (because of course I don't have my multiticket on me...) tells me he thinks I'm making a mistake and proceeds to argue with the NatEx guy. I'm confused, and can't understand, because the guy from the OxTube is from Northern Scotland, and that's an almost impossible accent to understand. I finally give up and go get on the OxTube coach and ride into London.
It's 11:45 am now, the coach from Oxford ran late, and I'm really worried I'm not going to get to Luton in time.
I'm right. Again.
The Greenline Arriva bus from London to Luton pulls in at 1:20pm. I dash through the airport making a complete idiot out of myself, and almost injuring myself in the process. I get up to the security checkpoint and am told the paper I printed at home (or at Penelope's, rather) is NOT my boarding pass at all and I need to run downstairs and check-in.
1:25 pm - I dash downstairs to find the check-in desk for my flight is entirely closed.
1:30 pm I finally make it to the front of a different line and am directed to a ticket window across the room. It'd be nice if it had had a sign. I would have gone there in the first place.
1:35 pm - Am told I basically missed my flight as of five past one. In a culmination of too much strong medicine, frustration, and a complete lack of sleep, and the amount of pain I'm in, I burst into tears. The girl behind the desk tells me to come back in two minutes, she'll let me use the phone and I can call the states so I can talk to my Dad.
1:45 pm - Try repeatedly to use the desk phone to call Dad. Doesn't work. Call Charles on my mobile instead. Cry a little again because I'm so frustrated. He promises to call the States and have Dad call my mobile number.
1:50 pm - Denise, the friend I was going to meet in Bratislava/Vienna calls my mobile, concerned because got a text from me saying I had missed my flight. She tells me to calm down, and that my not coming isn't a huge deal, we'll just get refunds on things.
1:55 pm - Dad calls. We talk through my missed flight and the fact that getting on the next day flight will be 100 GBP. He reminds me the experience far outweighs the cost (something I have to repeat fairly frequently when I freak out about money, or lack thereof) and the only concern should be my health, which has been pretty cruddy.
2:05 pm - Denise and I talk again. We agree I'll just go home and sleep for two or three days and try the trip again soon.
3:30 pm - catch the coach back to Oxford (all that wasted money on coach tickets... blech).
6:00 pm - walk in the door and collapse. Realize I have no groceries.
Then remember Mom left stuff in the freezer. What a great Mom.
So for now I'm surviving on the leftovers Mom left in the freezer, and trying to sort my life again. Next time in this sort of a situation I will not try to leave the same day my company does, but I will try to leave the following day. I will not assume people are going to be nice, but I will remember to accept kindness when it is offered, like the bus driver who joked around with me, or the girl at the WH Smith who gave me a discount on my drinks and crisps because she overheard me talking to Denise on my mobile and felt sorry for me missing my flight.
Oh, and I think I'm leaving now on Monday, April 5th.
At least I'll have a nice quiet weekend to recover from the infection.
Let me back up.
For the past week my Mom and my younger brother Michael (note the word younger... I can no longer say "little", he only has an inch to go before he's my height) have been visiting me here in Oxford. We had tons of crazy adventures, and I even found out Mom can have the smoothies at Moo Moo's, the best milkshake place this side of the Atlantic. It was a really exciting moment for all involved.
Being able to show Oxford to them was really great, and I enjoyed almost every moment.
I say almost, because halfway through the week I developed a sinus infection. I'm semi-famous for having bad sinuses, and for having some of the worst infections known to man. But this one kicked every other infection I've had in the face. It's inflamed the nerves on the right side of my face, and I've been swollen and tender to the touch there for close to a week as of now. Yay for Oxford's perpetual damp.
The pain was so bad one night I couldn't function, was entirely miserable, and almost hysterical from the pain, despite having taken prescription strength ibuprofen, some tylenol, and two benedryl. My Mom was so worried she kept threatening to take me to the JR, the hospital here. Fortunately for me, Megan (who was staying with us for the week) told Mom how far away the JR is, and how much trouble it would be. They finally gave me some really strong prescription meds that I use when the arthritis pain is bad and put me to bed. Finally.
That was Sunday night. Monday I mostly stayed on the couch, and took pain medicine frequently. Monday night the pain amped up again, not as badly, but to the point where I was miserable again. I took a lot of pain medicine and went to bed around 12 with the idea of getting up at 6:30 am so everyone could catch their respective coaches to go to their airports and catch flights.
7:15am I finally roll over and realize we've all overslept. A mild hurry descends on the house as we try to get out the door by 8 am. We're really unsuccessful, but I had wanted to run Mom and Michael early for their coach so I could catch the 9:05am coach to Luton. Around 8:50am we finally get to the coach station in Oxford and I put them on their coach and rush off to the National Express office to buy a ticket. Now the fact that you have to buy the tickets from a centralized office instead of a kiosk or on the bus like EVERY OTHER BUS COMPANY IN ENGLAND really frustrates me. Clearly.
The following is the rest of my day, post dropping off Mom and Michael at their coach. They told me later they made it in plenty of time.
8:52am - Enter NatEx office, two people in front of me. A man in his 30's who doesn't speak very good English and is incredibly confused about where he's going, and then a woman who's about 25/26 who DOES speak English, but is incredibly confused about what she needs, and even though the slightly incompetent girl behind the counter is explaining it, the customer continues to argue about what she needs. Even I knew she was wrong, and I'm not originally from here. Go figure.
9am - I finally make it to the counter, but am informed that the coach is leaving in just a moment. Having checked the schedule before I left I know this is incorrect, and tell them I should have five minutes. The man behind the counter refuses to sell me a ticket, saying everyone else is on the coach and it's leaving. I'm really frustrated, but what can I do at this point? Not much.
I explain that my flight is at 13:40 and I need to be at Luton before that. He tells me to hop the next OxfordTube coach to London and grab a coach from Victoria station to Luton. I'm doubtful, but he's rude, and I'd like to get away from him, so I agree. The guy who sells me the Tube ticket (because of course I don't have my multiticket on me...) tells me he thinks I'm making a mistake and proceeds to argue with the NatEx guy. I'm confused, and can't understand, because the guy from the OxTube is from Northern Scotland, and that's an almost impossible accent to understand. I finally give up and go get on the OxTube coach and ride into London.
It's 11:45 am now, the coach from Oxford ran late, and I'm really worried I'm not going to get to Luton in time.
I'm right. Again.
The Greenline Arriva bus from London to Luton pulls in at 1:20pm. I dash through the airport making a complete idiot out of myself, and almost injuring myself in the process. I get up to the security checkpoint and am told the paper I printed at home (or at Penelope's, rather) is NOT my boarding pass at all and I need to run downstairs and check-in.
1:25 pm - I dash downstairs to find the check-in desk for my flight is entirely closed.
1:30 pm I finally make it to the front of a different line and am directed to a ticket window across the room. It'd be nice if it had had a sign. I would have gone there in the first place.
1:35 pm - Am told I basically missed my flight as of five past one. In a culmination of too much strong medicine, frustration, and a complete lack of sleep, and the amount of pain I'm in, I burst into tears. The girl behind the desk tells me to come back in two minutes, she'll let me use the phone and I can call the states so I can talk to my Dad.
1:45 pm - Try repeatedly to use the desk phone to call Dad. Doesn't work. Call Charles on my mobile instead. Cry a little again because I'm so frustrated. He promises to call the States and have Dad call my mobile number.
1:50 pm - Denise, the friend I was going to meet in Bratislava/Vienna calls my mobile, concerned because got a text from me saying I had missed my flight. She tells me to calm down, and that my not coming isn't a huge deal, we'll just get refunds on things.
1:55 pm - Dad calls. We talk through my missed flight and the fact that getting on the next day flight will be 100 GBP. He reminds me the experience far outweighs the cost (something I have to repeat fairly frequently when I freak out about money, or lack thereof) and the only concern should be my health, which has been pretty cruddy.
2:05 pm - Denise and I talk again. We agree I'll just go home and sleep for two or three days and try the trip again soon.
3:30 pm - catch the coach back to Oxford (all that wasted money on coach tickets... blech).
6:00 pm - walk in the door and collapse. Realize I have no groceries.
Then remember Mom left stuff in the freezer. What a great Mom.
So for now I'm surviving on the leftovers Mom left in the freezer, and trying to sort my life again. Next time in this sort of a situation I will not try to leave the same day my company does, but I will try to leave the following day. I will not assume people are going to be nice, but I will remember to accept kindness when it is offered, like the bus driver who joked around with me, or the girl at the WH Smith who gave me a discount on my drinks and crisps because she overheard me talking to Denise on my mobile and felt sorry for me missing my flight.
Oh, and I think I'm leaving now on Monday, April 5th.
At least I'll have a nice quiet weekend to recover from the infection.
08 March 2010
Still busy...
Maybe y'all didn't believe me when I said I wasn't sure when I was going to schedule breathing, but it's turned out to be so very very true.
I kept thinking last week that I'd slow down and have a chance to breathe, but anytime I should have academically, my social life caught up to me.
We took a wee excursion to Brighton last week for three days (by we, I mean myself and my housemate Chrissy). More on that later (I'm trying a new program to write the post... but I'm not terribly motivated at the moment).
I can't believe that in less than a week I'll be busy with break stuff, and traveling. I finally got my plans all figured out for now, with a little looseness to be had in certain ways.
Sunday 14 March - After church at St. Ebbe's take the OxfordTube to my brother's house in northern London where I'll be until either Wednesday evening or Thursday morning (depending on the next set of plans). I'll spend most of that time sightseeing in London with my Mom and brother Michael who are coming over from the States.
Thursday 18 March - Leave with groups from Focus for Ledbury, five days of awesomeness up near the border of Wales. We're just going on a retreat together, and I'm really looking forward to it.
Monday 22 March - Arrive back in Oxford (most likely exhausted), clean the house hurriedly with my dear friend Megan, and then welcome Mom and Michael to my house! Megan is staying with us for the week too, so I can save her some money, but she's fairly independent and will most likely do her own thing I imagine. But still, I have a week in which to show my Mom and brother around my city. That's going to be super super exciting.
Tuesday 30 March - Mom and Michael leave Oxford to go back to the States, I leave Oxford for Vienna, well Bratislava really, because it was far cheaper, but I will take a train into Vienna that evening to meet up with Denise.
Wednesday 31 March - take a bus to Prague with Denise where we will be for 2 nights. We're super excited!
Friday 2 April - in the evening take a night train to Oswiecem, the town that Auschwitz is located in.
Saturday 3 April - tour Auschwitz. That evening take a night train back to Vienna.
Sunday 4 April - after arriving in Vienna spend two glorious days hanging out with Denise and touring her lovely lovely city while she's still on break. When she goes back to school on Tuesday, continue to wander around and do music-y things.
Wednesday 7 April - Leave for Salzburg. Spend two nights there touring the city.
After this, it gets a little sketchy as to what goes on when, but I think the basic idea is going to be:
Munich, Berlin, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, Bratislava, Oxford.
I have no hostels booked yet, but I did get a global Interrail pass so, I should be good to go all through Western Europe. Yay.
Eeek. Almost here!
I kept thinking last week that I'd slow down and have a chance to breathe, but anytime I should have academically, my social life caught up to me.
We took a wee excursion to Brighton last week for three days (by we, I mean myself and my housemate Chrissy). More on that later (I'm trying a new program to write the post... but I'm not terribly motivated at the moment).
I can't believe that in less than a week I'll be busy with break stuff, and traveling. I finally got my plans all figured out for now, with a little looseness to be had in certain ways.
Sunday 14 March - After church at St. Ebbe's take the OxfordTube to my brother's house in northern London where I'll be until either Wednesday evening or Thursday morning (depending on the next set of plans). I'll spend most of that time sightseeing in London with my Mom and brother Michael who are coming over from the States.
Thursday 18 March - Leave with groups from Focus for Ledbury, five days of awesomeness up near the border of Wales. We're just going on a retreat together, and I'm really looking forward to it.
Monday 22 March - Arrive back in Oxford (most likely exhausted), clean the house hurriedly with my dear friend Megan, and then welcome Mom and Michael to my house! Megan is staying with us for the week too, so I can save her some money, but she's fairly independent and will most likely do her own thing I imagine. But still, I have a week in which to show my Mom and brother around my city. That's going to be super super exciting.
Tuesday 30 March - Mom and Michael leave Oxford to go back to the States, I leave Oxford for Vienna, well Bratislava really, because it was far cheaper, but I will take a train into Vienna that evening to meet up with Denise.
Wednesday 31 March - take a bus to Prague with Denise where we will be for 2 nights. We're super excited!
Friday 2 April - in the evening take a night train to Oswiecem, the town that Auschwitz is located in.
Saturday 3 April - tour Auschwitz. That evening take a night train back to Vienna.
Sunday 4 April - after arriving in Vienna spend two glorious days hanging out with Denise and touring her lovely lovely city while she's still on break. When she goes back to school on Tuesday, continue to wander around and do music-y things.
Wednesday 7 April - Leave for Salzburg. Spend two nights there touring the city.
After this, it gets a little sketchy as to what goes on when, but I think the basic idea is going to be:
Munich, Berlin, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, Bratislava, Oxford.
I have no hostels booked yet, but I did get a global Interrail pass so, I should be good to go all through Western Europe. Yay.
Eeek. Almost here!
24 February 2010
King Lear, All-nighters, Brighton, and more...
Well, another week has rolled around, and considering I'm at a moment of lull between my two projects (due back to back) I thought I would write a quick post on life in Oxford.
Due to the fact that I had friends here right before 4th week, and my minor tutor having to move our 4th week meeting to 5th week, and keeping Charles and Erin's boys for three days... I got behind. Majorly behind in ways that are never good.
Normally around here we have something we call "5th week blues" or "the 5th week slump". That would have been last week. Unfortunately, I had no time to have a slump, as I have had so much to do so close together.
However, I'm on the cusp of being finished with everything, minus one composition project due tomorrow afternoon, that I should finish at some point.
So backing up a little,
Last week, I had a paper due on Wednesday, and a Composition project due on Thursday. I screwed up my own life by not starting my paper fast enough since I lost two days of research being in London, and ended up pulling an all-nighter that Tuesday night to finish in time. When I was visiting Penelope later on Wednesday morning (as opposed to 7 am, when I finally finished my paper and decided bed wasn't worth my time...) she invited me to go to St. Michael's with them for an Ash Wednesday service. The service was really interesting, considering all I had ever heard about Anglicans was that they were like Roman Catholics minus the pope. Similarities could be drawn for sure, but they are vastly different from what I could tell. Obviously I have been to Evensong services, but that's sort of different from going to a full blown service like that one.
On Thursday I had one of the worst days of the term, but only for all the little inconsequential things. Like being splashed by a car, and then a bus while I was walking to my tutorial. Being harassed by immature boys on the back of the bus, having had far too little sleep the night previous, and none the night before that. And on top of all of this, Tesco called that morning and informed me they couldn't deliver my order since my credit card had failed to validate.
You think Mastercard would realize I live in England now.
You would think.
After a terrible morning/afternoon (but a decent tutorial) I came home to realize I had so much homework, I wasn't sure when I was going to shower and sleep in the next week.
In retrospect, it wasn't as bad as I feared, but on Thursday it looked bleak. So I had to skip Bible study, which some know is the only reason I stay sane from week to week. Sad day.
Friday was spent studying, traversing to tutorial, and then my Friday night consisted of a hot date.
With my kitchen.
I scrubbed that thing from top to bottom. It was very pretty when I finished.
Although our fridge still smells like something crawled in there and died, and no one can figure out what in the world it could be. Ugh.
Saturday I studied. And felt like a loser since I didn't venture out of the house once. In fact, I only left my bedroom to reheat some leftovers and grab the salsa out of the fridge.
Sunday the Warners had a tea party at their house in the afternoon, which is always great great fun. Penelope always goes out of her way to make sure I can eat things, and she made her homemade fairy cakes gluten-free, and meringue cake with berries again. So great. During the tea it came up that some folks are doing a little traveling over the next couple of weeks. My housemate Chrissy, and I both caught the travel bug, and promptly sat down and planned a trip.
We're going to Brighton next week for three nights.
Because we can.
Monday night we journeyed to Stratford to see King Lear, a production put on by the RSC, Royal Shakespeare Company. Not anywhere near as gory as I feared, and an incredibly powerful production. Although, the set distracted me a little. As did their indecisiveness in costuming:
"Were we in WWI or pre-Medieval Britain? Did anyone actually know?!"
-Jacquie Rawles, the tutor who accompanied our trip.
Otherwise, a great production.
The last two days were spent in a flurry of paper writing and compositional exercises. After tutorial tomorrow afternoon, I'm catching a train to London to meet a group of friends so we can all see Love Never Dies, the "sequel" to Phantom of the Opera.
We plan to laugh voraciously at the ridiculousness it has to be.
That's my week.
I'm busy. Way busy.
Can spring break be here yet?
Due to the fact that I had friends here right before 4th week, and my minor tutor having to move our 4th week meeting to 5th week, and keeping Charles and Erin's boys for three days... I got behind. Majorly behind in ways that are never good.
Normally around here we have something we call "5th week blues" or "the 5th week slump". That would have been last week. Unfortunately, I had no time to have a slump, as I have had so much to do so close together.
However, I'm on the cusp of being finished with everything, minus one composition project due tomorrow afternoon, that I should finish at some point.
So backing up a little,
Last week, I had a paper due on Wednesday, and a Composition project due on Thursday. I screwed up my own life by not starting my paper fast enough since I lost two days of research being in London, and ended up pulling an all-nighter that Tuesday night to finish in time. When I was visiting Penelope later on Wednesday morning (as opposed to 7 am, when I finally finished my paper and decided bed wasn't worth my time...) she invited me to go to St. Michael's with them for an Ash Wednesday service. The service was really interesting, considering all I had ever heard about Anglicans was that they were like Roman Catholics minus the pope. Similarities could be drawn for sure, but they are vastly different from what I could tell. Obviously I have been to Evensong services, but that's sort of different from going to a full blown service like that one.
On Thursday I had one of the worst days of the term, but only for all the little inconsequential things. Like being splashed by a car, and then a bus while I was walking to my tutorial. Being harassed by immature boys on the back of the bus, having had far too little sleep the night previous, and none the night before that. And on top of all of this, Tesco called that morning and informed me they couldn't deliver my order since my credit card had failed to validate.
You think Mastercard would realize I live in England now.
You would think.
After a terrible morning/afternoon (but a decent tutorial) I came home to realize I had so much homework, I wasn't sure when I was going to shower and sleep in the next week.
In retrospect, it wasn't as bad as I feared, but on Thursday it looked bleak. So I had to skip Bible study, which some know is the only reason I stay sane from week to week. Sad day.
Friday was spent studying, traversing to tutorial, and then my Friday night consisted of a hot date.
With my kitchen.
I scrubbed that thing from top to bottom. It was very pretty when I finished.
Although our fridge still smells like something crawled in there and died, and no one can figure out what in the world it could be. Ugh.
Saturday I studied. And felt like a loser since I didn't venture out of the house once. In fact, I only left my bedroom to reheat some leftovers and grab the salsa out of the fridge.
Sunday the Warners had a tea party at their house in the afternoon, which is always great great fun. Penelope always goes out of her way to make sure I can eat things, and she made her homemade fairy cakes gluten-free, and meringue cake with berries again. So great. During the tea it came up that some folks are doing a little traveling over the next couple of weeks. My housemate Chrissy, and I both caught the travel bug, and promptly sat down and planned a trip.
We're going to Brighton next week for three nights.
Because we can.
Monday night we journeyed to Stratford to see King Lear, a production put on by the RSC, Royal Shakespeare Company. Not anywhere near as gory as I feared, and an incredibly powerful production. Although, the set distracted me a little. As did their indecisiveness in costuming:
"Were we in WWI or pre-Medieval Britain? Did anyone actually know?!"
-Jacquie Rawles, the tutor who accompanied our trip.
Otherwise, a great production.
The last two days were spent in a flurry of paper writing and compositional exercises. After tutorial tomorrow afternoon, I'm catching a train to London to meet a group of friends so we can all see Love Never Dies, the "sequel" to Phantom of the Opera.
We plan to laugh voraciously at the ridiculousness it has to be.
That's my week.
I'm busy. Way busy.
Can spring break be here yet?
20 February 2010
Canterbury and beyond! Or maybe just Canterbury!
Weekend of November 21/22
Hey, I’m getting closer! Very soon it will be time to write about our big Ireland trip.
Then I really haven’t done anything interesting during this term.
I’ll probably do this next term too, write about the craziness that will be my spring break.
But more on that later.
CaNtErBuRy!
We really enjoyed this weekend, and it was fun for Rebekah and me to have someone new to travel with. Namely my housemate (and classmate from Jewell!) Lora! She was really great, and Canterbury was a big deal for her, so she did lots of the research for places to stay. It was a first for her, and a first for my sister to NOT be involved in the planning. Rebekah let us handle everything (mwah ha ha ha). Evil laughter aside, good weekend all around.
Well, except for how it started. Lora started our morning at a few minutes after six, by sliding down the last few stairs on our staircase. We finally decided it was just a mild sprain, and she was determined to keep the trips plans since we’d been looking forward to it for so long. So she and I finished packing our belongings and some sandwiches for the day and ran to catch the 7:15 bus right around the corner from us. Well, I thought it was the 7:15, turned out to be the 7:23. And everyone knows how I like to run early for everything, buses especially. So we stood there for ... awhile. Sorry Lora!
After a very bumpy ride (pretty sure that bus was THE oldest in the fleet) we made it to Reading and practically ran to Rebekah’s apartment since we were cold and damp. After a little repacking (and a little using the facilities) we were on our way!
We arrived in Canterbury about 11 am and went straight to St Martin’s church, the oldest church to still be in everyday use for worship. The church was really neat, especially realizing it was old enough to be there for Queen Bertha to have worshipped in! From there we unsuccessfully tried to find the Westgate Towers on the SatNav. Emphasis on “unsuccessfully”. This SatNav thing is kind of a hit or miss situation. It’s either fantastic, or lacking a little.
So we gave up and went in search of the Tourist Info Center, a much more easily located building. After locating it and obtaining a free map of the city, we went to the Roman museum, munching the lunches I had packed along the way.
The Roman Museum was definitely neat, there was a reconstructed marketplace exhibition and a lot of excavation (looked a lot like our trip to Bath!) After a little “reconnoitering” (I stuck that word in just for you Dad!) we headed again for the Westgate Towers.
On the way we became distracted by the Thomas Beckett hospital, which was a place for pilgrims to stay when coming to the shrine for Thomas Beckett. The place still houses elderly men and women who don’t have the means to take care of themselves monetarily. After that we finally located the Westgate Towers, the original entrance to Canterbury. While we were there we managed to snag a double red phone booh photo together. It will go well in my themed scrapbook (which has turned into phone booths around Europe, check back for details as it develops).
From there we headed to the cathedral so we would have time to look around before Evensong started. When we arrived, someone had just had a heart attack and they had the entire entrance to the Nave shut down because of ambulances. Eek.
They were however letting people in through an entrance by the choir, so we wandered around and snapped photos, visited Thomas Beckett’s shrine (or the site of the former shrine) and then grabbed front row seats for Evensong. A truly lovely service, and we even convinced one of the wardens to take a photo of all three of us right before things got started.
After that our parking had almost expired so we grabbed the car and headed out to the B&B. Again, the SatNav made a fail, but after a couple of phone cals we made it. After even more navigational problems trying to find a particular pub for dinner we finally gave up and went back to the hotel restaurant. There was a little confusion as I desperately tried to find something that was gluten-free, but disaster was averted when I finally managed to get through our waitress’ head what my problem was. The joys of eating in a limited restaurant with an allergy/intolerance.
After that we all collapsed, it had been a busy day.
After breakfast on Sunday we headed to St. Augustine’s Abbey.
The day was very clear and pretty, just a little nippy. Rebekah and I had complimentary admission because we’re English Heritage members (a fact I plan to abuse royally during my summer trip up to and through Scotland), but obviously Lora should have needed to pay an entrance fee. The guy manning the till ended up letting her in free when he realized she was with Rebekah and me, because we were members. So nice! There was also a free audio guide included. Woo!
Highly informative.
I may know more than I wanted to.
Towards the end of the touring it began to grow more and more overcast and cold, so Rebekah and I wimped out for the last little pathway and went inside to try some Mead.
After a quick run by the ruins of the old Norman Castle we headed home because it was pouring rain (welcome to England!). Once we were in Reading we split up and Lora and I headed back to Oxford, leaving Rebekah at her apartment.
What a great weekend. Pictures are available here!
14 February 2010
Love
It's Valentine's day. Normally a day to strike fear into the hearts of men, excitement into women, and dread into the heart of every single person who did not get a date.
Well, generally.
I've always boycotted the holiday. I find it sickening, and unnecessary for the most part. I've also never had a significant other over the holiday. Maybe that helps.
But what I am reminded of this year, as I am overseas, exploring new opportunities, forging a closer relationship with God, missing family and friends, and developing new relationships with other family and friends, is that Valentine's Day might be a nice opportunity to sit back and reflect on the love(s) in life.
In my Focus group at St. Ebbe's, we're studying the book of Philippians. It's been very helpful to me to have those deep discussions about love and rejoicing, and why we love, and why we rejoice.
"being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ"
Philippians 1:6
These verses are highly comforting, and I think these things often of all of family and friends.
I am blessed because I have parents who love and support me, even when I drive them crazy. Who support endless career changes, emotional breakdowns, medical testing, and ridiculous cases of nerves, and everything in between with love, a love that overwhelms me at times. My parents pray often, together, apart, with family, it does not matter, they both are people of prayer, and when I find myself fretting or upset about something, because of their example, I often remember to pray. Mostly because of how many times they have prayed for me.
"As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice."
Psalms 55:16-17
I am blessed with a large family, who care about each other. Three incredible, godly brothers, two wonderful sisters-in-law who are sweet and loving, and a sister who is my absolute best friend. We share a bond of family, but also a bond of love. Out of our sibling set I am clearly the crazy one, yet they all tolerate my nonsensical behavior very well. Not just very well, but with graciousness, and encouragement. They lift me up, and when I am upset or down about something, I can generally call one or all of them to find that little pick-me-up that I'm craving.
Well, generally.
I've always boycotted the holiday. I find it sickening, and unnecessary for the most part. I've also never had a significant other over the holiday. Maybe that helps.
But what I am reminded of this year, as I am overseas, exploring new opportunities, forging a closer relationship with God, missing family and friends, and developing new relationships with other family and friends, is that Valentine's Day might be a nice opportunity to sit back and reflect on the love(s) in life.
In my Focus group at St. Ebbe's, we're studying the book of Philippians. It's been very helpful to me to have those deep discussions about love and rejoicing, and why we love, and why we rejoice.
"being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ"
Philippians 1:6
These verses are highly comforting, and I think these things often of all of family and friends.
I am blessed because I have parents who love and support me, even when I drive them crazy. Who support endless career changes, emotional breakdowns, medical testing, and ridiculous cases of nerves, and everything in between with love, a love that overwhelms me at times. My parents pray often, together, apart, with family, it does not matter, they both are people of prayer, and when I find myself fretting or upset about something, because of their example, I often remember to pray. Mostly because of how many times they have prayed for me.
"As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice."
Psalms 55:16-17
I am blessed with a large family, who care about each other. Three incredible, godly brothers, two wonderful sisters-in-law who are sweet and loving, and a sister who is my absolute best friend. We share a bond of family, but also a bond of love. Out of our sibling set I am clearly the crazy one, yet they all tolerate my nonsensical behavior very well. Not just very well, but with graciousness, and encouragement. They lift me up, and when I am upset or down about something, I can generally call one or all of them to find that little pick-me-up that I'm craving.
"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you"
Philippians 1:3
I am blessed with friends who not only love me, but love one another, making for fun groupings where we can get together and enjoy each others company. I have been through enough in the last year and a half with my health, my faith, my education, everything in my life has been touched in one manner or another, and these friends are the people who did not abandon me, but stood firmly by my side, holding my hand at times, pulling me at others, pushing me forwards at still other times.
"that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me."
Romans 1:12
These blessings are almost too much at times when I think about it, but it is what keeps me going, it is what helps me remember the purpose of life, and I am extremely grateful.
Valentine's doesn't have to be all about gushy couples.
It's true.
09 February 2010
Busy!
This last weekend two friends came to visit, which has kept me plenty busy, and the next two and a half days I'm off to London to keep my brother and sister-in-law's kids for them. Life is definitely rolling along, but here are a couple of musings for the week:
1. The London Eye is a handy way to show you the entire city of London... in a half an hour.
2. Staying up until 4 am repeatedly is not considered an all-nighter if you spend it talking with your friends because you can't handle wasting any time while they're visiting.
3. Occasionally crazy people give you commentary on your life. Your job is to take that into account, and laugh later with friends. (There's a story for that).
4. Teatime is every time.
5. Toast with Nutella at 3 am are calories that don't count because you're not actually awake.
6. Crocheting is not an adequate replacement for practicing the piano 2 hours every day. I'm about to go crazy over here.
7. The train into London is cheaper than the bus after you've purchased the 16-25 railcard. Round trip at off-peak times with a PLUS-BUS pass for Oxford on the day of my return costs a little less than a round trip on the LondonTube. And there's less travel time. And I won't get bus-sick. How Fan-Tas-Tic is that?
8. Tacking 63 photos onto your wall takes a lot of time.
9. I now own more sweaters than all other items in my wardrobe combined. This is what a study-year in England will do to you.
10. The Spice Counter at the Farmers Market has the coolest things. Including a gluten-free cereal I was really really missing from the States. Hello Enviro Kids Cocoa puffs!!!
11. I really miss my sister. :(
1. The London Eye is a handy way to show you the entire city of London... in a half an hour.
2. Staying up until 4 am repeatedly is not considered an all-nighter if you spend it talking with your friends because you can't handle wasting any time while they're visiting.
3. Occasionally crazy people give you commentary on your life. Your job is to take that into account, and laugh later with friends. (There's a story for that).
4. Teatime is every time.
5. Toast with Nutella at 3 am are calories that don't count because you're not actually awake.
6. Crocheting is not an adequate replacement for practicing the piano 2 hours every day. I'm about to go crazy over here.
7. The train into London is cheaper than the bus after you've purchased the 16-25 railcard. Round trip at off-peak times with a PLUS-BUS pass for Oxford on the day of my return costs a little less than a round trip on the LondonTube. And there's less travel time. And I won't get bus-sick. How Fan-Tas-Tic is that?
8. Tacking 63 photos onto your wall takes a lot of time.
9. I now own more sweaters than all other items in my wardrobe combined. This is what a study-year in England will do to you.
10. The Spice Counter at the Farmers Market has the coolest things. Including a gluten-free cereal I was really really missing from the States. Hello Enviro Kids Cocoa puffs!!!
11. I really miss my sister. :(
04 February 2010
Stonehenge and Bath
The weekend of October 31/November 1 Rebekah and I visited Stonehenge and the city of Bath, both major highlights for me for probably my life, but especially for this year.
We drove straight to Stonehenge on Saturday, and actually went in and walked around (it’s rather expensive normally, but we’re English Heritage members, and that’s one of the free perks to being a member). There was also a free audio guide for the site (like all good EH sites) that was mostly informative, although just a wee bit on the cheesy side. I have about a million photos of Stonehenge... i.e. a bunch of photos about rocks.
After we left Stonehenge we drove into Bath, where apparently there was a big rugby match going on... hence no parking. In the entire city. We finally found a spot and headed into the City Centre. After a little debate and more than a little confusion, we found the Jane Austen Center, which was a blast. Jane Austen is one of my heroes in life (not heroin no... sounds too druggy...) so the center was absolutely fascinating for us. They talked not only about her specific life but also about what Bath would have been like during the Georgian era. Absolutely fascinating.
We were going to stop and have a bite to eat there at the JA Center’s cafe, since they had a gluten-free sign on the cafe window, but oh my goodness it was crowded. So we decided to eat our packed lunch while walking to the Assembly Rooms. Now this is where the joke/dream/running gag of my Regency Era wedding started. I do however have my entire wedding mapped out now.
All I need is a willing male participant now.
After the Assembly Rooms we headed down towards the Pump Room/Royal Baths/Bath Abbey area. There was a wedding in Bath Abbey and we realized we were still a little hungry, so grabbed a snack (yay for hot chocolate!) at Costa Coffee. When we did go to Bath Abbey they offered us one of two guides... the adult which had boring info, or the children’s activity sheet. Guess which was we went? Oh yeah... the children’s activity sheet!
After that we did a little bookstore shopping on our way to the car since it was beginning to get dark. When we started out we pulled out the Sat Nav to figure out where Grosvenor Lodge, our B&B for the night, was located. Unfortunately the Sat Nav decided to spazz out on us, so after a long time of trying to decide what to do, we ended up driving around in the dark with me using the Blackberry’s built in Sat Nav, constantly refreshing the Maps application. Now we laugh, but then we definitely did not. Upon finally arriving at the B&B we found Colin, who runs the place, and has Celiac’s Disease. In our opinion this place deserves a 5 ****** rating... it’s rare for me to go somewhere and feel entirely confident that they aren’t going to screw up my breakfast and secretly kill me. I’ve had more meals remade because it’s come with toast on the side and I’ve had to give them the evil eye. Colin however, having the same disease understood all the issues, and even had some amazing toast and sausages (special treats for me!) in the morning. It was absolutely wonderful. If you go to Bath and you have CD, I really do suggest you stay with Colin, it’s well worth the visit.
On Sunday we went to the #1 Royal Crescent House Museum, which was completely furnished the way it would have been in the Georgian era when Bath was at the height of it’s popularity. After that we went to the Roman Baths and did a little time travel back 2000 years, from there we ran through the Pump Room to try our free glass of sulphur water (oh so gross) before heading back to Reading. A full and busy weekend by any standards!
Photos of us being crazy can be viewed here!
Photos of us being crazy can be viewed here!
28 January 2010
A Weekend Close to Home
So back to catching up, and less whining about the weather (although today is our fifth day in a row to see at least an hour of sun... it’s terribly exciting).
The weekend of October 17th/18th I had two papers I was working on, so we decided we would have a quieter weekend. Rebekah also had a trip coming up as well, so it made sense for everyone.
I arrived at Rebekah’s apartment a little earlier on Friday afternoon and immediately began work on my paper so that by the time she arrived home I was ready for a good break and some dinner. After a night of goofing off mixed with a lot of studying, we started a little later on Saturday morning at Basildon Park, the house they used during the filming of Pride & Prejudice. No, not the proper version, the one with Keira Knightley. It’s still good, just not our favorite. :-)
Unfortunately at this particular property the majority of the house had scaffolding across the front (and back) so they could begin a cleaning project. It did not seem terribly logical to either of us to block both the front and the back of the house. That’s when you would think they would choose just one half of the house to clean at a time. So you would think.
However, the inside of the house was really lovely, and there was this gorgeous grand piano in the Hall, that I ended up giving an impromptu concert on, it was really fun for me, since I don’t have regular access to a piano. Crazy pianist, yes?
After Basildon Park we tried to go to a couple of other places, but one was really expensive (they wanted to charge us 12 GBP without parking...) and the other we wandered until we finally gave up. Looks like the GPS wins another battle.
On Sunday we drove into a section of London known as London so we could see Marble Hill House and Chiswick House, which were both Georgian Palladian style structures. I now know more about why this architectural style was in fashion than I think I ever cared to know. However, both houses were very interesting, and it was a nice light day that enabled us to arrive in Reading early enough that I managed to catch a bus back to Oxford so that I was home before it was ever dark!
Photos of this particular weekend can be viewed here.
24 January 2010
Sunrise, Sunset and a little reminder of Spring
I have an ironic title for this post, considering I never see the sun. However, today was one of those rare days when the sun conquers the clouds for a few moments (commence the rejoicing parades). On this particular sun trumping rain and fog day I was sitting inside for most of it near my open windows (yes, I'm a mite chilly, but that's okay, it's like still having my sister with me) trying to accomplish some reading. But lo and behold, I looked up at almost 17:00, and realized... the sun had not completely set yet. It's beginning to be a little overcast, but it's definitely still daylight out there.
How intriguing. When I left England to go home for that two weeks, the sun was setting almost before 4:30. And now it's almost five before sunset?
Hallelujah, praise Jesus! The end of winter is in my sights!
How intriguing. When I left England to go home for that two weeks, the sun was setting almost before 4:30. And now it's almost five before sunset?
Hallelujah, praise Jesus! The end of winter is in my sights!
20 January 2010
Sussex, Reenactment, and the beginning of the goofy trips
The weekend of October 9th/10th, my older sister Rebekah and I took a trip to Sussex, where we spent the weekend touring around. Our first stop on Saturday, was to Hastings, very specifically to the grounds where the Battle of Hastings took place. On this particular day that we went, English Heritage was sponsoring a reenactment of the Battle of Hastings.
It was pretty cool.
When we first arrived (earlier in the day from when the battle would be, around 10:00am) there was not much going on, and so we just wandered around the tents and booths they had set up. It was sort of like a laid-back Renaissance Festival. It made me wonder if the people who were involved with the reenactment were also involved with the “Medieval Fairs”, the English equivalent of a Ren Fest. After awhile we headed up the hill to the Abbey that William the Conqueror had built after the battle in 1066. Inside the Abbey there was a demonstration of period music, which I enjoyed enough to actually purchase a CD. After the music performance was over we went and searched for seats at the battle ground so we could watch the Norman cavalry demonstration. While we watched we ate our picnic lunch (I make a mean sandwich) and were incredibly silly with these precious older women who were sitting with us. One of the Norman knights actually came over and told us to quiet down. Yeah, that’s us, and our reputation for causing problems.
After the demonstration we hunted out center front row seats, and then agreed someone had to protect them (seating was DEFINITELY at a premium). So she stayed and I went to walk around the Fair for awhile. I went to a talk on the Bayeaux tapestry (because I didn’t actually get enough of studying that in high school Mom!) and tried the old fashioned drinks like Mead and Ginger Wine. Pretty tasty, but the Ginger Wine burns on the way down. After I had my fun, I let Rebekah walk around where she went to a falconry display (I think she went to try the Mead too!). After that we were finally ready to watch the actual reenactment, which was all kinds of silly and ridiculous, because it’s a little hard to reenact a battle that happened almost 1000 years ago.
On Sunday we drove the long route by the coast (more scenic) to Pevensy Castle, which was mostly ruins, but it was an English Heritage site, so it was free for us, plus free audio guides! After that we visited Herst-Monceaux Castle, which was never really a practical castle when built, but a manor house. Not it’s the international study centre for Queens College, Canada. Go figure.
Our last stop of the day was the Michelham Priory, capping a very Middle Ages weekend.
Photos of said weekend, including great amounts of silliness, can be viewed here.
16 January 2010
A Few Musings, Traveling and Otherwise
I had originally written this as a bit of a rant and e-mailed it to a friend, who pointed out it made a fairly funny post.
1. Gluten-free meals on airplanes. Just because I am gluten-free does not mean I eat less food. Frankly, I could eat two of those dumb little airplane meals, so maybe you shouldn't give us half the food that you give the normal people. That's silly, not feeding us as much food.
2. I'm spoiled by airplanes with personalized TV's. I like those much better than the little monitors every four rows on the ceiling of the plane. Mostly because the things they choose to show up there, maybe not what I would choose to watch.
3. I'm apparently a "pro" at airplane travel now. Uh-oh.
4. Middle-aged women smile at me randomly on buses. Why? Sometimes it's a little creepy.
5. Dr. Francis Warner and Penelope Warner = Coolest People In England
6. It gets dark earlier here. I had almost forgotten that in my two weeks back. It's very not cool that the sun set was at 4:45 today. ------ Although, on a happier note, sunrise was noticeably earlier this morning than when I had written this.
7. English people think three inches is a lot of snow. It's not. They also think 30 degrees Fahrenheit is cold. It's not. Try 16 inches of snow and -20 degrees Fahrenheit wind chills. Not cool.
8. I'm wasting away from a lack of sun. My family laughed at me while I was home because I would stand next to windows and just soak up the sunrays. I'm glad I did, maybe it will last me until the sun finally decides it doesn't hate England anymore.
9. I'm way busier this term, even though I'm not traveling. And I thought I would be bored. Guess not.
10. I already miss my sister. She's flying home to KC right now... sad days.
1. Gluten-free meals on airplanes. Just because I am gluten-free does not mean I eat less food. Frankly, I could eat two of those dumb little airplane meals, so maybe you shouldn't give us half the food that you give the normal people. That's silly, not feeding us as much food.
2. I'm spoiled by airplanes with personalized TV's. I like those much better than the little monitors every four rows on the ceiling of the plane. Mostly because the things they choose to show up there, maybe not what I would choose to watch.
3. I'm apparently a "pro" at airplane travel now. Uh-oh.
4. Middle-aged women smile at me randomly on buses. Why? Sometimes it's a little creepy.
5. Dr. Francis Warner and Penelope Warner = Coolest People In England
6. It gets dark earlier here. I had almost forgotten that in my two weeks back. It's very not cool that the sun set was at 4:45 today. ------ Although, on a happier note, sunrise was noticeably earlier this morning than when I had written this.
7. English people think three inches is a lot of snow. It's not. They also think 30 degrees Fahrenheit is cold. It's not. Try 16 inches of snow and -20 degrees Fahrenheit wind chills. Not cool.
8. I'm wasting away from a lack of sun. My family laughed at me while I was home because I would stand next to windows and just soak up the sunrays. I'm glad I did, maybe it will last me until the sun finally decides it doesn't hate England anymore.
9. I'm way busier this term, even though I'm not traveling. And I thought I would be bored. Guess not.
10. I already miss my sister. She's flying home to KC right now... sad days.
13 January 2010
Hilary Term
Well, it’s a new year, a new term, there’s a new housemate, and there’s... snow on the ground. Now wait a moment, that’s NOT new. I just came back here to escape the 16 inches of snow and the terminal winds of -20 F. And there’s snow in Oxford? What’s this world coming to?
On a more serious note, life sped up at the end of the term and there was crazy amounts of traveling. The previous sentence is my explanation for the lack of updates.
I had all these plans to start posting narratives and pictures of all the places I’ve been over the last four months. But I was going to start over the Christmas holidays. And I flew home to surprise a few folks over said holidays. Okay, quick narrative moment:
Term ended Friday, 4 December. That very afternoon I grabbed my suitcase and caught a train to Bracknell, where my lovely older sister works. She picked me up from the train station and we drove to Dover (which was amazing!) where we spent Saturday and Sunday, the 5th and 6th. After that we headed back to Reading, where Rebekah lives, so she could spend the week working, and I could spend the week recovering and building my lungs back up from all the stress they had been under. We spent that week fairly quietly, and then left early Saturday morning, the 12th, for Ireland. We drove through the southern portion of Wales, to Fishguard and took the ferry over. It was a fairly long ferry journey, but it was still pretty wonderful, and I can certainly understand why folks choose that over a plane. Much less claustrophobic. We drove straight on to Cork City, County Cork, right after that. We spent two nights in County Cork, then one night in County Kilkenny. Right after that we went to Dublin, where we were joined by my lovely friend Megan, who is also studying in Oxford this term. You can check out her amazing blog here. We spent three nights in Dublin, and then headed over to Wales, where we went to Caernarfon, Hey-on-Wye, and Cardiff. After Cardiff we headed back to Oxford to drop off Megan, and then to Reading. Our plan was to spend the next week just cooking fun food and hanging out watching movies while we waited for the holidays to end.
And that’s where our plans went a little off-track. We had arrived back Tuesday, 22 December. We pretty much ate dinner vegged out and went straight to bed. When we woke up the next morning both my sister and I had voicemails from my mom saying a good family friend was in the hospital. This family friend is especially close to me, we’ve always considered ourselves to be best friends. When I finally got ahold of my family that day, things seemed very bleak, and I was scared I would never see my friend again. It was at that point, that I decided a brief trip to the US was necessary. I looked at flights that afternoon, and by 10:00, I was booked for a Saturday flight home.
So after a few delays in Chicago, that resulted in my getting to see my brother, Matt, and his wife, Love, I finally made it home to Kansas City, Sunday, 27 December, around noon. The best part of the whole trip was being able to surprise everyone, from my friend who had been released from the hospital the morning I flew in, to both grandmothers. The trip home was in the end fantastic, and in a way, just what I needed mentally. I was able to see my friend, and find out that things weren’t as bad as everyone had thought at first, I was able to buy all my medications, vitamins, and toiletries at home and saved myself tons of money. Plus I was able to spend lots of time with my family, and see several friends who I had been missing. I never thought I was the type to be homesick, and it wasn’t until I got off the plane at KCI that morning that I realized just how homesick I had been, and how much I had missed the amazing support network that’s made of my incredible family and friends.
I still miss everyone, but I’ve noticed it was much easier settling in this week than it was last term. I’m already enjoying myself more than last term because I feel more at home. The situation in my house is less tense, and frankly, I’m a lot more excited for this term.
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