Beers, Cheers and Happy Tears: An Unforgettable Weekend at Oktoberfest with 50 of my Closest Friends

So after a week that seemed to last forever, I finally made the trek via EasyJet to Munich, Germany for Oktoberfest 2009. We left on Thursday evening and arrived in Munich at around 9 p.m. or so. I'd have to say, I was very, very nervous in the car ride to the Munich Marriott where we were staying because of how hard Jessica and I had been working on the hotel situation since March. I was so afraid that something would go wrong with having 21 junior Chi O's sharing only 3 rooms with 2 double beds. I was afraid that the hotel would not be up to par and that everyone would be disappointed. I was afraid that it would be ridiculously far away from Oktoberfest and that people would complain. However, none of the above came true. Upon arriving to the hotel, we found that not only was the hotel gorgeous, but the rooms were absolutely large enough for seven girls each and there was both a cocktail bar and a sports bar like restaurant in the lobby of the hotel. Can you say, perfect? So when I arrived with my travel buddies, we were greeted exuberantly by some of the girls in my pledge class and whisked off into the whirlwind that is Oktoberfest. Thursday night was really great because everyone just convened in the sports bar downstairs at the lobby, well aware of the day we had ahead of us. While it was strange to be in a foreign country surrounded by 30 to 40 of my friends, within the first ten minutes of being together, it seemed as though everyone fell into place.

Friday morning... 545 a.m. .... the wake-up call that Jess arranged for us went off. We all arose in due time from bed and somehow made it into appropriate clothing and downstairs. We quickly discovered that Oktoberfest was relatively easily accessible from our hotel via underground. So we ventured over to the nearby S-Bahn and found the right train. I didn't realize this, but the German underground system is entirely based on the honor system. So, you can hop on and off trains without purchasing a ticket. However, if you get caught, like a few of my comrades did, you will be faced with a hefty fine of 40 euros or so, which really doesn't make it worth the risk. After switching from the U6 to the U4 train at the Odeonsplatz stop, all 20 or 30 of us filtered out into the breaking day... as it was about 630 or 645 am at this point... to find that Oktoberfest was basically empty. We were all quite confused because everyone whom we had spoken to who has gone to Oktoberfest in the past has told us that you have to get there extremely early to get in line for the tents. Otherwise, you won't be able to get in one and find a seat. Yet, there we stood, dumbfounded at how quiet Theresienwiese was. Luckily, a young man in lederhosen had found us and informed us that he worked at Oktoberfest and was just arriving, so we were a little early. He advised that we walk behind the tents and up the hill to the main street in the area and find a place to grab something to eat before coming back down to form a line outside any of the tents. So that we did... our mass of people wandered the streets of Munich, finally finding a small bakery with some beverages and pastries for us to indulge in while we waited. Once we were done fueling up (and had realized that those who came to Oktoberfest in years past had come on weekends, not on Friday mornings), we made our way back down to the festival grounds and walked over to the Hofbrau Haus tent. Luckily, we managed to find some other Wake Forest people there who had basically started the line in front of the tent. So, we merged in with them, waited for the doors to open at 9 a.m. and the rest of the day is history. Now I know I don't need to go into detail about all that occurred that day. For one, the below picture is what the tent eventually looked like after the waitresses began serving at 10 a.m.

And this is what a few American college students look like when holding their first real stein of good ol' Bavarian booze.

The mugs were so big that many of us were even sore the next day, mainly because every 10 minutes or so, the people in the tent would get very loud and all the sudden would start singing "OLE! OLEOLEOLE!" like they were at a footie game, or even better, would sing "heyyyyyy heyyy baby, ooo AHH, I wanna knowwww would you be my girl?". Why these international folk knew that song, I will never know. However, it made us silly American college kids quite giddy when the hundreds, if not thousands, of people raised their oversized glasses of beer above their heads and started belting out a song in English. By the end of the day, I had managed to catch up with all of my friends who were there for the weekend, including those who weren't staying with us at the Marriott, and was able to even make a few new friends. Around 4 p.m. or so, Rock and I decided to venture outside of the tent where we finally realized how much lederhosen there really was at Oktoberfest.

It was almost embarrassing to be walking around in civilian clothing simply because you stuck out more than those wearing poofy dresses and German-style overalls. After wandering around, and after somehow being peer pressured in riding a rollercoaster, we eventually headed back to the hotel. Everyone slowly trickled back, reeking of beer, sweat and happiness, but absolutely ready for a little nap. As time passed, we got a little hungry and realized that it would probably be best to have something in our stomachs other than the oversized pretzels we indulged in about 6 hours earlier. With an impending late-night hang-over grumbling in our tummies, Sallie, Rock and I made our way to a local Italian restaurant and feasted on pasta, salad and relatively well-priced carafes of red wine. After that, we went back to the hotel where everyone had gathered in the sports bar in the lobby. While it was tempting to join the few ambitious people who wanted to venture out into the Munich night-life, Rock and I were pretty set on giving ourselves, and our livers, a rest so that we could make the most of the following day. So, we settled into our bed for three and fell asleep to Dazed and Confused on her laptop. Roomies reunited at last =)

On Saturday morning, we were less motivated to jump out of bed at the crack of dawn. However, we did eventually make it outside the hotel and found a cute place to eat near our hotel. After that, a smaller version of the Chi O crew headed to the city center to attempt to find a bike tour so we could see some of the city. After arriving there and circumnavigating the political rally that was taking place, as the German elections were on Sunday, we found a man named Lenny who gave us an offer we couldn't refuse... a 10 euro beer-bike tour. So, the lovely group of ladies you see below hopped onto to the bar on bike wheels and took a tour of the central Munich area with a few other tourists and a tour guide who was nowhere near as funny as he thought he was.

The tour turned out to be really great though because we got to see some of the important locations during World War II, like Odeonsplatz, the original Hofbrau Haus, and a park where there happens to be a nude resting field overflowing with characters by the names of Tripod and Robocock. Thanks for the image, Lenny. We also were able to consume a little more Bavarian beer on the beer bike, which was nice since indulging in the theme of the weekend... booze... was our number one priority. Sorry mom and dad. After the beer bike tour, we all took the S-Bahn back to Oktoberfest and wandered around the rest of the day. It was really overwhelming to be wandering the festival grounds on a weekend afternoon because the crowds were very large, very drunk and very German.

Yet, I was able to try some German sausage and find the cotton candy I had been craving, which ended up being the biggest cotton candy I have ever seen... and I've seen a lot of cotton candy in my day (or is it candy cotton, mom?).

As the afternoon began to die, we headed back to the hotel once again to recuperate from the day's exploits. The rest of the evening was spent in the lobby of our hotel snacking on appetizers and sipping on the cheap red wine that we had found at a nearby grocery store. While it would have been fun to go out and explore Munich at night, we were all so exhausted and knew that what we wanted the most was to relax and just be in each other's presence for the last few hours of our time in Germany.

On Sunday morning, we made our way to the Munich Airport and boarded our plane back to London. As I stood on the transport bus that took us from our terminal to the EasyJet plane on the tarmac, I couldn't help but smile and get a little teary eyed. I know, I know... me, crying, so surprising. Yet, there were so many truly beautiful things about my weekend in Munich that far surpassed the act of drinking liters of beer and singing at the top of our lungs in importance. First of all, I was so absolutely proud to be a part of my pledge class. Almost all of the girls in my pledge class who are studying in Europe this semester had come together to spend a weekend in Munich. Of course it was not just girls from my pledge class that were there, as there were at least 50 or 60 Wake Forest girls and guys that gathered at the Munich Marriott for the weekend after following Jess' and my lead on where we had decided to stay. However, the fact that twenty-one girls were able to step out of their typical friendship boundaries and make their way from Copenhagen, Dublin, London, Barcelona, Madrid, Florence, Rome and Prague to be together and enjoy each other just really made me proud. I'm trying to avoid being sappy here, but that to me is what Chi Omega is really about. At the end of the day, we don't have to be each other's absolute best friends, we don't have to know everything about each other, and we don't have to spend all of our time together. Yet, we do still care about each other a lot and are never afraid to show how much we appreciate the diversity and enthusiasm that each and every other girl in our pledge class brings to our sorority. The other part of the trip that I could not help but fixate on was the fact that I was able to travel for a relatively moderate price to a foreign country and go to THE Oktoberfest with a large crop of my fellow Demon Deacons. I could not help but think of my token phrase of the semester "This is what study abroad is all about." From shouting PROST!!!! (cheers in German) at the top of my lungs, to navigating the S-Bahn without knowing a word of German, to snuggling up next to my best friend in a bed far from Babcock and Crown Oaks, to sharing a long table at the Hofbrau Haus tent with 20 of my Chi O sisters, to surviving on pretzels, sausages, and beer for a weekend, and finally to visiting a foreign city that I never thought I would see in person... all of these things and so many other aspects of my weekend is... say it with me... what studying abroad is all about. I am so unbelievably happy that everything worked out with our plans for Oktoberfest. I'd have to say that if I ever need something to motivate me to plan yet another gathering for my pledge class, I will always look back on my time in Munich. And also, I'll never forget how quickly your perspective on life can change. After being in Europe/the UK for a little over a month now, I cannot believe how much my general mindset has changed. It is going to be so exciting to live out these next few months and see the person that I have finally become when I jet back over the pond on December 12.

The Calm Before the Storm

So despite the fact that I'm in London and the director of our program told us we would be 'losers' if we weren't out until 3 a.m. at every opportunity (that's a direct quote, mind you), I managed to have a relatively relaxing weekend. It began first with meeting up with Christine Thompson, a fellow Chi O, who is spending the fall semester of her senior year studying in Dubai through the Clinton Fellowship, a program developed by President Bill Clinton himself. What a guy. She came to London on a whim with one of the girls she has become friends with in Dubai so I was lucky enough to catch a quick dinner at Gloucester Arms, a pub down the street, and hear about what student life in Dubai is like. Unfortunately they were exhausted from their travels (can't blame them), so they retired early. However, it was pretty incredible to be able to meet up with a sister THIS far away from Wake Forest.

Thursday night ended up being a very bizarre evening for all involved. A few of the guys in our program have been working with party promoters to get some pretty reasonable deals for BU program students to get into clubs and lounges that typically have exorbitant cover charges. Unfortunately, what the party promoter told these guys regarding an event at a lounge down the street called Opal was misleading and created a relatively awkward first hour or so when we all arrived at the venue. Opal itself was a very interesting place. It is an underground lounge decorated to look like some sort of mystical cave with faux rock-like walls. I liked the environment though because there was a bar area, an area for dancing with loud music and an area with tables where you can sit and chat. I won't go into detail for mom and dad's sake, but the evening was eventually a success and all departed Opal, at midnight or 3 a.m. (to each their own), feeling relatively fulfilled. I for one was pretty happy to return to the room and share a cup of tea with Kendall, classy late-night London-style. Yet, every night that we go out we meet a very diverse group of people and are exposed to a foreign lifestyle that we otherwise never would have known. That makes it worth getting dressed up and dishing out serious poundage.

Friday was a relatively uneventful day, but I made the most of it. I slept in, made myself a solid breakfast and worked on finishing the White Queen for a while. Then, I took it upon myself to go to the fashion exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum (also known as the V&A), which is right next to where we live and has free admission. I really enjoyed the exhibit because they had everything from the evolution of designer shoes to how women came from wearing corsets and petticoats to mini-skirts and pant-suits.

Unfortunately the shoe display only had Ferragamo's and Manolo's, so no Louboutin's to show Briel when she visits in a month. Yet, I did find the wedding dress displays to be fascinating simply because wedding gowns really have not evolved at all. While women have come from wearing ball gowns every single day to only wearing them for special black-tie occasions, the tulle, lace, flowers, and ornate designs of wedding dresses have not changed at all except for the use of color. The earlier wedding gowns from the 1800's often had colorful garland-like designs along the trim of the skirt. However, by the 1970's, as can be seen in the below picture, wedding dresses had their distinction in the cut of the fabric, not in the colors used in the detailing.

I particularly liked this gown because the skirt is so unique. No matter how unlearned you are in the world of fashion, the immediate thought that comes to your head when you see the dress is "flower petals". I also find this to be a less ostentatious way of achieving the princess-feel that many women try to achieve on their wedding day. Other than a layer or two of tulle beneath the outer layers of the dress, the skirt maintains its shape simply because the manner in which each petal of fabric is laid together. I don't know why I just went on a rant about this dress, but I couldn't take my eyes off of it among the dozens of other pieces of fashion genius from Paris to Hong Kong that it was surrounded by, so I thought I would share. After strolling through the V&A, I headed back to the Crofton where I prepared for my first visit to Club Kensington, the gym that I have signed up for. It was a successful work-out, especially considering how long it has been since my cardio came from anything other than exploring London, and I must note that the gym deserves the name Club Kensington, as it is club-themed. Only in Europe (or the UK).

On Saturday morning, Simone and I awoke early and went to Portobello Market in Notting Hill. I had been twice before, only once on a Saturday, but I'd have to say I would definitely recommend going earlier in the day. We got there by 10:30 probably and were able to navigate the entire market fairly easily, which I had not been able to do the other time I had come on a Saturday. This was also the first time I actually indulged in what the market had to offer, as the first two times I visited I did not want to let the mystique and novelty of it to dupe me into purchasing something I didn't really desire. However, what I do desire in life, as a principle, is anything with sequins. Thus, I purchased a pair of sequin leggings. Don't lie... you know that those will get far too much use back at Wake, if not when I hit up the Euro club scene here on the other side of the ocean. I'd have to say, I'm already planning multiple occasions in the spring in which these leggings will make an appearance. I also had a crepe with Nutella on our way out of the market, which I am proud to say is the first Nutella I have had on my entire trip. I love Nutella, but everyone has been so mesmerized by it in my program and has therefore become addicted to it, so being the stubborn Zagarow that I am, I have adamantly refused to purchase it or consume it. Yet, the heat of the moment in Portobello enveloped me and I broke down. After hitting up the Portobello Market, Simone and I met up with Caroline and Caroline (Naughton & Lewis) and headed to the Winston Churchill Museum and War Cabinet underground lair thing. On our way there, we were lucky enough to come across the last leg of the Tour of Britain cycling race!

I have never seen a cycling race live before and I'd have to say I may now be a fan. To my surprise, watching the dozens of cyclists flying by at a ridiculous speed was more thrilling than any 9th inning of a baseball game that I've ever seen. I'd have to say that right after the cyclists passed and all of their back-up cars sped by us in their attempt to keep up with their respective riders, I had a little moment. The sheer randomness of the moment overcame me and brought back sweet memories of riding on the Corona bus the week before. I couldn't help but think that THIS is what studying abroad is all about. Not the museums you plan to go to. Not the lower drinking age. It's about the completely spontaneous, unexpected events that shock you into the reality of being somewhere other than what is familiar. I have a feeling that I will remember seeing that cycling race more clearly than the fashion exhibit at the V&A months, if not years from now. What I also will not forget seeing is the Churchill museum. Basically, it is the underground complex where Winston Churchill and his team essentially ran World War II. Beyond how exciting it was to be seeing such an interesting artifact from world history, I was down-right giddy over the idea that I was walking the same cold, cement corridors that Winston Churchill once paced during his 'finest hour'. I really enjoyed seeing the Winston Churchill Museum part of the venue because it documented many of the Prime Minister's most memorable quotations and actions from his long career. He is such an interesting person and I would recommend that everyone take the time to read about him if not visit the War Rooms and the museum.

At the end of the day, I was pretty exhausted, as I had traversed the length of the central London area in one day and was in a culturally-induced coma. On our way back from the museum, we stopped at Hummingbird Bakery and got some cupcakes. I ate one yesterday and it was INCREDIBLE, but the other one is sitting next to me right now, patiently awaiting when I return from the gym later today. When we returned to the Crofton, Caroline, Natasha and I got together for our thousandth attempt at planning our fall break, which we gave up on after planning one flight. They never warned us that traveling would be exhausting merely because of how much energy it takes to plan it all! I partially blame myself because I am trying to maximize the length that my minimal travel funding stretches. However, I think the girls will thank me later for being economical (cheap) and responsible (nit-picky). I finished the White Queen so I have begun reading Dan Brown's new book, the Lost Symbol, and really like it so far! It was quite the transition to change from reading about the Lancasters, Yorks, and Tudors to reading about symbology and Washington D.C., but a little American literature never killed anyone. Hopefully next time I update I will have a FINAL plan for fall break. Four days until Oktoberfest!!!!!!!

Simply Living (London)

My goal since I returned to the city from Brighton has been to make the most of my time here in London. Not in a broad sense, with the word 'London' representing abroad in general, but the actual city of London. I am so excited that the next few months will bring travels to Oktoberfest in Munich, Sensation for Halloween in Copenhagen, a fall break in Italy, and perhaps a weekend here or there in Ireland or Amsterdam. However, this city itself has SO much to offer culturally that I did not even realize until now. In order to explain how I have been doing this, I am going to work backwards from now until what I did this past Sunday. Today, my British Political Institutions class went to the Houses of Parliament for a tour. Being the major political nerd... correction... British political nerd that I am, I was in complete awe of everything I saw from the flying buttresses of the ceilings to the insignificant titles of even the smallest of frescoes in the halls. I wish I could explain everything about the building that made me giggle like a five year old, but unfortunately I have the memory of a goldfish (not a goat...) and there would be far too many to document without convincing you that reading my blog really is a waste of your valuable time. However, just know that the building pictured here has been around since 1100.

That's over 900 years ago people. That is OLD. And since I've read a lot of books about the Tudors, Lancasters, Yorks, Boleyns, etc. I was pretty giddy at the sight of the major political figures since Henry VII... being Henry VII himself and Queen Elizabeth of York followed by Henry VIII with his biddies Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour and onto all of the more recent, less interesting people like... the present Queen Elizabeth (though she is the definition of precious in her defense). I also really liked the lobby outside of the House of Commons where there were statues of Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill. Wow... I really am a loser. Any way, my point is that I love how much history there is in England. I can go to a sushi restaurant with a conveyor belt of sushi, edamame and seaweed salad in Picadilly Circus one night and be wandering the same halls that King Charles wandered on the day he was sentenced to death the next. Now that is what studying abroad is all about. Can't believe I'm going to be working in that building almost every day in a few weeks...

Yesterday, my British Television Studies class (I know, these classes have really creative names) was in a live audience for the discussion show The Wright Stuff hosted by Matthew Wright. It was the first time I've ever been in the audience of a show so I was in complete awe of everything around me, similar to my reaction to Parliament. The guests were two people who I couldn't catch and the man who wrote Rocky Horror Picture Show, which was.... awesome! He may have been the gayest straight man I've ever seen... if he isn't gay... which he must be because he was wearing a pink V-neck t-shirt and I'm pretty sure that most straight men don't even know where to find a pink V-neck t-shirt. However, he was hilarious and definitely added a little flavor to the show. Afterward, the host Matthew Wright spoke with us and answered our questions about his career and The Wright Stuff. I personally asked him how he manages to balance humor and substance in his show since he does frequently make witty or sarcastic remarks despite the quite serious nature of some of the topics on the show. He explained that it's really hit or miss and that you simply have to learn over time what is appropriate to make fun of or embellish and what is better off left alone. After Mr. Wright spoke with us, the director of the show took us into the gallery where all of the production, editing and directing work is done. By the end of our time at The Wright Stuff, I realized that I am genuinely fascinated by the broadcasting world and definitely need to think more seriously about pursuing a career in it. I have been quite hesitant in the past because I was not sure if I would really like the seemingly superficial world of media from that side of the camera. However, after speaking with the cast and crew of the show, it became clear to me that 'Hollywood', in a broader sense (not the city), does not have to make you who you are unless you don't have an idea of who you are before you enter 'Hollywood'. Mr. Wright was in fact in print journalism for many years before he entered the broadcasting business and I think that in itself, the fact that a humble route can be taken to stardom, is motivation enough for me.

Sunday's adventure had to have been the most inadvertently influential that I have to share with you today. I was given the honor and privilege of taking Albert to his FIRST... yes very absolute first.... in his entire 20 years of existence... parade. I personally think I've been in at least 15 parades from 4th of July's to Wake Forest Dance Team events, so to me it was completely mortifying that anyone could have grown up in America, especially the south, without witnessing a parade. However, it is true. Albert's first parade was this past Sunday and what a mighty extravagant parade it was. The overall event was the mayor's Thames River Festival, a few day long festival of food, shopping, and river-loving that takes place annually in the heart of London. I loved the Thames enough already simply because of the history that literally and figuratively surrounds the body of water. Yet, add food and shopping and I've found a little piece of heaven on Earth. Before witnessing the parade, Albert and I indulged in some of the eclectic foods that were offered. I for one had a Greek flatbread pizza with lamb (proud, dad?) filled with Greek yogurt and salad and folded into a sort of wrap. It. Was. Incredible. Albert however decided to have a pork roast sandwich... followed by a Louisiana Sausage sandwich... followed by fudge, which he also made me eat (he forced me, I swear it). After barely digesting, we found the Thames Festival parade as it made its final loop from across the Blackfriars Bridge to its finishing line behind the National Theater. As you can see in the pictures, this was no ordinary parade.

The costumes were out of this world with feathers, sequins, and lace in places I didn't think embellishments could be worn. There were people ranging from the age of 4 to 80 playing drums, dancing, and screaming at the top of their lungs as they made their way through the crowds. Also, since it was a 'night parade', everything was lit up with lively neon lights that left me wanting to cut off my tee and dance to Pat Benatar.... or some house music.... take your pick. After the parade was finished, we made our way to the banks of the Thames and stood packed like sardines to wait for the fireworks show. Within minutes, the cool, dark sky became a pyrotechnic feast as bright bullets of fire propelled above us from the river and exploded into the most unique patterns, sizes, and colors I have ever seen. It was when I was standing there, surrounded by friends and Londoners along the Thames, my favorite place in the city, that it finally hit me that I'm here. As chills ran up my arms and down my spine I couldn't help but bear the widest grin. The sheer artistry, skill, and overall miraculousness of the fireworks bursting above me like gilded paint being flung onto a black canvas was what I needed to realize that this, my being in London, is probably the most amazing thing that I will ever do. It made me realize that I owe it to myself to do everything I possibly can to take this city and this hemisphere by storm and completely liquidate England and Europe of even the smallest of valuable lessons and experiences it could possibly provide.

I'M ON A BUS ANNNND IT'S MOVIN' FAST ANNNND....

I'm not quite sure where to begin in my attempt to describe the changes that have occurred in my overall perspective of the universe in the past 72 hours. I guess I could try starting with how it all began.

On Thursday night, while cooking a simple pasta dish with meat sauce with Natasha and Caroline, Natasha mentioned in passing something by the name of "London Fashion Night Out". From what little knowledge I have of fashion nights out, aka performing with the high school dance team at Bloomingdales, I knew that only good things could come from this event. I did a little research while my cohorts finished cooking and found that it wasn't just a random event. It was in fact a city-wide night of free champagne, trying on pretty clothing, and realizing that money can buy happiness sometimes sponsored by none other than Vogue. After looking up a few of the designers and retailers that were doing the event, I was able to convince the girls to go for it. At first it was not that fun because we got there a little later and none of the stores were really bumpin' like we anticipated. Yet, then we found Zara where the champagne was flowing, the live models were... doing whatever live models do, and the clothing was taunting. After Evan bought herself a wonderful cropped peacoat that is SO PRACTICAL and SUCH A GOOD PURCHASE (I don't think she's convinced herself yet), we headed off down Bond Street a little more seeking another store with as much excitement as Zara. We did come across a shop called Massimo something that was pretty interesting (and had gold plated chocolates, yum), but we did not really think it fit our taste. We rounded the corner heading toward Picadilly Circus when a table of Pimm's and champagne caught my eye in a store called Karen Millen. I flagged down my slightly disappointed friends, as we had not really made the most out of our night yet, and went into the store with them. Little did we know, we would not exit until a few glasses of champagne and a few slutty/expensive dresses later. The people in the store were so unbelievably nice and had a very clear understanding of what a fashion night out should be about. The champagne was flowing... literally, the server kept our glasses full the entire time... and the people working at the store were BEGGING us to try on cocktail dresses that we clearly were not going to be buying. I was so impressed because I know that, in my experience in the states, American retail workers would never encourage young girls to play dress-up on their time. However, the native Italian buxom brunette sales rep was throwing us into dressing rooms, begging us to let their makeup artist do our makeup, and eventually convincing us to let their PR photographer take pictures of us for their website. I was quite afraid that my Zagarow backside was going to bring the end of the zipper on the dress that I tried on, so I was quick to peel that baby off. However, there are some adorable pictures of my friends floating around facebook donning Karen Millen originals and holding full glasses of champagne. When we parted Karen Millen that night, all of us were glowing. Not just because we had been drinking champagne for free for over an hour and not just because we got to feel famous compliments of Karen Millen. I think we were all just so happy to be together and enjoying what studying abroad is all about... coming across a completely random occurrence that, when mixed with a positive attitude and supportive friends, has the potential to create everlasting memories. I know that's kind of sappy, but it was essentially the theme of my weekend. Why? Well, after my wonderful interview with my prospective coworkers at David Lidington's office on Friday morning, I took an hour-long Southern Rail train with Caroline and Kendall from the London Victoria station to Brighton. It was a shockingly quick and easy train ride that gave us the opportunity to see an English countryside that we had not been exposed to since our arrival in Great Britain. Yet, I will admit that the three of us American girls had absolutely NO idea what we were getting ourselves into.

Upon our arrival in sunny Brighton, the three of us trekked our way downhill to the seafront and over to our hotel, the New Madeira Hotel, which was overlooking the gorgeous water. We were quite overwhelmed on our walk by all of the pubs, shops, and the pier. Yet, we were quite toasty in our London attire and were definitely intent on getting to our hotel asap. I'd have to say I was rather delighted with the place we stayed in. It was by no means five star nor was it quiet, as we learned at 4 a.m., due to the club the hotel owns called the Funky Fish, which was right downstairs. Yet, pictured is the view from our window.

Pretty good for a night in Brighton, don't you think? Well, after we dropped our belongings, we decided to head down to the "beach" to see what the English coast town had to offer us. I put beach in quotations because to my surprise the sand was not sand... it was rocks.

I had never seen anything like it before, but it did give me a pretty amazing idea. I want to open a bar/restaurant on the beach in Brighton and call it "On The Rocks". Get it? Get it? Well... let's call it a back-up plan. We walked along the beach where there were all sorts of restaurants, pubs, and small shops set up. A lot of the shops had beautiful artwork and jewelry for sale, but there were also a few more tourist-targeted set-ups with post-cards, etc. The three of us sat once or twice for a beer or a gaze off into the horizon. We were lucky enough to encounter a 'stag' party, the British version of a Bachelor Party, at one of the bars we went to on the boardwalk. We were a little hesitant to speak to these men at first, as one of them was wearing a neon man-thong a la Borat with a lei and far too short boxers. However, they were actually all very nice and willing to explain what a stag weekend and hen weekend (Bachelorette Party) were and what the soon-to-be groom's wedding plans were. He also shared the story of his engagement, which had Caroline, Kendall and I practically weeping at his feet, naturally. At the end of our short dialogue, we had entirely changed our perspective on thong-bearing men. Little did we know, altering one's perspective on the unconventional would become the underlying motif for the rest of our experience in Brighton.

After moseying along the beautiful coastline, Caroline, Kendall and I opted to walk back up to the road and start heading back toward our hotel. Then, when we least expected it, not that you can ever really expect this sort of thing to happen, a large Corona-themed double decker bus comes rolling down one of the streets toward the sidewalk that we were walking on. The music was blaring, the Corona was flowing, and for some reason, Caroline and I were waving. Within seconds, the bus was stopped, one of the young men in a Corona shirt was opening the back door, and we were kidnapped by the Corona promotional team on what would probably be the most random, yet most rewarding experiences that I've had so far here in England (don't be ashamed mom, you love Corona too). At first we were a little frightened, being three American girls who just willingly climbed to the top of a double-decker bus decorated in Corona labels with 8 or 10 young people also wearing Corona labels. However, after we were handed ice-cold Coronas and invited to come sit down and enjoy the ride, we were willing to accept that this was not in fact a slave-trafficking scheme and we were actually living the dream. I have a feeling that you probably don't believe me right now so here's a picture to prove that this actually happened...

Yes. This is real. Yet, this experience was not just wonderful because of the free Corona. First of all, we were basically given a free driving tour of Brighton because the bus was just winding through the streets, uphill into the heart of the town and then back downhill toward the ocean. Second of all, most of the people you see pictured here were actually "unis" or university students who attend school in Brighton. It was really great to finally meet people our age who could talk to us about their lives and their opinion of the U.S. I'd have to say the best part of that was when Joy/Joan, the blonde with the glasses, told us that she desperately wanted to go to a "red cup pawtayyy". She was referring to Solo cups. Ah, the wonders of classy American college life - so many aspire to it, yet so few achieve it. Kendall, Caroline and I could not help, but laugh hysterically at her because we could not imagine why ANYONE would have a life-long dream of drinking stale Natty Light from a red cup. Yet, J-friend probably thinks its funny that anyone would actually go out of their way to spend a night in Brighton so... we're even I guess. The third part of this that was so wonderful was how utterly RANDOM it was. I mean really... how often are wandering a small coastal town in England when you get picked up by a double decker Corona promotional bus and chauffered around town by an inflatable beer bottle and an everlasting supply of booze? Umm... never.

About an hour later we were dropped off near our hotel. We schlepped back up to our room where we sat in complete bewilderment over what had just happened. I can't even really come to terms with the fact that we were actually on a Corona bus now to be honest, but at least we have the photographs to prove it. The rest of our experience in Brighton was no less uneventful. We went to a great restaurant for dinner that was right on the water then headed off to a bar on the main street of Brighton. We met up with our Corona friends temporarily there, but that wasn't really the most compelling part of the evening. After basking in the glory of non-London prices for food/beverage in Brighton, aka reasonably priced items, Caroline, Kendall and I watched the wonders of the coastal town unfold before our eyes. One minute we were in a relatively tranquil bar. The next minute, the techno beats were blasting, a scantily clad townie who definitely needed some form of dietary supplement was breaking ground on the dance floor, and the true colors of Brighton were revealed. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a crowd of rather husky women appeared dressed in a variety of Disney princess outfits. As Kendall put it, never did I think I would ever see Snow White pole dance. And yet she did... then two men dressed in either a leather cat suit or tennis dress, not quite sure how to describe it, appeared and began a dance-off. I won't lie, the Brighton-ness had rubbed off on us, and eventually Kendall, Caroline, and I were throwing it down on the dance floor with the Ana Kournikova wanna-be. Yet, it wasn't long before we realized we were the probably the only ones in the bar that weren't there on a stag/hen weekend and that it would probably be best to leave. We called it an early night, but we went to sleep rather late considering the ruckus of those who frequent at the Funky Fish below our hotel.

This morning we awoke with pains in our stomach, thanks to the over-sugary pitchers of whatever Brighton decided to intoxicate us with the night before, and hopes in our hearts of achieving the same level of excitement that we had somehow discovered the day before. After checking out of our hotel, we grabbed a quick breakfast then headed over to the Brighton Pier, which can be seen in the picture above from our hotel window. Little did we know, when you entered the indoor section of the pier, you basically took a quick journey over to Las Vegas. There were slots and arcade games everywhere with lights flashing, noises blaring, and... let's just call it sensory overload. We walked to the end of the pier where all of the rides are, but we did not ride any of them out of pride and common sense. I did like walking the pier though because it gave us a great view of Brighton.

After walking the pier, we headed over to the Royal Pavillion, a really random Taj-Mahal style palace smack in the middle of Brighton. I found the palace itself to be rather strange, but there was a museum there with the history of Brighton, a city once known for its "dirty weekends" (explaining the bachelor and bachelorette parties I guess), and an exhibit on Egyptian archaeology (definitely did not expect that). After we walked through the small museum, we sat outside under the trees between the three boys under the age of 12 who were attempting to break dance to "Sex Machine" and "Boom Boom Pow" and a man dressed as a French chef who kept trying to gain the attention of little children with fishing rods, pans, and rubber chickens. So cliché. We were quite frightened of this, so Caroline, Kendall and I decided to continue wandering around town until it was time for our train back to London. We were delighted to find a few street fairs and festivals going on throughout Brighton, which kept us entertained for the afternoon. There were also a lot of smaller streets like the one pictured below that were narrow and had a very eclectic assortment of shops to go in.

A lot of Brighton looked like this, smaller streets lined with funky stores ranging from clothing boutiques to jewelry stores to antique shops. It was definitely a nice change of pace from what we had seen in London so far and really opened our eyes to what England has to offer other than bobbies, red telephone booths, and fish and chips.

By the time we made it to the train station, we were in a Brighton-induced daze. We couldn't help, but look back on all that we had seen in the past 24 hours. From gorgeous ocean with rocky beaches, to a Coney Island style pier, to MUCH cheaper food and drink, to the Corona bus, to the Disney Princess romp session downtown, to the Taj-Mahal style palace... it was truly an insane experience. We had an amazing time for obvious reasons. To be honest, I don't think I remember the last time that I laughed as hard as I did when we retreated to our hotel room after the Corona bus tour on Friday evening. Yet, we also saw a different side of England that we never could have guessed existed. Would you ever think that the boys of the Castro could find a place on the coast of England where they would feel at home? Can you think of a place where a grown... HAIRY grown man could walk around a boardwalk in a Borat-style swim suit? Where else do you find British accents and bohemian chic street fairs held together by a cool ocean breeze? We're convinced that when we left Brighton, the entire city just folded into itself and disappeared into oblivion. It was that unreal of a place. Yet, if that is not the case and Brighton does in fact exist, I would recommend it to anyone looking for an experience that will shatter your world as you know it.

Hanging out on the coast of England

Unbelievable sunset from our hotel window

Kendall expressing her envy of my crepe

Pub on the main street in Brighton

as good as it gets?

So I had my interview this morning at my MP's office. Being.... me.... I showed up a solid hour and a half before my scheduled interview time. Why so early? Well, I learned only yesterday morning of my interview and needed time this morning to look over some information about the MP and to review my CV (a.k.a. resume). I also was afraid that I would not be able to find the Portcullis House, the office I would be working in. Little did I know, it would be impossible to miss.

I'm going to try to convey this with the upmost modesty. However, I am almost positive that humility is simply impossible. Why? Because below you see a picture. A nice photograph that appears to be a typical touristy view. To the left you see the Houses of Parliament, near the center you see Big Ben and in the foreground, the wonderfully brown Thames River. Did you notice that building in the right of the picture? Well that, my friends, is where my internship will be from early October until December.

Now I thought working at Madison Square Garden was as good as it gets, but now I'm not so sure. I'll put it to you Juicy Campus style: Working at Madison Square Garden or working in British parliament along the Thames, next to Big Ben? Discuss.

And off we go !

Sorry Kristen and Bri, there will be no commentary on Wake Forest Sports on this blog entry. My silence should say enough.

Now that I am half way through the first real week of classes, things are beginning to pick up here in good ol' London England. On Monday's and Tuesday's I have a British Television Studies course from 9 am to 1 pm with a precious professor named Christine. She is on the younger side, has children that are probably in their teens, and is very well-versed in British media talk. So far we have focused a lot on how television works in the UK along with the dynamic amon

g channels from the original BBC to the newer channels like the creatively named "Channel 4" and "Channel 5" (which is actually known as Five or Fiver now). I never knew that television was not the same over here in Great Britain as it is in the states. For instance, the BBC is publicly funded by the licensing fee that all people are forced to pay when they purchase a television. It's kind of bizarre, especially for us Americans who don't have to pay for anything other than the television and the cable box to get the basic channels. I'm really excited because we are going to Princess Productions, a television production studio, on Tuesday to watch the filming of a mid-morning discussion show. Then, on Wednesday, I am going with my other class to take a tour of Parliament! The other course I am taking is called British Political Institutions and meets on Wednesday's and Thursdays from 1:15 pm to 5:15 pm. I really like the professors so far and am looking forward to furthering my knowledge of British politics so as to be better prepared for my internship in October. No, I still have not been placed with an MP, which is kind of frustrating because most of my friends here have either interviewed or are going to be interviewing with their placement soon. Oh well! I guess I will just have to wait and see!

On a less academic note, I have done a lot more exploring the past few days. On Sunday, Chelsey, Steve, Ally and I began a long day's journey by trekking through Hyde Park. We first came upon Kensington Palace, where Princess Diana lived (pictured). As you can see there are still so many signs, poems, etc. posted on the fence of the palace in memory of Princess Diana.

It was rather breath-taking to see how much people still care about a woman who passed away over a decade ago. I had completely forgotten what Princess Di had been for this country, the fact that beyond being a wife or mother, she was an icon that millions upon millions of people looked up to and followed with great interest and respect. I wonder what really happened on that fateful day, if the car accident that took her life was as controversy-ridden as the media had made it out to be. I guess the world will never really know. After passing through the gates you see here, we wandered behind Kensington Palace by the gardens then over to a big lake in the middle of Hyde Park with dozens of swans and other (less graceful) birds floating about.

We then made our way over toward Notting Hill, then walked over to Holland Park where Chelsey lived when she was younger, then back to South Kensington. Oh, I have to add that when we walked through the Portobello Market (my second time in two days), a blue plaque on one of the buildings caught my eye. As I moved closer, I realized that it said that GEORGE ORWELL had lived there.

Naturally, I was star-struck and wished that I had a fellow lit-nerd (aka AJ) with me to go crazy with. However, I was alone with my camera and had to satisfy my fix by merely taking a picture of Mr. Orwell's former humble abode. It was such a great day to wander London and I definitely got a better feel for where all of the different areas are. The downside however was that I caught a bit of a cold and have been feeling under the weather since. At least I'm not at Wake suffering from Swine Flu? I did manage to go on a walk/run with Caroline through Hyde Park yesterday because the temperature had randomly risen to the high 70's.

I would say my greatest success since I wrote on here on Saturday was probably the dinner that we made last night. I managed to throw together lemon chicken breast with mushroom penne pasta and a salad (compliments of Kendall, Caroline, and Evan's lettuce). The chicken was actually GOOD. I mean not good as in I liked it because... face it, mom, I have hated chicken, still hate chicken, and will continue to hate chicken as long as I shall live. However, considering it was the first time that I ever single handedly cooked chicken, it was pretty tasty. I'd have to say I was impressed with myself and even more proud when I saw that all three of the girls who consumed the chicken were still living, breathing, and fully functional today.

Well other than these minor exploits, the past few days have been a blur of the sniffles, political science reading that I can't convince myself to do, and planning my trips over to the main land! Hopefully within the next few days I will have definite plans for traveling to share with you, all five of you who read this blog.... mom, dad, oh wait... two people who read this blog. I hope all is well wherever you are be it dear ol' Wake Forest, the VOT, South America or Europe! I'll be in touch soon!

You Live You Learn

That was our motto today as we made our way to Buckingham Palace followed by Notting Hill. I've heard it before, but have never realized how absolutely fabulous the saying is because it's SO TRUE. Now we know that when you take the tube from Notting Hill back to South Kensington you aren't supposed to go eastbound... because it's a circle... and it doesn't go the same direction the whole time... whoops! And we know that creepy Russian men who stare at you and offer to take your picture when you aren't really looking for someone to do so... well... they should be avoided maybe. We also learned that Queen Elizabeth II's digs are absolutely, astonishingly gorgeous. The British royal family has it going on, beyond the fact that Prince William and Prince Harry (well, mostly Prince Harry now) are absolutely gorgeous. Buckingham Palace was one of the more incredible places I have ever been. I have randomly read a lot about the British royal system back in the 14th and 15th centuries because of the Philippa Gregory novels The Other Boleyn Girl and The White Queen, which I am working on now. So having some context as to what life was like back in the early days of palace culture gave me a little more imagination as I wandered from ball room to drawing room to marble hall. Kendall, Caroline, and I took the tour of the 19 state rooms that are closed off all year except for during the latter half of the summer. These are the rooms where the more public events are held at the palace from award ceremonies, to photographic opportunities, even to where the Prince of Wales is baptized. In fact, not only did I stand in the room where Queen Elizabeth II's wedding and coronation photos were taken, but I stood in the very room where Prince William was baptized, which in my opinion is pretty ridiculous. I also found the exhibit with all of the dresses Queen Elizabeth II wore and the gifts she received during the Royal Tour to be quite amazing. I'm pretty sure I found the dress that I want to get married in (if it ever happens, right mom?) I mean not the exact dress, but you know what I mean. They were all so ornate and SMALL. I can't believe someone who dons the title Queen could be so petite! It's precious, really... I loved seeing all of the different tapestries, paintings, woodworks, etc. that the Queen has received in touring the world as well, especially those from former President Nelson Mandela of South Africa, my personal favorite. Beyond that exhibit, the architectural detailing from floor to ceiling was incredible. John Nash was a genius... an expensive genius, but a genius nonetheless. I would let him break my budget ANY TIME if it meant that my home would exhibit a third of the beauty that I found at Buckingham Palace. From the exquisite gilded domes, brackets, and crown molding to the art displayed both on the walls and on the tables, everything about the palace had a certain character and grace that can be encapsulated by no other word other than 'regal'. Unfortunately I was not permitted to take any photographs of the interior of Buckingham Palace, but I have below some of the pictures from the outside. I also have below a picture of the Portobello Market in Notting Hill where the three of us wandered for a little while this afternoon. I definitely want to go back when I'm not as worn out, but it was a great sneak peek into the market and antique culture of London. Also, Kendall, Caroline and I are officially taking the train to Brighton (the New Barcelona, apparently) next weekend and I am SO excited. It is impossible to travel out of the country for very cheap when you only plan a week in advance, but I really want to see a little more of England outside of London any way so this will be a great escape from city life. Well, I'm off to make some dinner and possibly head out to the pubs. I will NOT be tuning into any college football games, especially the Wake Forest one. I love my deacs, but I know my emotional limits and watching MY team play in MY stadium with MY fellow dancers dancing on MY platform would probably be the worst possible thing for my overall happiness here in London. On that note, live a little, root for my deacs, and check back soon for more updates!

Standing in front of the gates of Buckingham Palace

View of Buckingham Palace from the Gardens in the back

Portobello Market in Notting Hill

MIND THE GAP

I cannot believe that I have been here almost a week! It's a strange feeling because I feel as though I was back in the good ol' VOT just yesterday, but then I realize all that I have done in the past 5 or 6 days and I cannot believe I haven't been here for months. The rest of orientation was dreadful, as expected. However, Thursday was our first day of class and it was glorious. I am a self-proclaimed nerd so I am in no way embarrassed to say that I was legitimately giddy on my way to 43 Harrington Gardens where most of the BU classes are. It is a decent 20 minute or so walk from the Crofton where I am living and is a really beautiful building. The class I had on Thursday was the core class that all Political Science & International Relations track students have to take. It is called British Political Institutions and is taught by the most precious man I have ever met in my life, Professor Cousins. He is witty and intelligent, something I was not expecting from his rather old looking appearance. Each class I take will have two four-hour sessions per week, so the dry humor will be much appreciated come the 3rd hour of each class. I actually took some notes during the first class because I thought you, my fellow Americans, might find some of it interesting. Basically, we discussed what Americans and Brits find to be odd about each other. After explaining to our professor why we though it was strange that they drove on the other side of the road, he gave us a list of things that he, along with most Brits, find odd about America...

1. Brits find the death penalty to be strange because complete abolishment of the death penalty has been a requirement for countries by the EU for 50 years.

2. Brits find the popularity of guns in the United States to be odd because there is very strict gun control in Great Britain. They do not understand the American fascination with guns. However, gun control is becoming a more prominent issue of discussion in elections in Great Britain because of the rising level of gun crime. It is not much, as there were 24 gun-related murders in all of Great Britain last year. However, in a nation where most cops (bobbies) do not carry guns on them, this number is viewed as jarring.

3. Brits do not comprehend why the U.S. is obsessed with displaying flags and badges that signify our nation. They don't see the point of flying the flag unless you are at an international sporting event supporting your country. While the U.S. utilizes its flag as a cultural icon, the Brits have the Queen as their cultural icon.

4. The Brits do not understand why there is so much controversy regarding religion in the states. In Great Britain, religion plays a different role in life and in government. In fact, something I did not know nor would guess considering Great Britain has a national church, the Church of England, an overall belief in God is not as high in Great Britain. In fact, only 7% of its citizens go to religious services regularly as opposed to a vast majority of Americans.

5. The Brits cannot see why we like the three sports that are barely, if at all, competed in across the globe. Great Britain's three main team sports are football (soccer), cricket, and rugby, popular sports that are shared with other countries as well. The U.S. however is most focused on basketball, football, and baseball, three sports that are nowhere near as popular at least as football (soccer) is around the world. Brits also rarely support women's sports unlike the relatively stable women's teams in basketball, soccer, etc. in the states.

I found all of these points to be very interesting and thought I would share. Thursday night, Boston University held a party at Longacre, a pub in Covent Gardens. Don't worry, I saw Annie Lennox is with my own eyes... the woman behind the Eurythmics AND the fratilicious "Walking on Broken Glass". I was pretty pumped about that - other than seeing the lead singer of Oasis at the Red Lion in the West Village in NYC this summer, that was my closest encounter with a celebrity EVER. Score. After that we went to another bar in the area then somehow ended up at Zoo Bar and Club, which absolutely lived up to its name. I can't say it was the most wonderful experience I've had, but it was an experience nonetheless.

I would have to say my favorite day being here so far was today. This morning I trekked over to 43 Harrington Gardens for my meeting with my EUSA representative, the man who has been working on my internship placement, only to find that they STILL have not placed me with a Member of Parliament. Hopefully I will know who my MP is by the end of this coming week. After that, I met up with a few friends and walked to Harrods. I'm pretty sure I died and came back to life at least three times in Harrods not including when I found its own Tiffany & Co. or when I touched my first Missoni gown. After seeing the true purpose of living, beautiful clothing, my friends and I wandered around Brompton and then headed back to South Kensington where we live. Kendall and I decided to then go grab our journals and books and head out into Hyde Park to give our feet a rest.

Pictured is our view as we lay on a grassy knoll in the beautiful park that is right next to the Crofton. I'd have to say I feel pretty spoiled, but that isn't even because of that beautiful monument in Hyde Park that you see here. It's because of what Kendall and I were able to see on our evening's hike across London. We decided that we really wanted to go to the Thames River again because we did not get to walk around much after our boat tour on the first day here. So, off we went with some vague directions toward the Thames. It was about an hour-long walk, but I will tell you that once we made it into Westminster and began seeing the symbols of England that we have known since we were little children, it made our sore feet and grumbling bellies worthwhile. Below are the pictures of Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and everything else that I was nearly in tears of happiness over this evening. After walking across the lovely footbridge (yes, the one from Harry Potter), we went to Wagamama's for some Asian noodles and Edamame then headed back over the river and took the tube back to South Kensington.

It was a solid day and I am completely worn out. I'd have to say, looking at Big Ben, the London Eye, and the Houses of Parliament from the walking bridge finally made me realize that I am living in London. It didn't really hit me that I was actually here and that this is all real until I saw the beautiful parliamentary buildings right before my eyes, framed by the lights of the London Eye reflecting in the Thames, standing tall to the tune of Big Ben's bell ringing for all to hear. At times I wonder if studying abroad was the right choice, if I will be able to handle not being on the platform at BB&T field for the Wake vs. Baylor game tomorrow, if I can go four months without seeing mom and dad, if I can handle being without late-night text messages from AJ until Decemeber, if I can go 8 months without sharing a living space with Rock seeing Carey, Sallie, and the rest of my Chi O biddies. Yet, moments like those... standing on the bridge and being within yards of some of the most iconic structures in the world, those are the ones that make me realize that I would be crazy to think of this as anything other than the most amazing experience I will ever have. I hate to entertain the idea that I'm peaking at the age of 20, but with so many opportunities to explore and learn before me, how can I not?

My throat is beginning to hurt a little and I'm beginning to wonder if you can catch swine flu from skype (fyi, the entire Wake Forest campus is on the verge of depletion within the next 36 hours due to the lovely virus). So that is my excuse for not going out to the pubs tonight. Things to do in the next few days: plan some more trips before flight prices go up, figure out how to get around the attendance policy so as to not miss my flight to Munich for Oktoberfest, figure out a gym membership situation so I can remain in dance team shape until January, and convince mom and dad to come visit their beloved youngest cub... please, mom and dad???

Me and my boy Nelson...

Big Ben. Duh.

Westminster Abbey

Big Ben again

Kendall and I along the Thames

London Skyline

More of the Thames

Jealous?

London: 2 S Club: 0

Night two in London was one for the books. After sharing a delightful dinner (that we made... see mom, I told you we'd cook), we departed for the streets of London. The men of the group had desperately wanted to go to the carnival in Notting Hill, but somehow we managed to convince them that we should probably try to expand on the S Club by meeting some of the people in our program. So we went to the Imperial College pub where BU was putting on a quiz night. Chelsey, Ally and I were quite delighted to have our first taste of snakebite which I believe is a combination of foster's, starbraman (sp?), and grenadine. It was REALLY good, I promise. The S Club did in fact succeed in making new friends, but they weren't exactly from our program. They were in fact native Londoner's in many forms. First was a group of students who are about the same age as us (they're the ones in the picture). I'd have to say, they were a very... motley crew. However, we had great conversations with them because they were equally curious about American culture as we were about British culture. They even told us that they loved our accents, which I personally think is ridiculous considering that we sound like whining donkeys in comparison to them. However, they said we sound 'cool' and even practiced their American accents by trying a few different phrases for them. They also taught us some of the British slang, which for the sake of those who read this blog that did not graduate from college in the 21st century, I'll be keeping those to myself (it's ok dad, I'll tell you what they taught us if you tell me what you did during Woodstock...) The next British friend we met was a kind gentleman, probably around 30 years old, named Tim. Tim works for the Museum of Natural History and had a lot of advice for us regarding different areas to visit, festivals to attend and how to travel. He also showed us our next destination, Janet's Bar, which is one of the only bars/pubs open past 11 pm in London. This is most likely because it is owned by none other than Janet, a busty blonde native New Yorker who moved to London 20 years ago. Janet's bar was definitely more expensive than the other bars we had been to, even with the impromptu 2% American student discount she offered us. I'd have to say that what will stick with me regarding Janet's Bar will not be the alcohol or the pricing... it would have to be our next new British friend, a 70-83 year old man by the name of Uncle Timmy. In the picture that I have posted here, you will see that it appears as though Chelsey, Ally and I are on the verge of tears/slightly uncomfortable. Well, this is because after Uncle Timmy began buying us bottle after bottle of champagne (which we didn't really want, but simply could not refuse), our new friend broke the ice by bringing up some pretty... graphic... topics of conversation. I'd have to say, I would have been very annoyed, if not offended, if it had not been coming from this seemingly harmless man. However, because it was Uncle Timmy telling us these inappropriate little diddies, it was somehow ok. No, not just ok, it was HYSTERICAL. I honestly have not laughed that hard in a long time and can truly confess that tears rolled down my cheeks multiple times in the hour or so that we were in the company of Uncle Timmy. Fortunately, Chelsey, Ally and I were able to escape Janet's Bar and the captivation of the elder British man. The boys however were not as lucky and were not seen again until this morning when we crawled out of bed to go to the Royal Geographical Society where our orientation lectures were being held. I must add one little tidbit... being the fact that my fellow ladies and I have decided that by the end of the semester we WILL get into the bar near us ( I believe it's called Borgis ) where the celebrities are often spotted... and by celebrities I mean Prince William. Yea. So we have to get on that as soon as possible. Last night we were about to attempt it, but to Ally and Chelsey's dismay, I convinced them that we were nowhere near dolled up enough to be trying to earn the presence of the future king of England. So we headed on home for our second night of sleep in London only to find our second morning waking in London to be just as... difficult... as the first. Yet, we somehow made it to the lectures at the Royal Geographical Society and wasted a day dozing off to the broken record sounds of British people telling us that pepper spray is illegal here and that you can't buy marijuana in Amsterdam anymore if you're not a permanent resident (which I didn't know until today actually). I won't lie... most of us fell asleep more than once and I don't even feel bad about it. Normal Calais would feel extremely guilty. However, jet-lagged, pub-worn Calais did not feel one pang of regret as she came back to consciousness after dozing off once... twice... however many times it took for me to maintain energy for my soon-to-be political science professor's lecture at the end of the day. At least I showed up, right? Well, tonight Ally and I had dinner with our hall, which has quite a few Wake Forest students, a few random UNC or other university students, and minimal BU students. We met a few new characters, which was definitely refreshing. While I love the S Club, I hope we are able to continue to branch out throughout the semester so we aren't curb-stomping each other come December. Tomorrow will be another day full of lectures then Thursday is our first day of class. I feel extremely unprepared, as I really don't know what is going on with this schedule or anything. However, it's kind of liberating not knowing what's coming next and I know I will get my life together in the end. Maybe I should try using my European cell phone too? Ehh... no... I'm enjoying being un-contactable far too much. I hope all is well in the states or Africa or South America or main-land Europe for all of you and I'll be sure to continue keeping you updated!