Going Home!

Today started out great.  I woke up got ready and maneged to get my stuff to the Gloucester underground station.  It wasn't bad getting to the platform.  I got on a Piccadilly line train but after I was on it realized it was the northern branch, so I got off at Actin Town and got on the next train.  I made it to the airport with no big trouble to speak of.  I'm glad I didn't waste money on a cab, and technically I didn't pay for my tube trip either. 

I got my bags checked with no problem, I don't think she even weighed them, good.  She told me there that my original flight was canceled, I already knew that thanks to parents checking flight status.  She said that the flight I was rebooked on was delayed and they were supposed to make up time in the air so I wouldn't miss my connecting flight.  She also said I could get some compensation for having my flight cancelled. 

I got through security and was ready to get on the plane at 10, but my flight wasn't until 12 and then it was delayed 50 minutes, so basically I sat in a chair for two hours waiting for a gate assignment, then I went to the gate and sat for another hour.  Then when I went to board the plane it turned out that they changed my seat.  It was a good change, but freaked me out a bit when the scanner wouldn't accept my boarding pass because of the seat change.  I ended up with an isle seat instead of a middle seat. 

So the plane takes off, then about an hour later they serve lunch.  It was a really good chicken dish, kind of like the kebabs chicken, and some pasta shells which were amazing.  I also got salad, a roll, and some cake stuff.  Then I slept slash listened to music for like six hours.  I didn't really get much sleep.  Well then we got a snack of a sandwich, crisps or well chips, and a twix.  Then we finally landed at Washington DC and I basically knew that I had already missed my connecting flight. 

It took a little while to get through the boarder, and customs.  I had to get my bags and take them through customs with me, then recheck them.  Hopefully they didn't go to St. Louis without me.  Then security took a lot longer than I wanted.  Stupid US security makes you take everything off: coat, jacket, and shoes.  By the time I got to where I could see a departure board, it said the flight was already closed.  So then I waited to talk to the information guy and he directed me to the gate where my flight should have been.  So I went to the gate, and the guy there checked me in for the next flight to St. Louis at 10.  At least I don't have to wait until tomorrow morning like the KC people had to. 

Now I am just sitting here with my laptop trying to keep myself entertained until I can go to the gate. 

Last day in London

For my last day in London, I went to Westminster Abbey for their 11:15 service.  It was really nice and seemed completely different from St. Paul's.  At Westminster, the priests and such were right in front of us.  There was not the separation like at St. Paul's.  Also, at Westminster, the people actually seemed more involved.  We said more stuff, and could actually understand what the choir was singing.  I really liked this service better.  Even though I had been to St. Paul's, I still felt pretty touristy not knowing what was going on.  Of course there had to be some really enthusiastic guy right beside me who was like praying every time he got a chance.   The sermon was nice, and I actually understood most of it considering it was about David in the Old Testament, then talking about how Jesus would establish the house of David forever.  It was the last Sunday of Advent at Westminster.  I have surprised myself by attending church service three times since thanksgiving. 

After church I got some food from Burger King since it was on the way back to my hotel.  Then I took a nap as I watched Jack Frost, and the chocolate factory movie, the old one.  It was a nice nap.  Then I went out and leisurely walked around London for the last time.  I stopped at McDonald's on the way back and had 9 chicken nuggets for the last time.  On another note, coke in a can is better here, but the fountain drinks are terribly yucky.  Maybe I'm just not used to the carbonation anymore.  I technically still don't really drink soda, but here the soda is different so I have to try it. 

In about 24 hours, I will be arriving in the US at Chicago.  It seems so close now, but still so far away.  Tomorrow is going to be horrible.  I will be traveling for almost 24 hours, depending on how fast I can get out of the airport at St. Louis.  At least I can make the boys take care of my suitcases at St. Louis.  Well I guess I better go downstairs and ask about the checkout procedures before I go to sleep since I have to leave at 5:30 in the morning. 

Two days left

Well today was pretty busy.  First I went to go get Debbie at her hotel and we went to the Leicester Square Odeon.  They were not actually playing the right movie like they said on the Internet, or anything else good, so we decided to watch My Week With Marylin at the Covent Garden Odeon.  We did a little shopping and got some McDonald's to sneak into the movie.  I had a very interesting McChicken sandwich.  Not even sure that's what it was, because it was dark and it tasted a little weird.   Well the movie was pretty good.  I even got to use my Odeon rewards points to get a free popcorn.  It was great. 

After the movie we went to Hamley's toy store.  It was so crowded so we didn't stay long, but I did get a paddington bear book.  I am pretty excited about it.  Then we went to Sainsbury and got some stuff and parted ways.  It makes me sad to see everybody leaving.  I don't think it will be easy for me to leave either.  I have decided that I am just going to suck it up and take the tube to the airport.  If I go to gloucester, I can take the lift down to the Piccadilly line and it should be easy enough from there.  I did go through my suitcases last night and took a bag of stuff to the trash this morning.  I may go through it again though.  I am so ready to be done traveling for a while.

Then when I came back to the hotel I found that Harry Potter was on the tv.  I was so happy I got to see half of number five.  Last night I saw some other pretty cool show about books and reading in general.  It talked about ebooks, printed books, the new interactive books.  I guess this makes me sound like a nerd, but it's ok, I am a nerd.

Moving Day

So today they kicked us out of the flat.  We woke up early, basically threw away all the food in the cabinets, washed the dishes, packed the rest of our stuff, and chatted for a while until the cleaning ladies made us get out.  Luckily it had stopped raining and snowing by that time, but it was still difficult getting all of our suitcases out of the building, to the tube stop, down the stairs, down the escalator, onto the tube, off the tube, up an escalator, across the station, up stairs, down more stairs, onto the tube again, off the tube, to the lift, then out of the station, to the hotel and up the stairs.  My arms felt like they were going to fall off, and I almost lost a shoe in the gap between the train and the platform.  I did manage to get some help from a few different guys who happened to be there and willing to help.  The the hotel desk guy carried my big suitcase up the stairs for me.  My room is decent.  I get a full bed to myself, and a kitchen area including a microwave, kettle, sink, and some stove type burner thing.  Apparently I don't understand what to do to make the outlet in the kitchen thing work, oh well.  The bathroom is interesting, I still don't exactly know how the shower is supposed to work, but I guess I can figure that out in the morning.  The one thing I would really complain about is the temperature.  It gets pretty cold in here and I obviously cant get the heat to work right.  Good thing I have a few jumpers and sweatpants. 

After I checked into my room I helped Debbie take her stuff to capa for a while and wait until she could check in at her hotel.  I also got my card from Aunt Lola.  Tonight I made an excellent cup of Swiss Miss hot chocolate in my hotel room.  So we hung around at capa for a while then I helped her take her stuff to her hotel and came back to my room to relax for a little while before dinner.  Then at like four, we went to Wagamama to have one last bowl of Ramen.  That was the best Ramen ever, and I am going to say I won.  I ate pretty much all of it except for a little soup and some onions floating around.  I will miss that Ramen in the US.  Then we came back to my room and watched TV and made plans for tomorrow.  We are going to watch Arthur Christmas at Leicester Square then do some shopping and maybe eat at a pub for the last time.  I still don't know what I will do on Sunday.  Maybe I will just nap all day, because that just sounds awesome. 

Packing Day

So today I got up early.  Debbie and I helped Amanda get all her suitcases on the heathrow connect at paddington.  It wasn''t too bad, but I did end up with a battle wound.  When getting her suitcase off the tube, I guess I didn't move my foot fast enough and it kind of fell on my ankle and scratched it up pretty bad.  It still hurts.  Well we got back to the flat, I started some laundry and went back to sleep.  I got up later and did some more laundry, then went to Capa to print some information.  On the way I stopped at my hotel and got some information from them.  It isn't hard to find, and not very far from the tube stop either.  The guy at the desk seemed nice enough.  So I guess I can go check in at one tomorrow.  I decided that I am just going to take the Piccadilly tube to the airport.  I should have plenty of time if I get up early enough. 

Well I got back, packed up everything, and now I just hope that it ends up under the weight limit.  I really don't want to pay an overweight fee.  I got some snacks for the plane and got the rest of my food stuffs together.  I have a bag of snacks to take to the hotel with me.  I wish I could just go home tomorrow, but I can wait till Monday.  I think I am going to watch a movie some time this weekend, probably My Week With Marylin, or Another Earth.   Then I can use my rewards points and get a free popcorn or drink. 

Liverpool

So on Wednesday, Debbie Amanda and I went to Liverpool, the home of the beetles.  It took us five and a half hours to get there and we only had 4 hours to spend in Liverpool, but It was worth it.  It was a bigger town than I expected, and not terribly excited about the beetles at all.  We walked forever before seeing anything beetles related.  Finally we just happened to come to the Cavern club.  We took pictures of everything that was semi beetles related.  I don't know a lot about the beetles, but I felt excited anyway.  It was just so cool to be there.  I went to through away my coffee cup in a rubbish bin, and the thing starting singing to me "thank you very much, thank you very very much."  It scared the crap out of me.  I thought it was Oscar from Sesame Street.  It was so weird.  Well we then walked around and bought some crepes with nutella.  I think nutella is pretty good, just basically like chocolate.  Then we also got some chips and stopped at Costa again.  We made it to the coach station early and waited for a little bit.  Then we had a five and a half hour drive back to London. 

Then when we got back, we realized Alyssa was missing and so we went to look for her next door where there was a lot of noise.  Turns out there was a party going on in there and our Alyssa was partying it up.  Well it was nice seeing everybody one last time, and they seemed a lot less annoying when drunk.  I had a shot of gin and another of wine.  Then I drank almost half a beer.  It was fun and cheered Amanda up.  Then we decided to leave so we could get stuff done. 

Last day of Class

For my last Aesthetics class, we had a wine tasting.  It was fun and a totally new experience for me.  I learned a lot about the elements that make wines different.  I also learned that I like the white wines a lot more than reds.  Somehow I felt a little tipsy or maybe it was just my headache, but really I didn't drink that much wine.  After class, I went and finished my shopping pretty much, then I got some dumplings for dinner.  It was nice just to have one more normal day in London. 

Last Monday of School

Well I got up a little early this morning and went to Capa to print my paper to turn in for my Understanding Modern Britain class.  Class started a little over an hour late and lasted for like twenty minutes.  Then we all went to a farewell lunch.  I had pizza and it was really good with desert and tea.  The tea was a little strange.  There were a few speeches, so it felt like graduation or something.  It was sad thinking that we were saying goodbye to each other and to London.  Sometimes I just want this week to be over, but then again I don't feel like I want to leave yet.  It is going to be a hard week, getting ready to leave, and actually leaving will be so sad I really don't want to think about it. 

Cardiff again

So Yesterday I went back to Cardiff for a second time.  It was still lovely.  We walked around saw a lot of stuff including the national museum that they firmed Doctor Who at.  It rained a lot, but at least it wasn't as cold as Saturday.  I looked for the Dalek again but didn't find it.  Then we hid in the Queen's Arcade while it was raining.  My umbrella sure got a workout anyway.  We stopped in at a nice cafe called BBs and had some good tea.  It was such a cute place and the cupcakes smelled really good.  Then we went out into the open and walked by the Christmas market stalls and looked at all the pretty lights.  Then we stopped at Wagamama for some miso soup and some jasmine flowering tea.  The soup was good and so was the tea, but it didn't flower like it was supposed to.  It was a dud, kinda, or just a failure.  After Wagamama we went to the coach station and managed to get on the earlier bus back.  We got back almost a whole hour early, yay.  Then I did my Aesthetics paper and went to sleep.  

Stratford-upon-Avon

So on Saturday I went with  Debbie and Amanda to Stratford-upon-Avon.  We took the train and had no trouble getting on the first train, but we almost missed our connecting train and had to run across the platform to make sure we got on it.  We did make it on the train and to Stratford-upon-Avon.  We walked around looked at all the stores and tried to stay warm.  It was just above freezing when we were there and everything had frost on it.  It was quite pretty I think.  We went to see the birthplace of Shakespeare, and then we went to the bookshop.  I got some postcards, but really wanted the complete works.  I restrained myself.  We went to a really cute pub for lunch.  It was called The Thatch Tavern.  We sat next to the fire and it was really nice.  I had a thatch burger, chips, and side salad.  The burger was really good, except for the caramelized onion chutney, it was just a little too weird.  We looked around in some more shops, and just tried to stay warm.  We even saw some reindeer.  It was really nice, and we had fun walking around and looking for imaginary things.  The train ride back was nice because we didn't have to switch trains.  It was a cute little village, not really very big at all but amazing because of it. 

Busy Friday

Friday I went to Harrods and rode on the fancy Egyptian Escalator. It was pretty cool I must admit. Then we found the Harry Potter shop, where I purchased a copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I can't wait to read it and see all the British words. I even got a free poster of Harry and Voldemort. I loved the Harry Potter shop it was just so cool, and they had a monster book to play with. I really wanted to get a M.o.M. keychain, but didn't. We went to Accessorize as well and I bought myself some things to remind me of London. Then We went to Yum Cha in Camden and I bought tea. I also bought other tea at the souvenir shop there. After our afternoon of shopping we came back to get Alyssa and then we went out to eat Indian food one last time. It was really good food and I ate way too much. On the way back we took a wrong bus and ended up having to walk quite a ways, but at least we were not lost too long.

Getting things ready to leave the flat next week

Yesterday and Today I have mostly just been doing some last minute things and homework.  I slept in on Wednesday and then i went to Asda to get stuff, but of course they didn't even have what I went to get.  Oh well, I got some other stuff instead, like a Dr. Who Advent calender.  I had lots of fun getting back. 

Today I went to the post office this morning and bought a newspaper.  Then I went on a lovely walk around the block and took pictures of the canal, and some of the rest of the neighborhood.  I am going to miss this place.  It seemed like I was saying goodbye.  Then I went to Lord's Cricket Pitch with my Philosophy of Sport Class.   It was really cool.  Our tour guide looked and talked a bit like Peter Pettigrew from Harry Potter.  The tour was cool, we saw the ashes, and the stadium.  We even got to go up in the media building.  I am so glad we went.  Lord's is a venue for the 2012 Olympic archery competition, so I might get to see it on TV next summer. 

Just another thing, I saw a 5-year-old version of Arthur Weasley today.  He was wearing a silly hat and carrying two sticks.  It was so strange.  By the way, most older British guys look like Arthur Weasley, and the ladies look like Molly. 

The last terrible Tuesday not so bad I guess.

Last night I stayed up late studying for my Child development test this morning.  It was not very hard, I just hope I wrote down the right stuff.  We had to write a few pages in answer to two out of eight questions discussed throughout the semester.  I chose Language Development and Piaget.  I think I did fine, but I have to wait and see how it effects my grade.  In my Aesthetics class we watched another movie about wine.  After class Amanda Debbie and I managed to cook our own version of Indian tofuhelper.  It was pretty good.  We even had Naan with it. 

I can't wait for classes to be done, and I think I am actually ready to go back to the United States.  I will probably not feel the same way after I have been back for a week.  Maybe Christmas will keep the inevitable depression at bay for a while.  I hope it won't be too bad, but I know it will be hard getting used to life in the United States again.   Well I know my family wants me back, my mom keeps reminding me how many days left on facebook.  Sometimes multiple times in one day; miss you too mom.  I don't know if anybody else even knows I've been gone, or cares, but I am glad to be going back to my crazy family.  See everybody soon. 

Two weeks left

Time is running out to do all this stuff I have to do before I go back home.  Today we did our group presentation for Understanding Modern Britain class.  I think it was fine, and the class was happy with our mars bars we brought.  After Class I went to Wagamama with Amanda and Debbie and had some Ramen.  It was good and I ate too much probably.  Then I went to Oxford street and bought a suitcase.  It was sort of expensive, but probably as cheap as I could get it.  I went in another store earlier and this really creepy guy kept trying to get me to give him my number and go dancing with him.  Creepy, and I ran away as fast as I could.  Well it was also weird taking my suitcase back to the flat empty.  It kept bouncing off of everything since it weighed basically nothing.  Now I am trying to study for my test tomorrow, but it is going very slowly. 

St. Paul's

This morning Debbie and I went to St. Paul's for church.  It was nice, but there were not very many people there.  Most of the singing I couldn't understand, but it sounded pretty.  The sermon was interesting and I found out that the British say Isiah really weird.  After the service we went to Leicester Square to get some chopping done, and now I only have two things I have to get before I leave.  Maybe some extras if I still have money and space in my suitcase. 

Cambridge

Today I went to Cambridge with my Understanding modern Britain class.  We went on the train and took a bus from the train station to the city center.  We then went to Kings College.  It was a very nice church that we saw with amazing ceiling and stained glass windows.  After that, we went out and saw the lawn, but it was cold, so we then went to find lunch.  I had a chicken kebab with some chili sauce and yucky white goo.  Well it was good except for the white goo.  We even got a discount because we were students.  Well after lunch we walked around looked in various shops.  We even saw a shop selling American food like Kraft mac and cheese and lucky charms.  I really wanted the Swiss Miss but wasn't going to pay that ridiculous amount when I am going home in like two weeks.  Eventually we headed back to the train because it was just cold and we were tired.  We got right on the train and went back to London King's Cross Station.  Now we are back and supposed to be doing homework, but I really don't want to.  I only have one test, and 4 papers to do before I am finished with the semester. 

There are a few places I would like to go before I leave.  I think I want to go back to the British Museum, the Imperial War Museum, and Maybe Westminster.  I know there are some other things, but I don't remember right now.  I might end up at the British Library sometime, but I am not too sure.  I might try to go to burough market. 

For now it seems like there is too much to do and not enough time to do it and sleep. 

The Doctor Who Experience

Yesterday was fun, but crazy.  I went to the Dr. Who Experience, but had a lot of trouble getting there, between the stupid tube, waiting for the bus, missing my stop, getting back on the tube, walking to the next tube station, and deciding to just take the tube to hammersmith and walking ten minutes to the actual place, I was only an hour and a half late.  Luckily it didn't matter what time I got there since they were not busy.  So first I walked through these few displays from the vampires of Venice and The Hungry Earth episodes.  Then I waited for a while for the show to start.  First I went into a room that had a few benches and a movie screen.  The screen had a crack through it and it looked like someone had done something to the screen.  We  it started with Matt Smith talking about how he was stuck in the pandorica again.  So us "shoppers" had to rescue him.  So the video stops and the screen opens up and we walk through into the starship UK library. 

Another video plays and tells us to go through into the tardis.  So the tardis appears and we walk through the doors.  It was like the actual set there.  Of course it was the new tardis.  So Matt Smith comes on again and says that we have to fly the tardis somewhere, so we do.  we actually got to play with some controls, and while it was flying the floor moved and it was awesome.  We landed somewhere, and had to get out quickly.  He kept saying to keep going and don't touch the walls.  Then we came out into this room and the daleks appeared.  They tried to exterminate us, but The Doctor fought them off I guess.  the light and sound effects were pretty cool at that point.  Then we went through another passage filled with weeping angels and tried not to blink.  We finally ended up outside the pandorica and let the Doctor out.  It was just so cool, like as close as I would ever get to being in an actual episode of Dr. Who. 

Then I walked through the displays part and took lots of pictures of the previous doctors, companions, and monsters.   Then of course I took a picture of the tardis next to the Christmas tree.  I bought the book and some button badges at the shop.  I left just in time, because there was a herd of kids behind me making a lot of noise.  I decided to take a bus to Paddington, and while I was there I did some shopping and got Starbucks.  I also looked at some suitcase prices while I was there.  I think I know where I will buy one, but I am still looking for a better price.  I also need to get just a few more items before I leave. 

I got back to the flat, ate lunch, sat for a while, then I went to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.  Basically it is a lot of stalls with food, crafts, and jewelry.  I bought a few things.  Debbie and I went to Lush before that and I did some Christmas shopping there too.  We didn't stay long because there were a lot of people and it was cold.  I think I might go back some afternoon if I have time, and don't forget.  Just a few more things and my Christmas shopping will be done.

First Day of December.

Today I went to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.  I got there early enough so I was in the second row of people near the middle.  I saw most of everything, and got some good pictures without the bars of the fence being in the way.  The band was cool, and I think they might have played a Beetles song.  After the ceremony, I took some pictures of the monument/fountain in front of the palace.  Then I tried to go back got distracted by band guys in cool hats, and police on horses and ended up getting lost.  I ran into a policeman wandering around, apparently I was not supposed to be there.  He gave me directions back to where I should have been.  So I then went to Leicester Square to see about discount ticket prices.  I didn't find any super good deals, so I wandered around and found a McDonald's for lunch.  After lunch I looked in some shops and went to CAPA for class.  In my sports class, we watched some movie about  cricket that was boring.  Next week we are supposed to go to Lords cricket museum.  After class I went to Trafalgar Square for the Christmas tree lighting.  It rained and it was miserable.  Remind me that tree lighting ceremonies are sucky, especially in the rain.