Oxford!

A few weeks ago, Jill and I took a trip for the day to Oxford.  It's about 90 minutes from where we live in London.  The bus there was a double decker so we sat on the top, in the very front.  It felt very much like a Harry Potter movie.  I swore we were going to get into a car accident.  Anyway.... we saw a bunch of pretty churches and Universities in Oxford.  It was the cutest little town and I fell in love with it as soon as we got off the bus.  We ate at a little cafe called "Patisserie Valerie."  They are pretty popular all around London.  We had some breakfast and coffee, where a fly flew into my coffee.  Great start to my morning. Then we looked in the toursity stores for Oxford University sweatshirts, of course.

Later, we made our way over to the Oxford Castle and went on a tour.  We went all the way to the top of the castle, which had a great view, even though it was gloomy day. As we made our way down into the crypts of the castle where they stored dead bodies years ago, I thought Jill was going to have a panic attack.  I had to hold her hand...

As the day went on, we decided to find the real reason why we went to Oxford in the first place.... to see the Great Hall and the courtyard featured in the Harry Potter movies.  We couldn't get enough of it!  It was awesome to be able to step into where the movies were created.  We had to pay to get in, but it was so worth it!  Oxford was definitely one of my favorite trips so far since I have been in the UK.  I wouldn't mind moving there... nbd. :)

    

Stonehenge!

A few weeks ago, we took a class field trip to Stonehenge and Bath.  It was pretty awesome! You may just think Stonehenge is just a bunch of rocks...who cares?  Well, it was really cool to be able to go see it.  It was a lot prettier than you would think it might be.  We took a lot of great pictures (especially the jumping ones).  The tour guide at the front of the bus was pretty annoying though.  She literally didn't stop talking for the entire 2 hours it took us to get there!  Everyone was asleep, yet she just kept talking.  Whatever.  The pictures look awesome.  I took a million of them.. here's a little peek....

The bus ride was surprisingly a lot of fun on the way to Bath and on the way home.  Sing-a-longs were a must, of course.  Although, people didn't seem to enjoy it too much when I started shouting "Sweeeeeeet Carolinee! Bum Bum Bum!!!"  Gracie and Meghan were bonding for a few hours...

I know... we look happy....

And of course, we had to do "Im the Ish" in the parking lot...

It was a really good day... exhausting... but a lot of fun :) 

Roomies!

Jillian and I requested each other to be roommates in London, unfortunately, I'm stuck with her now... Just kidding :)  We have a room with 4 of us in it: Jill, JoAnna, Elisha, and me.  I love them dearly and I couldn't have asked for better roommates!!!  Then there's always Jon.. our honorary roommate. :)

Jon!

JILL!

Elisha!

JoAnna!

Home!

Well we live in South Kensington...... its the richest area in London.. also know as The Royal Borough.  Yeah.. Princess Diana's palace (The Kensington Palace) is right across the street from our house in Hyde Park.  No big deal I guess..... :)

Our Heezy...

Where we be at... :)

Oh hey Mom....

Needless to say... we're spoiled. :)

Classes

Well I am taking 3 classes: World of the Play, Advertising, and Creativity and Innovation.  They aren't hard classes at alllllll.  So I have a feeling I am going to have a hard time when I get back to Philly.  World of the Play is pretty cool.  We get to see like 7 plays throughout the course of the semester which is pretty awesome.  We already saw The Merry Wives of Windsor  at Shakespeare's Globe.  It was really cool.  It kind of sucked to have to stand the whole time but we were able to lean on the stage and the play was great!  I mean.. how many people can say they got to see a Shakespearean play at the Globe?!


Creativity and Innovation is good too.  We have that class with a professor from Temple (Sherri Culver).  She has made it a lot of fun already.  We had a trip to a Pakistani restaurant, Stonehenge & Bath.  Coming up we have pottery, a rugby game, and a trip to Brighton, etc.  I'm really excited about it all!  We also got to have lunch with her yesterday in a smaller group and it was really nice to be able to get insight on how her experience has been since she has been in London so far, as well as advice with internships and classes, etc.

Advertising is one of my favorites because it is basically teaching us how to be more in touch with our creativity.  Who doesn't need a little creativity in their life?!  The work is easy and we already had two trips to museums.  Enough about classes.....

Did I mention I love London?! 

Catching up!

Hey guysss!!!

So I just decided to start a blog... today.  I'm pretty excited about it!  I wanted to share with everyone what I've been up to since I've been in London!  I know, I know.  I'm a little late starting.. but it's better late than never!

Anyway... I've been here since September 2nd and it has been an amazing experience so far!  I absolutely love it here.  I was a little hesitant at first because I haven't been away from home for more than like 3 weeks at a time.. but the people here are amazing and I've made so many great friends in only a month.  I can't believe that I had never met or seen the other students that live in the building from the Temple program on campus before coming here.  They are all such great people and so far, everyone has been getting along so so well!  I'm so happy I got the opportunity to meet them all!  My roommates are amazing.  Jill and I requested to be in the same room and luckily were placed in the same room.  Once we got here, we found out we'd be expecting two more roommates.  They arrived at the flat shortly after Jill and I did.  JoAnna and Elisha are such awesome people and we clicked right away!  It was so comforting to know that I would be living with them for the semester, especially since I began to feel a little bit homesick within the first few days.  That went away extremely quickly!  We have all been way too busy exploring, visiting museums, taking day trips to Oxford, Stonehenge, Bath, etc.  I absolutely love it here and I don't want to go home!  North Philly is going to be a bummer when I come home. :(

I don't think I could possibly catch you all up on what I have been up to in the past month, but I'll try to fill you in as best as possible. :)