So here we are...at the end of my adventure.

Wednesday nite we went to the Ice Bar.  It was AWESOME.  Everything was made of ice...the bar, the tables, the walls, the art, even the cups we got our drinks in!  They gave us these parka things with gloves to wear.  It was probably one of the best things I did in London.

Yesterday, Mari and I went to Camden to get her tattoo...it's really cute.  Then we went on the London Eye with Jess and Michelle.  It was fun...but it wasn't the greatest thing I did over here.  Had dinner out and then came back to pack.

So here we are.  Again.

At the end of my London adventure.  I can't believe it.  Four months ago, I was terrified to come over here...excited, but terrified.

And now it's time to leave and go back home.

I've met some really good friends over here...friends I'm never going to forget...friends I'm hopefully going to see at the start of August!

I feel like this experience has also made me grow up.  Before, I was this naive terrified thing...and now I've become a traveler.  Who'd have thought?

:)  Well this is it.  I'm off to finish packing and start getting ready to leave.

Love you all...

Julie

I know it's been awhile since I've written in here.  I've just had nothin super super exciting to write about, I guess. 

Last weekend, I went to Camden.  I bought some stuff...but of course, it seems like months ago, so I couldn't tell you what.  I love Camden.  I love the atmosphere and the open markets.  I really wish there were somewhere like it back home.

Last week was hell week.  I had so many papers to do.  Everything ended up getting in on time, but it was a hella stressful week.  On top of it, Jess and I had a class trip to Eltham House.  So we had to figure out how the hell to even get there.

Mari Mari and I went shopping in Bayswater yesterday.  Saw 'Fracture.'  It was an awesome movie.  Then we had a Bam nite...

Today we went to Picadilly Circus to Pall Mall Street cuz the start of the Gumball 3000 was there.  The Gumball is a 3000 mile race through 17 countries in Europe.  People like Matthew McConahey and Johnny Knoxville and Bam Margera have done it in the past.  So we went and checked out the cars.  They were pretty sweet.  Then we lined up along the start line...and were like ten feet away from Xhibit.  It was insane.  I got some vids of it.

Came back here...and now it's finals week tomorrow.

I can't wait to finish up and pack up and go home...

It's so time.

--Julie

Went to the London Zoo on Monday.  It was AWESOME.  There are some pics HERE.

Went to Madame Tussaud's today.  I LOVED it so much!!!! Pics are HERE.

I got one of my papers done yesterday.  One down...two to go!

--Julie

I know it's been awhile since I've actually updated this.  Things haven't been super exciting on my end for once.

This weekend we took it easy as the next few weekends are action packed.  Jess went to her cousin's house.  I stayed here thinking that I could do some work for papers due in a few weeks.  Of course, the library was closed.  So we had a 'Top Model' party Friday and just hung out.  Michelle's parents came for a visit, so we talked to them for awhile when they visited...and then I spent the nite in 105 listening to horribly awesome music and then passing out.

Yesterday, Mari Mari was feeling the itch of the shopping bug, so we went to Notting Hill.  It was nice to get out in the sunshine, but there were SO many people there.  I ended up finding a McEwan novel for two pounds and buying some earrings.  Came back here, went out to dinner with the whole gang and then watched 'Top Model' and 'CSI.'  Passed out again.

Today is, of course, Easter.  The past few years I haven't really done much for Easter since Point Park never gives us the Monday after off...so my day was spent driving back to Pittsburgh.  We'd do Easter dinner Saturday nite and that was that.  Well this year, all of us bought gifts for each other and did an Easter exchange this morning at 8 AM.  It was a lot of fun too.  :)  I'm really happy we did it.  It made things a lot more normal here because of it.  Now I don't feel like I'm missing out on a holiday.

Michelle, Tyler, and Jess went to St. Paul's Cathedral for mass with Michelle's parents.  I decided to stay behind with Mari Mari.  I got to sleep in (it was wonderful).  Then we got a horrible lunch and sat on the lawn reading and doing work for awhile.  Normally holidays back home are so rush, rush, rush around.  It's been nice to just relax and enjoy myself.

Tomorrow we're off to the London Zoo in our own backyard, so I'm sure I'll have another update.

--Julie

PS:  Happy 21st to Steph!!!!  I hope you aren't feeling TOO terrible today!  Hope you guys had a blast!  I wish I could have been there...

Four months is a really long time to be away from home...at least, it is for me.  So I'm sitting here alone in my room thinking...and in a month...I'll be back to the states.  I can do this.  A little homesickness won't stop me.  While I love my friends and everything here...I figured I'd make a post of things I'm really starting to miss so the rest of you know how much I miss you -- and these inanimate objects -- and can't wait to see you again.

I hate that my main support line is only available two times a week in brief phone convos and e-mails.  I know that they -- and everyone else -- have my back...but eh.  I miss it like whoa.  This also includes my wacky grandma since I haven't seen her in awhile either.  I miss driving her places.



Words can't express how much I miss my Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.  I feel like it's been years since I've had it.  Forreal.

I really never thought that I'd miss this 'staple' so much.  I really miss that awesome lady from the cafeteria at Point Park who made these.  Her grilled cheeses could save the world.

 I am so incredibly exhausted after last nite...

Michelle's friend Theresa is here.  She's from Germany and really awesome.  Michelle wanted to show her the school bar...so we went for an hour or so...decided we hadn't danced enough and would go to the Minestry of Sound with Melanie to dance some more.

So after running to the tube because they were closing -- we sat there on the train.  And sat there.  And sat there.  First, a guy got on and whacked his head on a pole.  Then this girl started talking to us.  Her name was Lark and she was from Denmark.  Forreal.  She was going to Zoo bar to meet her friends...So somehow we ended up going with her and dancing there instead.

It was INSANE.  I have never danced so much in my life.  The guys there were pretty nasty though.  Melanie had to cockblock more than once.  Thank god she went.  The girl had my back the entire nite.  It was so much fun.

As we were leaving, however, I was getting pretty sick of all the guys.  This one stopped us outside and started asking questions and when I told him that I'd had enough of him putting me down, he told me I had lovely hands...Er...Yeah.  I pulled Michelle away from some guy who wouldn't let her go...and when some guy passed by us and went, "Ello Ladies!" I finally lost it and screamed, "Fuck YOU!" at him.  It was totally classy.

If I weren't so tired and so blah rite now, you'd get a much funnier story.  But this will have to do for now.

Till next time.

Julie

We had a fairly relaxing weekend.  Friday was a day to just stay in.  Jess has me officially hooked on 'The OC.'  I absolutely love it and all of its petty drama.  We watched the last, last episode ever...and cried like total girls.  :)  Then we watched some of the first season.  It really was a day of doing nothing and I loved it.

Yesterday, we finally went to the Imperial War Museum for Mari Mari.  I think my favorite thing was the Holocaust Exhibit.  It was super depressing, but it was such a good display.  It left me feeling kind of hollow...and I think that's probably the desired effect.

I have a little over a month left here...that's it.

At times, I'm thrilled to go home and see my family and friends...

At times, I dread it.  This has been such an AMAZING experience.  I can't even begin to talk about the things I've learned and experienced here.  I've met some really amazing friends and I hope our friendships don't end after our trip here.  England, too, is amazing.  The people here are just so chill and relaxed.  I love it.

Sigh.  Torn.

Miss you all.

Julie

The weekend came and went pretty fast, thankfully.  It was time to get started with classes again or else I'd have been tempted to stay out and spend more money...which probably isn't a good thing. 

Friday we called the people we supposedly got FOB tix from for April.  Guess who was scammed out of 270 dollars in a huge ticket scam?  Yeah.  Us.  Thankfully Mari was able to get her money back and we weren't screwed over too much.  It just sucks cuz I really wanted to go with the two of them to see FOB cuz they've kinda been our soundtrack for this semester.  At least I have tix for May. Thank God.  If I missed another FOB opportunity, I'd think I was cursed.  Gah.

St. Patrick's Day -- as I'm sure you all know -- was last Saturday.  We started at a pub in a town I can't remember at the moment.  It was so cute inside.  Michelle tried to drink 4 Guinnesses in order to get a hat...and could only choke one down.  I hate Guinness.  Nasty stuff.  I did decide that I had to have SOMETHING Irish and settled for a Jameson and Ginger, which was pretty fantabulous.  We hung around there for awhile and then went to Trafalgar Square where there were festivities going on.  We had dinner in a pub and after another drink, head back to campus to the bar.  Mari and I got 'quick fucks' which is some green liquor that starts with an M, Bailey's and Kahlua.  It tasted like a chocolate bar.  :) 

It was my first 'legal' St. Patty's Day, but I didn't get totally shitfaced.  I had a good time anyway. 

Sunday, we went to a parade for the holiday.  It was AWESOME and fun.  After that, we went back to Trafalgar Square, ate food, and came back to campus where Mari Mari fixed my highlights.  :)

Classes started up again today.  Jess and I had to go to Kew Gardens for our drawing class...and were late.  We never did find our class, but we did wander around the gardens.  They were BEAUTIFUL and made me think of my Grandma Nobles and mom...made me miss them...They would have LOVED it there.  It was pretty awesome.  Took loads of photos.  Will post some later, but you'd probably be best off to ask to see them when I get home. 

Miss you all.

--Julie 

Got in a few hours ago from Barcelona, Spain.

I have to admit, when we first started making plans for Barcelona, I really wasn't sure how I felt.  Spain was never on the list of places I really wanted to go.  But let me tell you, I loved it so much.

Woke up super early on Monday and waited for the bus...only to find out that we were at the completely wrong stop.  If it weren't for one driver who took pity on us and showed us the way, we wouldn't have even made it.  That guy saved us.

Did the whole plane travel thing, which now is so routine, it's horrible.  I hate everything about it.

Got to Barcelona after sleeping on a bus, the plane, and the next bus.

We found our hostel...and let me tell you...that was the best 50€ ever spent.  Not only did we not have to share the room with any creepy people, the beds were super comfy, the people who owned it were awesome, we had free Internet (so I could do my fall scheduling) and a freakin balcony.  We stayed along Diagonal Avenue, which was real close to this other famous street that had like Gucci, Dolce & Gabanna, and Chanel on it.  It was insane.  It was in a really nice part of Barcelona, so the hostel price really was a steal.

The weather rite away was beautiful...and we hit the beach.  The Mediterranean was too cold to swim in, so we just lounged on the beach and then ate some really good pitas.  At the hostel, we said we'd sleep for an hour, then go out, but everyone but Jess was so burnt out, that just didn't happen.

The next day we wandered around until we found a beach that was a lot less crowded, which was a great decision.  For a good few hours, we sat on the sand and relaxed.  Jess and Michelle went swimming, but Mari and I just worked on our tans...which isn't super dark, but I did get some sun.  That nite, we bought some horrid wine and thought we'd get drunk on it.  That, of course, didn't happen.  It was so horrible, I couldn't finish it.  We also ate dinner at a real Spanish restaurant...and of course, I hated everything about it.  We ordered something with chicken...and that wasn't bad.  Then there was something we thought was tomatoes and cheese...but it was tuna on top of a tomato.  So guess who didn't even touch that?  Two of my LEAST favorite things in the world.

Yesterday was our last day.  We went to La Rambla which is this huge street with all these stores and vendors.  I loved it.  There were so many flowers.  It reminded me of my grandma so much.  It was so pretty.  We also visited the oldest cathedral.  Michelle and I couldn't go in because we had on tank tops and of course, that's scandalous and sacreligious...so we just wandered about.  We stopped at the beach again and then had the best dinner of my life.  I got to try Sangria and oh gosh...it was SO GOOD.  :)  I could see myself getting drunk off of that on a regular basis...so it's a good thing that nothing compares to Spanish Sangria...which means I won't become a total wino off of it.  Heh.

One thing about Europe is that these people know how to bake.  Their pastries are fabulous.  It's a good thing I don't live here, cuz I'd weigh like 80 million 'stones' as they say here.  Instead, I eat crappy English food, which means that the pants I came over in no longer fit due to my lack of eating.

This trip was so much better than Rome.  Not only did it not rain the whole time, but the guys were not as creepy.  We still had a few issues, but it was a lot better.  I can see myself going back to Spain and Barcelona.  I loved everything about it.

It was my first 'real' spring break and I loved everything about it.

Good beaches, good friends, and good memories.  :)

--Julie   

Mid-Terms for me are now OFFICIALLY over!  All that's left to do is pack and head off to Barcelona.

I only had one test to take...but I did have a few papers, including a 2,000 word essay for my English class on a novel we read.

I am so ready to get on that airplane and fly off to Barcelona.  I want to sit along the beach for a few days and relax.  We'll be back here for St. Patrick's Day...which means we're going to be getting pretty screwed up for sure.  ;)

My stay in London is half over.  It's really kind of sad.  I can't believe how fast this experience is going.  It feels like only yesterday I got on that plane, incredibly nervous.  What for?  This has been, hands down, the most rewarding experience of my life.

--J