I'm looking at my "pantry" and I realize that I'm starving. My pantry consists of the top of a mini-fridge and a large Primark bag (a store that's a cross between Macy's and Target, but without the awesomeness of Target). This is certainly a lot different than going to Mabee dining hall for all of my meals- I have to cook every day. This should be excellent preparation for living off campus (as I like to hope), but I'm going to admit it- it's really hard. I try to limit myself to eating a pasta dish only once a day. It's really easy to make, but not very good for you. My friend and I went shopping one day, and we both spent exactly 25 pounds on food. Mine was entirely fresh (meat, veggies, breads) and his all frozen. I guess it goes to show you what your money can get you. He claims he was being smarter, but he's already given up ever eating frozen things again, because he can literally feel the effect all that sodium and fat has had on his body. Not good. (Now I'm munching on UK equivalent of a Special K bar, much healthier than the Nutella and peanut butter sandwich I almost made). I never thought I'd say this, but I miss Mabee- the chicken line, the mexican line, the SALAD BAR (salads here are....different). I also miss my nice Prassel dorm room (Trinity has the best dorms in the States), my big bathroom and the laundry room. College laundry takes on a whole new meaning when you are shoving 20 pence coins into a machine only to get 18 minutes of drying. What?? Crazy.

This past Saturday I went on a day-trip to Warwick Castle and Stratford-upon-Avon. As a big literary and history nerd, this was sort of amazing. The castle was so beautiful. I just loved climbing up and down the towers and turrets and wandering throughout the re-modeled parts that a duke and duchess lived in during the 19th century. Stratford was very cute. I saw Shakespeare's birthplace, and his grave in the church in which he is buried. The town was a really charming place, but only good for a day trip. Any longer and we would have went searching for the pub.

This weekend my program is sponsoring a trip to Scotland, so I am getting to fulfill a lifelong dream of visiting Nessie in Loch Ness! It is supposed to be below freezing and snow, so this should be an adventure for a Texas girl. The weekend after that, my friends and I have planned a 5 day excursion to Barcelona, where I will finally get to test out my mad Spanish skills. I'm totally thrilled.

Everyone thank the wonderful Madi for helping me out with my photos!

Here is my tiny little bedroom (oh Trinity, I miss thee)

This is the most mythical view of Warwick Castle I could possibly imagine. All that is missing is some mist, knights on horses, and me as the princess in one of those turrets!

A view from inside the castle, on top of the Mound, built in 1068.

The house Shakespeare was born in! (it cost 8 pounds to get in...)

Standing on the south bank of the Thames, next to the London Eye, with Parliament, Westminster and Big Ben behind me!

Posted by Mandy at 2:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It appears William Shenstone, a Scottish writer from the mid-18th century, had London figured out way before I arrived. London is the second most expensive city in the world, after St. Petersburg. Currently the exchange rate is about $1.95 to 1 pound. The study abroad offices (and every single person that I met before leaving) warned us, but I will admit, you really don't care until you are jumping with joy at any "better than home" deal. The best one so far? 4 passport photos for 4 pounds- at home it cost me $14 for 2. I also got a bag of jaffa cakes (orange and chocolate biscuits) for 30 pence. Score 2 for America!

Now that I have the obligatory money moaning out of the way, in case you didn't guess, I'm in London! The entire process of getting here was long, but so very worth it. One day before I left Katy, I received a facebook message from my future flat-mates. It was so kind and reassuring that I immediately felt loads better about the trip. Yes, facebook is the ultimate time-waster and best and worst thing that has ever happened to college students. However, say what you will, it helped alleviate some of my fears of traveling, and has been the best way to stay connected with everyone at home. I had a lovely journey on British Airways- remember, it was my first voyage out of the country, so it was a pretty classy and easy journey for the first time!

I live on the Southbank, about 5 minutes from the National Theatre and next to Waterloo Station, which is really convenient for travel and for quick shopping (and Krispy Kreme fixes). Every day I walk to school for 15 minutes, crossing Waterloo Bridge and gazing at the most amazing sights of British monuments. I will never ever get tired of what I see on that walk. I will get tired of the insanely cold wind coming off of the Thames and whipping against my face, but lets focus on the good things. I'm in really cool classes- Experimental Theatre, Jacobean Shakespeare, Theatre Capital and Court Cultures of Elizabeth I, and I actually really like them (even though on most days I'll just be grumpy and not admit that). The learning system is very different here. For two of my classes, I have 1 hour lecture in the morning (where you sit there and listen to the lecturer tell you their way of analyzing Othello or and Alfred Jarry play), and then return in the afternoon for a 1 hour seminar- which is much closer to every regular Trinity class I have. I'm usually done by 1pm.

My apartment building is pretty nice. The British are obsessed with fire safety and security, so every single door is a fire door, and I have to swipe my id 3 times and use a key twice to get into my room. I share a flat with 6 other people, 4 British, 1 French guy, and 1 German girl. I have my own incredibly small room and bathroom, and we all share the kitchen and tv. We all get along very well, and they have all been really nice in helping me adjust and answering my questions.

Here are a few basic musings on British life, followed by whatever pictures I can post (I just found out some of my cool ones are too big, so I need to learn how to compress those).

*As I said earlier, the British are obsessed with fire safety. Fire exits are pointed out at the beginning of gatherings, there are signs EVERYWHERE, and every single door in my apartment building is a fire door. They also test the fire alarms every Wednesday sporadically for half an hour. Not fun. To quote Bryan- "we know your city burned down once, but get over it!"
*The British are always running. Everywhere. To the bus line, when there are no buses in sight, and run down the steps of the tube station, when there will be another train in 3 minutes. They also run for no clear reason. However, when you do get on that bus or tube, you do not speak. It is a no-no. You are clearly foreign if you have a conversation with your companions- and you absolutely don't strike up a conversation with the people around you. Coming from very friendly Texas, this is very different. However, I kind of like it. In a vast and enormously busy city, it's a moment of calm that I think people treasure. Trust me, I already stare at the loud-talkers like a native.
*Food is incredibly fresh. People only buy enough to maybe get through a week, and even then, I feel like I'm always racing the clock on the labels. The milk comes in mini pints, which is cute at first, but gets old when you can only get about 4 cups of tea and 2 bowls of cereal out of it.

Here I am outside of Buckingham Palace

St. James' Park, with the London Eye in the Background

That's all I can honestly manage on the photos right now. I'm having trouble with proportions- bloggers, can you help me out please?

I have loads more stories and photos to share, and I've only been here for 3 weeks. Keep checking for updates of my wild and crazy adventures!

Mandy

Posted by Mandy at 9:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)