Galavanting around England

Ok. Before I write about my days I'm going to get real sappy. I AM SO HAPPY THAT I'M HERE.  Not that I ever wasn't excited... I mean I would get teary eyed listening to songs that even mentioned London.  But I was just a tad scared. This is the first thing I've done by myself.... As in, without friends or family.  I've always been with Hayley (miss you woman!) or my family.  But besides the usual "oh wish they were here" feelings, I've been A ok! The people I'm here with are amazing.  And I'm so happy I met them.  And we just have so. much. fun. So yeah. 

Ok real life stuff now.  Lessss see. I have no pictures from Thursday! Weirddd right? Well Thursday we wake up early for class and this time it was much better because the four hours were split between two classes.  WAIT.  I do have pictures.  Well of food, naturally. After class we went to this darling farmers market at the University of London and it was full of college kids.  We were pretty excited because we felt like we hadn't seen anyone under 30 since we've been here. This was my BOMB wild boar patty sandwich.

After that we went over to the British Museum for an assignment.  THAT PLACE.  It's huge and has so much stuff! We looked at the Sutton Hoo stuff we were supposed to for class then we wandered over to the Rosetta Stone and Cleopatra's tomb! We are definitely going back there.  Our directors said we could go in everyday for the rest of the semester and see something new each time.

After the museum, we went on one of our walks. It was all through the financial district which is so fancy and I love it.  We found another Laduree, but witheld this time (baby steps).  We also stopped by this place... Harry Potter anyone?

(Diagon Alley from the first movie)

We also went to the Monument which was built in honor of the fire that burnt down a lot of London in 1666.  It was about 15 stories of a windy narrow staircase andddd I had shaky legs all the way down.  But the views from the top were cool

(Tower Bridge from the Top)

(The staircase)

Thursday night was probably one of the most hilarious nights we've had.  I don't even know why? But we were those annoying people on the the Tube who were laughing so hard and talking about kinda awkward stuff.  It's fine.  We went to institue for the YSA ward! And as a plus (you know besides the mid week spiritual enlightenment) there was free food and wifi.  Holla. And the church is in the NICEST part of town.  We all want to split a town home there (in our dreams).  After Institute we stopped and bought snacks for our day trip.  All the Coke bottles here have names on them, and I found my nephew's name! There isn't a ton of stuff with his name on it so I had to document it.

Ok Friday (gol this post is long, but it's like my journal so it's justified right? Today was amazing.  Cause today's Friday? This all seriously feels like a week ago. OK. First was Stonehenge.  Which was unreal.  Just a bunch of rocks in the middle of nowhere, but they are SO OLD.  And the fact that they've just stayed that way for such a long time is amazing.  We were speculating wizardry the whole time.  

Next stop was Gloucester Abbey.  It was ruins of an Abbey that had been there forever but was abandoned during King Henry VIII's reign.  We had a cute little tour guide all dressed up in medieval garb and showed us the abbey like it was all complete.  Then the coolest thing ever happened.  We went into the Kitchen and our guide said we should sing because the acoustics were real good in their.  First a girl in our group sang and she did AMAZING.  Then we all sung hymns and we legitimately sounded like the motab.  We sung about three or four and I got the chills, it was just so cool. Oh we also hiked to the top of this thing called "The Tor." So my roommate and I bought matching bedazzled animal sweaters (don't hate us cause you ain't us) and I sweated so much (TMI?)  Like I almost didn't go up.  But it was so windy that I dried up real fast (ok definitely TMI) and the views were UNREAL. 

the kitchen we sang int

we climbed to the little thing up top

panorama featuring Kels

The Tor

Next was Bath.  Holy BATH.  That town is amazing..  And darling.  I want to live there.  One of the books we had to read for this trip, Persuasion by Jane Austen, has a lot of scenes from.  First we went to the actual Roman Baths.  They were awesome, and hot.  And we all touched the water even though there were signs everywhere saying not to.  But we just wan't some healing powers ok? After that we wandered around Bath and went to Putney Bridge and the river walk.

Putney Bridge

The Baths

Abby and I and our new BFs

We didn't get back until about 9 and went straight for food.  We went to this little pub literally 5 steps away from our apartment.  I got a steak sandwich, and it may have been the greatest.  We stayed forever and had girl gab about first kisses, worst kisses, creepy boys and the works.  I love the people I'm with... And I'm going to WIMBLEDON tomorrow.  Can't wait.  You best believe I'm sporting my classiest garb and Wimbledon white!

typical tourist

Yesterday after we came home and did some homework, we headed over to the London Eye.  I won't lie, I was a little nervous because I am terrified of ferris wheels and the ferris wheel at California Adventure was one of thee worst ride experiences of my life... Anyways, it wasn't bad at all! It was just so cool. We could see everything! Saint Pauls, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park and just so many cool buildings. After that we crossed Westminster bridge to Big Ben! It's amazing, yet one of the creepiest experiences we've had so far.  Everyone approached us? It was weird.  After we walked to Buckingham Palace.  Just a note... if you are visiting London go to the Palace just before sunset.  It was EMPTY.  We were able to take all the pictures we wanted without randoms in the background, it was great. After we wandered back to a tube station which is apparently shut down now? So we walked back towards Big Ben and seeing it lit up at night made me think of Peter Pan.  We stayed up way too late last night and waking up for 8:30 class was a STUGGLE.  I've probably had ten hours of sleep total since I've been here. 

  

See how empty it was??

Statue in front of the Palace

My roommate Kelsey and I in front of Big Ben

Just waiting for my Prince Harry

Second star to the right and straight on till morning!

Today was our first day of class! We walked and it wasn't bad, just a little less than a mile.  We've learned so much already.  It kind of feels like my brain is about to explode, yet I love it. After class we took the tube over to Westminster and did a walk for our London Walks class.  We walked on the opposite side of the Thames and had an awesome view of Big Ben and Parliament.  After, we met back up with our group and did a tour of Westminster.  Sadly, we couldn't have cameras in there.  I wish I could show some pictures! It was so amazing.  I just channeled Kate every time I walked down the middle of the abbey towards the altar...it's fine.  We saw the coronation chair and a lot of tombs.  The architecture is unreal and it's hard to believe that it was built so long ago, yet it's so complex. Our tour guide was darling and knew so many facts.

After this we went to HARRODS! Oh. My. WORD.  We only went to the first two floors (the food floors haha) and I was amazed.  My roommate and I are going to go back one day and see the whole thing. We went to Laduree again (whoops) and got delicious food. 

Laduree

The eye!

Westminster!

I love it.

Oh and my bags came!! Happy day!

getting there pt. 2 and Day 1&2

I'm here and alive! My luggage, however is not, but can't have everything perfect right? And I got to go shopping on my first day, so I'm all good. But LONDON.  It is so beautiful.  Everything is just old and dainty, and then there's new modern buildings so it's a nice little mix between everything.  

I arrived into Paddington station on the Heathrow express and tried to take a tube but they didn't take cash or foreign credit cards so I didn't want to figure that out so I just took a cab.  The nice little driver felt bad I didn't have my luggage and offered me some of his "jumpers." So then he dropped me where I asked buttt I still couldn't find my directors flat.  I literally walked into some random building and knocked on a door and heard a mans voice and got scared and ran away haha. But I finally found it and they gave me my keys and sent me on my way.  I got off the tube (which I am BOMB at navigating by the way, thanks to my good direction genes from Dad) and walked what seemed like forever to my flat.  But I found it! And at this point I was real glad I didn't have my luggage because it would've been a struggle wandering the streets

I love all the little sherlock things in the Tube stations!

After getting to my flat, I changed into my roommates clothes (bless her) and we headed out.  We went to Regent's park and did a walk for our London Walks class. Oh and some little British Lady asked me for directions and I gave them to her perfectly.  BOOM.  I got this city down.  Anyways Regents park is so beautiful.  It's probably the size of all of Provo but it's just open fields and little lakes and walk ways and gardens.  I love it.  We got milkshakes and took a little detour to walk by all the soccer games going on in the park.  It was awesome because there would just be random, giant mansions scattered around the park.  Oh and there was a college in the middle of the park? I'm transferring...

Then we were done with walking so we got on the tube and went to Oxford Street where all the shopping is.  We ate at this little place where the guys working asked if we were from Spain because we had Mexican accents? Like what? But they obviously loved us because they gave us free cookies...

Then we SHOPPED.  Because I had to right...? And we went to Primark.  I got a jacket, jeans, two shirts, 5 pairs of socks, 5 pairs of underwear and pajamas for 46 pounds!! What a steal right? And they were necessities obviously...

At this point it was like 10 and we were beat after being up for almost 30 hours. So we wandered back and slept.

Today we woke up and went to meet our group near the Tower of London.  We started another walk and we went all over.  We walked around the "ancient wall" of London that was built forever ago by the Romans.  Only little pieces remain but we walked the length of what it used to be...and it felt like 10 miles.  Probably not but my feet are KILLING me.  My nice roommate let me use her TOMS because my boots I had on the plane were not cutting it. Anyways the walk was awesome and we saw a bunch of old churches and little markets.  

My only picture from the walk... I'm the worst andddd my finger is in it.  

After the walk we went to Covenant Gardens because my roommate needed to go to the Apple Store. And Covent Gardens is UNREAL.  So many amazing stores.  And their building a Shake Shack there! That's where the Royal Opera House is as well.  We ate some lunch, mooched off the Apple store wifi and got Laduree!!! Laduree is my favorite dessert ever ever ever.  They're delicious macaroons.  I got a pistachio, salted carmel, vanilla and chocolate coconut marshmallow.  I took more pictures at Laduree than anywhere else... obviously I have my priorities straight.

Afterwards we went to find out where our classrooms are and where my bags will (hopefully) be delivered tonight.  We also signed up for an afternoon tea boat ride on Saturday! What! So excited. Then we had an orientation at our flats and now we are just relaxing a bit, doing homework (um these classes were supposed to be easy...?) and planning our night.  We are going to go to the London Eye! EEE.  I love London. 

getting there

I'm just going to apologize in advance for the many Mary Kate and Ashley references that will occur while on this trip.  Like this title.... and how I'll probably hashtag winning london and passport to paris in every picture.

But wow.  I don't really know what time it is? It's fine really.  I'm currently sitting in the Frankfurt airport in some fancy little lounge (holla for Dad having United status) and feeling so lucky becauseeeee I was thee last person to board a giant 747 double decker plane and if I had shown up two seconds later, I probably would've missed it.

So my original flight plans were so easy.  Fly from Sacramento to Chicago then Chicago to London and then meet up with my roommate in London.  Easy right? Wrong.  Because of "weather" (um it was 65 and cloudy...?) my flight to Chicago was delayed THREE hours, which would mean I'd miss my flight to London.  So my Dad (bless him) was on the phone with United trying to get it figured out.  He called and said I could either get to London at 10pm on Monday night or on Tuesday afternoon.  Poor Dad...I had a nervous breakdown.  I was sobbing on the phone because I didn't want to get from the airport to my apartment late at night on the sketchy tube all by myself but I didn't want to get there a day later than everyone! But then he worked his Scott Harrison magic and said I would fly from Sacramento to Denver then Denver to Germany then Germany to London.  Oh and they were upgrading me to business class....it's fine.

BUT THEN...United double booked like half the seats on my flight to Denver so we left 20 minutes late.  Now I already had a 40 minute connection time in Denver which was going to be tricky because I flew into Denver on United but I was flying to Germany on Lufthansa. So I would have to switch terminals.  Then there was a thunderstorm on our route into Denver so we had to circle for an extra 30 minutes. I landed in Denver at the time my flight to Germany was supposed to leave. They came on the loud speaker when we landed and said that the plane to Germany had left, but I checked on my flight app and it said I had ten minutes.  As I was rolling into the gate at Denver I was on the phone crying to my Dad (notice a theme here?) because I was sure I wasn't going to make it and I'd be stuck in Denver all night (or forever, it was kind of a dramatic moment).

So I had this little inkling of hope that I could make it.  I SPRINTED.  Like really I don't think I've ever moved so fast in my entire life.  I ran through the B terminal (of course we were the farthest gate), down two flights of stairs, and then had to get on a blasted tram to the A terminal.  Then I took two flights of stairs up to the gates and ran my little heart out.  I looked so pathetic really.  My huge backpack, glasses on, tears on my face and I was panting like a dog. I saw the plane through the window had it hadn't moved! I made it from one terminal to another in 4 minutes flat.  I gave them my passport and ticket and called my Dad in the process.  Once again I was crying (maybe I shouldn't admit this so much) because I was so relieved!!! I ran down that jet way like a crazy dazed person. Like really I was hyperventilating.  The plane pulled back 45 seconds after I sat down.  So I don't think my bags made it, but I guess I'll just have to shop a little in London tonight! Which is not a problem for me at all... :)

 But really, a huge shout out to my Dad because I couldn't of done this without him and I don't think they would've held the plane for some little lowly passenger. But as everyone in my family can attest to, magical things happen when you travel with Scott Harrison or under his name.

Oh and my flight was perfect.  I slept for five hours. Boom jet lag is conquered.  And I watched How I Met Your Mother and they gave me Hagen Daz.  So obviously I was in my happy place. And now I'm here in Frankfurt! Kind of confused and disoriented...but SO EXCITED to be in London.

And I highly doubt anyone has made it this far. But this is just for my own memory so I'll never forget my dramatic process of getting to London!

the story of london

I'm currently sitting in the airport waiting to fly to LONDON! I can't believe it's finally here.  After some drama lama this morning with United Airlines messing up my life (or so it felt) my amazing Dad got everything worked out and I'm on my way!

I created this blog to keep as a journal while I'm in London.  I don't want to forget anything and writing in journals isn't exactly a strong point of mine.  All of those lessons and talks on the importance of journal writing were completely lost on me... Also I made this mainly so my parents, siblings and friends could keep up on my adventures since communication will be a little slow.

Studying abroad in London has been my plan since about...7th grade.  A little ridiculous, no? If you know me, then you know I'm a huge planner, almost to a fault.  My brother Steven studied abroad in London in the Spring of 2006 and that's when I decided I wanted to go.

(visiting the BYU London Centre after my senior year)

So the application period rolled around, and I was pumped. I wrote an amazing essay, had everyone and their mother proof read it, and submitted my application the day it opened.  I got an interview with the program directors (the ones who went with my brother) and rocked it.  But then, I didn't get in.  I was floored.  It was a plan that had been in the making for SIX years, and it was all ruined.  So I whined a little bit and had a pity party for myself. But then I just felt like I should apply for summer. I just copied my exact same essay, payed my application fee and forgot about it.

I was contacted for an interview in January, and I loved the directors.  They were two of the sweetest ladies ever, and I loved chatting with them. Then some day in February as I was walking from class to class, I got the email saying I got in!  I freaked out and called my Mom right away (obviously) and texted all of my siblings.  I was in a really important midterm review, and I didn't pay a speck of attention haha.  But how could I??

The more I think about it, the more I realize that I was probably supposed to go during summer term for a reason.  Staying in Provo during Spring has been so great, and I'm so happy that I have had these past few weeks to spend with my best friends.  We are all headed different directions and may not live with each other again, which breaks my heart.  But I'm SO happy I'm not missing out on this time with them.  And I have the best roommates lined up for London, and I know we are going to become the best of friends.

So that is the wonderful story of how I decided to go to London.

And maybe I got a little teary eyed watching this video? See you tomorrow London Town.. :)


You've Got to Love London from Alex Silver on Vimeo.