All packed for one final picnic...

So here I am...laying in the hallway on the floor in my spot in the flat...for the last time. And yes, you're all right...it's bittersweet. Haha.

I can't even begin to tell you how crazy it is over here right now. We're all leaving tomorrow (because the flat people kick us out at ten...) and we're all going our separate ways.

I can't wait to be home with my familial unit and that silly cat of mine. I miss everything so much. But I will...strangely enough...miss some of old London town. Go figure.

I could sit here and write about all of the things that I am worried about, such as airport security, but I think I'll just write and tell you that I'm excited too. I'm excited to come home. I could tell you what I did today, but I'd rather tell you when I come home tomorrow.

More importantly...the weather hates me. It is snowing in London and it is now starting to stick. However, Heathrow is still functioning...as of right now...and the tube (the underground) shouldn't stop working because of the aboveground snow. Should it? No worries...I'll wait if I have to, I've waited three months...but I'm coming home.

Home is more than where your heart is...it's oh so much more.

Haha. I think I'm too excited to write a coherent blog post right now. I will just say that there is a list of things in London I'll miss:

Going to get gelato/milkshakes in soho, seeing football matches, wearing scarves as masks, running by Big Ben, walking along the Thames, going to the Globe for a performance, getting coffee before class, going to Benito's hat, going to open air markets, going to Abbey Road, going to St. Paul's, going inside record stores, traveling around England, living in a flat that is essentially a dungeon, having a crappy internet connection, talking in the laundry room on the phone/skype, eating really good yogurt, walking everywhere, taking the tube, getting lost, discovering nooks and crannies of london, going to Candid, taking the buses and riding on the second level, walking through the parks, sitting in Green Park in the sunshine, carving pumpkins, being able to go to pub quiz every wednesday, umbrellas, impromptu rain EVERYDAY, tea time, the evening standard...and the list goes on.

I know this is a random blog post...

But I miss you all. And I already know I'll miss London and how much it's taught me...hopefully I can bring some of London Becca back to the states. See you in less than twenty-four hours!

Cheers!

We can work it out...

So close!

And yet...I'm so sleepy...I think it's the snow that has been falling all day long in good old London town. Luckily, it has not stuck. I'm not being a grinch, I just want to come home on Thursday...so if the weather could slow down a bit until I leave this Island...I'd be completely content with life.

But like I said, so sleepy!

I packed today with the help of Kemper. Actually...she pretty much packed me altogher. I'm ready to come home...

One more final in the morning so I'm going to bed now. One more day. ONE MORE DAY!

Love you and miss you guys!

Cheers!

"Did you know they sell frosty's at Wendy's?" - Kemper

TWO DAYS LEFT TWO DAYS LEFT TWO DAYS LEFT TWO DAYS LEFT!!!!!!!!!

I can't even tell you that I need to pack...because that would just stress me out! How did I end up with all of this stuff? AGH. I'm just going to say that most of it is my love of hoodies. I can't help but be warm and cozy when I have the chance. :D

Alright - so today.

I got up and went to the library and proofread/printed my Shakespeare paper. That means I don't have any more papers to write...just one final left! I have my Art and Architecture final on Wednesday...and I'm so glad that I'll be done with my classes. Isn't it crazy to think I'll be home this week. Like, woa, man.

After the library Kemper and I made grilled cheese sandwiches and I tried the really big apple that was twice the size of my face that I bought at Portobello Road. The apple was too tart...but it was a nice attempt.

Anywho, after the grilled cheese we went and did some miscellaneous shopping for groceries and souvenirs for friends and such. Why are souvenirs so fun to shop for? Eh. Every time we go to the Waitrose by our flat they have added more Christmas lights. London all dressed up in Christmas lights is absolutely gorgeous...but I wonder how much it costs? I should probably be wondering about other things. Haha.

Let's see...After all that we went and sort of got some of Kemper's things together for packing. I was looking through a vogue and I kept wondering to myself...How do women wear heels. Really, HOW do they do it. I don't. I just fall down or don't get very far...

Finally after all that we went to the eye! I finally got to ride the London Eye. It's one of the neatest/possibly largest ferris wheels in the world? I don't know if I just made that up, but I feel like I read that in a paper somewhere once. Anywho, we went as it was getting dark and even though it was really, really cold...the city was lit with dazzling lights. I couldn't take my eyes off of Big Ben or St. Paul's. Kemper helped me get a lot of good pictures, since I was shaking the camera and the flash didn't work with the glass!

I was so amazed at the size of the city. You could see lights for miles and miles and miles...(the who!)...and I just felt that it was such a different view from above than when you are below and standing underneath towering buildings. London is such a multi-leveled city what with the underground and the multi-leveled high rises. It blows my mind a little. Well a lot actually.

After that amazing experience, we came back to the flat and got Hillary and made fajitas for dinner. It was amazing, as always. We spent some time trying to figure out what we're going to do on Wednesday afternoon...if anyone who reads this has any suggestions tell me...I'm kind of off of museums at the moment though, to give you a fair warning. :D

THEN...we went back to the Italian place in Soho and got gelato. I got the pistachio this time. I can't help it I'm addicted and when I go back to Little Rock and eat the other stuff it just won't be the same. London's got the yogurt and gelato figured out. I think I can do without all the weird candy though...isn't candy supposed to be better over here? I guess oreos aren't really candy...Haha.

Alright, alright. Here I am. Two days left. I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited. I'll check in tomorrow. Miss you guys!

Cheers.

Harrod's...Also synonymous with Dante's Inferno...

Well hello there! It's Sunday evening and I'm chilling on the floor in the hallway - my usual spot. I just got off the phone with Mumsy and Dad, and I can't wait to see you guys. You've no idea. Especially since it's so cold over here!

Alright...Today was crazy. I got in the early Christmas Spirit...because I went to Harrod's. For those of you who didn't know (previously me, pre-Harrod's trip) Harrod's is also synonymous with Dante's Inferno. Why, do you ask?

Well...Imagine a nice, large sidewalk in front of a huge London department store. THEN, imagine this sidewalk stuffed with as many tourists/Londoner's as spatially possible. And thus, my morning began outside the Knightsbridge tube station at eleven thirty. :)

I went in with Kemper and we elbowed our way through the crowds to get a couple of choice items. I can't tell you what they were...except that I eventually got myself some really nice tea! :D

We waited more than thirty minutes in the queue before we finally could pay. Then we had to bust our legs as we made our way over to the High Kensington Tube Station...where Hillary was waiting. Today we had a farewell lunch at Sticky Fingers. :) I can't get enough of the Beatles or Stones...and picking between the two would simply break my heart. Haha.

I got a nice burger and had some Amstel on draft. I'm going to miss the pints over here -it's the thing. After that Kemper and I had a nice walk by Hyde Park and Queensgate (the place where I stayed over Fall Break) before going back into Harrods. We didn't get everything we needed in round one, so we made a round two. Goodness, what WERE we thinking?

We got in and out pretty quickly, however, and then we hopped on the tube and made our way to Russell Square. We decided that I would make Green Things for dinner so we went to WaitRose and bought all the ingredients for dinner. We then grabbed Hillary from my flat and got to cooking in Kemper's flat.

The Green Things weren't as good as Turkey Day, because somehow I put too much cheese in it and didn't quite let it cook enough. It tasted alright, but I think I messed with the consistency a little bit. Haha. Oh well, we still ate it all. :) I'm telling you, you can't just have one helping of Green Things. Those things are addicting.

Anywho, after that I proofread my Politics Paper and I am now done with that class for forever. :P All I have to do is go turn it in tomorrow and HOORAH! I'm done. No MORE POLITICS EVER! NONE. NEIN! NO! NIET!

Haha. After Kemper, HIllary, and I printed out our papers we went to get gelato! We went back (with Erin and Laura) to the place that Kemper and I went to on Turkey Day. I got a different flavor than Pistachio this time, to be different. I got a chocolate thing and an even chocolatey-ier thing...but I should have just gotten Pistachio. Pistachio gelato is my favourite in the whole world...even more than peppermint ice cream, which I can never say no to. Haha.

After that I came back here and showered and then called Mumsy. I will be so glad when I'm on the same time zone as you guys. It's so weird being hours ahead and being ready for bed when you guys are just eating dinner or something like that! Go figure.

Alright, alright, well I'm really tired and my eyes are so tired of staring at computer screens. I will be updating tomorrow...Guess what? Only three days left. NO joke.

Cheers.

Football anyone?

Football...football...football...I think I prefer the American kind to soccer. I shall fill you in on my beautiful 'football' experience after I start out with my whole day!

Ok...but first I forgot to mention that last night Hillary, Kemper, and I went to Benito's hat for the last time! I got a Margarita because they have a two for one Margarita happy hour. I liked it...but I only ever need to have one of those. Whew.

Anywho, I don't know why I forgot to mention that but I got all upset that I didn't tell you guys about it because Benito's has been such a part of my London experience over here. :)

Alright on with today. So I woke up and Kemper and I went to Portobello road. I managed to get the last couple of gifts that I needed to get for everybody...so now I can mark everybody off the Christmas list. :)

And Kemper and I got some fresh food for dinner tonight. Kemper made this awesome broccoli, cheese, and potato bake thing with sauteed mushrooms and lovely bread. I'm telling you what, it was lovely.

But I'm getting ahead of myself...we got back from Portobello road...and I just had to have some coffee. It's so cold over here...I feel like there's less people out on the streets and I think it's because of the weather...but I could just be making that up.

Anywho, after coffee we put on a million layers for the match. We went to see the Queen's Park Rangers take on Cardiff (which is a Welsh team...) AND MAN! I will simply say it was an experience. I have never been to a sport game that loud before. I may have possibly blown both of my eardrums out...Well maybe not. We were in the home team section...and we had really nice seats actually.

By the end of the game I was totally into it, screaming at the refs and all that. However, I will say, for those of you who think soccer is boring...go to an Enlgish football game. I don't want to hear any complaints about the bore of the sport. I think that's all I'll say on the matter on this blog...I come home in FOUR DAYS so I'll tell you the whole story when I get there. :)

After the game (and after my toes had frozen all the way off!) we got on the tube and rode all the way to King's Cross. King's Cross. Ring any bells? I went and got my picture taken in front of Platform Nine and Three Quarters. No lie. I am an absolute Harry Potter nerd and I can't believe that I waited this long to mark that off of my to-do list. Yes they have a luggage cart halfway through the wall...! I would love to post the pictures for you, but you'll just have to wait till I get home! :D

Haha. Look I'm keeping you guys all waiting with baited breath aren't I?

After all the excitement we came back to Kemper's flat. Kemper made dinner (which I mentioned above - was AWESOME!) and I wrote my politics paper which is due on Monday. I am so ready for the end of that class. I just have to proofread it tomorrow and then I'll be done with homework essentially until my Art and Architecture final.

Alright. I miss you guys! Sorry if these posts are short but I'm so ready to be home!

Cheers.

Six days of singing...

I come home in six days. The next five days of my life are going to be extremely busy and a whirlwind! Let me start with updating you on today and then telling you all the things I have to do so you can keep up with me. I can barely keep up with me...

Alright. Today was Friday...and I'm done with classes besides the finals I need to study for/write papers for. They're pretty much all papers except for one and that's essentially an in-class paper. I really have to do a lot of writing.

I woke up this morning at seven and I thought that I could sleep for about two more hours. Well...I did sleep for a bit longer and I didn't wake up until ten thirty. I grumbled and mumbled and made myself get up and go running.

I enjoyed running today because London was really sunny. However, I got trapped in a group of Italian tourists that were shouting at me. I couldn't figure out what they were going on about. I think the only thing they COULD have been pointing at was my leggings, which I had tucked into my socks because I have to do laundry before I can have my real running socks. I didn't want to bleed on my heels...that hurts! But sheesh, what did they expect? It's cold out there...literally it has been so cold today!

After running I showered and everyone was cleaning up the crazy Thanksgiving mess that was in our flat last night. Haha. I took some pictures that may appear somewhere someday. It really was a great time.

I grabbed Hillary, we grabbed Kemper, and then we went to the library. We spent the whole day in the library and I wrote my Shakespeare final. I should have written my politics final because that one is due on Monday, but it's alright, I'll write it tomorrow and then bleed over it on Sunday.

Tomorrow I'm going to Portobello in the morning with Kemper and then we have a soccer match that we're going to watch at three. We're going as a group, the whole London group is going. I'm really excited, but it's going to be so cold! Luckily, I don't think it's supposed to rain. Don't worry, I'll wear neutral coloured clothing.

After that I just plan on writing my politics paper. Just bleeding tears into it...I hope he likes it. Ugh.

Then I'll probably update again and tell you all about the homework I've done! YAY! Haha.

Let's see...my London to-do list is pretty long for the next five days. My homework is number one on my list, but I'm about to be done with that one. I am going back to Sticky Fingers and Harrod's on Sunday...and I plan on going to the eye once before I leave. Besides all of those things...I have to pack. I get so stressed about that...Momma will remember how I freaked out two weeks before I jetted off to London. I will cry when I hit US soil. I'm just so ready to be home, not that I haven't loved certain things about London and all that...I'm just ready to be home. In my little castle, with my familiarity, and my little familial unit.

I really wouldn't mind getting to see that Johnny Gately creature either. :)

I miss all of you guys. I hope you had a Happy Turkey Day. Gramner sent me some pictures. :)

Cheers for now...See you oh-so-soon.

Is this a door...or art? And TURKEY DAY!

Oops! I haven't updated enough lately...so I thought that I would remedy that....

Well today is Turkey Day...or I suppose Thanksgiving Day, whichever you prefer to call it! I personally like Turkey Day...because you usually eat a lot of Turkey!

Alright well I'm going back to Tuesday...which was a pretty busy day...

Tuesday November 23 2010:

Tuesday was the day that I presented my Beatles presentation. I woke up early to walk over to the school building to make sure that my powerpoint worked. Of course it didn't work...so that was something that I had to deal with.

No worries though, I just popped into Nero and got a coffee and went and found my seat. I decided that I would present with my powerpoint on my small computer...But surprsiningly that threw me off so I was kind of slow with the actual presentation and it may have been a bit disjointed...But I think all-in-all it went pretty well! I still can't wait to show Diddy my powerpoint!

After that class I decided that I didn't want to go running...mainly because I can running anytime at home, but I can't go do certain things at home that I can do in London. So we (Hillary, Kemper, and I) went to the Tate Modern Museum. I really wanted to see more of that than we did when we had class in there with Barnaby.

So...I got to see some Picasso, Warhol, and only my favourite Dali...No worries. It was really cool...and some of it was really strange. In fact, we were in one of the wings of the gallery and this girl was taking a picture of a door. We laughed so hard. I think she thought it was art...because I mean, we WERE looking at modern art...but hey. It was a door, NOT art. But still, a laugh is a good thing to have. :)

After that we ended up back at the flat before our Greek Farewell Dinner that Hendrix paid for. It was totally awesome because I got to order a £25 meal! I got chargrilled lamb and potatoes and some kind of amazing dip with pita AND baklava! I should have gone running I suppose. Haha - all in all, it was a great day.

After Dinner Kemper and I went to Sainsbury's and we got all the ingredients for Green Things. We pre-made it and froze it because I knew that that would make Turkey Day so much easier. :)

SO that brings me to Wednesday 24 November 2010:

Wednesday was my last day of Art and Architecture and Shakespeare. I mourned the last Shakespeare class, but I don't mind being out of Art and Architecture...at least this particular course wasn't necessarily my thing.

Anywho...we went to four different galleries in Shoreditch for our morning art class. Most of it was naked photographs and stuff...and all I can say...is...I don't understand why nudes are considered art. UGH. Whatever, man, I'm tired of naked photos. I must just not be getting something.

After that we rushed back to the flat to quickly have lunch. I had a beigel and cream cheese and some chips and stuff. It was good, but I don't like eating in five minutes. I know I ALWAYS complain about that, but hey, my food is important haha.

We then rushed over to Shakespeare. We got our last papers back and I did really well, so that was good. We also got out really early and we all went to a pub together. Jean bought me a half-pint of Spitfire...it was really good. I should have been partaking of that more often this semester.

After pubtime I went to proofread my Riddley Walker (politics) paper one more time and then printed it. Then we had dinner in Kemper's flat and got ready for pub quiz This week we convinced Nick and Danni (this girl who lives in our flat and goes to school somewhere in California) to go with us. We only came in last again, but we did better than usual. Our name this week was "Five little Turkeys" - in honour of Turkey Day. :)

Wednesday was good - but at that point I realized how much I'll miss certain things over here...Like Shakespeare. Haha funny how life is, isn't it?

Thursday November 25 2010:

TURKEY DAY! WOW. Today was pretty busy. I got up this morning and walked with Kemper to Nero to get my free coffee. I had one of those little member cards that I had finally gotten stamped enough times. So that was nice. :)

After that I went to politics like every Thursday, and we talked about A Man for All Seasons. However, we got out very early, which was nice. I mailed my package of goodies home today. I finally got a really nice lady at the post office to help me instead of that mean guy that is always the only one who is free. WHEW. I managed to do that...and my packaged should arrive the same day I get home...In just seven/six days! HOLY SMOKES! I'm finally coming home! So excited.

Anywho Kemper and HIllary helped me do that - I needed moral support. After the Post Office I went on a nice run, which turned out to be the smart thing to do. After my run I showered and got dressed and then went to help at Kemper's. Kemper made a bunch of home-made biscuits for Thanksgiving and we had to pop the Green Things in the oven.

We finally did all that and arrived at my flat (where the party was) and we had a buffet styled set-up with everything from pumpkin pie to turkey to biscuits to salad to carrots to GREEN THINGS. And I will say that all the Green Things are gone. (That may be because I ate half of them myself, but hey.) :P

We ate for forever and afterwards we were like oh my goodness it's only five thirty. haha. We went over to Kemper's and blew bubbles and laid on the floor trying to get over being so full. Poor Hillary fell asleep on the floor. I'm telling you, Turkey will do that to you every time. Haha.

After that Kemper and I went to this place in Soho that I've wanted to go to since we planned our Ireland trip that has gelato. I got some pistachio and I will say that I've honestly never had pistachio that good. I know that I am far away from you guys...(my family that is) but I had a pretty great Thanksgiving over here. I'm glad that I got to eat a really great dinner and realize how amazing and special everything and everyone is. I can't wait to come home!

I hope this is a sufficient update...I'm not sure it really matters because I'm about to skype all you people! Miss you guys! Cheers!

(Oh and before I forget - Thanks Gramner for the card! :P)