1 Day...And Here's Where the Tears Begin

December 14th, 2013
1 day. 1. That is all I have left in the city I have called home for the last 4 months. I can't even begin to describe this semester. I have done everything I set out to do in London, and I was able to travel to over 7 countries, which is unbelievable. I have changed so much as a person as well. Today, I had to say goodbye to one of the best friends I made here, Jessica. It was extremely difficult because I don't know when I will see her again, even though I plan to visit New York very soon. She has been there for me these last few weeks, when I felt like no one else here was, and I am so glad that I had her through so many rough patches. So, this post is a thank you to Jess, and probably my last one before I leave tomorrow morning. I'm expecting more tears tomorrow as well as I pack up everything, leave Regent's, and drive by London one last time. But, tomorrow night, I will be among my family, and that makes me feel so much better. I have loved London, but it's time for me to get back to where I'm from.

-L

Another Week, Another Movie Premiere

December 12th, 2013
Jess and I heard that the stars of the Anchorman 2 movie would be attending the red carpet premiere in Leicester Square, so naturally, we had to go check it out. I had never seen the first movie, though, so we watched it a couple days before the premiere. It was hilarious, and I was so excited to see the movie's main actors: Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, and James Marsden. There were several other stars there as well, and get this, the carpet was burgundy colored since it was Ron Burgundy's carpet. Haha! We waited outside for about three and a half hours for them to arrive, and sadly, we weren't in the front row so we weren't able to get any selfies with the stars, but I still was able to get some pretty good photos. They all came over for a brief bit to take pictures and sign autographs, except for James Marsden, which I was quite sad about. They all seemed pretty nice too, even though I didn't talk to them one-on-one. I was also lucky enough to get at least one of the news casts' autographs: David Koechner.  I am going to miss being able to attend royal premieres when I leave in 3 days. Here, it is just a normal occurrence! At home, in good ol' Wash, MO, you would never see anything like this. How can I be expected to go back to living a normal life. Ahhh!

Paul Rudd

Steve Carell

Will Ferrell

James Marsden

-L

Royal Premiere...Plus a Strange Coincidence

December 7th, 2013
I was fortunate enough to attend the red carpet premiere of Mandela, which is a movie about Nelson Mandela's life, on Thursday night with Rachel and Jess. Basically, we arrived and waited outside the theater in Leicester Square to watch celebs arrive on the red carpet. We didn't know very many people on the red carpet since this movie is an independent one, but we did get to talk to rapper, Eve who was attending the premiere. And, after waiting outside for over 2 hours, we finally were able to see Prince William and Kate Middleton attend the event. They simply came out of their car, and glided down the red carpet before walking inside. Prince William even gave a few waves. I was starstruck, and Jess and I couldn't help freaking out!! We stayed outside for a few more minutes just to watch them from inside. Haha, I know we are very creepy!! The weirdest coincidence ever, though, was when we got back to Regent's, we saw that Nelson Mandela had passed away. It was very sudden and happened while we were at the premiere. Also, his daughter was at the premiere that night, and I was just thinking I bet they had to stop the movie to tell her. It was just so odd that we had stalked out a movie premiere for Nelson Mandela's autobiography, and he just so happened to pass away that night. Jess, Rachel, and I couldn't believe it. However, we enjoyed the premiere, and we hope to see the movie in the U.S. when it comes out next November.

                                        Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

 

Idris Elba (the film's star) being interviewed

                                                       Rapper Eve

Kate and Will

-L

2 More Weeks...Eek!

December 1st, 2013
I can't believe there are only 2 weeks left of this semester in London. It seems like my time here has gone by quite fast, but also very slowly. I know that I am ready to come home, though. This weekend showed me that. I have done everything in London that I wanted to, so that is how I know that it is time. This weekend started off terrible, and I will always remember certain memories about my Thanksgiving here, but I'm putting that behind me. I spent a lot of the weekend going around London, doing things I hadn't done yet. On Friday morning, I went to Abbey Road with Jess, Steph, and Rachel, and we took the most epic picture. It looks just like the Abbey Road Beatles cover, complete with a cigarette for Rachel who was supposed to be Paul McCartney. Then, Jess, Rachel, and I went to Chinatown and got dumplings, which were absolutely delicious. I will have to go back there before we leave for sure, and we decided to check out the British Museum, where we saw the Rosetta Stone and many artifacts from different countries around the world. Then, we got delicious butterbeer from Starbucks. It is on their secret menu, and we all became obsessed with it. That night, I watched Harry Potter with Rachel. I loved watching it because I recognized so many of the places in the movie since I have been to a lot of them, and I got to stare at Rupert Grint again. :) Saturday was another busy day! Jess, Courtney, and I went to a quick lunch at Chipotle, and then Jess and I went to the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace. I was able to see all of the royal carriages, including the gold plated coronation carriage. I really enjoyed going there, and we also walked through St. James Park before coming back. Later that night, we went out again for dinner at Giraffe and then Winter Wonderland. It was so crowded there, though, that we didn't stay for long because we literally couldn't move. Today, was a very chill day. I went to Camden Market with Jess and Steph where I bought souvenirs for friends! I have had a very eventful weekend, but now, I think I will lay in bed and relax for a while. Talk to you soon!

-L

A Weekend of Relaxation

November 26th, 2013
Lately, I have been focusing on rest and relaxation in London. I know I need to do as much as possible before I leave, but I also need to focus on me. So, last weekend, I took it easy. That's not to say that I didn't do anything, though. On Friday during the day, Jessica and I took a small trip to Greenwich, which is part of London, but only about 30 minutes away. I really enjoyed getting away from London for the day. We visited Greenwich College grounds, the Maritime Museum, the Prime Meridian separating the western and eastern hemispheres, and the Greenwich market, where we bought scarves. I liked being able to take our time during the day and not rush. On Saturday, I took the day for myself. I went shopping at Primark and Longchamp. That night, Stephanie, Jessica, Claire, Nick, and I all went to the Nightjar for a jazz performance. It was definitely an experience, and I am so glad that we went! Our drinks were a bit expensive but delicious. One of mine came in a glass shaped like a bird!! Then, Sunday, I lounged around a bit and went to Harrod's with Jess and Steph, but didn't buy anything. I had a great weekend, even though I didn't do too much. I can't believe I only have less than 3 weeks left, but I am ready to come home. Just got to get through finals first. So much to do in so little time. December 15 will be here before I know it though!

-L

The Day I Met Rupert Grint

November 19th, 2013
I don't typically write a new post more than once a week, but I believe this event is worth it's own post. Yesterday, I was having quite a terrible day for many reasons, which I won't name on here, but everything got 100 times better when I waited outside the play, Mojo in Piccadilly. I waited with three other girls to catch a glimpse of Rupert Grint, who is currently staring in the play. I had been once before and unfortunately it had been a press night, so he didn't come out. However, this time he did!!! We were in the front row, and he immediately came up to us and posed with us for some photos, even though the security guard said photos couldn't be taken. Rupert was so shy, but also really sweet. I was fangirling so hard when I asked him to take a photo. Now, I just need to actually see this play so I can hopefully wait again and get him to sign my program. I also saw a few other cast members from the play, but I didn't know them sadly. Overall, a wonderful end to a bad day. And, this is why I love London.

-L

My New Plan In London

November 18th, 2013
So, this last weekend I went to Paris with Natalie's family. We went to Notre Dame, the Orsay Museum, went up in the Eiffel Tower, and took a river cruise of the city. Although I loved Paris, I am so happy to finally be done traveling around Europe, and I have decided to spend these last few weeks focusing on me. I miss home so much, but I want to embrace this country before I pack up and leave for good. Basically, my goal is to enjoy myself no matter what happens. I have hit a rough patch, but that doesn't mean I can't pick myself up again. I want to walk around London on my own, find hidden places that no one knows about, and learn to be happy with me, myself, and I. I don't think this will be a hard feat, it just requires me to not let anyone else get me down. I love London, I truly do, and I feel like there is so much I haven't seen yet in this country. I've explored other cultures in different countries, but now it is is time to focus on my temporary home. <3 

-L

Paris and Ireland Weekend Trips

November 10th, 2013
These last few weeks have been so busy, keeping up with both schoolwork and traveling. Last weekend, I went to Paris with the Anderson Tour group, where we went to Disneyland Paris and toured the Louvre. I loved the Louvre and could have spent all day here because all of the paintings and sculptures were so beautiful! Although Paris was fun, I had even more fun this weekend in Dublin, Ireland. We flew in on Thursday the 7th, and immediately went to bed because we were exhausted and had so much planned for the next couple of days. On Friday morning, we explored the city of Dublin, touring the Trinity Library and seeing the Dublin Castle. We also went on a Guinness tour, which was cool, but I couldn't stand the taste of the beer so I refused to finish my glass. Nonetheless, it was a great experience to be able to say that I got to tour the factory. That night, we went on a Viking Pub Crawl, which was quite interesting to say the least. Saturday was spent driving to the Cliffs of Moher. Although it was a long drive, the cliffs were so worth it and truly beautiful. It was a bit gloomy and rainy, but none of us cared. Ireland was one of the most beautiful countries I have been to, and I could definitely see myself living there someday. Although I love England, there was just something about Ireland that I loved more. I can't really place it. Overall, I had a great weekend. I can't believe I have only one more weekend of traveling, and that will be to Paris again next weekend with Natalie's family. I'm so excited to spend more time in London though, since I never really get to other than during the school week. I will try to keep more in touch, but tootles for now.

-L

Ciao Bella en Italia- A Week's Worth of Adventure

October 27th, 2013
This week has been one of the most hectic and tiring weeks of my life. Talk about nonstop walking! However, I was able to see sooo much in Italy, and I will remember this experience forever. Natalie, Taylor, and I flew into Rome last Friday and stayed at a pretty nice hostel with a super nice Mexican guy who was also exploring the city. We woke up early and were able to see the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and the Spanish Steps. We also walked through a beautiful park and ended up watching dogs run around the park for about two hours. It was really relaxing and peaceful. We also had our first real Italian dinner that night, and I of course ordered pasta and wine. Yum! And, of course gelato had to be included on our first day (caramel cream and black cherry are my favorites). On Sunday, we met up with our Bus 2 Alps tour group at the Yellow Hostel in Rome. This hostel wasn't my favorite and was right above a bar that raged all night. Oh well, Rome was definitely worth it. We took a walking tour on our first day with the group where we visited the Colosseum, which was a lot bigger than I imagined. Our tour guide in Rome was hilarious and would say the most random things, but he made the tour very enjoyable. We also went to a group dinner where we had unlimited wine, appetizers, and pasta. It was the best meal we had there! Monday, we had another day to explore Rome. We went to Vatican City on this day and saw St. Peter's Basilica as well as the Sistine Chapel. I was so excited to see Michaelangelo's famous painting in the chapel. It was absolutely breathtaking! After this long walk, we decided to relax in the evening. We went to dinner and went to see the Trevi Fountain at night. It was completely lit up and magical in so many ways. Tuesday, we woke up early and departed for Florence at about 9 a.m. Florence was a lot different than I was expecting. The streets were a lot nicer than Rome, but there wasn't a lot to do there. On the firs day, Natalie and I went to a museum to see Michaelangelo's David statue, but there wasn't much else to see. We explored a hill that overlooked a city and found a nice view as well. It was quite the trek, and our feet were killing us by the end. That night, we were a bit tired of pizza and pasta, so we decided to check out a local Mexican joint where we had margaritas and nachos. So yummy! Wednesday was my favorite day by far. This day we drove by bus up to the Tuscany area of Italy. We stopped briefly in Siena and a couple other towns before having lunch at a vineyard. We got to sample all kinds of wines and had a full wine, but that didn't stop us from having the world's best gelato (which I actually didn't think was that great) in another small town. Our last stop of the day was Pisa, and we got several pics with the leaning tower and even lost one of our group members. LOL! Thursday, we left for Venice! Venice was my absolute favorite place in Italy. I don't even know how to describe its beauty. We went to Murano, an island off the coast of Venice, which is known for its glass blowing. I spent quite a lot of money on this island, but it was all so beautiful. Afterwards, we went back to Venice and took a gondola ride. I had no idea it would be 80 euros, but we had to do it!!! Too bad our guide didn't sing to us. He claimed that only happened in movies sadly. I wish we could have stayed in this city longer since we only had one day there. That evening, I went out with Kristine, and we walked to the center of the city to check out some bars. We met some kind of creepy and rude Italian guys and left fairly soon after that. Our last three days were spent in Milan. Word of advice: don't go there. We couldn't find anything to do in this city at all. We ended up walking around aimlessly and checking out a park and aquarium. Also, we saw the Duomo and shopping district. It was pretty boring to be honest, but our last meal in Milan was pretty good. We saw some pizza acrobats who performed for us. Milan is also a very sketchy and unsafe city. Our hotel was far from the metro, and I didn't feel safe walking there in the day time, so we never really went out at night due to this. I loved every city, but Milan. I don't understand how it is the fashion capital since everything is pretty run down, but whatever. Over all, though, I loved my week in Italy. I'm ready to get back into the swing of things this week and enjoy some more time in London. I'm pretty exhausted from my trip, but I know that I will always remember it. I still can't believe I have been to so many countries this semester. Heading to France next weekend. <3 I'm living the dream.

-L

Exhaustion after a Busy Three Days

October 13th, 2013
I came into this weekend thinking I would finally have some time to relax in London before embarking for Italy next week, but that was far from the truth. I am literally so exhausted that I can barely function, but will try to attempt to journal for a little bit. Thursday night, a big group of us went out to the Walkabout, which is my favorite bar in London, although it is technically an Australian bar. The drinks were half price, and we managed to conquer the fish bowls! I also got to sing karaoke, which is something I have been wanting to do for quite some time. The night was lots of fun, and I'm so glad we got the chance to have fun in London. Friday was a busy day exploring the Westminster area of London. Natalie and I went up in the London Eye and toured the Houses of Parliament. The day would have been a bit more enjoyable if it hadn't been pouring all day, and of course, we forgot our umbrellas and rain boots. However, I really enjoyed the Parliament tour. We were so tired on Friday night, that we decided to stay in for the night, which was much needed. Saturday, I finally got to sleep in for a little bit, and eventually I got up and went to St. Paul's. I went by myself, and this was the first time I took the tube and explored the city alone, but I quite enjoyed it. Being around people constantly is not something that I am used to, so it felt so nice to be able to be on my own. I climbed all the way to the very top of the cathedral: all 500 plus steps, but the view was beautiful, and I got some great shots. The trek down was a lot easier, but I still felt worn out, so I treated myself to a pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks before doing some light shopping and coming back to Regent's. That evening, Natalie and I went to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical. It was very well done, and the sets were elaborate. We decided afterwards to go out to the Walkabout again and stayed out dancing until very early in the morning. Perhaps that is the reason I am so tired today considering I got up at 9:30 a.m. this morning to go to Kensington Palace. I mostly went to stalk Prince Harry, but I learned that he lives in a completely different wing of the palace so no such luck. Rachel, Natalie, and I also went to Covent Gardens, where we had lunch, milkshakes, and cookies. Yes, we are pigs... and I came back to school after that. It was a very enjoyable weekend, despite the fact that I'm drifting to sleep while typing this out. I wish I had more time to explore this wonderful city, but it's off to Italy on Friday.

-L

A Beautiful and Scenic Weekend in Edinburgh, Scotland

October 7th, 2013
This weekend was a very relaxing one in Scotland. Instead of the feeling of rushing to get everything done in just two days, we spent lots of time walking around the cobblestone streets and listening to the many bagpipe performers. We arrived in Edinburgh at 2 p.m., which means we left London at 9 a.m. (yes, it was a five hour train ride). I tried to sleep some on the train, but it was so bumpy, that it proved to be difficult. We were met at the train station by a man in  a kilt (typical, I know), and he proceeded to take us on a short bus tour to see some of the many sights in the city. We were all so exhausted, but that didn't stop us from grabbing a nice pub dinner and going on a haunted ghost and ghouls walk. It wasn't too scary, but we did end up going deep underground to some old vaults where our guide told us of all the paranormal encounters. The fact that it was almost pitch black didn't help too much either. On Saturday, we slept in a little bit because our original tour to Loch Ness was canceled. For some reason, the Anderson tour company forgot to reserve seats for us, and every tour was already filled. I was very upset about this because Loch Ness was one of the main reasons I wanted to go to Scotland. However, we still had a busy day in the city. I ended up touring Edinburgh Castle and seeing the crown jewels, which are not as stunning as the England ones. Then, we walked around and shopped in the city. I bought quite a few souvenirs during this trip. In the evening, we went on a Harry Potter walk where our guide took us to some of  JK Rowling's inspirations. We walked through a real life Diagon Alley and even saw the real Tom Riddle's grave. For dinner that evening, we went to The Elephant House, which is where Rowling wrote much of Harry Potter at a table overlooking the castle. It had delicious food, and it was so cool to be at a place famous for the development of Harry Potter since I am such a fan! Sunday, we got up early to climb a volcano. Yes, that's right, a real volcano. It was much more difficult than I thought, especially since I was wearing heeled boots. However, the view from it was absolutely stunning. You could see the beautiful water surrounding Edinburgh as well as the rolling hills and many buildings. Natalie and I decided to stay up on the mountain a little longer, so after that, we had dinner at a delicious Italian restaurant and headed back to the train station. We didn't get in to London until after 10 p.m. last night, but the weekend was definitely worth it!

-L

Cheers to Oktoberfest 2013 in Munich

September 29th, 2013
So, this weekend was dedicated strictly to Oktoberfest, which we happened to plan way before we even got to London. On Friday morning, bright and early, Natalie, Rachel, Courtney, Casey, and I took off for Germany. It took us so long to finally get there, but once we did, we checked into our hotel (which was adorable and much like a bed and breakfast) and decided to check out the festival. It was not exactly how I pictured it in my head and reminded me a bit of a fair or carnival. There were bright and towering rides in every direction and many tents set up with cheering coming from inside. That night, we drank beer and wine, and it was a very fun evening. We met some Danish guys and also talked to them for a bit. On Saturday, we spent about 12 hours at Oktoberfest. I didn't drink too much the second day because I was literally so exhausted, and I knew alcohol would make me feel more sleepy. However, there were many adventures throughout the day: we rode an intense roller coaster, lost Courtney in the crowd, and I had some pretty decent food, which I was pretty thrilled about. Although I don't like traditional German food such as brats, I did manage to find this delicious pita bread open-faced sandwich, which had tomatoes, sour cream, ham, two types of cheese, onions, and more on it, and it was my favorite meal in the city. Saturday night, Rachel, Courtney, and I left early (sadly at about 9 p.m. to go back to the hotel). I was tired of the huge crowds of drunken people, and I kept almost stepping on glass, which wasn't pleasant. I'm glad I went back when I did because I was so tired today already that I can't imagine staying out all last night. Getting back to London today was very rough. I napped for a bit, grabbed dinner, then drank a milkshake. Now, I am about to fall asleep while I am typing, so I believe I should go try to lay down. Getting about 8 hours of sleep for three days is not healthy. I need to be focused on school this week as well. Woooo, traveling takes a lot out of you.

-L

Beautiful Barcelona Beach Getaway

September 23rd, 2013
I took off for Barcelona on Thursday with Natalie, Rachel, Jen, and Courtney, and all I can say is it was an absolute blast!!! We arrived and stayed at Amistat Beach Hostel for four nights, and it was actually a pretty nice place to stay. On Thursday, we pretty much got to the hostel and went to sleep, but Friday we got up super early to explore the city. We started off by going to La Sagrada Familia, which is a beautiful cathedral and was well worth the money to get in and the hour and half wait. We also decided to explore a beautiful park that was nearby and took some wonderful pictures. We then spent the evening checking out Barcelona's nightlife scene. We went to several bars, including an Australian one and an ice bar. It was quite the experience: that is all I will say. Haha! :) Saturday was our relaxation day, which we spent on the beach. By far, it was one of the best beaches I have ever been to, and the water literally sparkled with gold flecks. I couldn't believe it! We also went to a nice dinner to celebrate our trip, and then ended the night by watching fireworks on the beach. Yes, that's right, there was an impromptu beach firework show. It truly felt magical. Sunday, we got up early again and walked around La Rambla shopping district. This is where I got the majority of my souvenirs including a Spanish style dress, an infinity ring, and a beautiful hand-painted fan. After our light shopping, Rachel, Jen, and Courtney headed back to London, and Natalie and I checked out the Barcelona Music Festival, which was also quite interesting. Overall, I loved my time in this unbelievable city, and I can't wait to go back in the future. So much to see, and the weather was absolutely perfect. If you haven't been to Spain, I would highly recommend it. First trip was a success!

-L

Another Weekend Around London

September 15th, 2013
Pretty good weekend in London again this weekend. My dad and stepmom came to visit, and I showed them around for most of the time. On Thursday night, I went out pubbing for a bit, and then got up early to welcome Dad and DeAnna here. We went to a quick lunch at The Red Lion pub, and then explored Westminster Abbey. It was truly beautiful inside, and I didn't realize how many people are buried there. After, I showed them around the Big Ben/London Eye area, and we also poked around Trafalgar Square. They were exhausted after that, so I went out to a couple pubs on Friday night. Bright and early Saturday morning, we went to an England in a day trip to Stratford Upon-Avon, Bath, and Stonehenge. It was really all of London in a day. We mostly sat on the bus for multiple hours, but we got to see Shakespeare's birthplace and gravesite, which was really neat! Our bus driver also got a little turned around, so we didn't get to see the Roman baths, and we barely made it in time to see Stonehenge. We literally had like five minutes to look at it, and then we had to go because it was closing. Oh well, I loved seeing the beautiful countryside, so it was worth it. Today, my Dad, DeAnna, and I got up to watch the changing of the guards at Buckingham, but it didn't happen today, so we went to Harrods department store. It was literally so huge with like five floors, and everything was thousands of pounds! After that, we met for a Turkish dinner on Oxford Street, and although I was hesitant about it, it was actually pretty decent. Plus, it was like five courses. Pretty exhausting, but also enjoyable weekend yet again in London.

                                 

                                                                                              

                   

-L

The Time I Saw a Prince

September 12th, 2013
All I have to say is that yesterday was quite possibly the best day ever. I have never really seen anyone famous before, except at concerts, which don't count. And, I yes I got to see Prince Harry super close. He was attending an awards ceremony at The Dorchester hotel, so Rachel and I staked out the area and arrived just in time to see him exit his vehicle and enter the building. We then asked a newswomen when the event ended, and she said at 8:30 p.m., so we sat at a cafe and waited until that time when we personally got to see him up close and personal. Although we didn't talk to him, I'm pretty sure he saw us stalking him, and he was just so handsome in person. We couldn't handle it. Our pictures didn't turn out too great, but we didn't care!! We were just so excited to see him, and now our goal is to stalk him wherever he goes. We also learned from our hall warden that Harry once had a fling with a girl that attended Regent's! He needs to break up with that super skinny model and find his way back here. :) But, in all seriousness, best day ever! 

Words Can't Describe!!!

-L

First Weekend Exploring London

September 9th, 2013
It's the start of week two in London today, and although, I hate going to class, my weekend was quite perfect. I started off the three-day weekend by going to Buckingham Palace on Friday morning. It was incredible to see all of the immaculate rooms and even Queen Elizabeth's coronation gown. I bought many souvenirs from the palace because it was just that great! We kicked off the night be attending a Jack the Ripper tour through London. It was sponsored by Regent's, and basically a tour guide took us around and showed us where the murderer's victims were slaughtered. Sound terrifying? It was a bit creepy, but also a lot of fun, and I got to walk around a part of London I never would have found on my own. Saturday was Oxford day. The city was absolutely beautiful, and if I could live anywhere in London, it would be here. We toured Christ's Church, shopped, and even found some Harry Potter film areas. That night, Rachel, Kate, Courtney, Natalie, and I tried to find a good pub. However, this found to be very difficult. We tried to go to one, and it was so crowded that there was nowhere for us to sit. We went to a couple others as well, but they were closed for private events, so we eventually stopped at the Ye Old London pub and restaurant. It was ok, but we went in at about 9 p.m., and the only other group that showed up was a group of 50 somethings who kept giving us dirty looks. It was very odd! Yesterday, we went to the Harry Potter studio tour, and it was very magical. I was able to see scenes, sets, costumes, and props from the movies as well as ride on a broom! Today, it is back to the grind of classes. I have a field trip tonight at Westminster Chapel for Music Appreciation. Should be interesting...

                                                                      Harry Potter Tree at New College                                                                          

                                                                          Drinks at Ye Old London Pub

                                                                                  Number 4 Privet Drive

-L

Magical London

August 31st, 2013
Today, I realized how beautiful London truly is. I went on a bus tour around the city stopping at places like Big Ben, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral, and went by many amazing sites. Seeing all of these historical buildings is so magical: this may sound cheesy, but it really is that great. I can't wait to see what this semester will hold. Tomorrow, hopefully going to Tower of London to see the crown jewels. 

-L

Adjusting to Change

August 29th, 2013
I was absolutely thrilled when we finally landed at Heathrow yesterday morning. The plane ride was absolutely terrible and took all night, but surprisingly, adjusting to the British style of life has been hard on me: much harder in fact than I imagined. Already in one day, I have entered the hostile stage and found myself angry and already missing the U.S. It was near impossible for me to sleep last night, as it was my first night here. That makes three nights where I really haven't slept, which has also taken its toll on my attitude. I'm trying to enjoy this beautiful country, and I know I will eventually love everything about it, but it may just take me a while to get there. That said, Regent's College is absolutely beautiful in every way, and it is within walking distance of Baker St. and Regent's Park. I'll keep powering through and finally will be able to settle in properly. Until then, I am just going to take it day by day and try to relax.

-L

Leaving on a Jet Plane in 8 Days

August 19th, 2013
In honor of me leaving for London in 8 days, I decided to create a short video (The Cups Song). I thought it captured leaving the country perfectly. You will soon hear from me when I arrive in Europe. Until then, wish me luck as I continue packing and wait to board the plane next Tuesday!

-L

A Royal Birth in London

July 23th, 2013

I just watched the live CNN newscast of Prince William and Kate leaving the hospital in London. A new prince has been born, and although we don't yet know the name, it is exciting as ever. Just watching this on TV made me extremely thrilled, but soon enough, I will be living in London. I must make it my goal to see this new prince in person, even though he will likely be staying in close quarters at Kensington Palace. Meeting Prince Harry could definitely make up for it though! 35 days.

-L

Preparation at Its Finest

June 24th, 2013
Exactly 64 more days until I leave for London, and it is quite unreal. I have almost everything ready to go, and all that's left of course is to pack, which I know will be quite a struggle. I have planned out a list of places I want to go when I finally get to Europe, and I am actually meeting with people this Wednesday night to discuss traveling. Some places include: France,  Italy, Greece, Croatia, Spain, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, and Belgium. Hopefully, I will get to go to at least most of these places because they are all on my bucket list. I have also started a Pinterest board dedicated strictly to places I want to travel to while in Europe. I have an addiction.

-L

T-Minus 4 Months Give or Take!

April 6th, 2013

I'll not truly believe I am studying in London until I actually get there, but I am already preparing! I have met with Webster's study abroad office a few times, have registered for classes (I hope to be taking Music Appreciation, 2 English classes, and Acting for Non majors), and have even communicated with other students going abroad. There are about 15-20 of us going from the St. Louis area which includes Webster as well as SLU students. Getting so close! I arrive in Europe on August 28. It seems so far away, but it will be quickly approaching. Regent's American College, here I come! :)

-L