World Series - World's Away Addition

I thought I'd drop a line to tell all the Philadelphia fans out there (Yankees fans, you can go away now...) how excited I am about game one. I got super excited when I was reading a Brit paper about the upcoming series. They said that the Phils were by far the best National League team, no question. I could have told them that. And yes, I stayed up to watch it at midnight. And yes I paid $9.95 so I could get postseason.tv - that's the only way you can watch it (or buy Fox.tv for 19.95) but I think it's worth it. I've decided Chase Utley and I are getting married. If not I'll take Jason or Cole (still mad he has a kid) or even Raul after last night... And if not naming the first born Chase. My friend Ryan, from Norristown, and I had facebook chat up (he's in Lancaster too...) screaming at each other everytime something happened. Ryan is going gay/having a sex change for Chase. Most love man in America lol. Moral of the story: I'm still a Phillies girl no matter what country I'm in.

Lookin' Good in Lanc City [vol. VI]

Brit Slang: Knackered [verb]: exhausted I am knackered after the hike we had today. However, if you talk to someone of a different generation, on the mature side of the spectrum, it means exhausted in a different way... and you might not want to get caught in that tangle. Totally acceptable (and innocent) with the yuppies and younger, though.

Reward for High Productivity: Transformers Revenge of the Fallen is playing at the LU Cinema this week for 2 pounds. Ha! I get my work done & I'm so there for some quality Shia LaBeouf time. Mom, I know you're cringing...

Apres-Weekend Guilt: I wanted to get work done on Saturday as well as Sunday... that didn't happen. But I did get work done yesterday and I am taking a break from some MAJOR productivity.

Cue the Cubicle Earbuds: I'm loving X-Factor Judge, Cheryl Cole's, new single Fight for This Love - lots of fun to dance to, and the boys love her (she isvery pretty) - but I'm excited with the LONG AWAITED entry of Good Girls Go Bad by Cobra Starship feat. Leighton Meester. It's amazing and I think I was the happiest girl ever when I heard that. Sad the little things that make you miss home... like crazy songs.

What's on Telly: I've been spending much time with Project Runway, and Season 5 is by far a fave - All three women's runway shows actually had things I would want. WOAH. However, I'm a total fan of Kenley Collins, even if no one likes her attitude.

Takin' the Sting Out of Mingin' Mondays: I got some DELICIOUS food from Sainsbury's last Friday (Even though I had to take a normally 15 minute bus ride that lasted 2+ hours...) and after making some interesting beef stew (but good) I'm attempting my own take on my mother's fabuloussss corn chowder (which I'm hoping she's planning on making for me when I get home because I think I miss that most!). Fingers crossed!

Let's Travel!: We're starting to get that travel bug again, and even though I don't think I'm going anywhere this weekend (Laura is throwing a Halloween party I am required to attend), we're starting to think of places to explore. Dublin? Scotland? Liverpool to visit with Tim & some friends? Or Blandford to visit some swell British boys I know? Who knows where I'll go next but get excited.

Least Mingin' Thing to Deal With: Planning for the arrival of 4 amazing people in my lives including 2 really swell best friends who are willing to give up their Christmas's to see little ol' me across the pond. I'm one of the luckiest girls in the world :)

No News is Good News :)

I realize I haven't updated in a while, and my parents are probably wondering what's up. Nothing. (BTW - Mom I will email you back - SO EXCITED! but I'm just writing this before I head up to the library to do work, shock, I know). We've been having quite a quite weekend where we're just sitting around, doing work, and living in real English weather. Blah. Dani is off to Spain for a backpacking trip and we miss her very much. Our card obsession hit rock bottom when Virginia, Nate, Me & Tom from the flat over played cards from 9:30... to 2 in the morning. Also, Daylight Savings Time happened here this week (a wekk early) so we are now 4 hours ahead of you 'til your daylight savings time. Look forward to a lookin' good tomorrow!

Lookin' Good in Lanc City [vol. V]

Cue the Cubicle Earbuds: I have been here for 2 months and so I think that warrants a playlist of all the big songs in the UK for everyone to download (illegally in some cases ha ha). Then you can all jam out Sarah style. I bring the UK to you.
Lookin' Good Soundtrack I
1) The Ian Carey Project - Get Shaky
2) Esmee Denters - Outta Here
3) Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire
4) Kelly Rowland feat David Guetta - When Love Takes Over
5) Dizzee Rascal - Holiday
6) Sugababes - Get Sexy
7) Robbie Williams - Bodies
8) Chipmunk - Oopsy Daisy
9) Taio Crus - Break Your Heart
10) Michael Buble - Haven't Met You Yet
11) David Guetta feat. Akon - Sexy Chick
12) The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
13) Pixie Lott - Boys & Girls
14) JLS - Beat Again
15) Paolo Nutini - Pencil Full of Lead
16) Mika - We Are Golden
17) Calvin Harris - Ready for the Weekend
18) Noisettes - Never Forget You
19) Peter Andre - Behind Closed Doors
20) Cascada - Dangerous

Brit Slang of the Week: [per Father's request] Minging - verb 1. smelly I don't like to walk down there by the bay - It's minging. 2. Ugly There is no amount of alcohol to make that boy less minging. 3. Drunk [I have yet to hear it actually used this way but I was told this is another definition] I wish I didn't get so minging last night. 4. Generally distasteful The rain yesterday was just downright minging.

What's on Telly: There really seems to be nothing exciting or new on telly over here, so I'm catching up on all my favorite TV shows and discovering some new ones.

Apres-Weekend Guilt: I definitely did not do as much work as I could have been doing with all the free time I have but I definitely made sure I didn't put it to waste. Going outside, exploring the town and enjoying nature & England at its finest is well worth it in my mind.

Mingers Outside: The lousy construction workers who are tearing up the ground everywhere out front of my building, starting right away at 8 in the morning, and blaring their music so they can hear it over the drone of the machines (and so I can 4 stories up).

Workin' the Cobblestone Runways: Tights, tights, tights! The more crazy, the better. Wear them under everything! Just make sure they are part of your wardrobe, ladies. And yes, these are all prints you can get for your tights (and don't think I haven't seen crazy ones like these out - THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!)

Most Mingin' Thing to Deal With This Week: I actually have something due next week (a presentation on "Distinguishing between location factors which promote market-seeking and export-platform international business operations") which makes the first actual assignment I've had since my summer course. Mingin'.

Takin' the Sting Out of Mingin' Mondays: I got super cheap Danish Sugar Cookies & 2 for 1 Ben & Jerry's for super cheap at Sainsbury's satisfying my sweet tooth and sustaining me through my research.

Word to the Wise: If you find a guy cute because he has a pretty face and dresses like Shia LaBeouf, check to see if he has a rat tail. It's happened to the best of us (just ask Dani haha).

My Current Zip [Post] Code - The LA1

I've been getting cabin fever - yes, that's right - with having so much time on my hands and creating work for myself and eating 2-3 hour long dinners with the flatmates. So I told the girls that we were going to go geocaching UK style (think: world scavenger hunt). After finding some cache points in Williamson Park, we headed out for an excursion near the Ashton Memorial and got sidetracked from our little scavenger hunt by the beautiful weather & views.

Tia's not totally right when she says I'm not coming home. I will. But Lancaster is making it really tempting...

Welcome to the LA1

The Cathedral of Lancaster, Royal Lancaster Country Grammar School, Autumn in Lancaster

The Ashton Memorial, Me in front of the view & without it looking out onton Morecambe Bay & the Lake District, Dogs were everywhere, Dani loving Autumn, More Ashton Memorial Pictures

Oh, British Me!

I love this blog because it gives me a reason to take a break from all the reading I have.

Not that I'm complaining about class... since I have 3 hours worth on Tuesday, 4 hours on Wednesday and 2 hours on Thursday... And that's it...

But there's lots of reading and I feel like I need to create work for myself or
A) I'll go crazy
B) I'll eat my life away
C) I won't learn anything
D) I will do horrible.

Then again it's nice to have power points and readings reiterated in lectures that it's almost like a review rather than going to lecture and frantically scribbling what the professor said because, oh hey, I didn't know that from the things I was required to learn on my own. And it's also nice having a 1,500 word essay due in 7 weeks rather than 4 due every two weeks... It's definitely different over here.

On that note, I have found myself gaining little British traits here and there. For instance -
- I now have to refrain from not putting an 'x' down after I write something to an American
- I find myself spelling things like "internalizing" and "theater" as "internalising" and "theatre"
- I like fries with ketchup & mayo - ?!
- I understand when someone asks me if I want to get "tea" with them they don't actually mean tea but dinner... and when they ask if I want to get "dinner" they mean lunch
- I put milk in my tea (the actual drink, of course)
- I watch things on iTV - one of the few channels you can watch TV on (not as in previous episodes but actual TV) and that means British things, like the footy match yesterday.
- I can tell how much coins are just at a glance these days (quite hard since the 10p looks like a quarter and the 5p looks like a dime...)

Weekend is upon us and besides laundry and work, there are no solid plans. However, my friend Laura invited me to come home with her for a family party. Haven't decided yet, but maybe I will? Who knows.. could make for a good update!

Love from here! xxx (hahaha)

Lookin' Good in Lanc City [vol. IV]

Cue the Cubicle Earbuds: Dizzee Rascal is someone I have been neglecting to inform the Yanks about. Oops. Dizzee according to Fresher Rep Kate is "Amazing" (she just saw him last week) and according to Mike is "Well Funny" (he's seen him in concert a couple of times). I should have jumped at the first chance to interview him when I went to my first paper meeting. Don't worry, I'm going to start being more assertive with the next round of reviews and such. Why not check out the song that is most familiar to my ears these days - Holiday

Brit Slang of the Week: Fancy: 1. [adj.] pretty, luxurious, nice That dress is really fancy! 2. [verb] the want or need something Fancy going to the rugby match? 3. [verb] to have a crush on someone The guy over there said he fancies you. All of these have been used in the past week in my conversations :)

Minger of the Week: The unhappy British man on the bus who not only glared at us the whole ride, but muttered "Bloody Americans" as he exited. Too bad half of us were British, good sir.

Stay Classy, England: Dannii Minogue (little sis of Kylie and judge on The X Factor) made some silly comment about Danyl (who is awesome) changing the song to be about girls instead of guys even though he's bisexual. Ooohh mannnnnn. This is big news. But check out Danyl

What's on Telly: I watched The Office: UK Version and understood it all! But when I moved on to The Office: US Version, I realized I missed it. It's not that America is better (ha ha we are!) but Steve Carrell and Rainn Wilson are just too hilarious. Garreth Keenan holds nothing to Dwight Schrute.

Apres-Weekend Guilt: I have slept in until 12 every day this weekend. And that worries me because I never do that. But don't worry. I am looking forward to a nice long weekend exploring the British library system. Wonderful.

Most Mingin' Thing to Deal with This Week: The British library system. Not only do I have a list as long as a tapeworm for reading I would like to get done, but there are very few classes that have textbooks in the UK (so purchasing is out of the questions) and apparently it's perfectly acceptable to have required reading books not on reserve for those who do not own them... Finding them with that Dewey Decimal system is GREAT fun. Fancy a go?

Feeding the Minds and Soul: Dragonfruit! Tonight after I return from my awesome day in the library, the girls are going to take that lovely food and try and turn it into muffins. So excited!!!

Reward for High-Productivity: Another game of hearts with the flatmates? That was how we spent 3 hours on Saturday night. Obviously the really cool Americans party hard.

Takin' the Sting out of Mingin' Mondays: Even though England lost last Saturday... The Phillies are doing well and even though I'm hundreds of miles away from sweet, sweet Philadelphia, I am following those babies. Keep it up, boys!

Word to the Wise: Don't do laundry on the weekends. It will guarantee a bad mood

2 Monrths on Monday

On Monday, it will be 2 months until I "leave" (not really... I have many admirers coming over!) and 2 months since I've been here. The halfway point. And in honor of this monumental day, I am posting a link to an interview I saw with Robert Pattinson on his American Accent. I watched this and realized, I didn't know he was talking in a British accent ABOUT his American accent. Wow, I can't believe how common this accent is to my ear these days. To attest to the fact that I now truly understand the Brits, I watched the Office UK version today... and understood everything they were saying and got the jokes.

These days they are a changing :)

Freshers

I am hoping this will be my last really long blog because as of now I am officially a Lancaster University student until Dec 12. I can't believe I've been back for about 10 days now - it feels like it's been forever! And oh how I've missed this place... Tia always writes to me "You're never coming back". Well, that's a lie. I am. But only because I really like my family and friends. If any of you move over here it's later gator America.

In my efforts to not make this blog boring after my travel updates, I'm doing bullet points. Hopefully it'll be more interesting.

* My flat is in the George Fox Building. This is an academic building at the center of Lancaster's campus. Awesome location. It is part of Fylde College which in my opinion truly is the best college. I love everyone in it (From what I've heard, the other Americans are not as obsessed with their colleges as us Fyldeans). Unfortunately (or fortunately?) there are 9 people in my flat, 5 of which are Americans. Virginia, from Gettysburg, and me + Theresa from Rollins, Dani from Univ of Iowa and Nate from Denver. Poor Nate is also the only boy in the flat... But I think he likes it? The other British girls in the flat are all super sweet and we hang out a lot with one named Rachael who is a lot of fun.

* Freshers - First years, Freshmen. That's what we are technically considered (until our Reps realized that we are older and taking more advanced classes than them). Freshers Reps - Orientation Leaders. Freshers Week - Orientation. So what does this all mean? This past week was Freshers Week and our Reps were by far the best. Kate and Dave are my favorite and we love hanging out with them. Whereas Orientation is a lot of ice breakers and boring information sessions, Freshers week is more about short info sessions and lots of partying. Sponsored by the school. Freshers Flu - What everyone catches due to this. I am one of all in my flat who has this malady at the moment.

* Freshers fair is a 3 day fair that is filled with booths of clubs and societies as well as places out and about in Lancs, trying to get you to sign up for their goods and things. I originally signed up to do cheerleading, yes they have that, but you won't make the squad if you leave in December. Not that they couldn't use ANY American after I saw their performance... but oh well. Laura and Emily really want me to play Rounders (a "British version of softball only girlier and co-ed"). I went to the social last night (all clubs have socials - anything to get to a bar I guess?) to meet the team and they all seemed really nice so I may as well try it. I am however, doing the newspaper and our first meeting is today. They said it'd be awesome to have an international person do a feature column - Ask and you shall receive. Should be fun!

* Signing up for classes when you are an international student is one of the most taxing processes you may ever go through. If I was redoing college, I would come over here. It's cheaper and it's easier (you can retake your finals 4 times) but when you're an international exchange student, not only do you not have a full selection of classes offered, but you sign up 2 days after the other students have signed up slimming your chances even more. Evil. I never want to go through that process again. I am ending up taking Film & the Avant Garde (leaving my class next semester, and one first semester senior year to finish that minor!), Marketing Fundamentals and International Business. Technically I'm not qualified for the International Business class but after being there in lecture today I think I might be able to hold my own. Fingers crossed.

* Fish and chips is the best food to make you feel better about yourself. Sick? Eat fish & chips. Hungover? Eat fish & chips. Tired? Eat fish & chips... whatever the weather, it's going to make you feel better! Who knew I'd love fish? It's also apparently better for you than pizza, burger & fries or donner kebabs.

* Laura Hayes is my fresher as I call her. She's from just outside of Blackpool and is super adorable. Fri night we went out together (just us two, which was hilarious because normally all of us go out in groups of like 6 or 7) and had a cultural experience. We hung out at the fave spot Cuba, chatting with Stuart and Sam (Chris's replacement who I thoroughly enjoy yet am still bitter about Chris leaving) the bartenders and picking each other's brains. I am learning about British boys, the buttons on the toilet, X's, clothing... the works.

* There are 2 buttons (a big one and a small one) on the flusher of the toilet... big = big flush, small = small flush. I think that's hilarious.

* GPAs here are pretty simple 1 = 4.0-3.5, 2.1 = 3.5-3.0 2.2 = 3.0-2.5 3 = 2.5 and lower. Apparently it's near impossible to get a 3. Oh the British schooling system.

* I remember when Mike and I started talking and he would put X's on the end of everything and it freaked me out a little. Then he told me that it's a British thing. Oh lemme tell you it is. According to my ladies of England, if I don't put an X at the end of my texts, it basically means I hate you. An x is mandatory at the end of all text messages.

*There is a guy here who looks like Robert Pattinson (the guy from Twilight who is all the rage right now) and naturally, that meant I was determined to become friends with him. I have succeeded and have considered it one of my greatest accomplishments.

Well that's all for now... I have to get back to work but look forward to shorter & more frequent blogs about little things in British life. Gahhh even though I've had a fever for the past 2 days I'm so in love with this country!

Fylde proud!

My English brekkie & My room :)

Virginia, Me & Dani

British Friends! Dave & Kate - My Freshers Reps, Laura - My Fresher

La Bella Alghero, Sardegna & El Hermoso Costa Brava, Espagna

The boys returned to the hostel smashed, ten minutes before we were to leave to get the bus. Elena & I were quite displeased and decided that our trip in Sardinia was going to be a girls beach trip with the guys doing their own thing. We arrived at 7 am and naturally could not check in. So we walked down to the Mediterranean where Elena and I sat at a beachside bar thing and the people knew we were so tired they let us stay there for free. Why for free? Because you have to pay to practically breathe in Europe, including to lay on a beach chair.

After getting into the room, however, we took a nap and went to discover Alghero. It was super cheap for everything, compared to Rome & Florence, but sunscreen there was 17 euros... so I skipped that. Everyone was super nice everywhere we went but it was more than apparent that no one spoke a lick of English. This could get interesting.

As Elena and I walked into the city, we waited for something more than a pretty view... something of the city variety. Or town at least. We didn't really find much. Not even more than 2 open gelateria's. This may be a long two days.

Luckily, we were so exhausted from our travels that we enjoyed laying on the beach, getting tan, and swimming in the beautiful Mediterranean. We would go to the local supermarket for all our meals and one morning met the sweetest elderly Italian woman alive. She was a cliche little old lady who kept saying things like "i love you!" and "bye bye". It was absolutely adorable. She didn't speak any English but had a great time communicating with us and it was really interesting to see how we had an entire conversation with her without knowing the other's language. One of the best moments on the trip.

We laid on the beach everyday, made up with the boys, and headed off to Costa Brava, Spain for the last leg of the trip. When we arrived at the airport, we found that our shuttle was actually booked for the wrong day, but after getting to the resort, we were told that we were staying in a nicer condo. Like Prague, the condo was the cheapest place we were staying and probably the second nicest. We hit the sack but were anxious to explore.

So naturally, the next day was so brutally hot, that after we explored for a couple hours, we landed at the pool.

But don't worry, we were good to go out on the town that night for dinner - naturally eating nothing Spanish (but did have Sangria!) and Josh & I doing Karaoke :)

Elena & I found the beach the next day and even though it was a scorcher (oh I also got sunscreen - only 6 euro) we lasted for a couple of hours and went in the water. It was so clear that you would get out just a tiny bit and it would drop off relatively deep but you could still see the bottom. There was also a ferry that brought people straight up to the beach... right on the sand, right there. Very weird.

We headed back to the pool later, ate legitimate food from Spain and packed up. We were definitely all ready to get back to Uni and get on with our lives - traveling the world is EXHAUSTING!

Pictures :)

[Sardinia 1 & 2, Me & Elena at the Hotel pool in Costa Brava, Me singing Karaoke - Notice my tan!!!, Me in Costa Brava, Costa Brava - so pretty!, Cartwheels in front of the Medi, Elena & I on our way back to the island]

"And the holy words of love & reverence, fall beneath the floods of Florence" - Phil Ochs

Naturally we arrived in Florence at 8 in the morning - when most things are not up and running. However, the hostel that we claimed home for 2 nights was absolutely amazing, especially compared to our last one. The people at the desk were more than friendly (one being extremely attractive), the food was half as cheap and double the portions, there was a pool, a roof top terrace, and a nice Australian girl named Shay who was staying one night in our room.

We took to Florence after settling in and went to the most popular site in town - The Duoma. Florence, known for it's rich art history, proved that it was one of the most artistic places in the world with it's Cathedrals alone. I have never seen a building so decorated on the outside ever in my life. This was a perfect meeting spot for Craig to find his friends from school, and a perfect spot to set off on Tour 1 of Florence. Much more relaxed and easy-going than Rome, it was still incredibly Italian, with statues literally everywhere. There was a replica of David where he was originially and some more awkward statues to make everyone feel uncomfortable. The river in town had a bridge that was scattered with jewelry shops everywhere and the saying is true - Wine is cheaper than water there. We went to the best gelateria (because why eat lunch when you can have gelato instead?) and went back to the hostel to do one of my favorite things we did in "The Flo" (what the DG Gburg girls call it) - LAUNDRY!

Clean clothes in hand, and a rested body, we returned to the Duoma to meet up with Juliann - my housemate from last year who is studying in Florence. We had a lovely dinner (pizza, of course) in a piazza near the Duoma (minus Craig, plus Shay) that was not only enjoyable but entertaining due to the trials and tribulations of Shay's traveling for the past 4 months. It seems that Australian's have more time on their hands than anyone I know and just spend half their lives traveling from place to place. As tempting as it seems to spend a month picking up odds and ends jobs and traveling, I will not quit university, Mom and Dad. Not that I wouldn't love doing that...

Then again, Shay is in love with an American man from the Upper East Side who is helping the finances of this trip. Tad jealous...

After dinner, Juliann, Elena & I headed to one of Julsy's favorite spots for a nightcap (I always wanted to say "I'm going for a nightcap..") which is a pavillion bar in the middle of a park. The area was more residential and housed the school Juliann attends (an American school through Syracuse) and apparently park bar's are normal in Florence. How adorable! It was great catching up with her and at one point I even started to cry because I didn't realize how much I had missed people back home. Sometimes they say you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone... I apparently have to lose it and then gain it again.

The next morning Elena & I headed to the marketplace sans males for some serious Christmas shopping. We have become haggle queens and many a person back home should be excited for the stuff that I'm giving them :). I was mighty proud, I must say. The lines the vendors would throw our way were perfect. My favorite was "Excuse me, Miss, you dropped something", I turned around to look and he says "My heart...". Cheesy! All of them were like this though, and Elena made sure to use it to our advantage to get the best price on our loot. I definitely like the whole shopping and then negotiating a price thing. Part of me wishes I could do that at Forever 21 in America. Hmmm...

We then headed up to the Piazza de Michelangelo for what we heard was the best view of Florence. After trekking up one of the steepest flights of stairs known to man, Elena & I reached the top to see, what truly was, the best view of Florence. Italy is gorgeous and if I were to go back, I'd A) make sure I knew a lot more Italian and B) go outside the city because you could see for miles and the little villages dotting the hillsides looked straight out of the movie Under the Tuscan Sun.

On our walk down, we heard a crash and saw a mo-ped car accident. Elena, who is a paramedic back in the states, went over to try and help, but naturally no one spoke Italian. Luckily, someone knew what they were doing (we think they were a doctor) and was helping but it was really interesting, even though sad, to see how another country deals with emergencies like that. There must be dozens of mo-ped accidents a day though because they dart in and out of streets and alleys and fly down tiny cobblestoned streets. I would not like to drive in Italy that's for sure.

Last stop on our day excursion was to see "Our Boyfriend, David". I can definitely see what all the fuss is about - he is HUGE! I could not believe that he was supposed to go on top of the Duoma. It's crazy to think that someone could sculpt that free style, especially back in the Renaissance. Yet another testament to Florence's rich art history. As with the Sistene Chapel, we naturally weren't allowed to take pictures. This time, Elena succeeded in taking an illegal photo of the guy though. Score! Now I can prove I saw the real David. And I'm sure he'd make a great boyfriend (the boys had no clue who we were referring to for at least hours.. quite hilarious).

We joined Juliann, her roommate and Ali from back at Lanc/Gburg for dinner and a girls night which ended at a bar with Elena, Ali & I singing Britney Spears karaoke while the boys went to watch the Patriots and Steelers games. We had to catch a bus at 3 in the morning for the airport in Pisa (unfortunately I did not see the tower) so Elena & I headed back for a 3 hour nap while the guys planned on pulling an all-nighter. So naturally we hoped they made good decisions. We hoped...

PICTURES! [The Duoma, Awkward statue in a piazza, Florence by the Vito!, Jewelry shop on the bridge, Me & Juliann, Marionettes on the Piazza Santa Croce, Steep stairs to the Piazza Michelangelo, Me jumping in front of Firenze, Fleure de Lis - Symbol of Florence, Juliann, Me, Elena & Ali]