FRINGE is IN!

The last few days have lacked a little bit of "excitement" but nonetheless, I've been having a great time! I'd like to blame the laziness that has overcome flat 13a to the time adjustment, but let's get real, that has nothing to do with it! haha. Our usual weekend routine has turned into 6am bedtimes and 3pm wake up calls. But we're in college so it's ok, right? haha. Today was a little bit better tho, awake by noon and out the door around 1pm! woo woo

Our first stop today was the money exchange... attempt #2895710... FAIL. Although we found the best exchange rate in London, we failed to be owners of "chip and pin" credit cards. I guess the U.S. is a bit behind on their credit card technology which totally stinks for us because now we won't be getting as much bang for the buck! I guess that means fewer trips to Top Shop.. LAME, but I guess I'll manage! :)

Sara and I were a bit productive today though, we got haircuts!! Super scary at first (I am a bit particular about my hair and trying new things) but they turned out great!! Found out that "bangs" is not a word recognized by the British, but "fringe" is the more accepted term... See, you learn something new everyday! Sara cut super straight bangs that I absolutely love but she thinks she looks like a geisha hehe. Very European and very in!



On a completely separate note... FOOD! Everyone said that British food is awful, so either I haven't been eating traditional British food, or everyone else was wrong! haha. I find myself constantly eating here, hence my aforementioned desire to join the gym asap! But Sara has introduced me to a whole new world of food! I am lactose intolerant but I absolutely love dairy products so I usually just endure the pain and go for it anyway. But now I have found my new haven.. WHOLE FOODS! There I have found dairy free milk, yogurt, cheese (& cream cheese), and ICE CREAM! ahhh, my world is officially complete :) haha... so it may not be typical london study abroad news, but it's news nonetheless ;)




Tomorrow I think I'm going to take my camera out and get lost in the city!! Can't wait to tell you about the things I find.

Goodbye for now!

x's and o's, Brittany

It Feels Like Home

Hello my lovely followers! My adventures in London are racking up and I'm beginning to feel a bit more at home here, and even a bit more grown up. Trying to find my way around a new city without a car or my mommy to help has been quite the struggle for me, but I've been managing to do it and I realize how important this experience really will be for me. So in the moments of homesickness I just have to remind myself of how valuable this will be for me in the end, and trust me it really helps :) It also doesn't hurt that I just received a HUGE (36 lb) care package from my parents today-- truly making my flat feel more like home!

Pictures my parents sent me.. Already up!

The other day, my roomies (Sara and Jori) and I made our way to Ikea... we couldn't resist... to find cheap room and storage accessories. We got matching bedding, storage boxes, and coat racks. That trip was quite the experience, and definitely worth the trek, sleeping virtually on springs was not the most thrilling thing ever.

My Bed with my pictures FINALLY up andddd Mr. Bear!

Classes started last week and although they put into perspective the fact that I really am here to go to school, they have kind of gotten in the way of my to do list! haha. But I am actually really enjoying them and have learned more in the last two weeks than in all of last semester, it's crazy! Two of my classes are about London and the UK in general, which is good because I get to experience the book version and the hands-on version while I'm here! My other classes are media consumption and interpreting popular culture. Those two are my favorite, especially because they go hand-in-hand with my aspiration to work in the music pr industry! My pop culture professor is one of the coolest teachers I've ever had! He is so knowledgeable and so easy to relate to that I think I'll look forward to going to that class every week! He also played some old music for us and I actually really liked some of them! Especially Robert Johnson "Sweet Home, Chicago" and Led Zeppelin! Definitely expanding my music interests :)

My class on the UK- Intercultural Britain, takes us on walking tours of different spots in London every Wednesday afternoon and this week we went to the city of London. It's quite the misconception because the city is only one square mile, most Brits don't even know that! And that day was the actual first rainy day we've experienced so far in London, we even had to break out our umbrellas.. Jori and I proceeded to sword fight with ours, naturally haha!

Umbrella Sword Fight

But the trip wasn't completely spoiled by the rain... we actually walked through the outdoor market that they filmed diagon alley in for Harry Potter (super exciting) and made a cookie stop! I swear if it weren't for all the walking we have to do in this city, I'd gain 100 lbs.. better join the gym tomorrow! haha

Where they filmed Diagon Alley!

Cookie Stop

On a super exciting note.. I booked my first 2 travels today and yesterday!! I am officially going to Carnivale in Venice Feb 5-8 and Dublin, Ireland for St. Patty's Day March 18-21! So exciteddd and even more excited that Brittney Marin (my bffl) is gonna be with me on both! woo, expect lots and lots of pictures!

Apparently Britain just changed their terror threat warning to 'Severe' tonight and advises us to not take public transit. uh, oh.. keep us in your prayers

Tube Station with the best roomies ever

<3 Brittany

And the Adventure Begins...

Hello to you all from across the pond! As my second week abroad is already coming to a close, I decided it was time to make a blog and keep you all updated since I know you're ever-so eager to hear everything! ;) So check back often and see the transformation as Britt goes Brit!

It has been a bit of a joy as well as a struggle to get adjusted to life in the UK, but I have loved every minute of it! I have the most amazing roommates and flatmates a girl could ask for! I live in a 3 person room with Sara and Jori and they are both wonderful, I definitely lucked out! Courtney and Melissa live in a double that they have named "the hallway" due to its tiny size, but it's super cute, lots of character ;)

Our program is setup perfectly for us! They have made our living arrangements, set up trips (including a weekend to paris in April!), and taken us on so many tours already that I've gotten to really be a tourist, and yes, I did take the classic telephone booth picture! But seriously, seeing Big Ben and the London Eye in person is such a different experience than seeing it in a movie! I've realized that sight seeing is awfully tiring, though. And we were so jetlagged during the first few days, that we were complete couch potatoes, but I see nothing wrong with that!

Parliament


The London Eye


Buckingham Palace

After we were finally acclimated to the time difference, flat 13a headed to the city to experience a bit of London's nightlife! Our first night out we were a complete joke! We really went out to a club in jeans over leggings (yes, it's that cold here), long sleeve shirts, and beanies. HA! But nonetheless we were a complete hit! I guess it's cool to be American haha.

Walking home from our first night out

But we quickly learned our lesson and headed to Movida-- a prestigious guest list-only club. It was a BLAST!! We're definitely going to have to go back there soon! After a night of not paying for drinks and proceeding to get a bit "pissed" as they say here in England, we managed to record an epic video and completely destroyed our flat, woops! When in London, right?

With Sara and Jori at Movida


Drunk at 4am? Let's play with Packing Materials!


The Morning After...

But the trip hasn't only been tours and drinks, we HAVE gotten a bit in to the culture although we have much more to do! Jori and I took our first run through Hyde Park the other day. It was absolutely breathtaking (from the cold and the beauty) and I cannot wait to go back-- if I ever run again :)

Hyde Park

Getting lost in the streets, the tube, and Top Shop have all been memorable experiences and I can't wait to add more to my list! Class and raging tomorrow so be prepared for another update!

Cheers,

Brittany