Things are still going well here in Thorpe. The week has gone by incredibly fast, setting the tone for the entire summer, I'm sure. On Monday, I am getting switched out of my TA duties in the SAT class and helping in a computer class instead. I don't mind he switch, since I am basically useless at helping with the SAT subject matter. I like the teacher and the students in SAT though, so I will miss them. I think my favorite duty is wandering around in the mornings collecting attendance cards with another TA, Julia. So far the weather has been good so this job is basically taking a nice walk after breakfast with a cup of coffee. The TASIS campus is really beautiful which makes attendance walk even better. In my photography class, I still feel pretty useless, but I'm hoping I don't get switched out because I pretty much get to take the class with the kids, which is fun. I wish I had brought my old film camera so I could develop pictures with the kiddos. I randomly subbed in for an ESL teacher this morning. I basically had to give them an assignment and then make sure they were doing it, but it's fun to say I taught a class. Sort of.
I had to flex my authority figure muscles on Wednesday night when I was on duty. This is when we are assigned a variety of campus-wide tasks between 4-10pm. During study hall, I was assigned to go through the girls dorm and make sure that everyone was in their room doing their homework. They aren't supposed to be talking or doing anything else. Yeah right. By the end of it, I felt like I had been beaten up. I ended up dragging three Russian girls to "supervised study hall" which is basically detention. They are already notorious for being trouble makers. I kind of chased them around the dorm before I got them into study hall. Please take into account that one of these girls responded to a prompt in ESL class by saying she would like to "kill everyone". Another one dresses like a baby postitute (and actually ran around in her underwear on the first night). Some of the other girls were really big brats as well. I'm dreading the next time I have to do this.
I didn't get assigned to chaperone a Saturday trip this weekend, but I'm probably going to grab an extra seat on the bus going in to the Tate Modern because I love that museum. Two other TA's Julia and Meg, and my co-resident Monica, are chaperoning the Tate trip so I'll have people to hangout with there. I was hoping that my cousin would be in the city this weekend so we could meet up, but she is in Coventry working. I have to chaperone a Sunday trip but it's nothing exciting. We are going into Staines which is a neighboring little town that has stores and restaurants (which Thorpe lacks). The kids have the option of going to Staines Monday-Thursday after sports so it's not a big deal of a trip but I think there will still be a good amount that go on Sunday because when you're that age you really just want to go hangout. Maybe it's also more fun to go shop when you have an unlimited amount of money from your parents to shop with like these kids do.
My free weekend is in a week. Some people are traveling to Paris for the weekend, but I'm not feeling the hectic scramble to get somewhere and back in such a short period of time. I'm probably just going to go crash with Amy and Christian for the weekend. Julia is from Oxford and is probably going home on Friday night and said I could come with her if I wanted to. I might do that and then go to Amy's on Saturday morning. We'll see. I'm a big fan of playing things by ear these days.
I have finally gotten a little more contact about my research. I hope it continues so I can get it finished quickly and travel for a good amount of time. I'm still undecided about where I want to go, but we'll see...my mind is on Prague right now.
Something that really stresses me out here is the amount of styrafoam cups I go through. I'm pretty sure Dr. Duquette told us in environmental health that styrafoam is one of the worst materials ever. In fact, all the cups are disposable at meals. It probably is alot of work to wash regular cups, but I just saw an article about how the North Pole might be ice-free all summer. And what about all those polar bears that keep drowning? Do you think it is worse to use all those cups or use a bunch of water and environmental toxic soap?
I'd say I miss you all....but I don't have time to miss anything. Except peanut butter, which isn't allowed in the cafeteria due to allergies.
Friday, 27 June 2008
Friday, 20 June 2008
Orientation makes me feel disoriented.
Wow, life has been pretty hectic since my arrival at TASIS. I got here on Tuesday afternoon and have been attending meetings and training for my job, which really begins tomorrow when 252 students between the ages of 11-18 arrive on campus. I am on a floor with 15 15 year old girls from the countries of Dominican Republic, Korea, Spain, Montenegro, Brazil, Russia, Italy, US, and Turkey. I am working with my co-resident Monica, who has been here 7 years and teaches English. She is originally from South Africa, which of course, made me really excited and she knew both of my cousins when they worked here. I just found out today that I am a TA in the photography class and the SAT prep class (which should be interesting considering I never took the SAT...) I am also an administration TA, meaning I wander around during first period and collect attendance cards. I also work with the 9 other TA's to plan fun programs at night time. We have been working on a color wars thing that will go for the first 2 weeks where the dorms compete with eachother during scavenger hunts, realys, etc. If this is anything like my time in the res. halls at LAX, no one will show up, but alas, we must plan anyway. I am bit sad that there was no TA for dance, because that would've been so fun. We just got done with our last big group meeting and have the afternoon free, which means the TA's finally have time to meet....after that we have a kickoff "champange reception" and buffet dinner that we are getting all dressed up for. I have to be at a van at 5:55AM tomorrow to get to the airport to greet kids when they get off their flights. I work from 6AM-12PM and then come back to TASIS to meet my dorm girls and hopefully catch a nap! On Sunday, the entire school goes into something called Windsor where they go shopping....so we will be busy again. Then Monday, classes start. We also have to sign up to chaperone a trip every Sat. and possibly Friday nights and Sundays. These are all day trips, but there are some long overnight trips to Paris, Liverpool, Wales, and Cambridge/Oxford. We have to apply to chaperone those because obviously, alot of people want all expense paid trips like these...my first choice would be the one to Wales because they go kayaking, rock climbing, surfing etc. Lots of fun outside stuff, but we'll see. I also would like Liverpool, becuase of the Beatles :) I need to find time to do laundry...I'm running out of pants!
Monday, 16 June 2008
Dublin in fun-blin!
I have just returned from Dublin! I had a great time despite hardly hitting any typical tourist stuff. Here is the recap:
Day 1: my flight out of Gatwick was delayed so I sat in the airport talking to 2 girls from the U.S. (Rebecca and Amanda) who were on the same flight. They just finished studying at the University of Brighton for 6 months. We chatted a bit, and of course, I didnt really think I would see them again but when I walked in to my hostile in Dublin, there they were. We went out to dinner at a pub and I had my first of many pints of Dublin Guiness. Went back to the hostle and crashed. A girl in my room talked in her sleep in a different language.
Day 2: Headed to Kenny's rugby game with Rebecca and Amanda in the morning. They lost, unfortunately. We went back into the city and got lunch and saw Christ Church and Dublin Castle. The castle was weird and not that exciting. Kenny had asked me to stop by his second game so I grabbed a cab and went back out the the pitches, but I was late and I got there after it ended. Ooops. I stayed around the dorms and grabbed dinner with Kenny and his rugby friends and then we went to the The Temple Bar, where I proceeded to consume more Guiness.
Day 3: I slept at Kenny's dorm room so I got up and went to his morning rugby game. At this point I hadn't eaten much and was feeling like I was getting scurvy or something. After his game I headed back to the hostle to change my clothes but remembered that we were not allowed in between the hours of 11-2pm. Grrr. I had it in my head to do something touristy, but really, I found I just wanted to walk. I walked around Dublin for about 2 1/2 hours, randomly stopping for lunch or to look at interesting things/people along the way. I found my favorite Dublin sight on this walk. I don't actually know definitively what it is, but it was a statue of people with swans They looked like they were bursting out of the ground with serious power. The people looked peaceful and in turmoil at the same time. There was a reflecting pool in front of the statue and flowers and benches around it. There was a plaque by the statue that said:
"In the darkness of despair we saw a vision. We lit the light of hope and it was not extinguished. In the desert of discouragement we saw a vision. We planted the tree of valor and it blossomed.
In the winter of bondage we saw a vision. We melted the snow of lethargy. And the river of resurrection flowed from it
We sent our vision aswim like a swan on the river. The vision became a reality. Winter became summer. Bondage became freedom. And this we left to you as your inheritance.
O generations of freedom remember us, the generations of the vision."
It was really damp out in Dublin that day and has been misting as I walked around this statue. As I read the plaque I realized I was crying just a little, one tear from each eye. When I finished reading I turned around and, suddenly, the sun came out. For some reason it was an incredibly peaceful experience and my favorite Dublin memory.
After I walked forever I went back to the hostle and showered and changed clothes. I didn't want to spend my short trip not seeing the city, but I was so unbelieveably tired I felt like I couldn't stand anymore. I napped. I was supposed to call Kenny for dinner but we had communication issues so we never got in touch. Instead, I cooked dinner at the hostle with Amanda and Rebecca. Then we went to a pub down the street for a Guiness with another girl Marcella. It was definitely an older crowd. All I saw when we walked in was white hair. It turned out to be incredibly entertaining because there was live music that drunk old people like to dance to. Everyone was so happy in that pub, you couldn't help but leave happy.
Day 4: I got up and went to the rugby pitches in the morning, eventhough I wasn't planning on it, it was going to the only way to get back in touch with Kenny since our phones were being cruel. I got off the bus and walked for a while because I was early. It was a cool Sunday morning in a residential area. Lots of people were walking their dogs or getting breakfast or going to church. I just kept walking. There were little kids playing in a field hockey tournament. I stopped to look at a church and really pretty gardens. Once I made it back to the tournament I located Kenny and found I had arrived just in time for his team's kickoff. I stayed and watched. I actually began to enjoy rugby while I was in Dublin. After the game we made plans for the evening and I headed back into the city for the afternoon. Once again, I had it in my mind to go do the typical tourist stuff, but I just didn't want to. I wanted to wander again. I found myself feeling guilty about this decision because I felt I should be doing the stuff the guidebooks told me to do. I stopped and really analyzed that guilt while I was crossing the River Liffy. Who's vacation was this anyway? Mine. I wanted to wander. So I did. Guilt free. I did stop by Trinity College to see the book of Kells. I went back to the hostle to check out and then took my stuff over to Kenny's. We hungout for awhile and then went into the city for dinner. We never actually got to dinner because we went in to a bar for a pre dinner drink and discovered that the soccer match between Turkey and the Czech Republic was just about to begin. It was a really awesome game. Turkey was behind almost the whole time and then made an awesome comeback at the end to win. We drank Guiness and chatted and watched soccer. Some of my favorite things, so I was content. After the game ended, we headed to a closing party for the rugby teams but first stopped off to buy whiskey to hide in my purse and sandwiches for the road. The main glitch of the evening--the party was exclusive for just the guys on the rugby teams which lead to an interesting chain of events. Kenny went in for just a couple minutes to see if he knew anyone inside and I hungout on the street, two bottles of whiskey in my purse, and talked to another friend of a rugby player who was banned from the party. His name was Mark and he is a gay Austrailain flight attendant who is living in London right now. Really nice guy. Kenny came back out with his friend Victor and the four of us drank whiskey on the street for quite awhile. The cops came over and asked us to put our whiskey away "when we weren't drinking it" then they laughed and walked away. I love the Irish. We decided to attempt to sneak into the rugby party from a back entrance in an alley. We got chased by a security guard who was not happy with us. We decided it was time to leave. We went to a nearby bar for awhile and hungout. Then we went to a club. By the time we got to the club I had definitely drank my weight in beer and whiskey. My body was begging me to drink water and pass out, but I put on a brave face because I wasn't going to be the stupid girl who drinks too much and gets annoying. The night became a blur at this time. At some point Kenny decided it was time to leave. On the way out I kept telling him that we didn't have to leave if he didn't want to. He kept repeating, "Erin, it's a gay club". I think it was not until this time that I realized I was surrounded by all males who were all over eachother. Interesting. Anyway, Mark gave me his e-mail and number in case I ever wanted to go out in London this summer and Kenny and I caught a cab.
Day 5: I wake up. My head hurts. Something is beeping. My phone alarm from the day before. The first thought through my head: "crap, I'm hungover". It was a rough morning. Once Kenny and I woke up around 11:30 we watched Gilmore Girls and One Tree Hill. I'm pretty sure Lorelai Gilmore has a dubbed voice in Ireland. It was freaky. One Tree Hill is even more ridiculous than I remember it. I drank a gallons of water and tried not to think about sitting on my cheap, cramped flight. I left around 1:30 to go to the airport. Goodbyes to long distance friends are sad. I always have a horrible feeling of melancholy because I don't know when I will see them again. I felt really sick at the gate, not from the goodbye, from my hangover. I managed to hold it together though. Once I landed at Gatwick I got lost about 100 more times. I couldn't find the train platforms, then I didn't know what train to get on, then I took one that was a longer than necessary trip, then I got off my bus too early and had to get directions from a schoolby with a giant mole to get back to my cousin's flat. Whew. I felt as though my backpack had gotten twice as heavy in three days despite adding only a new shot glass for my collection. Now I am back at Amy and Christian's getting ready to re-pack my bags to drag out to Heathrow tomorrow so I can meet my ride to TASIS. I am excited to meet people from my job and see what it entails. I have a feeling I'm going to be nervous in the morning, but right now I'm too tired/excited.
Day 1: my flight out of Gatwick was delayed so I sat in the airport talking to 2 girls from the U.S. (Rebecca and Amanda) who were on the same flight. They just finished studying at the University of Brighton for 6 months. We chatted a bit, and of course, I didnt really think I would see them again but when I walked in to my hostile in Dublin, there they were. We went out to dinner at a pub and I had my first of many pints of Dublin Guiness. Went back to the hostle and crashed. A girl in my room talked in her sleep in a different language.
Day 2: Headed to Kenny's rugby game with Rebecca and Amanda in the morning. They lost, unfortunately. We went back into the city and got lunch and saw Christ Church and Dublin Castle. The castle was weird and not that exciting. Kenny had asked me to stop by his second game so I grabbed a cab and went back out the the pitches, but I was late and I got there after it ended. Ooops. I stayed around the dorms and grabbed dinner with Kenny and his rugby friends and then we went to the The Temple Bar, where I proceeded to consume more Guiness.
Day 3: I slept at Kenny's dorm room so I got up and went to his morning rugby game. At this point I hadn't eaten much and was feeling like I was getting scurvy or something. After his game I headed back to the hostle to change my clothes but remembered that we were not allowed in between the hours of 11-2pm. Grrr. I had it in my head to do something touristy, but really, I found I just wanted to walk. I walked around Dublin for about 2 1/2 hours, randomly stopping for lunch or to look at interesting things/people along the way. I found my favorite Dublin sight on this walk. I don't actually know definitively what it is, but it was a statue of people with swans They looked like they were bursting out of the ground with serious power. The people looked peaceful and in turmoil at the same time. There was a reflecting pool in front of the statue and flowers and benches around it. There was a plaque by the statue that said:
"In the darkness of despair we saw a vision. We lit the light of hope and it was not extinguished. In the desert of discouragement we saw a vision. We planted the tree of valor and it blossomed.
In the winter of bondage we saw a vision. We melted the snow of lethargy. And the river of resurrection flowed from it
We sent our vision aswim like a swan on the river. The vision became a reality. Winter became summer. Bondage became freedom. And this we left to you as your inheritance.
O generations of freedom remember us, the generations of the vision."
It was really damp out in Dublin that day and has been misting as I walked around this statue. As I read the plaque I realized I was crying just a little, one tear from each eye. When I finished reading I turned around and, suddenly, the sun came out. For some reason it was an incredibly peaceful experience and my favorite Dublin memory.
After I walked forever I went back to the hostle and showered and changed clothes. I didn't want to spend my short trip not seeing the city, but I was so unbelieveably tired I felt like I couldn't stand anymore. I napped. I was supposed to call Kenny for dinner but we had communication issues so we never got in touch. Instead, I cooked dinner at the hostle with Amanda and Rebecca. Then we went to a pub down the street for a Guiness with another girl Marcella. It was definitely an older crowd. All I saw when we walked in was white hair. It turned out to be incredibly entertaining because there was live music that drunk old people like to dance to. Everyone was so happy in that pub, you couldn't help but leave happy.
Day 4: I got up and went to the rugby pitches in the morning, eventhough I wasn't planning on it, it was going to the only way to get back in touch with Kenny since our phones were being cruel. I got off the bus and walked for a while because I was early. It was a cool Sunday morning in a residential area. Lots of people were walking their dogs or getting breakfast or going to church. I just kept walking. There were little kids playing in a field hockey tournament. I stopped to look at a church and really pretty gardens. Once I made it back to the tournament I located Kenny and found I had arrived just in time for his team's kickoff. I stayed and watched. I actually began to enjoy rugby while I was in Dublin. After the game we made plans for the evening and I headed back into the city for the afternoon. Once again, I had it in my mind to go do the typical tourist stuff, but I just didn't want to. I wanted to wander again. I found myself feeling guilty about this decision because I felt I should be doing the stuff the guidebooks told me to do. I stopped and really analyzed that guilt while I was crossing the River Liffy. Who's vacation was this anyway? Mine. I wanted to wander. So I did. Guilt free. I did stop by Trinity College to see the book of Kells. I went back to the hostle to check out and then took my stuff over to Kenny's. We hungout for awhile and then went into the city for dinner. We never actually got to dinner because we went in to a bar for a pre dinner drink and discovered that the soccer match between Turkey and the Czech Republic was just about to begin. It was a really awesome game. Turkey was behind almost the whole time and then made an awesome comeback at the end to win. We drank Guiness and chatted and watched soccer. Some of my favorite things, so I was content. After the game ended, we headed to a closing party for the rugby teams but first stopped off to buy whiskey to hide in my purse and sandwiches for the road. The main glitch of the evening--the party was exclusive for just the guys on the rugby teams which lead to an interesting chain of events. Kenny went in for just a couple minutes to see if he knew anyone inside and I hungout on the street, two bottles of whiskey in my purse, and talked to another friend of a rugby player who was banned from the party. His name was Mark and he is a gay Austrailain flight attendant who is living in London right now. Really nice guy. Kenny came back out with his friend Victor and the four of us drank whiskey on the street for quite awhile. The cops came over and asked us to put our whiskey away "when we weren't drinking it" then they laughed and walked away. I love the Irish. We decided to attempt to sneak into the rugby party from a back entrance in an alley. We got chased by a security guard who was not happy with us. We decided it was time to leave. We went to a nearby bar for awhile and hungout. Then we went to a club. By the time we got to the club I had definitely drank my weight in beer and whiskey. My body was begging me to drink water and pass out, but I put on a brave face because I wasn't going to be the stupid girl who drinks too much and gets annoying. The night became a blur at this time. At some point Kenny decided it was time to leave. On the way out I kept telling him that we didn't have to leave if he didn't want to. He kept repeating, "Erin, it's a gay club". I think it was not until this time that I realized I was surrounded by all males who were all over eachother. Interesting. Anyway, Mark gave me his e-mail and number in case I ever wanted to go out in London this summer and Kenny and I caught a cab.
Day 5: I wake up. My head hurts. Something is beeping. My phone alarm from the day before. The first thought through my head: "crap, I'm hungover". It was a rough morning. Once Kenny and I woke up around 11:30 we watched Gilmore Girls and One Tree Hill. I'm pretty sure Lorelai Gilmore has a dubbed voice in Ireland. It was freaky. One Tree Hill is even more ridiculous than I remember it. I drank a gallons of water and tried not to think about sitting on my cheap, cramped flight. I left around 1:30 to go to the airport. Goodbyes to long distance friends are sad. I always have a horrible feeling of melancholy because I don't know when I will see them again. I felt really sick at the gate, not from the goodbye, from my hangover. I managed to hold it together though. Once I landed at Gatwick I got lost about 100 more times. I couldn't find the train platforms, then I didn't know what train to get on, then I took one that was a longer than necessary trip, then I got off my bus too early and had to get directions from a schoolby with a giant mole to get back to my cousin's flat. Whew. I felt as though my backpack had gotten twice as heavy in three days despite adding only a new shot glass for my collection. Now I am back at Amy and Christian's getting ready to re-pack my bags to drag out to Heathrow tomorrow so I can meet my ride to TASIS. I am excited to meet people from my job and see what it entails. I have a feeling I'm going to be nervous in the morning, but right now I'm too tired/excited.
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
So. I told you all I would be embarrassed about the cannonball thing. I am. I was strolling around London after posting that yesterday and realized, that of course, it's a cannon. Please blame jetlag and lack of food for my mental blockage. I really just couldn't think of the word.
Anyway, I had to go to the office that gave me my visa today for this weird orientation session. It was boring. I also forogt to take my passport so I have to scan a page of it to show it got stamped at customs. I need to find a scanner. or a fax machine. I also tried to go to the Macmillian Cancer Support Center, but I couldn't find it. The road ended before the adress came up. That was confusing. I am back at my cousin's flat now. Tried to convince myself it was a good idea to go do something entertaining, but I am so damn tired I can't move. I'm packing for Ireland. I have to make sure my bag is less than 10 kg. Which is "about" 20 pounds, otherwise Ryan Air is doing to charge me per extra pound. Normally, it wouldn't be a problem, but I'm taking my laptop, which is heavy. I wonder if I can just wear alot of clothes on the plane....
I'm not really entertaining today. I need a nap.
Anyway, I had to go to the office that gave me my visa today for this weird orientation session. It was boring. I also forogt to take my passport so I have to scan a page of it to show it got stamped at customs. I need to find a scanner. or a fax machine. I also tried to go to the Macmillian Cancer Support Center, but I couldn't find it. The road ended before the adress came up. That was confusing. I am back at my cousin's flat now. Tried to convince myself it was a good idea to go do something entertaining, but I am so damn tired I can't move. I'm packing for Ireland. I have to make sure my bag is less than 10 kg. Which is "about" 20 pounds, otherwise Ryan Air is doing to charge me per extra pound. Normally, it wouldn't be a problem, but I'm taking my laptop, which is heavy. I wonder if I can just wear alot of clothes on the plane....
I'm not really entertaining today. I need a nap.
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
My First Blog
I was asked by a few people if I was going to blog this summer to keep everyone in the know about what I'm doing. I always said I would never write one of these because it seems a bit self-centered to think people want to sit around and read about you, but, since it was requested, I aim to please.
I got in to Heathrow around 11:30AM, collected another stamp on my passport and headed to the tube. I left my luggage at Kings Cross and have been wandering a bit. I just bought a cell phone to use over here for the summer. It was free when you purchased 20 pounds of talk time and let me tell you, it is a beauty. Red and metallic with weird circular patterns. It sort of reminds me of something that you would buy in the Target dollar spot at Christmas to put in a little kid's stocking. I love it. Here is a typical Erin move--I walked an extra couple of blocks to go to a different phone store because I liked the name better. I could've stopped at Vodafone, but that is a boring, generic name. Let's be a little more creative, people. I bought my phone at The Orange Shop. The inside of the store was painted Orange, it was obnoxious, and it won my heart. Also, I took note of the fact that when I want to add more minutes to my phone, it's called "topping off" your phone. Or...are you "topping off" the minutes? I'm not sure which. Bonus to going to The Orange Shop, there is a tiny retro coffee shop across the street with organic iced lates and free wireless internet. Guess where I am right now?
I am not sure what I am going to do with myself for the next few hours. I can't go over to my cousin's flat until 7:30 tonight, meaning I have 4 1/2 hours left to kill. I do want to go find place to buy maps of London and Ireland. For those of you who don't know my last minute change of plans--I'm headed to Ireland on Thursday and getting back on Monday! I decided at 1:00 AM the morning before leaving for London. I have no clue what I am doing there, I just know I have a flight and a hostile that includes linen. My friend Kenny (from Cape Town) in playing in a rugby tournament in Dublin next week so I will probably go watch a game. I also feel it will be necessary to tour the Guiness brewery.
Tomorrow I will be in London for the day, might try to contact someone about my research, which has come to a roadblock. Macmillan Cancer Support Center---if you read my blog please call me. I want you.
Ok, I know we already approached this subject, but this coffeee shop is seriously cute. I wonder if they would mind of I napped on the couch. next to my table is record player that has a metal statue of a.....crap, I can't remember the name for it. What are the things that shoot cannonballs? Cannonballers? I'm going to be embarrased when I remember what those are called. Whatever. Along with the cannonballer is a cactus, a tiny little stained glass lamp, and an old fashioned telephone. The walls are teal and red and there are musical posters hanging everywhere. Cafe Eterno is my new favorite place.
Sarah Hanneman---I got off the tube at Leister Square and hunted for the coffee shop that was voted 2005's best coffee place. You know where I'm talking about. Anyway, I couldn't find it! what was it called? I'm pretty sure it was named after a year--1885 or something.
Wow, apparently I am a natural blogger because this is getting long. I would have a knack for it since I ramble when I talk and tell lots of random stories.
I feel like stores that sell maps might close kind of earlyish here...maybe I should go do that.
Here is my cell number incase anyone is interested in calling me over here. It might cost you a kidney, I'm not sure. 07530861204. I think there is a country code you have to dial before the number but I don't know what it is. Google it.
The weather here is PERFECT, not like the crap I left in Wisconsin (AKA severe storms and an abmormally cold summer) It is sunny and around 70 degrees.
Ok so long for now!
I got in to Heathrow around 11:30AM, collected another stamp on my passport and headed to the tube. I left my luggage at Kings Cross and have been wandering a bit. I just bought a cell phone to use over here for the summer. It was free when you purchased 20 pounds of talk time and let me tell you, it is a beauty. Red and metallic with weird circular patterns. It sort of reminds me of something that you would buy in the Target dollar spot at Christmas to put in a little kid's stocking. I love it. Here is a typical Erin move--I walked an extra couple of blocks to go to a different phone store because I liked the name better. I could've stopped at Vodafone, but that is a boring, generic name. Let's be a little more creative, people. I bought my phone at The Orange Shop. The inside of the store was painted Orange, it was obnoxious, and it won my heart. Also, I took note of the fact that when I want to add more minutes to my phone, it's called "topping off" your phone. Or...are you "topping off" the minutes? I'm not sure which. Bonus to going to The Orange Shop, there is a tiny retro coffee shop across the street with organic iced lates and free wireless internet. Guess where I am right now?
I am not sure what I am going to do with myself for the next few hours. I can't go over to my cousin's flat until 7:30 tonight, meaning I have 4 1/2 hours left to kill. I do want to go find place to buy maps of London and Ireland. For those of you who don't know my last minute change of plans--I'm headed to Ireland on Thursday and getting back on Monday! I decided at 1:00 AM the morning before leaving for London. I have no clue what I am doing there, I just know I have a flight and a hostile that includes linen. My friend Kenny (from Cape Town) in playing in a rugby tournament in Dublin next week so I will probably go watch a game. I also feel it will be necessary to tour the Guiness brewery.
Tomorrow I will be in London for the day, might try to contact someone about my research, which has come to a roadblock. Macmillan Cancer Support Center---if you read my blog please call me. I want you.
Ok, I know we already approached this subject, but this coffeee shop is seriously cute. I wonder if they would mind of I napped on the couch. next to my table is record player that has a metal statue of a.....crap, I can't remember the name for it. What are the things that shoot cannonballs? Cannonballers? I'm going to be embarrased when I remember what those are called. Whatever. Along with the cannonballer is a cactus, a tiny little stained glass lamp, and an old fashioned telephone. The walls are teal and red and there are musical posters hanging everywhere. Cafe Eterno is my new favorite place.
Sarah Hanneman---I got off the tube at Leister Square and hunted for the coffee shop that was voted 2005's best coffee place. You know where I'm talking about. Anyway, I couldn't find it! what was it called? I'm pretty sure it was named after a year--1885 or something.
Wow, apparently I am a natural blogger because this is getting long. I would have a knack for it since I ramble when I talk and tell lots of random stories.
I feel like stores that sell maps might close kind of earlyish here...maybe I should go do that.
Here is my cell number incase anyone is interested in calling me over here. It might cost you a kidney, I'm not sure. 07530861204. I think there is a country code you have to dial before the number but I don't know what it is. Google it.
The weather here is PERFECT, not like the crap I left in Wisconsin (AKA severe storms and an abmormally cold summer) It is sunny and around 70 degrees.
Ok so long for now!
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