Great week in London =)

I can’t believe another week went by so quick! Here is what I have been up to... =)

On Monday I went to Covent Gardens =) (it’s a big market, not gardens) Looked at a bunch of stuff and bought a few cheaper things. That night I took dance classes at Goldsmiths. =) The classes were a ‘Dance Workout’ and Ballet. Even though they were pretty easy, it was still fun!

Tuesday, I had my ‘British and American Musical Theatre’ class. Afterwards, we went to see Pippin! =D It was a video game version of Pippin though! Haha! But it was extremely well done and the stage design was amazing! There were also so many projected graphics that some characters would interact with. It was really awesome. The show still followed the plot line of Pippin, but just did it as if it was a video game! Lol Also, the theatre it was at was the Menier Chocolate Factory! It was an old chocolate factory that is now a theatre, gallery, and a restaurant! So cool =)

Wednesday, for my ‘Creative London’ class, we went to Tate Britian. It is an art museum that features art from only British citizens. It was interesting; I didn’t like the modern art stuff as usual- like a cup of water on a shelf- really?! Ugh. Afterwards, I had to rush back to campus for my ‘London Theatre’ class. We almost always go see a show after class, this week it was ‘The Trial of Ubu’. An interesting one to say the least, that I didn’t like. It was about Charles Taylor (Ubu in the play) who was a former president of Lybia. He was charged for of war crimes and crimes against humanity because of mass murders and tyranny. It began as a puppet show, summarizing what he did- basically making light of genocide. I was not amused that I was watching puppets. Then the rest of the show was two English translators that interpreted the over year long trial. It dragged on and I was thankful when it was over! Lol Afterwards, we came back to campus and went to Club Sandwich! =) Always a fun time!

Thursday, no classes for me, so I slept in a bit then went to the ‘Cheese and Wine Society’ Meeting! Yes I am a member and all we do is sit around, eat cheese, and drink wine. It’s awesome =) 

Friday, I had class in town for ‘London History’. We went on a walk to several spots that had to deal with health and mortality. It was interesting, but a bit chilly. Afterwards, a couple friends and I went to lunch at St. Paul’s- a cute little café beside St. Paul’s Cathedral. But I didn’t get anything because I brought a PB&J sandwich and an apple- because I need to save money =( Then we went to Camden Town, aka a shopper’s paradise in North London. It was so crazy, just shops everywhere you went. I can’t wait to take my mum there! =) I got a new coat that I’ve been needing, got a decent deal (in pounds) for it. Then we continued to explore there for the rest of the day. Then once we got back to New Cross, I took a big nap and then went to ‘Whip It’ at Ashmran Arms, a club near where I live. 

Not sure what is going to happen tonight! But tomorrow I’m probably going to the Chinese New Year Festival/Parade =)

<3Brittney 

Stonehenge and Bath =)

Yesterday, January 21st~ I went on an excursion with my program to Stonehenge and the town of Bath. We went by charter bus and left at 8:30am. I ended up sleeping the entire way there, as did everyone. Our tour guide was awesome and was so hilarious- he told us about all the different slang and things not to do or say. Most of which are too inappropriate for me to write on here! =P

Stonehenge is really astonishing; it was so windy there though! Like I had to push into the wind to walk sometimes! The rocks are just in the middle of farm lands, like out of nowhere. There was an auto device where you can hear about how they think it they made it and all the myths about Stonehenge.

Then we got back on the bus and headed towards Bath. And I slept that whole time too! lol

Bath is an adorable, architecturally beautiful, charming town. It is called Bath because there are ancient Roman Baths that are still there today. 

We had about an hour to explore the town until our tour started. So I went off on my own because I didn’t have time for people to hold me back from seeing everything I wanted to! There were so many little shops everywhere. 

I had a delicious ‘Traditional Steak and Cornish Pasty’ for lunch. No not a pastry, a pasty! They are hard to describe but basically- the breading is like a croissant then there is meat and whatever else you get stuffed inside and rolled up a little. I should have taken a picture of it but I was too hungry and it was too good. =P

We were provided admittance to the Roman Baths (but I paid for it at one point!). They were so beautiful. So much there was the original remains and is extremely well preserved. There is a natural spring, and hot spring that still runs today. The baths were built between the first and fifth centuries A.D.! So crazy! 

The Royal Crescent, so big, I couldn't fit it all in!

Every street was so charming =)

The Bath Abbey

The main bath =)

Just hanging out by the baths =) Bath Abbey in the background

Beautiful countryside on the ride home =)

  

OHHH! My name is unique here!!! =D All of the British people I've met say I'm the only Brittney they've met! ah! Then yesterday, our tour guide was telling us about cockney rhyming slang. Brittney is cockney slang for beers, as in "Let's go fer a few Brittneys!" ahhh! I love this country! <3 (But my name stands for beers because Brittney Speers rhymes with Beers.)

<3Brittney

London Life

Thought I would describe my ‘routine’ of my life here, although I’ve heard you shouldn’t really get into a routine while abroad… but it is hard not to whenever I have classes.

Mondays

I don't have classes, so I usually go into central for the day and go somewhere/do something different each time.This Monday, I went to the Br

Tuesdays

I British and American Musical Theater class 3-6. Some weeks after class we will be going to see musicals =D Next Tuesday we are going to see Pippin! Other shows that we are going to are Sweeney Todd, Billy Elliot, and Matilda!

Wednesdays

This has kind of become my favorite day of the week lol- I sleep in, and then have 'Creative London' 2-4. This class is such a free for all! We are pretty much just told interesting things to do around London and such. There is no structure to the course and we’ve had a different lecturer each week. It’s different to say the least!

Then I have class 4:30-6 for 'London Theater'. We go see a production after class every week for this one. But the shows are pretty weird and out there- not typical stuff. So then I go to the theater after- different Theater every week.

Once I get back, Wednesday nights are 'Club Sandwich' at the Student union. Yes- the student union at my school has a club with a bar in it! Two bars actually! lol It is so much fun!

Thursdays

I don't have class. So I'll go into central or do some errands or something. =P Different every week!

Fridays

I have 'London History' from 10-12. Today we had class at the Museum of London, and next week we are doing some walking tour somewhere! =P

Also, every night- I'll hang with friends or go out somewhere, there is always something going on- it’s exhausting! =P

The weekends are always different- this weekend I am going to Stonehenge and Bath on Saturday =) It’s through my program, so I already paid for it in a way =P

Classes are super laid back and very interactive- not at all of what I'm used to. lol Because of that it's hard to get into the swing of things for readings and assignments (of which there are very few). Then at the end of the semester, you write a 2,000 word essay for each class (kinda lol). 

That's all I got!

Cheers!

<3Brittney

Tourism =D

Today, I was a complete tourist in London =) I did a sightseeing bus tour, compliments of my study abroad program- CEA (although I paid for it at one point!). It was on the open air double decker buses, so I was freezing my butt off! But it was a really great way to see all the landmarks and learn a little about them.

Trafalgar Square =) The National Gallery is the main building there
off to the left, then there are a bunch of different memorials 
throughout the square.

Hyde Park =) Can't wait to ride a bike through
it once the weather warms up! =)

The Wellington Arch =)

One of my favorite pictures I've taken =)

Love this one too <3

St. Paul's Cathedral =)

This building is called 'The Shard'. It will be finished for
the Olympics and will be the tallest building in Europe =)

Jack the Ripper Tour...

Included in my ticket was a 'Jack the Ripper walking tour'. (yeahh dark tourism!) Now, I didn't take any pictures of the tour, because it was more about the stories- and just a little about the sites. The tour guide was so awesome, passionate, and dramatic! I loved it! I did not really know that much about Jack before, other than him being a famous serial killer.

On the tour we went to 5 sites where the murders took place- somewhat. Some of the locations were pretty far away, and others didn't exist any more- for various reasons. Jack was a sick and twisted yet somehow a disgustingly brilliant man. The way the tour guide described the murders, he knew exactly what he was doing for each of the murders. He may have also sent the police a couple of notes- but it is known to be a hoax. He was 'supposedly' never caught and there is still so much mystery behind him today.

Disclaimer: Too much information coming up.... Each murder he would cut the women's throats from ear to ear then rip their bodies open, throw their intestines over their shoulder, take their uterus as a 'trophy'. Yeah, sick man. One murder he took the woman's kidney, and the last murder he took the girl's heart. 

Alright... enough of that! Also on the tour we learned about how impoverished the east end of London was at the time. Mostly all of the women resorted to prostitution at one point, and most were alcoholics. Gin was thought to be a contraceptive at the time- so many women were constantly drunk. The living conditions of the times were also terrible, overnight accommodations were available to the many people without homes- but they were also in horrid condition. But it was better than the streets.

One of the most interesting thing I learned from the tour was how much the media influenced the murder case. The hoax letter was published in the paper and information about the murders were always in the papers. Therefore, the terrible living conditions improved because of the stories of the murders!

Night Cruise on the River Thames =)

Also included in my ticket was a City Cruise. The sun had set by the time the tour was over, so it was a night cruise for me. =P The boat was long with one story and a glass-roof. It was similar to the river cruise I took in Paris on the Seine... but there was no five course meal or a curly haired Norwegian man giving me plenty of varieties of wine... regardless, it was still nice! =P 

The boat tour was short and sweet, just went from the tower of London to Westminster. My camera pretty much sucks, so I took about 50 pictures and maybe 9 turned out okay! oh well =P Enjoy!....

Tower Bridge =)

London Bridge =)

Hope you enjoyed =P ...Please leave a comment if you read it- this one took me a while! =)

Cheers!

<3Brittney