P.O.A. (Plan of Action)

Hey everyone!
       I genuinely apologize for the month-long hiatus! This last month was inundated with loads of school work; also, there was much anxiety that stemmed from the desire to experience EVERYTHING in London--on a student budget.
      I myself am a bit sad that I didn't get a chance to update my accounts. This travel blog has really given me a sense of purpose. In retrospect, these accounts allowed me to express myself through a creative outlet...this was quite therapeutic and a healthy break from the stress of academics and organizing trips. Additionally, this blog kind of motivated me to make the most of every day. I did not ever want to post about a lackluster occurrence. I tried to ensure that my experiences were a healthy balance of academics, cultural exposure, and social fun.
  
     With that said, I propose some sort of plan. Here are the topics that I hope to cover and "publish post" in due time:
a) Barcelona
b) Paris
c) Academic visits (including the Globe, the London 2012 Olympic Stadium, and St.Christopher's Hospice)
d) The Exploration of London
e) Oxford, Oxfordshire
f) The Musical Episode
g) Misc. (the aforementioned topics will not include everything I need to say!)

Then, I hope to present a summative guide to London: Study Abroad. I will cover everything from quirkiest things to do abroad to best pickup lines (British style)!

Cheers and Kind Regards!
Arlene

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

      Something that you readers at home might not know is that the majority of the UK was reluctant about the whole celebration. To begin with, many citizens find the monarchy to be anachronistic. Englishmen do not like that Prince Charles has never worked a day in his life. Prince Charles has also been caught saying some rather vulgar statements, tainting his qualification for the throne. Although Prince William is well respected, people don’t understand why there is so much attention given to the family who has virtually no political power. As a matter of fact, their only power exists because it stems from the remnants of (sorry for the blunt delivery) dead ancestors who never showered and sported black teeth because they were rich enough to afford Caribbean sugar.  All my professors either left the country on Friday or promised to stay inside their homes. One demographic who definitely relished in the wedding fun was the young children of Britain. Many primary aged students put on make-believe weddings, complete with Burger King hats and Disney Princess Halloween costumes. Despite the hostility towards the whole “she-bang,” a select-few of my mates and I were stoked for the historic event.

            I am obsessed with both Will and Kate and their wedding! I have been influenced by my oldest sister’s middle school crush on the teen heartthrob, Wills. While bad boys (AKA Harry!) have their own charm, Wills seems like a mature, responsible, kind man and a great future King.  I find Kate to be equally classy and so beautiful, both in facial features and physique. Also, her hair is beautiful. Oh, and the Burberry trench coat doesn’t hurt! I would be remiss to not state the obvious—Will’s boyishly wonderful looks are disappearing at a fast rate. Surprisingly, a chiseled face is not a good look for William. And balding never has a positive connotation—even if you are royalty.

            Although I never had any intentions of being smashed between an 89-year-old clad in unfairly priced t-shirts and hats and (frustrated) bachelorettes from Boston at Westminster Abbey, I did have plans to head to Leeds Castle. There, I hoped to watch the live streaming of the wedding with not-so-fanatical viewers. They would provide tea and then show a screening of Mamma Mia (my all-time favorite show…next to Hairspray of course!). I soon realized that this fairytale situation would also require a 200-pound booking for a hotel room and preferably a spouse. Plan A went out the window.

            My next plan was to do a pseudo bar and park- hop, so that I could get a real taste for all the mad(hatter)ness.  This seemed perfect. Plan B in effect. And then my worst enemy came creeping the night before the BIG DAY: the SLEEP monster. And thus, I woke up at 12 noon the next day, approximately an hour after the wedding started. I am seriously disappointed in myself. I have made many mistakes in my life. But this trumps them all. I do though contribute some of the blame to faulty British electronic alarm clocks. And also, the military time threw me off.

            I can proudly say I redeemed myself by sacrificing golden gym time to sit on my comfy bed and watch the Lifetime movie dedicated to the famous duo. I have to say that the fake Wills was so adorable and I almost think he should negotiate with the Queen and become appointed to some royal role (the most apt would be one that stands in front of the camera). I was really impressed with the film. Then again, I am a huge hopeless rom(-com)antic.

            I also followed up with the viewing by stalking People.com (which is already one of my top 3 visited websites) and watching Good Morning America clips. All I have to say is that Prince Harry is mine, Chelsea. And Pippa, you are gorgeous! Lastly, little flower girls and page boys: I will babysit in London anytime!

            In the end, I think I did the wedding some justice. With any public affair, there are bound to be “hate-ahs”. Regardless, I think that most of my fellow Londoners wish the couple well, as they—like any other (commoner) bride and groom—deserve all the happiness and good wishes that life can provide!

OH HOT (Amster)DAM, THIS IS MY JAM.

Greetings!
     I apologize for the hiatus. Then again, I am no Julie Powell from Julie and Julia and I am sure I have approximately 6 readers. Regardless, I actually miss writing as it is quite therapeutic. Hopefully, you are equally entertained!

     I was fortunate to be able to go on a 4 day journey to Belgium (Brussels and Bruges) and the Netherlands (Amsterdam)! This was a great way to see SO much in so little time; however, it was also kind of a tease. We spent only a few hours in Brussels and Bruges, and they were both BEAUTIFUL cities. The facades in the squares had gorgeous architecture with rich hues of maroon and emerald. We dedicated our time to eating Belgium waffles and drinking refreshing fruit "bier"! I made a HUMONGOUS sacrifice: I decided to skip the rich cream, ruby strawberries, and drizzled Belgium dark chocolate so that I could get the real taste of the caramelized waffle. It was worth it! I am usually not a beer person, especially after my friend equated a beer to a sandwich (calorie-wise). Prior to this comparison, I simply did not like the bitter taste. This peach beer was so fruity that it masked the bitterness. A Belgium visit would not be complete without some croquettes. FYI: If you go to Belgium anytime soon, keep in mind that shrimp is more expensive than lobster at the moment. I will keep that in mind (now that I've left!). I couldn't resist an oozing croquette filled with baby crevettes. Before leaving, our tour guide told us to rub a statue of a lady lying down. Obediently, we rubbed the famous figure. He then informed us that we would get pregnant within the next year. Fabulous.
      
       Amsterdam, oh Amsterdam. What a sight. I apologize for my blunt delivery...I felt like I was in the land of the hedonists. I don't mean to disrespect the people who live there and proudly call it home. It is rich in history and culture and I would never downplay that. Yet, coming from such a conservative background and growing up in a Catholic grammar school and high school, it is difficult to adjust to such a lax environment. I must commend Amsterdam for it's audacity and spirit. AND the people there were extremely kind and warm! I can definitely say it was a city to remember! In regards to the architecture, it was a little mismatched...but the juxtaposition gave the sin city much charm. It was comical when I was in search of a church (preferably English-speaking) on Easter morning. I had to go through the Red Light District to find one. Does the end justify the means? :) I had the opportunity to see the NEMO Science and Innovation Museum. I am SO happy that I went....it was certainly a day of exploration and discovery! The best thing about the museum is it catered to all ages (although it was mainly geared for children). This place brought back memories of the Franklin Institute in Philly, which I have yet to revisit since the Girl Scout sleepover (circa 2001)! I found out what I will look like when I am a senior citizen (I am pretty sure my hubby will ditch me for some young gal when I'm 85)....because I don't look good in the future! I also found out how many molecules I consist of and how many genes I have. I powered an elevator solely with the strength of my muscles! I also saw Siamese monkeys conjoined, a deer fetus, and a human fetus from 3 months to 9 months. I was content by the end of the day, as I FOUND NEMO! Due to the long lines and the diminishing amount of muh-lah in my pockets, I had to miss out on Anne Frank, the Heineken museum, the Van Gogh museum, and Keukenhof (fields and fields of flowers!). Thankfully, I did not miss out on the (included) day trip to Zaanse Schaan, which is a windmill village in Holland. I got so nostalgic because it reminded me of a puzzle from my childhood, with the beautiful greenery, picture-perfect windmills, and bright yellow flowers!

    Food-wise, Amsterdam offers a plethora of international cuisine. We decided to have Argentine steak...great choice! I absolutely relished my rib-eye with Chimichurri sauce! I couldn't help but think of my father, who is the KING of steak. No one can make a meaner steak than he. I would have to edit this post if my daddy found out I revealed his secret ingredients, but I will give you a hint: Guyuanan and British blend...with some fish sauce. I digress; what I meant to say is that I asked the waiter for some sour cream and tabasco in memory of my dad. HEAVEN ON EARTH. Amsterdam is most notably known for its Indonesian food. Indian food is to England as Indonesian food is to Amsterdam. I am sad to say that I never got the chance to taste that cuisine. I guess that I will have to trek back to the 'Dam...NOT on a Easter Sunday, though! The last night I ate "poffertjes," which are literally mini Dutch pancakes with real Dutch butter and powdered sugar. YUMMY IN MY TUMMY.

    Just to add in, throughout the journey, I quickly became notorious for SNORING the loudest. Thanks, tonsils and adenoids (or lack thereof)! You con artists did nothing for me! Our last stop was Bruges...which was less tourist-y than Brussels. Bruges became more significant after seeing In Bruges, with Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes (I met him in the NYC's Meatpacking District!)....this was on the bus ride BACK from Bruges, unfortunately.

As this is quite the lengthy post....I will discuss the Royal Wedding at a later time! Off to Barcelona tomorrow for Spring Break! ("we we we so excited"- Rebecca Black)


Congrats, Mr. and Mrs. Windsor! I wish you all the happiness in the world!





  
  
    

Looking through the LENS of the LONDON EYE!

Greetings all!

       I have had quite a hectic week! The group and I went full force this weekend, attempting to hit two of London's hottest night clubs: Ministry of Sound (A+ for stellar name!) and Fabric. I have never really had an affinity to the sounds of Dub-step and electronic techno. But I will say that I appreciated the experience at Ministry of Sound. If I am to be extremely candid, I thought the men's dance moves were rather odd. If there is one thing about MofS that I can champion for, it would undeniably be THE BURGERS. Literally, these burgers were the best grub I've ever eaten--and no, I didn't have any "goggles" on. The bacon in England can be likened to the texture and taste of Canadian bacon. And the cheese was amazing, too; I'm assuming it was mature white cheddar. A brown chili sauce that was bursting with flavor accompanied the meaty sandwich. Ok...I'll admit something and it is only to make reading this travel account less mundane! TWO burgers. It had to be done. Fabric was so much more my scene. It helps that it is ranked 3rd in the world!! The ambiance was a cross between that secret hideout from Hey Arnold! and a neon lighted cave...so AMAZING. I definitely feel like a cooler person after leaving Fabric…it was a sort of rejuvenation process. 

     Monday evening, I decided to go visit Covent Garden, which was recommended by a British friend from Drexel. I guess I was expecting a garden, complete with flowers and lush greenery. It was quite different, but just as beautiful. I saw a hint of Bath infused in this famous area. There were also traditional markets. I became so happy when I saw a man in long hair and a fedora (typical!) sing Such Great Heights on his guitar. One of my favorite songs! I have way too much fun exploring by myself. I guess I just enjoy my own company sometimes...a sort of pseudo euphemism for "I'm a loner." Just kidding! I have loads of fun with other people, but I definitely appreciate alone time, as it gives me an opportunity to ponder about my day, my goals, and my list of things to do! 

     Tuesday afternoon, my British culture class took a tour of House of Parliament. I really wish I could say that I thoroughly enjoyed it, but even with a cup of coffee and a cornish beef pastry (THE BEST IN LONDON...Parliament is doing something right for sure!), I was a zombie. The bold and ornate embellishment (mostly maroon, emerald green, and gold) was gorgeous. Let's just say that I won't be running for the Labour Party or Conservative Party anytime soon...and I certainly will never be able to sit through the Queen's speech. One thing the tour guide said that woke me up was the rhyme that explained the six wives sequence of Henry VIII: divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived. Oh, Henry...what a dynamic fella! I took advantage of the warm weather and read in Hyde Park. After that, I hit the gym and the sauna. 

     Tuesday night was a blast. I'm not going to lie; I miss American college guys. They have nice teeth and rock the whole backwards cap and Ralph Lauren polo. If you're an American studying in London abroad, go to the Sports Cafe! It is a perfect way to meet students in a similar academic situation. I met people from Minnesota, Boston, NJ (yes, of course he had a tan and Pauly D hair!)....to name a few. Another main reason for the refreshing atmosphere was the music. I will proudly state that I am totally a Billboard's Top 40 gal when it comes to clubbing and bar music!!! I yelled the lyrics to Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A," Oasis's "Wonderwall," and Pink's "Raise Your Glass".....'cause I'm definitely "TOO SCHOOL FOR COOL"! An American party would not be complete without some games of pong and a New York Knicks game! Anyways, I plan to head back there Thursday with my first cousin and his girlfriend, to give them a taste of American culture. 

    My whole group was burnt out the next morning. Regardless, we trekked on over to FIE for our two classes. Shakespeare class was so much fun...we went to the V and A museum, which is so amazing! I definitely need to go back to see it fully. We really had to beat the fatigue, because we had a "field trip" to the London Eye at 7. Perfect time for my camera to stop functioning! The London Eye was incomplete without the incredible and fairly new 4D experience. I actually got emotional (with my goofy 4D glasses!) when I saw the Eye at night with crowds of people. Tears literally surfaced when the fireworks reached out of the screen. I guess I am just so grateful for this whole experience and wouldn't trade it for anything. I am so blessed and have God to thank!

    After that, I walked down Southbank Centre, which is now my 2nd fave place in London. Sorry, Mr. Camden Town, but I'm bumping you down to 3rd. A spot that can be compared to that of Yale University is always a good rank...so don't fret! Southbank is filled with a Graffitied skating park, Yo!Sushi, Giraffe, Wagamama, Eat., Strada Cucina, the National Theatre, Doggett's Pub, and an EXCELLENT VIEW. I couldn't help but think that this walk would have been ten times better with a significant other...or at least a dang charged iPod (some Norah Jones and Whitney Houston ballads). The blue and white lighted trees were so romantic! I'm. such. a. hopeless. romantic.

    That's all for now...since I just discussed romance, I must say that with each new area I explore, I am falling more and more in love with London!! I used to say that Istanbul, Madrid, and Athens were my favorite cities. Without a doubt, London has trumped them all. I am literally having the BEST TIME OF MY LIFE...and LONDON, I owe it all to YOU!

    

100 (and 12!) Things To Do While Abroad...

112 Things to do While Abroad!

1.     Fly on Ryan Air

2.     GO ON A DATE WITH A BRITISH LAD.

3.     Drink legally. (oh yeah!)

4.     Eat a scone with clotted cream and jam

5.     Pick raspberries

6.     Anderson Tours

7.     Giant Ferris wheel (AKA The London Eye)

8.     Hang out with Sohan

9.     Hang out with Ashley

10.   See U. Lionel and A. Aneta

11.   Hang out with Ania

12.   Sandwich World

13.   Da Mario (Princess Diana’s favorite!)

14.   Pizza Express

15.   Drink Strongbow

16.   Harrod’s

17.   Piccadily Circus Square

18.   Trafalgar Square

19.   English Breakfast Tea

20.   Changing of the guards

21.   Deathtrap (West End play)

22.   Platform 9 ¾

23.   Ice Bar London

24.   Regent’s Park

25.   St. Martin’s-in-the-fields (Trafalgar)

26.   Kyoto Gardens

27.   Send a postcard

28.   Westminster Cathedral (hear the choir!)

29.   Tubby Isaacs in Aldgate (fish and chips)

30.   The BarFly

31.   Tate Modern, Bankside

32.   The Wolseley

33.   Chelsea Physic Garden

34.   Soccer match

35.   Huong-Viet

36.   Volupte

37.   Bar Estrela

38.   Go somewhere using a map

39.   Ride the tube

40.   Sing karaoke

41.   O’Neills (Jackie’s fave)

42.   Waxy O’Connor

43.   Embassy

44.   Sports Café

45.   Tiger Tiger

46.   Opal

47.   Camden Market

48.   Billingsgate market

49.   M Manze

50.   Bar Italia

51.   Spitalfields

52.   Columbia Road

53.   Brick Lane

54.   Castle Climbing Centre

55.   Fryer’s Delight

56.   Bibendum (Oysters and champagne)

57.   Boleyn Cinema (Bollywood)

58.   Laban Centre

59.   Antepliler (best kabobs!)

60.   Italy, Germany, Spain, France, Scotland, Ireland

61.   Visit Erin

62.   See a celebrity

63.   Go to every stop on the Piccadilly line

64.   See a performance at a pub

65.   Imperial Union Bar

66.  Dans Le Noir (eating in the dark!)

67.   Matter (bodykinetic dance floor)

68.   Saf (raw food eatery)

69.   Anchor Pub (best fish and chips)

70.   British Museum

71.   National Gallery

72.   Science Museum

73.   Madame Tussaids

74.   Orangery

75.   Fabric

76.   Church

77.   Ministry of Sound

78.   Covent Garden

79.   Brixton Market

80.   Borough Market

81.   Peacock Bar

82.   Dirty Dancing and/or Shrek(West End)

83.   Read a book by a British author

84.   See a British film

85.   Eat Dim Sum in China town

86.   Jalouse Night Club

87.   Greenwich (Prime Meridian)

88.   Thames Cruise

89.   Beatles Walking Tour (Abbey road)

90.   Racine (best French restaurant in 2003)

91.   Chinatamini (Turkish)

92.   Ivy (homely British food)

93.   Carluccio’s Café

94.   Bricklayer’s Arms (oldest pub!)

95.   Brick Lane Beigel Bake (best bagels!)

96.   Shop at Top Shop

97.   Cross the London Tower Bridge

98.   Clubs: Chinawhite, FunkyBuddha, Maya, Boujis (Will and Kate’s fave!), Vendome, Café De Paris, Amika, Heyjo….

99.   See a performance at the Globe

100.Serpentine Bar

101.Primark

102.Have a bloody mary

103.Babysit!

104.Have a full English breakfast

105.Finish Julie and Julia

106. Sketch in Hyde Park

107. Stay in a hostel

108. Attend a food festival

109. Master the art of Skyping

110. Watch an episode of Eastenders (My dad's favorite show til today!)

111. Make chicken divan

112. Have bangers and mash