Hanging Stones: a symbol of power or simply a calendar?

Hello everyone!
I have had a jam-packed week, both in academics and leisure. Last weekend, I went to Leicester Square with Ashley for drinks. I indulged in some calorie rich (but inexpensive!) Pizza Hut..."slice" of heaven! On Saturday, after a fruitful day at Hyde Park and Portobello market, I spent the night playing Clue with some of the guys. Let me tell you how much fun I had! At first, I was totally CLUEless as to how to play. But with time, I caught on and quickly developed a strategy based on probability. This allowed me to win the last game! It was comical trying to break through the opaque facades of facial expressions and determine (ulterior) motives. Sunday was spent with my dad's youngest brother, Uncle Lionel and his family. It was so nice to see them after about 5 years. It was quite nostalgic because everything was the same as our trip to London in 2006. I can't believe in the time between the two visits, I had got my driver's license, graduated, and gone to college!
      Monday night was spent at DaMario's, as a sort of study break and a way to reenergize our fried brains. I finally tried the "Regina," which is pizza with proscuitto, parmesan shavings, tomatoes, and rocket. DELICIOUS. Tuesday night was really deathly in terms of hours dedicated to work. I had two presentations due: Women and Gender in Early Modern Europe and Class and Society in the UK and US. All those hours paid off because according to my Shakespeare professor, our presentation was "brilliant". Sounds good to me! In British Culture, we watched a film about the monarchy. All I have to say is that it makes sense that Prince Charles is not favored by the British people. He has said some naughty, uncouth comments in the past! The monarchy in general is imbued with secret scandal. We also saw a film called, "This is England". This really opened my eyes to the racism that was present throughout the 20th century. This cute little boy was so impressionable and as a result, joined a pseudo-cult and made some really horrible decisions. Tears rolled down my cheek when the boy and his friends assaulted a Pakistani shop owner!
      After eight hours of class, our group was ready to relieve stress and decided to go to the famous Ice Bar London. Before that, I visited Primark, which is essentially the Walmart of the UK, but with trendier clothes. I definitely exhausted the concept of retail therapy! Anyways, back to the Ice Bar....what a COOL experience! No ice was necessary for the mixed drink, as the glass was made out of ice. I probably would add that to the list of most awesome things I've ever done! After that, we danced to the Caribbean beats and rhythms of Barrio Central.

   Today, we went on a day trip to Stonehenge and Bath. I think green is certainly my favorite color...it is so refreshing and enlivening! The color green is ubiquitous in England...which is an understatement! Actually, even London is 1/3 green! Stonehenge was a spectacular site and Bath was one of the most beautiful cities I have ever.been. to.  I was sad that I couldn't rejuvenate in the hot springs; instead, they were just a relic of the past. I was surprised to learn that Jane Austen spent 18 months in Bath. Her stay was short, because Bath was too pretentious and she preferred the tranquil countryside.

    Tomorrow, I am looking forward to the Beatles tour. The Beatles are, without a doubt, one of my favorite bands....they are timeless. My family and friends: "And then while I'm away, I'll write home every day...And I'll send all my loving to you!"
LOVE, Arlene

Do the Pretty Park Rock! Hyde Park: The Plantae "Kingdom" of Disney World (Amusement "Park")

Hello mates!
   I think I just died and went to heaven! Hyde Park is undoubtedly my new favorite place in London. Today was the most perfect day with the most refreshing weather. Because it was a Saturday afternoon, the park was overflowing with people from all walks of life: little British girls who were more fashion forward than me, adorable old couples with their cream walking sandals, trendy Arabian toddlers, exhausted business women, Asian tourists, teens with roller blades and jean shorts, middle aged running men (scantily clad with SHORT shorts)...the list goes on!
   The lake is particularly beautiful. Blue paddle boats smoothly tread the cerulean water. The boats made me think of my London experience as a whole. Work with me as I attempt to make a better analogy--this time around (the lottery/UK healthcare system one was a failure!). So when one sees the blue boat, he or she instantly wants to paddle in one because of the gorgeous view and the overall fun factor. However, when that individual actually paddles in one, he or she learns it takes a lot of effort to "motor" the boat. At face value, studying abroad seems like one endless party. But in fact, it takes a lot of work. I am not on vacation, but rather living a normal life in an unfamiliar setting. I must study assiduously, budget my money wisely, overcome culture shock and homesickness, and carefully design my schedule to experience as much as possible. I hope that analogy was more apt!
    I will definitely make my last post before heading back to the "The States" a type of insider's guide to London, through my eyes. I already know that I will include Lido, The Orangery, and the Serpentine Bar as part of London's treasure coves. Dotted along the lake, Lido and the Serpentine Bar are so charming. Since coffee was the cheapest thing on the menu and I had yet to have a good 'ole cup of Joe in London, I decided that some caffeine would be my best option. The coffee was amazing! I must admit I secretly wanted a Bloody Mary...especially because I was in the land of Mary Tudor, the sadistic queen who heartlessly burned hundreds of Protestants. Also, I needed my daily dosage of vegetables! What better way to fulfill both needs than a gutsy drink! Serpentine Bar is such a gem; I can't tell you how much character this coffee shop/market/restaurant/pig roast hut has! Lastly, The Orangery is the old Greenhouse that was part of Kensington Palace. My dreams came true as I sipped on hot orange Rooibos tea and savored the warm orange scented scone with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry wine!
   Now, I hope to visit Portobello Market and then hit the gym. It is so funny that I intended to warm up in Hyde Park by jogging and ended up leisurely strolling for two hours. At one point, I got a little lost in the vast area that is Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens....but the Albert Memorial was like Bethlehem's north star for me! It's tall, embellished gold statue directed me to Royal Albert Hall...which then led me to Imperial College and home! I have already visited Camden Market...which is so unlike anything I've seen and is probably my second favorite spot in London. Last night was so much fun; I caught up with my first cousin on my Dad's side, Ashley! We had a blast sharing stories and joking around...Until next time!
Cheers! Arlene
   

Back to London!

Greetings from "South Ken"!
     Getting back to London was so physically and mentally taxing; there were about six different connections and various forms of transportation (including Arlene's weary feet) required. Now that I have expressed my frustration, I must admit the TrenItalia is a great system with really amazing prices. The Tuscan countryside outside  the huge windows made the trips worthwhile. I did meet a really cool model named Ric on the flight back to London Gatwick! We became "chummy" pretty soon and I ended up spilling the dilemmas that make up my love life (or lack thereof). He gave me some sound advice and tried to explain the complex world of "blokes".
      It feels good to be back in London. It has quickly become home for me; I am very comfortable here! After returning from Florence, I reviewed my expenses and I really need to start spending less. It is so difficult trying to take advantage of all Europe has to offer and maintaining a modest budget. In my mind, I would like to kill as many birds (metaphorically, PETA members!) with one stone...and simply put, it requires Queen Elizabeth's (pounds/quid/pence). I am trying my best to be aptly frugal by buying groceries, and cutting back on the amount I eat. Definitely, no Starbucks! I guess it is a learning process....in due time (sooner, rather than later hopefully!), I will master the art of frugal spending.
     Being completely on my own (in college, I still had my sisters only blocks away) is quite refreshing. Of course, I miss my family and friends! However, I feel that independence is necessary in order to grow. I feel like I have become more mature, responsible, and savvy in only 2 weeks! I also believe that I have become a stronger student here. I am genuinely loving all my classes and I could listen to my professors for hours! I appreciate the learning process so much more than I did last term (that is saying a lot, as I have always loved school!).
    I am so excited for this weekend as I plan to fully take advantage of London. I will be meeting up with my first cousin, Ashley (a boy's name actually!) tomorrow night and then will be eating brunch at my uncle's home on Sunday. In between, I hope to run through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, visit the Science Museum, visit Portobello Market, and Primark (a "Walmart" amidst expensive clothing stores)...I need to buy an alarm clock! I spent a solid hour researching London (as a result, I developed a headache) and especially finding out the festivities surrounding the Royal Wedding on April 29th! I think I could be part of a travel agency in another life!
    That's all for now, folks! I will let you know if I bump into Kate and Will...
One more thing to leave with you.....a typical British song that has got everyone jumping up and down at clubs, bars, and in cars! Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v8qae11_-M

Firenze, Tuscany....eating, praying, and DEFINITELY loving!

Bonjourno famiglio and amicos!
     I cannot tell you how thoroughly I have enjoyed Florence! It is such a historic city and is SO charming; the piazzas (squares), monuments, cafes, and cathedrals are so breathtaking.
      Getting to Florence was quite an adventure in itself. Word of advice to any potential Florence visitors: always fly into Pisa instead of directly into Florence because the prices are poles apart. I had planned to visit Pisa, Cinque Terra (Riomaggiore), and Florence with my pseudo-cousin, Sheila, who is currently studying at Oxford (but conveniently has a month long break!). Although we both speak English, we definitely got "lost in translation". I was supposed to meet her at La Spezia Centrale, which is close to Pisa and also to Cinque Terra, a gorgeous place to hike and admire the Italian Riviera. A familiar McDonald's was at La Spezia. I was then directed by Sheila to come to Cinque Terra; however, once I reached there I received a text saying, "I'm at McDonald's." We had essentially switched places, which means we were not in the same location! It took us a good hour to finally find each other...Sheila was patiently waiting back in "Micky D's," with her third brownie (where all those calories are distributed on her lean figure beats me!).
      We had tons of fun catching up with one another on the train to Florence. We talked about all our plans that we had solely been discussing over the interweb medium...it was so much more efficient communicating in person!
       Once in Florence, we decided to take advantage of all we could. Our hostel was such a down-to-earth place where many US and British students were staying. We were greeted with scarlet sangria and drenched apple bits. I was already in love with Florence right there and then! We then went out to the club Yab (really fun, but a bit expensive!), the Irish Pub, The Old Stone, and the more casual disco Twice. The area surrounding Piazza Santa Croce is crowded with young travelers and the Italian youth at night; it's a fabulous scene! On Sunday, we had the best gelato in Florence (according to Sheila), a lot of beef carpaccio (THE BEST STUFF ON EARTH...sorry, Snapple), and of course, PIZZA. The extra virgin olive oil, buffalo mozzerella, proscuitto tuscany, and crepe florentine are especially famous in Florence.
      On Monday, I went on a bike trip for two hours. This was so exhilarating....the cool breeze and Tuscan sun made the experience so much more memorable. I felt like I was living vicariously through Julia Robert's character in the movie, Eat, Pray, Love. In an attempt to be frugal, Sheila and I bought parmesan pesto, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, proscuitto, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar and made our own little feast. This meal was almost as splendid as the nap that followed in the park.
    All in all, Florence was a blast! Simply put, it is lovely! The people here are so wonderful as well! I don't think I ever seen such cute old people and babies (and boys....). That's all! See you soon back in "South Ken".

The Dreadful Return of MACBETH...

   Day 2 of classes proved to be even more exciting than Day 1. At first, the thought of 8 hours of class seemed daunting. I especially wasn't too keen on dissecting Shakespeare's enigmatic verses for four hours in the afternoon. However, I decided that with some help from my friend, Mr. Caffeine, I would be able to get through the day just fine.
    British Culture and Media was so fantastic! The professor was very witty and personable. We discussed many topics: the United Kingdom and the separate entities within it, the Conservatives versus the Labour Party, the meaning of racism in the United Kingdom (not always based on color), and other thought-provoking concepts. We then watched a film that outlined the changing properties of England's demographic makeup. My heart melted when the movie showed Aboriginal (indigenous Australian) children being ripped away from their loving parents and handed over to British immigrants. From this class, some facts I learned were...
1. It rains more in Paris than in London!
2. "Asians" in England are a term used for people from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh
3. East Pakistan turned into Bangladesh
4. The UK flag is mainly an integration of the Scotland and England flag
5. Today's plasma-screen TV is the British olden day's panorama of London
6. The UNITED Kingdom is not so UNITED!
      The Shakespeare class was equally intriguing....and the professor equally amusing! Our professor is a thespian, a magistrate of the Court of Justice, an author, and has a double degree (masters/PhD) in Shakespeare. You would never imagine what we did in class! We stomped on the last stress of the iambic pentameter, changed direction after every punctuation, sang our lines, whispered them, and recited them expressively as a chorus. I guess famous William is not so boring anymore!
     Today, I just finished my healthcare class. We had a great discussion/debate regarding the hot issues that are encompassed in today's U.S. and UK health systems. My classmates laughed at me for making an (not-so-apt) analogy of my professor's paid for recovery from a bad motorcycle accident to winning the lottery. My reasoning behind the analogy was that everyone pays for a lottery ticket (or taxes) and contributes to the winning ticket (free healthcare). I guess no one wants to "win" a car accident and resulting injuries!
     On the non-academic front-line, I have had so much fun exploring London. We just got back from London's #1 Comedy, 39 Steps, which was sponsored by FIE. Only four actors flawlessly took on over 50 roles! Absolutely incredible. After that, our whole group opted to eat at DaMario's, which is literally down the street from our dorm. This quaint eatery is rumored to be Princess Diana's favorite pizza!
    The last two days have been especially great because I have kept my promise to work out every chance I get. I signed up to a gym and went to two different classes: Circuit and Street Dance (both very intense, which caused me to gracefully bow out before they ended!). My favorite part has to be the sauna!! I have decided that not only will this be my time to de-stress but also make attainable goals for myself every day!
   That's it for now! Thanks for reading and I genuinely miss you all in the "States"! So stoked to go to Florence/Pisa for the weekend with SHEILA! And successfully booked Amsterdam!

First Day of Classes!

Hey everyone!

   At FIE, I am taking four classes which equate to 18 credits: Global Marketing, Shakespeare, Healthcare Policy, and British Culture and Media. It's an odd situation because I am kind of in limbo between a physical therapy major and an education one. I'm here through the CNHP school, so technically I am still a health sciences major. I tried to tailor my classes so that they satisfy the education requisites. This has worked out for the most part but one downside is that for weekend trips I have class Thursday AND Monday...most of my peers either don't have health classes Thursday or don't have marketing Monday. I'm here to learn, though...so I won't complain! 

    Classes here are approximately 4 hours! I am going to be honest; that is going to be extremely difficult to manage. I have the attention span of a ten year old, regardless of how interesting the concepts are. My first class was yesterday, March 28th, at 9 am. I have not had a class this early in a year! However, I am abroad and looking to start my day as early as possible. 

    Global marketing is an exciting class. Business is totally unfamiliar to me and I love to expose myself to new ideas and different fields. Although I will no longer be opening up a physical therapy clinic in the future, I will still be able to apply the practical aspects of marketing. Our professor is awesome! His facade is a little intimidating and he is certainly a no-nonsense type of educator. Yet, he is so experienced and qualified; he has a highly impressive resume with 11 solid jobs and 3 degrees. 

    We discussed various concepts in class. Some topics of interest include the pseudo-Mac free operating system, Ubunto. Mac lawyers will undoubtedly sue Ubunto! We also talked about the Soho up-and-coming restaurant, Inami. Inami is a fusion Japanese eatery...but here's the catch: the menu is projected onto a touch-screen table! You can use a mouse to peruse through drink and food menus. You can even see a web cam inside the kitchen! Also, our professor donned a Scottevest, which is a jacket with 18+ pockets! He can store his laptop, iPod, a 2 liter bottle, and other useful objects. Everyone was amused! Lastly, he showed us a great site called moneysavingexpert.com. In my opinion, this site trumps those of Ryan Air and Kayak. I also like Easy Jet.

   Well, that's it for now! I survived the 4 hour class and came out in one piece. That's not to say that I took a lengthy nap afterwards (which in jetlag world is taboo!). See you soon!

Just Touched Down in London Town!

Hey everyone!
      This is my first post and I am excited to type this from my dorm in South Kensington, London! I am so blessed to be in such a beautiful environment. The architecture of the homes and embassies are beautiful, the restaurants are charming, and the park is straight out of a painting! The area is an amalgamation of preppy Georgetown, fancy NYC housing near Central Park, and pretty French neighborhoods.
       I am studying at FIE (Foundation for International Education) for three months through Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions. My housing is called Metrogate and is a minute's walk from Imperial College (the "MIT" of England). Although there is no partnership between FIE and Imperial that can be likened to that of Columbia and Barnard, we still have full access to the student union. Essentially, this means that if I am looking for a brainy, sophisticated mathematician who can teach me how to (not dougie) play chess, then I can head down to the Imperial Bar and Dance Club. Additionally, I can show off my stellar badminton skills with the Badminton Club and pretend to be in Glee with the a capella groups here.
      In five days, my group and I have accomplished so much. We toured London and South Kensington, visiting Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, Westminster, The Royal Albert Hall, and other places of interest. The first thing I did when I arrived on Thursday morning was grab some fish and chips at Gloucester Arms! They are to die for! I will never ask what the fish is dipped in (beer, lard, etc.)....I believe it's better left unsaid. Word of advice: if you are struggling to pronounce the word "Gloucester Road" properly, think of the word "Foster" (the only remaining brewery in London)...they rhyme!
   That's all for now! I will post soon about my first day of classes....which was incredible!