Wales and goodbyes

I woke up today and Amy was still asleep I think that is a first for the trip since she is always the one to wake me up. I had breakfast and got cleaned up to go to Cardiff with Teresa Bell. A lot of people are hanging around Bristol today but I feel like making the most of this last day. I met Teresa at 9:00am on the corner of Redland and Cranbrook. We took the bus to the train station. The train to Wales was only £8.10 for a roundtrip ticket (pretty good deal).


When we got to Cardiff we decided to do the castle first. We took the tour of the main house which was really cool. The house was built around 1880 by a wealthy family and I have never seen such extravagance. This family had every detail covered in this house. Their dinner table had a small hole in the center so that a grape vine gould be put up through it and they could pick fresh grapes to have with their wine. It is take kind of thing that makes you go WOW. We also walked up the castle itself and took some pictures; there is still a working mote around it.

After the castle we went to the Hard Rock for lunch. I ended up buying another shot class so now I have two from Hard Rock (one from London and one from Cardiff). By now it was about 1:30pm so we decided to just walk around a little before we headed back to Bristol. The train was back by 3:45 and I was at my host house by 4pm. I still have half the day left. It is the last night with the host family so we all stayed in and had dinner. We took pictures and said our goodbyes. Amy and I met up with Teresa to walk to the smile (convenient store) to get stuff for Bus tomorrow. I was on the computer until 2:00am typing journals and playing on the internet. I really need to pack now…asleep at 3:00am.

Last day of class in Bristol

Today was our last day of class. I am going to miss the school and seeing everyone in class everyday. Time has really one by fast. I have had a really good time though. The presentations went well. Bob flubbed up a little but recovered at the end. We did not win the Champaign. I really don’t like it so I was ok with that. After class Matt came over to upload his pictures and stayed to chat. He is a really nice guy. Another life lesson I have learned on this trip is that the people who appear nice can be assholes and the people who originally seem stuck up or bitchy will surprise you. It really is true though. When I met GIRL (names have been changed to protect the annoying) in the airport I had a really good feeling about her and now I can’t stand her and Matt I thought was a stereotypical frat boy and he is probably the nicest guy on this trip.


After Matt left we got ready to head out and headed down for dinner. We ended up at Lloyds again and I didn’t stay long because I planed on getting up early and heading for Cardiff. I need my energy for the travel. I will also spend most of the day packing and spending time with the host family. Well I better go to bed it is already 1:30am.

Concord, Blue Glass, and Karaoke

6/6 Bristol (18th day)

Class was ok today although I was really tired. After lunch I woke up more and then we headed for the Concord. It used to cost $11,000 round trip from London to New York but the trip only took 3 ½ hour instead of 8. I really enjoyed the tour. Sitting in the front seats was kind of cool. Prince Charles used to sit in the seat that I sat in. I really didn’t do much the rest of the day. I typed up some more journals and went to bed around midnight.


6/7 Bristol (19th day)

Today was the second to last day of class and we went to the Bristol Blue glass place. I spent way too much money. I did get this really cool figure thingy…I know nice explanation…but I can’t think of a better one. It cost me £30. It was really interesting to see them make the glass into different items. We discussed some business issues such as shipments of packaging equipment but mostly we shopped. After we got back to UWE we all spent at least 2 hours in our groups preparing for the presentations.

I decided not to go out for the night so when I got home I just relaxed but then Ashley and Amy talked me into going to the Yates bar to Karaoke. It was so much fun…one of the best nights I have had here in Bristol. I sang Spice Girls Wannabe with Amy, Kim, Jenny Jones, and Lauren. I took video. It is so funny. Matt S and Mike V sang Build me up Buttercup. Matt sounded just like him when he screamed “WHY don’t you build me up?” and all Mike did was dance. It was such a good time and I am so glad I decided to go out.

Rome...I just cant believe I'm here!

After breakfast at the Bistro we went to the Pantheon and did some shopping. We really wanted to see the Sistine Chapel but the line was about 4-5 hours long (no joke). The biggest event of the day was the Coliseum. It was so overwhelmingly amazing inside. We had a tour so we were told all kinds of neat stories about how things were back then it always makes me wonder if they really know all the little details really happen or if they are embellishing to make the tour better??? Oh well it was fun just the same.


We checked out of the hostel about 2 and headed for the Metro and then for the bus to take us to the airport. Our flight was actually on time so I got home around 7:30 or so. It was nice to get away from Teresa because she was driving me CRAZY. Not in an I hate you way just in a being confined with you for 3 full days kind of way. I am used to being with Amy since we already room together so she did not bother me. It was also nice to see Ashley. She went to Dublin so Amy and I were able to chat with her for a while about what we all did over the weekend. It was fun.

World Trading and the Club

Same old same old as far as class and lunch go. The second half of the day we played the World Trading Game. Our group thought that we were doing well, until the other groups started announcing their money totals. We came in 4th place out of 6. We tried sabotaging other groups. The funny thing is that the only teams that we beat were the ones that we sabotaged. So we just needed to focus on the other groups as well…lol. My team consisted of Amy, Ashley, Bob, and Caitlyn. We had to make shapes and sell them to the bank but we could only use what was given to us unless we traded or bought from other groups.


After class I went shopping with some of the girls and then Amy and I came home. We all went out tonight and had a few too many…but it was really fun. The place was really busy but it was nice to get to kick back with the group.I think the club we went to was called Oceana or something.

Do you need a Bath?

I woke up this morning with a strange red patch on both of my ankles and my legs were a little swollen. My socks were tight and left a ring because of this. Daphne seems to think that bugs in the grass at Berkley got me and I was just having a reaction. I am a little freaked out but I will try to just wait it out. I hope it goes away soon. After class today we went to Bath. This is where all the old Roman Baths are (hence the name). It reminded me a lot of Greece. I will see much more in Italy but this was still impressive and cool. After the tour of the baths we walked around Bath for about an hour. We had some really good ice cream at this little side street place. The bus ride to and from Bath sucked because we were turning and stopping a lot (it upset my stomach). Amy, Ashley, and I were home by 7pm. We met up with a bunch of the group at hobgoblin and I was home and in bed by around 1:00am.

Berkley Castle and strange cheese fries

I woke up late. Class starts at 10 and I wasn’t up until 8. We have to catch the 9:26 bus to school everyday so I only had an hour before I had to leave for UWE. Today we talked about international business and globalization. It was kind of boring. Lunch was a basket of fries. It cost me £2.60 because I added cheese. The cheese was different…I expected a side of melted cheese but I got un-melted shredded cheese on my fries. It was ok but I wish I would have know that before hand. It’s just another thing that is done differently over here.


At 1:15 we caught a coach to Berkley Castle. It was really cool. It was built in the 12th century. We were allowed to take pictures of the castle which was nice because a lot of places won’t let you take pictures. We heard how a King was murdered at the castle. I forgot which one. Anyways he was a homosexual and he was playing favorites between his barons and there were people who were not too pleased by this. So one night they took him from his bed and in order to kill him without leaving a mark (evidence) on his body they used a bull horn to hold his bum open and stuck a red hot poker up his bum and burned his insides. This didn’t kill him quick enough so they smothered him to finish him off. Crazy huh?

After the tour I found my family code of arms at the gift shop and bought the post card that explained it. I also found my best friend Nicole’s so I picked that one up too. I talked to Paul about Belgium and how I should get to London on the 15th. I think I am going to buy a plane ticket. It just seems like the easiest way. I also found out that we have to feed ourselves while in Belgium (which sucks). I still need to make some last minute plans for Italy. Lots to do! I decided to sit home and type up some journals tonight while Ashley, Amy, Robert, and Audrey went out and I am headed to bed now (1:30am).

Back to Bristol!

Happy Birthday Amy! It is our final day in London and our bus leaves at 4 so we have to try to get as much in as possible. We have to meet back at the hostel at 2:30 to collect our bags from the closet (£1.5 to store each bag for the day at the hostel) and head to the bus station. To start we are going to Westminster Abby to beat the lines. Westminster was very cool. I thought it was amazing. I was much more impressed by the architecture, the history, and the statues rather than the art, but I still loved it. The Abby was located just across the street from Parliament and so when it was bombed in the 2nd world war everyone was amazed that the only damage done from the fallout was a small ole in a window about twice the size of my palm. They keep a gray colored glass piece there to remember. After that we went to the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace at around 11:30am. I will admit that I found that a little boring but at least I can say I saw it. After that we headed to Harrods to see the store and the strip of shops. Princess Diana was engaged to the owner’s son so she was a frequent shopper at Harrods. There is a special memorial in the store for her and Dody. We walked around the store for a bit and I saw a Chanel purse that had a price of £1,325 which is like $2,600.

It started out as Amy, Ashley, Allison, and I but Amy dipped out after Westminster to do her own thing so it was just the 3 of us for the rest of the time. After the shopping we stopped for lunch at McDonalds before headed back to the hostel for our bags. When we arrived at the bus station I was freaked out because Mike had bought another ticket to Bristol. He asked me to buy him one last week and I reminded him 3 times that he owed me £17 but he had the nerve to say he didn’t know who or if anyone had bought his ticket. He tried to sell back his ticket but they wouldn’t let him. I told him that I was sorry but I needed that money. He promised to give it to me tomorrow. Lets hope he does! I feel bad but it was not my fault that he is absent minded. The bus ride wasn’t too bad. I was able to sleep for almost half of it. It was only a 2 hour ride and then we took a local bus back to Zetland.

We were home by around 6:45pm. At dinner we had gifts from the family. It was a little coin purse with a sequin British flag on it. It was very sweet. We also got cards (Amy and I for our birthdays and Ashley just because). Amy wanted to go out for her birthday and we were not sure what everyone else was doing so Ashley, Amy, Robert and I went to Bishops to have a pint. Ashley and Amy had 4 so they were funny to watch. I didn’t drink much. It was fun. We played pool and hung out. We got home around 11:45 and went to bed around 1:30am.

Bus issues and the Bristol cathedral

Ashley and Amy went to school early so that they could use the computer lab. I ended up getting up at 12:00 which was a problem because I had to be to school (UWE) at 1:00pm. I was lucky to get to the bus in time for the 12:26 bus but it didn’t come. Katie and Jenny were sitting there too so I was glad I wasn’t going to be the only one late. Then when the bus came a few minutes before 1 I felt even better when I saw that Dr. Hunter was on the bus as well. I mean who can yell at you when the teacher is late too. I turned out that the bus had never made it to any of the last stops so everyone had been sitting at their stop for a while.

In class we discussed the government which was not very interesting to me but it was nice to know since we are going to parliament tomorrow. After class Ashley, Amy and I went to the centre and ventured to the Bristol cathedral. It was so beautiful. We walked around outside for a bit. Then we decided to go home for dinner. While waiting for the bus back to Zetland we saw two buses wedge themselves together. The y both thought they could fit past each other and obviously they were wrong. After dinner Amy and I went with Daphne to play badminton at a church. She plays every Thursday. It was really fun. There was an old man that Amy thought was making fun of my serving so she laughed when he served but the funny thing was that he looked at her funny and later she realized that he always did it that way. She felt bad for making fun of the old man. I thought it was hilarious especially when he gave her the evil look. We got home around 11pm and began packing for London I can’t believe I got everything into one bag. Time for bed, it’s already 1:45am.

Class and the theatre

Today we had more culture class. We watched an interesting video about a teacher that tried to teach children about racism by segregating by eye color Blue eyes vs. Brown eyes. It was very interesting to see how these kids reacted when told they were better/worse then their blue/brown eyed friends. After class I went home with Amy to get ready for the night. We were suppose to meet up with Caitlin, Amber, Kevin, and Ashley at the centre at 2pm but there was no way we were going to make that because when we got to the bus I realized that I had forgotten my bus pass at home so we had to walk all the way back. I know I suck! We didn’t get to the centre until 3pm and by then they had gone shopping without us. So Amy and I headed over to Subway to get drink and a snack (picture of me enjoying said drink and snack to the left) before the tour of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre.

Everyone met at the theatre at 4pm for the tour. It was fun! I was asked to demonstrate the wind and rain sound effect makers. I miss being in the theatre (high school) so it was neat to be back stage again. The theatre is almost 240 years old (end of May). After the tour the whole group went to Zero Degrees for dinner. Everyone got a beer and a personal pizza. Paul bought the whole meal since we were unable to eat with our host families. The total was over £350 which is like $700 to us. Mike V. had a seafood pizza and he sat across from me so I was kind of freaked out with his dead crawdad in front of me. I mean just look at that thing. Could you eat with that thing staring back at you? I think not. After dinner we went back to the theatre to see the Taming of the Shrew. I didn’t really like it too much. I thought that the interpretation of how Katrena was “tamed” was very bad. She just gave up all he viewpoints (the sun is the moon if her husband says it is). I liked the 10 Things I Hate About You version…lol. I almost forgot my brolly at the theatre. I had to have someone let me back in to the room after they locked it up so that I could get it.

Almost everyone went out to the Chicago café after the play and Teresa B wanted to go home so I decided to go home as well so that she would have to go home lone and I live really close to her. I was glad that I went because it gave me a good chance to call my friends and family without any distractions. Ashley came home before Amy and I chatted with her until Amy got home around 2am. I am going to bed now…its about 3am.

Campus Tour and my first international movie experience...

Today we had our campus tour. The campus doesn’t seem to big but it was a little confusing to get around after we were turned loose for lunch. Katie, Teresa, and I had lunch at a little café on campus. The fries (called chips in Europe) are not salted over here. I am going to loose my mind. Also, there is a pub on campus. So you can have a beer in between classes. Crazy huh?! The gift shop was not quite what I expected. It was small and there was a shortage of UWE merchandise. I guess it is not like ISU were everyone must own at least 4 University hoodies… Today after lunch we had a lecture on culture and acceptance. Some of the exercises were cool. We were given characteristics of other cultures and then asked to interact with each other. It was kind of hard not to laugh during the exercise. Another exercise involved us grouping off and deciphering Arabic Math problems. This was harder than I thought but once you caught on, it got easier. The most difficult part was seeing a number that we use in English like 0 and having it mean a different number to them and ∙ being zero.

I went home after school. A lot of people went shopping but I needed to get ready for the movie (DaVinci Code) and have dinner. Oh and we had cheesecake at dinner it was so good. It was quite expensive £5.50 for one ticket and £2.60 for a coke (no ice). They don’t really use ice over here either. The previews were really long (25 minutes) and then unlike in the U.S. after the previews they closed the curtains and turned the lights back on so that people could go buy concessions. So even though the movie was suppose to start at 8:45pm it started closer to 9:20pm. I don’t get it??? The movie was really good. Afterward Amber, Caitlin, Dan, Kevin and I walked home. The theatre was close to the centre so we decided we would walk home and it was kind of a long walk. I would never do it again either because we walked through the ghetto of Bristol. It was a little scary. I was very glad that Kevin and Dan were there because it really wasn’t a comfortable situation.

We were on our way to meet the group at Hobgoblin but when we got there it was closed so we all decided to just head home. Then by sheer coincidence we ran into the group at another pub on the way. I was glad because that meant I had someone to walk home with. Amy, Ashley, and I went home shortly after I got to the pub. It was a little after midnight. Even tough we had an early class me and Amy stayed up an talked until 2am. Needles to say I will be tired tomorrow.

Bus Tour and out first day at UWE

We had a bus tour today, of Bristol. We saw the SS Great Brittan as well as the Clifton Suspension Bridge. There were some interesting stories about the bridge that we were told by the tour guide. The first one involved a women that jumped in a suicide attempt and lived because her dress acted like an umbrella and slowed her decent. Another man decided to kill himself as well as his two young daughters after he was left by his wife. He threw the children off 1st but they were so young and they didn’t know what was going on so their bodies were really relaxed. The impact didn’t kill them and a fishing boat came by and picked them both up…the man did die. I thought that these two stories were kind of neat. We went to the school where we had a buffet (it was nasty) and we got a chance to use the internet and buy phone cards. Oh and UWE gave us shirts that are like boys 9-11 size. Chris put one on and it looked so ridicules…lol.


After class we helped Teresa book her flight to Italy with us then came home around 6pm. Ashley had headed home earlier then me and Amy. We had Spaghetti and Carbonara it was pretty good. We also had chocolate chip muffins. Robert got my laptop to work as well as my wireless internet. Ashley, Amy and I decided to go get some ice-cream and watch a movie tonight. A girls night in!! We watched Just Like Heaven. Now we are getting ready for bed. Good times!

First official day in Bristol....

I was probably asleep around 9:30pm and I slept until 11:00am this morning. I had a lot of catching up to do. Today we were dropped off at the Bristol museum for the walking tour with Dr. Hunter at 2:00pm. This was really the first time we were all meeting up since our meeting in prep for coming over here. I dont really count the zombie like state we were in yesterday as us getting together. People who have gone that long without sleep have no business communicating with anyone (or maybe thats just me) lol. Anyways, you can see a pic of most of the group to the left as we deal with the fickle rainy England weather and comence our tour.  We saw the 1st Methodist Chapel in the world (1739). It was called the John Wesley’s Chapel. Then we went to the Motte and Blaise Castle in Bristol and it was built in 1088. Then we saw the acorn with a water thingy around it which, despite my description was quite cool looking. I even thought it was worth a photo opt. (see dashing photo to the right) lol. Then we saw a church that was bombed by the Nazis. It had a memorial plaque by it. We continued our walk and saw the Llandoger Trow which was a bar that Black Beard had a pint in. Then we went to the Queen’s square. It had a statue of the King in the middle (See photo bellow) which I didn’t really understand…lol. I mean it's the Queen's square so why does that dude get a statue?? oh well I wont get into to a political debate over it hahaha.

After that we went to an area with a river (lots of boats) and saw the bar we are going to tonight (Lloyds). We also passed a place called the Chicago Café. We all thought that that was funny. Then we got lunch (I didn’t eat) at a pub along the way. It was on Park St. across from the museum where we started our tour. They had a deal on burger and beer for £2.99. I was getting a headache from caffeine withdrawal so I had to get a drink but I wish I would have gotten a burger as well. After that the group split off and we walked home. We are meeting up at 8 to head back to the bar (Lloyds) so bye for now.

Cue elevator music as I dance the night away in transition to the remainder of this entry!

I am back now and it is 2 in the morning. We met up with Matt, Mike, Katie, Shannon, Teresa, Jenny, Beth, Javier (Spain), Marlena (Italy), and Dan and caught the bus on Cheltenham Rd. to the city centre. We waited about 20 min (until 9:00pm) under the white umbrella thing by the fountain for the rest of the group. We then headed to Lloyds. We stayed there until about 11:30 then went to the Sports Café. While at Lloyds I had two pitchers of Lust (Smirnoff vodka, Anchor, & O.J.) which was so good. I also had a Geck and Lemonade which is suppose to be like Midori. The pitchers were £5.95 a piece and my drink was £2.99. It was a cool bar. The restrooms were on the third floor which was kind of a pain. At the Sports Café I had a shot and a long island for £5. It is so expensive here. The exchange rate is like $1.92 to one pound so I think I spent like $40 tonight…ouch.

Amy met up with some Irish rugby players who had just won a tournament. They were so funny especially Moses. You can see Amy, Ashley, Teresa, and I with some of the players in the picture to the left. Almost everyone played pool at the Sports Café. Those who didn’t sang and took crazy pictures all night. Shannon and Katie were really drunk and met up with some guys. We (Shannon, Katie, and the two guys) snuck into the VIP section. We were almost kicked out by Shannon worked her magic so we were able to stay.

We (Ashley, Amy, and I) left the bar with Matt S., Teresa and Mike E to catch a cab back to Zetland Rd. at around 1:30am. Bars closed at 2 so we decided to beat the rush. I really hope that Matt and Mike got home okay. They were both a little confused as to where we were when we got out of the cab. It was raining when we left the bar and it is still raining now. The weather here is really weird. It can be sunny then raining and then back to sunny in like 20 minutes time and this is everyday. Well me and Amy are sitting in our beds and I am tired now so goodbye for another day. Bus tour at 10:00am tomorrow.

Arrive in England and meet the host family!

I am in the London airport and very tired. I took some anti-anxiety medication for the plane and it didn’t put me to sleep but it did make my eyes heavy for the whole flight which was kind of annoying. I only slept for about an hour total. I watched Rumor Has It, as well as parts of Kingdom of Heaven, Cheaper by the Dozen, and Bourne Supremacy on the flight. I met Dr Hunter and Mike Edwards at the meeting place at about 7:15 am (my plane landed at around 6:30 am). Mike and I were the first to arrive this morning. Dr. Hunter has been in Germany for about 2 weeks teaching so he was waiting for our plane (and everyone else’s). It took about 4 hours after I got there for everyone to arrive. I had to get a coffee drink to help me stay awake and it still didn’t work well. I medicated myself heavily on the way here in an attempt to sleep through the long flight and I ended up passing out on the floor of the airport after I get here. Go figure. at least I wasn't alone I was passed out along with some other people while we waited for the whole group so I was not the only person who looked like a homeless person sleeping on the floor in a heap. We left for Bristol around noon by bus. It was a two hour bus ride which I slept all the way through. Again, why could I have slept more on the plane??? Grrrr! We did stop half way for a bite to eat. I had Burger King. It was a little reassuring to see that England had a Burger King. For those of you who do not know we that well I am a very picky eater and I am thoroughly worried about how I can survive for a month overseas.

I am rooming with Amy and Ashley in Bristol. We met our host mom at the Downs around 3:00 pm. We were an hour early which was nice. Our host mom is Daphne Addis (pictured second from left). Her husband is Jerry (pictured second from right) and her 29 year old son who lives here is Robert (far right). I forgot the other brother's name. Maybe it will come to me later. Everyone is really nice, not that I expected them to walk up and say, "Why hello there Anne. Can I show you to your crawl space you will be staying in. Oh and don't worry we will push your food under the door at 7pm and nightly beatings are at 8pm sharp." I know I have a strange sense of humor.

Ashley wanted the single room so Amy and I are rooming together. We have our own beds and I really neat window that opens out to the back yard and you can sit on the ledge and look out onto the yards (our room is on the 4th floor - see picture of Amy in the window to the right). Amy and I decided to explore a little despite how tired we were. Ashley opted not to go which was weird because it was technically her idea. Anyways…we got back around 7:00 pm (we had left around 5:00 pm). Amy and I took a quick hour long nap before supper. Dinner was surprisingly good. Once again this makes me sound snotty but like I said I am genuinely concerned about eating the food here. Chicken w/gravy, garlic potatoes, and veggies were served and clementines were given as a desert. It was at dinner that I found out that Audrey from France was also living with the Addis’s as an exchange student. Only she has been there since September and will be leaving this July sometime. She seems nice, not that we talked much, but that's probably more due to my zombie like state then either of our conversation skills.

Ashley fried her hair straighter so I am scared to plug in my stuff (especially my laptop). We thought about going out but decided that we wanted to sleep more so we were in bed by like 10:00 or 10:30 pm and I slept past 11:00 am. I really needed the catch-up.