Hey World!

So. I have been here more than a month now, and things are going great. Just busy like always. I went down to Oxford last weekend and it was absolutely beautiful. Ill put up pictures at a later date. My laptop is currently not my friend and is having some technical difficulties. But Oxford was great just really cold, i will be more than ready for beach weather once June comes around haha. This week Im going to a concert at a local pub called the fighting cocks, so that should be a lot of fun I think. The next few weeks are going to be pretty busy for me, I have a lot of schoolwork due so Ill be pretty M.I.A. But I also went to the National Theatre last week to see the play the Pitmen Painters. It was about miners who decide to take an art class during the Depression in England and end up finding that art is their passion. It was pretty good I have to say. Other than that, I have just been hanging out really, nothing to exciting to talk about really haha. Very excited about Ireland in a month with the family and my friend Jen and I are planning on a trip to Italy in May. so things are great!

Things London is Lame About

Ha, so here is my post where I will complain haha.

okay so when your going to the airport and need to put all your liquids in the clear quart size bag...i never have thought of this as a huge problem. so when I went to the grocery store the other day when i was packing, I was shocked! No ziploc bags...none .....only self sealing bags! what kind of nonsense is that! come on england catch up...ziplocs are the only way to go.

then. hot sauce...
as most know. i put hot sauce on everything. which is frustrating when you go to the section where its at and you only have one option to choose from.......
Thank god it was a brand I know... but no Tabasco was seen....no Texas Pete...nada.
They did have... I think its called Franks Red Hot.. but what a random brand to have all the way over here


Ranch dressing.
there is seriously none of it here. I found oneeee at the grocery store...and it is the more expensive kinds too.... but i mean girl needs ranch dressing... there was really no other choice.

Frozen Pizza...

basically.... they need improvement i have tried about 7 brands..and they all are lacking.

Dublin and Other Things I Have Slacked On

Sorry for the slacking, but I have just been so busy. Things have been good. School is hectic but great, my classes are really interesting. Life otherwise has been great. I've been fighting a cold for abou a week now, so thats been lame but more about that later. Hmm

well Im trying to think of what I need to update you on. I went to Houses of Parliament about two weeks ago which was so awesome, but we had a pretty lame tour guide. But the building itself was completely gorgeous and the paintings and such were stunning. After that we went to this place called Nando's for lunch where I had the spiciest chicken sandwich I have ever eaten...seriously painful. Afterwards we did a tour of the Globe Theatre. The Globe was beautiful and I really enjoyed it. Apparently they're putting on ROmeo and Juliet this spring so hopefully I can get to that. The next day was Valentines, and my friends and I went into London again and went to the Natural History museum. After we went and got Indian food at this restaurant, absolutely amazing. Afterwards, we headed back to Kingston where we got dressed up and went and got dessert and wine at our favorite pub to celebrate. We all ended up home pretty early because we were pretty exhausted from the day. Last week was mostly excitement for Dublin. But my Dublin trip was slightly disturbed from my plaguelike cold. I did get to enjoy a 3 hour walking tour and then a little walking around on Sunday but for the most part I was holed up in my bed in the hostel. By the way, Avalon House is a lovely hostel if your ever in Dublin. But Dublin was beautiful, I wish I had been feeling better so I could have really enjoyed it! But hope you are all doing well, Im off to write a paper.

First Day Of School

So after two days of snow festivities we finally had to start classes. My first class was called Focus on Britain. A kind of sociology class that focuses on British culture and the British way of life. I had my giant lecture first, which was then followed by a smaller seminar meeting. The seminar was only about 15 people which made it more personal I suppose. Then I had my British Life and Culture class which is what all study abroad students take. Afterwards we went home. So all in all i would have to say my first day was a success. Last night we decided to go out to celebrate the first day of classes. We went to this pub the Kings Tun first which was pretty nice. And then we all followed to Oceana a nightclub right across the street. My friends and I actually got in VIP which was pretty sweet if you ask me haha. Each level of Oceana was a different theme with different types of music. A really fun place to go actually. And it was fun hearing songs from like 5 years ago. They even played Fresh Prince of Bel-Air at one point. Today I relaxed and ate. Then went out with my friend Anna into Town Centre shopping. I just got a pair of earrings, gloves and socks. Pretty practical if you ask me. I booked a flight to Dublin today!! My whole group of friends and I are going on Feb 19th. so it should be a blast!!

First Week Down

Hey! Sorry Im no good at updating this thing, I have just been so busy <3.>

Well Saturday was the Brighton trip. It was so beautiful, I loved it. It was so eclectic and vibrant. But very very cold, I don't think I have ever been that cold in my life. But it was still a lot of fun. We went to the Royal Pavillion and got a tour around the Palace which was so gorgeous. There was a lot of asian focus and dragons and things of that sort. They even had Queen Victorias toliet out on display...which I kind of thought was unnecessary haha. I couldn't take any pictures in the pavillion so must of mine are from the outside. For lunch my friend Anna and Val and I went and got indian food. We went to an indian buffet it was about 5 pounds for all you can eat. And it was well worth it. I love curry and everything else they had. It was delicious. Later that night we went to a few of the pubs and had a good bit of fun with that. Sunday was the traditional Sunday lunch at the Bishop out of residence in Kingston. I had roast beef, potatos, greens and this pastry thing. After that I had bread and butter pudding which I surprisingly loved unlike some of the others. After lunch we went shopping for a few things and then it started to snow so must of us stayed in for the night. That night, London had its biggest snowfall in about 18 years, it was absolutely gorgeous! I only have classes on Wednesday and Friday but all of my other friends had their classes cancelled yesterday and today which has been pretty fun. But what we didn't realize yesterday was that all of the buses stopped running so we were all stranded at our various lodgings. The buses started running again around 6 last night so we all decided to go get some food and get out of our houses for a while. My friends Anna, Carolyn, Kaitlin and I took our first bus ride into Surbiton a town right outside Kingston where many of the other study abroad kids live. We ate at the Coronation Hall Pub and then went home. Today we went to Wagamamas...kind of like a Stir Crazy, and that was delicious. I think were gonna go see Revolutionary Road tonight since we will be having school tomorrow haha. O and they have these amazing things here that are hot milkshakes. This place shakeaway has like 99 different flavors of milkshakes like tic-tac, starburst, chocolate chip coke, chocolate muffin anything you can think of and they serve them all hot. Most amazing thing I have ever eaten. Im a little obsessed. But love and miss you all!!

London so far

Sorry its taken a while for me to update this, I have just been really busy these past few days getting situated. This place is amazing so far, I have loved every second of it, and I am so glad that I decided to come. I have already made a number of new friends and have been going out to local pubs and things of that sort. The people are so nice and welcoming, I got myself lost walking around Kingston for three hours the other day and everyone was so helpful. I have a feeling I will lose about 10 pounds while I am here, because of the massive amounts of walking that I am doing. The campus is about a 30 minute walk from my house, and so are most of the things in the town. I guess I will be making up on physical activity that I have been slacking on these past twenty years. I can't say I am the biggest fan of the food so far, although I am pretty obsessed with fish and chips at the moment. I am surprised about the amount of American influence there is over here, I didn't really expect to see a KFC within twenty minutes of getting off the plane on Tuesday. My jetlag wasn't too awful, I have been trying to get enough sleep but it will probably hit me in a few days. I got my schedule yesterday, and Im taking Focus on Britain, British Life and Culture and Beyond Subcultures and am going to classes on Wednesday and Friday...which is a pretty sweet schedule if you ask me! Yesterday orientation was from about 9 till 6 last night, and no real break for food. Unless you consider a cheese & coleslaw sandwich food....I do not. We went to the Slug & Lettuce for our welcome reception where the international office ordered appetizers and drinks for us all. We all then migrated to the Ram (local pub) which was too crowded so we moved to the Kingston Mill. Today we had our tour of Central London, which was UNBELIEVABLE! It was so amazingly gorgeous, although I found out today that I can never marry a prince...which kind of cramped my mood haha. Afterward we went to a pub and got some fish and chips and drinks. I must say my friend Anna and I were pretty savvy with the underground and train today. I am pretty impressed with myself. Tomorrow is our trip to Brighton which Im sure will be amazing much love!!

XXXXXXXXX

Maggie

ATL Airport

So Im sitting in the Atlanta airport right now, and honestly just so exhausted. My flights in about 2 hours or so. Then I will be sleeping until I arrive in England! I already miss everyone so much but know I am about to have so much fun :-)