Pride Rock

2 more days in wonderful England. I've decided I like the north a bit better, after having experienced both Ireland and now Scottland. The 6 1/2 hour train ride to/back from Scottland was quite the experience. I couldn't help thinking that for such an amount of time I could've been to California from Mesa, or to the states from Gatwick airport. It sure is silly how time is always relative to something else. Now, time is going by so slowly yet too fast at the same time. I'm so ready to come home yet am dreading it and think I may hide my suitcase to prohibit packing. I've layed on the prohibited Christ Church grass, I've been exploring around Oxford, I've conqurered numerous cities, I've stood in 2 hemispheres at the same time, I've rode on a double decker bus, I've matress surfed in an Oxford establishment, I've been on a pub crawl, I've almost been hit by crazy busses numerous times, I did not set foot in one American store/food place the whole time I've been here, I've climbed to the highest point in Scottland (840ish ft) and seen the city below and the North sea look so so small, I've learned to love tea, I've become fully British. I can only think of a small handful of tense/bad moments on this trip. The rest have been either ridiculous and incredible, or I've been laughing so much my face hurts. The dynamics with the people on the trip will be sorely missed, especially because we have had the best time with each other and getting to know each other. I wish America had trains like Europe does. I was so productive on the train. I need a train to circle the outskirts of Waco (or Baylor) (kind of like a Christmas tree) that I can get on, have complimentary biscuits and diet coke, and get all my schoolwork done there. Yes, that would be wonderful.

Bailey's is Bliss

I realize I've been a bit lax on the update front, but thats because I've been quite busy discovering the finer things in Oxford (like Moo Moo milkshakes) and flying sketchy Euro airlines. Please accept my sincerest apologies.

I LOVE IRELAND.

This past weekend was incredible. Absolutely stunning. The 5 of us started our 4 day weekend by pilgrimage-ing to Worcester on Thursday, with our one backpack carry on in tow. Worcester is a charming town with matching red brick buildings and greenery (kind of like Baylor on a larger and more British scale) and the main walkway is very lovely. There was a man selling large bubbles that floated up to the sky. Why this is important, I don't really know, but it seemed to fit a city with my namesake. Anyways, I was slightly obnoxious (though in my defense I warned my friends ahead of time and they agreed) and took pictures next to every sign that said Worcester that I could find. I spent some time in the Royal Worcester factory shops (after getting mildly lost- a 'detour around my fine city') and learned how to travel with only a backpack and pieces of china bubble wrapped around my clothes. I told the ladies at Royal Worcester that my last name was Worcester and that I was on a mini pilgrimage and that I was buying Holly Ribbons for my parents and I thought I was so cool, though they didn't share the same enthusiasm. Apparently lots of Americans with the name Worcester show up with the same story...bummer.

After a sufficient afternoon in the land of my namesake (which, by the way, is the only British town I've run across to sell Bueno bars- +1 for Worcester) we headed to Bristol, where we were staying the night in a youth (?) hostel. We enjoyed a lovely meal next to the river in Bristol and took fun pictures with statues. Bristol is quite lovely. The one not lovely part about Bristol was the creepy (not youth) lady staying in the (not youth) hostel room with us. She had her underwear hanging up (hopefully to dry) and when we walked in at 11 that night, we at first couldn't tell if she was male or female. She snorred odly and I was a bit freaked out and the room was so hot, I'm pretty sure I slept maybe 45 minutes that night. When our alarm went off at 5 am, I was quite relieved. We then headed to the airport and boarded the sketchiest airline I've ever ridden- RyanAir. The entire line is bright blue and yellow and the seats are dirt cheap. They don't even put pockets on the backs of the seats and the safety card is posted on the seat in front of you. They fly under the radar, and as our amazing cab driver in Ireland told us, when the radar tower broke last week and no airline flew, RyanAir still managed to get everyone to their destination on time. They play a loud trumpet noise post-landing to inform everyone that indeed, they are safe and on time at their new destination. Ohhhh RyanAir.

We made it to Dublin and wandered around the city for some time. I love the Irish; they are so laid back and relaxed and really friendly. They are the Texans of Europe. Dublin, though a bustling city like so many in Europe, also has a very easy going feel to it. It is not pretentious like Paris and doesn't try too hard to be beautiful (again, like Paris) nor does it evoke busy gray like London. We discovered Bailey's Irish cream and Irish coffee, and sat in a pub listening to U2 and drinking irish coffee and ciders. ahhh, the Irish life. The second day we were there we rode the DART (which is all green- happy happy Irish people) to a small fishing port town about 20 minutes outside Dublin called Hawth (Hoe-fth). The town itself was miraculous and the best port town and harbor I've ever seen. We took a ferry to the Eye of Ireland, which is an island located a short ferry ride off the coast. On the island we explored and climbed to the top of the giant rock hills. From the very top the wind was whistling past me, I could see ocean on all sides and beautiful sail boats embedded against the water, the seagulls squacked overhead, and the island itself was green and filled with beautiful Irish countryside. The moment I shared on top of the Eye of Ireland was quite possibly the most pleasant, most invigorating moment of my life. I laid down and closed my eyes on the rocks and just listened to the nature sounds around me. Ladybugs crawled on my legs and the sun beat down just right, and I decided that Hawth, Ireland is one of my top 3 favorite places in the world. (Don't ask me what the other 2 are- it just seemed too concrete to call Hawth my absolute favorite, seeing as how I'm only 20 and have a lot of the world to still see).

The rest of Ireland was magical- we spent a bit more time in Dublin, went to a writer's museum, and drank more Irish coffee. There is such a great vibe in Ireland. Really, with such gorgeous surroundings, it is a wonder someone could NOT be inspired creatively by living there. Its no wonder the Irish churmed out quite possibly the best poets and writers of the 19th and 20th centuries (Yeats, Wilde, Shaw, Swift, among others) We returned to Oxford mid-day Sunday, all slightly relunctant to leave our new love- Ireland.

Cheap Couture

I LOVE OXFORD.
the end. Thats pretty much all there is to it. I mean, there is plenty more and a whirlwind of details, but life at Oxford is pretty much amazing. The past week has consisted of waking up for breakfast in the great hall, then hanging out/getting ready/reading and such, then class, then a brief lunch (there is a croissantery across the gate that is wonderful and cheap) and then doing whatever we feel like. We went on a Christ Church tour the first day and saw the secret garden where Alice played and peeked through her door, as well as the old Oxford library with Chaucer originals. Did you know Christ Church has the best and biggest private art collection, including Rafael, Michaelangelo, and Renoir?? I have yet to see it, but it is definitely on my list. It is so amazing bypassing the tourists that can only go on certain parts of the walk, and I saunter right by and walk through the quad. The second day here we had an Inklings walk tour, where we saw a bit more of Oxford and the places Tolkein and Lewis lived, got married, taught, etc... I've also been to their favorite pub, the Eagle and Child (or the Bird and the Babe, as they called it) and really really like Strongbow, an English cider that tastes a lot like champagne and beer combined (because, well, thats really all it is).

This weekend we're planning on taking a few day trips, though the possibilities are endless and it is hard to narrow down the choices! The frontrunners are Swansea in Wales, Stratford upon Avon, Bath, and back to London. Next weekend I'm terribly excited about, as we've planned a trip to Ireland and leave next Thursday night (1 week from today). I just love Oxford though. It is the best things about London condensed into a small friendly town. Christ Church is at the center of the commotion, and while there are busy pedestrian streets surrounding the college, when we're in the big Tom gate it is hard to imagine there being a real world at all outside the gate. It is really fun coming back at night after the gate has been closed- we have a little card that we swipe and it opens a little door embedded in the large gate. It is so secretive and cool. The dinners are absolutely incredible as well. Christ Church has this habit of serving me something I thought I didn't like only to discover it is in fact the best food I've ever tried. This has happened with smoked salmon, lemon merrange, which they're famous for (sp?), duck (which, this wasn't amazing but better than I thought it would be), guinea fowl, and tomato pepper soup. We also had a mango avacado salad one night that consisted of half a mango and half a avacado straight up, and it was delicious. I could definitely get used to this life.

Pain au Chocolat

Paris is wonderful. Its absolutely wonderful, there is no other way to describe it. Ok, well maybe whimsical and charming work too, but the city is vibrant and cultured and full of life. I enjoyed the eurostar ride to France (they don't tell you about the ear popping and head pounding while in the English channel- they should) and especially enjoyed the 3 hour coach tour we had around Paris. It gave me a better idea of the circular city and helped see all the major sites right off the bat. I fulfilled a goal right away and after checking into our hotel, I walked down the Champs d' Elise and bought a red leather handbag that is absolutely amazing and was 50% off and I love! (for those of you who know my obsession with red leather, you can feel the excitement oozing through the keyboard). While the weather was rainy and cold in London, Paris was slightly breezy and somewhat clouded with a few showers, but most of the time it was gorgeous. My favorite part of Paris was the d' Orsay impressionist museum. I had been looking forward to going there all weekend, and it did not dissapoint. I especially liked two Renoir paintings and the Monets were quite fabulous. The Lourve was also amazing; it was so grandeur one could argue it was over the top. I was under prepared for the Mona Lisa and in doing so was pleasantly surprised. The crowds were not as bad as they could've been, and I got to stand as close as possible (which is behind the curtain behind the glass case behind the glass over the painting behind the frame. security much?) and I studied her for a while, only to finally decide she looked demure and there was a tired wilt in her eyes. I've heard she expresses the emotion one feels when they look at her, and if that is the case, then she was definitely tired! One of the days we got up and went out of the city a bit to Chartres, which is a darling little town housing the world's greatest gothic cathedral. Chartres Cathedral was incredible- definitely one of my favorites in Europe so far. It was extremely dark and cold within the gray Medieval cathedral, though the contrasting blue stained glass rose pannels shone brightly into the building. Such a contrast really illuminated the idea of light and purity and the place had a humble (if you can call any cathedral humble) and satisfied presence. After the most amazing eclair I've ever eaten in my entire life, we left Chartres and a small group of us ventured off to Versailles. It was such a contrast to go from a place glorifying God for thousands of years, to a place that is epitomized by human grandeur. 'For the glory of France' was engraved on the side, and though the gardens were wonderful and fresh, the entire compound was soooo extravagant. Geesh, no wonder Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI were so out of touch- they lived practially in an island of wealth. From Versailles we were exhausted, but pressed on to the lourve once we got back to the city. It was worth it, and we saw a lot of sites in 3 French cities that one day. The next day consisted of a philosophy walking tour through the left bank (I took my picture with Voltaire's grave!) and a visit to the D' Orsay, as well as a visit to the Sacre Couer, which means the 'sacred heart'. This church is built on a hill overlooking the city and was built after the Franco Prussian war to glorify the sacred heart of Jesus. The view was great, and we ate a great 3 course meal in artist's square before opting for a taxi (wise choice- we were freakishly near the red light district nearing dark) ride back to the hotel.

YAY Paris. I have a new appreciation for the French. Before I didn't have a great opinion because thinking politically, they tend to make the international communities' job a bit more difficult. After being there experiencing the city, however, it really made me appreciate the French's strong history and background. They've earned their lourve and in some ways their Versailles. So I say let them eat cake! (and eat it too).

London Calling...

LONDON.

I had an absolutely fabulous day 1. After landing with a smooth plane ride and a few hiccups at the airport, I found my way to join the rest of the group, and we went around town a bit and walked through Hyde park, which is incredible and so peaceful. I had some nice nature moments. We played with the swans. They're quite tame, actually. I then had an amazing dinner complete with strawberry beer (it was incredible.) at a genuine English pub, and then had fun walking back to the dorms as it got dark. Today was incredibly full- Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace (where I discovered British Police have the best accents yet), and St. Paul's Cathedral. St. Paul's was definitely the highlight for me; we climbed hundreds of stairs to the very top of the dome and walked out on a railing looking out over London. It was magnificent, the air was so crisp and cool and all of London looked so majestic. After that we went to the Tate Modern Art Museum and my favorite part was the Russian/USSR Propaganda poster room. I stayed far too long reading the posters and almost lost my group at closing time. The Globe theater and 'A Midsumer's Night's Dream' was next, and the Globe was much more relaxed than I thought it would be. Tomorrow we do more London, the Canterbury, then Paris, then Oxford! Oh how wonderful it is here. I get shivers when I see awesome and pretty sights, and while I'm excited for Paris, the thought of discovering the English countryside is so so alluring.

Casualties:
1 almost lost Metro Tube pass
1 umbrella
1 almost burnt/exploded mini hairdryer (which I saved just in time)

So long from Britain for now!

The Clone Tool

This summer I've learned a number of important things about myself.
I've learned:

1. that stuffing envelopes gives me many paper cuts
2. that I secretly like cutting fabric with a hot gun thing
3. that I can't cut the fabric for more than 2 hours at a time, or else my hands burn
4. that I am now a youtube star (or victim, depending on your point of view). (search 'Carry On Display 9x8 ft.' if you're so inclined.)
5. that I have mastered the art of cropping camp photos
6. ...and that the photoshop 'clone' tool is great for editing scandalous junior high cleavage

I've also learned:
6. that I enjoy camp photos. As fast as I go through invoicing and editing the various groups, I take a moment to stop and look at the faces smiling at me from the monitor screen. I see pictures from camps located all over the country on a daily basis, and it is fun to think of all the summer camps occuring at this very moment, in their pockets of forest, all over the world. I often feel as if I'm an intrudor to the camp; the kids are happy (some, however, are not. faces are funny.) and committed to their own little camp world for a week, and I spend mere seconds (usually longer. the longest was 31/2 hours) cropping, saving, and wondering what the dynamics are between the counselors, kids, and overall camp atmosphere. So far this summer the joy of vacation has become my business, my job.

However, the joy of vacation is about to become my job in a different way. In 5 days I'm headed for Oxford, and for the vacation/adventure of a lifetime! I've pledged to hold nothing back; I plan to enjoy every sight, sound, grimy subway seat, beautiful garden, and magestic view to the fullest, to experience it in the company of friends to be, and to immerse myself in the studies of great British philosophers and political theorists of the past. Realizing I am blessed beyond belief to get to have these experiences, I will make the most of every opportunity that comes my way. I may even skip jauntily down some cobblestone streets.