The Ending of Our Tale

I'm sitting in the Heathrow airport, fighting off yawns and boredom, wondering how in the world I ended up where I am. I mean that in the sense of time, of course, because it has flown by once again. Three months ago I was on my way to the airport to go to London and now I'm going home. I have an hour before my flight and I feel myself reminiscing over the past three months.
I'm starting to realize the things that I'll miss. Things like the countryside, the constant adventures, the ability to get around without a car. Things like Cadbury chocolate, Scottish shortbread cookies, Nandos, and healthy food without the cost. I'll miss the people I've become good friends with on this trip. Thankfully most of them are heading back to Texas with me but the sweet staff at the Pickwick and the cool British professors will always be on my heart. Although you could never convince me to live in London, I am so grateful for the opportunity to come here.

I'm also realizing that I've changed over the course of this semester, whether for good or bad I don't know. I feel older, stronger, more sure of myself and what I want somehow. It's been a life changing experience.

We are about to board now and I have said my goodbyes to London, to England, to British accents, to plays every week, and all the adventures in between. All I have left to say is...

Cheers

Procrastination, Thy Name is Study Abroad

Let's be real honest, we've all procrastinated on one thing or another, whether it be homework, studying, or some other impending deadline. It's almost gut instinct to ignore it until the pile of unfinished work piles high and turns into a terrifying monster. At that point, the choice is simple; surrender to its sharpened pencil teeth and suffocating paper hands or pretend it doesn't exist, ignoring the growling in the background or how the shadow seems to be increasing in size. Don't look at me like that. You know that it's true. Perhaps not in the literal sense, but the feeling of looming doom is real enough.

Being in London makes it even easier to ignore the monster of 'forgotten' homework and assignments. Perhaps it is the atmosphere or my own nature. I like to blame it all on London, I mean, it's not like I would ever procrastinate on something as important as my London classes naturally. If you think about it, if I wasn't in London right now, I wouldn't have started blog and I wouldn't be writing this instead of doing something productive such as studying for those dreadful finals. I shouldn't blame it all on London though, I am sure that this is the case with every study abroad program. There are a million different experiences waiting in the city, after all, you came for the experience, right? For example, why write a paper on, say, the British Museum when you can go and see everything yourself? This type of reasoning refuses to be silenced when the world seems to be at your feet. New places to explore means less time to be studious.

As my time here is running out, this feels more and more true. Yes, I have three finals and a presentation I need to work on, but I have less than a week left! I have to make sure I seen all that I can see, do all that I can do, and, of course, buy all those knick knacks I promised to buy. This weekend and I'm sure the following week will be a struggle between the desire for fun and the desire to be a good student. With some luck, I will beat the monster lurking behind my shoulder waiting to pounce and still enjoy my time here. It requires balance and focus and less time on the Internet writing blogs...

http://elifairtoo.wordpress.com/

The Countdown Commences...Again

I'm back in those single digit days as I was three months ago. But instead of heading into a foreign country bristling with new adventures, I am heading home. I have enjoyed my time spent in London but the prospect of home warms the heart in a way that no other place could. I'm sure that there will be things I miss here but that is for months down the road, when the feeling of home has been replaced by boredom or busy work. Now is a time to remember everything I longed for back home. My family, my friends, those breathtaking Texas sunsets and so much more. In as little as nine days I will be hitting American soil, breathing in that sweltering heat that England can only imagine. Granted, I may melt into a pile of goo, having been spoiled by the cool weather here, but I will attempt to enjoy it as much as possible (at least, that's what I'm telling myself ;)). In the nine days left I am attempting to do as much as possible. Going to get last minute souvenirs and presents for friends and family, visiting places I promised I would go to and seeing the sights one last time. Of course, amidst this frantic last minute tourist stops I still need to study...and pack....but those can always wait, right?

The Final Days

Day 6

After having a free day in the Scottish countryside, everyone was reluctant to get back on the bus, but we had incentives. The first being that while our other bus was being fixed, a new bigger bus was provided. The extra leg room was quite appealing. The second incentive was the promise of another free day, this time in the Lake District. We would be there by the end of the day, I could hardly contain my excitement. Even the places we stopped along the way were beginning to frustrate me. We stopped at the Stirling and Wallace Memorial. I had no clue as to the history behind it (something to do with Brave Heart?) but I dutifully climbed up to take pictures of the huge looming tower and the surrounding countryside, then hurried back down. I felt a pang of regret, realizing it would be my last stop in Scotland, but i quickly covered it with excitement as the bus drove away.

We made a stop at Hadrian's Wall before we got there, but the information center was closed and there was no way to look at the roman fort ruins. We settled with the wall next to the road and the pasture full of sheep. It was nice to stretch our legs, grab some ice cream and chat with the locals. Apparently they were in the off season. If our coach tour had been next week, a lot more people would be about and a lot more things would be opened. We didn't mind and head back on the bus. Finally, after what seemed like forever, we reached our destination. The Lake District. While the hostel we were at wasn't the best accommodations, it was right on the lake and we had arrived just in time to eat dinner while watching the sunset. That view in itself made the interminable hours on the road almost worth it.

Day 7

After a not so great night's sleep on what appeared to be a block of foam posing as a mattress, we all got up to go to Dove Cottage, Wordsworth's home. It was small, and the tour was informative, but I was more eager about the subject of Wordsworth's poems, the land around us, rather than his house. I enjoyed my time there, wandered about the small garden, got a souvenir and the moment we were released, I literally headed for the hills. We knew there was a waterfall near the town so a group of us followed the signs towards it. Our climb wasn't in vain as we soon found the waterfall. It was gorgeous and I found myself taking the less traveled paths to get better glimpses at it. Still, there was something off about it. Whenever I pictured the Lake District, I find myself in a remote area, roaming the woods to my heart's desire, not following behind a nice couple and their kids (although they did give us advice on where to take pictures). With obvious reluctance and in need of water, we headed back to town.

I couldn't sit still despite having hiked and walked all morning and part of the afternoon. After about an hour, my friend and I were back outside, finding a new trail to explore. Unlike the morning, we had no idea what we were going towards and it was just the two of us. In other words, I was loving it. We climbed steadily upwards and I was hoping that we would come to the top and get to see the lake we were on and the surrounding areas. It kept me going as the walk got steeper and more treacherous with loose rocks. It wasn't in vain though. About a half hour later, we found a rock formation and it felt like I was on top of the world. The place we had come to had a clear view overlooking the lake and the shore around it. It was peaceful and quiet, too far from the road and busy town below us that the noises didn't carry to us.  The two of us sat down, happy for our excursion and break from the insanity of life, had some cookies and just enjoyed the view. We barely talked as we lounged on the rock, enjoying the sunshine and cool breeze. I could have stayed there for hours watching the sun set over the hills, but as it was, we promised to be back by dinner and neither of us wanted to try and find our way back in the dark. With obvious reluctance, we tore ourselves away from the quiet spot. It was the perfect way to end my adventures in the Lake District.

Day 8

With our coach tour coming to an end, and our original bus returned to us, we clambered back on for another day of driving. Our final stop was Caernarfon, Wales. I was eager for Wales, but I wanted to see the Cardiff side of Wales...you know, the place where they may or may not be filming for the next season of Doctor Who....Anyways, much to my disappointment, we wouldn't be stopping anywhere near there. Much of the day was uneventful as we were driving the whole time. We did stop in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. If you want to know how to say it, google it or visit yourself, because I hear it every time and every time I wonder where in the world they got those sounds for those letters. Other than that, we settled into our hostel nicely, greeted warmly by the staff and led to warm beds and peaceful slumber.

Day 9

Our last day was cloudy and cold. We met our guide at the hostel as we loaded up our stuff, picked up our packed lunches, thanked the staff numerous times and set off on our tour. The town was small and we learned a lot about the Welsh and their culture. It made me want to learn Welsh, just because it looked and sounded cool. The castle was nice, it once held thousands of people as Prince Charles was crowned prince of Wales. Not sure how the locals felt about that, but it must have been a nice ceremony. I had trouble connecting to the place, feeling as if we were just counting the hours before we left for London. We eventually did after lunch. With a combination of entertainment by Steve the Pirate, a kid's game where you stuck swords in a barrel making Steve pop out, and exhaustion, the trip went quickly. All too soon we were surrounded by the city and its noise, not quite prepared for the final days in London and the finals in our classes.

That's the majority of it, though I'm sure I forgot a lot already. It was a great trip, especially when we could escape the stress and the rigid schedule. I know that while I may miss London when I go home, I will miss all the quiet secluded place we have found and taken rest in even more so.

"And it Goes On and On and On..."

And the daily log of the coach tour continues...

Day 3
Sunday morning was another bright day and after a service at the local church, we took another day to drive to Edinburgh. It was rather uneventful day. Miles and miles of driving to stay on schedule. All the hours on the bus seem to blur together, so I am not too sure of what happened on which day. Eventually, we arrived at our destination. Tired and frustrated after  long day, we hung out at the hotel, unable to go anywhere else without taking a thirty minute walk.

Day 4
Another bright day, another tour. This day consisted of seeing all of Edinburgh in a few short hours. We hopped on our trusty bus and drove around. Our tour guide was a cheery Scot in a kilt. What more could you ask for? He told us all about the history of Scotland and Edinburgh while yelling at random strangers in the street all in good humor. He left us at the castle, which was filled with groups like ours, taking pictures, being good tourists. It was a different atmosphere than Kenilworth castle, which was practically empty. My friend and I found we didn't particularly enjoy it so we left the castle to explore the town around it, promising to return at the appointed time for the bus. We set off, exploring the shops, getting lost in the crowd and enjoying the busy atmosphere, but as the canon went off to signal one o' clock, we were back on the bus, for a loooooong drive.

The drive consisted of several stops, but it wasn't enough to shake the feeling of being stuck, cramped and bored. It also didn't help that we were taking the long way to get to Glencoe, the next stop on our tour. We went the scenic route, going way up north to Inverness and back down the Loch Ness. It was as beautiful as it was before, but this time felt different. The lake was pristine, the surrounding areas deserted, but this time it was not just me and my friend. This time we were accompanied by our fellow classmates and Londoners. Their cries and shouts and laughter echoed through the quiet terrain, keeping me from finding the peace I found before. I still enjoyed it, and would gladly go back again and again, but if anyone asked me what would be best when visiting Scotland, my answer would be to take one or two people or find a place where everyone can split off, so you can enjoy how truly empty it is there.

Our journey was just beginning after we got back on the bus after a break along the shore. We still had a few hours to go as we followed the shore of the Loch. The wilderness soon disappeared from view as the sun set and darkness enclosed the bus. Voices of the people riding with me died down as weariness set in and people dozed off. An hour from our destination, the bus stopped. The driver got off, along with the professors, whispers broke out on the bus, confusion set in. After some tinkering under the bus, and discussion and phone calls, confirmation was given to the rumors. The bus' hydraulic system had a hole in it and so now, since the whole bus runs on that, we were stuck. Being in the Scottish Highlands with a bus that won't run, isn't the best situation. The local train station has already shut down for the night and the nearest bus will take an hour to get to us. We had little other choice though as we persuaded a local pub, which was also closing up shop for the night, to lets us in to use the bathroom then huddled outside, hoping to see the headlights of our rescue bus coming. Eventually it came and we all crammed on, desperate for a warm bed and a hot shower. We had to leave our luggage behind, it was safely locked under the bus by the faulty hydraulic system. Another hour of driving and we finally crashed in our beds, hoping tomorrow would bring clean clothes.

Day 5

When I woke up in the morning, the first thing I noticed was the view. I opened the curtains and was faced with glorious mountains looming over me. It was amazing how refreshing the sight was. Have been enclosed in darkness when we travelled to our hostel, there was no preparation for what we would be seeing despite knowing we were in the highlands. With a lighter heart, I went down to breakfast, tried haggis (if you can get over the texture and what it's made of then it isn't that bad...) and was informed that clean clothes were on their way.

The rest of the day was our own to do as we wished. The nearest town was two miles away so a friend and I did the only thing logical, we hiked around. Determined to get to a waterfall in the distance, we set out along a river at a leisurely pace until we came to a fence. Seeing no need to find out if Scotland had the same trespassing laws as we do, we turned around and went back, just in time for lunch. After lunch, a light nap was set in place. We had hiked for a couple hours in the morning so it felt deserved. We headed out towards the town afterwards but didn't make it far before we went back. For me, I found it a bit boring. The scenery was beautiful, but it doesn't hold the same appeal when you're walking down a paved road, avoiding cars. I prefer hiking down a trail much more.

TO BE CONTINUED...AGAIN...

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round

Miles Traveled: ~1,353      Day Traveled: 9 Days
Departure Location: London      Arrival Location: Varied     

A coach bus crammed to the brim with nineteen students, four professors, and...light packing became my home for the last week. The only way to describe the insanity and craziness of the spring break trip is to go day by day, starting with leaving London...

Day 1
It was a 9 am departure. Simple. Everything we brought to London had to be packed up, although we could only take some of it on the coach tour. I thought I was ready (ha, yeah right) and chatting on the bus as we waited for everyone else to get on. Then, as the bus started rolling out, the inevitable feeling came. You know the one. The feeling of your stomach dropping to your feet. If you've never experienced something such as this, it's coming...or you're extremely lucky. Anyways, I realized that I had left my passport safely tucked away in the room we were currently driving away from. So, stopping the bus, running back in, grabbing it, and then running back ,we're on our way to a fun filled week.
The first stop on our tour of the United Kingdom was Stratford-upon-Avon, the land of Shakespeare.  We walked along the Avon to the small church where he is buried. Then, after a fantastic dinner (apparently the rudeness which London exhibits is only in London...), we watched the Shakespearean play (of course, what else? :)) Twelfth Night. If you've ever seen She's the Man with Amanda Bynes, then you know the plot and characters, because that movie was loosely based off the play.

Day 2
After a hearty breakfast in the quaint B&B we stayed at, it was off again, but not very far. Our final destination was York but we made several stops before that. The first was Kenilworth Castle. The castle was obviously not a hot tourist spot as there were very few people around, but it was recommended by the locals, which is always a good sign. It was a beautiful day and as we were released to the grounds of the castle I saw why they recommended it. The ruins were nestled in vibrant green grass and, while they said no climbing the walls, the castle was open and free. Wandering aimlessly was not only allowed, it was encouraged as we explored the dungeons and towers. All too soon we were stuffed back on the bus for the next stop.

The next stop was just as relaxing. For two hours we stopped in Stamford, a small town that had some sort of military heritage (none of us figured of what). It was great for us because a carnival happened to be in town. The magic and fun in the air was tangible as we walked the streets, smelling fried food and sweat that only a carnival can make smell appetizing. After finding food and wandering around a bit, we settled underneath a willow tree as the sun set. It was nice to soak up some vitamin D that England seriously lacks and stretch out on the soft green grass. Unfortunately, we had to adhere to the schedule and we made our way back to the bus before we were ready.

We had a late arrival in York but our day was not done. Apparently, York is one of the most haunted cities in Europe. Who can pass that up? Not us apparently. We had a scheduled ghost tour that night. All that can be said about it, is that I scare easily and I thought it wasn't that bad. I was more creeped out when we were walking back from theatre and it was dark and foggy and we were alone...

TO BE CONTINUED . . .