Sunday, August 29, 2010

I Can't Believe It's Only Been Two Days!!

So, while I'm here in England, I've vowed to myself that I'm not going to take anything for granted. ANYTHING! I'm going to count every single one of my lucky stars for the people I meet, the places I go, and the things I learn. Hopefully those people become confidants, the places will turn into adventures, and I will find lessons of life in the things I learn. To tell you the truth, I think I'm on a good path to getting exactly there. :) My roomate is from Illinois, and she and I have a lot in common. Thanks to last night's walking adventure that she (Andrea) Lauren, Kensy, and I took, I've found that out! All three go to the University of Evansville in Indiana and all three are great people and friends.

Last night we had a formal dinner, all the students and staff. The students got all gussied up,walked to the Long Gallery, were served a great meal which included a chocolate chip cheesecake for dessert, and mingled and had fun. After, Andrea and I walked back to our room and decided to go for a walk. At this time, it was about 9-ish? So we changed and met up with Kensy and Lauren. We walked ALL over! We walked the entire driveway(about a mile long) and up behind the house, where we jumped the stone fence and sat for almost two hours in the backyard, looking at the house that was all lit up and beautiful. We all had a chance to shard about where we're from and what our families are like. We also shared views on religion, boys, and music! I almost thought we were going to get caught in the backyard, because we were laughing so hard!! It got cold, so we headed down into the Manor to see if we could get some tea or something, but couldn't. But, we did keep talking about our crazy lives and families!

Finally, we ended up in Lauren's room, which is right next to Andrea and my's room! We got to see her awesome wand that a friend of hers made for her, just for this trip, and talked even more until about one in the morning when we retired to our respective rooms. An hour later, when Andrea FINALLY stopped swapping stories and such about losing a parent, we actually got in bed, and went to sleep.

Good day? Very much so, yes.

Lucky stars? So far, I've found three.

Friday, August 27, 2010

I've Found Where My Soul Lives!

I am finally here!!!!!


After what one of the girls I travelled with says, is a hurry and wait sort of day, I'm finally nestled into my room in the Carriage House of Harlaxton College in Grantham, England!! (My room is the window farthest to the right on the top floor)

The Carriage House
The day started at 8 am in Kenosha, WI, paused at 3 pm in Chicago at O'Hare airport where I flew through baggage and security with a breeze only to wait until my flight left at 6 pm. Here, I flew on a Virgin Atlantic Flight for about seven and a half hours. I was next to two great girls on my left, one from Indiana and the other from Kansas. (Both studying here) and a girl named Lindsey from UWEC to my right! During the flight they fed us a hot dinner and a breakfast, entertained us with movies that were set into the back of the headrest of the seat in front me. ( I watched The Bounty Hunter and part of How To Tame Your Dragon) On the same screen, you could also play games, watch TV shows, and even see where the plane was going to get to London! We got pretty close to Iceland, Dad!

I tried to sleep a little bit, but economy class isn't suitible for comfortable sleeping unless you're a child, and you can curl up in the chair, or you have something/one to lean against. Seeing as I had neither....I didn't sleep much. Then, when I landed, I started an entire day over again; it was about 8 in the morning in London. Again, went through baggage and customs with ease. Then was the antangonizing three hour bus ride to the manor. Yeah. I slept then. I was awoken by the driver saying, "Alright ladies and gents, to the left is your first sighting of Harlaxton Manor....and some cows...and some sheep." as we saw off in the distance, my home for the next four months, with a lovely sheep and diary farm passing us. It was a great thing to wake up to!


Tower that holds spiral stairs
The right side of the manor. Taken from the vast grounds around the place.(where there are white windows, is a massive indoor garden, with coy fish pond and glass roof!)
This post is getting long, so I'll some up the rest of the day by saying that I got settled in, explored ( I found a secrest door that led to a spiral stair case that goes to every floor of the manor,) ate, took about 100 pictures, and am now at my desk. I wish all of you could be here to see this! I seriously feel like I should be in floor length, empire waisted, gowns and riding a horse everywhere!! Yeah, it's that real!

Alright, I'm off to the WC(water closet aka the loo aka the bathroom) to shower and get ready for bed. Breakfast is at 8:30 tomorrow. 2:30 am your time!


Sleep well and I'll post more pics soon!

p.s. the exterior of the manor as well as a few rooms were used in the film, The Haunting(1999)
Harlaxton Manor

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Last Night in the US

Hello everyone!

So, it's the night before I hop the pond to England! I just booked two trips through the school; one for an elite tour of the Tower of London, and the other to Ireland. There, we're going to be in the Dublin area for four nights! It'll be nice to have that extra night in an amazing looking country! I'm here at a Holiday Express in Kenosha, after spending a really fun night hanging with my mom, dad, and my aunt and uncle. We went to Chili's to have dinner when my aunt got a call from her daughter, my cousin, saying that she is basically going to be going into labor soon! So, that was really exciting/nerve-raking!!

I've had a lot of well wishes sent my way, and for them all, I want to say thank you! I really love them all and hope I really do have an absolute blast!!

Have a great night!!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

A New Chapter Begins

Hello Everyone!


I'm sitting here, in my living room in beautiful Brule, Wisconsin with my dad watching TV. Today is my last full day at home, seeing as I'm leaving tomorrow morning around eight to head down to Chicago to catch my flight. Yes, tomorrow Mom, Dad, and I will head down and spend the night in the Kenosha area. The next day, we'll drive into Chi-town and they will drop me off.

I'm excited about leaving, but I know that my parents(love you guys) worry a lot and are gonna be sad to see me off. I'll miss you guys too! Last night actually, I set them up with a Skype account, and we tested it out with them up on the home computer and me downstairs, on my laptop! It was funny! But, I'm glad they they are all up to date with the technology. I just hope they remember how to use it..... :P

I'm all packed up, just witing for tomorrow to come so I can get all my make-up and computer paked so I can weigh my suitcase a final time. It's surprising how much clothes can weigh, even though there really isn't much of them! My big luggage already weighs almost fifty pounds!!! Uff-da! :P But I do get to use a carry on and a purse (as long as it can fit underneath the seat in front of me.)

Lots of people have been asking me if I'm nervous or anything. And yeah, I'm a bit nervous, but I think it's more pent up energy than anything. I just want all the travel to be over with, and to FINALLY be in England! I've been waiting for this moment since I've been nine, so these last few days are killing me! But, I am not going to take anything for granted. I know that I am blessed to have this chance, and have all of these people around me that have sent me off with love and good wishes. I'm going to miss all of you!

So, here I am, about to head off into one of the most exciting chapters of my life. I hope that I can grow a lot, learn even more, and come back to you all with wonderful stories. And gifts! (if you would like something specific, jsut let me know ;p ) I'll update you in a few days, once I get settled in!

I leave my luggage un-attended for just a moment....and this is what happens.
Love you all!