Day Thirty Two: Oxford

I am way to tired to tell you about my day at Oxford, so I will get more in detail with it tomorrow, i promise. When i am supposed to be doing my school work i will write to you about my day at Oxford.

I will say that is a beautiful place, where a lot of famous people have become involved (past, present and we can only assume future). I will also say that i so the locations where they filmed HARRY POTTER, like the great hall. Oh i was so excited, like a little nerd. It was great.

Oh also, we played Balderdash with the Adams family tonight, it was a lot of fun. I lost bad.

Okay, more for you tomorrow! Love You!

Day Thirty One: "Come See the REAL LIVE AMERICAN!"

This morning my class was canceled, because my tutor never showed up. The girl who called me a real live american had saved me a seat next too her, and when i sat down she just... sat in silence, awkwardly next to me. Eventually she said, "oh if i had looked at the way you wrote the date i would have known you were american." She was reading my notes...

The girl on the other side of me then chimed in, and being less socially awkward, we started talking about the differences between american school and english school. She asked me a lot of questions. But again, no idea that i was american, so odd.

Love you!

Day Thirty: One Month

I have official been in the country of the Union Jack for one month, if we call thirty days a month. I had class today, and worked out creative writing, i have a lot of work to do... WOOO!

Also, two highlights of the day:
1) someone asked me for directions and i could give them!
2) After being asked what country my accent was from again (because my voice apparently is really not American-like whatever that means) the response i got this time was "a real live American!" She... was a little excited, hahaha.

So, that was my day... i will end the evening by doing my schoolwork. Best day ever. "A real live American!" What country does my accent come from, because on tours at Oneonta I get asked what country i am from, and here no one thinks i am American. Apparently i do not even look American, whatever THAT means! Geeze. Any ideas?

Day Twenty Nine: London at Night

PICTURE: I did not take this picture, the credit goes to http://www. paultownend.com /html/ photos-london. html, and no i have no idea who he is. I just wanted to show you a taste of London at night, especically the Big Ben and the green light which was one guide for me back to Waterloo station. The huge London Eye was my other guide, it was lit up red.

This morning is nothing to write home about, i woke up to do some work but i all i did was go over what i have to memorize and recite for class on friday. I was impressed with myself, because i really know it, but i know i will forget it as soon as i stand up in front of my class. Class today was boring, so i organized myself, i found 5 free weekends and quickly filled them up with "ideas."

Tonight is something to write home about. All day i was apprehensive about what my evening plans were: traveling into central London, more specifically the Theater District, to see the musical Wicked! I had spent last night making travel plans, train from Norbiton to Waterloo, walking from Waterloo to Victoria Street and then take a left into the theater. Well ladies and gentleman, I would be the one not to follow my plans.

The train went well and the walking did to a point, but then i veered off the path as i often do and managed to get myself about a mile off track. The area felt weird to me, and i couldnt find myself on the map i was carrying. So i turned to see four very well dressed men behind me, and as i could only do in that moment in time, i asked them for help. One of them pulled out their iphone right away for directions, another looked at my map and they concluded together where i needed to go. They walked me to the rode i needed and then i ran. I ran the whole way to the main street i was supposed to be on, Victoria Street, only briefly pausing to ask the nice and well dressed people if i was heading in the right direction. I was running out of leisure time and i was determined to see this musical. I knew i was almost there, and i did not want to risk another ounce of time, so i asked a man next to me to point me in the right direction, he walked me practically to the door.

I was about 10 minutes late, but they still let me into the theater. Folks, if you have not seen Wicked, you need too. I laughed, I cried and it really spoke to everything i was feeling since i have been here. It was the perfect thing for me to see and it was worth everything i went through to get there. All the running, talking to strangers, and the anxiousness i felt about getting to the theater at all. There is a very strong story line in Wicked about friendship, and it made me really appreciate the luck i have had with my friends. A line went something like, "i have had many friends, but only one who mattered," i felt that line really spoke for me. Only instead of only one who mattered, there are a few friends of mine who mean the world to me, and i know you know who you are. Really, you need to see Wicked if you have not, it is an excellent musical with empowering music, heart-swelling stories and demanding/emotional performances.

The whole way home i was in the best mood, due to the adrenaline from my expericence before the musical and due to the acutal musical. I think people avoided me on the way home, because i was just smiling like a manic, sometimes i thought about something so good i would even have a little chuckle escape my hold. So, how to keep people from approaching you at night in London, be happy for no apparent reason. I did make friends with a little Irish woman. I wanted to make sure i was on the right road, i did not want to wander off. She looked harmless enough sitting at the bus stop, but i think i alarmed her as i approached her. Turns out she was like me a small town person in a big city who just needed to share their night with someone who may even be a stranger. She had been standing in line for two hours to see relics, after traveling all the way from southern Ireland. Basically, she had no idea where she was either. Towards the end of conversation she asked me where i was from, not recognizing my accent and she seemed surprised when i answered New York. Apparently, as i have been told many times i do not have a brutal American accents, apparently i have a very gentle accents. I guess the stereotype of an American is one with a very harsh accent, but i do not know what that could possibly be... southern? Brooklyn? I cannot guess, but i guess i do not fill in the stereotype, which i think is awesome.

I walked the rest of the way to Parliament square after asking the scattered bobbies (policemen) if i was still going the right way. I could not help but stop in front of the Westminster Abbey and reminisce about the last time i had been in that very spot. I looked up at its too massive pillars and the sculptures of saints and important figures which i had taken pictures of when i was a 10th grader in high school. I remembered thinking then, because of my habitually romantic (in the literary sense) personality, "i am coming back here." I had always said it, and thought it and there was never any doubt in my voice, but i am not sure even then i believed i would actually make it back. There i stood tonight, just where i said i would 6 years ago, and i had proved myself right, i had made it back. I am such a different person now. I am independent, as i proved tonight, i am confident, as i proved even taking the chance in coming here, and I have the ability to set goals and reach them, as i proved by making it to Westminster Abbey again 6 years later.

This blog entry proves that i made it home tonight after my solitary venture into central London. I hopes this gives you all back home more confidence in my abilities, because it did for me. Also, i am really far behind in my creative writing and i dont want to do it, but i guess i have to, since i missed class to go to Italy, now i feel obligated.

Love you all and miss you! But i finally feel like i am truly in England, tonight was perfect, even the part where i got lost! <3

Day Twenty Eight: Back to Class

The biggest problem i am having right now is classes. I feel like i am months behind, and no before you think anything, i have not missed the classes i feel the most behind in. The classes are set up with so much being thrown at us students in such a small amount of time. About three months of classes and it is all done in three years, so yes it is very hard for a student who is used to 5 months of classes and having the schedule being spread over 4 years. This is the explination i feel so far behind. Not to mention that I have tutor (Professor) who no matter how many times i tell her when i am not going to be in class, sends me angry emails about how i was not in class. So, i am going to go talk to her and explain my life and what she can expect from me. I am going to be missing at least one more of her wed classes and two more of her friday classes. So, she is going to have to get over it or... i may be in trouble with her. Only i dont think it will matter, because i have yet to hear if my classes are going to count back home, because no one is answering my emails.

Um, i am stressed... yes? Just about classes, if classes were not part of this experience i would be 100% awesome.

Oh, also i had a lamb burger tonight caused i missed when i was aiming for the hamburger meat... i have to say, did not like it... and now i dont know what to do with the rest of it. It made me feel a bit ill.

Clearly I am having a winning day, i'll have to just... keep going with the school work and take a light hearted attitude towards my studies as i always do.

Day Twenty Seven: Let Me Tell You About Italy

PICTURES: First, Passion Flowers, they have 12 petals (as in the 12 apostals) the stamen creates a cross, there is more but i cannot remember it. Second, The estate Del Casa Rosa, which means the red house in Italian. Third, Fresh Cheese at a local market, it was delicious! The view from Del Casa Rosa, Philipa and John's estate. The view of the sun and the mountain range which goes through the middle of Italy. Razzie the kitten that i fell in love with walking on a stairway at the estate. IF YOU WANT TO SEE A LARGER IMAGE, CLICK ON THE PICTURE!

Today i was trying to catch up with myself after my great weekend in Italy. I did laundry, a few dishes, grocery shopping, organizing, catching up with emails, facebook and loading images on to facebook and getting my mail taken care of. I got a great package from Aunt Sandy, THANK YOU IT WAS GREAT!

OKay so now the moment I am assuming you have all been waiting for (whomever you are). Following this paragraph are going to be sumarries and quotes from my handwritten journal I kept while in Italy. This is going to be a very long entry, sorry! So, Please enjoy, because I know I did! October 8th to the 11th, 2009:

DAY ONE:

I woke up at 5:00 so we could get to the airport where we had breakfast and took off for Italy. I slept for most of the trip, but woke up about 30 minutes from landing to see the mountain range which runs down the center of Italy. Right there i knew it was going to be a great trip. We landed in Anconna Airport and stopped at a little resturant on the way to Philipa and John Italian home. My first taste of Italy; I am going to blame the plane and the winding roads of Italy, but I did not really enjoy the pasta. It was much to rich for my stomach.

"The drive from there (the resturant) was beautiful. Deep, tan, rolling hills with shrubs as fences. Mountains in the distance, and town a top hills. It was great, fall in Italy."

"I am so comfortable here, though I don't speak a work of Italian. I am back in the country. There is fresh air, cows mooing, a breeze, plants, trees, it's like being home. Even right now there are people working in the garde and the sound of their shovels hitting the dirt sounds like home."

I went exploring with Allie and Philipa and while she was showing us her fig, olive and peach trees we heard a desperate mowing. This is the moment we found Razzie, my kitten. I helped him squeeze through a hole and from that moment he was my outside companion. In Italy I fell in love with a cat, and i dislike cats. I dont think anyone could have resisted him. I have learned some Italian at this point, the words for cat, nice meeting you, thank you and chow. For dinner we went out for pizza very late in the evening. The pizza was delicious, my stomach right now wants it. They do very large individual pizzas, but i was so hungry and it was so good i ate the whole thing. This began the large amount of food i consumed in Italy, i am still full from the food i ate while there.

DAY TWO:

I have discovered i am excited to wake up here in Italy. They are an hour ahead of the UK, so when I woke up at 9:30, it was actually 8:30 and i was excited for it. Today we went to a market in a local town, this was an adventure. There was a passionate cheese and meat seller, a delicious and a proposal. Allie talked to the passionate meat man for a very long time in italian, and even though i could not understand a word they said they were both very excited. Also, he talked about Obama, because i heard his name mentioned. I got a hot coca which was so good, it was basically the consistancy of instant pudding but still hot. It tasted like they melted a chocolate bar and put it in a cup. In a little shop where Philipa bought a pan, apperntly the old lady kept saying i was very beautiful and her and Philipa arranged for me to marry her nephew. Meanwhile, i was nodding and saying si (yes) and chow. The old woman had no idea i couldnt speak Italian. Philipa said we could not go back or the nephew would be waiting for me, haha. Also, Philipa helped me get two braclets for a very good price, they are beautiful.

"I am living my own Tuscan Sun. As I sit on a grassy hill and write, my little Razzie (the kitten) is sitting just under the shelter of my leg. My shadow is blocking him from the sun as it beats on my back."

Across the valley you can see a little town ontop of a hill. We went there and took a look at the churches. Both of them were very very beautiful but i did not take any pictures out of respece. In one of the churches they had the body of an actualy saint. The cover her face and hands in a mask, but she was there and she was very very tiny. We went to a bar there and for 8 euros we had a beer, two white wines and i had a coke, plus crispes (chips), four different kinds of bread, beans and olives. It was like a whole mean and i was still full when we went to the sea for dinner. It was a fish resturant and it was very good. They gave us whole fish though, so i avoided those. I had calamarie, clams, mussels, and praws (which is what they call jumbo shrimp) and some fish which Philipa cut off the bone for me. So nice to have her around, haha. For dessert i got a creme brule and it was so delicious, i did not want to eat it because i did not want it to end. Speaking the little italian i knew came easier today and i was able to pick out even more key words in conversation and writing.

"Night, I will sleep forever tomorrow, or not I am in Italy!"

DAY THREE:

All day i lied in the sun, it was very relaxing. I worked on school work and played with Razzie. I watched the rain go across the other side of the valley, which was sad. Philipa's neighbor needs the rain on his olives so they grow more plump, it is his livelyhood. Razzie was adorable and I played with him late into the evening, italian's eat very late and we were waiting for guests. Razzie would go stalking, while constantly looking back to see that i was still there and then he would sprint at me and jump onto my lap. He jumped onto my back, and would rub his face on my cheek. At one point when Razzie calmed down he curled up on my thigh and looked out at the great view from the backyard. It was the cutest thing ever. Razzie is very affectionate, and stole everyone's hearts. Philipa and John had friends over for dinner, a little family. It was funny for me, because i do not speak any italian and only one daughter can only speak very little english. I just sat there for dinner, speaking my little italian. The highlight of the evening was when i said Un Gatto (which means cat) to the younger daughter and she followed me outside to play with Razzie. It is strange being on this side of the language barrier.

"I already feel more like myself in the country. If i close my eyes it sounds like the crispy wave of the fall leaves at home and smells like a warm summer day on the cusp of autum. The country is where i belong. My hair has left its failed attempt at order and has taken a brushing from the wind. When i look in the mirror it is more me than when i look at the mirror in Kingston. There is no make up clogging my eyelashes and my feet are bare."

"It is an odd experience being surrounded in another language. You begin to hear you're own words as someone who does not speak your language would hear them. Words like "Thanks" and "Hi" sound unusual. It is a mind opening experience that i hope i do not loose."

DAY FOUR:

We woke up and closed up the estate. It was said saying goodbye to Razzie, i took him to his new home with the neighbors. I did not really say goodbye because it would have been to sad for me and i dont like to be sad in front of people. I am sure he will be okay, but no one will feed him tuna from a can as i did. We had a quick meal of pasta before we boarded the plane. It was a beautiful sight as we took off and went into the clouds and i stayed awake long enough to see the alps before i slept the rest of the way to England. It is a short flight across Europe than it is to drive to RIT from Cooperstown. The clouds in England we dark and the grass was very green as we landed. The drive home was full of traffic, it took two and a half hours to get back, as long as the flight.

AND THAT WAS MY TRIP TO ITALY, I HOPE I WAS ABLE TO SHARE ENOUGH OF MY ADVENTURE FOR YOU AND THAT I COULD SHOW YOU HOW MUCH I ENJOYED MY TRIP TO THE ITALIAN COUNTRYSIDE!

Day Twenty Three - Twenty Six: ITALY

It is so hard to explain the last four days of my life, but to those who know me... I was excited to wake up early in the morning... that is how amazing my trip to the county side of Italy was. I did keep my written journal while I was there, so I am going to take quotes from it to share with you. There is no way I can put it all on here, but I will take the most important bits like the food, my kitten (Razzie), me learning Italian and how it felt to be back in a rural area (where I know I belong now). I hope you enjoy the pictures and the quotes from my written journal:


I AM GOING TO FINISH THIS LATER WHEN I AM NOT ON JET LAG!

<3