Farewell, London.

aubrie xx

From London, With Love

Portobello and Camden Markets

The markets in London are amazing! I've never seen anything like them. The prices are moderate, but the best part is the haggling--which I'm horrible at. I prefer Portobello Market (I mean, come on...it's world famous!) It is kind of crowded, but if you can get into the shopping--it's well worth it. I managed to get the majority of my shopping done at the market and got some really good deals. The jewelry blows me away. Most of it is hand made which makes it look really amazing. I'm jealous of my sister's gift that I bought here the other day!

The other market is Camden (which is also famous). I was here, literally, a day before the Amy Winehouse incident. These markets were a little more touristy buy if you really delved down into the side markets--there were treasures to be found. However, I had sadly spent too much money at Portobello so I got an awesome smoothie and called it a day.
-aubrie xx

From London, With Love

Brighton!

Brighton, Brighton, Brighton! I was in desperate need to get out of the city last week--so Laura and I bought tickets, along with some other awesome people, and we got on a train headed to the coast. The train ride itself was pretty wonderful. The scenery was nice and it was only an hour long ride. Before I knew it, we were there.

We got to the beach and...surprise--pebbles! I was wearing, like the majority of us, the totally wrong shoes. We braved the stones walking, slipping, sliding--anyway we could get to the water. We finally got to the water and it was so beautiful. We broke out the bubbles that we had bought from a store while we walked. It was one of the best days I've ever had. I know that I've been saying that a lot--but...this will be a day I look back to forever.

We finished up our day at the beach with drinking! We stopped by the place called the Quadrant (with much debate that the sign outside actually said "the Grandma"). The upstairs had an awesome atmosphere and I had THE BEST drink since I've been here. Bulmers Irish Cider. I had the crushed red berries and lime version--it was delicious! If I can find some at the duty free store at the airport--I'm so buying a liter! Mmmmmm..

Buckingham Palace

-aubrie xx

From London, With Love

Hyde Park Perfection

So, we heard that Mumford & Sons was playing nearby in Hyde Park. Needless to say, we got on the first tube outta here. It only took about 20 minutes to get there (including walking). Let this be a side note on public transportation in London--I love it. Yes, it's confusing at first and yes, maybe I miss driving a little bit. However, the transportation is so easy to navigate and it's also quick! I also love the fact that I can walk to my grocery store. I'm not missing having to fill up my gas tank just to get a gallon of milk.

So, back on Mumford & Sons--the tickets were sadly 55 pounds, which translates to about $100 (too much to spend!). Caroline, Laura, and I opted to do what other people were doing in the part--sit and listen. It was so perfect. I will always think back on this day as being the epitome of what life in London is about. It's about sitting in the park with a glass of wine with friends and just being happy. The sun was setting--it was truly a beautiful moment that lasted all night.
Let me just say a few things about the above pictured crazies. They have been my best friends here in London and I couldn't have asked to have better hall-mates or class-mates. We all share a weird sense of humor that no one else seems to understand and I've told them things I would have never told anyone. I really don't think I would have had the same experience without them here.

-aubrie xx

From London, With Love

Wimbledon on a Whim

Wimbledon. Caroline, Laura, and I went on a whim on Friday 1 (Day 11) just to see if we would be able to get into the grounds. Laura and Caroline aren't huge tennis fans so I was apprehensive about dragging them all the way to Zone 5 in London just hoping we got in.

We rode the tube (probably a 40 minute ride, including the switching of trains) and we got ourselves on the right street and walked until we saw people queueing. We arrived around 2pm and the person working the gate said it would be 2 to 3 hours before we even got onto the grounds. Not to be deterred we braved on to the queue--it was so long!

After a surprisingly quick 1.5 hours--we were in!! I can't tell you how exciting it was to see Wimbledon Stadium. My mother has always been the biggest tennis fan and I felt almost guilty seeing Wimbledon and being part of it. The first thing I did was just stand in front of Centre Court. Then I walked swiftly to the gift shops and tried to find the perfect gifts for my mom. At the time when we arrived Tsonga and Djokovic were playing on Centre Court

We sat with hundreds of other people on the hill outside of Centre Court and watched the match unfold. It was surreal being here--and experiencing all of the reactions in real time. It was amazing to be a part of something like Wimbledon and be in the company of people who are so passionate about the sport. My one hope is that one day I'll be back here with my mom and dad. When I make it big--I promise Centre Court tickets, mom.

-aubrie xx

From London, With Love

Flashback

Hey guys! It's been another long week in London! It continues to amaze me how fast the days go but also how much I manage to fit in the span ofone week. On Monday I had class as usual. My classes are going smoothly and they are the perfect courses to take for study abroad.My contemporary art class is more creative and I'm having loads of fun making my visual journal. I'm really appreciative of my professor for creating this assignment--I'm already excited to show it to my friends and family to express what my time here in England has been like.

On the other spectrum, I have my comparative history course on Britain and the United States in the 1960s. This class was made for me. I'm in love with that moment in time in history and the class delves into the issues and outcomes of different movements in the 60s in both countries. It's an added bonus that the professor is hilarious--and she's really good at going with the flow--even in the face of disaster (see Notting Hill field trip). This class is a little bit more work--but even that doesn't outweigh the good parts of class.

On Tuesday, I had my field trip for my art class. We ventured to the Saatchi gallery--only to find out it was closed to the public! After the little let down, we hopped on the tube to the Tate Modern. Now, I've never been a lover of museums--but the Tate Modern is something to see. Five floors of art, organized by theme. This organization allows for Twentieth century artists to be side by side their predecessors. I walked past hundreds of pieces of art.

Photographs, paintings, sculptures, videos--it was an art overload. However, I believe I have a new found love for art museums. There's something innately beautiful about having that much art housed together in one place.

Wednesday marked another day of classes. It also marked the first time I got stuck in a random rain storm in London. We were literally about to turn the corner of the block our building and BAM!--rain poured on us. As inconvenient as this was (seeing as I had forgot my umbrella) I really couldn't be too upset about being caught in the rain in London--it almost seems like part of the experience.

Thursday! The rain hadn't let up and it was still raining our the day that we had a walking tour of Notting Hill (home to one of the 1960s race riot in England). However, my professor was adamant and we walked for roughly an hour and a half in the rain. Whenever I think of Notting Hill, I automatically think of Hugh Grant--which in turn makes me think of prostitutes--but I suppose that's another story. Notting Hill now is quite posh. I don't believe you or I could afford to live there--however in the 1960s it was home to many immigrants who had moved from New Commonwealth--which created racial tension within the neighborhood. Along the tour we saw landmarks of the riots but also many rock n roll landmarks.

Now comes one of my largest regrets of the trip--also maybe just one of my largest regrets ever. I didn't go to the Harry Potter premiere. I know....stop with the berating. I've beaten myself up over this the whole weekend. We didn't get wristbands to go --so it was a leap of faith if we went and see if we could get in. Even still, I wish I would have went. I watched the premiere on my laptop and almost teared up--because all of this was happening less than 15 minutes away from me. Ashley! To you I'm sorry...I'll make it up to you by bringing you back something super British and Londony. Phew. I'm glad I admitted that. Now, I'm just a bit sad I won't be seeing it at midnight with my sisters. This has been a running tradition--even last year when my oldest sister surprised us by driving all the way from Augusta--when she had to work the next day--so she could watch it at midnight with us. I won't be seeing it at midnight this year--but, I'm looking forward to coming home and seeing it with my sisters...seeing and ending it the right way.

Let's just get this out of the way. I've been partying a bit. It's been so much fun. However, sleeping until 2pm makes me feel like a bit of a failure. Thursday night--we went to our bar next to our dorms called Potion...they make the best mixed drinks and I can't wait to see if America has some of them--if not--I might cry. Later that night, we came back and talked with our hall-mates. They're six interns from France, Denmark, Portugal, and England. They are all super nice. We had a bit of a kitchen party--then Laura and I went to this club near Tottenham Court Road called The Roxy. For some reason, they played a lot of 80s music--I felt like I was channeling my mother as I danced to the Jackson Five and "I Will Survive".

Friday--sleep until 3pm. Don't judge--I'm in London. We decided to go out another night--sans Caroline, who is visiting family in Plymouth. However, we were drinking wine in the hall kitchen when Tina (one of the interns from Denmark) came in to make her dinner. We talked for at least 2 hours about healthcare, education systems, politics, student loans, guys, animation, employment--everything! It was odd explaining aspects of American culture. I felt like this chosen representative from the US--stumbling to explain our political system and our screwed up healthcare system (seriously, after talking to Tina--our healthcare system is STUPID). Dave (also from Denmark) came in after about 2 hours and we played a few drinking games--including a Danish game called Pyramid (never again.) Then, we decided to go out to The Roxy again. Long night played short--lost Dave. Tina, Laura, and I danced forever. Went home. Dave found.

Saturday was a relaxing day after two days of partying. I read Harry Potter (almost as a form of an apology) and watched em..um..Twilight (I don't know what's wrong with me!) I got an awesome sandwich from Pret Amanger and slept all day. Sunday (today) hasn't been that much different. I've been eating Cadbury chocolate bars all day. So good. And working on homework. Later on tonight, I'll probably go do some laundry--if I can scrounge together some coins.

It's weird to believe that I'm here. Doing this. I've always been the baby of my family and to think that I'm halfway across the world--living and thriving. It's an odd feeling knowing for the first time that you will be okay without your family. I love my family and miss them sorely but I've found that I'm not afraid of the unknown anymore. I've learned to embrace new experiences and walk away from them with memories I can share and knowledge I have gained.

-aubrie xx

From London, With Love