worst blogger ever....

Clearly it has been a while since my last post...sorry to all of my diligent followers. I am sure you all have a sinking feeling in your hearts when you see I have yet to post the newest update in my life across the pond and for that I am genuinely apologetic. Forgive me? 

Anyway...Oxford is actually the greatest place in the world. It's bustling with people all the time and there is always something to do, plus the drinking age being 18 isn't so bad either.  I've been drinking like an adult, ie: i went to a pub after dinner and had an "after dinner drink"--pretty sophisticated if you ask me...A few days ago, I got a fish pedicure...what is a fish pedicure?? it's when these tiny fish EAT THE DEAD SKIN OFF OF YOUR FEET...obviously i had to try it!! It was the weirdest feeling and looking back at it now, I am kind of grossed out, but I suppose it was an experience...did i mention it took place in the middle of a mall?? similar to a Claire's ear piercing...Life has been progressing nicely in Oxford, finally falling into a routine and realizing I am here to learn and study...

little fishies sucking on my feet...SICK

Front of "The Eagle and Child"

I recently bought a black and white poster entitled 'The Definitive Oxford Pub Crawl'--it displays the 68 "definitive" pubs of Oxford that every person coming through Oxford should have a drink or five in...So far I have been to six of them, i've got a long way to go.  Last Saturday, we decided to go on a pub crawl.  We originally had planned to go to 11 pubs, we really went to three...Many of the "definitive" pubs in Oxford have a long history to them and many were established as early as the 17th century.  We went to one pub called "The Eagle and Child"--it's claim to fame is that it was where J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and other literary figures met to discuss a range of topics...needless to say, this particular pub has a good amount of history within it's walls...

the crawling group in front of "the Eagle and Child"

I can't believe we already halfway into our first three week session at Lincoln College in Oxford...time flies when you are having fun at school!! Celebrity news...our friends saw Emma Watson at Ben's Cookies...very jealous, i must keep my eyes peeled at all times in case this opportunity arises again, i do NOT want to miss it...she is studying a short a walk away from Lincoln, so i may stalk...

My next adventure begins on Friday morning at 6 am on a bus to Heathrow Airport, I am traveling to Madrid, Spain so I will be much more dedicated to posting when I have more pictures to post...Tomorrow night is the 2nd High Table...then out to the clubs, i suppose??

picture from first High Table...little bear and me.

ARRIVED IN OXFORD!!

the view from my window at college

Finally out of the ruins that are Durham, England and on to Oxford, already I know it is the greatest place in the world and I am really in for a treat for the next 6 weeks.  We arrived on Sunday afternoon after a loooooong bus ride from Durham.  The trip was not complete without a trip to Malfoy Manor aka Hardwick Hall...

We had a guided tour of all of Oxford and we went to several places where Harry Potter was filmed. pretty neat! then we had a great lunch...there is no comparison between the food in Durham and the food at Lincoln College, finally a well balanced meal!!! Our first High Table was last night...(the faculty sits at a 'high table' like where Dumbledore chills...) and plenty of us were overserved (not important) we ventured on into the bustling nightlife that is Oxford (ON A MONDAY-the club was poppin'--very scared to see it on a Friday) our destination was a club/bar called The Bridge...we danced and had a fabulous time...

harry potter set...

first High Table

Then reality sank in and we got up for classes...but who really wants to hear about that??? All in all, the classes are going to be great! gotta get back in the swing of things and remember i am in SCHOOL. weird.

to SUM it all up, i know i am in for a real treat and i can't wait to share my adventures with everyone!

breakin' it down in the club with some
british guy...just kidding--it's just Duds

livin' in Bede's world...again.

This is Bede working hard on his Ecclesiastical
History of the English people

We are nearing the end of our stay in Durham, England...as charming as the town is, we all might be ready to get to Oxford. Today we took a tour of the Durham Cathedral and then the treasury of the Cathedral.  We even saw Bede's remains...you'll remember Bede from the ever so exciting Bede's World.  After the Cathedral we went to Pizza Express.  Disclaimer: There is nothing 'express' about Pizza Express.  Following lunch, I'm not completely sure where we were or what we talked about, medieval defense maybe?? Sorry for the foggy memory--even though it happened today.  On another note, the dinner tonight was much improved, we had pasta which is pretty difficult to mess up.  Now we are off to yet another seminar on the VENERABLE BEDE...  

knockin' on the door to Durham Cathedral

recognize this? harry potter hallway...just call me hermione

lovin' durham!

Durham...

Durham Cathedral

Our new home (for the week) is Durham...no, not Durham, North Carolina.  It's a small town in north eastern England and it is centered around the University of Durham and the beautiful Durham Cathedral. Now, Durham is beautiful but everything closes at 5 pm...literally everything shuts down...it's a ghost town, i feel like i'm back in Pinehurst.  We started the week off with a tour of Saint Mary's College which is part of the University of Durham, and then we trekked into town.  It really is beautiful and extremely charming.  However, the food is less than welcoming. Our first night the meal was mushroom stroganoff and i opted for that...i HATE mushrooms but it was the most appetizing thing on the menu....that's saying a lot. 

mmmm....yum--mushroom stroganoff and peas...

on Hadrian's Wall, pretty NEAT!!

Durham is a time before Oxford where are travel around Northern England going from place to place having to do with British and European history.  It's loads of fun, starting at 8:30 am and ending at 5:30 pm...in other words long long days.  My personal favorite excursion was to Hadrian's Wall, separating the Roman Empire from the Barbarians...

Charlotte and I at the beach...

Around Durham we have been spending a lot of time at the beach and in castles... actually not in...

but around. And then we have gourmet awful 

packed lunches everyday. Since I am pretty behind on blogging about Durham, after our excursion to Hadrian's Wall we went to a place called Bede's World, sounds like an amusement park, am i right? Well, it's not...Bede is a monk...BUT Bede's World did have a petting zoo with 12th century animals in it...so that was also neat...

That's all for now...Durham's nightlife isn't much to brag about but we will be gracing the doors of the Love Shack tomorrow night, so more on that tomorrow...

lovin' sheep in England...and my fur boots...

they love their royals...LIZ MASON this is my dedication to you

havin'  rockin' time at Bede's World

more rockin' times at Bede's World

cowhead cow with a bucket on his head at Bede's World...hehe

nachos

my first meal in Europe was nachos...gross...i've learned my lesson about nachos--they are NOT good in the EU or the UK...the sour cream is weird...i just had to update the states on that...

nachos are NOT a delicacy of Scotland or anywhere that I will be touring in the upcoming months... 

XO

made it to Edinburgh!

At the top of Arthur's Seat in the heart of Edinburgh

My computer deleted my last post...technology--dumb.  We made it to Edinburgh at 8 am on August 5, 2011.  It is absolutely the most beautiful place I have ever been.  The most green place I have been.  We got to Edinburgh rather early and then we lost some people in the airport. After lugging my two 48 pound bags around the airport and then having minor heart palpitations after we exchanged our money, we made it to Chancellor's Court at the University of Edinburgh.  Upon our arrival we hiked a rather intense hike called Arthur's Seat and we had some absolutely fantastic views.  After the hike we went to a place called the Ale House and I treated myself to TWO BECK'S. I'm a rebel, i know!  After the Ale House we napped and collected our lives together...

DAVID SHELTON--i found this guy FOR YOU--he played lacrosse at CULVER in 2002!!! SMALL WORLD

and we're off!

12 hours later and finally in Newark, soon to be board our flight to Edinburgh in 2 short hours. Traveling through the Newark airport with two 45-48 lb bags is not an easy task, this coming from a girl who has always been lucky enough to have her muscular father and brother along for the ride. I think I succeeded quite gracefully but not without some odd looks from some onlookers. It was difficult but I can proudly say I have mastered Newark International Airport with not one BUT TWO bags...

This is what I looked like...

but hey! at least i didn't look like this...

3 days

where did the summer go?? only 3 days until i embark on the trip of a lifetime. before these 3 days are up, i have an endless list of things to do and buy $$$...sorry mom and dad.  spending three weeks prior to this expedition away from home doesn't leave an ample amount of time to do what needs to be done. naturally, instead of packing and doing what my mother has told me...i'm blogging. i have to pack and go to wal-mart which in itself is the worst thing ever...so wish me luck and the next time i blog, i'll be in edinburgh, scotland...brace yourselves scotland.