Hi All! So today has been an adventurous day. Walked across the bridge, got lost, and finally made it to the Park where I saw the fastest Ferris wheel ever. Then it was a firework show with music… That was new, but it made sense because a lot of people had their children out. The most surprising thing about the firework display had to be the closeness. I’m used to having water separate me from the fireworks unless I’m in a backyard somewhere, but here in London no such rule. You get the smoke, the taste, and the particles. The great thing is the music blocks the firework noise so it doesn’t matter that your right there. Travel tip: Just because they announce a show is starting doesn’t means it starts right away. Other than the fireworks that had glowing ears, food stalls, and light up (almost blinding) light up sword sticks. Then I found the direct route home after visiting Marley’s once more since we were near Brixton. This time I shared the food. Walking back with all the Londoners was a good feeling. Doesn’t mean I don’t miss the fam and friends, but I like it here :) The video is below. Laters! Ello All!
So fall break here was pretty chill… Most people went to travel around and see some pretty awesome places :) I took this opportunity to get to know London better. I did manage to make it to the poetry library. Yes a whole library dedicated to poetry. How awesome is that? Well I’m off to class at Tate Britain, but my next one should cover food here in Britain. Because that is one of the most important parts of another country, other than site seeing of course. Laters!! Hi All!
So at the beginning of this week I finally journeyed to my first open mic night here in London!! Exciting I know. Plus it was free entry. Where was this wonderful event? Brixton my dears, wonderful Brixton. The place where I hear “My sistah.” a lot. Brixton in the past has been known as not the best of London. However, it is a diverse neighborhood far away from the tourist central I live in. It reminds me a lot of Baltimore, Maryland. The Afro-Carribean culture can seen almost immediately as you get off the bus or tube in Brixton. Reggae, hip-hop, and even some salsa hums from the shops and market as you walk through. This time I went at night. Most people who travel to London will learn quickly that most things in London close super early. Weird, but true. I was happy to discover Brixton was alive at night as much as it is during the day. Of course the first thing to do in a neighborhood is pop into a shop and grab some food. My friend and I spotted a chicken and rib joint called Marley’s and I could not resist. Not being stereotypical, just been living off of noodles and Asian food. It was affordable and tasty :) I was a very full and happy woman. In Brixton, I noticed that when learning British slang you also have to learn Black British slang. African American slang does not work well with Black British slang at all. All you get from this is empty stares and a headache. Now I have an acting challenge. Now the whole reason for this trip was to make it to the open mic night a few blocks away. Travel tip: Don’t wear heels you aren’t comfortable walking in for blocks on uneven possibly cobblestone streets. My friend did not get this memo while my heels are what I like to call “City ready”. Now the actually place the open mic was held at is the Half Moon Pub in Herne Hill the neighbors to Brixton. It was a pretty nice set up with it’s own stage space where events are held at. Including the open mic. There were a lot of acoustic performers. Some amazing while the others were okay. The poets were unique for sure. Even though I was late I was able to sign up in the last spot. By the time my time came most of the people were off to get the last tube home. It was till amazing to do. I’ll probably go on my own next time. Performer tip: Arrive early to sign up for a good slot in an open mice line-up. I got to have some good conversation with the people around me and they were extremely nice. Cheers!! Ello All! So one of my favorite things about walking in London is when I walk around and then I look up and realize I see something that I thought was really far, but it is right there. I have abandoned taking the tube unless I have to grudgingly go somewhere far. What have I been up to? Classes, exploring, and meeting British people. Meeting British people is a lot harder than you think, but I just have taken chances by going to random events. This one event that I went to was an international cafe where I met people from all over the world because apparently that’s what happens at the events, but I just saw a poster that said all welcome and free so I went. I also got to have scones and crumpets with my tea which are pretty tasty. It’s so posh of me I know, but when in Rome… Wait I’m in London :) My travel tip for this entry will have to be take chances when traveling and put yourself out there. Actually you should do that everywhere. Even if you are shy. Many British won’t just walk up to you because of their reserved nature. At least I haven’t experienced it. Usually you can just be approachable and open yourself up to conversation. I have had some interesting ones. How’s class? Ummmm well… Just kidding I love them. They are extremely different from my American classes and apparently the classes we are taking with our program are different from British classes that most people who go to undergrad take. My creative class is amazing just because I get to do the thing I love. It is filled with older adults who work daily, but keep there minds going by taking this class. They range from late 20’s to late 50’s. They are a fun bunch of people. The video below is of me discussing classes, very serious. Laters! Ello! So I’ve been in London for two weeks and some days. I love the sights and traveling around. For those who think that everything cost in London they are wrong. Technically, there are plenty of things to do for free. But like anything that is free you have to search for it and turn over every stone. I have found a festival for tomorrow over the African Dispora. Then next month there will be a celebration for national poetry month. These events should be fun. A musician I have found that is from London is having a concert next month and tickets are at a great price. I really hope funds will allow me to go. Currently, I am planning my trip for fall break. With all the visa drama I'ma stay within the UK just to be on the safe side. I was jobsmacked to find that there is a Megabus here! Which means the price for going to Scotland or Wales is really inexpensive. Hey I am all about budgeting people. On another note. Our programs group is a great bunch of people. I love having so many different conversations all of the time. Plus this means diversity in the things we all do together. My video of the Market/Museum is below. Cheers!! Hi All! My last entry was short and sweet. This one will hopefully be a bit more in depth. My travel buddy and I arrived just in time for the weekend trip with our program all paid for. So the entire group loaded onto a bus early Friday morning and was off to Bleinheim Palace. It was a beautiful place. The most astonishing thing was the fact that the duke paid to have a artificial landscape put in so that it would be perfectly beautiful forever. I have to say it was. I was only disappointed to learn the Palace was built with money made off of slaves. But I guess it was the way of the world back in those days… Shoot even today we have “slaves”. Our next stop was Stratford-Upon-Avon the birthplace/death place of Shakespeare. How cool/sad is that? Our tour guide was fantastic. She had bits of jokes and seemed really passionate about here home town. I love tour guides that don’t bore you to death. She was telling us how people no longer have thatch roofs anymore because birds, cat, and dogs would go into the ceiling an snuggle up for warmth. Well when it was about to rain of course the cats and dogs wouldn’t want to get wet so they would all jump down and that’s how the phrase raining cats and dogs came about. (drum noise) I thought that was cute of her. She even gave us a list of American sayings. While there it was only fitting that we saw the Scottish play, you know Macbeth (shhhh!) While in Stratford we stayed in a B&B with an awesome inn keeper. The Salamander is the one I recommend if you want a funny and entertaining Frenchman as your host. Also on our weekend we traveled through the countryside to Bourton-on the-Water. Now the best thing to do there is shop or visit the maze/puzzle for a small price. It was one of the highlights, the maze. You had to find clues and things. You could also visit the bird museum or car museum for a very different price. We finished up our weekend in Oxford. Home of the intellectual and some place where Harry Potter was filmed. Everyone set off for those sights and I went the other way to Oxford Universities campus. Quickly left when I saw science and math signs and went to the University park. Spied a tennis game and a cute pond in the on again off again rain. Then found the museum of Natural Science. I really liked it there. Warning: Don’t call it a bathroom or restroom! It is a toilet or more polite Ladies/Gentlemen’s room. There was another free museum in Oxford that I didn’t make it too, but I heart was decent. My artist friend said it was a lot of replicas unfortunately. So, that was my first weekend. Thanks for reading/watching! Next time I’ll discuss the Markets and museums here. Cheers! The first two days in London have been a bit of a cram session. My travel buddy and I definitely got turned the wrong way in the airport and missed our flight, but the airline reimbursed us and got us a flight for this past Tuesday. We were the last ones to make it here and the British people in central London are sticklers for timeliness. The first two days we explored the city and found our college that we are attending outside of the program. The first night we went to “Wicked” and found inexpensive/tasty food around the corner from our home for the next few months.
I must say I love the tube for it’s efficiency. Be aware that people will rip tourist off in another country. Luckily we were too tired to care our first day, but the second we were alert :) My search for a great poetry/underground scene has yet to start, but I have found another spoken word buddy in my program :) Laters! Hi All!! Today is the day I leave for London. At this very moment I have made my way to Chicago and will be flying out this evening. I am excited for this opportunity! It has been an extremely emotional journey and leaving home was that really bittersweet feeling. Best moments of the summer were buying my plane ticket (weird cause I spent money, but was official), working with 6 amazing ladies in the registrars office (now I can spell registrar), hanging in Storm Lake (I mean BBQ), and being in STL for the past month (I love my fam and friends). At this point I have packed and am ready to go. The light is shining on my path and leading me towards new and mysterious things lol. Walking around Chicago with two bags and one hand bag has made me realize that I don’t pack light As promised here is the link to my packing video is below. Oh yea before I forget my intro this time. Hi, my name is Sahara I enjoy long walks by Storm Lake and am a Theatre Major, Art & Psych Minor at BVU. I love traveling. I am going abroad in Central Abroad’s London Program. Yea… That was pretty much it in a small nutshell. Cheers! Hi All! Today I received my roommate info as well as my calendar for the semester. Very exciting. I’ll be rooming with two ladies. One I know from my home university and the other not so much. However, I am open to the experience. I cannot believe in a few, mhmmm, two weeks and like three days I’ll be in London. But who’s counting? Smh ME! Actually receiving this info just made it all the more real for me. I am one doctors appointment away with some official papers to receive before I can enter London. I have been through ups and downs for this trip and my faith has definitely pulled me through with my head held high. So now it’s the countdown. Financially I’m biting tables because biting nails is just… not me. Yes I have a video for you all of some tips about the whole study abroad process. This is informative. Next video will be my fun version of packing… Laters! |
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