http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Jen-Watson/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Jen Watson en-us Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:31:15 +0000 Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:31:15 +0000 Wow It has been a really long time since I updated this. Upon returning to the states from England I graduated from Purdue in May 2006. A lot has happened since thenI moved to Chicago and started a job at CDWG in June of 2006. I was at CDWG just over a year and moved back to West Lafayette to try my hand in grad school. I not only wanted to try grad school but I also felt a need to be closer to http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-383179.html MERRY CHRISTMASHello EveryoneI have so much to report but I don't have much time to so I'm just going to give you all a quick update of where we've been so far Jack and I.We started our trip in Pisa Italy. I wanted to go see the leaning tower but we arrived in the late afternoon and didn't think we would be able to make it there and back to the train station to catch the train to Florenc http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Germany/Rhineland-Palatinate/Mainz/blog-32591.html OMG I am so sorry. I haven't written in FOREVER Well here I am and it's going to be short one too again I apologize.The semester is winding down and I just finished writing my last essay 4 in two weeks very impressed I actually did it and am due to submit it tomorrow morning. So I'm almost completely relieved. But due to my extensive amount of writing tonight I probably won't elaborate m http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/Enfield-Town/blog-31512.html I went to Hyde Park on Sunday evening. Well it wasn't really evening but since it's dark here by 430 it seems like the evening. Anyways on Sundays if you are within so many feet off the ground you can speak and preach whatever you like. It takes place in a part of the park rightly named Speakers Corner. So I went to hear the people speak and I observed a never ending argument between Muslims an http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/London-City/blog-27303.html I got back from Germany yesterday after about what seemed like a three hour plane delay. For those who don't know I stayed with family friends of my Grandpa Grauel's. Tina she is 27 took me to an alternative dance club which was really fun and then we hit up some pubs the next night in Frankfurt. I spent most of my time in Mainz at Tina's. On Saturday we went to Wiesbaden spelling which had http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Germany/Rhineland-Palatinate/Mainz/blog-23092.html I got back from the Lake District of Northern England late on Sunday night after a dreadful 7 hour coach ride. We began our trip at 645am on Friday the 14th. We left Enfield Katie Stephanie and still drunken me at 645 am. Yes I was up only because Katie called and got me up. When I left I couldnrsquot find my keys to my dorm but being still completely pissed I just left without them. We http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Cumbria/Lake-District/blog-23876.html Sorry it took me so long to update my blog but here I am to inform you all of my adventures in the far north of the UK. I returned to my flat at around 830am on Monday after a torturous 13hour bus ride. For those of you that donrsquot know I went to the highlands of Scotland. We stayed in a castle that was donated to the Scottish Youth Hostel Association. The castle was said to have a ldquo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Carbisdale-Castle/blog-24746.html Hello All I just wanted to let you all know that I will be in Scotland for the weekend. Four other girls and I will be staying in a castle turned into a hostel for the weekend it's also said to be haunted. The castle is about an hour from Inverness which is supposed to be BEAUTIFUL There will be a lot of hiking and outdoor activity which will be a nice getaway. I'm so so excited. Well I need t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/Enfield-Town/blog-24013.html Hello AllSorry it's been awhile since I've added anything onto my blog. I've been kind of busy lately and the thing is I don't even know what to add to this blog. I guess I can start with my trip back to Camden Town where I only spent about ten pounds. On that trip we ventured back to Trafalger Square and continued on to Kensington PalacePark where Princess Diana and Charles lived at one poin http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/Enfield-Town/blog-21445.html I just wanted to all let you know that I was going to be out of town all weekend. I'm going to be going to Germany to visit Tina and the family family friends of Grandpa Grauel's. I think I'll actually be in Frankfurt but I don't know. I leave Thursday after class and I will return on Tuesday. I would return earlier but it was much cheaper to come back on Tuesday. And don't worry I won't be mi http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/Enfield-Town/blog-22108.html I got back from my planned Study Abroad Program family stay. I stayed with a host family an older retired couple and their 5yearold greatgrandson in Woking England. It was a good time and a great break from my dorm and a great chance to eat food that is not peanut butter or what England claims as PB and jelly sandwiches. We went to Windsor Castle which was huge and to yet another cheap mar http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/Enfield-Town/blog-21930.html Today some fellow students and I ventured to Camden Town which has the best vintage shops I've seen so far and to Hampsted Heath. Hampsted Heath is an enormous heath that has a hill called Parliment Hill which was told to me to be the highest point in London. Hampsted Heath also had the largest desk and chair I've ever seen kind of odd location I will insert some pictures to explain. Tomorrow http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/Enfield-Town/blog-20465.html So everything is getting much better here. I have made friends with some fellow British people and I am venturing away from the American people which is great Depending on how important my orientations are this week classes don't start until next week I may go to Rome with two other Purdue girls for a couple of days but it all depends. I have one today and I'll find out how vital it is. My new http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/Enfield-Town/blog-20253.html I finally made it to my dorm today It's okay other than the fact that it's filthy looking well not that bad but not moderate and that the shower is at the same level as the rest of the bathroom which means that when I shower the entire bathroom gets flooded nice huh I'd post a picture but I can't find my USB cable for my camera right now. If I don't find it I'll pick one up at the electroni http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/Enfield-Town/blog-19814.html So tomorrow I go to my actual dorm room THANK THE LORD I'm so tired of living in such a small hotel room with two other poeple Tonight we went to see the play Chicago which we would think being a US citizen would be a huge production...NO the stage was about as big as the stage in a small Highschool auditorium. Dad by the way I'm not really sure what a wanker is but I'm going to guess i http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/London-City/blog-19687.html I forgot to tell you the funniest thing Today while in Central London waiting to cross the crosswalk this guy on a bicycle yelled at a guy on a motorcycle. He first yells Hey what the fk are you doing And the guy on the motorbike yelled you're a fing wanker then the guy on the bike yells back Twaaat. I'm thinking that one of the guys cut the other off I don't know but I did hear t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/London-City/blog-19583.html Hello Everyone I arrived to Nottinghill near Hyde Park and very near to Central London. We the Butler group are staying in a hotel for a couple of days for orientation before we go to our university. I leave for my university on Thursday afternoon. I didn't really do much yesterday when I actually arrived because I was so tired. I did go to a pub near our hotel called The Swan. It is nice http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/London-City/blog-19579.html OMG Irsquom leaving tomorrow for London and Irsquom not even all packed yet Irsquom incredibly nervous and excited at the same time. I have this huge fear that something is going to happen at home while Irsquom away but I know that everything will be just fine. Wish me luck on my September 11th flight. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Indiana/blog-19303.html