While I sleep, Deanna gets up extra early this morning to take more pictures of the town. We check out of our hostel, which looks like a hostel but has the environment and feeling of hotel. The residents don't interact the way we do at hostels. We get one of the worker to take a picture of us outside our hostel, so we remember what it looks like. The picture comes out crooked. Even though the bus station is within walking distance, we take a taxi, rather than dragging our luggage the whole way. The bus will go to Milton Keynes [View Full Entry]

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We didn't get as much accomplished yesterday as we wanted. Everything closes so damn early! I guess that's how they keep the tourists here longer. I have noticed, however, that the people here are MUCH friendlier and more polite than in Luton, St. Albans, and London. I've always heard that it's friendlier in the north, and I see it. People actually get out of your way, when you're trying to pass by. People smile. People don't stop in the middle of the damn sidewalk to look at something; they step aside and then look. People hold doors and make friendly comments. [View Full Entry]

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Deanna and I sleep in until about nine before finally eating breakfast and starting our day. Of course, our first stop has to be the famous York Minster! York Minster "Built between 1220 and 1472," I read from the guide book, "York Minster is the largest medieval gothic cathedral in Northern Europe and is renowned worldwide as an artistic and architectural masterpiece." In order for a cathedral to be called a "minster", it has to have been built during that time period. This is the hugest cathedral I've ever seen! We go to the Undercroft first, which is the pla [View Full Entry]

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The city of York was founded by Roman soldiers in 61 A.D., because it sits at the crossing of two rivers--the Foss River and the Ouse River. Pieces of the original Roman walls still stand as well as the city gates. However, most of the city walls we see are from medieval times, when the Vikings had taken over the area. In fact, all the streets have Viking names. Instead of "Monk Street", it's called "Monkgate", because gate means street. They called the city Jorvik (and the "J" is pronounced like a "Y"), which is where we get the current name [View Full Entry]

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I'm spending the night at Deanna's house tonight. All her housemates have left to go on various trips for the half term break, so she has invited over the young adult group from her church. They always have a prayer session on Sunday nights. And, oh, she cooked!! Banana bread, magic bars (which are like six layer bars), and pizza. I totally make a pig of myself. Deanna's friend, Igi, who is from Slovakia, brought his guitar, and he plays and sings for a while. It's such good American-style fun; it makes me miss home. Eventually, the prayer session begins. I [View Full Entry]

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I freakin' love the Piccadilly area. Even in the freezing cold, it seems romantic with all the lights and beautiful architecture. I'm at a semi-posh bar called Digress, where there is supposed to be a party of American expats. I've met only one other American here: that chick from Knoxville, Tennessee, whom I met on inauguration day a month ago. Still, I'm making the rounds, chatting with people. I meet two different Bangladeshi men who both stare at me as if I'm naked or something. I converse in Spanish with a handsome flight attendant from Uruguay. I meet a couple of [View Full Entry]

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Alex is a flight attendant I met in Costa Rica back in October of 2007. We kept in touch via facebook, and now that I live here, it's time to hang out. On like Donkey Kong. Today is her birthday, and her party is at a roller disco. They play music from the '70's and '80's while people fall all over themselves and each other trying to skate. Like everything else in England, the skating floor is about a third of the size of an American skating floor. Seriously, it's laughable how small this damn floor is. We go around and [View Full Entry]

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I need 800 British pounds for the new visa. Plus 600 for an immigration lawyer. Plus the UK Border Agency website says I should have at least 2,700 pounds in my bank account for at least three months prior (I guess they don't want another immigrant living off the government). Plus when I move into London, I'll need to pay a deposit on an apartment, which could be about 600 pounds. Plus, I'll probably have to fly back to the US to wait for my visa there. But anyway... Grand Total: 4,600 British pounds!! I need this before May 6, when [View Full Entry]

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"Is that the inspector?" my students loudly ask, pointing at the lady who is surrounded by papers and staring at them from the back of the room. I almost laugh from the bluntness of the question. "Yes, but you shouldn't point at people, and if you have a question about her, you should ask her." Every department gets audited, and since I switched from science to humanities...I'm faced with another audit. However, this time, the inspector will be observing the end of my year 7 foundations class. Foundations is a brand new course this year, and it combines PSHE ("character educati [View Full Entry]

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When Jodi invited me to go out with them tonight, she said, "Just come by the house. We're going to have a few drinks before we head out." I thought it would be about five people, the usual suspects. But this, is a full-fledged party! Loud music pumping, alcohol flowing, and I don't even know most of the people here. "Hey!" Jodi shouts over the music. "Would you like something to drink?" "No, thanks!" Honestly, I'm not a big drinker. I don't like the taste of most alcoholic beverages, and I don't like the heaviness in my stomach, like I'm dehydrated. [View Full Entry]

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