Venice was…exactly what I had always dreamed. Twinkling lights reflected from the water as countless couples strolled lovingly arm in arm. The stars shone merrily from above while gondolas waited patiently along the sides of the canals. Numerous bridges gracefully connected the winding streets lined with pizzerias, gelato shops, and wine bars. Giddy with excitement on our first night in Venice, my friends and I traveled - arms linked - through a small part of the city near our hostel…over bridges, through alleyways, and under lighted archways…singing cheesy love songs to e [View Full Entry]

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After a nightmarish situation of being stuck in Chicago for two days, I finally reached the comforts and loveliness that is home...only to fall horribly ill. Went straight to bed upon getting home and didn't wake up until Christmas morning except every four or so hours to vomit. Absolutely ridiculous, but the optimistic side of me can't help but to thank the heavens that this great fun didn't happen until after my grand European adventure. I can't imagine how awful it would have been to have thrown up all over Gaudí's fabulous creations in Barcelona, the Roman ruins at the Coliseum, [View Full Entry]

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After hearing only fantastic reviews about Barcelona, I was nervous that people were talking it up too much for me and that I would be disappointed. My dictionary.com word of the day for Friday, Dec 12 was beatific: bee-uh-TIF-ik, adjective, 1) exaltedly happy; blissful, 2) blessing or making exceedingly happy. I knocked on wood multiple times before leaving England so that the numerous predictions I received for a great trip would not be jinxed. After a long day of traveling, my friend Jo and I finally reached our hostel in Barca, and the second we stepped back outside the next morning [View Full Entry]

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My final papers have been submitted into official-looking wooden boxes in their respective departments. My physiology exam rests in the hands of the course director to be graded. My room is now halfway packed, one suitcase stuffed full of memories, the other suitcase waiting to be filled. It's all rather symbolic, actually, because right now I feel like half of me can't wait to leave for Europe and then home...but the other half inevitably wonders: where has the time gone? Without having to study or write papers or complete other academically stressful responsibilities that usually keep my [View Full Entry]

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If there is ever a time to be homesick while studying abroad, I'm pretty sure the holiday season is a very legitimate time. I had never celebrated Thanksgiving without my family, so I was expecting dinner with Lily's study abroad program to feel quite awkward. Fortunately, I was wrong; I actually had a really good time and was very thankful that I was able to celebrate Thanksgiving with some of my closest friends in England. Dickinson College, where Lily goes to school, has a huge connection with UEA, and they rotate their own professors to teach here in Norwich. Because of [View Full Entry]

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I had an amazing weekend with two of my closest friends...in Prague! Kelsey is studying there for the semester, and Marie and I wanted to see that part of Europe (and Kelsey, too, I guess :). So the three of us found ourselves together in the Czech Republic on one of the most memorable adventures of our friendship yet. It was my first time traveling out of England by myself, and everything went really smoothly. Marie and I landed in Prague at almost the same time on Saturday afternoon to be met by Kelsey. It was one of those really sweet [View Full Entry]

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My weekend in Edinburgh (ed-in-brra) -Scottish pronunciation- or (ed-in-bor-oh) -English pronunciation- with the International Students Society was stowed oot (full to the brim)! It was great! I had originally signed up for the trip not knowing anyone - all of my friends had either already been to Edinburgh or were too busy with coursework this weekend - but I figured it would be a very long time before I would again get such a convenient opportunity to see Scotland, so I signed up anyway, thinking that the point of ISS is to meet new people, and I was right! I ended [View Full Entry]

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In between London and Norwich lies Cambridge, a city bursting with intellect and promises for even more world-changing discoveries to come. I had heard only great things about Cambridge, so when Jillian and I talked about the possibility for a day trip together somewhere in England, I suggested the gorgeous city where Francis Crick and James Watson discovered the structure of DNA at Cambridge University. Well, I didn't really say all of this to Jillian - I just told her that it is a really beautiful city - but secretly, I wanted to visit the place that helped to build the [View Full Entry]

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On Friday, I attended an English Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee). If you You-Tube "Ceilidh," you will find some really funny footage of awkward people dancing around...which is basically what a Ceilidh is. We learned dances from the Jane Austen era, listened to English folk music, and it was actually a lot of fun, despite how dorky it all looks. Then, at the end of the night, people got onstage to sing traditional songs from their own countries, which was really enjoyable. There was a man from Egypt and a woman from Ireland who were my personal favorites. I was going to sing [View Full Entry]

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Have I told you that I'm also taking an English course for extra credit? Not really, but I may as well be taking a class; I add a new word or phrase almost every day. Here is a little dictionary I have compiled thus far of all the British lingo I have learned. American English vs. British English -aluminum = aluminium -angry/sad/regretful = gutted -apartment = flat -bathroom = toilet/loo -buck (dollar) = quid -call = ring -cell phone = mobile phone -cigarette = fag People don’t buy pre-made cigarettes [View Full Entry]

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