We're in Ireland!! Thursday I had it all planned out for us to leave on a train from London Euston to Holyhead wales. We departed at around 8, due to train delays (someone jumped in front of a train and killed themselves at a station, so they were all delayed.). We arrived in Wales at 12:45 am. We had a 2 hour layover, then we boarded this massive ferry (more like a cruise ship) for Dublin. It was a 3 hour ferry ride, of which we slept most of it on the couches in the lounge. Once we arrived it was 6 am, so we took a taxi from the ferry port to the hotel I had reserved. Once we arrived at the 'Belvedere', he informed me that my reservation was for 2 people not 3, ... read more

Yesterday (Sunday the 7th) was a long but fun and interesting day. We departed campus at around 9:20 am, on big coaches set for stonehenge and the city of Bath. The original plan was to go to stonehenge first, then to Bath, but because of rain, we diverted to Bath first, then did stonehenge. Took 2 and a half hours by bus to get there, so that wasn't much fun. Bath is a really interesting place. It was founded by the romans 2000 years ago, because of its hotsprings that welled up from it. They built a bath-house around the largest one, and the waters were said to have 'healing properties' when bathed in and with drank. Not to mention it is about 115 degrees out of the ground. Today, a 'museum' of sorts has ben ... read more

Today, the 4th of July, was probably the most exciting and amazing day we've had yet in London. Though, I must confess, it was also the longest and hardest. We walked probably around 10 miles today. Up and down and all around Central London (See the 'dragon statues I've included) to the Tower of London, all around the inside, to London Bridge, across London Bridge (on foot this time), to Westminster Abbey, all around the Inside, and then all over Hyde Park (350 acres). We started early, at 8. I guess I'm a slave driver, but I knew we had a lot to cover, so It was best we get a move on, even though we didn't get in till 12:30 last night, from Baker Stree (yes! 221b Baker Street, the most famous address in the ... read more

Hello! It is becoming more and more apparent to me that while the English and the Southern USA cultures are similar, they are also very different. One thing we have in common that the New York students here find odd is the friendliness and generally happy disposition. I can go to the supermarket in Corpus and people will say hello, nod, and say little things like 'hows the weather' or 'this fruit looks good'. The same seems to be true here. Everyone is generally happy and says hello when you pass. I really enjoy this aspect, because its comforting, more like being at home. Though, there are vast other difference. I find that people love the outdoors here. Every day I see countless numbers of people running, walking, walking their dogs, laying around in the grass, ... read more

I'm here! After a huge mess at the airpots, I'm here safe and sound, and have been now since 2:30pm london time, which is 8:30 am central time. My flight into Houston from Lubbock was supposed to leave at 1:10 pm CST on thursday. We boarded the plane, sat on the runway for 2 hours and then returned to the gate. We were at the gate until 6:10pm, at which time we re-boarded and finally took off. The weather around Houston was really bad, and therefore we couldn't take off because so many planes were trying to get in and out still. Because of the delay, both Clara and I missed the 6:25pm flight to London, which was delayed to 7:20, but we both arrived around 7:40. We were booked over to the 10:25 flight though, ... read more