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Published: December 15th 2006
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Maddie
Just after she picked me up. That is her usual face If you haven't seen that episode of the simpsons that title will probably make nooooooooo sense.
Anyhoo, onto my thanksgiving break! At UVM we get a week off over thanksgiving, which is cool. For most of the break I went to a place just outside of Portland (the capital of Maine) callled Yarmouth. I travelled to Maine by Greyhound bus, because there is a terminal in Burlington which makes it really easy. Though driving straight to Yarmouth from Burlington should take about 4 hours, my bus ride took 8. This, I discovered, was because the bus went down to Boston before travelling up to Maine. But I didn't mind the time because there was cool stuff to look at outside the window. And I had a two seats to myself, so double the coolness. When the bus arrived in Boston, I discovered what traffic was like. Forget Mounts Bay Road in the morning, this was insane! There was traffic for miles and miles and endless miles, starting outside the city. So it took us a lot of extra time to get from just outside the city to the bus terminal in the city. Boston is beautiful, by the way. Anyway
L.L. Bean hats 1
Gotta love the ear flaps. And only one of us looks like Mrs Claus my connecting bus to Maine was at 4, and we were stuck in what seemed like a never ending tunnel at 10 to. I was ever so slightly worried. But luckily We pulled into the bus statio (which was so huge!) at 3 minutes to 4, and I just made it. Phew.
I arrived in Maine and waited to get picked up. Anita and Maddie, my roommate had come out to pick me up but had of course, got lost. The bus station was only a teensy bit dodgy. I got asked several times whether my parents had forgotten me. Kind of sad, if my parents had actually forgotten me. But they hadn't, so I didn'y cry. Much. Finally they arrived in one of the biggest freakin cars I have ever seen. EVER. There seem to be a lot of those here. Slightly scared of Maddie's driving but arrived at her house in one piece. The house was really cute, just like you would imagine an American house woul look like. I unpacked and then we went out for a drive to get some grocery stuff for thanksgiving and to visit L.L. Bean. I have to explain L.L. Bean
L.L. Bean hats 2
I liked the dots to you, it is an institution in Maine. It is a store that sells everything from clothes to snow shoes to fidhing gear and christmas stuff and furniture etc. But all good quality, really outdoorsy stuff. I noticed a lotof people in Maine were very outdoorsy looking, all healthy and active. I hoped some of it would rub off on me. It didn't. The store is open 24 hours a day, every single day of the year. It never closes, so they don't even put locks on the doors. So if you felt an urge to shop for hiking boots at 3am, you could absolutely do that. According to Maddie that is a common thing. Lots of people even go shopping on Christmas day. There was a massive boot outside the store we went to, which was cool. And a giant gingerbread town (in a glass case unfortunately). After L.L. Bean we went to a supermarket. I mention this because in the international foods aisle there were Bounties (the chocolate bar)! I did not know they were considered to be international, but I bought it to see if an international Bounty tasted better than the ones we have at home.
L.L. Bean hats 3
Weighing up whether actually being able to see was an important consideration when buying a beanie Suprisingly enough, it was the same!
The next day was the actual day of Thanksgiving. For breakfast we had fresh baked cinamon rolls. Mmmmm fresh baked cinamon rolls! Then for the meal there was the biggest turkey I have ever seen, and so much other food! The turkey was delicious! I tried something that was called candied yams. I think they were sweet potato in this kind of caramel-ish sauce, which was interesting. For dessert there were 4 different pies, all equally delicious. With whipped cream and icecream. So needless to say I was very full, but I did have the foresight to wear elastic waisted pants which turned out to be a blessing.
On the saturday Anita and her dad (who was visiting from switzerland) and I drove up to Acadia national park in Northern Maine. It is one of the lonely planet's recommended things to do in the states, and it was worth the drive. We drove up to the tope of the highest mountain, adn the view was amazing. But so freakin cold! I tried to take pictures but my fingers tsarted to lose feeling, so I put on my gloves. But then my fingers
Ahhh the outdoors
One of many examples of outdoorsy stuff that was everywhere were too fat to actually turn the camera on, or take pictures, so I had to push through the pain without the gloves. The rest of the park was beautiful, with all of these rocky outcrops where the waves crashed and a nice beach. It was interesting because at some places actually in the park were these amazing private houses.
After Acadia we started our journey back to Vermont, and saw some interesting things, such as a large lumberjack on the side of the road. The drive through Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont was worthwhile, the country around there is really beautiful, lots of one-of-a-kind stuff. For example, we stopped at a gift store called The Farmer's Daughter. The giant sign outside consisted of a girl reaching up to a shelf with her skirt blown all the way up. Classy. It was also in a barn. I am not sure if anyone knows this, but barns are freeeeeeeeeeezing! I had never been in a barn myself, so shopping below 0 was a new experience for me. But I got a cute I love Vermont button so that was cool.
In terms of what else has been going on,
this weekend was particularly interesting. A few of us went to party just off campus, then we were going to go to a fraternity. We eneded up getting a ride there by 2 army guys who were at the party because they were going home. One of them was very very drunk and had, as Anita and I saw when we were walking, his gun with him in the back of his pants! I think that is the first time I have ever seen someone with a gun! So that was interesting, and then he threw up outside the car. But we got to the frat and that was a good time, sans drunk army guy with a gun.
Only a week of classes left then we have finals! The weekend after finals about 10 people are going to be in New York, which will be an awesome time. There are 4 or 5 of us on the same flight, and a few of us are staying together, so anticipating a good weekend! After the weekend, Anita and I are off to Ecuador on the Tuesday night. Ill be there for just over two weeks which I am sooooo
Graceful as ever
Me trying to get onto the giant boot looking foward to. We are going to visit the capital, Quito, go to the biggest market in South America in Ottavalo, spend time in a backpacker beach town called Montenita. The rest of the time will be sent with a family in Guayaquil on the coast Anita has lived with before. Hopefully we will get to do an open topped train ride that goes up into the highlands. All of the people sit on the roof of the train for the journey. They say it takes 7 hours, but apparently actual train time is 5 hours. The other two hours are taken up getting the train back on the tracks after it inevitably derails from a particular spot along the way! I was a little worried about sitting on the top of the train when it derials, but apparently its perfectly safe, happens 'all the time' apparently. I'll be right. Hopefully.
The it's back to Burlington and the great States expedition with Miranda!
Missing you all, hope everything is great in Perth!
More updates to follow!
Steph xoxo
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