So?
How was the trip overall? That's a good question. Considering I was not looking forward to it when I first left...it ended up going much better than expected. There were a few moments that were very uncomfortable and extremely upsetting but I'm not going to bother focusing on them. Not worth my time at all.
The trip was amazing!!
My Original Goals
- see the beach
- have fish and chips on the beach
- go to the Doctor Who exhibit
- see the Imperial War museum in London
- watch Doctor Who on television the moment it airs
- get a Doctor Who figurine and Sonic Screwdriver
Overall: ACHIEVED!!
Plus, I made great friends!
Went through a volcanic experience.
Went on a pub crawl in Dublin.
Discovered I love cider.
Had a Starbar.
Was impressed with food costs.
Rode a double decker bus.
Lived 4 months without a cell phone.
Went under budget by 300 pounds.
Saw Wicked in the West End of London.
Went to 2 Tim Hortons.
Went to Jane Austen's home, went to Shakespeare's birthplace and grave.
Went inside Windsor Castle.
Visited the pub where J.R.R. Tolkien frequented.
Had fish and chips.
Tried Estonian foods.
Tried Vegemite (never again!).
Went to bars.
Discovered the movie Kung Pow.
Learned about the Estonian musical festival.
Survived English university.
Had a professor bring wine to class to share with the students.
Had the professor invite all students out to the pub after lecture.
Was flirted with.
Went on a ferry.
Took trains.
Went on the London Underground.
Saw the Hogwarts Express.
Touched the Tardis.
Laughed until I cried.
Overall...I give this experienced the highest marks it could achieve. Amazing!!
There's not much else I can say!!
Thank you to those who read my blog and commented. Thank you for supporting me in taking this big leap and thank you for paying attention to my ramblings. I really appreciate it.
I guess this is goodbye!!
:: Julianne ::
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Final Week Recap!! [Pt 2]
Day 118
Mood: Bitter sweet
Weather: Slightly overcast but by this point I'm used to it~
Quote of the Day: I believe inputting the song 'Blame Canada' would fit this section well.
So by Thursday my darling flatmate VT was back and it was time to go to Eastbourne for our final day trip. It was bitter sweet. I really enjoyed spending the entire day with the three loveliest ladies in all of Oxford. But it was my last full day with them. Southern Belle, California Girl and VT were the greatest friends I could have hoped for. Even though they decided to roast me the entire day (picking on poor Canadian me) I didn't mind...it only displayed how upset they were to lose me. Though having them continue to proclaim this fact didn't make me feel all too well about leaving the next day.
We took a 3 hour train to Eastbourne. We had to take the London Underground part way through. Thankfully we got a group rate and it only cost us 20 pounds for a return trip to Eastbourne!! That's half the original price!!! Plus, I got to go on the London underground. Well worth it!
The beach was beautiful! There was a pier with shops and an arcade. Needless to say I think there were a few people wasting some of their coinage. I was not one of them. XDD
We also had fish and chips on the beach! This was one of those goals I had set out for myself in going to England.
We also took a bus tour up to the Chalk Cliffs of 'Beachy Head'. (Beachy Head is a skewering of the original name which was French) Eastbourne was very significant during the wars, as a port town across the English channel.
Nice view huh!!
The chalk cliffs are also unprotected, which means the country allows erosion to naturally take place. The beach is protected but not the cliffs. In 1999 20 feet of the cliff fell away. We were told not to get too close to the end. We kinda did. We couldn't help it!!
We took the 3 hour train back and had a blast together. Though once home...we saw something spectacular. Unfortunately I did not get great pictures buuuuuut...
HOGWARTS EXPRESS!!
I don't know if you can make it out...but that, my friends, is the actual Hogwarts Express. They store it in Oxford (apparently) and were bringing it out for filming in London. So yes, I saw the actual Hogwarts Express.
Jealous?
I believe you should be!!
Day 119
Mood: Overflowing with Sadness
Weather: Sunny, warm, gorgeous
Quote of the Day: Insert tears here
This was the day I left my friends...it was full of tears and sadness. It was horrid. That is all that can be said.
I then headed to Watford, my final stop before going to Heathrow.
Day 120
Mood: Sad but a little excited
Weather: Sunny, warm, gorgeous
Quote of the Day: none
120 days in England...and it was time to go home. Family friends dropped me off at the airport 5 hours early. I hung out outside Terminal 3 for 2 hours with three suitcases and a backpack. Have you ever tried to shove all your suitcases in a single stall cause you really had to pee but couldn't leave them 'unattended'? No? I did. It sucked.
3 hours prior to boarding I dropped off my suitcases, paid the fee for a second bag and used up some of the leftover cash I still had on me. Then I lounged in the airport, bought 5 magazines and lunch and just chilled. It was okay, nerve wracking. I didn't want anything going wrong.
I boarded the plane and then realized...
I didn't want to go home. At all. I wanted to stay. Luckily I didn't cry but I was really upset upon take off.
I arrived back home at 6:00 pm local time. About....11:00 pm England time. I got through customs with NO QUEUE!! Yeah, arriving in London I had the same situation. No queue whatsoever. It was awesome. I picked up my bags, came out and...
No one was there. There was no one there to greet me. I had to stand there for 15 minutes before my parents and sisters finally showed up. I then cried cause I was happy to see them and gave my mom a big hug. We went out for dinner and I fell asleep at 9:00...2:00 am. XD
And thus concluded my trip to the UK!
I can say for sure that I will make it back one day. Hopefully with family so that I can show them around. There's a sense of pride there. I usually end up talking about England a great deal and irritating the people around me but...it was a big part of my life for 4 months and I couldn't simply shut up about it.
As for my goals?
Tune in for Part 3!! Final thoughts!!
Mood: Bitter sweet
Weather: Slightly overcast but by this point I'm used to it~
Quote of the Day: I believe inputting the song 'Blame Canada' would fit this section well.
So by Thursday my darling flatmate VT was back and it was time to go to Eastbourne for our final day trip. It was bitter sweet. I really enjoyed spending the entire day with the three loveliest ladies in all of Oxford. But it was my last full day with them. Southern Belle, California Girl and VT were the greatest friends I could have hoped for. Even though they decided to roast me the entire day (picking on poor Canadian me) I didn't mind...it only displayed how upset they were to lose me. Though having them continue to proclaim this fact didn't make me feel all too well about leaving the next day.
We took a 3 hour train to Eastbourne. We had to take the London Underground part way through. Thankfully we got a group rate and it only cost us 20 pounds for a return trip to Eastbourne!! That's half the original price!!! Plus, I got to go on the London underground. Well worth it!
The beach was beautiful! There was a pier with shops and an arcade. Needless to say I think there were a few people wasting some of their coinage. I was not one of them. XDD
We also had fish and chips on the beach! This was one of those goals I had set out for myself in going to England.
We also took a bus tour up to the Chalk Cliffs of 'Beachy Head'. (Beachy Head is a skewering of the original name which was French) Eastbourne was very significant during the wars, as a port town across the English channel.
Nice view huh!!The chalk cliffs are also unprotected, which means the country allows erosion to naturally take place. The beach is protected but not the cliffs. In 1999 20 feet of the cliff fell away. We were told not to get too close to the end. We kinda did. We couldn't help it!!
We took the 3 hour train back and had a blast together. Though once home...we saw something spectacular. Unfortunately I did not get great pictures buuuuuut...
HOGWARTS EXPRESS!!I don't know if you can make it out...but that, my friends, is the actual Hogwarts Express. They store it in Oxford (apparently) and were bringing it out for filming in London. So yes, I saw the actual Hogwarts Express.
Jealous?
I believe you should be!!
Day 119
Mood: Overflowing with Sadness
Weather: Sunny, warm, gorgeous
Quote of the Day: Insert tears here
This was the day I left my friends...it was full of tears and sadness. It was horrid. That is all that can be said.
I then headed to Watford, my final stop before going to Heathrow.
Day 120
Mood: Sad but a little excited
Weather: Sunny, warm, gorgeous
Quote of the Day: none
120 days in England...and it was time to go home. Family friends dropped me off at the airport 5 hours early. I hung out outside Terminal 3 for 2 hours with three suitcases and a backpack. Have you ever tried to shove all your suitcases in a single stall cause you really had to pee but couldn't leave them 'unattended'? No? I did. It sucked.
3 hours prior to boarding I dropped off my suitcases, paid the fee for a second bag and used up some of the leftover cash I still had on me. Then I lounged in the airport, bought 5 magazines and lunch and just chilled. It was okay, nerve wracking. I didn't want anything going wrong.
I boarded the plane and then realized...
I didn't want to go home. At all. I wanted to stay. Luckily I didn't cry but I was really upset upon take off.
I arrived back home at 6:00 pm local time. About....11:00 pm England time. I got through customs with NO QUEUE!! Yeah, arriving in London I had the same situation. No queue whatsoever. It was awesome. I picked up my bags, came out and...
No one was there. There was no one there to greet me. I had to stand there for 15 minutes before my parents and sisters finally showed up. I then cried cause I was happy to see them and gave my mom a big hug. We went out for dinner and I fell asleep at 9:00...2:00 am. XD
And thus concluded my trip to the UK!
I can say for sure that I will make it back one day. Hopefully with family so that I can show them around. There's a sense of pride there. I usually end up talking about England a great deal and irritating the people around me but...it was a big part of my life for 4 months and I couldn't simply shut up about it.
As for my goals?
Tune in for Part 3!! Final thoughts!!
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