April 25/2010 :: 21 Years of Awesome

Day 93
Mood: Awesome
Weather: Yesterday was 20 degrees, today is cooler but still nice


Hello everyone! Welcome to my birthday post!

Yes, April 25th is my 21st Birthday! 21 years ago my awesome mom took the time to give birth to me. Very sweet of her and she couldn't have picked a better day. I love having this date as my birthday. Classes are usually ending up, it's ANZAC day -which means something to me as a history buff- and it's spring!! It's definitely spring by this point!

So this post shall be a long one today, going over what I've already done for my birthday. I might do something tonight but last night was the real party.

But before we do all that...let's look at a year in review.


My 20th Year

Good times, bad times, my 20th year was pretty intense! I've met new people and lost others.

My year started off with an awesome bowling birthday party with 6 of the most awesome people in existence. I had finished up school at Guelph and had a summer to look forward to. I took 2 summer courses and got a little promotion at work. The summer of 2009 was when I started working as a Deck Supervisor at the pool. I now had new found responsibility. That also meant some of the most challenging work experiences in my life occured.

But I handled them, I handled all of them.

I had outings with people from the pool, went to movies and held events at the pool like 'Pirate Day' and 'Hawaiian Day'. It was awesome.

My 20th year was also the year that I commuted to Guelph for the first semester, took the bus every Tuesday and Thursday to get to class. It was strenuous but it was fun. I enjoyed staying at home with my family.

My 20th year also had lots of stress on my as Oxford-Brookes continually sent me information late or didn't send enough information at all. I remember there being times that I considered dropping out of the whole program and just living at home. (I'm so glad I didn't though.)

My 20th year was also the year when I lost someone dear to me. A close friend from high school, with whom I had regretfully distanced myself from during my university years, passed away of a long term illness. It was a very intense time but I was able to attend the funeral and hopefully make amends. I was also able to bridge a friendship I'd never thought would be bridged -but always hoped to-. It was a learning experience and very difficult.

My 20th year also had me going abroad to England!! My 21st year will finish up that experience in 4 weeks. But my 20th year had me flying out to England and meeting new -and very awesome- people. In my 20th year I visited Wales and Dublin, visited London and Bath. Took new classes in a new country. Had a rocking time!

So overall, my 20th year has been a mixed experience but overall I've enjoyed it!


Now for what I did to celebrate my birthday. (Due to homework concerns of my friends I pushed most of the festivities forward to the 24th.)

We went on the bus to London and walked past Buckingham Palace. I hadn't seen it yet. It was gorgeous!!

We then had a picnic at St. Jame's Park. The weather was GORGEOUS! We could sit in the fields and admire all the pretty foliage. We brought our lunch with us and it was a very nice day. I enjoyed it immensely.

We then walked through a big party. Yesterday was St. George's Day (he's the one that slayed the dragon). There was a concert and performances. It was pretty wicked! Then we walked up to a comic store called 'Forbidden Planet' where I was able to buy something I'd been looking for. My life was then complete.

However, then VT and Syd took over and said there was a 'special location' we had to go to. I enjoy surprises as much as the next person, if not a little more. I played along, without a clue as to where we were headed. And then we arrived at the most awesome place ever!

The Maple Leaf! The only Canadian themed pub in the city! All the bartenders were from Canada and I had a lovely conversation with a girl from Kitchener and another from Guelph. Apparently Canadian girls tend to talk fast (with a strong accent) because the one girl's boyfriend had to stop us because he couldn't understand anymore. It was awesome! I had some Moosehead lager (which was okay but a little too much...I didn't finish the last mouthful). We also shared a platter of poutine. It was so awesome.

I'm so lucky to have such awesome friends here!

We then went to the London Eye. One of my best friends from back home was abroad last semester and for her birthday she went on the London Eye. I wanted to do the same. So we bought our tickets, watched the 4D prep show, and then got in line. It was a pretty short line and we were soon in the London Eye. It was awesome!

There I am!! Awesome view right!!

After that we went home and some other dear friends came over. They decided we would do cake that night. I have noooo problem with early cake. And I had been told it was an epic cake. It was quite curious. Turns out it was more epic than I could imagine! They had somehow managed to fashion a picture of David Tennant, the Tardis and a Dalek (from Doctor Who) out of icing! It was amazing!

Obviously,

I got the piece of cake with David Tennant on it. And Then I ate him. I look a little crazy in that picture but I assure you it was all because I was happy.

Then I skyped people from home and watched the newest Doctor Who episode [which was the best one yet]!

All in all an awesome day.

It's currently the morning of my birthday and I'm not planning on doing much. Perhaps going out to eat tonight or something of the like. But it doesn't matter because my birthday has already been awesome!!

Thanks to all my awesome friends!!!

:: Julianne ::

February 21/2010 :: London Take 2

Day 30
Mood: Sore
Weather: Yesterday was chilly but no rain! Sunny even for some of the time!! Today it's sunny.
Word of the Day: "Excuse me children."

We visited London a second time and it was quite the event!!

Look at that view! Isn't it gorgeous!

We got there around 11:30. Etsy and Hamilton got off early to go shopping. The rest of us (Southern Belle, California, VT, Syd and myself) got off on the last stop in order to go to the Imperial War Museum. It was absolutely gorgeous!! We saw planes, tanks, they'd rebuilt the trenches and there was also a 'Blitz' experience. It was great. There was so much stuff there to see (though a few inaccuracies). In a lot of the WWI exhibits I got the impression that the Germans were made out to be 'bad guys'. That, in my opinion, is completely wrong. The Germans, like every other nation involved in WWI, was disillusioned and completely innocent of blame. In fact, Germany tried to encourage the Austria-Hungarian Empire not to start a war with Serbia. It's just a little sad to be teaching people that there are 'sides' in a war like that when both sides are wrong. Both countries get hurt.

There were pretty planes.

We also went through a Holocaust experience. It's sad that they didn't care to mention the homosexuals, blacks and handicapped people that were involved. They graced over mention of gypsies but didn't give them much attention either. But overall the experience was very heavy. I want to go back in time, kidnap baby Hitler and take him away so that he can never do those things. Even though they can't completely be blamed on him. At the time every country was anti-Semetic. Just bring to light the fact that fleeing Jews were not allowed into Canada and the United States simply because the people there didn't want Jewish people in their country. It wasn't just the Nazis...the world caused it.

But anyway, moving on~

We spent several hours there and then walked to find a place to eat. We came across the best thing ever!!

Guess what that is~~

Yup, that's right! It's the Canadian High Commission at Trafalgar Square. Can you see the Vancouver 2010 signs? There are gold maple leafs on the front, provincial flags down the side. It's a gorgeous building~

And just around the corner I discovered a little place to appease the Canadians...though I won't give it away just yet.

:: Julianne ::

February 7/2010 :: London!

Day 16
Mood: Well slept but sore
Weather: Overcast, yesterday was overcast as well with periods of sun.
Word of the Day: "Wicked" as in "That play was wicked!!"

Yesterday, Day 15 of my stay here in Oxford, 5 of us went to London. Yes, London. We went in order to try and catch a showing of Wicked and perhaps see what else there was to see.

We woke at 5:30 am in order to catch the bus for 7:00 by traversing to the bus stop for 6:30. I had my lunch packed, my student card in my hand and butterflies in my stomach. We got on the bus, £10 for a two-way ticket. We didn't sleep much on the bus ride there. Too excited!

We arrived in London two hours later, 9:00 am, and went to have a bit of breakfast. I had eaten at home so I was basically fine. Then we joined the line for Wicked tickets. We hoped we would get some. Our International Student cards would offer us major discounts...if only we weren't stuck in a long line. Turns out we didn't need to fret. The evening show of Wicked at 7:30 pm wasn't sold out...not even close! We were able to get seats in the dress circle (regular £60) for an astonishing £25! All because we were students!!

We now had from 10:30 am - 7:30 pm to amuse ourselves. So we walked from Westminster to the National History museum. Admission was free so we stepped inside a rather awesome world.


Here is the sight you walk into the museum to see (This is the science museum attachment to the Natural History Museum)


There's a lot of fossil displays in the museum. Here is a Giant Sloth.


We waited in line to see the dinosaur exhibit and though it was cramped...it was quite amazing!


Giant stuffed anteater! I want one!!

When the Natural History Museum was over and we were getting tired we decided to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum down the street and see the Medieval and Renaissance artwork and displays. Part of Prince Albert's legacy to London which he had built in the wake of the Great Exhibition. Lots of gorgeous displays, one of which being this:


If this looks familiar to any HNMers you're right! There's a copy of this woodcarving in the Royal Ontario Museum. We had to examine it several times as history students when we went on trips to the ROM. This is the original woodcarving and it brings back a lot of good memories.

After the V&A Museum we left to grab some food and then took a trek to the river Thames to see the sights there. There was a massive protest going on with people dressed up as cows, Marmite and ladybugs (among other things). I do believe I saw a male blow up sex doll being passed around. Awkward. But we saw some gorgeous things before the camera batteries I had were killed by the cold.

Most of those photos can be found on my facebook cause they need rotation. But...

Eye of London!

Anyway, after this we went to Pizza Hut for dinner and then proceeded to the show. Wicked was amazing. I am so glad I got to see it. Very impressive stage and technical effects. The chemistry of the characters was fantastic and the singing was absolutely amazing. Not to mention the jokes being hilarious. It was a great time. An absolutely great time.

Took the bus home at 11:00 pm and got home at 12:30 am. Oh yes, a full day indeed and I'm sore from all the walking. But totally worth it!

::Julianne::