Saturday, August 6, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
"We should come home from adventures, and perils, and discoveries every day with new experience and character."
-Henry David Thoreau
I am on my way home today and considering those things that I've learned about the places I have visited and what I can appreciate about home when I get there. I have thoroughly enjoyed myself on this trip, thankful for the experiences and the people I've met. I am ready to go home however. I'm pretty sure I mentioned that before, but I'm just reinforcing it.
1. The best mode of transportation in both London and Paris is a motorcycle. They can pretty much go wherever they want to and weave through traffic when it gets really bad. I really like the ones that look a little like reverse tricycles with the two wheels in front. I'm not sure what they're called.
2. Everyone here dresses really well. Londoners are impeccable, Parisians are a little more messy but still very well dressed. I felt like a slob most days but I do at home too, so I guess that's not that different.
3. Being in London was strange with the emphasis on royalty. This whole concept is truly foreign to me. I know we have t-shirts with presidents but that changes at least once a decade. I can't imagine what it would be like to be from a nation with a queen and a royal wedding. We saw the wedding dress at Buckingham Palace and it was pretty, but I wouldn't want that to be me at all. Plus I wouldn't want my face to be plastered everywhere.
4. The ease of travel on both the tube and the metro was really nice and easy. I don't have to drive or sit in traffic which is wonderful, because traffic makes me cranky. I'll miss this.
5. I'll also miss walking by old and beautiful buildings everyday. I don't think the locals really understand how cool it is to walk by buildings that are hundreds of years old.
6. I won't miss the lack of spaciousness. I'm very American in the sense that I like my space and my personal bubble. I've heard this is much worse in a place like China or Japan. I guess I'd deal with it and still enjoy myself there if need be. But I look forward to going home with 4 acres, my own room and a queen sized bed all to myself.
7. I don't know nearly enough about English or French history. It's almost essential in understanding half of what you're observing. Next time I need a timeline of important people and events to keep everything straight. I think all of it would make more sense and I would feel like a more competent tourist (is that an inherent contradiction?).
8. I sweated too much. I would have appreciated a little more air conditioning but that's alright. I survived and hopefully will be in better shape for it.
9. On that same note, I have a love/hate with all these crazy stairs. I think I would have appreciated being at least one floor lower. But I know that going up and down all the stairs that are literally EVERYWHERE, have been very good for me. I realize how America is one of the most overweight countries in the world and it's because we don't have stairs everywhere that we have to walk to everyday. So part of me will miss them but another part of me won't at all.
10. I truly enjoy traveling and meeting new people. I will miss them all dearly and I will miss the newness of the cities I visited. I want to see so much more of the world and look forward to saving time and money in order to do just that.
Thanks everyone for making this trip wonderful! I'll probably continue to blog somewhat but maybe not daily.
I am on my way home today and considering those things that I've learned about the places I have visited and what I can appreciate about home when I get there. I have thoroughly enjoyed myself on this trip, thankful for the experiences and the people I've met. I am ready to go home however. I'm pretty sure I mentioned that before, but I'm just reinforcing it.
1. The best mode of transportation in both London and Paris is a motorcycle. They can pretty much go wherever they want to and weave through traffic when it gets really bad. I really like the ones that look a little like reverse tricycles with the two wheels in front. I'm not sure what they're called.
2. Everyone here dresses really well. Londoners are impeccable, Parisians are a little more messy but still very well dressed. I felt like a slob most days but I do at home too, so I guess that's not that different.
3. Being in London was strange with the emphasis on royalty. This whole concept is truly foreign to me. I know we have t-shirts with presidents but that changes at least once a decade. I can't imagine what it would be like to be from a nation with a queen and a royal wedding. We saw the wedding dress at Buckingham Palace and it was pretty, but I wouldn't want that to be me at all. Plus I wouldn't want my face to be plastered everywhere.
4. The ease of travel on both the tube and the metro was really nice and easy. I don't have to drive or sit in traffic which is wonderful, because traffic makes me cranky. I'll miss this.
5. I'll also miss walking by old and beautiful buildings everyday. I don't think the locals really understand how cool it is to walk by buildings that are hundreds of years old.
6. I won't miss the lack of spaciousness. I'm very American in the sense that I like my space and my personal bubble. I've heard this is much worse in a place like China or Japan. I guess I'd deal with it and still enjoy myself there if need be. But I look forward to going home with 4 acres, my own room and a queen sized bed all to myself.
7. I don't know nearly enough about English or French history. It's almost essential in understanding half of what you're observing. Next time I need a timeline of important people and events to keep everything straight. I think all of it would make more sense and I would feel like a more competent tourist (is that an inherent contradiction?).
8. I sweated too much. I would have appreciated a little more air conditioning but that's alright. I survived and hopefully will be in better shape for it.
9. On that same note, I have a love/hate with all these crazy stairs. I think I would have appreciated being at least one floor lower. But I know that going up and down all the stairs that are literally EVERYWHERE, have been very good for me. I realize how America is one of the most overweight countries in the world and it's because we don't have stairs everywhere that we have to walk to everyday. So part of me will miss them but another part of me won't at all.
10. I truly enjoy traveling and meeting new people. I will miss them all dearly and I will miss the newness of the cities I visited. I want to see so much more of the world and look forward to saving time and money in order to do just that.
Thanks everyone for making this trip wonderful! I'll probably continue to blog somewhat but maybe not daily.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
"I have friends in overalls whose friendship I would not swap for the favor of the kings of this world."
-Thomas A. Edison
Today we went to Buckingham Palace and Hard Rock Cafe (London).
1. A good cheeseburger is still my favorite food. I've tried a few different things since I've been here but a cheeseburger is still the best. When I finally tried bangers and mash, I ended up with a long curled up sausage that looked more like poo than anything else. My fancy sandwich at tea made me gag. Although chocolate croissants made a giant leap up the list and are now in the top of my favored desserts.
2. I appreciate air conditioners so much more. We are on the top floor of a building that I believe constantly has the heater on in the hallway, so we sweat most of the time. Fortunately there is usually enough of a breeze to make it more bearable.
3. Buckingham Palace was pretty, but I think the crowds detract from the beauty (or maybe I've just been around too many crowds recently).
4. I am finally ready to go home. I think I prepared myself for about 3 weeks worth of being away and now I am running on empty. I've enjoyed myself amazingly, but I miss my bed and the comfort of being home. You know, my own shower and my own room and all that stuff.
My blog once I get home will do a little compare/contrast of things I've noticed. Until then - Cheerio!
Today we went to Buckingham Palace and Hard Rock Cafe (London).
1. A good cheeseburger is still my favorite food. I've tried a few different things since I've been here but a cheeseburger is still the best. When I finally tried bangers and mash, I ended up with a long curled up sausage that looked more like poo than anything else. My fancy sandwich at tea made me gag. Although chocolate croissants made a giant leap up the list and are now in the top of my favored desserts.
2. I appreciate air conditioners so much more. We are on the top floor of a building that I believe constantly has the heater on in the hallway, so we sweat most of the time. Fortunately there is usually enough of a breeze to make it more bearable.
3. Buckingham Palace was pretty, but I think the crowds detract from the beauty (or maybe I've just been around too many crowds recently).
4. I am finally ready to go home. I think I prepared myself for about 3 weeks worth of being away and now I am running on empty. I've enjoyed myself amazingly, but I miss my bed and the comfort of being home. You know, my own shower and my own room and all that stuff.
My blog once I get home will do a little compare/contrast of things I've noticed. Until then - Cheerio!
"Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts."
-Charles Dickens
I tried to embed my glogster, but it was too big for the column on my blog and the archive list ran over the page. So here is the link to the best page you'll ever see on Charles Dickens and his work:
http://cassarole2.glogster.com/cdickens/
I hope you enjoy it!
Now I'm embedding it since it's further down the page.
I tried to embed my glogster, but it was too big for the column on my blog and the archive list ran over the page. So here is the link to the best page you'll ever see on Charles Dickens and his work:
http://cassarole2.glogster.com/cdickens/
I hope you enjoy it!
Now I'm embedding it since it's further down the page.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
"Attention to health is life's greatest hindrance."
-Plato
Today I learned all about going to the hospital in England. So this will be more of a story than a list of things learned.
This morning a few hours after I woke up I started feeling a mild pain on my left side near my stomach. I thought it would go away, but it didn't.
Later in the day I found I was having a hard time standing up (about 11:30) and Theresa was kind enough to take care of me until the First Aid lady showed up. This was at Hampton Court, by the way. I did learn a few tidbits about Henry VIII and William and Mary before sitting on the ground in pain. So anyway, I followed the lady to the room and she suggested that I eat and drink something since it was a hot day and then if I didn't feel better in an hour to go to a walk-in clinic.
In less than an hour, I was feeling worse and Dr. Everhart (another kind soul), suggested we go ahead and get back on the train for London so we could at least be closer to a familiar area and I could rest in the flat. After boarding the train the plan quickly changed to going straight to the A&E (not the TV channel but Britain's version of the ER). And then, very shortly after that, the plan changed to getting off at the next station and calling for an ambulance, which happened to be in Surbiton. Apparently, I was looking rather green and I could not seem to get comfortable in any position.
We waited on the platform for the medics to arrive which they did in good form and positive spirit. Mark and Allison were extremely kind and at this point I let them know that my pain was about a 7.7. They gave me something that had a name, but I forgot it. Essentially it was oxygen and nitrous oxide. So I sucked on that until the pain made it down to about a 5 or 6. Then we walked to the ambulance.
In the ambulance, they asked for some more information and I was able to clearly give it to them, even though I was a bit dizzy. We finally left for the hospital. About half way there, the pain jumped to a 9 and I couldn't play it cool any more. I started crying. That's when they realized that I was in real pain. Again, Dr. Everhart was a strong tower through everything, making sure that the driver was doing everything she could to get us to the hospital quickly. This was when things really started to blur for me and my eyes for closed for a long while.
Being wheeled into the hospital, I found myself feeling a definite surge of pain up to 10. It truly was the worst pain I'd ever felt in my life. I started breathing very quickly and I think wailing a little. I'm not trying to be dramatic; it just really hurt that badly. I finally got my breathing on track and was permanently attached to my laughing gas. I made it to the bed somehow in the midst of all of that.
The ambulance people left. Some nurses came in and drew blood. I hid my head against the bars while laying on my side because it was the only comfortable way to be.
Finally the doctor made it in and I got some morphine and codeine. I also had to have a urine test at that point. I think I eventually fell asleep for a little while.
Well, after all of the drama and waiting, turns out I was either somewhat dehydrated or just had a very very severe stomach ache. Kind of anti-climatic. The tests all came out okay and the pain was on the wrong side to be my appendix. Plus I felt completely okay after the drugs, just tired.
So we took a taxi back. I'm now in my flat and still feeling good, just a little afraid of eating anything. The best part was...we didn't get charged anything for the trip. Apparently, a charge would have only been incurred if I had to be admitted for anything.
It was kind of a crazy day and it feels sort of faint and far away now, but I don't think I'll ever forget it. Thanks again, Dr. Everhart for being so helpful and for being good company.
Please don't worry, family, I really am okay.
Today I learned all about going to the hospital in England. So this will be more of a story than a list of things learned.
This morning a few hours after I woke up I started feeling a mild pain on my left side near my stomach. I thought it would go away, but it didn't.
Later in the day I found I was having a hard time standing up (about 11:30) and Theresa was kind enough to take care of me until the First Aid lady showed up. This was at Hampton Court, by the way. I did learn a few tidbits about Henry VIII and William and Mary before sitting on the ground in pain. So anyway, I followed the lady to the room and she suggested that I eat and drink something since it was a hot day and then if I didn't feel better in an hour to go to a walk-in clinic.
In less than an hour, I was feeling worse and Dr. Everhart (another kind soul), suggested we go ahead and get back on the train for London so we could at least be closer to a familiar area and I could rest in the flat. After boarding the train the plan quickly changed to going straight to the A&E (not the TV channel but Britain's version of the ER). And then, very shortly after that, the plan changed to getting off at the next station and calling for an ambulance, which happened to be in Surbiton. Apparently, I was looking rather green and I could not seem to get comfortable in any position.
We waited on the platform for the medics to arrive which they did in good form and positive spirit. Mark and Allison were extremely kind and at this point I let them know that my pain was about a 7.7. They gave me something that had a name, but I forgot it. Essentially it was oxygen and nitrous oxide. So I sucked on that until the pain made it down to about a 5 or 6. Then we walked to the ambulance.
In the ambulance, they asked for some more information and I was able to clearly give it to them, even though I was a bit dizzy. We finally left for the hospital. About half way there, the pain jumped to a 9 and I couldn't play it cool any more. I started crying. That's when they realized that I was in real pain. Again, Dr. Everhart was a strong tower through everything, making sure that the driver was doing everything she could to get us to the hospital quickly. This was when things really started to blur for me and my eyes for closed for a long while.
Being wheeled into the hospital, I found myself feeling a definite surge of pain up to 10. It truly was the worst pain I'd ever felt in my life. I started breathing very quickly and I think wailing a little. I'm not trying to be dramatic; it just really hurt that badly. I finally got my breathing on track and was permanently attached to my laughing gas. I made it to the bed somehow in the midst of all of that.
The ambulance people left. Some nurses came in and drew blood. I hid my head against the bars while laying on my side because it was the only comfortable way to be.
Finally the doctor made it in and I got some morphine and codeine. I also had to have a urine test at that point. I think I eventually fell asleep for a little while.
Well, after all of the drama and waiting, turns out I was either somewhat dehydrated or just had a very very severe stomach ache. Kind of anti-climatic. The tests all came out okay and the pain was on the wrong side to be my appendix. Plus I felt completely okay after the drugs, just tired.
So we took a taxi back. I'm now in my flat and still feeling good, just a little afraid of eating anything. The best part was...we didn't get charged anything for the trip. Apparently, a charge would have only been incurred if I had to be admitted for anything.
It was kind of a crazy day and it feels sort of faint and far away now, but I don't think I'll ever forget it. Thanks again, Dr. Everhart for being so helpful and for being good company.
Please don't worry, family, I really am okay.
Monday, August 1, 2011
"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."
-J.M. Barrie
Today we visited Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. We also enjoyed High Tea this afternoon.
1. I definitely am not sophisticated enough for high tea and finger sandwiches. It was nice to try a couple of new things but my tea was full of milk and sugar. Plus the only piece of food I ate totally was the chocolate pastry. It was delicious however.
2. My body is angry with me. With every set of stairs I come upon I wonder if my legs will just absolutely refuse.
3. Sitting in the park under the shade of a big tree is one of my favorite things in the world. If I'd had my water bottle and a book with me I probably would have stayed for the rest of the afternoon. Don't let the book fool you however, I most likely would have fallen asleep before opening it.
4. Dogs really do make the world a better place. There were people all over the parks with their dogs, of every shape and size. My dogs drive me crazy sometimes but it'll be nice to be back around them.
5. I'm starting to be ready to go home. I have loved my time here, but I'm tired and would like to be back in the place that I do call home.
6. I need to play on playgrounds more often.
Today we visited Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. We also enjoyed High Tea this afternoon.
1. I definitely am not sophisticated enough for high tea and finger sandwiches. It was nice to try a couple of new things but my tea was full of milk and sugar. Plus the only piece of food I ate totally was the chocolate pastry. It was delicious however.
2. My body is angry with me. With every set of stairs I come upon I wonder if my legs will just absolutely refuse.
3. Sitting in the park under the shade of a big tree is one of my favorite things in the world. If I'd had my water bottle and a book with me I probably would have stayed for the rest of the afternoon. Don't let the book fool you however, I most likely would have fallen asleep before opening it.
4. Dogs really do make the world a better place. There were people all over the parks with their dogs, of every shape and size. My dogs drive me crazy sometimes but it'll be nice to be back around them.
5. I'm starting to be ready to go home. I have loved my time here, but I'm tired and would like to be back in the place that I do call home.
6. I need to play on playgrounds more often.
"Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment."
-Claude Monet
This is the blog post for the rest of my weekend in Paris which included many adventures, some of which will be included. If you want to know more you'll have to ask me.
1. The Museum Pass for Paris is the best way to go. Angela is amazing in suggesting the purchase of such a wonderful trinket. For only 35 euros you can get into a long list of museums for two days. It's awesome. What's even better is that the pass also lets you go to the front of the line on some of the sites like the Arc de Triomphe and the Sainte Chapelle. Thanks again, Angela!
2. I love Monet's work (hence the quote). I was never really impressed by the pictures when they were simply in a book or cast on an overhead or blown up for a billboard. But walking into a room where Blue Water Lilies is hanging in the center, completely changed my mind. I stopped and came very close to crying. I loved every moment of standing in that room, even when I went back later and there were tons of people around. This was at the Musee d'Orsay, by the way.
3. I definitely feel more comfortable in London. This could be for many reasons, like language, being here longer and feeling confident in the Tube system.
4. You can never have too many pictures of the Eiffel Tower. OK, maybe you can but I cannot. Every time I turned around and saw it I felt compelled to take yet another picture. I haven't counted them yet, but I'm sure it's the thing I have photographed the most on this entire trip. The best was seeing it lit at night and then glitter with lights. I was obsessed, just ask Jennifer. I was so giddy. The second time around, I had to convince myself to stop taking pictures because they all looked the same and I just needed to take it all in instead, which I did eventually.
5. I love interactive kid activities at museums. The Architecture Museum had several and I'm pretty sure I made monsters, built a house for M-O and tried to make a stained glass window (I didn't really succeed at the last one).
6. M-O was an excellent companion for the trip, but he doesn't hold signs nearly as well as WALL-E, maybe because his hands are a cleaner brush.
This is the blog post for the rest of my weekend in Paris which included many adventures, some of which will be included. If you want to know more you'll have to ask me.
1. The Museum Pass for Paris is the best way to go. Angela is amazing in suggesting the purchase of such a wonderful trinket. For only 35 euros you can get into a long list of museums for two days. It's awesome. What's even better is that the pass also lets you go to the front of the line on some of the sites like the Arc de Triomphe and the Sainte Chapelle. Thanks again, Angela!
2. I love Monet's work (hence the quote). I was never really impressed by the pictures when they were simply in a book or cast on an overhead or blown up for a billboard. But walking into a room where Blue Water Lilies is hanging in the center, completely changed my mind. I stopped and came very close to crying. I loved every moment of standing in that room, even when I went back later and there were tons of people around. This was at the Musee d'Orsay, by the way.
3. I definitely feel more comfortable in London. This could be for many reasons, like language, being here longer and feeling confident in the Tube system.
4. You can never have too many pictures of the Eiffel Tower. OK, maybe you can but I cannot. Every time I turned around and saw it I felt compelled to take yet another picture. I haven't counted them yet, but I'm sure it's the thing I have photographed the most on this entire trip. The best was seeing it lit at night and then glitter with lights. I was obsessed, just ask Jennifer. I was so giddy. The second time around, I had to convince myself to stop taking pictures because they all looked the same and I just needed to take it all in instead, which I did eventually.
5. I love interactive kid activities at museums. The Architecture Museum had several and I'm pretty sure I made monsters, built a house for M-O and tried to make a stained glass window (I didn't really succeed at the last one).
6. M-O was an excellent companion for the trip, but he doesn't hold signs nearly as well as WALL-E, maybe because his hands are a cleaner brush.
"Paris is always a good idea."
-Audrey Hepburn
This post is for Friday, since I was cut off from the Internet all weekend, my Paris weekend will come in two parts. One is for Friday with the entire and class and the second will be for Saturday and Sunday combined.
1. Paris has only one skyscraper. I can't remember the name of it now, but it was pretty cool to find that out. I liked that too, because it made the older buildings look more majestic and still imposing on those things around them. One example would be the Notre Dame Cathedral, which was amazing.
2. I can travel by train, boat, bus and metro all in one day. It makes for an extremely efficient way of seeing all the necessary sights of Paris in one day. For those of you who don't know, it was only Friday that was required for class and then we had the option of staying in Paris for the weekend or not, so Friday was packed full of all the highlights.
3. Paris really is for love. I saw plenty of people showing it quite openly on the streets.
4. The Mona Lisa is small, but not that small. I had heard that it was small from others who had seen it, but they must have exaggerated a bit, because it was quite a bit larger than I was anticipating from their comments.
5. Seeing the Victory of Samothrace was even better than I thought it would be. I'm glad I made this a priority.
6. You can get 5 little Eiffel Tower key chains for just one euro. And better than that, there are nice men all over the place offering you this amazing deal! And do you know what's even more amazing than that? I managed to resist this tempting offer. Crazy, I know.
This post is for Friday, since I was cut off from the Internet all weekend, my Paris weekend will come in two parts. One is for Friday with the entire and class and the second will be for Saturday and Sunday combined.
1. Paris has only one skyscraper. I can't remember the name of it now, but it was pretty cool to find that out. I liked that too, because it made the older buildings look more majestic and still imposing on those things around them. One example would be the Notre Dame Cathedral, which was amazing.
2. I can travel by train, boat, bus and metro all in one day. It makes for an extremely efficient way of seeing all the necessary sights of Paris in one day. For those of you who don't know, it was only Friday that was required for class and then we had the option of staying in Paris for the weekend or not, so Friday was packed full of all the highlights.
3. Paris really is for love. I saw plenty of people showing it quite openly on the streets.
4. The Mona Lisa is small, but not that small. I had heard that it was small from others who had seen it, but they must have exaggerated a bit, because it was quite a bit larger than I was anticipating from their comments.
5. Seeing the Victory of Samothrace was even better than I thought it would be. I'm glad I made this a priority.
6. You can get 5 little Eiffel Tower key chains for just one euro. And better than that, there are nice men all over the place offering you this amazing deal! And do you know what's even more amazing than that? I managed to resist this tempting offer. Crazy, I know.
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| The Victory of Samothrace |
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| M-O went with me to Paris, because he's small and his limbs don't get lost in my bag. |
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