I'll Be Home for Christmas

Hello! Well, I'm finally home and let me tell you...I won't be taking another plane ride for a really, really long time. But before I get into that, the few days before I left were pretty crazy. It started off with me finding out that I got a "C" in one of my classes. You see, the way they grade in England is much different from the States. You are graded not by your participation/a few papers/and knowledge of the reading, but by ONE yes, ONE 7 page paper at the end of the term. Okay, not bad, just do well on your paper right? WRONG. You could be the greatest writer in the world but if the Professor does not agree with your opinion (did I mention that the Professors in Europe don't think students are "educated" enough to have opinions in the first place?) then they will rip your paper to shreds...and that's what my Romanticism Professor did. Grammar (excellent), opinion (in my mind, well thought), and structure (not too bad..) still, I received a "C". One thing is for sure, after living in England and studying there for three months the one let down that I had was...well...SCHOOL! To me, the school system there teaches you HOW and WHAT to think where Caz I beleive teaches me how to write down WHAT I think and HOW what I think will look well on paper. Anyway, enough ranting...

That same day I went into town with my very good friend, Caroline Locatelli. We went shopping at H&M for some sweaters and scarves and to a cafe called the Secret Cellar. We had a great time talking about our plans for opening our own coffee shops, ex-boyfriends, religion, and what it would be like going back to Cazenovia. The next day my most lovely roommate in the world, Nikita Poland and I stayed up late and went to a hotel called Abode. It is apart of a chain owned by actor Michael Cain. Well, apparently he was supposed to be there that night so Nikita and I gabbed some of the best Pimms ever and sat in the back room outside of the dining room where everyone was seated. Even though we didn't get to see him, it was still loads of fun. The next day, Nikita, Caroline and I went back into town for some last minute presents. Before we had met up with Caroline though, Nikita and I stopped by the crepe stand near Waterstones (a.k.a Borders). The guy at the stand was British and he said something along the lines of, "Hello, what can I get you?" we told him what we wanted and as he was making ours these three little French girls came up next - suddenly, the guy started speaking French to them! We were like, ah cool! After fulfilling our order we saw that a few Spanish teens came up and asked for some crepes in broken English. The guy nodded and randomly started talking Spanish to them! The Spanish girls were more shocked than we were! Wow...a crepe man who can speak three different languages, very cool!

That night was our last night in town, we had a great time going to the Jolly Sailor and having a blast just talking and playing games. Later on, Nikita, Shanna and I went to Nikita's flat to say good-bye to our friends Rick and Erica (Illinois). I started SOBBING when I was saying good-bye to Erica. I tried to hold it in and then realized, what the heck am I doing? I've done so much with this girl!! and cried into her shoulder. Then I had to hug Rick, and he was like, "Don't cry, we've seen movies that most people have never even heard of!" which just made me cry some more. It was crazy, but I needed a good cry. Who knows when I will ever see these people again...

The next day was moving out day. I said good-bye to Mark, Jake and Ellen and climbed onto our bus unaware of the EXTREMELY long and frustrating journey ahead. When we finally got to the airport and on the plane, I immediately turned on the TV in front of me and watched three movies in a row (X-Files - I Want to Believe, Ghost Town, and Hellboy II - The Golden Army). I suggest the last two. All of a sudden, I checked to see what time it was...8:30pm...we were SUPPOSED to land thirty minutes ago! Me, my two friends named Ashley, and my friend Lindsay were all on the same flight to Syracuse that took off at 10:40. We all had these weird inclinations that we weren't going to make it on time. When we finally landed at 9:00pm we raced off of the plane, went through customs and got our luggage (which TOOK five billion years in my case). My friend Jen had a flight to Buffalo that left at the same time so when we both got our luggage we raced there together (the two Ashley's had already left and Lindsay was no where to be found). Now, my bags were really heavy (my Papa STILL has no idea how I did it) but I dragged that huge suitcase plus my over packed "bathroom" bag as well as my purse (stuffed with clothes that wouldn't fit) and my computer bag (which was full of presents). I got to the check-in point and, out of breath, I asked the guy if he could quickly check my bags. He asked me what flight I was on and I told him. After he looked up my flight and printed my ticket he told me straight off that I wasn't going to make it on time. That's when I started to cry. As he was charging me for my heavy luggage I called my mommy and told her what he had said. Mom calmed me down and reassured me that I was going to make it. I rushed over to the security check point and asked them if they could escort me to the front of the line because I had a flight to catch in 20 minutes. They looked at me like I was batty and said that everyone had the same flight to catch. I felt like bashing them in the head with my laptop. SAME FLIGHT!? Don't give me that crap...so I got in line and asked the people in front of me if I could get in front of them. One woman thought I was lying and asked me when my flight was. I said, "It's at 10:40...DO YOU WANT TO LOOK AT MY BOARDING PASS FOR PROOF!?" The husband spoke to his wife in Spanish, clearly asking her to let me get in front. I thanked them over and over again, but the people that were in front of them were even worse. They had at least 5 children all between the ages of 1 and 14 and the older kids and parents kept forgetting to take off their earrings and belts. I was like, you've GOT to be kidding me! LEARN HOW TO RIDE A FREAKIN PLANE! I asked a married couple (who had also asked to get in front because they were late for their 10:35 flight) what the time was. The lady said that it was 10:20. I was starting to freak out. I kept telling myself that I was NOT going to sleep in an airport tonight. I refused to sleep in a God-forsaken airport! I went through security as quickly as possible and threw my jacket over my arm, grabbed my purse, laptop, laptop bag (I didn't bother putting it away) and my shoes and ran like a hobo to the gate. There was a voice inside of me telling me that I didn't make it...that they had taken off...but all of a sudden, I heard my friend Ashley Langly's voice calling my name. "Ashley!" I called back. I was still sobbing! "Did I make it!" "Yes!" she called back as I got closer to the gate, "you made it!" I sobbed some more but this time it was in relief. I couldn't believe it, God was looking after me for sure. Ashley had apparently been telling the gate guy that I was coming and would be there soon (even though she had no idea where I was). He apparently said that he was going to hold the gate open until 10:30...I got there at 10:28. I gave the gate guy my ticket and sobbed the whole way down the ramp to the plane. Once I got to the door the two flight attendants looked at me with shock. I can only imagine what I looked (and smelled) like. No shoes, no make-up, tears in my eyes, and stinky arm pits. "I made it," I said to them.

Sooooooooo, I'm home (thank goodness) I felt bad that Lindsay didn't make it on time - but at least she was with her boyfriend. The whole time I was racing there I kept telling myself that I was going to be home for Christmas...and of course, I was <3

Be sure to check out my new blog "Behind the Curtain" in my profile. It will be updated soon! LOVE & PEACE!!!

Once Upon a Time...

Hello!

I saw Edward Scissorhands the ballet last Friday! *JOY* I never ever thought I would be able to see that play and well...there you have it. I was sitting at my computer last Monday doing absolutely nothing when I heard a knock at the door. It was the post man. He dropped off a few letters and a magazine. I usually put the mail that isn't mine on the kitchen table but when I noticed that the magazine did not belong to any of my roomies I decided to take it for my own. It isn't uncommon for us to get mail for people who had lived in the flats YEARS ago. When it's silly letters or bills we just give them to the warrden but any magazines we find we feel we have every right to look at. Well, I found this one particular magazine in the mail called Asos. I guess it's a magazine for a UK online fashion store. It had American actress Blake Lively (that girl from The Traveling Pants movies and Gossip Girl) anyway, it looked really cool so I skimmed through it. Finding nothing of great interest I flipped to the back to read the reviews on music and movies...that's when I saw it...EDWARD!!!??? A small add in the top right corner of the page telling me that it was playing in London until January 18th! I was so giddy that I texted my friends right away telling them that I was going to go without hesitation. Fortunately, I have awesome friends and they texted me back saying that they wanted to go too!
We had already planned on going to London for the day with a British friend of ours, Liz Kaye, so I wanted to call her and let her know that we would probably not be taking the train back with her. When I told Liz she freaked out and said that she had wanted to see that play too! I was like, "Oh Happy Day!"

We bought the tickets for only £15.30! We had pretty good seats too! We also found a really cheap way for groups to travel around London. We bought a ticket that's simply called a Day Travelcard. Which is only valid for groups of 4 or more and it works all day on the underground, the train, and the bus! This ticket only costs £12! When we got to Victoria Station we took the underground to a place called Camden Town. It was like China Town...but better! The streets weren't as crowded and the merchandise was better. This place had a bunch of vintage shops as well as old book stores! It had a little craft area where people made jewerly and scarves (I bought some gifts while I was there)! After chilling in Camden Town we took the underground to the Angel station to get to the Sedler's Wells Theatre where Edward was playing. We got there at a descent time and bought our Edward merchandise before the crowd got any bigger.

I cannot explain to you how beautiful the play was! It was just so magical and it portrayed the story quite well. I was very, very impressed. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

On the way back home Liz wasn't feeling so hot, so we bought some crisps and water to fill her tummy (and ours of course...) when we got on the train for home, an old couple sat next to us. The wife sat next to Shanna while the husband sat next to Nikita. This old man kept falling asleep until suddenly he was out cold on Nikita's shoulder! It was the funniest thing! The old man and the wife eventually left but in their place two drunken Aussies sat. The one next to Shanna was the most obnoxious and kept putting his hand in front of her and Liz. Shanna just ignored him while Liz laughed with disbelief ("of all the places they could have sat on the train, they sit next to us!"). They too eventually left and Nikita spoke up saying, "I would've taken the old man anyday..."

We had left Canterbury at 11:21am and we didn't get back to Canterbury until 12:30am. It was the best Friday I had ever had! <3 <3 <3