Mar 21-22: Family and Travels!

As I mentioned in last post, my family is coming Friday, March 22, which is TOMORROW! I'm so excited to see everyone. It's been 3 months! Anyway, the main reason I'm posting now is to say that I will not be posting until sometime after April 10th because I will not be taking my computer with me. Here is what you have to look forward to hearing about when I get back:

Mar 22-27: London with my family!
Mar 27-Apr 1: Paris with my family! (and Katie, for Easter!)
Apr 1-5: Istanbul with Katie!
Apr 5-8: Amsterdam with Katie and BC bud, Dave Farley!
Apr 8-10: Brussels with Katie!

I'm really excited to start this first journey (there will be a few more after April 19 as well!) and see the world with people I care about. I'll have a lot to share when I get back, so stay tuned for when I return!

Til then - Cheers!

Mar 18-20: Familar Faces, Funny Plays, and Family Approaching

A War Memorial in the middle of the street

 I've had a good past few days. I've been generally getting all my papers finished, and plan on submitting them soon, as well as preparing for my next few weeks of family visiting/traveling.

I'm thrilled to begin the latter half of my time "in London" (quoted because, well, I'll be traveling so much!). Here is a list of my travels over the next two months, now that all the bookings and arrangements have been made as of this week:

Mar 22-27: London with my family!
Mar 27-Apr 1: Paris with my family! (and Katie, for Easter!)
Apr 1-5: Istanbul with Katie!
Apr 5-8: Amsterdam with Katie and BC bud, Dave Farley!
Apr 8-10: Brussels with Katie!
*Apr 10-22: Remain in London, hand in final essays*
Apr 22-25: Budapest with Katie!

Me and my good pal, David Hicks.

Apr 25-28: Munich (for Springfest!!) with Katie, high school friends Chris DiNardo and Brendan Riley, and apparently everyone I know from BC who is abroad - CANT WAIT!
Apr 28-May 1: Prague with Katie!
*May-1-5: Remain in London, take a breather
May 5-8: Marrakesh (Morocco) with Katie!
May 8-11: Barcelona with Katie!
*May 11-15: Last hurrah in London, pack up
MAY 15 RETURN HOME TO THE USA!

I have a lot ahead of me and I can't wait to get started!

Spamalot!

However, today was awesome too: I met my good friend, David Hicks (studying at Oxford) for drinks and some light food at a pub. It was great to catch up with him and enjoy London together.

Afterwards, I went to go see Spamalot, the Monty Python play based mostly on "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" with Katie, Dave Farley, Danielle Cecchini and more BC Londoners. It was a really funny play and free ticket, so what's not to love?

The next few days will probably move slowly, as I still have a little bit of tweaking to do before I submit my first wave of essays. Also, my family gets here on Friday and I'm excited for that to happen so life will probably move really slow until then. Luckily, Katie's family will be here tomorrow and for the next half-week or so (before they go to Berlin), so I hope to see them and enjoy their company. I was already having a lot of fun being abroad, but its about to get ridiculous...can't wait!

Til then - Cheers!

Mar 15-17: Weekend Writing

Hello again. Sorry I don't have much to report - I have been writing/editing papers all weekend in preparation for my family getting here, our travels (London and Paris), and then a trip after that to Istanbul, Amsterdam, and Brussels with Katie. Needless to say, I will have a LOT to share after all of that, but for now, I have to take care of some academic business. As I've mentioned before, I have 4 papers due Friday, Mar 22 and 4 more due Apr 19, so I need to be on top of those and make sure they are either turned in or ready or close before I begin my travels.

However, this week won't be so boring. Some things to look forward to hearing about this week include drinks with my friend, David Hicks (studying at Oxford this year abroad) and the Spam-a-lot (Monty Python) Musical....and most importantly: MY FAMILY WILL BE HERE FRIDAY!
Can't wait!

Til then - Cheers

Mar 12-14: Busy Paper-Writing and Songs I'm Diggin' On Lately

Beef Stir fry!

The best tomato soup I've ever made

Hello again. Sorry for the sparse posting this week - I have been quite busy writing papers these past few days! Luckily, things have been falling into place with that. Other news includes getting refunded a hefty sum that was stolen from my bank account, receiving my senior year housing assignment (Voute 206, BC friends), and making some delicious food, including a dressed-up tomato soup (spices, cheeses, etc), which I may have to make a regular part of my diet. Anyway, I've written a blurb about music I've been listening to lately as a reward for following my posts thus far. Thought you'd enjoy. If not, skip ahead:
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What's good?! Ever hear a new song that you just need to play over-and-over-and-over again? Or maybe re-discover something that has been out for quite sometime...and find yourself blaring every time your in the car, jogging, or just hanging out by yourself? You're not alone. The joy of new and old music is something awesome to experience. Here's some songs I've been diggin' on (click the links to listen!):

"1999" by Prince & The Revolution - (1982)

Look at this beautiful man

Maybe it's because I love synths. Maybe it's because Prince is awesome. I mean, really awesome. For some reason during these past few days, I absolutely CANNOT get this synth-hook out of my head. Oh wait, I know why! Because it's AMAZING. Honestly, I don't think I've ever been happier to have a song stuck in my head. Even if you find the lyrics corny, because, after all, we were able to survive two-thousand zero-zero and 1999 was just like any other year, you can't deny the incredible sonic experience that is music made by Prince. The 80's pop drums, the synth, the hair, the costumes, & THE REVOLUTION....I mean, what's not to love?

On a completely separate, introspective note (though I'm sure many can relate), I wonder if my love of music from the 80's and 90's would hold up had I been born in 1972 or 1982, instead of 1992. What I mean is, I would like to say I love the music of these eras 100% because of it being good music (and it is, don't get me wrong), but part of me wonders how much of that opinion lies in the fact that it is from a different time period than my own and therefore feels "different" or "classic" or "genuine" or "whatever-other-words-people-use-to-be-snobby-about-music". Taking that idea further, if it was possible to travel to the future, would I enjoy that music more or less? How would I assess it? Did I lose you? This is the stuff that keeps me up at night. Sorry. Let's snap back to reality.

"I Love It" by Icona Pop (feat. Charli XCX) - (2012)

Find the missing word!

I came across this song recently watching an episode of the HBO show Girls, where the main character freaked out to it high on coke. To be honest, I'm not sure why I watch Girls. I don't even really like the show. Seriously - it's not that good, it has bizarre and disgusting nudity, most of the characters are a losing combination of unlikeable and boring, and I don't find myself laughing as often I think I'm supposed to. However, in the world of compelling, drawn-out hour long shows, this is a nice 20-30 minute zone-out for me to basically hate-watch because I have this need to know nonsensical information, even if its not that entertaining. You find yourself watching a lot of TV you may not otherwise watch during your 'downtime' when studying abroad.

But enough about Girls. "I Love It" is pure fun. I want it to come on next time I'm on a dance floor. I want the build-up, the heavy bass and electro-beat. One particular phrase that carries on from this song is "90's bitch", which I know induces an odd sort of pride for fellow #90sKids. I'm not sure how my generation will be remembered or what legacy we will leave, but currently, this song basically sums up the live-in-the-moment attitude characteristic of many of high-school and college peers - I don't care/I love it. #YOLO

"London Calling" by The Clash - (1979)

Classic

This gem, without fail, comes on in nearly every pub I have been to in London during my travels. I couldn't be happier. This is what I want as an American in London. (Actually...this is what I want. Everyday. All day...but the world isn't perfect). Anyway, British people love British music. Even though this makes perfect sense, it sort of caught me off guard.

Example: I was recently hanging out with a flatmate the other night, listening to music, when I put "London Calling" on. Part of me expected an eye-roll - the same kind I may give if someone who came to Philly just put on the Rocky Theme Song and looked at me knowingly. Anyway, my flatmate got excited. I mean he was HYPED about this song. There were lots of British flavoured compliments hurled my way - "good call mate", "great track"....maybe the only felt British flavoured because of the accent, but still: this wasn't what I expected. Based off of hard evidence such as that one reaction and the fact that a lot of pubs play this song, I can now say with 100% certainty that British people love British music - as do I!

"Thrift Shop" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (feat. Wanz) - (2012)

Weird and Awesome, Inc.

As a student of hip-hop, I didn't think I would like Macklemore. My thought process was this: "Oh great, here's another white-bro-college rapper for white-college-bros" *DISCLAIMER: I may be white and in college, but I am most certainly not a 'bro'* .

However, this song is infectious. I mean...it really just wedges itself in your head. It doesn't take itself seriously, like many bro-college rappers try to do on some level. It's just pure fun. That beat. It won't go away. Now every time I pass by a thrift shop, I will think of this song. I will think about "poppin' tags" and avoid something that "smells like R-Kelly sheets". What I'm trying to say is that, Macklemore, you had me "Cold-Ass Honkey".

"If I Was President" by Wyclef Jean - (2004)

Would you vote for Wyclef?

I recently went through and watched every episode of Chappelle's Show, as I was inspired to be nostalgic by this excellently entertaining bracket-breakdown piece by Grantland's Rembert Browne. One episode from Season 2 that would always find its way onto Comedy Central's reruns was the one with musical guest star Wyclef Jean, later performing "If I Was President".

It's actually a pretty good song that I totally loved back in 2004, and forget about until seeing in passing some odd years later. Relaxing, political, dreadlocks. Wyclef 101, if you will. I miss Chappelle's Show. What a great time of life that was. Middle School  and High School are more and more fun to remember as time goes by. Honestly, I may do a hit list like this again and just go through songs that defined my age-group from when I was growing up. Stay tuned.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to share a song you're diggin' on in the comments section!
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The rest of the week and weekend will be dedicated to limited fun and mostly editing my papers to turn in the day my family arrives - NEXT FRIDAY! I can't wait to see them! Hopefully I can continue to be productive until they get here. Enough though, time for bed.

Til then - Cheers.

Mar 10-11: Reading and Working

Melt-In-Your-Mouth Chicken - my new favorite dish!

Studying abroad isn't all fun and games (just mostly)

 Hello again! I don't have too much to report, other than this awesome Melt-In-Your-Mouth Chicken Katie made the other night...it was probably the best culinary experience either one of us has endeavored thus far. I'm currently swamped with reading and writing, trying to get as much done as I can before my family gets here at the end of next week and I have to hand in my first 4 essays (one in each course).

Most of those have a rough draft finished, which is nice, but they will also be carrying 50% of my grade so I will probably spend next week editing them to a place I am comfortable with.


The end of next week also marks when my spring break here begins - the first week with my family, in London and Paris, and then the second week and a half with Katie in Istanbul, Amsterdam, and Brussels. I need to start prepping for that, too. I can't believe the time here is moving as quickly as it is! I will be home in about 2 months!

Tomorrow is another important work day, as I still have much research to cover for another paper I'm working on. Hopefully I can stay on track!

Til then - Cheers!

Mar 8-9: Chino Latino, Cheshire Cheese, and The Blackfriar

Easter Candy already on sale...

Hello again! I've had a pretty fun weekend thus far - great meals and a little bit of sightseeing! Yesterday, Katie and I worked for most of the day and then went out to dinner downtown at this place called Chino Latino, which was an excellent meal. We followed it up by walking around to our favorite spot in the city - Picadilly Circus and then heading back to get some rest for today.

Today was a little more eventful and maybe was the most "English" day we have had here, as we went to the National Gallery and two awesome pubs recommended to me by my Great Uncle Josh. Here it is in pictures and captions:

Started the day off right with an English breakfast, down the road at Big Chill House. It was inexpensive and delicious!

That's me hanging in Trafalgar Square, our next destination of the day. We wanted to get to the National Gallery before it closed. However, I think the square itself might have been a little more interesting!

That's the National Gallery. No pictures inside (but don't worry...unless you're really into priests and old kings, you didn't miss much).

Trafalgar Square is hoppin' today!

If you look closely, you can see Big Ben in the background!

Next stop, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - one of the oldest pubs in London! Recommended by my Great Uncle Josh and I have to say, it was definitely a winner! Historic and fun!

Enjoying a pint at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (courtesy of my Great Uncle Josh...who really earned the "Great" in his name by loaning me some cash for a pint at these awesome spots!)

Pub Stop #2: The Black Friar. Also recommended by my Great Uncle Josh, it is possibly my favorite pub I've been to so far. Just awesome on the inside, great food (we had dinner here), and, of course, great English beer!

Enjoying a pint (thanks Uncle Josh!) as I wait for my meal at The Black Friar!

Today was an awesome day, and yesterday was great too. I'm really enjoying being here in London thus far and I can't wait to see what next weekend will bring. Tomorrow might be more of a work/prep day, but maybe I'll have time for a little more fun. Stay tuned!

Til then - Cheers!

Mar 6-7: Schoolwork and Haircuts

I loved this sign the SOAS food stop - goes well with morning coffee!

Fresh cut.

These past two days have been consumed by schoolwork - I wrote a 2,500 word essay (draft) yesterday and had classes all day today. Of course, I had some fun-to-make dinners (tacos yesterday, sweet chilli chicken stir-fry tonight) to keep me busy. As well as 24, which I have recently delved into Season 3 along with Katie.

However, the most eventful (and needed) occurrence of these past two days was my getting a haircut. I went to this place called Shades, right down the street from where I live. It had good reviews and I may end up writing one myself - it was one of the most fun haircuts I've had in a while! Just chatting away with friendly British brother barbers about anything - politics, culture, sports - was pretty fun. I've found it to be, well, "jolly good fun" to interact with locals here and today was definitely a highlight. And the haircut ended up being pretty good! I was long overdue for one, and its nice to have a good experience doing something that would otherwise be fairly boring.

Anyway, I don't know what I will be doing tomorrow yet. Katie and I may spend most the day working on papers and go out to dinner in the evening. As always, I'll keep you posted...

Til then - Cheers!

Mar 4-5: Class, Notes, and a Little Bit of Fun

Hello again. As you may have recently noticed, I have shifted into an every-other day type posting style for the time being, as, to be quite honest, there isn't much to say some days. I might go back to daily posts at some point, but for now I'm trying this style out.

Anyways, there wasn't too much going on. Monday was a typical class-homework-dinner-watchTV day, in which Katie and I made chicken stir-fry (quickly becoming a favorite meal to make). I made good progress on taking notes on the readings for what is now my 5th of 8 essays I need to write this term. Tomorrow (Wednesday) will be a big writing day for me, so hopefully it goes well. I will also be doing laundry and may even try to get a haircut - big day!

Today was a little more exciting - after class my buddy David, who is also a BC student and friend studying abroad here in London (King's College), met up for dinner at this fun pizza spot called Fire & Stone. I got this Texas BBQ Pizza that was pretty good. Funny thing about the food in London, if I haven't mentioned already - the best food is never English food (which outside of Fish & Chips gets really weird, really fast). Afterwards, we shared a drink at a pub and parted ways, since it is a school week after all. We might try to coordinate a larger thing with other BC friends in London, so if that ever happens, stay tuned.

The rest of the night has been pretty relaxed. I need to get to bed soon in order to wake up for my day of writing/laundry/maybe-getting-a-haircut. My final thought is that London is pretty fun and I'm really enjoying my time here. Today was the first nice weather in quite some time and it made me excited for the months to come. I've already been her for 2 months and its definitely starting to feel like a sort of home-away-from-home. Hopefully tomorrow will continue to reinforce that feeling.

Til then- Cheers!

Mar 2-3: Covent Garden and Lazy Sunday

Jubilee Market Hall - quite like Quincy Market!

Hello again. Sorry I missed another post yesterday, but I needed to get some rest - the previous night, I found out that someone stole my bank information, as well as roughly $2500 from my account. As you can imagine, it was quite stressful and tiring (since I did this in the middle of the night) getting everything sorted out with the bank. Luckily, I should be able to get all of the money back and new debit card soon. In the meantime, I'm stuck with just a credit card though so I will have to watch how I use my dwindling cash supply until I can get a new debit card.

But despite that headache of a situation, the past two days have been pretty great. Saturday, Katie and I went to Covent Garden, which is sort of like a larger version of Quincy Market (in Boston). It was a lot of fun to walk around and enjoy various shops and stands, and we even saw a some pretty interesting street performers. Later that night, we ate at this great Mexican restaurant called Cantina Laredo, which might have been the best meal other than MASH Steakhouse I've had in London so far.

Look at all of that food!

He's only using his arm to balance!

We got some awesome cookies right here...

After getting back from our day/evening together, Katie and I began to make bookings for our next trip, occurring over our Spring Break (from April 1-April 10). Our break actually starts a week earlier, during which both of our families will becoming out to visit in London before going to another European city. Katie's family will be going to Berlin, while my family will be going to Paris. Katie's family is leaving a few days earlier than my family, so she will be joining my family and I in Paris for Easter. From there, once my family heads back to the United States, we will travel to Istanbul, Amsterdam, and Brussels over that Apr. 1-10 stretch. I'm thrilled to have now purchased every flight and train, booked every hostel, and have the entire process nearly complete. We hopefully will have one more big trip a few weeks after this one booked soon (since we have to return to hand in our final papers by Apr. 19, we have some time to travel after that). Stay tuned for more details.

Today was a pretty good day - just slept in and caught up on a lot of homework. Tomorrow will be the beginning to another week dedicated to writing an essay, as I also have to begin editing the ones that I have written already. Hopefully, I can continue to stay on schedule.

Til then- Cheers!

Feb 28-Mar 1: Harry Potter Studio Tour

Hey everyone. sorry I forgot to post yesterday. You didn't miss anything, I promise. Today, however, I have a lot to share. Come with me, on a magical tour of the one and only Harry Potter Studios!

Entrance and the Great Hall

Katie and I took a train from London Euston Station (right by our dorms) to Watford Junction, and then took this lovely Harry Potter Studio Tours shuttlebus to the studio site. It was a pretty easy trip!

Looks somewhat boring on the outside. Just wait...

This is a window in the gift shop of Hogwarts gear: clothes, robes, wands, etc. The gift shop was pretty cool. The funniest thing to me was that they had gear for each house - who in their right mind buys a Hufflepuff hat or scarf? I would like to see a percentage breakdown of purchases by house. It has to be something like 85% Gryffindor, 10% Syltherin, 4% Ravenclaw, and 1% Hufflepuff. (If you didn't get that joke, now might be a good time to stop reading this and go read all 7 books and watch all 8 movies).

Harry's famed room under the stairs. It actually looks more livable than I thought! but then again, none of this is real.

Katie - who may love Harry Potter more than I do - is getting excited to enter the Great Hall.

Look how big this place is!

The latest in Syltherin House fashion!

Gryffindor Casual!

Nothing like some faceless headmasters and professors to spruce the place up a little bit! Alan Rickman and his Snape body double might have the same pulse...

That's one long table.

I felt like I was about to get sorted...

 Studio J

There are two Studios (J & K....wonder why they chose those ones?). This was the first thing that struck me in Studio J - An ice sculpture from the Yule Ball. Pretty cool stuff.

This fake chocolate feast actually looks pretty awesome.

Costumes and Make-Up are interesting, but definitely disturbing.

A wide shot of studio J, which doesn't even really do it justice since it wraps around much farther to the right past that big clock. This is an awesome tour.

Hogwarts Gate.

This is Gryffindor Boy's dorms. Harry's bed is in the back on the left, and Ron's is the one on the right with the goofy blanket.

Dragon Bones. Cool.

This picture of the wands cracked me up because it reminded me of the weapons in Windsor Castle and Palazzo Ducale (Venice) are presented. Nice touch there.

Potions class with Snape. Potions class with Snape. Potions class with Snape.

Just hanging in Gryffindor House Common room. Check out my headless classmates in the background!

The Invisibility Cloak. I think it ran out of batteries.

Pretty wizardly, but I only could think of this

Cool gryffin statue/ Dumbledore's Office Entrance Gate.

Tri-Wizard Cup!

Dumbledore's Office. You definitely feel like you're in the movie at this point.

Dumbledore's Pensieve - where you can see other people's memories!

The Goblet of Fire!

The Horcruxes, which housed pieces Voldemort's soul.

The animal participants of the Harry Potter films.

All those talking paintings from Hogwarts

Hagrid's Hut!

The Chamber of Secrets door... it has been opened!

I thought these things could fly by themselves....

The moving staircase!

Hagrid's Bike!

You could actually ride the broomstick and pay a lot of money for the picture. I did try it out and it was fun. They take you all kinds of places with a green-screen. Didn't get the picture though...not worth it in my opinion

Quidditch is cool, but I've never really understood what the point of the scoring is - it always seems like whoever gets the snitch wins. Why bother with all the other stuff?

The humble abode of the Weasley family.

The Ministry of Magic!

Voldemort and the Death Eaters. If you think I didn't do this, then you don't know me.

 Between Studio J and Studio K - Outside

The famed Butterbeer of Hogsmeade! There was quite a line for it...

...but it was definitely worth it! Butterbeer was a lot like cream soda, but with this awesome whipped (butter?)cream froth. I can see why it was so fictionally popular!

The "Knight" Bus. There are real night buses that drive around in London that are only slightly less insane.

The Riddle Family grave.

Harry Potter's house on Privet Drive!

The old Potter household in Godric's Hollow, complete with damaged roof!

A segment of Hogwart's bridge!

The chess pieces from the epic game at the end of first movie.

These were my favorite pieces.

Studio K and Tour's End

Costumes and creatures room. Get ready for some strange sights.

Woah its Harry Potter! No, just a weird, creepy prop body double.

Dobby the Elf! Never forget.

Check out these monsters!

Some goofy model of Hagrid in what is the cheapest of all suits. Thos are gameshow host pajamas.

Hedwig!

Yup that's Hagrid's face. Enjoy not sleeping tonight.

I would pay any amount of money for that Shark-Man at the top. A shame it wasn't in the gift shop.

I mean...

Dementors!

Aragog - the coolest spider ever.

Basilisk!

I wish I had a Buckbeak

DIAGON ALLEY!

Ollivander's Wand Shop!

Gringott's Bank!

Owls for sale!

Definitely my favorite shop on Diagon Alley - Fred and George's!

Moving to the graphic art part of the tour, this is a model of Diagon Alley.

This dragon looks awesome.

Check out this creepy aquatic creature.

A dragon breaking out of Gringotts.

A small model of Hogwarts. I love these models, so get ready for a rapid fire.

The Whomping Willow

Dumbledore's Office

Gryffindor Common Room

More Diagon Alley

The Three Broomsticks

The Weasley's Burrow

The Lovegood Household

Ollivander's Wand Shop

The Prefect's Bathroom (access point to the Chamber of Secrets)

The Owlery

Hagrid's Hut

Quidditch Tower

An above view of the Hogwart's model. I thought it was impressive....

...until I saw this! Look at this awesome big model! 1/24th scale!

The absolute grand finale of the tour - phenomenal.

Hogwarts is awesome, wow.

Katie and I at Hogwarts - this was an incredible end to an incredible tour.

Wands on Wands on Wands

The first part of this quote - "The stories we love best do live in us forever" - is something I definitely believe. We all have our favorite books, movies, tv shows, and video games. It's cool to see a near universal favorite in Harry Potter.

Godric Gryffindor's sword. I almost bought it for my sister, Bridget, but it was priced a little out of my range...

I got myself this cool glass for a surprisingly low price.

Today was an incredible day. I loved the Hogwarts tour and I was glad that I could share it with my favorite fellow fan, Katie. We aren't sure what will do tomorrow, but it will probably involve downtown London. I'm pretty tired from today's events, so I will be getting to bed soon. I hope you enjoyed my slildeshow tour of Harry Potter Studios!

Til then - Cheers!