Two Thousand and Eleven

{Some of my favorite times from this year}

This has been one long year. It started off with a rough start, with lots of things cumulating into a giant mess.  Things mellowed out thankfully, and the year moved on ending in Europe.  Spending the last bit of 2011 in London was perhaps the best way to end this year.  Looking back I think more than anything I’ve learned a lot about myself and life this past year than ever before.  Being in London alongside my classmates enriching my mind and growing in ways that wouldn’t be possible at home truly made the end of this year momentous.  So here’s to putting wisdom of the past to good use in the future. Happy New Year Everyone!

{Seeing as I've posted this twice already, I clearly loved this picture and that day}

It's Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas

I am in utter disbelief I have already been home this long and that there is only nine days until Christmas. Nine. I’ve been enjoying my time at home, although I haven’t really been doing the things I thought I would be.  I am almost done my interviews, my friends come this weekend and I’m starting to get excited for Christmas. I just really wish it would get colder here; it’s almost the winter and it feels nothing like it.  To help get myself in the mood I’m going to spend the rest of the afternoon burning vanilla cinnamon candles, listening to Christmas music, and wrapping all the beautiful presents I got for people while abroad.

P.s. I will very soon divulge my Parisian adventures. I would also still share pictures now, except my camera broke while I was in the louvre :(

Telling of my Tale

{Abbey Road- Enjoy the pictures from London I haven't yet shared}

{Me signing the wall outside Abbey Road Studios}

I have now been home in lovely Pennsylvania for a little more than a week.  Having nothing to do, considering I have no class, has proved to be the exact opposite.  I feel like I keep running around.  Between trying to unpack (which took me, oh, just five days), doing random tasks for my family, and seeing my family, I have been all over the place.  Not to mention that it is interview season. Yes, us insane students who chose to go to Drexel University are in the process of applying to co-op jobs, and right now interviews are taking place. Which means I polished of my beautiful Banana Republic suit, donned a pair of Ralph Lauren heels and have to answer some ridiculous questions, trying to secure a job for six months.  So far, the hardest question I have been asked: Tell me about a time when you came up with a creative solution to a problem you were having.  You think of an answer to that one.  I seriously want someone to answer it, because so far everyone I have asked has failed to answer it.  Besides that, things have calmed down slightly, and I cannot believe I have already been back this long.  London feels like I was there yesterday and yet it feels so far away.  I have already started to tremendously miss some aspects of it. Okay, lets be honest, I miss everything about London.  However, it is nice to be back home because I have already seen some of my best friends from school.  As much as I do not want December to fly by (I fear it already is), I am super excited for all my friends from home to come back home for Christmas break.  I need to see all my friends because there are so many stories I have that have yet to be told and I’m dying to divulge them all.  Isn’t that why I came home anyway, to tell all my new tales?

{My favorite window displays at Fortnum and Mason}

{Donuts to the Drexel Divas from our favorite English person, Tom}

{Last night in London, with Tom, our RLS}

Long Day Ahead

This has been an absolutely incredible week in Paris. I’m so happy I stayed for the week and got to spend it with three great friends. Unfortunately though, all holidays must come to an end, and mine has.  Tomorrow I’m going to wake up in Paris, eat lunch in London, and go to bed in Pennsylvania. It’s going to be one long day.  As sad as I am to be leaving my European adventures behind, I’m excited to go home, see my family, and eat a turkey sandwich.  Next time I update you all I’ll be stateside! 

And I just happened to call my mom and find out that my absolute favorite ice cream place, Dairy Delite, is still open. That is rare, it usually closes a few weeks ago. I AM SO EXCITED FOR SOME CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM. I am obsessed with ice cream, especially from Dairy Delite, and that after a turkey sandwich from Thanksgiving leftovers could not be a better homecoming.  As delicious as the food is in Europe, I'm excited for some of my American favorites :)

Giving Thanks

I have been have so much fun abroad but one thing I do love about the states is Thanksgiving, not only for the amazing food my family makes, but also what the holiday represents.  This is the first time I’ll ever miss thanksgiving with my family and it’s quite sad.  Luckily I’ll be home in time for leftover turkey sandwiches.  Before I get home for that though, I’ll be spending this Thursday with my two best friends in Paris, who also happen to be missing the holiday this year.  Although we’re away from home it’ll still be nice to be together.  This year I’m am extremely grateful for being fortunate enough to have the wonderful experiences I am having abroad.  As always, I’m thankful for my wonderful friends and family.

{The two lovely ladies I get to spend Thanksgiving and the weekend with}

Dutch and Flemish

{Amsterdam}

At the end of my fall break I came back to London for a night, which was absolutely fantastic. I advise no one to ever travel for ten straights days hostel style, you miss comforts and home too much.  Although I meet a bunch of Australian boys in Florence who had been traveling for four months that way and they were doing alright.  But I came back for the night and then got up before the sun came up the next morning and caught a bus on a guided tour to Amsterdam. After something like eleven hours on a bus we made it to Amsterdam where they speak Dutch and English.

{Windmills outside of the city}

{Traditional wooden clogs}

 I had no idea that Amsterdam was built on so much water with canals running through the whole city.  We took a canal cruise of the city, and it is a gorgeous city. Later that night we walked through the red light district.  It was both very strange and at the same time not.  We then ventured to a bar where everyone was smoking cannabis, everyone.  The streets literally just smelled of it. It was amazing and unsettling how readily available lots of drugs are there.  The next day we went about twenty minutes outside the city to see windmills, Dutch clogs, and cheese. 

{My favorite little clogs}

{Just clogging in wooden shoes}

{Almond Blossom}

 The rest of the day was spent getting lost in the city, going to the Van Gogh Museum. My favorite Van Gogh piece, Almond Blossom, is there and it is absolutely beautiful in person. The colors are just gorgeous; I could have stared at it all day.  We then walked through Anne Frank’s house, a chilling experience, but one that left an impression.

{Traditional Dutch Pancake-yum}

{Brugge}

The next day on our drive back to London we stopped in Brugge, Belgium, where they speak Flemish and English.  Unfortunately we hit lots of traffic and did not have much time in the city.  The little bit that I saw was pretty.  We got lunch and had delicious moules-frites and I tried to get Belgian beer but our waiter was a jerk that was serving way too many tables and never brought me the menu.

{Moules-frites and no belgian beer :( }

To make up for it we went and got Belgian waffles after dinner and they were scrumptious. I love waffles and have been craving them so these hit the spot. We then proceed to drive home and I could not have been happier to get home.

{Waffels!}

{Delicious, no?}

I am so over guided tours, entry fees and things that seem like they should be included in the price aren’t.  Half the time you’re not with the tour so you have to figure things out for yourself even though you paid for a guided tour. Personally, I’m never doing one again and I advise others to carefully look into them before booking one.