Eye Love Ben

Well it's been a while since I last documented my life so I figured I should update you all on what I have been doing that is more important than sitting at my computer and blogging about my every move in London. My internship is still going great and I am getting more and more responsibilities with that, they even let me proof read important documents...I know scary right? The girls that I work with are just so cute and bubbly in their own ways and I love being around them, it gives me a great idea of what actually working in London would be like...fantastic! But I still haven't been convinced that is it great enough to move here forever, you're welcome mom and dad (and B). By the end of Tuesday I think it was a general feeling that everyone in the program had worked so hard during our two day work week (pathetic I know) we all needed to grab a drink or two. But wait! We had something much more important to do before alcohol could enter the picture. I'm not sure if any of you have ridden a ferris wheel or ever seen one? But I experienced a ferris wheel on drugs!! Yes folks I am referring to The London Eye!! 438 feet (give or take) high of pure beauty and a little bit of body odor. Yep. I got stuck inside of a box for forty-five minutes with a dude who could have used a few sticks of deodorant to put a dent in what was steaming from his arm pits! But the ride? SO.MUCH.FUN. The best part of the whole thing was snapping billions of pictures of good old Big Ben! I think that might be the main reason people ride the darn thing, to take pictures and pictures and more pictures. Actually I think that is the sole reason that people do most things in London, so they can take a picture and post it and tell everyone that they were there, I mean I do the same thing! So let me show you a few pictures that I took when I rode the Eye!

 This was the Eye when we approached it from a distance, so so so pretty! Doesn't look as big as it actually is trust me. The box things that people ride in have two benches and fit up to like 20 people!

 A night shot of the one and only Ben himself. Which just in case you were wondering because many people (Londoners included) don't even know that neither the tower or the clock are Ben. Big Ben is actually the name of the bell that is inside of the thing, so technically nobody has seen Big Ben, or at least I haven't, I'm not going up in there!

 And yet another snap of Big Ben, just this time it has me in it too! BONUS. This was captured after a long day of internshiip, walking, tubing through London to find the Eye and scarfing some McDs on the way to the Eye-so don't judge my messy pony and glasses!

So what about the rest of the week? Wouldn't you want to know! Well folks I am about to tell you about a week/weekend that will go down in history as one of my favorites while in London! I hosted my first visitor this weekend and it was the best thing in the world. Who might this visitor be? Well it was (traveling all the way from Kansas City!) Miss Mary Carnes...eldest sister of my very favorite Sarah Carnes!! Okay, she is studying in Ireland but it was still pretty cool to have a visitor from home and we did EVERYTHING! Saying as the trip began with us planning MY trip to Ireland in December, we seriously had the world at our fingertips and we took full advantage!! Let me just explain this weekend in a nutshell via pictures because who doesn't love seeing pictures of two girls wondering around London?!

 We went to a place called Drink Shop Do which was recommended by the Sarah Carnes. This place was adorable, you could literally drink, shop and do! Well I am still a little curious as to what the doing was but the drinking and shopping was brilliant. Above and below is my hot chocolate that was magnificent and so so so rich! I loved it and yes that came with a little refill mug thing! It was so perfect. The best picture ever!

 After that we ventured to the fabulous Buckingham Palace! Yes we braved the crowds on a Friday morning for the changing of the guard. Just a suggestion, when people who have been there before tell you to get there at 10...THEY AREN'T KIDDING. We got there around 10:15 and it didn't begin until 11:30, yes we should have been there at 9:30. But we made our way to the front with our American ways and saw the whole thing up close and personal with all of the other tourists. No joke I guarantee that at least 3/4 of the people were non-Londoners! But the changing was really cool, I mean it took them forever to change out the poor guy but it happened and we witnessed it all.

 Above is the dude getting changed out after a 30 minute ceremony leading up to it. And then we followed them as they walked out and (below) I got a picture with the guards! Does anybody wonder how they keep the hats on their heads? Because that is all I could think about the whole time I watched! Also the hats are NOT the same size, some are shorter and fatter while others are skinny and tall. It's so strange. I think I could write a report on the guards and their lives! Probably not, I'm just rambling about nonsense because I am SO HAPPY!!

 And then we got a picture of the whole scene! Like just stare at it for a minute...pure beauty! Just ignore that I am taking up a chunk of the building but seriously such a pretty picture. If only the little, baby, perfection in a blanket of George was actually in that building it would be a million times better BUT I will just pretend that he is!

 Then we stumbled across the St.James Place and the fabulous guards that we harassed for quite some time. We realized that you can no longer get close enough to take a picture next to a guard so we had to stand there for a while and time it so that we could have a picture right next to the guards! It was quite a rush and super fun to plan out, everyone around us was cracking up at us but totally worth it! And then we accidentally ran right into the horses changing of the guard! We waited forever to see the human changing of the guard and then literally almost got ran over by the horses while they were changing! It was great. So we took a picture with the guy guard the horse stables and the whole dealio!

 After a bunch of Royal business we ventured over to the super touristy sites so that Mary could see what London is all about! So we walked past Parliament and Big Ben and of course saw Westminster Abbey. But needed a better angle on the view for pictures of course. So we crossed through an adorable little park area so we could cross a bridge that pictured the perfect snap! Above we have everything with me photo-shopped into the picture! Just kidding, but that is what it seems to look like huh? And then another picture of what London is all about, Parliament and the ever so famous Ben!

 We hit up Trafalgar Square again and had to be pictured with the famous lions! Then after such a long day of walking we caught the tube and headed back to Russell Square for some food and relaxation. The next morning we hit up some great markets with some decadent food and a few cheap buys! We sat down to enjoy a giant fruit kabob that was smothered in chocolate and candy...DELICIOUS! And then to the Tower Bridge of London! Beauty.

 The Tower Bridge was so beautiful and perfect. Like look at the top picture...now pick your jaw up off the floor because you have to be in awe!! Seriously I should go into the post card business because these pictures will blow people's minds in the states!

So I guess you could say that this weekend was a success! I mean yes it was a complete and utter success in so many ways...best weekend ever! I was the ultimate tour guide even though some of the questions I was not super confident in my answers I was so excited to tour around a great traveler! We had a blast, ate some great food, witnessed some hilarious selfies being taken...speaking of selfies, oh my goodness! People here don't understand that if you own an iPhone you can turn the camera around and see the picture you are taking...better yet you can also ask someone to take it for you! Gosh it was great to see all of them trying though, super great! Okay well there is my weekend in a nutshell and a little extra rambling to go with! I had a great time and still can't believe I am living in London permenantely but it is getting more normal. Thank you for reading if you got this far you are a true fan!!

Until next time (which will be a lot sooner than this I promise) love you all and miss you tons!
The Site-Seeing Softball Player

P.S. I threw this week for all of you softball players/fans out there...in an alley and it was great! Paige caught for me and I would say it was super successful, felt like I was in Kuyper again pitching like nothing changed. Just in case you all were wondering!

Cadbury World-Chocolatey Chaos

Whew! I have finally survived my first self-planned road trip in Europe. Wow does that feel nice to say/hear/read/type. Birmingham, UK was definitely not somewhere I will pin on the map to return...EVER. We left Friday morning from the Victoria Coah Station, a bus station, to head two and a half hours out of town to Birmingham for some chocolately goodness of a weekend. Now when I say we I mean myself and ten other girls who are in my program. Yes I was dumb enough to not only agree to go on a trip with eleven girls included but to PLAN the trip for us girls. Why did I ever think this trip was going to run smoothly? That is a great question! But we all survived...I am still trying to figure out how though. So about the trip? Yes, we got to Birmingham Station around 11:30 on Friday morning and headed to our hostel which was about a thirty minute walk from the station, not so bad after all. (I have already accomplished my goal of going on a trip taking ONLY my backpack. YAY!) Checked into the hostel around 12:15 and began our mad dash to Cadbury World for our tour at 1:30. Cadbury World is located in a neighboring area named Bournville so we hopped onto the train and off to the chocolate heaven we were. Once arriving at the Cadbury World we did a virtual tour of how the company got started and the history behind the "Dairy Milk" chocolate. This tour ended with each of us able to create our very own chocolate creation and then EAT IT!

Yes, this is me with my "creation" of Cadbury chocolate and rice krispies...not too bad actually! The chocolate was unlike anything you could ever dream of tasting, so rich and creamy and warm and tasty and definitely not something that you should eat more than once a year. But I had it twice in one day...OOPS. No worries, the tour was so long that I definitely walked off all of the free samples I had during it, which was quite a few! The tour was three hours of chocolate perfumed rooms filled with Cadbury history and goodness, we even got to go on a little ride/tour of some more history about how the chocolate beans were and still are made.

That is myself, Karlee and Jess on our ride through the chocolate bean world. After the ride, chocolate drawing, picture rooms and more tasting we made our way to the souvenir/chocolate shop. BAD IDEA. As the guy at the register said when we were checking out, "Yeah. Chocolate is cheap here." Well if chocolate is cheap why not buy some?! I got three different kinds to take back with me which were Whole Nut, Nutty Caramel and Toffee Popcorn. I may have nibbled a bite out of each already, just to test whether or not they were worth the 1.50 pounds I paid for each! But surprisingly chocolate alone was not enough to fill our empty bellies up for the day, so back to Birmingham we went for some real food. There we ate at the Handmade Burger place that had all organic and fresh ingredients for any item on their menu. It was so delicious and just what each of us needed after a long day of travel and chocolate binging. When we finally made it back to our hostel we joined in on a free pub crawl to a few local pubs and had a marvelous night sleep in beds that were arguably more comfortable than our own back at Woburn.

We had two rooms with six beds each and a HUGE bathroom per room, it felt like paradise for a night. The next day was awfully different for me to say the least. I woke up and showered for the day. After eating breakfast at the hostel and checking out for a day of touring backpackers style we were off to explore Birmingham first hand. A few hours into our day I was suddenly feeling very under the weather, deciding to sit out in a coffee shop to sip on some water and relax. I still have no clue what I ate that made my body this upset, but I was down for the count. My body was not willing to cooperate whatsoever, so I ended up catching a much earlier bus ride back to London alone to get home and sleep this bug off. The funny thing about the bus ride? I was literally the only white person on the bus and couldn't tell you the ethnicities of some of these people...lets just say when I fell asleep on that ride I was clenching my purse hard in my arms! I arrived back to Woburn at about 5:45 Saturday night, took a hot shower and slept straight until 9:30 this morning. Birmingham wanted to make sure I never came back and they succeeded.

After sleeping "it" off for 15 hours I felt great and ready to go! Today I have made it to a nice market in Camden Town and am off to buy some groceries for the week. This week I have a lot on the schedule and can't wait to tell you all about it, detail for detail. Until then, stay American and enjoy your week! Love you all and can't wait to see your beautiful faces when I do!

The Site-Seeing Softball Player

P.S. Here are a few more pictures from the weekend, mainly for Dad and Kelsey since they don't have the luxury of facebook creeping!

 A giant chocolate bar! And some of the many other candy bars to choose from at the candy store!

 I got to write my name in chocolate! And then eat some of that chocolate which was DELICIOUS!

The whole group for the weekend, 11 girls out wandering the factory of fantastic and decadent chocolate!

Holy Hectic Heaven

What a week! Today is only Thursday (night) and it has been one crazy, busy, insanely fast and very demanding week in London. My internship went better than ever on Monday and Tuesday only I actually felt like I was at a real job working a real day in the real world. I was assigned so many tasks that were oh so tedious and lengthy this week but I did make it through every single one and with limited errors. If you ever need a webpage designed, detailed or just formatted I am your girl. Yes, I have officially taken over the updates and designs of the DBA website...for the most part. And speaking of my internship and the process of getting there...gosh the tube is starting to be a whole new story for my life. Let's just say that I am becoming an expert on the tube and am proud of it. I experienced a first for tube stations this week. Yes ladies and gents, I officially stepped onto an escalator for the first time with NO hesitation. Now whether or not I really had a choice on that is a different story, but I did it and that is what matters. I know that I have already informed you that I spend a lot of time at King's Cross Station, but boy is that place a war zone. The best part is I am finally feeling like one of their own at King's Cross so it's great, except I am beginning to get very irritated with all of the outsiders. When I say outsiders I mean: people who stop in the exact middle of traffic, those who (rudely) board the tube before letting people off, and of course people who walk super slow with some type of directions held in front of their faces...yes this happens and the main reason I know is because I was there just two weeks ago! But King's Cross is super super super packed with people and these people do NOT wear deodorant, I can smell when they choose to hang onto the bar above my head in the tube. I think I might start carrying a travel size body spray and give them a spritz whenever I get a wife of BO on the tube...quite often. Also another culture difference here is that when you are on any type of public transportation it is an unwritten rule that you should not make eye contact with anyone there in your presence. So naturally when I am riding home from work I make it a game of how many people I can stare at until I can tell they are uncomfortable. It's GREAT! I just hope someone doesn't blow up on me one of these days! Okay well enough about my tube ranting. To wrap things up I have had one busy busy busy week but still made time to talk to quite a few lovely teammates, one amazing family AND the best boyfriend in the world. OH. And my future bride to be best friend with her lovely fiance. Which reminds me...special shout out to Kelsey and Andrew who will be happily married in exactly ONE MONTH from TODAY! Can't wait lovely lady! As for me and this weekend? Off to Birmingham in the UK to see the one and only Cadbury Chocolate World. Yes you read that right. A nice bus ride for a two day trip with 10 other girls from the program is exactly what I need after a long and tiring week. Details to come soon!! Until the chocolate filled week is over (we visited M&M World this week too) I will be drowning my body in large amounts of chocolate...don't tell coach! Love you all and miss you like crazy.

The Site-Seeing Softball Player

The Best Bath of My Life

Hold on while I continue to try and pick my jaw up from the ground. Visiting Bath was seriously the BEST THING OF MY LIFE. It was so beautiful that I can't even begin to try and put it into words. Everything there was so great. It was nice to get away from the loud and busy London for a weekend and see something a little different, and Bath was just that. It felt like we were there for much longer than we were, but we arrived on Friday and headed back here on Sunday morning. So what did we do? Where did we stay? What was so beautiful about it? Well folks, you are about to find all of those answers and more!

We started our trip Friday morning where we went and saw Stonehenge. This was something that was simply awesome. The idea of this is great, nobody really knows how the stones got there or how they ended up perfectly the way they are so that the sun can shine through the middle. But I do know one thing, everyone goes here for one reason and one alone...TO TAKE PICTURES! There were tourists (Asians) everywhere and posing left and right. I actually saw a man who had to be 70 years old taking a tradish jumping picture in front of the stones...yes his wife snapped the moment for him. But anyways the stones were cool and it was quite the experience, we only stayed for about an hour because Mark and Jen have seen it many times and said an hour was plenty...they were right. 

 Then we headed to the hostel we would be staying at for the weekend...nice right? It was my first experience with a hostel and it was a great one. Unfortunately for me I do not think that every other hostel I stay at from here on out will be as nice, but a girl can dream. It was very friendly and clean and full of students, so the perfect place to lay our head and dream about Bath some more!

We headed out for lunch where we ran into a nice little bakery/sandwich shop to try a traditional pasty. It was DELICIOUS. A pasty is (in my best description) a croissant roll that is filled with beef, potatoes and sometimes other vegetables. But so good that I went back the next day for another. The best part? They were super cheap and very filling...BONUS.

 After a small break for food we met back up outside of the Bath Abbey and ventured our way into the Roman Baths. The Roman Baths are very old and unique. Basically people used to come here to take a bath and be cured of anything they had wrong with them. It's a huge coincidence because we were told not to touch the water or we could catch something. Ironic right? But they were super pretty and I loved how old it was, you had to be extra careful on the stones as you were walking. We even got to taste a little bit of the Bath water after the tour...it was filtered of course so no worries I will be alright!

And I took a tradish senior pic in front...should have come here my senior year. Dangit.

The next morning we went on a boat tour through Bath. Yes, that picture is real and too good to be true right? It should be on a post card or something, but no I took it and yes I got to ride on that gorgeous scene through the water! It was a dream come true. So pretty and perfect. After the ride we headed to prepare for the Rugby match. One of the guys in our program, Dan, plays Rugby and he (stupidly) bet me a drink that I could not drop kick a Rugby ball...and keep it going the right direction. I even told him that I used to play soccer and am a pitcher...I have a steel leg. But he still bet me and yes I proved him wrong on the second try, but it was okay because we said I had two in the bet. Bath won and the game was intense, those men are pretty strong guys...I mean it is basically football without the pads so yes, strong guys.

Our time in Bath was sadly over and we were headed to Avebury to see the stones there and the Avebury Manor home. This was neat, but I did get a little tired of looking at all these rocks. Also it was freezing outside and our tour guide was not the most interesting man ever, but we made it through. We went inside the house and looked around which was beautiful and very informational. And then we headed back for a three hour ride back on the bus. Overall, Bath was beautiful, fun, crazy, calm and unforgettable. I hope to go back someday and show my loved ones the whole deal. But until then I will remember it by the perfect pictures. As for this week? Internship and class is back on the schedule. Hopefully a little day trip this weekend to see some more sites and maybe eat some famous chocolate! Thanks again for all of the support and following. Love you all so much!

The Site-Seeing Softball Player

Internship Jitters

Okay now that I have finished a "full week" of my internship I feel the need to share with you all about how it went, who I met and what I did. The first day was on Monday. Monday was the first day of my internship and the first time I rode the tube ALONE. Sounds scary trust me, I was laying in bed thinking about it the night before like crazy, but it was a piece of cake! So Monday morning I headed to the normal station I leave from...Russell Square and got on the tube there. I had to wait two stops where I got off on Kings Cross and then re-boarded to my final destination of Barbican. Well this was the first time I was ever in the Kings Cross Station and it was CHAOS! There were people everywhere and I became super paranoid. Yes, I was totally that American gripping their backpack in front of their body while walking frantically with a tube map, just in case I were to miss my stop even though that would have been nearly impossible. But I made it with no problems. Got to the building where they buzzed me inside and up I went for my first day. right when I got there Sarah, the lady I work under, introduced me to the others and of course I instantly forgot all of their names. haha woops! After that she showed me my desk and computer (a Mac which I am now in love with). Then Sarah handed me two packets of about 25 pages each and told me I needed to combine the two to create a new program manual for a session they were having and I needed to do this strictly following the company's formatting system. Did she show me how or what to do? NOPE! So...I began. I was fine and finished that with ease and the other projects that she gave me were also no problem, except the one where I made name templates for two hours and then had to re-do them because they weren't PERFECTLY matching. Want to know how long it took me the second time? Approximately eight minutes, yes Sarah decided to show me an easier way after I messed up the first batch. Oh well...I guess? haha. At the end of my first day we had cake and tea to celebrate on of my new co-workers heading out on maternity leave. Yes, I had my first cup of tea and they were all so astonished that I had never had one before, but it might be my last for a while. I think they all make up for my total lack of tea drinking though, literally a lady at my office walks around every single hour asking people if they want tea and EVERY TIME I say no thank you! All in all I had a great first day at my internship, then went and bought my gym membership  and had my first official lift of the season in London! By the time I was finished lifting and walking back home it was already 8:00 here. And that is when it hit me, I don't know how my mom does it. Gets up, goes to work, comes home to cook and eat dinner (which dad helps with greatly) and then still has time to craft, watch shows and spend time with us! Now I completely understand why you fall asleep on the couch every night mom and will NEVER give you a hard time about it again! But I still made time to eat, skype my family for a very lovely birthday call and talk to my classmates back home as well. Then sleep time! After I opened my gift from the family of course.

Day 2: MY 21ST BIRTHDAY! (Don't get your hopes up too high people). Tuesday morning I decided to get up extra early and grab some coffee with Karlee before we hit the tube for our day at work. Things were running very smooth after I ran into some balloons on my way out the door. Yes my fabulous friends decorated the door with tons of nice notes, balloons and streamers! Getting on the tube was fine until I got to that darn Kings Cross again. HOLY PEOPLE! I waited three trains before I made my aggressive move to get on and let me tell you from experience...DON'T take a full, hot drink with you and try to get on a busy train...BAD IDEA. But once again I survived and made it to work. My internship went swell again but I was much busier with small projects left and right. I took my lunch break at 1:00 and ventured over to Starbucks to take advantage of their free wifi. This is when I got to skype my lovely boyfriend for my birthday and then talk to Whitney where she gave me all the details of the Dutch Softball's FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE! It was great to hear everything but a little bittersweet as I was super jealous I couldn't be there. After my lunch break I was given a rather large project to work on which required making thousands of copies...I'm talking I wen't through four or five reams of paper. Well about an hour before I was off I was making good time on this project when the lights went out. First thought...CRAP! How am I ever going to finish this if the power went out. Then I looked to the door and in came three of my co-workers with a treat lit up by candles singing Happy Birthday! It was great. They served me a tart...I believe they called it a Trinkle Tart and also shared some mimosas with me for my 21st. I even got a card with lovely notes from all of them and the cork from the bottle with the date and a coin shoved inside...apparently it's tradition to keep the cork and date it but the coin was a bonus for me! (wow I am rambling, sorry!) After work I made it home just to open my room door to a beautiful bouquet of flowers from...Anthony of course!

They haven't fully bloomed yet, but I do love them very much! They add nice color and personality to my room so that is very nice!

For dinner we had a program planned dinner at a Turkish restaurant called Tas. It was very nice, like fancy, and the food was much better than I was expecting. We got to choose a dish for ourselves and then we also got to try every appetizer on the menu. My friends also sent over a glass of wine for me to have and I received a nice card from our program directors. Here are two pictures of my food:

 Appetizers for the meal. There was a bunch of little "dip" like things for the bread and then a little fried fritter that had cream cheese and spinach inside.

 Our table full of appetizers. Our group didn't get our food until about ten minutes after the first table FINISHED eating...Mark was not too happy with the service.

My main course. It was shrimp, vegetables and mushrooms in a very runny sauce. Not too bad, not my first choice. Although, the guy next to me got a plate of Calamari and it came with honey sauce...yes I stole like four of them from him because they were amazing!

After dinner we came back to the place and hung out for a while. Then decided to head to thyis new bar/club to celebrate my birthday, it was called The Zoo Bar. At first it was a lot of fun, good dancing and socializing but let me just tell you that spending a huge birthday (in America) away from your loved ones is not as easy as it sounds, even living in London! Let's just say I got my hopes up and think I tried to force myself to have the night of my life and then just couldn't do it. But when Paige, and Karlee decided to walk home with me we went into another cool place we have been to before (The Verve) just for the heck of it. Got in for free because I was the birthday girl and met some very nice middle aged people from Texas and IOWA! They gave us their drink vouchers so we had a few on the birthday girl. Then headed back to have pillow talk and sleep for our first day of classes (that aren't required).

Okay last little blurb! First day of Advertising was...awful. haha don't ever go into a class thinking it will be an hour and it ending up being THREE. Our teacher is very nice and super cool but he lectured us in a circle of ten people for three hours...this might be a tough one to get through weekly. We will see though. For now I am recovering from being sore after two days of lifting and lots of walking. I guess 21 does feel different...my bones and muscles are killing! Bath is on Friday for the weekend so hopefully by Sunday I will have pictures and stories from that! Love you all and thank you for all of the birthday love and wishes. You are the greatest!!

The Site-Seeing Softball Player

It's Already September?

WOW I can't believe it is already September and "real life" is finally starting here. We have experienced so much in such a short period of time and I think we are starting to really feel emerged into the culture...I mean as much as we can be! Talking to friends from back home makes me think about a lot when it comes to culture. Everyone asks if I have adjusted or dealt with any culture shock and I don't really think I ever got it. Brie quickly pointed out that most of that probably has to do with the fact that I am in an English speaking place, but still it just doesn't feel all that different. Visiting beautiful and amazing sites is when it sinks in the most, but there are days when I am just sitting in a cafe or hanging out in the lounge and it hits me...I AM LIVING IN LONDON! haha and the past two weeks feels like two months. Anyways, things are great here and so much has happened since I blogged last, or at least I feel that way, so I am going to do a picture blog this time and share some tid bits about what has happened and everyday life here.

Okay, first things first...even though this has nothing to do with adventures and travel I have to show you all a little bit of my room since I never did the cliche room pictures. If you have skyped me then you have had a virtual tour, but anyways. This is my desk, where I spend some time and I have finally put up some pictures and reminders of home. It is nice to have these because I have the worlds GREATEST support group and truly believe that my time here will be the best because of the people near and far by my side.

This is the best picture I could get of the stage from The Sound of Music. I couldn't get a better picture because picture taking WAS NOT allowed. And this wasn't like the normal "pictures aren't allowed" but everyone does it anyways, I'm talking you whip a camera or phone out and there is a swarm squad telling you to put it away. But this was the stage at the Open Air theater we visited on Thursday and it was beautiful. The Sound of Music was GREAT and the actors/actresses were so great. It was very enjoyable and fabulous to watch, my grandpa would have loved it. I remember watching The Sound of Music with him when I was very little. 

Hamley's Toy Store...every kid's dream, or 20 year old girl. This toy store is SIX STORIES HIGH and has it's very own candy and milkshake shop. Yes I totally got a milk shake. I got the peanut butter nutter shake which was peanut butter, banana and nutella topped off with a swirl of vanilla soft serve. IT WAS AMAZING. And we spent a great amount of time in the candy shop as well, but the toys were magnificent as well. Just a fun place to go inside and burn a few hours.

And of course I ran into the Royal Family inside the toy store and they begged me for a picture so I said yes after they twisted my arm a bit. No. But I am on the hunt and when I see baby George you can find me on the news because I am a crazy fan who wants to be a member of that Royal Family! 

This evening I attended mass at St.Paul's Cathedral, it was beautiful. The mass was a little laid back which I was expecting the opposite but I think that is because it was a Sunday evening "Eucharist" so I need to get out of bed and go to the early morning ones to get the "full experience." But just being outside of this amazing building was moving in many ways. It was nice to be back in the church and such a historical one for that matter. 

Those are just a few blurbs from this week, we saw a lot because we had a program scavenger hunt on Friday night...lots of sight seeing. And my group was definitely acknowledged by many Brits as the "crazy Americans" due to our running at the end. We had to high tail it back so we could make it in time before it was too late to win. Totally worth running through London like a crazy person. Friday and Saturday nights we went and saw yet some more new night life places and they proved that London never ends and never stops going. The people here are great and the sites to see are even better. I can't wait to keep exploring and that will start with my FIRST DAY OF MY INTERNSHIP tomorrow morning. But it is almost 1:30am here and I need to get some rest for that. So I will post soon to explain all about my internship and yes, I do have a pretty large birthday on Tuesday...even in London we shall still celebrate the 21st. So until next time, thank you all and love is being sent. I lit a candle inside the cathedral for all my friends, family, followers, teammates and acquaintances back home in the US. 

From London,

Goodnight Mates!

The Site-Seeing Softball Player

The Interesting Internship Interview

I'm sure by now that most of you are beginning to wonder if I am here in London to simply just hang out or if I am ever going to be doing any sort of "studying" for this "study abroad" experience. Well you have all the right in the world to wonder that and it IS about to begin...my being a student in London. Yesterday I had my "interview" with DBA for the internship that I will begin on Monday. When Mark and Jen informed me about this internship they told me how it would be a great experience and how I would gain a wide variety of skills and knowledge towards my interests. They also said that due to the location of my internship I would be able to save some money and walk each and every day as it was only about 30 minutes from Woburn Place. I was immediately super stoked that I wouldn't have to spend MORE MONEY on transportation. So yesterday morning I decided to go ahead and walk to my internship and see where it was before my scheduled interview at 4:00pm. WOWZERS! Let's just say that they were a little off on their directions and I will NOT be walking there and back twice a week, I will be taking the tube.

So you are probably wondering what DBA is all about. DBA (Design Business Association) is a business that aids other larger design corporations in their commercial advertising and marketing tasks. There I will gain skills in advertising, marketing, communication and event planning (helping with this of course). The building I will be working in is glorious. When I approached it outside it was in an alleyway and I was directed to buzz up and ask them to let me in, DBA was on the second floor. So I did ask directed and when I opened the doors to walk in it felt like a movie. The doors opened and wind blew back my hair and then ahhhhhhhhhh I saw the office. It is one large room with desks and computers everywhere, but not like the boring desks and computers...it is super modern and reminds me of an office similar to that of Vogue. YES I SAID VOGUE!! Anyways I am very excited to begin my internship on Monday at 9:30am! I will have more details of that afterwards. And if you are further interested in what I will be up to when I begin my "regular schedule" it is as follows:

Monday/Tuesday: Internship from 9:00-5:30
Wednesday: Advertising Class_________(I just know it's in the morning)
Thursday: British Experience Seminar 9:15-11:00 AND Contemporary Britain 11:00-1:00

Yes, seems like a lot of free time...which is GREAT since I am living in London and have tons of stuff to explore! Also, in case any of you want to send me a package filled with pictures, chocolate, chips or just want to write me a letter (hint hint) my address here is:

Mallory Schulenberg
LG-06
19-29 Woburn Place
Bloomsbury
WC1H 0AQ

And now I believe that is all for now. Tonight we are seeing The Sound of Music in an outdoor theater park-ish thing and having a nice dinner. I will be awake for quite awhile because we have a team meeting back home at 8:00, so 2:00am here so if you need me email or skype! Love you all bunches!

Mind the Gap,
The Site-Seeing Softball Player

HE. IS. HOME.

Okay before I begin updating you on my life I just want to share with the world (my blog followers) that my best friend's fiance has officially arrived in THE UNITED STATES and her arms all the way from AFGHANISTAN!!!! Yes I am so so so proud, happy, emotional, giddy and excited for Kelsey and Andrew to FINALLY be reunited again and if you aren't as excited as I am you will be after you see this picture....

Hahaha yes I am acting like a proud mother all the way in London, but who couldn't be filled with joy after seeing this picture and hearing this news?! Even if you don't know them!! Gosh I am so happy now, as if London wasn't enough to make me high on life THIS IS!!!

Anyyyyyyways back to me living in London. Yesterday was my first "official" day of being a student in London, but don't get your hopes up too high it was only orientation. Gosh I can't believe that I have only been here for a week and two days, it feels like I have been living here for a lot longer than that! So for orientation we sat in a classroom and got to know the people in our program. The program directors are pretty darn snazzy here. We have Mark and Jen. Mark is an older man who has AMAZING style and an adorable personality. He is very bubbly and super easy to talk to. Jen is...pregnant! Ha she is middle aged and from Kansas, yes in the United States. She came to London to study when she was in university (college) as well but fell in love with a British boy and got married, she hasn't gone home since. Don't worry about me though I will be returning to the states and will NOT be eloping here (you're welcome Ant). After we did all of our orientation we had some lunch and then went on a TWO HOUR walking tour of London, but boy did we get to see a lot! We saw a lot of the famous buildings and other monuments which we will return to more to really investigate. Then we ended at a pub where Central College BOUGHT me a drink...yes it's true. I got a hard cider and it was thrilling. I think it was more exciting to share this drink in this pub because of the fact that Central College BOUGHT it. I mean this cider tasted quite alright but I could never pass up the opportunity of that Central College BOUGHT me a drink...haha did I make myself clear enough yet? So yes I am doing fine here, finding some great places to explore, eat at, run and most of all take pictures of random beautiful buildings and architecture. The tube is like second nature to me and walking is rather nice. Tonight we will be going bowling and having pizza, yes I know it sounds SO AMERICAN! But it wasn't my choice, it's part of the program and so IT'S FOR FREE!! When you live in London you DON'T EVER turn down free anything! But for now I will get to figuring out my plans for Host--it's an exchange program where you can visit anywhere and stay with a host family, very excited to experience that! I promise that post cards will be making their way there very soon, once I man up and pay 1.50 per stamp! 

Cheers!

The Site-Seeing Softball Player 

P.S. I am currently having sneeze attacks multiple times a day due to the amount of second-hand smoke I have taken in here, yes everyone smokes here and nope they don't care if you're standing there coughing they will blow it RIGHT into your face!!

What About That Yellow Ball?

Good morning to all of you followers out there. Our first week in London is finally coming to an end. No more newbie feelings or thoughts of getting lost, we have officially embraced the London lifestyle and began "living" in London. haha we think. This first week here was great. I did some quality shopping, more shopping and some eating. But that is not all. I don't know if anyone cares or not but I have also explored being an athlete while living in London. It's very different than back home. Living in Iowa on Central College's campus it is pretty easy to walk around in gym shorts, tennis shoes and a t-shirt while holding a glove and a ball, not so much here. This morning I went for my second run in London and boy do the heads turn! I love running here for many reasons, but I feel like it isn't exactly socially trending to say the least. People do more of the workout boot-camps...indoors...with a trainer. But whoever is judging hasn't said anything yet. Now I thought that running in the city and through the busy streets of London was different, trying throwing a yellow ball with a brown glove on your hand in a park where people are enjoying wine and cheese...UNDERHAND! The other day when some of us went to a rather busy park to play catch we got some strange looks, but it was kind of cool to have others interested in what we were doing. Throwing the ball on the ground to make it bounce while another person is "fielding" it in a grassy park is not a norm here. But this morning when I began throwing the ball underhand to a catcher there were heads turning in a different manner. You know what? I DON'T CARE!

Yesterday we went to see Wicked. I have been wanting to see this since I saw it last time, about four years ago. We got super lost on Thursday when we were planning to see it, so we rescheduled for the early show on Saturday. After we left, we had plenty of time to get there, buy the tickets, leave to get lunch and come back to watch the performance. We got to the ticket booth and asked how much we would be charged for a student ticket. The man told us and we swiped our cards. Thinking we would be in the nose bleed section we thought, oh that's not too bad. Then it happened. The lady told us to walk to the left and down the stairs. I was thinking, did she just say DOWN? So we went down and found what we thought were our seats, but when we got to our destination we couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised! We were sitting THIRTEEN ROWS from the stage!!! This was a dream come true. Wicked was amazing...blah blah blah!

Tomorrow is the start of our real "study abroad" experience...ORIENTATION! haha we will have orientation this whole week with (what I have been told) free excursions and tours, so that's cool! For now I have nothing other than it's a beautiful Sunday and I LOVE LONDON! Thanks for reading and please "MIND THE GAP!" (I'll explain later).

Cheers!
The Site-Seeing Softball Player