"You sound like your from Lon-don!"

I FINALLY made it to London!  and yes, I did talk like Russell Brand in Forgetting Sarah Marshall all weekend...at least in my head.  First things first, I always knew London was HUGE.  But I had absolutely no idea exactly how big.  Seriously.  We took a 45 minute train from the middle of london to where we were staying, and were still technically in London.  Each of our friends were also in London.  But staying an extra 30 minutes in each direction.  So let's just agree on the fact that getting around town was a mission.
  Friday night we walked around Piccadilly Circus and made it out to Soho.  This man on the street said if we paid 5quid to get in his club we got a free shot.  Well, it turns out we had to pay 5quid, then buy an 8pound drink to get the free shot.  Tam took one for the team and told him she would sue him for false advertising (yes, we were all tired and grouchy).  So after my girls got their shots we were kind of over that club...because it was rather creepy...good songs though.  Tam and I decided to call it a night and go back to her friend Rachels, who was generous enough to let us stay with her!  Also, I have to note that living with South African's give you a new appreciation for tea.  I actually had a dream that it was imperative that I find rooibos tea and a tea pot...but that's a different story.
  Saturday morning Rachel made us breakfast (because she's awesome) and I was introduced to Bavril...just google it, I can't even begin to explain it.  It's...different.  Not bad, not good, but different.  After that we made our way into town to be extreme tourists.  First, by eating a pub.  Then, getting tea (which isn't that touristy, but I'm telling you rooibos makes my life), and then seeing the sights.  First stop on the journey was Buckingham Palace.  The Queen was there that day, so the flag was flying, and I wanted to find her and see if she would be so kind as to introduce me to one of her grandsons...no such luck.  One day.  One day I will live there, just wait.  After that, we walked around the Green Park for a while.  The sun finally came out and it was nothing short of stunning.  Also in the park there were about a million (yes, I'm exaggerating) lawn chairs all painted differently...I really wish I had taken a picture, but I'm afraid a picture wouldn't have done it justice.
  After spending a while in the park we (Tam, Jessie, Mike, and I) met up with London native Alfie who showed us around better than we could do ourselves.  When we got to Westminster Abbey, I may or may not have cried a little because it was quite glorious.  I cannot even begin to describe how incredible it is.  The intricacies of the architecture blew my mind...everyone should see it at least once.  Especially on a sunny day.
  After Westminster Abbey, we saw Big Ben/Parliament which were also amazing.  Jessie reeeeeaaaalllly wanted to see Big Ben, so I'm so glad she got to do it!  I personally find it amazing that people could build things that look that great without the technology that they have today, but that's just me.  After Big Ben, we crossed the Thames, saw the London Eye, walked through Trafalgar Square, and to my personal highlight of the weekend. WICKED.
  This was so great it gets its own paragraph.  I would try to describe Wicked in one word but I can't.  Let's just say that it was probably the best thing that will ever happen to me, my life is forever changed...and I cried.  A lot.  I'm just saying when Elphaba reaches the crescendo in Defying Gravity...mind blowing.  Then again at the end when Elphaba and Glinda are singing For Good.  Changed my life...I can't really think of anything else to say on that...but my face is saying it all.
  After Wicked, Tam and I went to a pub filled with nothing but South Africans...and they are quite a friendly people.  Let's just leave it at that.
  Sunday morning, one of Rachel's friends made us probably the best omelette I've ever had...so thanks to him on that.  Then we commenced to shopping.  If you ever make it to London, shop at Camden Markets.  I love being able to shop places with no definite price...I'm quite good at haggling.  Just FYI.
  After shopping came dinner in China Town...which was amazing.  Then we had tea at another of Tam's friends apartments.  Okay, so his apartment looks through the London Eye directly at Big Ben...can we say unfair?
  Finally, and unfortunately, it was time to go home.  We all made it home safe and sound after a fantastic weekend.
  Ok, so I'm combining posts because this next story isn't long enough for a whole post.  One of my good friends, let's call her Friend A, celebrated a birthday a few days ago!  Go her!  Anyway, I sit in the hall late at night to study or text so I don't disturb my roommate, and as I was doing this, I hear her screaming bloody murder.  So I look up from where I'm sitting and see her running down the hall screaming at the to of her lungs in leggings and a bra.  For a second, I'm quite stunned, then I realize I should probably go help her back to bed.  When I make it to the top of the stairs I find two of our other friends standing there just letting her go.  Apparently, she drank some jungle juice (or something) and was, in effect, super effing drunk.  So, she keeps yelling, and slamming her door for about 20 minutes, then one of the freshman boys who live downstairs made the mistake of telling her to "bugger off".  Well, her response was something to the effect of "Screwwww You.  You are a Freshman!  You have no life and no future in whatever it is that your doinggg!" At the time it was ridiculously hilarious.  A friend and I finally got a shirt on her...which she took off 2 minutes later.  Then ran downstairs looking for Matty...still in a bra and leggings.  Long story short, another friend finally got her to bed where they had "Girls' night 2010!" which basically meant she passed out.  But don't worry, she's fine now!
  And such is my life in Leicester.

One Birthday Candle in the Best Cupcake Ever

Well folks.  I am officially 21 and can now get into the strip clubs in Vegas...Let's make it happen.  I've always wanted to see the Thunder Down Under.  My birthday was nothing short of fantastic, so thanks to everyone who took part in the festivities or wished me well!  Everyone else...you suck.  I'm kidding...kind of.  Anyway!
  I set my goals low yesterday and accomplished them!  I showered, and I found a post office with the help of my bfffff Matt.  He also got me the best cupcake I've ever had, and I'm going to describe it to you all now.  It was like a blueberry muffin, but glazed and split down the middle with with lemon frosting in the crack and lemon wedges on top...I want another one right now...it was AMAZING.
  After that, everyone was going to the I <3 Mondays "Bar Crawl" and we had to wear these ridiculous shirts...and the only size any of us had were larges...so Tam and I made our shirts look un-large.  Because I simply refuse to wear a large potato sack on my birthday (Thanks to Mike, who kindly traded me so I didn't have to wear orange either!)
  The party itself was fantastic, there was singing, dancing, drinking, face painting...and that was before we even got on the bus.  Being that my man friend is 4000 miles away, This young fellow Josh kindly agreed to be my British boyfriend who I wouldn't make out with.  His job was to hold my hand so I didn't fall down (from exhaustion, of course).  HE SUCCEEDED! Just in case anyone was wondering.  The first bar we went to was completely packed...so of course I used my cleavage to flag down the bartender.  I might add that he went to every single man at the bar first, to which I ask...really???  Tam and I finally got our drinks and the party offically began...because no party is complete without a diet coke with lime (isn't that right grandma?) The DJ was pumping Taio Cruz...and then switched to the Beatles, who I mean, are amazing...but kind of a buzz kill when I'm dancing my pants off.  Anyway, we didn't stay at that bar long due to the huge crowds so we moved onto the next one.
  I just want to say, that it is a complete pain in the ass to find cosmos (sans alcohol, of course) in England, and the Brits get quite rude when asked where to find out.  They copped a tude with me, so, being the brithday princess that I am, quickly nipped that one in the bud.  We found our cosmos, we loved our cosmos, and, in the words of Jay-Z, it's on to the next one.
  On the way to the final club, Tory found a new boy to kiss, and Jessie walked into a pole...and it was hilarious...so of course I laughed...and Josh kept me from falling down while I laughed and walked.  We made it to the final club, we danced a lot, made fun of douchey men, and then decided to call it a night.  Tam, Matty, and I went home and ate pizza...and by that I mean I ate an entire large pizza in about 30 minutes.  Annnd that was my birthday!
  I now have no more exciting birthdays, I now only have 30 to look forward to, and let's be honest, who looks forward to that.  LOVES!

Let the Birthday Festivities Begin!

For those of you who don't know me...My birthday is normally celebrated for the entire month of October.  Just in case there was any doubt in your minds, the first party, that in my mind was all about me, happened on Thursday.  In England, they have fancy dress parties.  So while I was laying out my little black dress and red high heels, someone informed me that "fancy dress" meant costume.  So all of my awesome girlfriends and I dressed up as flappers..complete with embellished headbands and sequin mini skirts.  Since my grandmother reads this blog, I have to leave out some details of the night. Just in case this story sounds like it has some holes in it.
  So pre-gaming and getting dressed was quite fun actually.  A few of my friends were already a little tipsy by the time we left Allison's to head to the next stop on our tour of awesome (I promise the tipsy part is relevant to the story) I will be leaving names out of this story...because everyone loves a little anonymity.  Skip ahead, we arrive at Digby, stop 2 on the journey, and since I'm really good at pretending to be drunk, I fit right in!  We sang, we danced, we ate Chili flavored Crispy Coated Nuts.  It was magical.  After this we decided to try and catch a bus to the club.  As we were walking down the sidewalk, friend A toppled over.  Legs flying.  I felt bad for her, and helped her up, but I have to admit it was pretty funny.  I saw it in slow motion actually, but there was nothing I could do about it.  So we helped her up and got on the bus were we met a group of smurfs who wouldn't stop singing.  So I put them to work and they named me Smurfette and sang Happy Birthday to me (Yes, I did keep telling people it was my birthday when it wasn't).  They were very exuberant about it and people kept talking about how their hats looked like condoms...that didn't really stop them though.  
  We get off of the bus and make our way to the club...and down goes friend B.  This time instead of legs flailing, this friend hit the ground and rolled a little.  I was being a terrible mom that night, I should have been watching more closely, I felt really bad because friend B fell in front of a HUGE line of people, but it was still kind of funny.  I would expect them to laugh at me if I was the one who fell.  We finally get into the club, we sing, we dance (again) and then we find the boys.  Or rather, friend C found boys for us.  Most of us weren't really feeling these new boys, (Friend B) included...but friend D took a liking to one of them...and that's where that portion of the story will end.  
  We went outside so friend B could "smoke a fag" (which happens to be one of their favorite sayings) and when we went back inside found some men dressed as Chippendale's dancers.  They insisted we rub body oil all over their finely toned bodies, however, being the loving girlfriend that I am, declined.  Friend A on the other hand, took one for the team and did it.  Then they got a little friendlier.  One kissed friend A and the the other asked me if I wanted to "get with ol' David tonight" (yes, he was using an English accent and speaking of himself in the third person.) Again, I vehemently declined and told him I had a man friend but he could give me a birthday kiss on the cheek...so he did...and then asked again if I wanted to Get with ol' David...to which I responded that I, still, did not want to get with him.  
  After these men we had just about had it with the club scene and were heading to a local bar.  For some reason we ended up sitting outside with some Englishmen dressed as Frenchmen who kept talking about my chest as if I wasn't there...and couldn't understand why I high fived one of them in the face.  After that we really were trying to leave when we saw out friend...I think I'm on E? So friend E stumbles by all alone.  and I do mean stumbles.  (this is the portion where grandma may want to stop reading, because this story is too great not to tell) So Friend B is like that's him! and no one believes her, so she goes after him as he is throwing up all over the sidewalk.  While she is tending to him, I am making conversation with the bouncer because...what else is a sober girl dressed as a flapper going to do while standing in the rain waiting for her friend.  So after a while of "F*** off's" and "I'm fines" from our extremely inebriated friend, we convince him to come with us so we can get him into a cab and into bed.  After some struggles, and by that I mean a friend under each of his arms and me hanging on behind him, we get him to the cab, and then argue with cab drivers because no one wants to let him in the cab...douches.  So our friends are trying to decide where to go, and who to take Friend E screams "Tory get in the fucking cab!"...Sarah (who he was talking to), responds..."I'm not Tory..." to with E responds "Doesn't matter!!"  So friend A, B, and I get him into a cab finally and are joined by some random drunk man child in a Hello Kitty onesie.  A had to hold the back of E's shirt in the cab because he was semi unconscious...and about to hit his head on the dashboard a few times.  We finally make it to the student village and A and B sit with E while he lays in the parking lot for a minute.  I walked our drunk Hello Kitty friend to the front of his house because he had no idea where he was.  After telling me I should go party in his room because it's wild there, I found my friends and life was golden almost.  
  We finally got friend E to his room with only getting puked on a little.  So I guess I should count my blessings.  B stayed with him for a while and A and I walked home...only to meet another drunk man on the street who wanted to make friends with us!  and who's drunk hand mysteriously landed on my chest.  His friends peeled him off of us, we made it home; and night 1 of the birthday festivities has finished!  
  Unfortunately, the birthday festivities are on hold.  There is some kind of protest in town today so we kind of can't go into town.  I'm thinking pizza and movies...all day.  Okay, more later.  Love you all!   

Things are Friendlier Down Under

Well...it's been a fairly uneventful weekend.  It rained a lot, I stayed in a lot...trying not to be sick abroad is kind of a big deal but whatever.  Can I please just tell you how effing annoying it is to register for anything here?  Apparently, online registration is beyond anyone's realm of understanding, so you have to register an email address and then go to each different department and stand in line and wait to register...can we say absolutely ridiculous?  I realize that this sounds like a ridiculous thing to complain about...but they switch rooms without telling anyone and rarely have anything marked to begin with...so it's kind of like winning the lottery if you actually find where you're supposed to be.  Luckily, after 6 hours of waiting I finally got registered...so I WILL actually be going to school...contrary to what everyone may believe.
  Side note:  I had possibly the best sandwich I've ever had in my life.  Tory and I found them at the bar in the student center on campus...I had one about 4 hours ago and I could definitely eat another now...so if you ever come to visit!  That is where we will go...without a doubt.
  Now comes the part where I tell all of you how friendly Australian men are...Chelsey this is directed at you...go to Australia for foreign men.  In our group of friends we have a ton of girls, the gays (who we all love) and the straight Australian...who is kind of an ass but we love him nonetheless.  Well anyway...actually I'm not sure why I told you that, Dean isn't really connected to the friendly Australian I met today...ok new story!  So today I was with Tam, my bff from South Africa, registering for classes and we met this guy...who's name I can't remember (he really made an impression).  I didn't pay much attention to him because I really just wanted that awesome sandwich, so I went on about my business and I ran into him later while I was in line for registration.  We started talking about how I can't go to London to see Les Mis anytime soon because of the terrorist threats and whatnot and I mentioned how my mom told me to only speak French, and one of my phrases is "Embrassez-moi.  S'il vous plait" meaning, kiss me please...he took this as an invitation and went in...so I swatted him with my kindle.  I assumed most boys are scared of books.  So he left, and then I saw him again on the way home where he  invited me for a "cat nap" in his room.  Being that I have a boyfriend, I told him to hold his breath because I would be right over.  I hope you can all pick up the sarcasm dripping from my tone.  So Chelsey!  If you come visit me, I know exactly which demographic I will be hooking you up with.  Ok, I have to organize my schedule...because the University still hasn't figured it out.  Later!

Dance, Dance, Like it's the Last, Last night of your Life.

Well!  I can't remember where I left off...Let's just start with Friday.  Friday everyone skipped the planned orientation activities and went shopping...and by shopping I mean we went to Mcdonalds, because let's be honest...American food is amazing.  Then came a night that many of us wish to forget.  There was supposed to be a study abroad drink social at one of the bars on campus...except the bar on campus wasn't open.  So we instead went to a different bar on campus for some pool and karaoke! That was quite fun actually.  There was a 2 story club opening on campus so there was this huge party for that, everyone got dressed up thinking it wouldn't be too different from America...let me just throw this out there.  I have never seen more Amazon looking girls in skirts that don't cover their backsides.  I saw more vaginas in an hour than I think most people see in their entire lives...ok well maybe that's an overstatement.  But these girls seriously were wearing bras and thongs as fashion accessories...and they weren't exactly small girls.  To each their own!  By the end of the night all of the girls had been groped at least twice and one girl got elbowed in the jaw...so we went back to Mcdonalds because carbs are amazing.  After all was said and done...I have never been happier to get in my bed.  I think tonight we are just going to a pub...so that will hopefully be not as insane.  I need to take a nap.  More later!