Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Studying Abroad in London: A Date and A Party


Yet another week has flown by and what a jam-packed one it was, especially the last few days of the week. I definitely feel at home here, especially after these past couple of weeks. I say it in every post, but I never want to leave. 

Anyway, so many events happened this week. There were excursions, sight-seeing, dates, amazing food, parties, etc so let's just go ahead and dive straight in. 



Monday
October 21, 2019

Monday, as usual, started out pretty slow. When I woke up I didn't really do anything all morning other than sleep in and relax a bit before heading to lunch with Isaac. Then I had my lecture from 3-6 and I was pretty bored during it. I was having a bit of anxiety about the class by the end of the lecture, but I've figured some things out since then and think I have things mostly set.

After that, I made cheesy potatoes for dinner and then tried to be productive while Isaac went to soccer practice (it's called football here, though). I didn't get as much done as I wanted to, though I did shower, finalize my Halloween costume, and do some Instagram catch-up. Once he got back we ordered pizza and ended up staying up until 2:30 AM watching Psych so that we could be sure he didn't have a brain injury before we went to sleep. 



Tuesday
October 22, 2019

I had another sleep-in and literally did nothing until I met Isaac for lunch. After that, I picked up some packages for class and my Halloween costume and then worked on a blog post. I'd say that Tuesday wasn't an overall interesting or productive day, but it was relaxing before a long stretch of eventful days.



Wednesday
October 23, 2019

St. James Park
Westminster Abbey
I had another class excursion on Wednesday. This one took us into Central London to follow in the steps of Mrs. Dalloway, a character created by Virginia Woolf. We started in Westminster near Big Ben and walked past Westminster Abbey on our way to Dean's Yard where Dalloway supposedly lived in the novel.

After that, we headed through St. James park which was absolutely stunning with all the fall colors hitting it. We were passing by Buckingham Palace and managed to catch some sort of ceremonial march that was going on. It was actually super cool to see. Then we ventured up Bond Street and saw all the super expensive shops and designer stores before splitting off for the day.
Bond Street

I ended up heading back to campus because I was exhausted from the Dramamine induced drowsiness. I got lunch and ended up napping until Isaac got back from his football game. We ended up just ordering kebabs and food to eat while we watched Psych before bed.



Thursday
October 24, 2019

Thursday was a big day. Isaac and I woke up semi-early but spent most of the morning in bed until we had to leave for Central London. We picked up lunch on our way to the bus stop and then headed over to the Natural History Museum.

It started raining as we got there which was a bit unfortunate but we didn't let it bring down our mood for ice skating. If anything, it made the day even more memorable. I was alright at ice skating--definitely better than the last time I went--but I really enjoyed just watching Isaac show off how well he could skate. 

After skating, we headed up to the cafe where we got some pictures from when we were skating and then some hot chocolate to warm up a bit. The rain definitely made us cold so the hot chocolate was really nice. After that, it was back out into the rain (though it had slowed down a bit) to queue up for the Natural History Museum.

I definitely think this is my favorite museum I've been to. I much prefer museums about history and science over art (though I do still like art) and the Natural History Museum was full of cool exhibits--mainly dinosaurs. I loved the dinosaurs part but I also loved the rocks section because, well, rocks.

Our personalized M&Ms
Then we headed over to Piccadilly to Waterstones which was the largest bookstore I've been in in my entire life. I loved it. It was five floors full of books. I wish they'd had the Russian Bookstore still, as that was why I wanted to go there, but I was obviously able to enjoy it anyway.

Up next we walked through Piccadilly and decided to go into the M&M World on a whim. It was so colorful and a bit overwhelming, but we did get M&Ms with our faces printed on them! Talk about extra. After leaving M&M world, we went to a steak restaurant for dinner and it was amazing. We got a camembert dish for an appetizer and it's probably the best camembert I've ever had. Then came the steak. Oh mama was it amazing steak.

After that, we walked a bit and ended up in Trafalgar Square after dark. It was cool to see it at night when the buildings and fountains were all lit up different colors. We picked up some snacks for later before heading over to Tower Bridge so I could check it off my bucket list before catching the tube back to campus.

When we got back to campus we dug into some of our snacks and turned on The Martian (inspired by our trip to the Natural History Museum) and just watched that before heading to bed.



Friday
October 25, 2019

It was a lazy morning Friday where we slept-in followed by lunch at the diner. After that, I spent a few hours being productive while Isaac took a nap. The real fun didn't begin until after dinner when the drinking games began.

I think that's the most I've ever drank in one go? I didn't get drunk but I did get tipsy before we went to the Bop (campus-hosted dance night). It was really fun dancing and just hanging out with my flatmates.

After getting back, Isaac and I made a frozen pizza and I Facetimed my mom and niece. It was fun getting to talk to them and see my niece after not having spoken for a while. After that we just went to bed. 



Saturday
October 26, 2019

Saturday was also a busy day. We slept in for a bit before Isaac had training to go do. I was going to be productive while he was at that but I ended up accidentally falling back to sleep and sleeping through the entire time since I'd been up late the night before. I did meet Isaac for lunch at the library cafe before we headed to Londis to get some snacks and other stuff for the Halloween party.

I was semi-productive once we got back. I could have been more productive but I did get some things done that afternoon. That evening, Isaac and I went to pick up two of his friends from the train station before heading into Putney to go to Nandos for dinner. It was a fun meal before we headed back to campus to get ready for the Halloween party.

It took me a bit longer than everyone else to get ready since I had more makeup to do. Glitter got absolutely everywhere (and is still everywhere) but I'm proud of how my costume turned out. I ended up going as a pot of gold since Isaac was going as a leprechaun.

The night was fun. My team kicked ass at beer pong not once but twice. Let's just say Americans do it better and leave it at that. After that, a small group of us headed to the other kitchen to play some other drinking games. We played a few classics and also some I'd never heard of that were absolutely hilarious. I think I gained a 6-pack just from how hard I was laughing.

Then we ordered pizza because one of us had a 50% off coupon and we were eating that when security came to shut down the actual party (is it even a real party if security doesn't shut it down?). It was kind of dumb that the party got shut down before midnight because quiet hours weren't until 2 am but whatever. I was tired anyway.

We cleaned up a bit after most of the flat had decided to venture out to find a new party on campus before putting on a movie to watch before bed. 



Sunday
October 27, 2019

We slept in a little bit on Sunday but not too much before heading into London with Isaac's friend and another flatmate of ours. We took the tube over to St. Paul's Cathedral and had lunch at Wagamamma before going into the cathedral to see the inside. It was quite beautiful but I wish we could have explored even more of it since the only part we could walk around in was the entrance area. We couldn't take pictures of the inside, but I did end up getting some pictures of the outside.
St. Paul's Cathedral

After that we ventured over to the Natural History Museum where we went ice skating again. Seeing as it was sunny and not a weekday, it was a lot busier than when Isaac and I went on Thursday. One of the employees actually recognized us which was funny. But it was a fun time since I had others this time at more of my skill level. I will say I do think I'm getting better at it.

Then we made our way back to campus to hang out a bit in the kitchen with Isaac's friends before he had to take them back to the train station. While he did that, I went with one of our flatmates to grab food from one of the places on campus and brought it back to the flat.

After dinner, Isaac and I watched movies and ate some snacks before heading to bed. 



Another busy week behind me! I have an equally as busy week coming up, however, so definitely stay tuned to see how that goes. I keep thinking things are going to slow down eventually but they never do--and I'm glad! I want to keep enjoying every second of being here because I know in less than two months it's going to end.

For past weekly diaries, check out my study abroad page here.



Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren



You can follow my bookstagram here. A brand new giveaway will be posted soon!

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Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Studying Abroad in London: Cemeteries & Even More Shows


Hello all! Another week has passed and I can't wait to recap it! I did so much this week and I feel like I say this at the beginning of every post, but this semester is flying by. I can't believe I've already been here almost a month and a half and that I'll be home in two months. I never want this semester to end.

But anyway, onto this past week. I had classes and excursions and I even got a bit sick. I can't believe I'm sick again on the busiest semester I've ever had. Luckily it doesn't seem to be as bad as when I get sick every semester but I'd still prefer if I was at 100% instead of slightly under the weather.

Anyway, this was a pretty busy week so let's go ahead and just jump in! 



Monday
October 14, 2019

This was another lazy Monday. I slept in a bit before going to lunch with Isaac. Then I just had my lecture which was pretty boring this week. After that, we just made dinner and watched Netflix before going to bed. 



Tuesday
October 15, 2019

Tuesday was another day in to be productive. Nothing much happened other than working on blog and school stuff. 



Wednesday
October 16, 2019

This was the start of the exciting week's events. I woke up pretty early to catch transport to Highgate across London for a class excursion. It was an interesting excursion, though I have to say that I was definitely exhausted afterwards. We had to walk up a super steep hill to get to the cemetery before we could even go in. We saw a bunch of cool graves and notable persons, but I think my favorite was this random dude who was an artist and his headstone literally just read "Dead."

After we left the cemetery, we walked up even more of a steep hill and I honestly wasn't sure I'd make it to the top. We didn't even really do much at the top of the hill--we just walked to this dead guy's house and then back down the hill. The view walking down was really great, though, because we were on a really cute street and in between the buildings as we were walking down was a view of central London.

I headed back towards campus but made a stop in Putney first to get some shopping done. I got some groceries and other toiletries and it was an experience. I had the worst time trying to check out because my American card requires a signature with every purchase and at the store I was at you couldn't do that at self-checkout unlike others I've been to. I had to queue up in a long line for another cashier and I didn't bring enough totes so I was trying to carry some of it on the bus which was interesting.

I got back to campus around 3 pm and finally got to eat lunch after having nothing but a granola bar for breakfast. Up until I sat down to eat I'd had a lot of energy but the moment I hit the kitchen bench I was exhausted. I ate for like 20 minutes before joining Isaac on a trip to Westfield (and I maybe fell asleep on the bus).

We met up with his mom and sister--something I was super nervous for--but it was a really relaxed and fun time. Then we went shopping for a thicker coat for me and some things I needed for my Halloween costume. We found the coat (after a couple hours of searching) and got some other stuff I probably didn't need but am excited for anyway. It was late by the time we left the centre and we were both exhausted (I think I'd walked at least 8.5 miles at that point).

On the way back, we missed not one but three bus stops because our driver was an asshole. The first time, one of our things got stuck in the seat and even though we were walking towards the doors out, the driver just left. Then we hit the button to stop at the next one and he just kept driving--and he did that for two stops. By the time we finally got off we were about a mile away from campus and had to walk back.

We got back just in time to order pizza and garlic bread from the campus pub grub and took that back to the flat where we proceeded to watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Friends before going to bed. I was so exhausted by that point and when I checked the next day, I had walked over 10 miles and done the equivalent of climbing 60+ stairs throughout the day. 



Thursday
October 17, 2019

I woke up at a reasonable time and made breakfast before going back to start on laundry. I do laundry a lot more here than I used to back home--mostly because I have a lot less clothes here. As that was going, I did some light cleaning of my room before going to a little fair that was being hosted in the library.

There were a bunch of people from the college with different booths set up. We went to one where I got to try jenga while wearing drunk simulation goggles--it was pretty fun. We got free portable chargers from that booth, free mugs with slap bracelets and flashlights from another, tote bags and candy from the next, and then free sandwiches from yet another. It was pretty great.

After we unloaded all our new gear and ate lunch, we went to ASDA for groceries. I spent too much money but it was on food and things we needed, so I'm trying not to stress too hard about it. One of my flatmates bought table tennis for our kitchen and it was pretty funny to see everyone try to play it when that got set up.

Then I went and took a nap before putting my laundry away and then making dinner. Isaac and I made homemade tacos--this dude had never had a taco before!--and cheesy potatoes. I was properly stuffed afterwards but it was so yummy. Clean up was a bitch, though, since we somehow seemed to use almost every piece of dish ware we each owned.

After dinner, I just worked on blog stuff and other secretarial stuff before heading to bed early. 



Friday
October 18, 2019

I had a lecture early in the morning and then spent the afternoon catching up on things on my to-do list that I hadn't done yet. I wasn't as productive as I would have liked, but I did get a few things done which was good.

I took an accidental nap then before heading with three of my flatmates to see a Greek burlesque cabaret drag show thing called Zeus on the Loose. It was located in somewhat of a hidden location but we were able to get our tickets and then go to one of the street food vendors for a quick bite before the show started seating people. I had some custom stir fry and it was pretty good, though I would have liked it to have been a bit more flavorful. After that, we went in to get our seats. We were able to get super cheap tickets to the show and it was definitely worth the price. It was a bit raunchy, a bit sexy, a bit hilarious, and all around fun. 



Saturday
October 19, 2019

Mine is in the middle
I just worked on homework and other productive things throughout the day before a bunch of us met up in the kitchen to carve pumpkins. For some reason British pumpkins feel different than American? They were a lot less slimy which made digging the guts out a bit less fun but it's okay because it was cleaner.

I tried doing a cool design of a black cat in the grass on my pumpkin and it was going pretty well until the moment I had to pop out the excess pumpkin to create the silhouette. I accidentally popped out the cat too and ended up with just a giant hole on the back of my pumpkin. After at least 20 minutes of carving. It was not fine. I ended up just turning it around and carving the stupidest smiley face into it and calling it a day.
Flat's Pumpkin Family
We saved all of our pumpkin seeds to then roast them for a snack. We had so many and I still have most of them just sitting in a bag waiting to be eaten. They turned out pretty alright for my first time making them on my own, though I still think my dad's taste better.

Afterwards, we made dinner and I then introduced Isaac to the wonderfulness that is Psych before then going to bed. 



Sunday
October 20, 2019

Sunday was a bit busier. I slept in a bit and then had breakfast which consisted of apples and peanut butter with bacon on the side. I personally love that, but I'm not a conventional breakfast type of person so.

After that, I headed to the library to crank out my first assignment of the semester. The weird thing about UK uni is that your final grade is based off of only one or two big assignments or exams. Any class work, participation, attendance, etc has no real impact on your grade. This is both great and a bit daunting because you don't have an extra cushion if you don't do as well on your assignment.

Then I went and took a nap before having dinner. Isaac made curry and it was my first experience with it--I have to say, it was really good and I definitely want to try more of it. After dinner, Isaac and I left with another of our flatmates, Jess, to go see another show.

This show was located in Piccadilly Circus and was A Comedy About a Bank Robbery. It was so freaking hilarious and I highly recommend seeing it if you're in London and have a chance. I was laughing so much throughout the entire thing and even with the cliche humor and moments, there were moments where I was completely shocked.

After the show, we went across Piccadilly to Five Guys. I swear I've eaten at Five Guys more times since coming to London than in my entire life before this semester. I introduced Isaac and Jess to the magic that is dipping french fries in milkshakes.

Then we went to a candy store next door which was both a great idea and a terrible idea. It was great in that I found a bunch of American import candy and snacks I'd been missing and terrible in the fact that I spent way too much money on candy. I'll definitely be rationing the candy, though.

Upon returning, Isaac and I just finished up washing our dishes that we hadn't been able to do before dinner before we then watched an episode of Psych. 



Overall, this was a great week. I was feeling a bit sick sometimes but the great times definitely made up for it. I'm very excited for what the next week will bring as I have a lot of stuff planned!

For past weekly diaries, check out my study abroad page here.



Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren



You can follow my bookstagram here. A brand new giveaway will be posted soon!

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I am a "BookishTextDesign" Influencer! Use my code LAUREN10 for a discount off your bookmark purchases! Check out the shop here

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Friday, October 18, 2019

Fall Reading Recommendations


Hello all! It's been a while since I posted a bookish post but today I'm finally back with some reading recommendations for fall! These are all books I'd recommend reading during these cooler months when the leaves are turning, rain is falling, and night is longer. So, without further ado, here are six books you should read during the fall season! 



Up first, I have Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin. This is my absolute favorite book of 2019 so far and I highly recommend everyone read it regardless of the season. However, I think that fall is by far the best time to read it considering it's all about witches, magic, and romance. 

Bound as one to love, honor, or burn.

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou's, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.

The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou's most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.

And love makes fools of us all.



Up next is Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand. This is a bit of horror mystery book following a set of young girls. It's definitely spooky and contains thriller aspects that make it perfect to read during a stormy fall evening.

Beware of the woods and the dark, dank deep.

He’ll follow you home, and he won’t let you sleep.

Who are the Sawkill Girls?

Marion: the new girl. Awkward and plain, steady and dependable. Weighed down by tragedy and hungry for love she’s sure she’ll never find.

Zoey: the pariah. Luckless and lonely, hurting but hiding it. Aching with grief and dreaming of vanished girls. Maybe she’s broken—or maybe everyone else is.

Val: the queen bee. Gorgeous and privileged, ruthless and regal. Words like silk and eyes like knives, a heart made of secrets and a mouth full of lies.

Their stories come together on the island of Sawkill Rock, where gleaming horses graze in rolling pastures and cold waves crash against black cliffs. Where kids whisper the legend of an insidious monster at parties and around campfires.

Where girls have been disappearing for decades, stolen away by a ravenous evil no one has dared to fight… until now.



Then I have one of my favorite books, Hide and Seek Her by H.B. Stumbo. This is more of a thriller romance rather than a spooky fantasy but it still deserves a place on this list. Not only does this book mean so much to me, but it's also a creepy and addicting read that I couldn't put down once I started reading it.

Jackson Greene was the dark. If there was a place in the world where all of the light had been sucked out of, Jackson Greene would be what was left standing. Charlotte Lyons had let Jackson Greene take all of the light from her world and after his mysterious disappearance and her near death experience she worries that she will spend the rest of her life trying to find the light again. 

Enter Vance Wait, the mysterious yet intriguing man who pulls Charlotte from the darkness of the shadows of her past and out of the world she has spent years hiding in. As Charlotte attempts to rebuild her life and learns what it is like to let someone new in, she finds that the things she thought were gone are hiding just out of her line of sight. The lingering thought that she should always look over her shoulder is like a burn that will never fade. Where Jackson is the flame still inflicting the wounds, unbeknownst to Charlotte, Vance is the gasoline used to ignite those flames. 

Sometimes the things we think we see are mirages, hallucinations even. Our imagination is usually what haunts us more than the actual vision our eyes process. It's the things we don't see, the things that we feel but cannot ever point out that are the real threat in our lives. Seeing isn't believing, believing is seeing and you wouldn't believe the things you miss seeing when you're searching for something else.



I'm recommending a graphic novel next and I couldn't be happier to be putting this one on the list. Pumpkinheads is a cute little novel that definitely puts you in the mood for fall. Not only is the story itself super cute, but the illustrations definitely made me feel immersed in fall and pumpkin patches.

Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends.

Every autumn, all through high school, they’ve worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. (Not many people know that the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world is in Omaha, Nebraska, but it definitely is.) They say good-bye every Halloween, and they’re reunited every September 1.

But this Halloween is different—Josiah and Deja are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch. Their last shift together. Their last good-bye.

Josiah’s ready to spend the whole night feeling melancholy about it. Deja isn’t ready to let him. She’s got a plan: What if—instead of moping and the usual slinging lima beans down at the Succotash Hut—they went out with a bang? They could see all the sights! Taste all the snacks! And Josiah could finally talk to that cute girl he’s been mooning over for three years . . .

What if their last shift was an adventure?



Up next I have one of my favorite books that I love to reread in the fall months: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco. This is a spooky, sometimes creepy novel that plays with your mind yet pulls you in the whole time. It's truly perfect for fall. This series has one of my favorite character duos ever and I wouldn't be surprised if I felt the urge to reread these books again soon.

Presented by James Patterson's new children's imprint, this deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion...

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling, #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.



Lastly, I'm recommending The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh. This can best be described as a romantic vampire murder mystery set in New Orleans in the 1800s. Basically it's everything that any ex-Twihard would love! Everything about it screams fall read.

In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans provides her a refuge after she's forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent along with six other girls, Celine quickly becomes enamored with the vibrant city from the music to the food to the soirées and—especially—to the danger. She soon becomes embroiled in the city's glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group's leader, the enigmatic Sébastien Saint Germain. When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in the lair of La Cour des Lions, Celine battles her attraction to him and suspicions about Sébastien's guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret.

When more bodies are discovered, each crime more gruesome than the last, Celine and New Orleans become gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose—one Celine is sure has set her in his sights . . . and who may even be the young man who has stolen her heart. As the murders continue to go unsolved, Celine takes matters into her own hands and soon uncovers something even more shocking: an age-old feud from the darkest creatures of the underworld reveals a truth about Celine she always suspected simmered just beneath the surface.

At once a sultry romance and a thrilling murder mystery, master storyteller Renée Ahdieh embarks on her most potent fantasy series yet: The Beautiful. 



Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren



You can follow my bookstagram here. A brand new giveaway will be posted soon!

To get more awesome content like this post, click the follow button to the right!

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Thursday, October 17, 2019

Studying Abroad in London: Musicals & Stonehenge


Another week has passed here in the beautiful city of London. I keep waiting for the awe to fade and it just hasn't. I've been having a blast and I truly never want to leave this city. I keep finding new things that draw me towards staying or, at the very least, coming back after graduation. 

This past week was a whirlwind of activities and excitement. So much happened in just a few short days and rather than try to wrap it-up in a few sentences here, let's just dive into the actual post. 



Monday
October 7, 2019

On Monday I went to get lunch with Isaac. I can't remember what we ate but I remember that is was pretty tasty. Then I had lecture. It was alright--not as exciting as the first day of class but it was definitely better than some of my classes back home. 

After class, I headed back to the flat and had pasta for dinner. That was super yummy. Afterwards, Isaac and I headed back to my room to just hang out and watch Netflix. We ended up making things official, too, so I guess this means I have a boyfriend now? Surprise!



Tuesday
October 8, 2019

I had to wake up early on Tuesday to go to an excursion for my Gothic Literature class with one of my friends. We got there a bit early since traffic was lighter than anticipated but we were able to just sit outside this little cafe while we waited.

the library
Strawberry Hill House
We went to Strawberry Hill House, which has a lot of historical significance to the Gothic genre. It was a really interesting tour that we got to go on. The house itself really isn't that old but was built to seem older than it was. Plus, it had an amazing library that I would love to have one day.

On the way home I fell asleep on the bus. I had to take Dramamine so that I wouldn't get motion sick and that always makes me drowsy. Unfortunately, then my friend I was with also fell asleep and we both didn't wake up until the bus terminated and the driver kicked us off. Talk about a total fail. Plus, I was stuck without very much money and a negative Oyster card.

Eventually we did get back to campus and I was able to get lunch, thankfully. Then I just got some cuddles before I left with another friend to go see Wicked in West End. It was an absolutely awesome show and I'm so glad I finally got to see it. I'm a sucker for backstories and happy endings, so I will say that I definitely approve of this one.



Wednesday
October 9, 2019

Today was our first excursion for my Hidden London writing class and it was pretty fun. A few friends and I ventured away from campus pretty early so that we could get to the meet point and it was a long public transport ride, though it wasn't too difficult.

The excursion itself was to Brick Lane and Whitechapel. It was pretty interesting, though I did zone out at a few parts. We ended up going into this church and the organist was in there practicing so we got to hear some awesome music. I would definitely consider going back to see his concert in a couple weeks.

the organist practicing
After the excursion ended, I trekked over to White City and the Westfield Shopping Centre where I met up with Isaac and two of our friends. We went to see The Joker and I have some mixed feelings about it. It's a very compelling story and was wonderfully done from a craft standpoint, but I just don't think it was the movie for me. Afterwards, we went to an Italian place for dinner where we got the biggest bowl of carbonara I've ever seen. We were both able to have huge helpings and bring home pasta for the next day. It was pretty great. 



Thursday
October 10, 2019

my view of the stage
On Thursday I had a pretty chill day. I got lunch with Isaac at one of the places on campus and then I went to see Hamilton! I've wanted to see Hamilton for about four years now so finally getting to see it on the stage was like a dream come true. I had amazing seats and was able to be fully immersed in the show. It was so well done, though some of the London actors' American accents weren't the best. I already have plans to see it again before I leave since it's not going to be in Chicago by the time I get back.

After Hamilton, I just headed back to campus where I ate dinner, engaged in cuddles, and watched Halloweentown. Isaac has no choice but to binge the best Halloween movies ever with me and I'm very much looking forward to the next ones.



Friday
October 11, 2019

On Friday, I headed to ASDA to get some necessities and some Halloween goodies. When I got back, I headed to lunch with Isaac and then just chilled for most of the day.

Later in the evening, all my flatmates and I hung out in the kitchen playing games and drinking before heading to The Bop, aka the weekly campus dance party. Isaac and I didn't actually end up staying that long but it was fun while it lasted. 



Saturday
October 12, 2019

On Saturday I went to Stonehenge and Bath on a social programme trip. One of my flatmates went as well which was super fun and we were able to have a really enjoyable day. We left pretty early but I managed to sleep most of the almost-3 hour drive to Bath from London.

When we got to Bath, we started on a tour of the Roman Baths that the city is known for. While walking through the museum part of the tour, I stepped in vomit which was no bueno for me. However, once I got away from the stench and was able to wipe my shoes off, I had an enjoyable time. It was interesting to see the hot springs and how all the architecture had been built around them. We even touched the water (shhh---it's not allowed) and got to drink some of the approved spring water. It wasn't good.

After we left the tour, we went to lunch at this cafe in the city. I had the cheesiest, meltiest croque monsieur ever and it was so yummy. Then we picked up ice cream from a little shop in town as apparently that area of England is known for dairy and ice cream. I do have to say, the ice cream was very good.


Then we hopped back on the coach and drove another hour to Stonehenge. At this point it had started raining so I pulled out my trusty umbrella as we trudged up to the rocks. It was actually really interesting to hear a bit of the history behind them as well as find out that no one really knows why they were put there. A mood, honestly.

After that, I bought some socks with rocks on them before sleeping almost the entire three hour trip home. We hit bad traffic so we got back an hour later than expected, but I'd say it was still worth it for all we got to see and do despite being on a bus for 7~ hours.

I ate some dinner, took a nice warm shower to chase away the cold from the day, and then watched movies with Isaac before bed. 



Sunday
October 13, 2019

Sunday was just a somewhat lazy day. We were productive but we also didn't leave the flat. I was able to somewhat deep clean my room and organize a lot of the mess (with Isaac's help), which was nice, as well as work on blog stuff and whatnot. We ended the day by just watching movies again. 



This week was definitely one of my favorites so far, though I've been having a really amazing time. This upcoming week is shaping up to be another great one, though, and I can't wait for it all to happen. 




Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren



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