Home at last

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Study Abroad

Well WOU blog, this shall be the last post from me as I’m actually sitting in my own bed on my laptop to tell you this. Since we last talked, I met up with my family and we had a blast. We went in the Tower of London, the London Eye, the Globe Theatre, the zoo, and just had so much fun in England. In Paris we saw the Eiffel Tower, went in Notre Dame, went to Versailles, took a boat tour down the Seine and even went to Disneyland (on my 21st birthday too, best day ever).

As my time in Europe neared an end I was definitely getting a bit homesick. It helped having my family there, but I just wanted to go home and get some decent Dr. Pepper and decent Japanese food and see my cat. When we went back to London after Paris it got better because London definitely had started to feel like home, but I’m glad to be back. Five and a half weeks is a long time to be away from home.

By the time we actually got to customs in the U.S. my body was telling me that it was 3 in the morning so customs was not the most fun experience, luckily it went a lot smoother than customs in London did so it wasn’t too bad. I think that I’ve learned a lot about myself on this trip because I’ve proved that I can be independent and that I can live somewhere that I can’t go home every weekend. And I’m far more comfortable with public transportation than I was before considering I had to take the tube everywhere in London. I do miss London, but I’m glad to be home.

London week 3.5

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Study Abroad

Since it has almost been a week and a half since my last post I figure you lovely readers deserve another one. Tuesday I went with some friends to Cardiff, it was so pretty. We took this 50 mph boat ride around the bay, which was a blast. I also might have bought a gorgeous new dress but that’s not quite as important as the fact that I’ve now been to all of the British isles. Thursday was a field trip day and it was a long one. We started with a trip to the city of London police department to see their museum. It was alright, but they had a copy of jack the ripper’s from hell letter which made everything better. Then we went to old Bailey (my not so inner Sweeney Todd fan kept looking for judge Turpin) and saw part of a case. Lastly, we went on a Jack the Ripper tour which was so cool. Friday was a day off, I ended up at the British museum which was absolutely gorgeous, so many awesome old things. That night I went to see American idiot, not gonna lie it took a lot of self control to not jump up and down on my bed screaming green day songs after I got back. Saturday I took a lazy day, but went to see phantom of the opera. Seeing that chandelier rise while the theme played was awe inspiring. Sunday I went out to Oxford, they had a history of science museum, I thought I was in heaven. Tuesday marked our last field trip of the class. We went to the inns of court, the royal courts of justice, the Supreme Court, and parliament. It probably would have been more enjoyable if my allergies weren’t trying to assassinate me, but not much we can do about that. Tomorrow is finals, but I’m not going home because my family gets here on Saturday for another week and a half of European adventure. Until next time wou blog, enjoy some photos.

I thank the gods of rock and roll and musical theatre that allowed this to be a thing

Sunset on the thames

Cardiff bay

My view from the balcony seat at phantom

The royal courts of jusrice

No idea what this statue was outside the courts, but nothing you can say will convince me roar Ira not actually a punk rock dragon with a skateboard

Sweeney Todd fan girl = content

The from hell letter

Pretty sure this is the greatest museum ever

Week 2

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Study Abroad

WOU blog writer Courtney Richardson reporting in from the last week. Saturday I flew out to Dublin and made a pit stop at the Hard Rock Cafe before catching a train to Galway. I spent the night in a hostel which was an interesting experience that I’m glad I got, but I definitely prefer hotels. Sunday I hung out with the lovely Jen Hight and we tromped around Galway for a while before I had to catch a plane back to London. Monday we had our class at the British library so that we could see their Magna Carta exhibit, it was pretty cool but I liked seeing the old English copy of Beowulf more. That night I went shopping with some friends and found the Disney store, which was great for me…but maybe not so great for my wallet. Tuesday brought another field trip, this time out to Windsor castle and Runnymede because this week was all about the Magna Carta, literally, only the Magna Carta. Windsor was cool, except for the part where I ended up sunburned. At Runnymede we saw the JFK memorial that the Brits put up, the Magna Carta memorial that the American bar association put up, and the Air Force memorial. There was so much climbing, my legs still hurt, but the views were incredible. Wednesday was class and a nice relaxing day in to recover from Tuesday. Thursday I spent with Jen Hight again, but this time in London. And I finally got to go see Westminster Abbey, although I think I was more excited by the fact that Jeremy irons was the narrator of the audio guide than I was about the stuff in there. Friday started way too early but I was going to Scotland so it was worth it. Saturday we had a free day to tromp around Edinburgh, I might’ve gotten lost, we won’t talk about it. We also saw Edinburgh castle which was pretty cool. Sunday we came back to London, but not until after we saw Alnwick castle. Now that is how a castle should look. I’ll report back later with more adventures, but first have some pictures.

Panoramic view from Alnwick

Panoramic view of Alnwick

Same as above

Window in Westminster, featuring Henry VIII

Window in Westminster featuring Elizabeth I

Panoramic view from the air forces memorial

same as above

Yeah, no explanation needed here

Found this pub in Galway, shitty picture but it’s Richardson’s

Did I mention that I found a storm trooper in Edinburgh? Because I did, and it was awesome

Galway Part Two

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Jennifer Hight

Not much has happened since the Aran Islands. We’ve stayed in Galway and toured around here. I went shopping today and got a cute tank top that I can wear tomorrow so I don’t have to dig through my laundry. Other than that it has mostly just been eating.

Yesterday we went to the Coole House. It was a rather pretty place that has recently been turned into a nature reserve. The house itself no longer stands, not because it was torn down during the Civil War. But instead because it was so decayed it was unsafe. I wrote more about Lady Gregory, who made Coole House famous, here: https://jenstravelsacrosstheworld.wordpress.com/ireland-big-house/coole-park/

Today I spent the day in Galway some more. The fabulous Courtney Richardson came up for the day and we hung out mostly in the morning. I introduced her to my class, and embrassed her in the middle of Eyre Square. I just clung to her wailing about how I’d never see her again there while everyone just watched and she tried to get me to stop. Good times. Added to that, I believe I have shown that Ireland is better than England because of how awesome everything here is! She better write about this on her blog or I will be quite cross.

Also today we wathed Gaelic football in a pub. It makes no sense. Sometimes they carry the ball, sometimes they dribble it. And every now and then they throw it or something. Not sure why. But hey, I got to see more football. While watching I had my first shot of Irish whiskey. It tasted like death so I had a sip and refused to touch the rest of it. Nothing should be that horrible. Except math class.

Tonight we had dinner at the King’s Head Pub. The pub was built on the spot where Charles I of England was executed on the order of Cromwell. Turns out the order was sent only to Scotland and Ireland because they didn’t think the Englishmen could kill their king. But the Irish had no problem apparently. I love this country so much. Murder a king in Galway? Awesome! Let’s drink alcohol here to always remember it.

I only have two more days here, and they I travel onwards into London. So that will be a fun adventure!

Week 1

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Study Abroad

ah dear wou blog, so much has happened since we last spoke that I feel the need to be ridiculously overdramatic. Sunday we had orientation in the morning and then had the rest of the day to do whatever we wanted. I went with a group to see the changing of the guard, but we didn’t have a very good view so I basically just saw the parade. After that, my group went through St. James’s park and then over to Big Ben and Westminster abbey. The abbey was so gorgeous but we couldn’t go in because it was Sunday. That night I went with some friends from class out to dinner at this burger place down the street. They had fantastic milkshakes that reminded me of mike’s drive-in near my house so that was awesome. Monday was the first day of class and it was fairly interesting we learned about the basis of the English government system. That night we went out to Leicester square for dinner which was really nice, I know I’ll be spending loads more time out there later. Tuesday was my first day off and I went with some classmates to go see the changing of the guard. We got there early and got some pretty decent spots for the whole shebang, after that we went out to the barracks and goofed off there for a little bit before heading to Westminster. The line to get into the abbey was really long so we skipped it for now. That night we went out to the London bridge and then walked over to the tower bridge and the Tower of London. We would have gone in but they were closed for the evening so we just enjoyed the scenery. Wednesday was class day two and we talked more about crime in England and it was really cool learning about the difference between the U.S. and the UK. I was exhausted after class and decided to take a lazy day that ended with a show. There’s this really cool little theater not far from us and they were doubt productions of Shakespeare’s king Henry V. It was an all female production with everyone except Henry also being a member of the chorus. Not gonna lie it was really cool. Thursday marked our first field trip and we went out to battle to see the battlefield and battle abbey from the battle of Hastings in 1066. The British will tell you that that was the last time that they were successfully invaded so that’s pretty cool. I went shopping that night out in Leicester square. They have a big m&m store, not quite as big as the one in Vegas but pretty close. Today I went on a CCSA field trip to Salisbury and Stonehenge. At Salisbury they had the best preserved copy of the Magna Carta and had a big display because of the 800th anniversary of the document. Stonehenge was a bunch of old rocks in fancy positions and it was more interesting when you think about the history of the place and how old it is and how much effort must have been put into it. Tomorrow I’m off to Ireland to see the lovely Jen Hight while she’s over there. I wanted to see it anyway but since it’s her last weekend I’m going now to see it with her. Oh and I went to the first Hard Rock Cafe tonight and got my pin and shirt so I’m content for now.

Here, have some photos

A gate at buckingham palace

Me at buckingham palace

Me me with my new buddy Big Ben

The outside of Westminster abbey

A tomb at Salisbury cathedral. I have no idea why the photo is upside down but I don’t care enough to fix it.

The longest day ever

Posted on July 11, 2015 by Study Abroad

I figured I’d make this before I passed out considering I’ve been up for like 28 hours. So I made it to London, it was a little stressful being my first flight and customs and getting to the dorm but I managed. We went on a little walking tour and it was nice to see what was nearby but my feet are killing me. Tomorrow we just have orientation and then we can do whatever we want all day so I’m not even sure what I want to try and see first.

Here, have some pics I took throughout the day.

Some artic ice near Greenland

Good morning iceland

First glimpse of iceland

Traffic jam on the runway

Inspy with my my little eye, the London eye

Introduction/Pre-Departure

Posted on July 5, 2015 by Study Abroad

So, I’m Courtney and I’m half really excited and really nervous because I leave in less than a week for London. I’ve never flown by myself before which is part of the nerves but it should be fun (and it gets me out of work for a month so hey bonus). Honestly though I can’t wait to go and explore and have fun and figure out if British food is really as bad as everyone says it is. And I just recently found out that you’re not supposed to make eye contact with anyone while on the tube, so hey bonus for me because I hate eye contact with strangers.

Let’s get this show on the road.

WOU Students Abroad

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