And I FINALLY have my own computer up and running. This may not seem like much, but it really means a lot to me. I purchased the laptop back in August. I had been needing to replace my old desktop for over a year - the modem died right before I moved in to the apartment with Krissie. At that point, I couldn't afford much and I started to think about going abroad. Obviously, going abroad would have affected my decision between desktop or laptop computer, so I put it off, waiting for a green light on my future residence (among other things). When I ordered my laptop I really didn't think about HOW I would use it, only that I wanted one. (A decision made in haste, now that I think about it). Arriving in England, I was disappointed to find that there was no phone line in my bedroom - not for a phone, but for my computer. So, it has been a long two months of only using my own computer to play music... And, finally, I am up and running with my Yahoo! Messenger and my Microsoft Outlook... I am such a happy girl.
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
France
We have just unpacked the car from our trip to France. It was late last night and we figured things could wait. We left the house at 8:00 yesterday morning and drove to Dover to catch the train. We had to line up (like you do for the ferry) and drive on to a double-level train. Once all of the cars were on, they closed the doors to each section so that it looked just like a subway train. It only took 35 minutes to get across the Channel (it would have taken 1 1/2 hours by boat) - it was cool!
Once we arrived in France, we drove to St. Omer (approx. 45 km) to wander around the town. Driving was neat, we mainly passed small villages and lots of farms. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of back roads I've been on at home. However, at home they do not have fresh game - rabbits - hanging outside of Butcher shops! Agg! That was a shock!! Once in St. Omer, we walked through the Cathedral and had lunch at a nice little café. Then we drove to Arques, to the glass factory, ARC International. There were so many beautiful pieces and all I could think was,"I wish I could carry these home with me!!" Of course everything I liked was either too big or too heavy to take on a plane - grr!! After Arques, we drove to Boulognes for some grocery shopping at Achaun (think Super Wal-Mart, only bigger) and then into town for dinner. I bought some beer and some stuff to make Taco Salad for dinner (I've been craving Tex-Mex and that is the only thing that I know how to make). The town center in Boulognes was beautiful, I wish we had time to explore. There is a wall around the city and cobblestone streets. :) The streets were dark and they had soft yellow bulbs in the street lights - it was amazing, I felt like I was in a movie.
On the way back to Calais (for the train) we drove along the coast. The moon was almost full and the sky was clear- you could see everything!! We stopped at this one spot, had to drive up a hill to get there. There was a monument, a large cross, and you could see England across the Channel. I can't remember the name of the place, but I am sure it had something to do with WWII. I'll have to look into it more...
I enjoyed the day-trip to France. There is so much more I wish I could have seen - guess that means I have to go back... :)
Once we arrived in France, we drove to St. Omer (approx. 45 km) to wander around the town. Driving was neat, we mainly passed small villages and lots of farms. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of back roads I've been on at home. However, at home they do not have fresh game - rabbits - hanging outside of Butcher shops! Agg! That was a shock!! Once in St. Omer, we walked through the Cathedral and had lunch at a nice little café. Then we drove to Arques, to the glass factory, ARC International. There were so many beautiful pieces and all I could think was,"I wish I could carry these home with me!!" Of course everything I liked was either too big or too heavy to take on a plane - grr!! After Arques, we drove to Boulognes for some grocery shopping at Achaun (think Super Wal-Mart, only bigger) and then into town for dinner. I bought some beer and some stuff to make Taco Salad for dinner (I've been craving Tex-Mex and that is the only thing that I know how to make). The town center in Boulognes was beautiful, I wish we had time to explore. There is a wall around the city and cobblestone streets. :) The streets were dark and they had soft yellow bulbs in the street lights - it was amazing, I felt like I was in a movie.
On the way back to Calais (for the train) we drove along the coast. The moon was almost full and the sky was clear- you could see everything!! We stopped at this one spot, had to drive up a hill to get there. There was a monument, a large cross, and you could see England across the Channel. I can't remember the name of the place, but I am sure it had something to do with WWII. I'll have to look into it more...
I enjoyed the day-trip to France. There is so much more I wish I could have seen - guess that means I have to go back... :)
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Not your typical Sunday afternoon...
I have two new favorite places in London, both involve shopping. How sad am I?
I took my time getting out of the house this morning (the sky was gray and the streets were wet), but as soon as I walked out the door, the sun started to come out. Of course, I was dressing in full wet-weather gear (including a warm sweater under my parka and a scarf in my bag - in case it got even cooler). I knew I had made a huge mistake when I passed several people in town wearing t-shirts, but I had no interest in turning around, so I shoved the parka in my messenger bag and rolled up the sleeves of my cotton sweater. I was determined to get out of this town today!
Camden Market is an absolutely wonderful place - crowded, but wonderful!! Where else can you find fetish booths right next to hand-knitted sweaters and jewelry that spells out your name? It is this huge market of absolutely EVERYTHING and caters to every sort of client imaginable. If I took my grandmother and the Goth kid next door, we'd all be happy campers, finding all that our different tastes desired. Oh! And the food was amazing, imagine every ethnic cuisine you could possible think of - Mmm!! I don't really know how to describe it other than UNCC's International Festival meets hippy festival meets any UK town market and multiply it by 1000. Needless to say, I was in heaven. I didn't really buy much, just a few Christmas presents, but I loved the atmosphere and the people-watching. There were moon boots and purple hair galore, and scattered between the London postcards and "Mind the Gap" t-shirts were fuzzy handcuffs and crotchless panties. My favorite product was the "Magic Mushroom." There were several booths that were selling these fungi. They had varieties from Thailand, Hawaii, and many other exotic places, but they were packaged like the mushroom you'd buy in the grocery stores and all I could think was, "What poor sucker bought the magic mushrooms, hoping for something 'exotic' and got the fancy pizza variety?" Because they can't really sell the 'exotic' kind on the street corner, or can they? A place like that, they probably could, maybe... I'm really not giving this place justice - it really just blew me away!! The ONLY draw-back was the crowd. It reminded me of Adams Morgan (remember Robert & Ashley?), just massive amounts of people everywhere!!!
When I left Camden Market, I found my way to Covent Gardens (which I have been trying to find for some time now). Covent Gardens was much quieter than Camden and not nearly as quirky, but I have a feeling (considering it is so close to the Tube Station that I frequent) I will be making it a permanent "when-I-go-into-London" stop. There were many street performers, as I have been told there would be, and most of the shops were of the Bluewater variety, but it is still a WONDERFUL place to visit.
I made it home in time for dinner. A German assistant that stayed in my room last year when she was here, was in town and had dinner at the house. She invited a friend that is teaching at one of the other schools in town. Both girls were extremely nice and I REALLY enjoyed meeting both of them!! We've exchanged numbers, so (for those of you that are worried that I have no friends here) my social life may actually start to pick up soon.
If you get a chance, check out this artist's work: Tina Maas. I saw her booth at Camden Market and her photographs are really amazing! I especially liked her polaroids and the effect she uses - it almost looks like the image is projected on a silk scarf or a piece of fabric - really cool!!
I took my time getting out of the house this morning (the sky was gray and the streets were wet), but as soon as I walked out the door, the sun started to come out. Of course, I was dressing in full wet-weather gear (including a warm sweater under my parka and a scarf in my bag - in case it got even cooler). I knew I had made a huge mistake when I passed several people in town wearing t-shirts, but I had no interest in turning around, so I shoved the parka in my messenger bag and rolled up the sleeves of my cotton sweater. I was determined to get out of this town today!
Camden Market is an absolutely wonderful place - crowded, but wonderful!! Where else can you find fetish booths right next to hand-knitted sweaters and jewelry that spells out your name? It is this huge market of absolutely EVERYTHING and caters to every sort of client imaginable. If I took my grandmother and the Goth kid next door, we'd all be happy campers, finding all that our different tastes desired. Oh! And the food was amazing, imagine every ethnic cuisine you could possible think of - Mmm!! I don't really know how to describe it other than UNCC's International Festival meets hippy festival meets any UK town market and multiply it by 1000. Needless to say, I was in heaven. I didn't really buy much, just a few Christmas presents, but I loved the atmosphere and the people-watching. There were moon boots and purple hair galore, and scattered between the London postcards and "Mind the Gap" t-shirts were fuzzy handcuffs and crotchless panties. My favorite product was the "Magic Mushroom." There were several booths that were selling these fungi. They had varieties from Thailand, Hawaii, and many other exotic places, but they were packaged like the mushroom you'd buy in the grocery stores and all I could think was, "What poor sucker bought the magic mushrooms, hoping for something 'exotic' and got the fancy pizza variety?" Because they can't really sell the 'exotic' kind on the street corner, or can they? A place like that, they probably could, maybe... I'm really not giving this place justice - it really just blew me away!! The ONLY draw-back was the crowd. It reminded me of Adams Morgan (remember Robert & Ashley?), just massive amounts of people everywhere!!!
When I left Camden Market, I found my way to Covent Gardens (which I have been trying to find for some time now). Covent Gardens was much quieter than Camden and not nearly as quirky, but I have a feeling (considering it is so close to the Tube Station that I frequent) I will be making it a permanent "when-I-go-into-London" stop. There were many street performers, as I have been told there would be, and most of the shops were of the Bluewater variety, but it is still a WONDERFUL place to visit.
I made it home in time for dinner. A German assistant that stayed in my room last year when she was here, was in town and had dinner at the house. She invited a friend that is teaching at one of the other schools in town. Both girls were extremely nice and I REALLY enjoyed meeting both of them!! We've exchanged numbers, so (for those of you that are worried that I have no friends here) my social life may actually start to pick up soon.
If you get a chance, check out this artist's work: Tina Maas. I saw her booth at Camden Market and her photographs are really amazing! I especially liked her polaroids and the effect she uses - it almost looks like the image is projected on a silk scarf or a piece of fabric - really cool!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
