One Last Hoo-raw!!!

This is my last post before I come home. I'll be home Friday night at 10:30 P.M. I'm sorry there will be no Barcelona post, but you can ask me about it if you want when you see me. This post will be a bit different than the rest. Since it's my last post here unless I decide to keep blogging, I thought I would do a bit of reflection on a few things. Issues, activities, friendships, etc. So, this is more for me, but who knows it might interest you. 

Traveling:

Amsterdam: Consisted of three of the seven from OSU. Myself, Brandi, and Emily. We did the ITT trip, and it was pretty fun other than the fact that we spent 14 hours on a Ferry. We had a great time, but we didn't have enough time to do a lot of stuff that we wanted to do. But, Emily, Brandi, and I definitely got pretty close that trip!!!

London: Two trips to London with the group and one trip to London with my parents. The first trip was with all of the OSU people. Our first trip when we got here. We had a great time trying to figure out the tube, and trying to figure out what to see. We saw a bunch of landmarks and did a lot of walking. Second trip to London consisted of all 9 of us. We stayed at Journey Hostel which turned out to be one of the greatest weekends here. My birthday weekend and was the best birthday I've ever had. Thanks to the Feltwell Crew and the Jamaican hostel/pub that we stayed at. We saw the Tower of London, did some shopping, and went to Camden Town to a market. London with the parentals was great! It was so good to see them. 

Dublin, Ireland: Dublin consisted of Brandi, Joanna, Emily, Will, and myself. We stayed in an amazing hotel and did a lot of sight seeing. My favorite thing was visiting the Guinness Storehouse. It was amazing to see how they make the beer, advertising for the beer, and a bunch of other stuff. We also got a complimentary pint. It was definitely worth the 11€. We were there St. Patrick's Day weekend and thought they would be partying it up, but they weren't. But, we did go to a few pubs that were pretty fun! And Will, is definitely funny when intoxicated! "HIGH FIVE!!!" Dublin is definitely one of the cleaner places we visited. 

Salzburg, Austria: This was my favorite trip the whole three months. It was a girl's weekend. The "Sound of Music" tour rocked my world, our hike up some mountain was breathtaking and very relaxing, and Salzburg was just as gorgeous as can be. We didn't want to leave, and definitely didn't get to do everything that we wanted to do. We had an amazing taxi driver, Hans, and "Sound of Music" tour guide. 

Around England: Spending time around England was one of my favorite things to do as well. We spent the night in a 400 year old farm house that is supposedly haunted. (You'll have to ask me about that one sometime). We went to Cambridge and punted the river Cam. We went to Bury St. Edmunds and did some shopping and walking around. We've been to Ely for fish and chips, and Cambridge yet again for a Cambridge United Football Game. Going to the football game was something that I had been wanting to do while we were here. It was on the top of my list and this past Sunday I finally got to cross that off my list. It was a draw, nil-nil, but it was still a great experience!! 

Italy: In Italy we went to Venice, Florence, and Rome. Saw lots of amazing things, ate LOTS of gelato, and an overall good time. With the exception of Emily's departure. The Roman Forum was my favorite thing in Rome. It was amazing seeing the old city. Venice was interesting in the fact that the transportation consisted of water taxi's. Something we are definitely not used to. Florence was cool, we saw Michaelangelo's David and an amazing art museum. We had a rough time with our hostel choices, but you know it's our fault for waiting till the last minute. Apparently, we ALL are horrible procrastinators. Italy was probably the dirtiest place we visited. Especially Rome, with the funky smells, and all the graffiti. 

Barcelona, Spain: Barcelona was probably the second most amazing city we visited. I LOVED it!!! We definitely didn't get to see everything I wanted to see, so this place is definitely somewhere where I would return to in the near future. It was absolutely gorgeous. It has great shopping and I consider that an important fact. lol We even made it to the beach to work on our tans since we've all been deprived of sunlight here in England. Our numbers were down from six to four. It was a bit sad, but we totally enjoyed ourselves. At the time we were leaving Italy we were definitely in need of a pick-me up and Barcelona was the perfect thing!!!!! 

Friendships: 

First there's Emily aka "Emilta" and Brandi aka "Momma Brandi". I'm pretty close to all of them, but those two I'm extremely close to. Emily, because we both had horrible issues trying to get here and then the both of us being at the Elementary School. She was my grocery shopping bud, my bus buddy, and my shopping buddy. Brandi and I just get along extremely well. We have pretty similar personalities, sense of humors, likes and dislikes. I don't know what I would do without these two! 

Next there is Joanna aka "Ice." I just love her to death!! Her nickname, Ice, is because she is our "Ice breaker." But, I'm pretty much the only one that calls her that, so it's really my nickname for her. She is definitely one of the most positive people I know. Her and I definitely do "Question Wars" which I love. She is very good at shooting off those thought provoking questions that make you think, and I'm not used to that, but I love it!!!!

Jill, aka "Genevieve," is the MOST positive person I know! She is adorable, and loves to laugh just about as much as I do! Her most used phrase, "Oh my gosh!" haha She's a squealer and I'm not used to that, but to see someone so excited about everything, I love!! 

Nicole, aka "Nicolette," is very generous, sweet, and pretty funny. She's definitely someone I will miss. 

"The guys," Hal and Colin, from Washington State University. These guys had a hand in  making my 23rd birthday the best birthday I've ever had. They are hilarious, sweet, and just all out awesome guys! They will definitely not be forgotten. 

Will, aka Gilliam, is the only guy from OSU. He is pretty reserved and quite and likes his alone time. But, he is probably one of the most funniest people I know! He's got this crazy, dry sense of humor that is totally unexpected. He's a good guy. 

Favorite Moments:

• "High Five!"- Will Sledge: Dublin, Ireland
• "Seize Every Opportunity!" -Emily and Caroline
• All the random naps taken on public transportation, in cars, and random places. 
• Journey Hostel on the Southside of London. Sketch hostel that turned out to be one of the best weekends here.
• Salzburg, Austria; "Sound of Music Tour" with my girls, the amazing scenery of Salzburg, and throwing snowballs at each other. 
• Experiencing sketchy hostels with the Feltwell Crew
• Volleyball at Lakenheath Middle School
• Punting the river Cam in Cambridge
• The numerous shopping sprees in London, Bury St. Edmunds, Salzburg, Dublin, Italy, and Barcelona. 
• Flying Ryan Air...oh wait...Ryan Air was horrible, it was the people I was traveling with that made those flights bearable. 
• Visiting different pubs around England
• Laughing with the Feltwell Crew
• Packing 9 people in Steve's van on our way to Epping
• Getting to know 9 amazing people that I will remember for the rest of my life.
• Incredible free food provided by the teachers from the Elementary School, Middle School and High School.
• Late nights with the Feltwell Crew

Epiphanies:

1. I actually like more vegetables and and other foods that I didn't realize. 

2. I have a love for Indian food.

3. I can be on my own and still survive.

4. My quietness causes people to think I don't like them, which is definitely the opposite case. 

5. I have a serious shopping problem.

6. I enjoy teaching and can't wait to be an Elementary Physical Education teacher. 

7. 9 people can become life-long friends in three months. 

8. If I were given one million dollars to never go back to the U.S. I would do it. 

9. I LOVE ENGLAND!!!!!

10. DODS is an AMAZING system and the people are PHENOMENAL!!!!