the end of Week 2!

Don't you hate it when you write this long (insert docuement type here) on the computer and next thing you know, you've done supposed slightly out of the ordinary (even though you're very familiar with computers) and you've deleted the darn thing and have to start all over? Well it's one of those days for me and I just deleted my post =/

Here goes Week 2 Round 2! Highlights from this week:
* Parliament Tour


* Istanbul pre departure meeting


* Borough's Market

On an British Life and Business class excursion, we jumped off at the Westminister tube station and took a tour of Parliament. It's just as old as you would have imagined and the guide was not humble enough to mention that the form of goverment (including our Congress and House of Representative) system is mirrored after the English model. As you would imagine - top notch security, no inside photographs, lots of Gothic -style decor, tradition, history - basically the Queen appears to rule all - even though she....doesn't...really.





I love how the location of London allows professors to add so much content to their curriculums, which makes it a real shame when they don't vary it up a bit. The ability to see an exhibit or see the actual sight after reading about it or having been lectured on it is really truly amazing. This is a characterisitic I really hope they can integrate into the California school system. Yes it's idealic, but in major metropolitan cities, I don't see why it can't be possible, even at a small fee. It really makes the information more relevant to the student, it makes them want to care and it's pretty awesome ( at least for me) when I can go into a museum or for instance see Parliament, and be able to comprehend what the guide has to say about the atmosphere that we're in.





This brings me to Turkey. I will be kicking off my Fall excursion series this coming Thursday morning when we'll be leaving for 3 nights and 4 days in Istanbul. The class requires a lot of reading, but the trip has served as my motivation to get it done. How often ( not to mention awesome) is it to be able to be an interactive student and really get to experience what you're learning about. Some interesting thing they pointed out to us at the meeting culture shockwise was:


i) DO NOT drink the water


ii) girls should be covered at all times, carrying along scarves for our heads, if neccessary


iii) boys should never accept an invitation to go to a "special place" because its code word for "we're going to rob you"


iv) turkish people are extremely hospitable and friendly, however we will continue to be treated as Gods if we learned the four basic phrases of any langage: (a) hi, (b) please, (c) thank you, and (d) where is the bathroom?


v) the exchange rate from the USD to the Turkish Lira is 1:1 - wahoo!!!!





It's been a relatively more academically focused week. In efforts to deter my spending from last week ( I booked about 90% of my European excursions, which is definitely reflected in my bank statement....) my flatmates and I have stayed in most of this week watching movies, having dessert nights, and just really getting to know each other. I would have imagined living with 10 other girls (especially with only 2 bathrooms) to be absolute chaos, but actually...it's been bliss. There's always someone around to talk with, to get to know, etc. We're all completely different and unique in our interests, where we've been, age, what we enjoy to do, and very few of us actually knew each other before London; so it's what we all share. Most of us are spending our fall breaks together and the final decision is signed, sealed, and delivered:





Saturday: October 18: London --> Pisa, Italy


Thursday: October 24: Rome, Italy --> Madrid, Spain


Sunday: October 26: Madrid, Spain --> London


So if anyone has any contacts they would like me to visit for them or recommendations of where to go, see, eat, and be happy, I'll happily accept your e-mails at this time!

Speaking of food, Michelle, my fellow flatmate epicurean and I went to Borough's Market today on the South Bank of London. It is very similar to Pike Place Market in Seattle, yet completely different. It's chock full of locally produced foods and how I wish I could capture the smells because trust me, the picture is NOT enough. Amazing olive oils, cheeses, breads, olives, chocolates, jams, produce, flowers - EVERYTHING is absolutely stunning and gorgeous. I love London for this reason. There will always be a market somewhere, everyday, centrally located - rain or shine. It's awesome. I can't wait to hit mainland Europe because I know it'll be even better!

Classes are going okay, I'm at the end of my second week meaning that I'm already 1/3 of the way done with my Fall Semester - eek! Internship placement e-mails are coming in and I'm starting to get antsy. A girl in the flat above me is working with a member of Parliament. A guy from LMU two floors down is working for a non profit organization dealing with drug abusing teens. A fellow flatmate is working as a social worker for children with families going through divorce, another is working with an up and coming fashion designer and last but not least, my other flatmate Kaitlyn is working in event planning w/ a catering business. I AM SO JEALOUS! I haven't gotten mine yet, but I hope I'm not in the back corner of some old office building crunching numbers for some financial consulting company! Keep your fingers crossed for me!!!

Lots of reading, so little time, and its still hard to believe that I've only been here for 2.5 weeks! I'll be heading to Bathe/Stonehenge tomorrow and then post an all LMU inclusive Sunday brunch with our visiting faculty (Dr. Faught - also a MVHS alumni!) at a Dutch Pancake house, I'm going to be cozying up with ALL my Islam reading. Things are starting to pick up! Stress is starting to build and it would be lovely to hear from you all!





Check back again soon! Here's a sneak peak image for next week's post:




What could I be up to?!?!!?


avec joie de vivre,


Kimmie