VIDEO!

Finally got the video to work. I hope you like it. I'm working on other videos (of Lancaster/the Lake District/sheep) and I'll get them to you when I can.

In this video you will find: a short clip of the planes and train I was on and also a bit of my room.

I promise I'll be posting a longer piece soon.

*EDIT*
Sorry the writing is so tiny! I didn't realize it would be that small. Here's a transcript of the writing I put in the video:
Title: Planes and Trains: The Way I Got to England featuring Continental Airways and the British Railway System
KC-New Jersey: The world's tiniest plane. I was upset.
KC to New Jersey in flight snack.
NJ-Manchester: In flight dinner
En route to Lancaster
My Lancaster dorm room
I made it to Lancaster in one piece. The first flight was unpleasant. The second one was better. I like my room well enough though. So far things are going well. I miss you loads.


Oh and here's a bit of technical information about my travels/the video:

My flights/train ride from KC to Newark, NJ to Manchester, to Lancaster, England
Flight One-KC to Newark (approx. 2 hours)
Flight Two- Newark to Manchester (approx. 7 hours)
Train- Manchester to Lancaster (approx. 1 hour 15 minutes)
My flights were pretty good. The first flight was on a terribly small plane but I managed to make it.
The second flight provided two meals: dinner and breakfast. The dinner was chicken pasta with vegetables. The breakfast was a croissant roll with fruit. I got to watch two movies and an episode of House. There were monitors on the back of the seats in front of you.
The train sounds are artificial. I found a sound bite on my computer of a steam train. I didn't actually go on a steam train.

Music used:
Come Fly With Me by Michael Buble
Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks

New Stuff

Hey guys

I spent the day at the Lake District in England. It was beautiful. Rainy and cold but mostly beautiful. I took pictures (not too many) but I decided to make a Flickr account in order to share more pictures with you. So I added some photos from Lancaster (including the ones from the Burnt Toast entry) and some photos of the trip today. Take a look.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fallingintoreverie

I'm still working on uploading the video I made. I've got a few short videos of the lake and the sheep that I'll post later. Now I've got to read a load before class tomorrow.

Burnt Toast

I burned toast in the kitchen today. I feel like an idiot. It smelled God awful. The smell was so bad that I had to take a shower because the smokey smell was in my hair. I wrote a note and put it in the kitchen explaining to terrible smell and how I was sorry. Maybe that's too much but I don't want to start off on the wrong foot with people. I have never burned toast in my life and this toast burning was something akin to the Salem witch burning, if you know what I mean. I'm glad there aren't many people around yet but good grief.

Here are a few pictures:



This is the castle! that is in Lancaster. It's currently used as a prison. A low security prison, don't worry.









This is a statue that was donated by...I can't remember who but it's of Queen Elizabeth. There are a bunch of famous Brits around the base, like Charles Darwin, etc.










This is the oldest building in Lancaster. I can't remember how old it is now.









My new Lancaster University hoodie. I love it; although it does smell vaguely of mustard...










The British flag on top of the City Hall. Expecting to see an American one?







Some British money. From left to right, top to bottom row: Two pounds, one pound, fifty pence, twenty pence, ten pence, five pence, two pence (Remember "tuppence" from Mary Poppins?), one penny. It's weird that one pound and two pounds are change. When I get change back I always think I'm getting gipped.






Here is a ten pound note. It's bigger than an American dollar. The smallest note is five pounds.

Sheep?

It smells like sheep here.
....Yes, sheep. I dont' know why exactly though I did see some sheep in a field on the drive up to the campus. Either way, it didn't seem like there was enough sheep to make it smell like sheep all over the place.
It's not terrible. In fact, the smell is gone today because it's rainy. And cold....but hey, it's England, I was expecting as much.
This is such a weird place. I mean, last night it rained and snowed at the same time but the grass is still a vibrant green. And there's sheep. Outside. Just chilling (literally and figuratively I suppose).
Still no proper internet. The temporary username I have obtained does not work for the internet at my room (whoa, I almost wrote home. Geh) so I can't put up the fun stuff I have promised. At least not yet. I can't because all the fun stuff is on my laptop but I can't access the internet from it. Don't worry though; I'll get my official username on Friday once I officially get registered for classes.
It has become very clear to me that I didn't bring enough of anything. Except maybe socks and underwear. But I suppose I did that subconsciously so I won't feel guilty shopping. However, feeling guilty/bad once I've spent all my money won't make it come back so I've really got to budget once things are all figured out. I'm not too worried about that. I'll figure that all out soon.
It's weird (and also wonderful) the way people are calling me "love" and saying things that I understand but still find completely intriguing. People aren't "named" things, they are "called" things.
There is a porter for my college (I think his name is John) who is very nice. I overheard him telling another girl that "things would be alright." He is very helpful and understanding (as far as I can tell anyway). In our orientation today, we were encouraged to get to know our porters (there is one on duty 24/7 during term) and that we can just "pop down" to talk over a "cup of tea." It all sounds enchanting when I write it that way huh? :D
Anyway, I did have a bit of a downer moment last night at 2 in the morning. I was cold and I suddenly felt like a complete fool for leaving home. I wished my family would be around when I woke up but I knew that wouldn't happen. I cried for a while then went back to bed. Today has been better. I met a girl that I have gotten to know a little bit. She is very nice and we've planned on going into town together tomorrow (with a tour group of other internation students). We also talked about going to London. We both want to go but not alone.
I better get off here before I'm kicked off the computer (it's a timed thing-I've been kicked off once already). More later.

I'm in Fooking England!

Hello ladies and gents.

I'm in England. I made it. I'm alive. I do feel like my head might explode because I've been running around for the past two hours trying to find a computer to send my (worried) family an email that I made it. I'll be posting some fun stuff later. Right now, I'm heading back to my room and passing out for a while.

With A Name Like Genochio, It Has To Be Good

So I am very nearly done packing. I'm impressed with myself. I've really left a lot of things out because in reality I can live pretty comfortably without a lot of things. I packed my favorite clothes and perfume and scarves. Other stuff too but I honestly can't remember everything.
I was looking through some old blogs and I found this, which I still enjoy greatly because it seems so random/carefree.

What do you do when you want to dance? Turn up the music and f-ing dance.
I hate it when I feel contemplative but I can't really get out a single thought. I just want to write; write anything and everything. Throw caution to the wind and say what I really mean. Ha, like I'd ever do that. I don't want to stomp on anyone's feelings, even if I end up crushing my own in the process.
I like change. I always want to rearrange my room and I love to change my profile picture. At the same time, I'm afraid of change. What happens if I deviate from the "plan"? Is there a plan? Who am I kidding, I never plan.
Say it ain't so. Go dance or something you losers.

I think it's a nice example of how I am sometimes. I'm silly but still very mindful of other people's feelings/etiquette. At the same time, I wrote that little blurb two years ago. I think now I'm more mindful of living up to my expectations and not anyone else's. I've changed in the past year. People have told me that I've changed. I feel different. I mean I actually set up this trip to England. I've always thought about going and I always wanted to. I guess it's the right time now. I feel strong enough. I feel like I could do it.

Countdown To...

The countdown to 2009 is over but my countdown to England still has two days left.
I think it's interesting how every year on New Years people do a year assessment or spend time reflecting. Why does something like a new year prompt this self reflection? I spend a lot of time in self reflection. I suppose a lot of people do (at least I hope so). If not, does that once a year moment really do it for the entire year?
There are God knows how many surveys you can take with random questions like "Did you kiss a person with tattoos in 2008?" Really?
My favorite question was "Did you meet someone who changed your life?" Okay, there is some validity to that question. Some people you meet swoop in and change things up. Other you can meet but it might be years later before you realize how they changed you. The point is, how do you answer that? How can you possibly know?
I do enjoy those surveys though. They're so ridiculous 90% of the time. The things people can come up with, you know?

Alright. I'm still not packed. It's 7:30 but I'm sleepy. Packing. bleh. I don't know anyone that actually packs earlier than the night before traveling.