So yesterday I got home sick for the first time...just a second but still...I was walking and looking at these amazing old buildings when we were walking and I thought to myself, "Mom would love this right now." And my heart got all sad for a minute and I realized for the first time since I've been here that I couldn't just go home for the weekend and see mom, dad, koko, and lizzie and even longer till I see linz...I realized it would be an entire three months till I get to have a "family hug." Ok done with the sadness...on with the gross stuff...
So the point of telling about being home sick is to tell this story...so I really wanted to call my parents this morning and couldn't b/c I can't figure out how to call off my cell to the US and I can't call out from my room phone. So I thought I'll just try one of the famous red phone booths outside my apt. So I went into one that is a newer style made out of like fiber glass. Ok I'm not sure I can fully explain the feelings I felt as I stepped into that booth...first there were naked girls plastered all over the walls...so I ran out and tried the phone booth on the other side...more naked girls...so then I just decided to suck it up and close my eyes while I called...except for the smell! omg I think people use it as a potty...no joke so I ran out of that one...I looked down the street and saw a traditional looking phone booth and thought to myself, "of course, what I was I thinking? This one can't let me down...it's so cute and made out of wood and London is famous for it..." Oh it let me down...big time...it smelled, had naked girls, and someone had spit on the receiver...yes I touched the receiver...no I don't know what went though my head...undying love for my parents??? And in the end it didn't work b/c u have to insert your calling card and well...I only had the #...so I ran really fast out of it, up the street into my building (using my elbows to operate everything), and into my room (making sure I didn't touch anything) straight to the sink to sterilize for way longer than the recommended thirty seconds...Andrew would never have survived...and Aunt Karen wondered why he never called from London unless he lost is credit card...
Anyway...after that I decided to go to church (thought maybe my hands could use some Jesus water). So me and two of my roommates and my friend in the flat next to me, went to church. Well we attempted. We got to the tube station, and 2 of us forgot our wallets so Jin and I borrowed from Emily...10 pounds later...we were on the right tube...running a tad behind...so we change all our trains correctly, get off, and with my direction (who gave me the map?) we found ourselves 15 minutes in the wrong direction only to ask for help, and find all along it was across from the tube station (Emily had been right...but my map skills had thought different). So naturally I do what I always do when I'm late for church...charge in the front doors...only to be stopped by the doorman and told I have to wait at the end of the line...yes there was a line for church! I mean yes God should have lines waiting to see him, but seriously...I should be at the front of the line...I mean do they know who I am??? I'm KAT SWICK!! lol ok so the doorman thought I was crazy and we ended up at the end of the line. So after waiting in line for an hour they informed us that it is too full and there are no more seats...there were probably about 600 people outside waiting to get in...and the Theater where it was at was GIANT!!! oh ps the church is called Hillsong, like Hillsong Music...so it's quite popular, I bet there where at least 15,000 people inside if not more and it was the 3 rd service already...
So after not making God's list we walked to China town and ate Korean food...amazing...I loved it...and we made Jin order in Korean so it was like the real deal. Except for the part where there was a hair in my food and they had to bring me new. Then we walked around...saw a shop where bongs were sold and the sign in the window said Advisory...extreme potheads inside...I'll post the pic later...
We headed home and had a really cute boy almost help us to find where we were going, except I wasn't thinking and when he asked if I needed help I said no we could figure it out...I SAID NO!!! WHAT WAS I THINKING??? As my mother would say...I wasn't... I know a typical Kat move.
So that was my day...orientation starts tomorrow! oh and it rained for the first time today...I really need a rain coat...good investment. :) LOVE YOU ALL! xoxo
-KAT
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Mother's are always right...
Why is it that mother's really are always right??...Mom put the rainbow dress on hold...Today I went to (I forgot the name it starts with an S and ends with and & Co.) this store on Oxford St. that takes up the entire block....from one street to the next...just Huge and up stairs it is all the big designers...Channel, Gucci, Armani, Jimmy Choo...etc. and their shoes...wow...amazing...Unfortunately I found nothing under 300 pounds ($600 US) and that was considered the "cheap" shoes like the designer's off lines such as Marc by Marc Jacobs instead of just Marc Jacobs (whose started at like 900 pounds...) It was insane...and the clothes...I don't know how people buy them and then actually wear them b/c they are just unbelievable...I would be afraid some one would bump me and put a finger print on me. So classic and chic. LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM ALL!
Tonight we played UNO and watched Bring It ON...keeping it classic ;) Oh and my two other roommates arrived today for Iowa State. They seem really sweet, so I'm excited.
Oh Aunt Barb, you should be proud...my roommate Emily and I started running today in Hyde Park. :) And we are going tomorrow before church.
Thanks for all your comments...I love checking this...it's more exciting than checking my email! Love and miss you all. xoxo
-KAT
PS...I'll try and put up pics tomorrow...I'm too tried and it takes forever on this Internet connection. It sometimes feel like I'm at home.
Tonight we played UNO and watched Bring It ON...keeping it classic ;) Oh and my two other roommates arrived today for Iowa State. They seem really sweet, so I'm excited.
Oh Aunt Barb, you should be proud...my roommate Emily and I started running today in Hyde Park. :) And we are going tomorrow before church.
Thanks for all your comments...I love checking this...it's more exciting than checking my email! Love and miss you all. xoxo
-KAT
PS...I'll try and put up pics tomorrow...I'm too tried and it takes forever on this Internet connection. It sometimes feel like I'm at home.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
A little uneventful...
So toady wasn't quite as intense as yesterday...Jet leg kicked in and I didn't get up till 1:30...opps...:) So around 3:30 we went out and walk to Hyde Park...not quite as impressive as I thought it would be...it's just flat and not very green with a couple trees at the back...there were lawn chairs everywhere...so naturally we decided to sit down and talk and eat our lunch. Before long a man comes up with a electronic box and tells us we have to pay him 1.50 pounds ($3) to sit in the chairs...we sat on the ground..those Brits...they might give you free trolleys for your luggage at the airport, but they'll get you somewhere else. I mean seriously lawn chairs!!!
Our could have been $9 sitting fee....
They also have another weird fee...they charge you more if you dine in (even at Mickey D's)! So random...
What else...oh here is the first piece of blue sky we've seen since we've all been here...just a sliver...but enough...
Here is a pidgin friend I made in the park...the foreigner that mail ordered me from my cousin spudly...we got along great...
After my friend went home and we were done sitting in the dead grass, we walked up and ended up at Governor's park (much cuter and greener) and I saw this huge statue and went over to see who it was and read up on it...Guess who it was? None other than FDR. The girls I was with didn't even know who he was (one from Sweden and the other from Korea (but she goes to college in the US...so I did not see her excuse)) So I gave them a little US history lesson (and everyone else in the park).
We walked around and ended back up on Oxford St. where we found the most amazing store. It's called Primark and has the cutest clothes for super cheap, like 1 pound for a belt, 2 for sunglasses, 4 for uggs, and 15 for coats! Awesome...but everyone else thought so too...the line was like a mile long and it was just a Friday afternoon! We walked home and stopped by the grocery store and then went back and I convinced everyone to play UNO. (See Keren...people do think ur the cool kid if you have UNO.) It was a lot of fun and it got a little intense and hostile toward the end :). Uno...such a competitive game...
That was pretty much it for the day...Here are some picks from my bedroom window...
And living room window at night (my night setting on my camera was freaking out so it'd kind of blurry)..in the background the thing glowing is the London Eye...
Oh and here is my meet and greet sign (the one with my name on it...not quite what I had imagined) please note the part where it says "London College of English" Instead of Fashion...(it's kinda hard to read this small..also note they spelled my name wrong...
Well I'm off to bed...night everyone!
Our could have been $9 sitting fee....
They also have another weird fee...they charge you more if you dine in (even at Mickey D's)! So random...
What else...oh here is the first piece of blue sky we've seen since we've all been here...just a sliver...but enough...
Here is a pidgin friend I made in the park...the foreigner that mail ordered me from my cousin spudly...we got along great...
After my friend went home and we were done sitting in the dead grass, we walked up and ended up at Governor's park (much cuter and greener) and I saw this huge statue and went over to see who it was and read up on it...Guess who it was? None other than FDR. The girls I was with didn't even know who he was (one from Sweden and the other from Korea (but she goes to college in the US...so I did not see her excuse)) So I gave them a little US history lesson (and everyone else in the park).
We walked around and ended back up on Oxford St. where we found the most amazing store. It's called Primark and has the cutest clothes for super cheap, like 1 pound for a belt, 2 for sunglasses, 4 for uggs, and 15 for coats! Awesome...but everyone else thought so too...the line was like a mile long and it was just a Friday afternoon! We walked home and stopped by the grocery store and then went back and I convinced everyone to play UNO. (See Keren...people do think ur the cool kid if you have UNO.) It was a lot of fun and it got a little intense and hostile toward the end :). Uno...such a competitive game...
That was pretty much it for the day...Here are some picks from my bedroom window...
And living room window at night (my night setting on my camera was freaking out so it'd kind of blurry)..in the background the thing glowing is the London Eye...
Oh and here is my meet and greet sign (the one with my name on it...not quite what I had imagined) please note the part where it says "London College of English" Instead of Fashion...(it's kinda hard to read this small..also note they spelled my name wrong...
Well I'm off to bed...night everyone!Love From London...
KAT!
KAT!Friday, August 29, 2008
Alive and in London...
So all those wondering if I made it...I did...I didn't loose anything while traveling...a first I think...but I did leave lots...like all my favorite clothes that my mom said I wouldn't want to wear (aka my rainbow striped dress)...fyi London fashion isn't just the sophisticated Burberry London look I found out...everyone has their own style...it's incredible not one person was dressed in just normal jeans and a t-shirt...people had on bright purple tights, electric yellow skirts...and get this old school keds (and my mom calls my plaid ones grandma shoes and never coming back...) They had an entire wall dedicated to every color and pattern of off brand keds. I made my first fashion purchase (DAD...don't freak out...I spent more on grocery's yesterday than on this) a pair of leather flats with strawberries on them...so cute...I had to own them to match my strawberry bag...and they were 1/2 off. Ok anyways...I have a little catching up to do...
So my flight went well except for: 1) the lady I sat next to on the plane from Spokane ate jerky and it was so strong it made me nauseous 2) My flight was delayed from the computer failures (as Grandma stated) I guess people would enter in flight info and then the entire flight would be deleted or something so they didn't know what flights were flying where...luckily they knew where mine was going. :) 3) People in Seattle are rude and kept cutting in front of me so I was even later. 4) Security was soooooooooo long 5) I forgot to change into my sweatpants before I got on in Seattle so I had to do it on the plane 6) I actually never got to change into them b/c I sat on the window seat next to this little old Indian couple that didn't speak English (and I'm not mean enough to wake them up and ask them to move) 7) thus I was not able to move the entire 9 and 1/2 hours...aka no walking to let the blood circulate or going to the bathroom...I drank my beverages in moderation...8) then all the restrooms are on the other side of customs....So I had to wait even longer...it was just great 9) and then finally...I get dropped off at my apt. building and some nice guy lets me in b/c the receptionist isn't there at the moment, so I sit down and wait...and then I wait...and wait some more and finally 2 hrs later (the sign said be back in 10 mins) this man, who was way to happy for how tired and aggravated I was, appeared and checked me in and said there was a meeting in five minutes in the flat next to me. 10) The meeting was over an hour long and the whole time he was on a crazy power trip and took any chance he could to tell us how important he was and how he ran the whole building (he's the assistant to the assistant to the assistant or something...humm)and all he was telling us was how we would be evicted if we smoked, did drugs, or dropped things out the window (the thought of dropping him out the window passed a few times when I never thought he would stop talking...I hadn't slept in 36 hours by that point or eaten since 8 hrs before...) 11) and finally...we have one mini fridge (like the ones you take to college) for 5 people... 12) oh and the power trip man keeps calling me sweetie and honey and announces that I'm his favorite in the building and made a date with me to set up my Internet after he gave everyone else their codes earlier...he told me just to come down and he'd get it all in tip top shape for me...he's older and bald and has a tattoo of a skull and flames on his arm...not really my type...plus he insulted my computer and called it a clunker...
OK so I'll stop the negative Nancyness...Positive things that happened: 1) I live on the 10th floor and have an amazing view that includes the London Eye. 2) My roommates are awesome (so far at least we still have 2 more coming) One is from Sweden and really sweet. The other one is from Wisconsin, I just met her, but she seems nice. Another girl lives next store who my roommate and I have hung out with since we got here, is awesome and a lot of fun. She's from Korea but went to high school in Australia and now goes to a design school in Philadelphia. There is one other girl from Philadelphia who we have hung out with too...she has purple hair :) and seems to be nice and interesting. 3) London is FABULOUS....AMAZING 4) the architecture is amazing..every building no matter how run down is so beautiful. 5) I bought my first drink 6) a really nice classy pub with lots of cute British boys is literally 10 ft. out our front door, so if I ever have to cart any drunken roommates home...it won't be that far...:) 6) the fashion is incredible...indescribable...
OK so today we got up and walked the 30 mins to the school and met the study abroad people who were so sweet and nice and hilarious. Then we walked another 10mins that turned into 40 when Jin kept saying the place to pick her phone up from was "just around the corner"...but on the way back we got to stop and go in all these designer stores like Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Viviene Westwood, Issey Miyake, and this one place where Jin knocked a 3,000 pound ($6,000 American) dress off a hanger....opps, and lots of others. We also had quite the adventure when we went into Topshop that is 4 floors and HUGE and we all got separated. We were able to all find each other (and a pair of really cute shoes mentioned above) except for my roommate Emily...so we search for her for 2hrs...and they wouldn't call her over the intercom (not that any of us could remember or pronounce her last name, so we were going to have to go for "will Emily from Sweden please find her party?" We finally gave up and called the emergency number (our study abroad coordinator's cell) to get the apt. # so we could call and see if she had just gone home. She was there and had finally just walked herself back (how she found her way I'll never know...she didn't even have the map...we had both of them...). So after that fiasco we walked home and took quite a few wrong turns but managed to find our way. :) We came home and met our new roommate and sat and chatted and made dinner....then I had my date (that's what he called it) with the assistant to the assistant over my computer. He asked if I defragged my computer (b/c it was being slow) and I said I defragged, disk cleaned, and emptied my temp files weekly...he was speechless...I was a little impressed with myself (I think he thinks women are incompetent of doing anything compared to him). And now here am I sitting in the hallway outside my flat typing to you all b/c the building is so old and the walls so thick that the wireless can't get in my room. I might of give too much detail of my life..but hey I'm in London! How many girls from the University of Idaho get to say that?!
Well I miss you all and hope everyone is doing well!
PS Mom and Aunt Leanne...you two are going to die when you come see me...the shopping is so amazing!!!!! (Dad you better start saving..........................;))
Love,
KAT
So my flight went well except for: 1) the lady I sat next to on the plane from Spokane ate jerky and it was so strong it made me nauseous 2) My flight was delayed from the computer failures (as Grandma stated) I guess people would enter in flight info and then the entire flight would be deleted or something so they didn't know what flights were flying where...luckily they knew where mine was going. :) 3) People in Seattle are rude and kept cutting in front of me so I was even later. 4) Security was soooooooooo long 5) I forgot to change into my sweatpants before I got on in Seattle so I had to do it on the plane 6) I actually never got to change into them b/c I sat on the window seat next to this little old Indian couple that didn't speak English (and I'm not mean enough to wake them up and ask them to move) 7) thus I was not able to move the entire 9 and 1/2 hours...aka no walking to let the blood circulate or going to the bathroom...I drank my beverages in moderation...8) then all the restrooms are on the other side of customs....So I had to wait even longer...it was just great 9) and then finally...I get dropped off at my apt. building and some nice guy lets me in b/c the receptionist isn't there at the moment, so I sit down and wait...and then I wait...and wait some more and finally 2 hrs later (the sign said be back in 10 mins) this man, who was way to happy for how tired and aggravated I was, appeared and checked me in and said there was a meeting in five minutes in the flat next to me. 10) The meeting was over an hour long and the whole time he was on a crazy power trip and took any chance he could to tell us how important he was and how he ran the whole building (he's the assistant to the assistant to the assistant or something...humm)and all he was telling us was how we would be evicted if we smoked, did drugs, or dropped things out the window (the thought of dropping him out the window passed a few times when I never thought he would stop talking...I hadn't slept in 36 hours by that point or eaten since 8 hrs before...) 11) and finally...we have one mini fridge (like the ones you take to college) for 5 people... 12) oh and the power trip man keeps calling me sweetie and honey and announces that I'm his favorite in the building and made a date with me to set up my Internet after he gave everyone else their codes earlier...he told me just to come down and he'd get it all in tip top shape for me...he's older and bald and has a tattoo of a skull and flames on his arm...not really my type...plus he insulted my computer and called it a clunker...
OK so I'll stop the negative Nancyness...Positive things that happened: 1) I live on the 10th floor and have an amazing view that includes the London Eye. 2) My roommates are awesome (so far at least we still have 2 more coming) One is from Sweden and really sweet. The other one is from Wisconsin, I just met her, but she seems nice. Another girl lives next store who my roommate and I have hung out with since we got here, is awesome and a lot of fun. She's from Korea but went to high school in Australia and now goes to a design school in Philadelphia. There is one other girl from Philadelphia who we have hung out with too...she has purple hair :) and seems to be nice and interesting. 3) London is FABULOUS....AMAZING 4) the architecture is amazing..every building no matter how run down is so beautiful. 5) I bought my first drink 6) a really nice classy pub with lots of cute British boys is literally 10 ft. out our front door, so if I ever have to cart any drunken roommates home...it won't be that far...:) 6) the fashion is incredible...indescribable...
OK so today we got up and walked the 30 mins to the school and met the study abroad people who were so sweet and nice and hilarious. Then we walked another 10mins that turned into 40 when Jin kept saying the place to pick her phone up from was "just around the corner"...but on the way back we got to stop and go in all these designer stores like Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Viviene Westwood, Issey Miyake, and this one place where Jin knocked a 3,000 pound ($6,000 American) dress off a hanger....opps, and lots of others. We also had quite the adventure when we went into Topshop that is 4 floors and HUGE and we all got separated. We were able to all find each other (and a pair of really cute shoes mentioned above) except for my roommate Emily...so we search for her for 2hrs...and they wouldn't call her over the intercom (not that any of us could remember or pronounce her last name, so we were going to have to go for "will Emily from Sweden please find her party?" We finally gave up and called the emergency number (our study abroad coordinator's cell) to get the apt. # so we could call and see if she had just gone home. She was there and had finally just walked herself back (how she found her way I'll never know...she didn't even have the map...we had both of them...). So after that fiasco we walked home and took quite a few wrong turns but managed to find our way. :) We came home and met our new roommate and sat and chatted and made dinner....then I had my date (that's what he called it) with the assistant to the assistant over my computer. He asked if I defragged my computer (b/c it was being slow) and I said I defragged, disk cleaned, and emptied my temp files weekly...he was speechless...I was a little impressed with myself (I think he thinks women are incompetent of doing anything compared to him). And now here am I sitting in the hallway outside my flat typing to you all b/c the building is so old and the walls so thick that the wireless can't get in my room. I might of give too much detail of my life..but hey I'm in London! How many girls from the University of Idaho get to say that?!
Well I miss you all and hope everyone is doing well!
PS Mom and Aunt Leanne...you two are going to die when you come see me...the shopping is so amazing!!!!! (Dad you better start saving..........................;))
Love,
KAT
Friday, August 22, 2008
The week before...
I leave for London in 5 days...It's kinda of crazy...If someone would have told me I would be moving across the Atlantic for a year I never would have believed them. It's funny how we can have all these plans for our lives and then they all fall through and we can't understand why and then before we know it the opportunity of a life time just plops itself in our lap. God likes to do that with my life...
Everything feels so surreal. I don't think I realize I'm going yet...I should probably work on that. I'm picking out converters and umbrellas, trying to convince my mother why I need to take my black ankle boots, and standing on bathroom scales holding luggage to see how much more I have to leave behind to get under 50 lbs (who knew gas prices affect 20 extra lbs per bag I was planning to take in shoes). Lizzie is not very excited about my departure...she keeps sleeping in my bag and digging my favorite shoes out to eat. She's making leaving a lot easier...I forgot why we use to call her devil dog... My parents on the other hand are pretty amazing...my dad aka financial advisor is finally realizing no matter how many times he tells me that my loans are going to equal a very nice new car, I'm still going and my "free spirit," as he calls it, has already left the country with a big "I'll deal with it when I get back and just live at home the rest of my life" sign. But he really has been quite amazing and found a way to not mathematically eliminate me for this quest like my uncle Don would have had we been playing up and down the river. My mother aka rationing shoe queen has been very helpful also. I swear she thinks of everything and I won't leave anything behind...which would be a first for me. Between the two of them I should be set. I saw a commercial today for an ADHD parenting kit to help parents keep their kids organized and on task...I almost ordered it for my mom and then realized she probably wrote it.
Well I'm off to sew wallets...fun fun...
Love,
Kat Swick...
PS...my packing was so intense I broke my first nail today...
Everything feels so surreal. I don't think I realize I'm going yet...I should probably work on that. I'm picking out converters and umbrellas, trying to convince my mother why I need to take my black ankle boots, and standing on bathroom scales holding luggage to see how much more I have to leave behind to get under 50 lbs (who knew gas prices affect 20 extra lbs per bag I was planning to take in shoes). Lizzie is not very excited about my departure...she keeps sleeping in my bag and digging my favorite shoes out to eat. She's making leaving a lot easier...I forgot why we use to call her devil dog... My parents on the other hand are pretty amazing...my dad aka financial advisor is finally realizing no matter how many times he tells me that my loans are going to equal a very nice new car, I'm still going and my "free spirit," as he calls it, has already left the country with a big "I'll deal with it when I get back and just live at home the rest of my life" sign. But he really has been quite amazing and found a way to not mathematically eliminate me for this quest like my uncle Don would have had we been playing up and down the river. My mother aka rationing shoe queen has been very helpful also. I swear she thinks of everything and I won't leave anything behind...which would be a first for me. Between the two of them I should be set. I saw a commercial today for an ADHD parenting kit to help parents keep their kids organized and on task...I almost ordered it for my mom and then realized she probably wrote it.
Well I'm off to sew wallets...fun fun...
Love,
Kat Swick...
PS...my packing was so intense I broke my first nail today...
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