I Just Came to Say Hello

Today is my last day in London. I will miss the city and the people I have gotten to know here and part of my heart will always be with this place. This entire trip has taught me how important it is to go after your dreams and that if you work hard enough, they can come true. It has also taught me how much I value my family and friends. All who I've missed and all who I've had the pleasure of meeting, I love you all so much and am so glad I got the opportunity to have this experience, whether far or near, the people in my life, make my life. Thank you to all.

These last few days have been spent enjoying the company of friends, laughing, dancing and having a good time; as well as working hard to finish up my studies here in order to head home and have a stress free Christmas break. On Tuesday I was able to sit in front of my Big Ben and Buckingham for some time simply writing in my journal about the fabulous time I had here. London is everything I'd hoped for and I am blessed to have been able to have such an opportunity. There will never be a day of regret when I look back on my time here.

So, to London, this is farewell. To those at home this is hello. And to my future this is "What's next!?"


Onward to Michigan, USA!

Till next time,

Audra

Saturday Spent All Around the World

Yesterday I went to the British Museum with my lovely friend Layla and we traveled all around the world and through time seeing the Eldgin Marbles from the Greek Parthanon, the Rosetta Stone, found Cleopatra's mummy and so much more. It was a great day.

Next we decided to hop on over to Notting Hill with Meghan and toured the Portabella Market with it's antiques of fabulous sliver, old broches and jewelry and sparkling chandlers dating back to the 20s. Just like in the movie "Notting Hill" everything looks and feels the same. People walk in the streets while cars attempt to pass by, grocers arrange their produce in their little huts, and everyone strikes a bargain with the sellers.

The next stop on our Saturday in London was the famous Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. We literally couldn't move the crowd was so full. Hut after hut sold mulled wine, sausages, crepes and waffles, fish and chips and burgers. There were rides for kids...and adults. There was a caracal where all those over the age of 18 were riding and having a beer, I'd never seen a busier caracal in my life.

The atmosphere in London is like a dream and I am very said to say that the dream is soon coming to a close. In two weeks I will officially be home in little Zeeland. I am ready to feel the Zeel again yet can't wait for the day I will get to return to the city and country of my dreams. London has challenged me in ways which have changed me forever and helped me to grow into a adult and woman.

BUT there are still 2 weeks to come with work to be done. Time to focus on Uni work and hopefully post about my times in Scotland, Ireland and various other places around London!

Till then...




audra

Love in London

Well another week has gone by and as usual LOTS has happened. On Tuesday morning I woke up early to hop on a bus and pick up Anthony from the airport! He came to visit me through Sunday. I weaved through the airport with butterflies in my stomach, wondering if he'd look the same or if I'd be able to contain my excitement of seeing him after so long. As I walked up to the Chicago arrivals at Heathrow there he was, walking towards me opening up his arms for a big hug.

It was so strange to have him physically here, in front of me, in London!

Eventually we got on a bus towards my London home and later headed off for Anthony's first time in Central London. I showed him my favorite building (my Big Ben) and then we walked around Westminster Abbey, traveled lazily swing hangs through St. James park towards Buckingham Palace in the London fog. We decided to head to Oxford street after that (the big shopping street) and while looking at a map, Anthony gave the quote of the week, "If we just head around this building here then we can get to that street on the other side." I proceeded to look at him astonished and as he wondered what he said wrong... "This building here?" I pointed. He caught on and laughed, "Yeah?" "This BUILDING here! That's how you reference Buckingham PALACE, as THIS building here!" I practically shouted. I couldn't imagine simply calling one of the biggest, most renown palaces in the world as "this building here." But I will admit we had a pretty good giggle about it afterwards.

Eventually we finally go to Oxford street and Bond street (aka the "high end street with the location of Tiffany Co., Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Jimmy Choo...need I saw more?) and walked around, found Anthony some fancy European shoes and caught dinner at the fanciest burger place we'd ever seen where we shared a single milkshake with two straws.

The next day we headed to Dover to visit the Dover Cliffs and Castle and spent time traveling up the cliffs, walking around the small port town and having dinner at a fancy hotel. The cliffs are truly a wonder of the world. It's hard to imagine how they were made but the only explanation for their beauty is that God is amazing and all his creation is gorgeous beyond our comprehension.

The next few days we headed back into London having a fancy date at night and going on the London eye. We also went up the river towards the Tower of London and visited the location of Anne Boleyn's grave and beheading site, went through a museum housing the crown jewels, and Anthony got to see manly ancient armor and lots of guns in the armory museum at the white tower.

I refuse to talk about the day he got back on a plane and left me instead of taking me with him but I will say it was an amazing week and I am so grateful I got to share it with a very special person in my life. :)

Now I am left for the next 3 weeks remaining to concentrate on homework and finishing up the rest of my classes. No more future trips have been planned, but I look forward to a time of simply staying near London and enjoying my last days in the city of my dreams.

I will continue to post more pictures and blogs to the site on my other trips so please continue to check Living London!


Till then...



audra

The Heart of the Dragon

One weekend in October a few of us girls (as usual) decided to take a little trip to Wales. Not many may quite understand how the United Kingdom is made up...therefore I will give you a brief crash course.

The United Kingdom is made of four countries in all: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Many of you may have heard of Wales due to the names of the famous princes. The Prince or Princess who is in line for the throne will be called the Prince of Wales. Wales is it's own separate country yet since it is still within the United Kingdom, no passports are needed to get through it's border. 

For our adventure to Wales we chose to visit the city of Cardiff, it is also the capital of Wales where the Cardiff Castle is located.

When we first arrived in Cardiff we scuffled our way into the center of the city with bags in tow searching for our hostel. The "Bunkhouse" a hostel in city was our first experience staying in a hostel. Many have a preconceived notion that hostels are nasty and gross and it'd be much better to pay the extra pounds for a nice hotel. Well...they are wrong. So far our Bunkhouse residence has been the best hostel I've stayed. And having now traveled all over the UK, that is saying something. It was decorated in a shabby-sheik style with Frank Sinatra playing in the background, vintage beds for couches, twinkle and tea lights everywhere. It was every girls dream stay. We didn't want to leave the confines of our hostel to see the city, but luckily we did because we would have missed seeing the magnificent Cardiff bay and castle. 

Not only did we get to tour the castle but the next day we went to a little place called St. Fagans where ancient and old homes have been moved and are there for viewing like a countryside museum outdoors. Saying we took a walk in the past is an understatement. We walked through houses and churches dated as 700 years old. 

To spare you all from excruciating details I will leave you to take a gander at the pictures and see for yourself the amazing time we had on our Wales adventure. And to those you are fresh on their royal trivia--no we did not see Prince William and the Duchess...they live in Northern Wales, we were in the southern region, unfortunately. I am still holding out for the day I see the royals. Cross your fingers for me!

Stay tuned to hear about how we discovered the foundation of Harry Potter in Scotland and how we walked through a love story in Ireland.

Till then...

audra

Ps. Ten points to the house who can guess the meaning of this post title! and maybe even a little extra gifty from nifty London!! :) (for some reason I don't think the comments are really working, so if you have my fb, then just message me the answer!) this is for real.

Checks on the List

I know I have been epically failing at keeping my site updated. As it always is here, things are just crazy busy!! Since the last time I've written I've been to four different countries and traveled to roughly six separate cites. For our "Enrichment Week" (just a fancy word for "you have a week off, yay!") myself and a couple other American girls here planned a trip to Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland (aka Ireland...it gets confusing sometimes). Then last weekend a few of us also went to Paris and Versailles in France.

It's been simply exhausting and wonderful all wrapped up together. I feel so lucky to have these opportunities to visit the places I've only been able to dream of seeing. As of now I have traveled to every place on my list "Places I want to see while living in England." I feel very accomplished when I see check marks next to each name. England, Wales, Scotland, N. Ireland, Ireland, Paris France.

Now the biggest obstacle is coming up with some new dreams...because even the one I thought would never come true, IS! My wonderful boyfriend is flying over next week to visit me for five days during Thanksgiving. We owe it all to his fabulous mother who generous provided his way as a gift. It couldn't have been a better present to receive. Thank you so much Mrs. Sall. I love you and am so grateful for all you've done and how much you've made me feel apart of your family over the last two years. Having Anthony come over to visit is truly the icing on the cake-- and that's the best part right? :)

I truly feel like the girl who has everything.

Also, thank to you all who are still checking the site and reading it. Hopefully by the end of this week or next I will give more detail on the trips I've taken and even some pictures!

Till then...

audra

Player of my Week

I'd like to give a shout out to my younger brother who is now on the list for football player of the week! So proud of you! If you don't know Lucas, he is an amazing young man who works hard for his passions in life and is one of the most genuine persons you will ever meet. Now, as a senior he has been striving to help his team be all they can be. If you want to be as awesome as him, vote for Lucas Fantin as football player of the week by clicking HERE! and vote on the right side of the page :) Great job Luke!

Loving Life while Missing Those Who Make It Great

Well it's been a long couple of weeks, but absolutely great ones! It still doesn't seem real that I'm actually here. The weather had been warm and we've been outside visiting the castles in Cardiff, walking about London in the parks and grazing in the gardens at Hampton Court. Tomorrow we go to Oxford to visit the city and the university and just today we finalized our trip to Scotland and Ireland, I'll be going in a week with a group of American girls here for our "Fall Break." In the end we will have actually been to three countries and three capitals within 7 days. Needless to say, it will be an adventure.

So far school has settled-in with papers and presentations coming around the corner. Uni is so different here than in the states. There's so few hours spent in class that it seems as though I have all the time in the world to travel and do what I like; yet, in the end the whole "you teach yourself" ideology of the English university will come up and bite you in the bum if you're not prepared. Hopefully I will do well though. This really is a cultural experience...that's why I'm really here...or so I like to say at least. :)

I feel as though I should have some heartfelt things to say and tell everyone how much I've grown since I've been here. The trouble is, I've sort of always been the person to know exactly who I am and where I'm going. Not that I can't learn new things, it's just I'm not searching for anything. God's given me a great opportunity to visit a country I've only dreamed of coming to and he's given me the loving family and friends back home who support and love me while I'm half a world away. If there's anything I learned it'd be that cliche saying, "Home is where the heart is." You don't realize till you are 3000 miles away how the places you visit and go in life have little meaning, little magic like you expect, because the people who make your life great aren't there to share in the experience.

In the end, I love it here but to make life perfect everyone who is reading this would need to buy a plane ticket and join me in this beautiful country. Slightly unrealistic I know, but until I see you all again, know I am thinking of you and cannot imagine leaving here, but also cannot wait to come home and see all your smiling faces.

Til then...



audra