Breaking news

Read my latest blog here:

http://breakingnewzfromsamandmerrl.blogspot.com/

Cheerio.

I woke up in London at 6 a.m., to knock on Tori’s door and make sure she was up to catch her bus. She wasn’t. She came running out, and I grabbed one of her suitcases for her and raced out the door with her, looking like hell. Then I hurried back upstairs, before anyone got a good look at me, and went back to sleep until 7 a.m., when I woke up to finish packing. I soon knocked on Liz’s door, to make sure she was up and packing (She hadn’t started the night before.) She jumped up all flustered asking what time it was… I don’t know what these loons would have done without me as their alarm clock.

When I got to the airport in London, I checked in and went through security and all that. Then while I was waiting to board, I got called up to the front desk. “Samantha Scott, please come to the check-in desk.” I nervously walked over there, and they told me they were moving my seat. Instead of being in the last row, crammed in the middle seat, I got moved to the front row. Not in first class but right behind the curtain of the first class. Why do they put up the curtain? Can we not even look at the first class folks? Anyway, I had lots of leg room and bragged to the other British Studies students about it as they walked by. “I’ve got a whole dance floor to myself up here. Come visit me during the flight and we’ll have a dance party.”

During the flight, which seemed way longer than the flight over to London, I watched a movie and made some lists… and cried a little. I made a list of things I’ll do when I go back to London someday: Shakespeare’s Globe, Courtauld Gallery, Notting Hill, Hampstead, and Ladbroke Grove; and I made a list of places I want to visit next: Greece, Ireland, Australia, and some others.

And, I started a list of little pointers/recommendations for future British Studiers: (I’ll expand it and maybe publish it in The Printz. Or just ask me for it.)

- Don’t bring more than three pairs of shoes. I wasted room on shoes. I only needed my Keds, my sandals and my semi-dressy flats.

- Plan mini-break ahead of time. They tell you to wait until you get there, but don’t.

- Get the unlimited weekly Oyster Card each week in London.

- Buy Rick Steves’ London guidebook and use it. Bring it with you everywhere.

- Get high tea at the Orangery in Kensington.

- Tour Westminster Abbey.

- Watch the Changing of the Guard. Get there no later than 10.

- Go see Billy Elliot.

In Rome (aside from seeing the basics):

- Eat at Hostaria Pizzeria on Via Nazionale.

- Eat lunch in Travestere.

- Eat San Crispino gelato, near Trevi Fountain or the Pantheon.

Anyway, when I got off the plane in New Orleans, I saw my dad first, then Mom’s frantic hand waving, then Tyler and Trevor. I thought only Mom was going; I was especially surprised that Dad was awake so long past his bedtime. (My plane landed at 11:20 p.m.) I waved my British flag as I walked up and then hugged them all. After the initial hellos, my mom said she was glad to see I wasn’t obese after all the gelato I ate in Rome. You’re probably just as surprised as she is, but with all the walking I did, no worries. However, if gelato was on the corner of every block in Mandeville or Hattiesburg, we’d have a problem. But it’s not. I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing.

I babbled the whole way home and then handed out souvenirs when we got back. I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow and when I walked out of my room this morning, my four little cousins were hiding in the living room, waiting patiently for me. They popped out from behind the couch and yelled, “Welcome home, Sam!” I love them. Then I had a dentist appointment, and I told the dentist and dental hygienist about my trip, too.

I have a feeling I’ll be talking about this for a long time. Most likely for the rest of my life. And I plan to start saving up now for another trip abroad someday. As soon as I choose my destination, I’m going to buy Rick’s book for it. And I’ll blog again, because I’ve had so much fun telling you about this trip. Thank you for reading.

And until next time… Arrivederci, ciao, and cheerio.

The Orangery.

I just finished (almost) packing up my room; I'm saving the last little bit for the morning. I can't believe I'm going home tomorrow. This has been the fastest month of my life.

I took my final this morning. I was the last one finished, as usual. Then I ate lunch in the kitchen, then went with Tori to Hard Rock Cafe (the original) and then we went to tea! We went to Kensington Gardens, to this place called the Orangery. I wish we'd discovered the place before our last day here. It was so cute, and the food was to die for. After tea, we attempted to find Ladbroke Grove, the setting for these two books I read recently. But that tube was closed and therefore we went to Covent Garden instead. We shopped around and then came back for dinner. We were going to start packing and get in bed early, but there was a going-away party at the pub tonight, and everyone noticed our absence. So after many texts, we decided to abandon our plans and go to the pub for a while. I'm therefore exhausted and ready to go to sleep.

Tune in tomorrow. I'll blog once more for y'all when I get home.

Hey Rachel. Thanks for reading.

Final days.

Liz, Tori, Yessie and I got our tired selves out of bed this morning and got on over to Buckingham Palace early enough to get first and second row spots.My book had said the Changing of the Guards was overrated, but I disagree. I loved it. The guards actually told us hello when they marched near us, which I didn't know they could do. I think one guard even laughed at us. Probably because I kept waving at him, thinking at first that they couldn't interact with us. But I bet it is funny to look at all those people crammed up against a fence to watch you march around at work. And the crowds are indeed ridiculous. As soon as you move your foot a little, someone else's foot moves on in and tries to take your spot, leaving you to stand on one foot or lean on your friends. Anyway, it was a fun morning.

For lunch Liz and I had a picnic in St. James Park, right in front of Buckingham Palace. The park was crowded with people, and daring pigeons. While walking around the park, Liz and I had to keep ducking the pigeons as they flew fearlessly near our faces. I really think if we hadn't ducked out of the way, we'd each have been hit in the face by at least five pigeons today.

We then headed to Hyde Park and walked through it to Kensington Gardens. We saw Princess Diana's memorial fountain and the famous Peter Pan statue. Then we headed home for the Research Symposium. Then I hunkered down and studied for my final for a while. It's tomorrow morning. Wish me luck.

Busy day.

Aaah, it's late. And I'm waking up early to get a front row spot at Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guards. So, just a quick update...

My class visited the BBC today. Then James and I went to the Imperial War Museum and walked through a fake trench. Tyler and Trevor, add this to the list of things I've said you'd love. After that, I ran home, inhaled a PB and J, then went out to the National Portrait Gallery with Liz. We followed Rick's tour, taking turns being the narrator. Then I convinced Liz we should walk home, since our days left to walk around London are dwindling. When we got home, I buckled down and prepared my presentation for tomorrow night. (One person from every class has to give a presentation at this British Studies research symposium tomorrow night... I'll let you know how it goes... Maybe.) Aaah, bye.

British Museum.

This morning my class visited the South London Press, a local paper. The editor spoke to us, and we met writers and managers and others as we toured the newsroom. The editor was so nice, giving us cookies, drinks, and goody bags. (As soon as I started eating a cookie though, I wished I hadn’t because I felt like everyone could hear me chewing. But then I noticed that I couldn’t hear Holli chewing, so I figured I was safe.)

After the visit, I dragged James with me to the British Museum. Look closely in the picture; you can see James and me in the reflection. You can also see my book. And the picture's of the Rosetta Stone, by the way. Anyway, the place was packed. But I wiggled through the crowds like a madwoman. You should have seen me. I read my London guidebook as I went, because the author outlines a self-guided tour for it and tells you the order in which to see things. I tried not to walk around with my nose in my book, because I get annoyed at those people, but at one point I was glancing down at my book and when I looked up I was in an Asian tour group. The guide was speaking another language and they were all trying to crowd around him and I’d accidentally landed myself a front-row spot. I just smiled and quietly moved over to another exhibit.

Anyway, Rick Steves, the author of my book, was such a great tour guide. I really feel like I learned something. He was funny, too. When he was telling me about the Pediment Sculptures, which I’ll attach a picture of, he said, “Over on the right, Aphrodite, goddess of love, leans back in to her mother’s lap, too busy admiring her own bare shoulder to even notice the hubbub. A chess-set horse’s head screams, ‘These people are nuts – let me out of here!’”

I also attached a picture of the Nereid Monument from Xanthos, which was so neat. It was a Greek temple, which means it housed a statue of a god or goddess. People worshipped from outside the temple, so the exterior was generally the more impressive part.

After the museum, I came home, ate a PB and J, and then texted my friend Rachel to see if she was interested in seeing Billy Elliot. She was. So we hopped on the tube and got decent seats for a decent price. And the show was so good. I can’t believe I almost didn’t see it. I'll tell you more about it later though. I'm so tired. Good night.

Ticket to ride.

My class visited this journalism pub called Frontline today. The club frequently hosts journalism discussions and has memorials around the club to local journalists who’ve lost their lives while reporting. Our speaker, a member of the club, told us that we were in the heart of the biggest story in the news right now: the White House condemning these leaks. The WikiLeaks representative was upstairs, in town for a PR conference, I believe. How cool. After our speaker finished, we had lunch at the pub. I had Shepherd’s Pie; isn’t that a British dish? Either way, it was scrumptious.

After lunch, we took the tube to our next visit and did some souvenir shopping before to kill time. We visited the Press Complaints Commission and talked about recent cases that the commission dealt with. (The commission receives complaints from readers about possible PCC code violations in the media, whether they be inaccuracies, invasions of privacy, whatever.) Anyway, after the visit the main topic of discussion amongst the class was how cute the speaker was.

Then the class took a bus home, which I missed because my Oyster card, or tube and bus pass, had run out of money. James kindly hopped off the bus and stayed with me. Dr. Davies just waved goodbye from the bus window. So after I bought a bus ticket, James and I headed back and decided to get pizza for dinner in Gabriel’s Wharf on the Thames. James actually eats slower than I do. I didn’t know such a person existed. After dinner, I headed back to the room and did some laundry and some grocery-shopping with Tori and Liz. Liz left her wallet at the grocery store and then walked all the way back in a panic only to discover it was in her purse.

I didn’t take very many pictures today, so I took some of my dorm for you. And I took one of the beautiful painting I bought in Rome the other night. It’s of Trevi Fountain.