Abroad: March 2011

Sometimes it'll hit me when I'm on the tube going to class. Other times it'll be when I'm getting ready to go out at night. Most recently it'll be in those foggy minutes right before I fall asleep and as I'm waking up when I realize that no, I'm not in Scotland anymore.

Edinburgh, Scotland

I miss the cheap drinks and food. I miss the feeling of familiarity that I got waking up in a small city. I miss the random person in the bar starting a chat with me and knowing that they're not just thinking about holding a barrel to my head.

'stupid American...'

I miss our long hikes and the beauty that constantly surrounded us. I miss the small group of students that became so close, spending every minute, day and night together. I miss the history of the city, and the pride of the nation and the diversity of the people.

I miss the feeling of being in one place and belonging, almost like being home.

Pentland Mountain

Now I am in London. I have left behind Edinburgh, Glasgow and the colorful accents that accompany the land and the people.

I have learned to love this place too. I have gotten used to the city, picking up groceries for dinner on my way home from class, finding the best pubs and restaurants to grab a pint, and learning to love the famous fish and chips.

It is Spring 2011. I am studying at Syracuse University. I am taking a 15 credit semester, I have a full class work load, I live in a flat with my eight roommates. It seems like any normal semester, yet I am not in Syracuse, New York. I am in London.

Parliament and Big Ben

I'M LIVING IN LONDON.

Before I arrived, I looked forward to discovering an unfamiliar culture, to meeting new people, to waking up to a different skyline in the morning. I wanted to walk the streets of London, shop at the markets, walk around Westminster, find a little pub to become a regular at, and learn to call Flat 60 Fursecroft my home.

For ten days this was exactly what Scotland was to me, home. I sought to have a similar experience in London as I did in Scotland. And in the beginning, that's what I did.

But now the days are flying by. I'm traveling so often that I have Euros in my wallet and Pounds in a little baggy that I throw into my bag when I'm back. 3 days in London. 4 days in Italy. 3 days in London. 4 days in Istanbul. 3 days in London. 4 days in Spain. 3 days in London. 4 days in Portugal.

LONDON.

Am I studying abroad in London or am I traveling Europe for the semester? I've lost the ability to tell the difference. Even though I am still discovering unfamiliar cultures, meeting new people, and waking up to different skylines each morning, I can no longer tell you the best places to meet friends for a drink or where to grab a bit to eat in-between classes. If you come and visit and ask what touristy things you must do while you are here, I will not be able to tell you for I have not done them either.

For ten days Scotland was my home, today London is, and in 2 short months I will return to Fairfax and Turkey Creek Court will become my home once again. I hope by then I will have an understanding of where I have been for the past semester and all that I have learned in my time experiencing Scotland, studying here in London, and exploring other countries around Europe.

View of Prague from the top of Petrin Lookout Tower

I know I am so behind on updates, so before I jet off to Greece and Italy for spring break (ug, my life is so hard), let me rewind to our trip to Prague two weeks ago (February 24-27).

Our trip began on our flight from London to Prague where we met the 20 or so drunk members of Beefy's Stag Party. Between their singing and inability to stay seated to the stewardesses threatening to call the police upon arrival, the plane ride was full of excitement.

Friday morning, we have our first lesson on the Czech. Courtesy of the night shift worker at our hostel, we learn that the Czech Republic is the number one beer consumers in the world. Of course he tells us this while nuzzling a beer at 9 am in the morning when we come down for breakfast.

We had originally planned on doing an 11am walking tour of Prague but got lost on the way to the meeting point and ended up wandering around New Town and Old Town. Thankfully we did have a map and once we knew we weren't going to make the early tour, we headed in the direction of the meeting point for the next tour, and decided to meander down random streets. It's amazing getting lost in a city, let alone one that doesn't speak English. You are completely responsible for yourself and there is no one to help. Only you can rescue yourself or find your way.


market place

Elise, Andy, Blaine and Kate wandering in New Town

We ended up finding things like Mozart's house, a local market and authentic dining that we may not have been able to find otherwise.

Later in the day, we met for the afternoon walking tour at the Astronomical Clock Tower in Old Town Square. The Astronomical Clock is a medieval clock which has two main dials. The lowest dial illustrates the months of the year and the farming conditions associated with each month. "The Walk of the Apostles", a clockwork hourly show of figures of the twelve Apostles, is also present by the lower dial. The upper dial is the astronomical dial which includes many inner rings. The Zodiac ring is a movable circle marked with the signs of the zodiac which indicates the location of the Sun. An outer ring indicates Old Czech Time and swings back and forth to coincide with the time of the sunset. There are also sun and moon hands on the face of the clock which not only tell the hour but also tell the time the sun and moon will rise and set. Buildings around Old Town Square such as the Clock Tower have been known to be the official way that arguments were settled in the early fifteen century. The challengers would race up to the top of the tower and try to throw one another out the window. Who ever lost would fall towards the ground where they would be impaled on spears.

Astronomical Clock

Prague suffered considerably less physical damage during World War II than some other major cities in the region, allowing a lot of its historic architecture, most of it dating back to the 12th century, to stay intact. Besides the Astronomical Clock, in Old Town, you can find buildings such as St. Nicholas Church, Tyn Cathedral, and the Jewish Quarter. In the Jewish Quarter the Old New (translated from Alteneu) Synagogue is Europe's oldest active synagogue.

Old New Synagogue

Friday night we ate in Old Town where I tried mulled wine for the first time and ate chicken stuffed with peach and gorgonzola with risotto on the side. Afterwards we went on a pub crawl which was super fun! We started in an old church which was empty except for some string lights, hippie tapestries, and a giant stone head of Joseph Stalin. From there we went to three more clubs, each one seeming to get classier and more expensive as the night wore on.

Andy, Kate and Elise

But look, we got t-shirts!

Saturday morning we hit the other side of the river to explore Charles Bridge and the Lennon Wall. From the beginning of the fifteenth century until 1841, the Charles Bridge was the only connection between Prague Castle and Old Town which sits on opposite sides of the river. The bridge is decorated with tons of statues all the way across and during the day is covered with tradesmen and musicians.

Charles Bridge

view of the river from the bridge

Next, we hit the Lennon Wall which is decorated with colorful graffiti and messages of Peace, Love, and Beatles. We took tons of pictures and then grabbed a pen and added our names to the wall!

Sam and Andy

We ended up staying on the other side of the river for dinner and ate at a restaurant by the water. After dinner we ended up at an outdoor restaurant (thankfully with heating lamps!) back in Old Town Square. We sat, drank, ate dessert and laughed at all the drunk people walking by.

Elise, Sam and I

Sunday morning, Elise and I got up early to go to Petrin Hill where we saw the Memorial to the Victims of Communism. The memorial is a series of seven bronze figures descending a flight of stairs. The figures are decayed and broken higher on the steps but become whole the closer they get to you at the bottom. On the top of Petrin Hill are a bunch of parks, gardens, and sights such as a mirror maze and the Petrin Lookout Tower. The Lookout Tower aka Prague's Eiffel Tower is essentially a mini version of the real one Although not as large as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Elise and I climbed all the way to the top. At least I can say that I climbed the stairs to the top of one of the Eiffel towers!