College of Business Study Abroad - European Union

We made it home safely last night. I got to my apartment, did a little bit of laundry sorting and unpacking, then headed to bed around 10:30pm. Thankfully I didn’t wake up at 4am - I was able to sleep until 8:30am. Although I’ve felt a little sluggish at different points throughout the day, I think I’m one of the fortunate ones who doesn’t suffer too badly of disorientation from jet-lag. I guess we’ll see if that holds true as the week progresses.

Europe was such an amazing experience. I never would have imagined I would have this opportunity. The experiences I’ve had will forever be ingrained in my memory. The pictures I’ve taken are priceless and I am looking forward to sharing them with family and friends.

I would have to say that my favorite location of the three weeks was London. While it’s hard to even compare each city we stayed in because they have such different cultures and histories to experience, I found that London had the most that I was interested in. I could go back and have plenty of museums to visit and attractions to see that I did not get a chance to do this go-around, plus a number of things I would like to do again.

I am thankful to the professors and the study abroad program for setting up this chance-of-a-lifetime trip. All of the planning made the trip very smooth and afforded our group so many unique opportunities.

I look forward to my next European experience!

We have walked so much on this trip! Jan and I were discussing how we should have brought a pedometer to Europe to track how much we’ve walked: walking tours, walking between monuments, walking to the metro, walking to the store, walking to eat, walking up stairs, walking down stairs…It has been so great to spend that time outdoors. Even in the rain and cold, I’ve really enjoyed it.

This morning, I went to the Louvre with Mel, Des, and Jan. Our goals included: Mona Lisa, Greek/Roman mythology, and Egyptian section. I had heard the Mona Lisa is small, but it really is. 

The Louvre is such a large museum.  You could literally go back every day for a week and not see everything. 

After our visit, we stopped off for lunch and then Jan and I headed to Champs-Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe. Champs-Elysees is known for its “shopping” appeal. Well, I don’t personally know anyone who can afford what it has to offer (Louis Vitton, Chanel, Peugeot, etc.).  Here is a picture of one of the cars at Peugeot:

After walking down the Champs-Elysees, we reached the Arc de Triomphe.  Among other things, this is where the Tour de France finishes.  It is also the hub of quite a few streets.  Jan and I walked up AND town its 250 steps.  What a winding staircase!  Not for the claustrophobic.

It was quite a climb, but well worth it.  There is a fabulous view of the city and monuments from the top of the Arc. 

Well, it is time for me to head to bed.  We’re trying to squeeze in some good last-minute shopping
tomorrow, our last day here in Paris.  Tomorrow night will be our 4-course French dinner.  Should be an experience!

I officially had my first crepe ever yesterday!  I’ve never had one, even at IHOP back home, so it was great to experience it first here in Paris. I had one with ham and cheese inside. I think it was even a wheat crepe.  Is that possible? It was brown and most of the ones I’ve seen on the street were white. What do you think?

Today has been full of shopping.  Mel and I hit the shops around 10am this morning.  First we went to this shop called Traditionaries. I found a cute sweater and dress. Across the street was a great little shop called La City.  Basically, we found more at those to places than any of the department stores we went to later in the day.

For fun, we stopped into one of the largest department stores in Paris. The inside is so chic!

It didn’t even feel like we were in a store. It felt more like being in a Ritz-Carlton or a castle, or something.  The prices were stellar…as in out-of-this-world! 450 euros for a short dress, etc. Crazy! But it was really cool to see.

There is an advertisement that is all around Paris - on the metro and on buildings - that seems very “Paris” to me, or is what I think of when I think of Paris models, etc.:

Tonight is Hard Rock Cafe - Paris.  Should be fun!

Today was a full and fun day.  We traveled to Reims, a city about 2 hours away from Paris.  We drove through many, many, many acres of corn and wheat.  There are a lot of farms in France. 

When we got there, we visited this magnificent cathedral, also called a Notre Dame cathedral (the name is not limited to the one everyone knows about that is located in Paris).

Then, this evening we went to the Eiffel Tower for some night pictures and to go up it.  I guess we waited in line around an hour before getting up to the second platform.  We would have gone all the way up, but it was getting late and windy.  We got so many great pictures, though!  Plus, we got some video of the “light show.”  Since 2000, the Eiffel Tower has had a mini light show on the hour after dark.  It was great up close!

Tomorrow is a short train ride to Versailles to see the palace, gardens, and possible some of Marie Antoinette’s Chambers.  Paris is so rich in culture! Read the rest of this entry »

I am in Paris!  We made it today after a 2-hour Eurotrain trip from London.  Paris is an hour ahead of London, so now I am 7 hours ahead of the United States.  I can handle one hour difference.  I’m still wondering what it will be like coming home!

Paris is BEAUTIFUL!  I cannot wait to explore this week.  Basically once we got here, we took the metro all the way over to the Eiffel Tower to get on an open boat tour of the city.  I got some fabulous pictures of the tower.  Here’s one of my favorites:

Internet here is free, so we get to keep the 30 euro internet allowance.  Yay for extra spending money! 

Tomorrow we have our business trip to ExxonMobil.  Then it’s free time to explore.  We’re looking at a little shopping and then eating dinner at a cafe and going to see the Eiffel Tower at night.  So excited!

Today was our last full day here.  I finally took laundry in to get it done - 12 pounds for 2 loads!  That’s about $20.  Crazy, huh?  But, I’m glad to have it done and I’m all set for the rest of the trip.

Mel, Jan, and I went to Camden Market first thing.  We found some great deals because we were some of the first customers there.  I got this great plum-colored sweater with an attached belt - it’s so fun! 

Then I ran into the British Museum (it has free admission, as do most of the museums here) and snapped a quick pic of the Rosetta Stone (not to be confused with the dvd’s that teach you a new language…Alissa definitely got confused about that earlier!). 

Tonight has been good to play catch-up and pack.  We are getting up early tomorrow to leave for Paris, so I’m trying to get most things done tonight.  Mel is out at the “Blood Brothers” musical, so she finished packing before she left. 

To be honest, I’m super-excited about Paris!  I miss home a lot, though.  When I was talking to Mom tonight, she said something so true: it’s probably a good thing Paris is the last stop because it is the one I am most excited about.  If the last country was one I’m not as interested in, I think I would be unbearable home-sick. 

Well, the next time you hear from me, I’ll be in Paris!

Mel, me, and Jan on the Tube!

Today was a very productive day.  I got up early and did some classwork.  I’m feeling good about my current status on QFD’s (Questions For Discussion) and I got some work done on the last paper I have to do.

Then, I headed out to Portobello Market to meet my friend Rose and her new husband Armand.  I was so excited about Portobello Market because that is where Hugh Grant walked through during “Notting Hill!”  It was a very crowded and very eclectic place.  Antiques, jewelry, clothes, food, old books, pocket watches, plateware, purses, etc.  People filled the streets and it got more and more crowded as the afternoon went on. 

We shopped around a bit and grabbed a bite to eat.  Rose and Armand gave me some tips about what to see and do in Paris (Rose has been there recently and Armand has cousins who live there).  It was so nice to catch up with her.  We went to high school together and haven’t seen each other since then.  We just recently became friends on Facebook and through messages we figured out that we would be here at the same time.  She and her husband are doing research at Oxford for a year.  It worked out so well to meet up with them.

Armand is actually 6'4", but he ducked to get in the picture.

 After we parted ways, I checked on doing laundry (I will have to pay 13 pounds to do it on Monday…lovely).  Then I went to the gym and caught up with Mel before she headed out for the evening.  Now I’m just checking email.  I plan to get an early start to bed.  There are a handful of people sick on the trip, and I don’t want to be the next one!  Our hotel doesn’t have air-conditioning.  Most hotels in London don’t (actually, I don’t know of any that do).  So, we leave our window open and have a desk fan going, but it’s still fairly warm at night.

Tomorrow is St. Paul’s Cathedral for church, a tour of Buckingham Palace, and then hopefully Camden to check out the shopping over there.  Another full day - only two left here in London.

Looking back, I don’t know where I found the energy for Tuesday!  It was day 10 of our trip and so full.

The group traveled together via Tube & bus to Westferry Printers, where we were given a business tour of the facility.  The most fascinating piece of information we received was about the amount of paper used.  The paper comes in 1 ton rolls that each span 8 miles long!  And guess how long each roll lasts?

Semi-group pic.

Don't you love my new vest? We got to keep them.

 20 minutes!  The company is environmentally aware and prioritizes recycling.  Over the past year, it has unfortunately lost 2 big accounts to a newer, cheaper, higher-tech competitor.  I wonder how long it will be until everything is online.

After the trip, we had just a few hours to lay low until heading out to the musical.  Mel & I left around 5pm and took the Tube to Victoria Station (*note: the Tube system here is so easy to figure out!).  We got off and found an Indian restaurant.  Although it had an extensive menu and we debated about trying something new, we each got the dish we’d had at Suruchi in Scotland: butter chicken for Mel and Chicken Tikka for me.  While it tasted good, London portions are much smaller for the same price.

And then it was time for “Wicked.”  It was Mel’s first musical!  The cast was very strong, although I wish Kristin (Chenoweth) had been playing Glinda.  This show’s Elfaba was fantastic!  I enjoyed the performance as much as the first time I saw it, even with British accents

That’s how many pictures I’ve taken in the past 24 hours!  Since leaving Scotland, taking the train, and arriving in London.  Crazy, huh?  There is SO much to do here.  There is no way I will scratch the surface of this city in 8 days.  But I’m excited to try

Today consisted of observing the changing of the guards.  SO cool.  We started out at a gate near Parliament, but ended up at Buckingham Palace.  Here’s a picture of me with a super-serious guard on his horse:

This afternoon, we went to Kensington Square and Palace.  It is the palace Princess Diana lived in before she died.   We were even able to see some of the dresses she wore. The decor was so ornate and lovely inside the rooms we were able to see that had been decorated by Queen Victoria, etc.  Lots of rich, dark reds and blues.  There is so much history in there. 

After that, we headed back to the hotel on the Tube.  We’re tired from walking all day!  Tomorrow is our business trip to West Ferry Printers.  Then, Mel and I are going to see “Wicked” tomorrow night!  So excited :)  And plans are in the works to go to Bath on Friday to see the Roman Baths and go on a Jane Austen tour.  That is one of the main things I want to do here, so I’ll be really happy if that works out.

As I sign off, here’s another picture from today:

We made it to London!  The day started around 6:30am, as we had to leave early to make the express train from Edinburgh to London.  The ride was about 5 hours, but didn’t seem that long.  The scenery along the way was beautiful!  We saw water, fields, sheep, mountains, and various city developments.

We arrived in London around 2pm.  Our tour guide here, Michi, is so fun!  She is much more personable than our guide in Scotland, and I can tell she is going to be a lot of fun.  After checking into the hotel, we took a walk along a main street in London in order to reach the starting point of our bus tour. 

There are so many people here!  It is a much larger city than Edinburgh, not only in number of people, but architecture.  There is much more use of vertical space.  Unfortunately, one of the girls got sick, so Michi took her to the hospital and a bunch of the group went to eat an early dinner.  Alissa and I stayed with the professors and their wives and rode the bus tour.  I am SO glad we did!  We got an amazing cursory glance of all the important sites in the city: Big Ben, London Bridge, The London Eye, Parliament, Westminister Abbey, etc.  I took so many pictures!  Unfortunately, our internet situation here is a little different from Scotland, so I’m not sure when/how uploading pictures will go.

One of the most notable streets we passed was Belgrave Street.  On it, there were flats and ”homes” upwards of £100,000,000!!! We passed another street (I can’t remember the name?) where the net worth of the residents is £250,000,000,000 - the most wealthy neighborhood in the world.  Crazy!

Well, time to head!