So Long London - Farewell Europe.

I understand that this is a bit late, but, after 6 months time, I have made my way over to mother soil in the US of A. I've been home since the 13th, and can honestly say that I'm still having to adjust. It's not a hard adjustment, just a weird one. A weird that I can't so much explain- it's something you feel. Nonetheless, it feels good to be back. I miss London, but being home isn't bad either. I know I'll be back in Europe again, so for now, I'm not too sad about it.

With love from home,
Carla

London Christmas

Here's how the streets are looking in dear old London Town. Christmas spirit in the air, cold chills, and festive decor! It's so lavish, and I'll miss this.

With love from London,
Carla

Premier into the "real world"!

For my internship at the Travel Channel, part of my job is to write the supporting articles for the Travel Today section. I wrote the one's for December, so here they are for your enjoyment!

TRAVEL CHANNEL LINK

Geneva is Beautiful!

Of the changes that I have undergone while being abroad, one of them is my ability to appreciate nature more. Thank God this happened before I got to Switzerland - because words cannot even describe the utter beauty of this country's landscape. Before the plane even hit the ground, my eyes were glued to looking out the window. We were flying over the ice-capped Swiss Alps, and it was absolutely gorgeous! We landed, and still the mountain range was still in sight... And then, we got to Geneva's city center - and anyone who didn't appreciate nature before would have changed that in an instant. Geneva is cradled between two mountain ranges, the Jura and the Alps. In this cradle lies the absolutely clear waters of Lake Geneva, of which a bit of the Rhone River feeds into. I was stunned when I saw the water. I could not get over the pristine, almost crystal like quality to it. It reminded me of Greece- tempting to just want to jump into... But only then I'd freeze. The weather wasn't to bad either. Our first day was cloudy, but at least in wasn't raining, as what Accuweather had forcasted. There were bits of sun throughout the day, so that was nice. The next day was so much better. It reminded me of Monterey in the Winter. It was cold, but bearable, and the sun was still out enough to where you could feel its heat radiating against the cold.

While in Geneva, of course we had chocolate! I'll admit, the chocolate was one of the driving reasons of going. I felt so much more like a fatty as I walked into a local store to buy about 10 bars of chocolate to bring home as souvenirs... Yeah, at least its worth it! Other sites were Old Town, which had St. Pierre's Cathedral. Beautiful architecture in this part of the city- very Venetian looking, with cobblestone paths, cute little alleys. Down by the harbor we saw the Flower Clock, and of course the Jet. We made a stop by the United Nations European headquarters, which was really exciting actually! People spoke French there, so it was good that I had someone with who could remotely get us by with me. Aside from that, everything is SO EXPENSIVE! And sadly, I gave into Starbucks... It was by the far the MOST expensive Caramel Macchiato I have ever had in my life! Overall, Geneva was a great destination to end my traveling journeys while abroad. HOME IN 2 WEEKS!

With love from London,
Carla

Winter weather, and how do you say it, ED-IN-BUR-OH (Edinburgh)?

It's about that time here in London when you're lucky if the weather is in the upper forties. Or when you walk outside around 4 PM and swear its at least 8 because it's so dark. Is this how it is in this northern part of the world? Rain has come to be a customary norm... And as much as I loved it before, I have truly learned to appreciate the San Diego sun. Nonetheless, it really feels like Fall/Winter. I absolutely love the chilling air as I walk down the Christmas lit alleys of Oxford St. after work. With a good coat, boots, and scarf - it's manageable. One thing however, that I have grown to not have so much patience for is the constant crowd that never seems to fade - no matter what time. London is full of people. And maybe now, that I'm not so much of a tourist here... I notice, and care. OPEN SPACE people, please! It's a little weird, to be so Christmas festive this early in November. I used to Thanksgiving... And then AFTER that having all the Christmas stuff come out. But then again, who cares. I love this time of year... I just wished that with all the festive things coming out, that it FELT more like it. It's weird to be so far away this time of year. Thanksgiving is this week and it's my first one in 20 years away from family. It's a little odd... But as I get older, it was bound to happen at least one year right? Being away, while the entirty of my large family gets together... Hmm... I'm not going to lie, I love it here in London. But in 3 weeks time, when I have to leave, it will definitely be due season. I'll be ready. 6 months is a LONG time. It's been absolutely fantastic! But as the holiday season sneaks up to take me by surprise... As I become more and more eager to see my family and friends... I will be ready to go home on that December morning.

Aside from that, I want to add that I've been plugging into one Hillsong's young adults connect groups. It has been such a blessing, and without a doubt, much needed!

Okay, so Edinburgh. And seriously, even if I did spend a weekend there, I still have issues saying it. I have also come to the conclusion that British accents are overrated, and I absolutely LOVE the way Scottish people talk. Their accent has such a musical ring to it! This trip has been by far my favorite! I liked the city so much more than the others I've been to. There's just something about the feel to it. We were in weather that was in the low 30's... windchills and everything! But even with the fact that we were undoubtedly FREEZING- it was such a great time! We explored Edinburgh Castle for the first part of the morning and then roamed around the streets on the Royal Mile and Princess Street. Had some coffee, of course, and walked through the shops full of plaid scarves, kilts, and an assortment of different souvies. I treated myself to some Scottish cashemere, which is absolutely amazing! Although we did see a little bit of the stereotypical Scottishmen in kilts with bagpipes, I was disappointed that we didn't see more. I guess it goes to show how modernization of a city can cause it to lose it essence. That, or make one completely mre appreicative of its growing absence. But maybe you get more of the traditional when you step outside of the big city. All in all, Scotland, in all of its cold and chill, was a great trip and my favorite by far!

With love from London,
Carla

Updates!

So there is definitely a lot to update on. I will first preface by saying that I am currently organizing my Photobucket account. So, I have set up different albums and have added a few more pictures. I am working on getting the albums up for Budapest, Dublin, and Barcelona within this week. All of these albums will be a sub album of the one called "Fall Semester in London 2008"

Barcelona - November 8-9, 2008
My weekend in Barcelona was definitely much needed. There has been a lot that has changed in me in my five months abroad, and some of these changes are a bit less "uptight". In California, and it may actually be a result of the lack of rainfall, I absolutely despised being in heat. I loved the rain, and anytime this weather of preference made an appearance, I would be ecstatic. Not to be mistaken, I still love this weather... But living in one of the most "sunghine-less" regions in this world has made me appreciate California sunshine all the more. I miss the sun, even if it is just a little bit. I miss the ocean, and the beach. The Thames River is nice - but it's no Pacific Ocean, cold or warm. So anticipating Barcelona riled me with excitement. Excitement for some sunlight and for ocean. Our first day there started early. We left The Crofton at 3 AM and caught a cab to Victoria. A 30 minute train ride to Gatwick Airport and then another 2 hours on easyJet to SPAIN! I was absolutely tired by the time we landed - all because of my lack of sleep the night before. Our first day was chilly, and the sun came out here and there. Nonetheless, it didn't stop us from soaking in the culture. We did a lot of walking that day - exploring the harbor, and the majority of the city. Some of the more major sites were: Paulo Nacional, Portal de l'Angel, Arc de Triomf, Torre Agbar, the slight equivalent to the British Guirken, La Rambla, Port Vell... The only sad part was that the Magic Fountain was not working. The next day proved to be more promising as the sun was actually out radiating its heat. This day we saw the Sagrada Familia, which is by far one of my favorite sites in Barcelona. This Church is stunning! I have never seen architecture quite like it... It looks like a mud building, to be honest. But the way things seems to be etched into it, the sculpting and art - it's a remarkable sight. We also saw the Casa Mila and Casa Batllo. Spainsh food is great! I had my share of Paella, Tapas, and yeah, Sangria. Overall, the weekend in Barcelona was great!

One month left...
It's crazy how fast time flies. Part of me is ready to be home, but the other part doesn't want to leave London. I love this city and all of its different facets. I have definitely grown a lot in my time here, but we can save that for another blog. Working at the Travel Channel has also been quite the interesting experience. I have been exposed to so many apects of TV and have learned a lot about it. I've opportunity after opportunity to do some really amazing things such as working with an editor in an editing suite to put together VT's for a big Travel Market. I have written and turned in 4 supporting articles for the December website. I got to film on set at the World Travel Market with a film crew and all that jazz. I've researched more than enough about Mauritius and the Nile region in Egypt... And not to mention, praying for my intense figure of a supervisor is actually working and God is good! London is becoming more and more holiday festive, and COLD. I love it. Minus the cold on some days, but walking around Oxford Street and seeing it decked out in lights is the best feeling!

I apologize for this being so rushed, but it is nonetheless an update. Be sure to check on the pictures here. All of my albums are on the left hand tab.

Upcoming Trips to: Edinborough, Scotland this weekend & Geneva, Switzerland next weekend.

With love from London,
Carla

Travel Update

... Because I realize that I have been a little behind with keeping this blog up to speed.

So let's start with Budapest. I was in Budapest during my mid-semester break, October 7-10. The city seems to be quaint in comparison to the extensive, populous, and at times overbearing city life of London. Therefore a little break to somewhere less (but definitely still) congested proved to be much appreciated. But probably more important was the fact that I got to spend some good quality time with Meg and Booki, and Liz. Eastern Europe has a totally different vibe to it. Although architecture seems consistent to other areas of Europe that I've seen, and sadly, things just start to look the same after a while. The Eastern region's painfully marked, and perhaps it is that bit of history that has defined the atmospehre I sensed in Budapest. Nazi invasion... Communist presence... From the little I know about Hungary 's history - it seems that this has played an integral role in the everyday conventions of the Hungarian people. They are a lot more to themselves in the public setting. Don't get me wrong, I feel that the general consensus is that Americans are a lot more open with our actions than Europeans - but Eastern Europe seems to take this to a different degree. It was like this in Russia also. Nonetheless, I found Budapest to be different than what I was used to - less globalization. But perhaps the lack of that made my short stay there more "traditonal". Although you've got to give it to McDonald's, Burger King, and KFC for managing to make their appearance. To say the least, one of my favorite parts of the city was the House of Terror. It's not you're happiest place, but it seems to capture an important piece of history that everyone should take note of.

Now on to Dublin. I was in Dublin this past weekend, October 25-26. I was definitely surprised at how small the city was. Everyone always seems to talk about Dublin when they talk about Ireland, but, to be honest, there was nothing resoundingly "big" about it. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my stay. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the city. I only expected that it would be bigger. Literally, we woke up early to cover everything in the whole half day of exploring we allocated before having to leave, and we covered it in less than three hours. Granted, we didn't invest time inside Museums, but all the good things to see were definitely seen. And aside from the prominent drinking culture, and the few stereotypical Irish goodies that were inside gift shops, I didn't feel as if I got the full Irish experience. And of course, that was nobody's fault - it's just how things were. But perhaps what I was expecting was all the lush greenery of the countryside... everything that Hollywood seems to represent Ireland as... But what I saw was a smaller version of something I feel I've seen before. Dublin has a lot of modern influence as well. Nonetheless, it was a good visit with VERY entertaining Irish people. (ie: People dancing around with cardboard people and eating the leftovers from your plate without asking!)

The last few trips coming up: Barcelona, Spain / Edinburgh, Scotland / Geneva, Switzerland.

With love from London,
Carla

Bath & Avebury... I turn 20!

I spent this past weekend in Bath and Avebury... at the same time, I also turned 20.

Bath: I thoroughly enjoyed Bath. Going through the actual Roman site was quite pleasing as it brought to mind my time in Rome. Hot springs seem to be slightly on the weird end for me, mainly because it's odd seeing hot water spring up from the ground. In the case of Bath, with the beautiful architecture around it, it was a "beautiful oddity". The Roman Baths are not the only thing worth seeing in Bath, however.
The city of Bath is quaint and amusing! I absolutely loved it. The group of girls I was with continuously commented on how Bath is one place we would flock to, if ever we decided to run away from our lives! Find yourself in a humble apartment, open up your own shop in the alleys full of cafe's and shops [both independent and industrial], while basking in a more low-key English city. Quite the life! Our trip to Bath was accompanied with sunny and cool weather. It was the perfect balance. To top it off, the Vanilla Caramel Fudge I had there was TO DIE for!

Avebury: Was interesting. We saw the much appreciated green countryside that captures the US idea of what "England" is supposed to be, based on its heritage. Based on this understanding, the setting of Avebury, in all of its open lushness, is what you would expect to see. There was a huge rock formation accompanied with sheep. A very small town seemed to exist there, but even still, we had a hard time finding any of the shops... aka, coffee and tea. [= Nonetheless, it was a fun site!

With love from London,
Carla

... New Blog

For the actual non-travel related times in life.
LIFECOMMITTEDTOMEMORY

With love from London,
Carla

Newcastle upon Tyne...

Well, that's what my Dopplr calls it at least. Having spent this past weekend with some more family members - from my mom's side of course, I now find myself on a train, somewhere in England, heading back towards King's Cross - London. I absolutely love that there is free WiFi, because instead of doing my reading, like any good and diligent student... I'm blogging? [=

Before I get into all the goodness that is the Northeastern coast of England, I just have to note that my interview with Ms. Petra Shepard from Travel Channel International was a success. Minus the chaos that was the Friday afternoon office, it all went smoothly. I start work on Tuesday, October 14th where I will be acting for the most part, as a production assistant. I'm a tad nervous seeing as this is my first ever television related job, BUT... I'm moreso excited because I am confident it will equip me with the necessary industry exposure of the television world. Plus, the focus is travel... It's a perfet fit!

After the interview, I hopped on a train to Newcastle, where upon arrival, I was met by my mom's cousin, Auntie Weng, her husband - my Uncle Derek, and their son - Thomas. Again, it's great to be able to connect with family members who I have not seen in so many years. In this case, 17. I feel like this has been a resounding theme in my travels in Europe. That is, connecting with people and realizing that my domestic sorroundings and familiar family faces don't just stop in California, or the US. I love being able to rediscover family ties, even if it can be a bit awkard at first. I absolutely loved this weekend! Cathing up on the happenings of life with my aunt, who truly is young at heart... It was like talking to an older sister. Then there's the very informative and much appreicated chats with Uncle Derek about all sorts of different subjects... I love talking to people who know the background of things, it makes you appreicated what you're actually seeing. Then there's Thomas, who's 8. We share the common bond of Harry Potter... I am reminded of how refreshing it is to be around younger kids... My sister would have been 8 this year... It was nice to connect with someone that age, and see what it could have been like. Thomas nicknamed me Ferrari, after I told him that my friends call me "Car". I must say, I rather liked it! [=

The majority of my weekend was spent doing a lot of exploring. Castles, castles, Hogwarts, oh and more castles... Driving on the coast, watching Newcastle's Millenium Bridge do it's pivoting rotation to let the boats pass through, coffee drinking, walking by the riverbanks, having your breath taken away by the beauty of older architechture, cathedrals, walking on the walls and catching breathtaking views of the modern town, coast, and greenery from a city's built up walls.... I loved it all. It was definitely a nice change, to be away from the main trouist attractions. I really do feel that one gets a sense of what being immersed into the culture is like. It's also a plus being guided around by locals, but nevertheless, I feel that there is an importance in not always seeing what the tourists see when you travel. It reminds me of Greece and talking about the differences between tourist and traveller. The main tourist attractions, which are GREAT, don't get me wrong, tend to some extent cater to the visiting world. And in a sense, a visitor isn't fully expiriencing the actual culture and immersion. Getting away from it all is good in that you really do get a taste of it, away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds.

I thouroughly enjoyed this weekend, and [because I know they will read this at some point] thank my family in Newcastle once again for their hospitality and generousity. I'm sure I will be back again at some point when the door opens again!

Now, it's back to school mode... sort of... If I get around to it! [=

With love from somewhere in England,
Carla

I need to get some shoes, or wellies?

Because these Grecian sandals are no longer cutting it. The one thing I am trying so hard not to conform too... Shoes.

I decided that I'm going to officially fail at keeping this blog the way that I originally intended for it to be. A travel blog... to talk about the places, faces, experiences... But with this elongated stay in London, I'm finding it hard to leave out the inner journey of everything. So much is happening in the realm of personal growth, that to limit this blog to simply commentary on how wonderful London is, inevitably will not do the city, or my travelogues, any justice.

I haven't been to Church in two months. Thank God that people speak English here. I finally made it to Tosin's Church. It turns out he's one of the Campus Ministry staff at Every Nation Christian Church, located in West Kensington. Tonight was a Praise & Prayer event and defintiely much needed. To say the least, there is more clairty when it comes to my faith. I am reminded that I am not here just to do school, or intern, or travel... I'm here because God has allowed it for such a time, and I have brought myself to the inescapable resolution that I cannot waste this time. God is SO present, even more than I thought. I'm excited to see how it unfolds.

On other issues, I'm finding it more and more easier to be as Jesus was in Mark 2. It's quite a new door to be walking through. And by acknowleding my own judgements, while at the same time cultivating love, I am thoroughly convinced that God can move through it.

And lastly, I am firmly reminding myself that friendship is key to anything and compromise, is something that God has not intended when He has the best ready for you. We'll see how this goes.

Very vague indeed. My apologies.

With love from London,
Carla

There is hardly any sun in most of these pictures...

And it is amazing!

Picadilly's Circus... Kind of like the Times Square of London

The Brighton Pier

Royal Pavilion in Brighton

The swans of Hyde Park... Across the street from my flat...

A double decker bus dedicated to my people...

Westminister - Big Ben and a Red Phone Booth

On the Eye....

Chinatown

Tower Bridge

Thames Riverbank and the London Eye

Parliment

Buckingham Palace Gates

Royal Albert Hall

BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall

With Love from London,
Carla

Learning life and accepting my shortcomings...

Life is a complicated journey. That's why we need a solid foundation to continually fall back on. I've been in London a little over a week, and I find it outstanding how immediately God can completely throw your world around. 19 years old and 19 days shy of turning 20... Through the years, I have come to realize that I am very much an independent person. I mean really, who in their right mind decides that they want to do a Summer Program in Greece by them self? Not knowing anyone but willing to go anyways. Then decides that they want to go to Italy to visit family they haven't seen in God knows how long, again by them self. Then after that, come to London by them self, and be a art of an Internship/Study Abroad program in which they know no one. A completely new school and new location. Everyone says its a brave thing... But I see how the only thing that keeps me unafraid is knowing that I really am not by myself. And I thank God that I know without a doubt that He is right here with me. And along with that come many many lessons and experiences... My life as of late, has been thrown completely upside down - like, my whole mentality is being transformed a bit... I have also come to realize that in my own independence, I have enabled a haze of fog to eclipse my view of life which has resulted in the somewhat naive lens to which I look through. But that's changing and causing me to learn and re-learn my own life and approaches to it. To acknowledge my own biases, and to tear down some barriers that I have placed upon myself. God calls us to love, and I have finally realized how much I have limited myself when it comes to loving.

In Greece and Italy, I felt that God taught me love by seeing the shortcomings of others, and realizing those same faults in my own life. Patience. A certain someone in Greece tested that continuously in my own life. And it was seeing how irritating it could be to complain all the time that caused me to look at my own life and see how much I complain... How much I failed at compromise, and how bratty it was for me to always have things work out for me. By that always being blatantly in my face, God showed me directly what I needed to work on. At the same time, it cultivated love for the one person that irritated me and everyone else. That despite that frustration, there was a place in me that knew that this one person is also the love of Christ's life. And that did it... I set myself aside and loved... And it stretched me, but it also grew me. In Italy, I was surrounded in a setting completely opposite to the home I grew up in. And not to go too much into it, but I've seen that even in having my buttons pushed all the time, and in that irritation, how one act of love and patience can change one's life. By being tangibly exposed to my own faults, I've learned how it needs to be worked on... All at the same time that love begins to resonate more and more into my life.

So now in my short time in London, there has been tons of new experiences. I've realized the wall that I've put up. This is the wall that has caused me to be so judgmental without even knowing it. It's the wall that has limited how much I do love by cutting off the very people that need it to hear it. It's the wall that has made so many awkward situations. But God is tearing it down. And I'm not saying that you need to try everything to be able to relate, but from what happened here... I've realized on a whole other level, how much my own naivety and even pride has hurt and fragmented me from loving people. Step outside that Christian bubble a bit and it is one of the most life changing things ever. Not in the sense that I have given up all my values, but that these values are being put into practice and opening up doors of conversation to bring in God's love without a deprecating eye. And that in itself, is what we should be doing. So don't super holy, because all of us judge without even knowing it. And I'm so glad that I've caught that and am dealing with it... Making it better, being open, and seeing how God uses it. I can't quite explain this past week... I just know that there are things that I have kind of upheld for myself that are being tested and shaped, pruned and polished. It's left me in confusion, but on a continuous search for God. And I think it's a good thing to not be so solid about everything... Because then, there is more room for Him.

I feel like everything I have learned has been about me growing and maturing... I kind of feel like its selfish. But then I realize that, if I'm not addressing these then things, how is God going to use me to bless others? Acknowledging my own issues has opened doors for me to talk to people around me... and maybe that's why it's like this.

Anyways, London.... still amazing! What can I say?

With love from this rainy city,
Carla

Bipolar Weather...

Is what I have to say about London's weather. One minute, the suns out and your sweating because of all the walking, then it pours. What is this? Nonetheless, it fails to rob me from the excitement and my new found love for this place. It's hard to believe that all of it is literally my backyard. Hyde Park, and through that gigantic mass of nature, you can hit Buckingham Palace... Go down a little further and you end up and the river's edge. The walk along the river takes you past Parliament and Big Ben, the London Eye, London Bridge... Oxford Street.... Amazing shopping! And I kid you not, I have already found a store that has clothes at a better deal than even the States. I thought I should also add that I found Dominion Theatre... aka, Hillsong London on Sundays! You can say that I am fully enjoying myself here, not to mention, am getting quite the hang of taking and navigating the labyrinths of streets and tube directions.

Academically, the BU London staff has grilled us for the past two FULL 7 hour days with Orientation Lectures... aka, lectures on England and all that jazz. I appreciated it, but it was rather long. I start my classes today, which should be interesting. Being around all these private school kids somehow motivates me to try harder... Maybe because I realize the weaknesses in the public school system, but nonetheless... I thoroughly love UCSD. I do feel though, that I will come out of this a better student. Which is why i'm her anyways, right?

I do want to add something to this post, mainly because it's a testimony of encouragement that God never leaves. No matter where you go, you can't escape His presence. So as with anything new that you do, the first days are rough. And my first day here was indeed just that. So, I just started to stand on Psalms 16... Particularly versed 8-11. It's not fun when you're in a comletely new enviornment, new school, and hardly know anyone.

8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,

10 because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

11 You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Standing on this, I just asked God for some sign of comfort... Mainly becasue I knew He meant for me to be here for this divine and ordained season. Well, the day of our boat tour [the next day from the first], I met Tosin at the information fair - a British guy who would help me check out his Church... And then, I saw this guy wearing a InterVaristy shirt. I still have yet to ask him about it, but it was like a reminder that God was still with me. Then on the boat, I met Katie... She ends up being a Christian and used to be in InterVarsity at BU. So that whole day was seemed to be an evident reminder that God was with me.

Since then things have indeed been picking up and getting better. London is an amazing place and I am thrilled that it gets to be a part of my home for the next 3 months!

With love from London,
Carla

London welcomed me with rain...

And it was absolutely wonderful. After two months of roasting and putting on ten shades of darkness, thanks to the wretched rays of the sun... a little bit of my favorite weather made up for the horrible layout of Gatwick Airport. Why did I just not fly into Heathrow like all the normal people? It was going up and down a number to escalators, just to get to passport control, then more escalators to baggage claim... then an elevator to take a train to South Terminal, wait another 15 miutes, 30 minute train ride on the Gatwick Express, up more escalators to find a taxi, and thanks to traffic... 15 pounds for a normally 5 pound ride... Not to mention, as nice as my driver was, I think he took the the long way now that I've begun to recognize the streets a bit. Anyways, aside from that nonsense of mine, London is great. I don't think the culture shcok is too bad. A lot of it feels the same, but I give the credit to the not so different language communication. I love this whole city feel enviornment and not to hectic ambiance that make up the heartbeat of London life.. well, thus far.

The Crofton, the building I'm staying in is super cute. I think my roommates, Maddy and Melissa (Who btw. are really nice. They're music performance majors and I find it funny how they are always getting into musical debates, and I just sit and watch, not really knowing what on earth they are saying!), and I lucked out. Our room, which is a triple is very roomy. And our kitchen is fantastic! Minus, I have yet to learn how to use it more, ahem, cooking. I got the grocery shopping done, and I do have to admit, it's an odd feeling having to cook for yourself. UCSD and the luxuries of Cafe V and OVT are no longer available to me. [= Starbucks is a few blocks around the corner... And don't judge because I haven't had it for 2 months. So I thouroughly enjoyed my 15 minutes of coffee and listening to the jazz that was playing in the background of the local 'bucks. There are a good amount of coffee shops near our 43 Harrington Gardens where our classroos are, so it looks like it'll be coffee happy for me once again!

Today a representative from one of the local nondenominational Churches came to our student fair. I totally made a friend and have a Church lined up to go to. It's a great feeling. I miss being in Church, and after two months of not being able to go, I am most excited for this Sunday!

We're getting ready to go on our building's "Academic Boat Tour" which I think will be great. Yay for history and sight seeing! Yay London!

Until the next time!

With love from London,
Carla

London Calling: 9 More Days!

So, I'm sad to say that as of late, there is not much to update on. I've pretty much covered the basis of what to see as a tourist in Rome, and have spent the last week either in front of the television, or as in the past few days, in front of laptop. Quite lame I suppose seeing as I am in Rome... But then again - maybe you would call it settling in? I don't know. All I have to say is that The Filipino Channel airs some very entertaining shows and not to mention I am totally brushing up on some Tagalog. Mom and Dad you should be proud, you've got yourself a nearly "Quadro-linual" daughter, haha! [This is secretly another pitch for my dad to get it cabled into our house back home]

On an exciting note... I leave for London in 9 days, and as like my initial feelings before leaving for Greece... The nervousness is taking a little bit more of a precedence than the excitement. Although, I think we all know that'll change once I get there. I've met my two roommates [through Facebook of course] who are actually really good friends. The both of them go to BU and are going to be doing the music program in London. I've been chatting with one of them an she seems very nice. We've already made plans to jam together with my limited guitar and singing abilities and I'm sure, here amazing violin skills! 9 days seems so close.... Yay!

Lastly, I just want to note that the bugs here in Rome seem to adore me. My legs are covered with itchy bug bites and it's driving me nuts! Greece was a lot kinder I have to say.

Well, this is all for now!

With love from Rome,
Carla

Thank the Lord for a day of WiFi and here are the Italy Pics!

These are some snapshots from Italy, so far.

The Colosseum

The Pantheon

Venice

The Vatican

Piazza Navona

St. Angels Castle

The Pyramid

Trevi Fountain

Santi, L'Aquila

With Love from Rome,
Carla