Back in London
Hiya
It has been months and months and months since I last wrote. After a very quick decision I am back in England for another year. Year 2 is starting off fantasically! Better apartment, School is so much better, meeting new people and seeing my favourite old ones! And in about a month I'll finally no longer be in a long distance relationship. For those who don't know, Nathan is moving to England (still fingers crossed on the VISA but I'll sneak him in no matter what!)
School has been so much easier - it is wonderful walking around saying hello to everyone and feeling like a seasoned vet. I know the school now, and feel a lot more confident there! I'm also trying to get involved more with extra curricular activities - hoping to help with prefix and on a committee for a new project called Leading in Learning.
I've been having a great time out of school as well - Last night I went to a Swedish Crayfish
party. Ariana and I walked in and we were given the job of making chocolate balls, which required a little bit of guessing (the directions were in Swedish, and we were 2.5ing the recipe) and some dirty work. I did get to use my random Swedish; who knew that my knowledge of the Swedish word for oatmeal would ever be useful!)
The people were wonderful, and the party reaffirmed why I love Scandinavians. Their traditions are fantastic! The meal was delicious, and in between there was singing and speeches (where you had to talk about the opposite sex, cherishing how they enrich our lives) and even noise makers. Vanessa and Emily (the hosts) really outdid themselves. Everyone was instantly comfortable with one another. It was a fab night and hopefully will be repeated with the next Swedish festivity!
Michael's wedding is in 2 weeks and I still have to plan my toast! I'm sure it is going to be a great weekend with all sorts of cousins! Nathan and I are thinking of spending a few days away when he first gets here (it coincides with my first half term holiday). We are thinking Amsterdam. I'll keep you updated!
Greece 2007: The Odyssey
Though we didn't spend 20 years traveling around the Greek Islands trying to make it back home, Greece was an adventure! It all started with the rain. We arrived in Athens on the Saturday and decided that we would head to Santorini the next day. Got up at 6am, made it to the port in good time, only to discover that the ferries have all been docked due to stormy weather. Hmm... After humming and haaaing we go see the Acropolis, walk around a bit, have some yummy food, and then headed back to the port. Wanting to get out of Athens, there was a rumour that the boat to Naxos might leave that evening. So we bought our tickets and headed to the boat. Five hours later, after many delayed announcements, the boat left. Now the big flaw in our plan was that we had not arranged for a place to stay that night. With our new 3am arrival time, this seemed to be even more of an issue. Walking down the dock, heading to the main part of Naxos, a taxi slowed, though we ignored him (as he was yelling in Greek and he didn't sound too pleasant). Our heads did turn when we head the familar words of 'Which hotel are you staying at?'. The passenger was Australian, and after telling him our story he offered us to come to his villa and see if they had a room. The driver had plans of his own, and brought us to this dark ally, opened up a house (which we still believe was his house...) and tried to get us to pay him for a room. It is a common scheme in Greece - sometimes it is deals that the taxi drivers have with hotels, that they get some commission for customers - and they will refuse to take you to the hotel that you had already booked. Greg, the Australian, told us to stay in the car, and he argued with the driver that we were going to the hotel with him... Luckily, he got back in the car and took us to the villa!
We left the next day for Santorini, with a new travel friend (and another place to stay - hopefully - at the next place he booked!). It was beautiful arriving into Santorini - the white buildings make the cliffs appear as if they are snowcapped (I have now put a link to my web album on this site). We decided to rent a car - and put faith that I still remembered how to drive standard. The guy who brought the car over parked it down on a hill, very close to the car infront. We must have sat there for 10mins before I attempted backing up. I taught myself how to start with the handbreak - and taught Dave how to talk like Nathan so he could calm me down "It's ok, you are just flustered, take a breath, you can do this!" Without hitting anything, we were off! It was really nice to have a car for exploring the Island. I really got into driving, and actually now might consider getting a standard car in the future. We drove up to the highest point, and actually up into the clouds, walked around villages, went to both the black and red sand beach - except it was way too cold to even think about swimming.
February is off season so we basically had the Island to ourselves, and the locals of course. We ended up finding this restaurant, where we spent two nights. The first night it was just Dave, Greg and I - and the owners. They kept bringing us wine, and even let us have some of the special wine that they drink for themselves. We went back the next night, after seeing a beautiful sunset, and chatted to them about how tourists have changed the island for the better. Two more tourists came in looking for bread to take back to their rooms, but instead they were convinced to stay by the owners and ourselves. The evening took a different turn - wine was flowing, the owners and their friend taught us Greek dances, and they even broke dishes!!
Greece was fantastic! We met another Canadian when we went back to Athens - the people there are just so friendly and hospitable! As long as you stay away from the taxis. I am now settled in my new place. It is really small, especially compared to my last one, but there is a door in my room that leads to the garden. There is a little bench, and the flowers are starting to blossom! That's right, after two days of snow, it is now spring time. Looking forward to Rachel's visit in less than 3 weeks, and St. Patty's day next weekend.
Snow Days!
So here it is - probably the only day I'll ever get off because of snow. I took some pictures around 2pm. Now to be fair, there was a lot more snow on the street this morning. But it is all melting now. So, you might ask, what do you do on snow days? Well, number one: go back to bed and sleep in! Number two: update the blog that you haven't touched in months. Number three: pack for Greece!
I guess I will start with a brief, very brief, recount of Nathan's visit. It was incredible! Seeing him standing there at the airport, a moment that will be forever frozen in my mind. Our trip to Eastern Europe was amazing. Prague was beautiful for Christmas - wandering around the streets, eating rollos (that is what we call them...), drinking mulled wine in the square, the communist museum, malostranska, running into Lauren and Adele during the changing of the guard, the best black light production of Cats (and running into Jess and her boyfriend)... Next was Vienna, where I got sick. It was cold and couldn't compare to Prague. It was very grand though, and beautiful when the sun came out. Went to museums and art galleries and had coffee and cakes!
After Vienna was Bratislava - and unlike the movie Eurotrip, we were not treated like kings and queens. Budapest for New Years! Buda to Pest, Buda Buda Pest. Budapest has crazy roofs, and the neatest Church that we saw. Went through a labyrinth (where Italians were filling up on the wine from the fountain). Followed crowds to New Years celebrations, with their own fireworks (and were almost blown up by more Italians trying to light a bottle firework in their hands). Champagne on the streets and bringing in 2007! Best New Years ever! Terror museum and the most lush Synagogue I've ever seen.
The overnight train to Krakow was terrifying! Police banging on the doors, searching every inch of the train, toilet (aka hole in the train...), freezing! All worth it when we finally slept and got out in Krakow. Would have liked to spend more time there - hardly saw the Jewish district. But found the best restaurant ever! Had some cherry vodka and international drunk dialing! Next day was Auschwitz, which was completely emotional and hard to describe still. You get chills just walking around. I bought a star of david necklace the day before, which seemed to almost keep me safe.
Then it was pretty much home time! A trip of a lifetime. Memories that would fill up pages.
So more news. I was forced to decide if I wanted to stay next year or not, and after long and hard deliberations, I am coming home. So I'll be back in August 2007. Then, a couple days later, I was told that the landlord is selling the house, so I have to find a new place to live. With all this drama and stress I am so glad that in 2 days I'll be on my way to Greece!! We know where we want to go, and have a place to stay the first night we are in Athens. I feel like we are going to have quite a few adventures though!!!
I'll take lots of pictures and will blog when I get back!!
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Dave and I went shopping yesterday on Oxford Street and Carnaby Street. There are Christmas lights and chandeliers, and even "Welcome to Oxford Street" in lights! It is beginning to feel more like Christmas - Christmas songs on the radio (though no Bryan Adams yet - I guess I'll have to have my fill of 'Something about Christmas Time' at home or on my ipod. The houses are beginning to put up their lights - there are some crazy displays we pass on our voyage to and from school. I bought a new jacket yesterday - also making it feel more like winter. Though there is no snow. Unless there is snow in Prague it will be my first green christmas. I'm starting to prepare myself for that now. I was very ok with not being in Ottawa when I saw the temperature was -13C. It was a chilly 7C for me.
Yesterday was really fun! Dave and I had a great time before he heads off back to Brampton to spend the holidays. I had heard about this play 'Love Song' (thanks to Brian McKinney!) starring Neve Campbell, Michael McKean, Cillian Murphy and Kirsten Johnston. I found out that there were tickets on sale at Leicester square - so we met there and got tickets for the show that night! We then, as I said, went shopping along Carnaby and Oxford. Couldn't resist the coat! We then headed to a pub where we had been before we went to see 'Blood Brothers' and spent a few hours chatting and having pub food! Back in Leicester Square there was a winter carnival complete with tea cups, games and bumper cars. We couldn't resist!
I don't remember bumper cars being that fun! Great times gunning it around the course, although I have bruises on my knees now. Dave was laughing at another girl and I when we both apologized for bumping into each other. He reminded me that that was the point of the game! We wandered to Trafalgar Square and hung out with the lions then off to see 'Love Song'. We were both disappointed that Kirsten Johnston was out that night (the part would have been perfect for her), but nonetheless it was a fab performance. You can see where the stage is heading and how they are starting to modernize it. Music was used to change scenes and there was even an opening, then a screen came down and the title presented just as you would see at the movies. There was even that mobile phone opening about reminding that mobiles should be switched off. Though they did not have to say anything, just had about 10 phones going off. I really enjoyed the story - a bizarre twist on a love story, but I really liked how it ended and what they did with it.
'Love Song' was not the only play I saw this week - I also saw the school production! The kids had put on a pantomime of 'Aladdin'. It was very nice to see the effort and hard work that went into it, and they were so sweet up on stage! I must admit that for a performing arts school, well, Nepean put on much better shows. But it was great fun either way. Some of the teachers went for a drink before hand - and even had some mulled wine at the show. The next two days were 'Raising Achievement' (aka parent/form tutor interviews). Kris called in sick (the actual form tutor that I help out with) so I was actually in charge of conducting the interviews. There is enough information to fill up the 15mins, and I had the head of y7 with me for most of the first day. So now one more week until Nathan gets here and 7 1/2 teaching days! Very excited for the holidays, though I know that I'll be a little homesick at points. I guess Nathan will have to deal with me waking him up early in the morning on christmas day!
Adventures in Roma!
It has been a long week - I think Roma, though amazing, really tired me out for the rest of the week. It was well worth it!
I left at 3am, thanks to my roommate who so nicely offered to drive me to the airport! Stanstead is the hardest airport to get to. I was nervous, but that all changed when I got into line to go through security. I was going to Rome and even if I had forgotten my mark scheme at school, which I was going to do in the airport, I didn't care anymore, I was going to Rome! I arrived in the morning, jumped on the bus to get to the center of town and try to find my hostel. Oh, I should talk about the flight. All normal until we were about to land. Seeing the city from up above - miniture versions of the monuments and buildings - the perfect symmetry of St. Peters and the Vatican, and a model sized colosseum.
It all seemed too easy, I thought the language difference would be harder to nagivate. On the bus, staring out the window, I was in awe of my surroundings. The palm trees, pink buildings, run down buildings and graffiti. In some ways I was reminded of a South American city, the outskirts of Rome are filled with poverty, but then closer to the city this Miami (or what I imagine Miami might be like) feel came over me. The incredible part of Rome is the history. Ruins and intact buildings from thousands and thousands of years ago - making all myth feel real.
I wandered down to the Forum area after dropping my things off at the hostel. It wasn't really until I headed into the Colosseum on a guided tour that the beauty of the building hit. I found out where the word arena came from and who the first referees were. Everything can be linked back to Rome. It really is the beginning of life as we know it. The tour also included the Palatine Hills, which I hardly knew about until. The guide was bubbly, very close to being annoying, but very knowledgable. The knowledgable side won out so she will be remembered fondly. She poured water on the stones to show their true colours, told stories and hypothesized how she felt the history had evolved. After the tour I ended up just wandering for hours. I hit all the spots I wanted too - Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon were the highlights. The Trevi fountain really is beautiful. After only a few hours of sleep I was exhausted by 7pm. I went back to the hostel and climbed into bed, thinking that I should just have a really good sleep and wake up early the next morning. That didn't happen. It was then when Caitlin and Caitlin walked into my life! Two girls from the US, both doing a sememster abroad. They invited me to join them for some drinks and then a visit to the Spanish Steps. We had drinks in the hostel room - playing a very fun travel drinking game (using Caitlin's 'Let's Go Europe' travel guide). We met up with some others from the hostel and went down to the Spanish Steps. There we befriended some locals who were drinking wine from a glass jug (very Italian I thought) and playing guitar and drums. We joined them in singing and dancing and I guess you could say we did as the Romans! I went to bed a lot later than the 7pm that I initially thought.
I did manage to wake up early enough and managed to still make the most of my last day! I went to the Vatican City, deciding that I would see the Pope's address from the library window. I thought there would be more people there and I didn't want to miss it, so I figured that I would go inside after. That turned into the only mistake that I made all weekend - well, maybe not the only mistake - I did try and use the bus system. Did I tell you that rowdy bunches of boys (football fans? Wow, I wrote that without even thinking soccer... Oh dear, they are turning me...) were throwing eggs and kicking the buses? While they were moving, albeit very slowly... So I waited and waited and waited... Felt a little left out cause I didn't have banners or matching t-shirts like most people. Seeing the Pope was less than dramatic, at least for me. It did feel strange - cheering a man in this little window... I guess I just don't understand. I was impressed with the amount of languages that he could speak!
The rest of the day was spent wandering again. I didn't think that I would see everything I wanted, but I guess getting lost has its advantages! I would stumble onto the sites or Piazzas (I went to a lot of them!) that I had read about. I managed to be at the top of one of the Hills, in La Traverse area, for sunset. It was beautiful! I'm glad I did this on my own - boosted my confidence, allowed me to see the things I wanted to in such a short amount of time, and I met some new people! The flight home was one of the worst flights I've ever been on. I thought we were going to crash on the landing. But I made it safe and sound! I was glad to hold a UK passport, for as long as a line it was for the EU, it went really quickly with about 9 custom people. The non EU had 3. It must have taken them forever! It was a wonderful trip, and even though I'm not impressed with my photos, I'll remember it for always!
One last thing - yesterday Dave and I went to see 'Little Shop of Horrors' - what a fantastic performance! It was this tiny theatre off the West End - but the production was just so fun and they did such a good job!
Until next time! Missing you all...
Hiya
party. Ariana and I walked in and we were given the job of making chocolate balls, which required a little bit of guessing (the directions were in Swedish, and we were 2.5ing the recipe) and some dirty work. I did get to use my random Swedish; who knew that my knowledge of the Swedish word for oatmeal would ever be useful!) 
