Hoover. Flu jab. Vest. Trousers.

Hoover (n.)- Vacuum.
Flu jab (n.)- Flu shot.
Vest (n.)- A "vest" is not a sleeveless sweater-y article of clothing/fancy waistcoat here... a "vest" is an undershirt.  Or a bro tank, if you will.  Or a tank top. It gets confusing, especially when talking about...
Trousers (n.)- Trousers are pants.  Pants are underwear.  Everything is topsy-turvy.

I can't believe I just said topsy-turvy.  

I'm avoiding writing my 1,000 word essay for my Shakespeare class.  I'm being absurd.  I've been avoiding it, having comfort in the fact that I can write a 1,000 word essay in my sleep, especially on anything that has to do with my man, Bill Shakey.  Yes, we are on nickname basis.  Anywho, I suppose I should start... I have a simply marvelous heading and title.  I'm acutely distracted by the high-ceilinged (Is that a word? It looks so strange) slightly gothic-styled library, overwhelmingly surrounded by shelves of books, books, and more books.  Mission:  Explore the restricted section and discover a book focusing on Nicholas Flamel.  Heeh.

Okay, I need to get out of here (here, meaning cyberspace).  

Au revoir!

Wellies.

Wellies (n.)- Short for Wellington(s).  Wellies are rain boots, and apparently, calling rain boots "rain boots" is an absurd notion to anyone British.

Here are some pictures.  Just because.

Captain Hilary, navigating on a lion (that I am definitely not supposed to be on).

Some truly lovely people, WAC4life.

The Eye.

Close up of Big Ben.

Proper.

Invasion of WAC!

There are probably between ten and fifteen WAC kids on the Royal Holloway campus, including the ones that already go here.  It is glorious! Students already studying abroad (one from Copenhagen, one from Cork, and one from Madrid) as well as students from the lovely state of Maryland (WAC has fall break right now) made the trek to good ol' Egham for the next few days.  Last night, we went to a place called Club Liquid in Windsor, a few towns over.  There was a bus that left from Founder's at 11:00 (it came at 11:30, which frankly increased anticipation and excitement) and returned at 3:00.  It was a LONG night, but S-Club 7 performed!  Unfortunately, it was S Club 3 (not too sure where the other four went), but it was still a grand time.  I decided that my Hello Kitty dress should make an appearance... it was quite the sight.  

I believe the plan is to go into London with the whole gang tomorrow night... that should be a wild time.  As for now, I have to read a significant amount (of Shakespeare and Medieval Epics) before I let myself have fun, haha.  As for now, cheers!

I still don't know if I use "cheers" correctly.  Oh, well!  

Massive.

It is October 11th, almost a whole month abroad already!  I cannot believe it.  My 21st birthday only nine days away, which means PARIS is only nine days away.  I'm already bracing myself for that weekend... it. Will. Be. A. TIME.



Before I continue with this blog post, I should probably explain what the post titles mean.  The post titles have nothing to do with the content; they are British slang/commonly used words that I have noticed are popular.  


Speaking of things I have noticed, here are some things I have noticed (Ha. Ha.) :


1.  Apparently, men wearing short shorts are a thing.  That took some getting used to.

2.  People work out in polo shirts.

3.  People work out in track swishy pants (I don't know how else to describe them other than the word "swishy"). 

4.  What you wear says a LOT about you.

5.  People in London are beautiful and intimidating and tall and thin.  Made me wildly self conscious.

6.  Americans are LOUD.

7.  There are different British accents, depending on whether a person if from the North, or the South, or London, or wherever.  So many different British accents.  And apparently my impersonation of a British accent is absolutely terrible.

8.  I think I scare most people with my loudness/outgoingness.  Oops?

9.  Everyone has a sense of style.  It's amazing.


Classes started October 1st, so for the first week on campus there were events and socials and whatnot. Here, they call it 'Fresher's Week.'  It was fantastic.  I've been hanging out with Washington College people (from now on I'll use the more affectionate term, WAC) primarily, but we made a fair amount of English fresher friends.  The hardest thing is making friends my age... the students who live on campus are freshers (17-18 year old kids).  I've been called "quite old" on numerous occasions.  HA.  I mean, I am almost 21, so it's just downhill from there...

Quite.

(I wrote this in a word document on September 25th).

Tour guide from Connolly farms... also my future husband.

I'm ashamed of myself that it took this long to finally write about my European endeavors thus far.  I honestly don't even know where to begin!
Right now, I am currently sitting in my dorm room, my temporary home for the next few months.  I live in 311 West Founder's... arguably a distant cousin of the Hogwarts building.  The building and grounds are breathtakingly beautiful; the architecture intricate and of a different world.  This is not knocking dear ol' Washington College at all, but the word "old" here has a strikingly different connotation.
Anyway.

The colorful doors of Dublin!

After staying in London for a few days (sightseeing a bit, drinking tea, ironically hanging out with more Americans), we left for Dublin on a RyanAir flight.  We stayed at the Abraham House (hostel) on Lower Gardiner Street, a walk away from anything worth while to do in Dublin.  I loved Dublin.  Six days and five nights might have been a tad excessive, but regardless, Macauley and I had such a memorable time.  We attempted frugality (as only college kids can), but did not sacrifice the Irish experience (translation: we ate dinners in Quizno's and hung out in pubs all night).  Since I'm not 21 yet, the whole "bar scene" is quite foreign to me.  I don't know how to casually strike up conversations with strangers (One would think that wouldn't be a problem for me, judging by my loud personality) in that setting, so the first few nights in the pubs we were observers more than anything else.  We noticed that we continually attracted middle aged men/couples, and met some fantastically nice people.  After a few nights out, we decided we refused to enter an establishment void of traditional Irish music, and eventually grew accustomed to the pub ways.  One particular night, we ran into everyone sleeping in our hostel room -- two other Americans and three Germans.  Serendipity!  The levels of English-speaking skills varied among the Germans, but we communicated through the language of DANCE!  Such a great night. 
One day, in the middle of the week, we decided to go to western Ireland to see the Cliffs of Moher on a tour.  I was told by authentic Irishmen that western Ireland was the "real" Ireland; I had to go there for the proper Irish experience.  We lucked out.  Sometimes, due to inclement weather, the Cliffs of Moher are impossible to see.  However, we had a clear enough day to behold the Cliffs of Moher in all its glory.  It was simply marvelous.  
I had to keep reminding myself... eventually, I would have to think and use my brain at Holloway.  So, waving goodbye to Dublin was equally a hello to academics once again.  I love the summertime, but I missed going to class.  I'm sure I'll eat my words soon, BUT!  Regardless, excitement squeezes my insides.  Here's to Holloway!  

Wild hair (oh, and the Cliffs of Moher).

Also I have no idea how to position the pictures, so it looks like there's no rhyme nor reason.  I think it gives the blog character.