Library Card.

I went to the library today. Got a library card. I can check out books on my own...it was Harry Potter :)

Also, there is a machine that I can use to actually check it out myself w/o using a librarian. so chill.

Jack The Ripper

You were a mystery.

I took your tour today. You killed a lot of people. I want to commend you for never being caught...you were very sly in what you did.

It's people like you who make me love the gruesomeness of death/murder.

Just wondering about your symbolism and what/why you murdered all of those prostitutes.

I wish I could just meet you...and ask you why...and your meanings...and etc....

wow. that was morbid.

The East End (Assignment #2)

So, Matt, Ashley and I decided to travel to the East End. The main interest for me was the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, where the Liberty Bell was cast.

The passage their lead through the Indian/Pakistani shops...mainly barbers and restaurants. It was odd, because the places that we walked through were really sketchy...yet the restaurants that we saw were rather ritzy...

Here are examples to help you realize what the path sketch factor was like:

 Also, the food smelled delicious...but this was no time to stop and eat. I WAS ON A MISSION!







We got there and it was marvelous....in a petite sort of way.
The parts that weren't gift shops were very small and limited.

Yet, one of my favorite parts was the diorama
 of how bells were cast. It was quite interesting. Apparently they have to make sure they are carved out completely even after using a mold to make them.

I didn't get a lot of pictures because a good portion of the Bell Foundry was information and a lot of it wasn't for public view...which is rather depressing.

But just being in a place where American iconography was produced while in a foreign country was quite cool.

Family, Children, Marriage and Religion. (Assignment #7)

So, as instructed for my British Experience class, I needed to interview some people about the family situation here in the UK.

As Matt and I were walking through St. James Park looking for our 'victims'.

I found a small family in the child's playground area of the park. So, I stopped and asked them for their opinions.

I asked them about their children's schooling.They told me that their children, being 5 and 7, are both in school.

I informed them about No Child Left Behind and then asked if they had anything like that here in the UK. They replied saying that they have a program known as Every Child Matters. Instead of the school losing funding due to low test scores, the school receives additional funding in order to correct the problem of low test scores. It also focuses more on the individual student rather than the class.

We then went on to talk about the schooling systems and how their children ask about the family system and what not...

Maybe too quick...

Today was rather an adventurous day...I guess.

I was woken up by my favorite neighbor Matt....at 3:15 pm. I was not happy. I wanted to sleep more...but I guess I had enough sleep. So, I decided that I would do a little grocery shopping. I went back to Brixton. I guess I was too fast to judge it. I got some amazingly giant grapes from one of the fruit stands for about £1 and 6 seedless oranges for the same price. I then walked further into the stands and found a fabric shop on the side. It was rather awkward having the owner follow me around...its like there never has been a male within a fabric store before.

Anyways, I got back and made a pizza that I had bought...

Talked with some fierce chicks in the kitchen...

We talked about how we are starting to hate our wardrobes due to the fact that we have a limited selection of clothes to choose from. This is a big change for me...because if any of you have realized....I have a large variety of clothes. However, my mom is sending me a shirt or two....I should have her send my see-through trenchcoat....I miss it dearly....and my platform boots....i can't wait to slip those babies on when I get home.

Almost a month has passed since I have arrived. I shall write a special blog reflecting and stuff....so yeah....

The Sun is Down, It's Getting So Dark.

So, tonight/this morning, I took a walk. Just my camera and I. My destination...somewhere with lights.

I ended up walking towards Big Ben and The Eye of London.

One thing that still fascinates me if the clock tower that Big Ben is in. Many people actually refer to Big Ben as the clock tower...actually the tower is part of the Palace of West Minster and the bell inside the clock tower is Big Ben.

The base lights were off when I went...yet...it was just so beautiful without that baselight because the moonlight illuminates the base. I sadly couldn't get the clockface to show properly in my photo...but that doesn't matter to me..it's still gorgeous in person.

The other part of my journey was spent on taking pictures of the Eye of London. The Eye of London is a giant ferris wheel. It is the largest ferris wheel in Europe. It is quite gorgeous in person...so I had to add it to my collection of photos. (it's actually called the London Eye...but Eye of London sounds classier to me.)

The color blue that radiates off of the ferris is just as breathtaking as the clocktower is. These two things inspire me just simply because of their man made beauty and how the resonate in the night.

I hopefully will be riding on the London Eye....I believe it is a group activity in the near future....God be with me.

Lamb.

So, I had lamb again tonight.

I actually quite like it.

We had our first Family Meal tonight. Basically everyone in the program comes together for a dinner that is paid for by the program.

We had Shepard's Pie and Bread Pudding.

I am in love.

The lamb tasted much like hamburger.

It was nice.

Also, I had M&Ms from here at the theatre last night. They were the only good thing about the play we saw. Anyways...the M&Ms have more chocolate in them.

In a week, we will be here for a month. It doesn't feel like it has been a month though. I love it here so far.  Life is expensive though. shit. I assume with groceries and the tube tickets, its about $100.00 a week. However, We don't buy food in bulk and cars are kinda useless. A lot of people have them...its just better to use the tube and walk...so yeah...but i love it here sooooo much