Yoooooooooooooooooooo!!
So the LDS 2011 Conference in Buenos Aires has officially begun!
Woke early this morning and headed to the hotel which is in the country side. Made some doggy friends outside the hotel - I love dogs. They needed a mention.
We had a great presentation by ClickOn.com.ar about Leadership and Time Management. I really liked it - AND bonus - the presentation was in English.
Wait - did I forget to mention - this entire conference is in Spanish? See - I do appreciate this fact - but it will be MUCH more useful in a month from now when I understand more Spanish - cause right now all I hear is every 50th word - not useful for comprehension and participation. So I find myself daydreaming a lot.
BUT there are lots of dances and I can do those! And Ive had the opportunity to talk to a fair few people and I enjoy meeting them very much. It excites me for my year here :)
I do feel left out at times - but I know it is not anybodies fault but my own - I should of tried a lot harder to learn more Spanish prior to arrival. But - its ok - Gives me time to reflect on my ambitions and the challenges I have set for myself. I dont feel lost - I feel I can be successful - I just need to stay focused and really let everybody around me know I appreciate all their work accommodating me by speaking English, which might be hard for them, while I learn Spanish!
But I need to rush - its sum up the day time and then PARRTTTTTTTTTYYYYYYYY
Friday, May 13, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Arrival and Work Work Work
I have arrived!!! :D
Helllllllllllllllllllllllllllo Buenos Aires!!
I got off the airplane. I was well rested cause it is only 1 hour ahead here and I got about a 12 hour sleep on the plane (thank you GRAVEL) haha! Lais, my MCP, or boss for non-AIESEC'ers, was there with a Welcome sign!! :D Very very great to FINALLY meet here after months of speaking virtually and planning for my arrival! :D I gave Lais a Stuffed Moose in a Mountie outfit as a yay Canada gift :D haha
We came straight to my new office with ALL of my 50KG of luggage....yes I brought 50KG of clothes....Im cool eh???
The ENTIRE conference team was mid-meeting! So I joined in! And to distract them from me butting in mid-meeting I handed out Maple Creme Cookies! YUMMMMMMMMMMM!!! Then I got straight to work....We worked late into the night. Finally went to my new apartment where LOTS of people are staying currently.
Lais, Olivia, Oscar, and I, half of my new team, who are in BA (Buenos Aires) currently, had a "feelings" talk - and as we know, I am not much of a "feelings" person - so I struggled but it was nice to have private time with them to start creating our team dynamics!! :) I think it is a great start to a new amazing year!!
This morning I woke up early....7AM here...6AM EST....worked for about 1 hour but because nobody else was really up, I went back to bed....I realized Jetlag was hitting me so I got in 2 more hours of sleep. Yayyy....It should only take me a day or two more to be adjusted.
Today we are again preparing for the conference - LDS - Leadership Development Seminar - and I am SUUUUUUPER (what up Rochelle) excited to meet everybody in the region to start the year off Right! I completed all of my trainings (powerpoints) last week before my conference in Canada, but upon arrival yesterday I was informed that I would need to also create the trainings for the External Relations track since the person in charge has quit the conference team. Sooo Lots of work to complete in one day! But I KNOW I can I KNOW I can!! :D
Well I should go and work! I will update again soon on how to conference is going! It will be a LONG 4 days of excitement, learning, meeting, and drinking!!
Adios!!
Helllllllllllllllllllllllllllo Buenos Aires!!
I got off the airplane. I was well rested cause it is only 1 hour ahead here and I got about a 12 hour sleep on the plane (thank you GRAVEL) haha! Lais, my MCP, or boss for non-AIESEC'ers, was there with a Welcome sign!! :D Very very great to FINALLY meet here after months of speaking virtually and planning for my arrival! :D I gave Lais a Stuffed Moose in a Mountie outfit as a yay Canada gift :D haha
We came straight to my new office with ALL of my 50KG of luggage....yes I brought 50KG of clothes....Im cool eh???
The ENTIRE conference team was mid-meeting! So I joined in! And to distract them from me butting in mid-meeting I handed out Maple Creme Cookies! YUMMMMMMMMMMM!!! Then I got straight to work....We worked late into the night. Finally went to my new apartment where LOTS of people are staying currently.
Lais, Olivia, Oscar, and I, half of my new team, who are in BA (Buenos Aires) currently, had a "feelings" talk - and as we know, I am not much of a "feelings" person - so I struggled but it was nice to have private time with them to start creating our team dynamics!! :) I think it is a great start to a new amazing year!!
This morning I woke up early....7AM here...6AM EST....worked for about 1 hour but because nobody else was really up, I went back to bed....I realized Jetlag was hitting me so I got in 2 more hours of sleep. Yayyy....It should only take me a day or two more to be adjusted.
Today we are again preparing for the conference - LDS - Leadership Development Seminar - and I am SUUUUUUPER (what up Rochelle) excited to meet everybody in the region to start the year off Right! I completed all of my trainings (powerpoints) last week before my conference in Canada, but upon arrival yesterday I was informed that I would need to also create the trainings for the External Relations track since the person in charge has quit the conference team. Sooo Lots of work to complete in one day! But I KNOW I can I KNOW I can!! :D
Well I should go and work! I will update again soon on how to conference is going! It will be a LONG 4 days of excitement, learning, meeting, and drinking!!
Adios!!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
LEAVINGGGGGGG
Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again... :D
Bye Bye Canada! Hello Argentina! :D
I don't know when I'll be back again... :D
Bye Bye Canada! Hello Argentina! :D
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Buenos Aires!
So Moving to Buenos Aires. Why Buenos Aires? What makes it special??
Well - Its the Paris of South America! Its of predominantly Italian and German decent so lots of yummy pastas and olive oil! Yum Yum
I want to TANGO!!! I am going to learn Spanish and learn to Tango! oh la la!! Beautiful! This may prove difficult since I CANNOT dance! haha Two left feet - here I come!
Lets steal some descriptions!
"Mix together a beautiful European-like city with attractive residents (call them porteños), gourmet cuisine, awesome shopping, a frenzied nightlife and top-drawer activities, and you get Buenos Aires, a cosmopolitan metropolis with both slick neighborhoods and equally downtrodden areas – but that’s part of the appeal. It’s an elegant, seductive place with a ragged edge, laced with old-world languor and yet full of contemporary attitude. BA is somehow strangely familiar, but unlike any other city in the world." - Lonely Planet
Cant wait! Only 29 Days left til I arrive! :)
Well - Its the Paris of South America! Its of predominantly Italian and German decent so lots of yummy pastas and olive oil! Yum Yum
I want to TANGO!!! I am going to learn Spanish and learn to Tango! oh la la!! Beautiful! This may prove difficult since I CANNOT dance! haha Two left feet - here I come!
Lets steal some descriptions!
"Mix together a beautiful European-like city with attractive residents (call them porteños), gourmet cuisine, awesome shopping, a frenzied nightlife and top-drawer activities, and you get Buenos Aires, a cosmopolitan metropolis with both slick neighborhoods and equally downtrodden areas – but that’s part of the appeal. It’s an elegant, seductive place with a ragged edge, laced with old-world languor and yet full of contemporary attitude. BA is somehow strangely familiar, but unlike any other city in the world." - Lonely Planet
Cant wait! Only 29 Days left til I arrive! :)
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Argentina, Chile, y Uruguay allá voy!
Argentina, Chile, y Uruguay allá voy!
You are looking at the new Member Committee Vice President of Incoming Exchange for AIESEC Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay)! Yay me!
May 10th - I am officially moving to Argentina! Buenos Aires to be Precise! (Or Santiago, Chile – I’ll spend 6 months Buenos Aires, 6 Months Santiago – most likely) (But I am flying to Buenos Aires!)
So - Tengo que aprender a hablar español! I must learn to speak Spanish!
Flight Details:
Tue 10-May 2011
AC467 Ottawa, Ottawa Int'l (YOW) - Toronto, Pearson Int'l (YYZ)
20:00 - 20:59
AC092 Toronto, Pearson Int'l (YYZ)- Buenos Aires, Ministro Pistarini (EZE)
22:55-13:35 (Wed 11-May 2011)
Argentina Info:
Official Name: Argentine Republic; Spanish "Republica Argentina"
Capital: Buenos Aires (Capital Federal)
Neighbouring countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay Uruguay, and Chile.
Language: Spanish
Population: 40 Million
Religion: Roman Catholic
Time Zone: UTC -3
Currency: Peso ($) (3ARS = 1CDN)
Weather:
Random Facts:
•The name Argentina derives from argentum, the Latin word for silver, which is what early Spanish explorers sought when they first reached the region in the sixteenth century.
•Argentina is the second-largest country in South America, and the eighth-largest in the world.
•The highest and the lowest points of South America are also located in Argentina: At 6,960m, Cerro Aconcagua is the tallest mountain in the Americas while Salinas Chicas, at 40m below sea level, is the lowest point in South America.
•Argentina and Uruguay are the top 2 countries in meat per capita consumption in the world. And Argentina is the 3rd biggest producer of beef in the world.
•Argentina is one of the leading producers of wines ever since the 16th century and has approximately 1800 wineries currently.
•The Iguazu Falls of Argentina are even higher than the world-famous Niagara Falls.
•The popular dance form ‘Tango’ belongs to Argentina
Job Facts:
MISSION
MCVP ICX is final responsible for ensuring an increasing amount and quality of incoming exchanges in the region.
FUCNTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
ICX
-Creation and communication of the ICX Regional Plan
-Exchange data provider: tracking and pool analysis at regional and local level
-Quality Measurement System
-Pool Equilibrium
-Exchange Pipeline Management
-International Co operations
Sales
-Regional Market Research & Segmentation
-Product Development and Product Strategy based
-Development of Regional Sales Strategy for TN Takers
General
-Education and coaching to LCVPs
-LCVPs Operations Tracking
-Budget tracking together with MCVP F&L and MCVP ER
Argentina Here I Come!
You are looking at the new Member Committee Vice President of Incoming Exchange for AIESEC Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay)! Yay me!
May 10th - I am officially moving to Argentina! Buenos Aires to be Precise! (Or Santiago, Chile – I’ll spend 6 months Buenos Aires, 6 Months Santiago – most likely) (But I am flying to Buenos Aires!)
So - Tengo que aprender a hablar español! I must learn to speak Spanish!
Flight Details:
Tue 10-May 2011
AC467 Ottawa, Ottawa Int'l (YOW) - Toronto, Pearson Int'l (YYZ)
20:00 - 20:59
AC092 Toronto, Pearson Int'l (YYZ)- Buenos Aires, Ministro Pistarini (EZE)
22:55-13:35 (Wed 11-May 2011)
Argentina Info:
Official Name: Argentine Republic; Spanish "Republica Argentina"
Capital: Buenos Aires (Capital Federal)
Neighbouring countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay Uruguay, and Chile.
Language: Spanish
Population: 40 Million
Religion: Roman Catholic
Time Zone: UTC -3
Currency: Peso ($) (3ARS = 1CDN)
Weather:
Random Facts:
•The name Argentina derives from argentum, the Latin word for silver, which is what early Spanish explorers sought when they first reached the region in the sixteenth century.
•Argentina is the second-largest country in South America, and the eighth-largest in the world.
•The highest and the lowest points of South America are also located in Argentina: At 6,960m, Cerro Aconcagua is the tallest mountain in the Americas while Salinas Chicas, at 40m below sea level, is the lowest point in South America.
•Argentina and Uruguay are the top 2 countries in meat per capita consumption in the world. And Argentina is the 3rd biggest producer of beef in the world.
•Argentina is one of the leading producers of wines ever since the 16th century and has approximately 1800 wineries currently.
•The Iguazu Falls of Argentina are even higher than the world-famous Niagara Falls.
•The popular dance form ‘Tango’ belongs to Argentina
Job Facts:
MISSION
MCVP ICX is final responsible for ensuring an increasing amount and quality of incoming exchanges in the region.
FUCNTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
ICX
-Creation and communication of the ICX Regional Plan
-Exchange data provider: tracking and pool analysis at regional and local level
-Quality Measurement System
-Pool Equilibrium
-Exchange Pipeline Management
-International Co operations
Sales
-Regional Market Research & Segmentation
-Product Development and Product Strategy based
-Development of Regional Sales Strategy for TN Takers
General
-Education and coaching to LCVPs
-LCVPs Operations Tracking
-Budget tracking together with MCVP F&L and MCVP ER
Argentina Here I Come!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Im on Taiwanese Television!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Ireland! Erin Go Bragh!
Off to Ireland the Land of Saints and Scholars!
First I headed to Cork, Ireland to visit my Long Missed favourite Megan! She is studying in Cork for the semester.
History:
Cork has a reputation for rebelliousness dating back to the town's support of the English Pretender Perkin Warbeck in 1491 following the Wars of the Roses. As a result, County Cork has earned the nickname of "the Rebel County", while Corkonians often refer to the city as the "real capital of Ireland", and themselves as the "Rebels".
University College Cork is one of the most BEAUTIFUL campuses I have EVER laid eyes on. And the City of Cork is so CHARMING. With its many bridges and rivers, and all the adorable houses. Cork is a City for Living Life casually. :)
Went out for drinks at a pub the first night and watched traditional Irish Singers. What cheerful songs. Some people danced, we all clapped and cheered. Bulmers. Mm.
Since it was Halloween over the weekend and all the Uni kids return home for it, to celebrate together in Cork, they had Halloween parties on Thursday night. I forgot to bring my costume and I didnt want to purchase an expensive costume since I had NO room to pack anything (Only Carry on Luggage for me!) I purchased a Childrens Monkey Costume! :D Fit like a glove and I felt like a star. haha :D People kept touching my Monkey though. Tsk.
Heading to Dublin. Getting Lost. We can just walk to our Hostel right? yeah its 5 minutes that way. We walk 5 minutes. How far to this hostel? 10 Minutes that way? What? But weve already walked 5!!! This went on for about 2 hours. Turns out it was REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY far away! haha We landed eventually. Thank goodness our flight landed so early! Then we went sight seeing via City Tour Busses! Sit on a bus. They explain the sights. Hop On Hop Off as you please. We hopped off at one stop only- The Guinness Storehouse! :D We did the tour of the entire factory which was amazing to experience then I bought a Shirt: Every Girl Deserves a Little Black Drink. :D Back home we go for some dinner and a quiet night in!
Saturday we book a tour to see the Northern part of Ireland! Hop on the Paddywagon tour just Megan, 2 Venezuelans, myself, and our cute Driver Boy named Collum! Off we go! It took about 3 hours to drive up before we got to stop and see some sights but the entire way Collum talked about Irish history and made jokes and generally kept me entertained.....since the Venezuelans did not understand his accent and Megan was asleep. haha. We made it up and Boy is the Coast of Ireland spectacular! Rock Cliffs and the Giants Causeway! Walked around Derry and was warned it was VERY dangerous. haha Great! Then we purchased MORE halloween costumes - I was Cinderella and Megan a Leprechaun - see the irony! - cause we were headed out for a night of HALLOWEEN fun Dublin Style! :D We caught up with a pub crawl who was primarily Canadians and wandered around Dublin drinking from Pub to Pub. We didnt drink TOO excessively seeing as we had an EARLY flight but we drank enough!
Back to Cork we go! I then did the Cork City tour hop on hop off by myself cause Meg had class and headed up to Blarney Castle to kiss the stone.
"There is a Stone that Whoever Kisses, Oh! He never Misses to Grow Eloquent 'Tis he may Clamber to a Lady's Chamber, Or become a Member of Parliamnet" - Francis Sylvester Mahony
Erin Go Bragh!
First I headed to Cork, Ireland to visit my Long Missed favourite Megan! She is studying in Cork for the semester.
History:
Cork has a reputation for rebelliousness dating back to the town's support of the English Pretender Perkin Warbeck in 1491 following the Wars of the Roses. As a result, County Cork has earned the nickname of "the Rebel County", while Corkonians often refer to the city as the "real capital of Ireland", and themselves as the "Rebels".
University College Cork is one of the most BEAUTIFUL campuses I have EVER laid eyes on. And the City of Cork is so CHARMING. With its many bridges and rivers, and all the adorable houses. Cork is a City for Living Life casually. :)
Went out for drinks at a pub the first night and watched traditional Irish Singers. What cheerful songs. Some people danced, we all clapped and cheered. Bulmers. Mm.
Since it was Halloween over the weekend and all the Uni kids return home for it, to celebrate together in Cork, they had Halloween parties on Thursday night. I forgot to bring my costume and I didnt want to purchase an expensive costume since I had NO room to pack anything (Only Carry on Luggage for me!) I purchased a Childrens Monkey Costume! :D Fit like a glove and I felt like a star. haha :D People kept touching my Monkey though. Tsk.
Heading to Dublin. Getting Lost. We can just walk to our Hostel right? yeah its 5 minutes that way. We walk 5 minutes. How far to this hostel? 10 Minutes that way? What? But weve already walked 5!!! This went on for about 2 hours. Turns out it was REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY far away! haha We landed eventually. Thank goodness our flight landed so early! Then we went sight seeing via City Tour Busses! Sit on a bus. They explain the sights. Hop On Hop Off as you please. We hopped off at one stop only- The Guinness Storehouse! :D We did the tour of the entire factory which was amazing to experience then I bought a Shirt: Every Girl Deserves a Little Black Drink. :D Back home we go for some dinner and a quiet night in!
Saturday we book a tour to see the Northern part of Ireland! Hop on the Paddywagon tour just Megan, 2 Venezuelans, myself, and our cute Driver Boy named Collum! Off we go! It took about 3 hours to drive up before we got to stop and see some sights but the entire way Collum talked about Irish history and made jokes and generally kept me entertained.....since the Venezuelans did not understand his accent and Megan was asleep. haha. We made it up and Boy is the Coast of Ireland spectacular! Rock Cliffs and the Giants Causeway! Walked around Derry and was warned it was VERY dangerous. haha Great! Then we purchased MORE halloween costumes - I was Cinderella and Megan a Leprechaun - see the irony! - cause we were headed out for a night of HALLOWEEN fun Dublin Style! :D We caught up with a pub crawl who was primarily Canadians and wandered around Dublin drinking from Pub to Pub. We didnt drink TOO excessively seeing as we had an EARLY flight but we drank enough!
Back to Cork we go! I then did the Cork City tour hop on hop off by myself cause Meg had class and headed up to Blarney Castle to kiss the stone.
"There is a Stone that Whoever Kisses, Oh! He never Misses to Grow Eloquent 'Tis he may Clamber to a Lady's Chamber, Or become a Member of Parliamnet" - Francis Sylvester Mahony
Erin Go Bragh!
London What a Rush!
Busy busy Bee!
Flights:
Air Canada AC888 Ottawa-London 18:40-06:25
Aer Lingus EI711 London-Cork 09:30-10:50
Ryan Air RA9842 Cork-Dublin 07:30-08:20
Ryan Air RA9843 Dublin-Cork 07:55-08:45
Aer Lingus EI710 Cork-London 07:30-09:00
Air Canada AC889 London-Ottawa 12:05-15:55
So when you catch at flight at 6:40PM overnight to London and forget to check the time change and only looked at the London Arrival time....One does NOT think to attempt to fall asleep immediately upon getting to my seat. Well turns out 06:25 London time is 02:25 Ottawa time! YIKES! So I slept for the last 1 hour of my flight and prior to this I laughed my way through Despicable Me and various other shows.
Arrival in Heathrow....What a CONFUSING building...You just keep going and going and around and around haha then waited in line for Border Control for about.....2 hours. Not bad not bad. Then I went to the Tube. Look at me speaking British. Tube. Haha. So purchased my Handy Oyster card which allows you to ride any public transport and you pre-pay so you never have to search for change! Great! Then off I went to London Bridge Station to arrive at my Hostel. Too bad the Jubilee Line was down for construction this fine London Sunday and Chrystal had to re-route herself taking about a 1/2 Hr detour. Thats ok - I'm high on excitement!
Arrive at my hostel - St.Christopher's Village - Nice cozy little place with a great atmosphere - I head out immediately and do the sights - I hit up London Bridge and walk along the river to pass Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Millennium Bridge, The London eye, Westminster Abbey, Big Ol Benny Boy! I then meet up with another Canadian girl and we head to Oxford street for some quality shopping time! :D She was in search of wellies....I found a stunning pair of Office Heels. Im in Love.
I barely made it to 6PM - my lack of sleep was catching up to me - so I got into bed for a full nights sleep - I figured I would self-wake round 6AM....12 hrs thats enough.....Well I wake up in a start, look at my watch, its 9:30! HOW DID I SLEEP THAT LONG?!?!?!? So I rush up, shower, get all ready, walk downstairs, look out the glass front of the Hostel....and its quite dark....Maybe its just a really cloudy day? It is London?....Look around confuzzeled....Talk to a man behind the counter....Excuse me, How do I get to Buckingham Palace?.....At This Hour? You won't be able to see much......At this hour? What do you mean? Isn't it 9:30AM?......uhh- No It is 9:30PM Sunday, not Monday......WHAT?!?!??!!?!?!?..... hahah So apparently I had only slept for 3 hours instead of the 15 I thought I had. Excellent. now What?? I bought myself a chocolate croissant, ate it, and went RIGHT back to sleep. But alas.....I DID over sleep and woke at 9:30AM Monday....hahha Damn.
So What to do what to do - Its London - MORE SHOPPING OF COURSE! haha Heading back to Oxford street to shop a few stores I hadn't entered the day before. and Bought....SOOOO many pretty things at Primarks - which is a cheap department store that I now love. Its like Britan's Walmart. What a place. hahah. Then After, I went to Piccadilly Square, and Trafalgar Square, Convent Gardens....Then Went home cause I had myself some tickets for Broadway - WICKED!! ahhhhhhhh!! What an AMAZING treat to myself! I went all alone...and because I was a single ticket My seat was 34D...... DEAD CENTRE THREE ROWS BEHIND THE ORCHESTRA! I laughed, I cried, I sang along, and I havent been so Happy in a long time! Great Night.
Tuesday! You figure I would of learned after not setting my alarm and sleeping in on Monday to set an alarm for Tuesday...but Nope...I figured I would just wake up....apparently I dont because Jetlag hit me harder then I thought it would! So I slept in and MISSED the changing of the guard at Buckingham palace! Sad. But I still got to see a few guards marching around! So Instead, since I didnt get to watch the Queen's Guards I decided to Meet my Queen Elizabeth II.....in wax form! I headed to Madam Tussaud's. Waited in the rain for 3 hours to spend the rest of the afternoon wander around FANTASTIC wax figures! I met: Brangelina, Will Smith, Morgan Freeman, Russal brand, The Beatles, Bob marley, David Beckham, Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Shrek, Spidey, my Husbans Prince William and Harry, and of course....the Fabulous Queen Elizabeth II. What a day! :D
Then in the evening - My British friend Jay whom I met in Chiang Mai Thailand who is now in New Zealand - introduced me to (via facebook) his bestie Alex and told us that we should meet up while I was in London. We met at Convent Gardens and went for Asian Fusion food. What a great guy! Made me laugh and was incredibly easy to talk to for somebody I just met! Friends of Friends - always fun! :D Then he convinced me to go see Paranormal Activity 2. I screamed like the little girl I am and almost wet myself more than once. hahah but all in all a great night spent with a new good friend. But of course....I get back to the Hostel room which is 20 beds....and the girl in the next bed starts making the CREEPIEST sounds EVER and Im terrified and Cannot sleep. But that is good since It was past midnight and I had to wake for 4AM to catch my Plane to Cork, Ireland on tiem. I also slept fully dressed because it was pitch black in the room and I didnt want to bother anybody. Also convenient if creepy noise girl next to me decided to attack me. hahah :D
and Off to Ireland I go!
Flights:
Air Canada AC888 Ottawa-London 18:40-06:25
Aer Lingus EI711 London-Cork 09:30-10:50
Ryan Air RA9842 Cork-Dublin 07:30-08:20
Ryan Air RA9843 Dublin-Cork 07:55-08:45
Aer Lingus EI710 Cork-London 07:30-09:00
Air Canada AC889 London-Ottawa 12:05-15:55
So when you catch at flight at 6:40PM overnight to London and forget to check the time change and only looked at the London Arrival time....One does NOT think to attempt to fall asleep immediately upon getting to my seat. Well turns out 06:25 London time is 02:25 Ottawa time! YIKES! So I slept for the last 1 hour of my flight and prior to this I laughed my way through Despicable Me and various other shows.
Arrival in Heathrow....What a CONFUSING building...You just keep going and going and around and around haha then waited in line for Border Control for about.....2 hours. Not bad not bad. Then I went to the Tube. Look at me speaking British. Tube. Haha. So purchased my Handy Oyster card which allows you to ride any public transport and you pre-pay so you never have to search for change! Great! Then off I went to London Bridge Station to arrive at my Hostel. Too bad the Jubilee Line was down for construction this fine London Sunday and Chrystal had to re-route herself taking about a 1/2 Hr detour. Thats ok - I'm high on excitement!
Arrive at my hostel - St.Christopher's Village - Nice cozy little place with a great atmosphere - I head out immediately and do the sights - I hit up London Bridge and walk along the river to pass Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Millennium Bridge, The London eye, Westminster Abbey, Big Ol Benny Boy! I then meet up with another Canadian girl and we head to Oxford street for some quality shopping time! :D She was in search of wellies....I found a stunning pair of Office Heels. Im in Love.
I barely made it to 6PM - my lack of sleep was catching up to me - so I got into bed for a full nights sleep - I figured I would self-wake round 6AM....12 hrs thats enough.....Well I wake up in a start, look at my watch, its 9:30! HOW DID I SLEEP THAT LONG?!?!?!? So I rush up, shower, get all ready, walk downstairs, look out the glass front of the Hostel....and its quite dark....Maybe its just a really cloudy day? It is London?....Look around confuzzeled....Talk to a man behind the counter....Excuse me, How do I get to Buckingham Palace?.....At This Hour? You won't be able to see much......At this hour? What do you mean? Isn't it 9:30AM?......uhh- No It is 9:30PM Sunday, not Monday......WHAT?!?!??!!?!?!?..... hahah So apparently I had only slept for 3 hours instead of the 15 I thought I had. Excellent. now What?? I bought myself a chocolate croissant, ate it, and went RIGHT back to sleep. But alas.....I DID over sleep and woke at 9:30AM Monday....hahha Damn.
So What to do what to do - Its London - MORE SHOPPING OF COURSE! haha Heading back to Oxford street to shop a few stores I hadn't entered the day before. and Bought....SOOOO many pretty things at Primarks - which is a cheap department store that I now love. Its like Britan's Walmart. What a place. hahah. Then After, I went to Piccadilly Square, and Trafalgar Square, Convent Gardens....Then Went home cause I had myself some tickets for Broadway - WICKED!! ahhhhhhhh!! What an AMAZING treat to myself! I went all alone...and because I was a single ticket My seat was 34D...... DEAD CENTRE THREE ROWS BEHIND THE ORCHESTRA! I laughed, I cried, I sang along, and I havent been so Happy in a long time! Great Night.
Tuesday! You figure I would of learned after not setting my alarm and sleeping in on Monday to set an alarm for Tuesday...but Nope...I figured I would just wake up....apparently I dont because Jetlag hit me harder then I thought it would! So I slept in and MISSED the changing of the guard at Buckingham palace! Sad. But I still got to see a few guards marching around! So Instead, since I didnt get to watch the Queen's Guards I decided to Meet my Queen Elizabeth II.....in wax form! I headed to Madam Tussaud's. Waited in the rain for 3 hours to spend the rest of the afternoon wander around FANTASTIC wax figures! I met: Brangelina, Will Smith, Morgan Freeman, Russal brand, The Beatles, Bob marley, David Beckham, Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Shrek, Spidey, my Husbans Prince William and Harry, and of course....the Fabulous Queen Elizabeth II. What a day! :D
Then in the evening - My British friend Jay whom I met in Chiang Mai Thailand who is now in New Zealand - introduced me to (via facebook) his bestie Alex and told us that we should meet up while I was in London. We met at Convent Gardens and went for Asian Fusion food. What a great guy! Made me laugh and was incredibly easy to talk to for somebody I just met! Friends of Friends - always fun! :D Then he convinced me to go see Paranormal Activity 2. I screamed like the little girl I am and almost wet myself more than once. hahah but all in all a great night spent with a new good friend. But of course....I get back to the Hostel room which is 20 beds....and the girl in the next bed starts making the CREEPIEST sounds EVER and Im terrified and Cannot sleep. But that is good since It was past midnight and I had to wake for 4AM to catch my Plane to Cork, Ireland on tiem. I also slept fully dressed because it was pitch black in the room and I didnt want to bother anybody. Also convenient if creepy noise girl next to me decided to attack me. hahah :D
and Off to Ireland I go!
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