There's no place like home, there's no place like home...

Sadly, clicking my "trainers" together and repeating this phrase over and over again is only causing more people to stare at me whilst chilling in the Minneapolis airport. I'm just worried this place is going to try to take me hostage again!

I have made it through most of my journey with little to no incident so that's a step in the right direction but apparently I've developed a new habit of leaving things I like on planes. :( Poor Nalgene has been left behind. Delta is going to have to start up a charity fund with all the cool colorful things I leave for them! Oh well, if a sacrifice must be made to insure safe travel- then it might as well be little Nalg and not my Snooky.

I'm not sure if my brain has figured out the time switch again- today is beginning to feel VEEERRRRY long. Hopefully, I can still get started tomorrow nice and early to head out for ole' float trip! I discovered on our travels together across the pond that people from other states are not as familiar with this grand tradition. I just assumed everyone did this in the summer time. A float trip- for those who have not partaken, is basically an excuse to go camping for the weekend but mostly spend your time cruising in a little boat down a river. Please note: there is no hurry, no paddling, and basically no need to do much else besides drink. :) Sometimes the rivers get pretty busy and so there will be large gatherings of floating parties.

Yep, pretty classy gal this girl is. London one weekend, Paris the next, and southern Missouri river the next! Such the adventurous traveler!

Until next time friends~

The Photos

There were many photos taken on this trip- that's putting it mildly, at last count I think I had almost 1,800! I guess that's what happens when you take at least a hundred or more every day. I have to say it will be odd to go a day without taking a picture.

Here is just a sampling of my photos- mostly the ones I liked best. You've probably seen them on Facebook and of course here in my blog. I've now rounded them all up together. Enjoy!

http://www5.snapfish.co.uk/snapfishuk/projectshareewelcome/l=12006200014/p=24331312416277243/g=123557970/cobrandOid=1007/COBRAND_NAME=snapfishuk/otsc=SYE/otsi=SPBKlink/

Taken by tea

As we complete our final day here in London, I can tell already that my renewed love of tea will be a habit I will bring back with me. Now if we only had electric kettles... :)

We wrapped up our royalty tour at Buckingham Palace, which is truly a magnificent place but the best part of today was saying our "Until next times," (no good byes, too sad) to new friends, old friends, and good ole' London Town too. Dr. Everhart handed out awards to all of us in the spirit of "Person most likely to..." or just "Most..." Some of the better ones were, "Best dressed", "Most likely to end up as a can can dancer at the Moulin Rouge" "Most likely to open a British Pub" "Best event planner" "Most likely to go into business as a scone baker" and of course the one that wen to yours truly, "Most Playful Group Member" :) I think my adventures on the high seas and fighting alligators won me that one!

Since today was my last night and it was also Alice's birthday, I went on back to Horsham for one last trip to see my English family. We enjoyed a lovely Chinese take-out dinner in the garden drinking Pimms and chatting up for a few hours. They will always be the part I miss the most. I will try to stay in touch with them and will always think of them as family.

So now that non good-byes are taken care of and my last load of laundry is in the wash, now comes the part where I very much need to sleep but simply can't turn my brain off long enough to do so. :) There is still so much to do in the morning, packing to be done, and of course the long travel back home. Sleep is much too far away.

Lifestyles of the rich and famous...

Henry VII and Hampton Court Palace- another beautiful day walking in the footsteps of royalties of past. Immediately upon arrival, the sense of awesomeness sets in. The grandeur and impressiveness of the palace is still holding after all these years. If you look carefully, you can still envision Henry walking through the main courtyard or through the gardens. You can still hear the sounds of everyone rushing around trying to win the favor of the king and to please him while he entertains guests.

We are beginning to wind down our travels but we are still going out in style. I hope we can all hold out a little bit longer though- about half of us seem to be dropping off. All the traveling and walking around and definitely taken a toll on the group. Tomorrow is our last full day but it's probably for the best. I think it's time for some of us to return to the real world with fond memories of this incredible trip.

Glogster- Traveling Abroad

I've put together this Glog- a digital poster- to help organize the things that I have learned while traveling abroad over the last ten years or so. I've included some of the best websites I've come across and some helpful hints and tips. Certainly- there is much more that could be added but this is a great place to start!

AVAST MATEYS! SECURE THE RIGGINS!!!

Pirate speak is necessary when you start your day off on a mighty pirate ship in the treacherous seas of Kensington Gardens!! :) We pillaged and plundered all morning at the Princess Diana Memorial Park before they let the little ones in.

We took full advantage of the beautiful day going on- walking all around Kensington and Hyde Park. There we lots of people out enjoying the great weather, sun bathing, playing in the fountain and going on out boats. It was a perfect way to start our last week in town.

To finish off our day- we had high tea at the Orangery in Kensington. We did it up right with little sandwiches, scones, and of course teeny tiny cakes! We're all looking forward to wrapping up our last week with Hampton Court and Buckingham Palace. Got to leave in style!

Paris- Second and Third Course

Most of us ended up staying the rest of the weekend in Paris because one day just wasn't going to be enough! We had so much more that we wanted to see and do. Angela and her amazing Web finding abilities found out about a "Museum Pass". This pass cost ¢35 and it got you into most of the monuments and museums around town. Usually, you could skip the long lines and get right in. A few of us signed up for this and weren't disappointed! I was able to hit- the Louvre once more, the Arc de Triomphe, the tropical aquarium, museum of cinema, the museum of maritime, and the architecture museum. Now, had I had more energy I would have still had time to take a few more out- but alas, the walking was long, the sleeping was little, and the stairs were great. So we did what we could and still had an amazing time. If you're going to be in Paris for at least two days- the Museum Pass and the 2-day Metro pass are money well spent. I definitely recommend them both!

Make sure that you end your day at the Eiffel Tower. Granted, you'll see it most of the day, but you must take the time to see the show it puts on once the sun goes down.

Paris- First Course

Our first day in Paris began so early that I'm surprised any of us actually remember it. :) It was good to get such an early start on the day though because we had so much to do! As soon as we arrived, we immediately went over to the Louvre. Being the largest museum in the world, it's difficult to see everything in just a few hours but if you plan out a little bit of what you want to see, you'll take in a lot of it and have a great time. I recommend starting off by the Greek statues and the Mesopotamia area. It's not very crowded and the pieces are exquisite. I was blown away by the absolute capturing of the human form in so many contexts and themes. It was mesmerizing.

After the Louvre, we grabbed some delicious sandwiches and joined a "hop-on-hop-off" bus tour to get a feel for the city. If you have the time to do one of these tours, check it out! You'll hit all the major sites around the city and you'll also get a chance to get the lay of the land. If it's a nice day, head to the top of the bus and you'll still be able to enjoy the fresh air.

We concluded our day with a beautiful, scenic boat ride down the Seine and an amazing meal at a little cafe nearby. It was a perfect first day at the start of an unforgettable weekend.

A moveable feast-

"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast."

Ernest Hemingway created a beautiful metaphor with that quote- a movable feast. Paris is the kind of place that stays with you and becomes a part of you. As the hours count down to our departure- 4:30 in the AM esshh!- my thoughts are on that beautiful city. I can't wait to just be there- experiencing it and taking it all in. So stayed tuned readers! The adventure will continue south tomorrow!

Today we visited the famous Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross station. When traveling with a bunch of future librarians- this becomes a mandatory stop on the tour. We definitely held up the line a bit while each of us got our photo in but it was worth it! It's wonderful to see the inspirations and sights of great literature.

After pleasing the book nerd in all of us- we went on the enormous British Library. We are now all proud owners of our library cards and we had a chance to see some of the most valued treasures in their collection. The library has some 180 million copies of books so there wasn't really time to see everything but I did like the Treasure Room with all the featured pieces.

"All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players"

‘The Tudor pack at their most snarling, scheming, ribald, pleasure-seeking and gaily entertaining.’ Daily Telegraph

Tonight we saw a brilliant production of Anne Boleyn at the famous Globe Theatre. It was a beautifully constructed tale of courtly love, dreadful plotting, and the royal throne. The plot of the play weaved in a story of King James and his interest in Anne Boleyn's ideas. It provided a unique and often hilarious sub-plot to the dynamic main story line. It was wonderful to see a show at the Globe and we couldn't of asked for a more beautiful night.

Afterwards, we went strolling along the Thames in search of night-time shots most of which turned out beautifully. Take a look at some of the ones I captured...

From London, with love: A digital photo story

After having spent some time in this wonderful city, I've begun to notice the things this town really loves. This is a story about what London has fallen in love with. Enjoy!

Pictures taken by: Aubrey Clark

Music from: Alex on ccMixter "Improvisation on Friday..."

Alex. (October 19, 2008). Improvisation on Friday...(Recorded by: The 3am Association). On: Mixter (digital recording).

Mysteries and Wonders of the World

Today we traveled as far back as you can go in England- Stonehenge. Such a wonder and mystery- why was it built? What was it used for? How were the people able to construct in the first place? Was it even built by man? These are the questions we pondered while walking around this famous wonder of the ancient world.

After pondering this beautiful monument, we went over to Salisbury- home of the beautiful Salisbury Cathedral, a church that's been going for almost 800 years! It's so amazing what people accomplished with such limited resources. I wonder what will be left of our civilization after a few thousand years. How we will be remembered? Will it be something amazing and mysterious, beautiful and magnificent? Or maybe something terrible? The choice is ours.

After our astonishing tours, we had some free time to walk around and take in the beautiful town. We went to the market and one of the local pubs. While we were out, we found one of the peaceful rivers going through the town with these swans swimming around.

So my photo story is dedicated to that moment and what I saw while watching them swim- check it out!

Tchaikovsky, Pyotr. (2011) Swan Lake, Ballet Suite op 20 (Belgrad Philharmonic Orchestra & Igor Markevich) On Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake- Ballet Suite (Compact disc). Minuetto Classics.

RAA!!ool Rocks London

RAA!!ool has been living it up here in London. Check out his new music video on his travels about town and all that he has seen and done.

Gotta get back in time!

Today we traveled back to where it all began for London. While we walked through the Museum of London, we were immersed into each stage of its life, sharing the joys and sorrows, successes and hard times. The museum was full of so many different kinds of artifacts and packed with multi-media displays so you could really get the full effect. Some of the most interesting spots in the museum included places where they had videos playing- often with real footage and even interviews with people. One of the most moving pieces was a video of the blitz. It's astonishing what the people of London, just ordinary regular people, had to go through.

After the museum, we headed over St. Paul's again but this time we got to check out the magnificent inside! It's just an absolutely amazing structure that words really can't do justice. We toured most of the church and some of us made the long trek up to the Whispering Gallery and on up some more to the Golden Gallery- some 500-odd steps all together! It was absolutely terrifying but the view was worth it!

"Life is a cabaret old chum, come to the cabaret!"

Life can’t be about all work now can it? You’ve got to find time to get what you can done but at some point everyone needs to go out and enjoy what life has to offer! There was much work to be done this weekend- with writing and editing and filming, so it was wonderful to go out and enjoy myself as well.

It can be said that music is a language we all speak and truly love. Though people may try to say that they don’t sing or dance you can catch most doing so at some point. It’s because music is in our souls and hearts- something that we are born with. Saturday was spent in a small but gorgeous little bar in Soho called Molly Moggs and we did just that- singing and dancing ourselves out. It was a night where every song that came on was one we all knew by heart and it created an atmosphere where everyone could enjoy the night together and have a laugh. The crowd was full of lovable characters and are group had such a blast, we will surely return soon. I mean with karaoke every night why would we pick anywhere else?!?

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Today was a day spent in relaxation- a train ride down south with a new friend and an adopted family and the most delicious Sunday roast- that is the truly perfect end to a weekend. It was also the perfect way to re-energize myself for the busy week ahead and get my head focused on the tasks that I and my other classmates will face this week.

You know, it's a little known fact...

Here is my podcast on little known facts about London. There is soooo much more I could have added. This town is full of great stories! I hope you enjoy~

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Bellamy, D.B. (March 2010). London Guide: 70 Little Known Facts About The U.K's Capital, factoidz.

Retrieved from: http://factoidz.com/london-little-known-facts-about-the-uks-capital/ (online article)

Charles/Burrows/Charles. (December 9th, 1982). One for the Books (Cheers). Hollywood, CA: CBS Television Distributer

So far so good!

This week was jam packed with so many different tours and sites and traveling that it is wonderful to get a chance to sit down, relax, and maybe work a bit. :) Today, I took a tour of the British Museum. This was wonderful to see since it features all of the ancient civilizations that we cover in 6th grade. I'm still new to teaching this particular subject so it was amazing to see everything I've been reading about for the past year. There is so much to do and take in that one day will not be enough- I will definitely have to make my way back here. Lucky for me, it's just right down the street!!

I mostly focused on Egypt and Greece today. The burial artifacts of Egypt are stunning especially when you stop to think about how old everything really is! In contrast, Greece becomes more artistically defined and you can almost see civilization humanize. I can't believe that so much has been retained over the years. As an educator, I was also VERY impressed that the museum was FREE! That's something we can all appreciate.

Overall, I think my favorite part of our first week of class, besides just being able to return here in the first place and see my English family, was Oxford. Though I was exhausted the entire day, I was struck by the beauty of the town and it's fondness for education and literature. Those being such big aspects of my life, I was in awe the whole time. For next week, I'm looking forward to visiting Stonehenge and returning to the Globe. Stay tuned!

The Eagle and Child Reunion- it's only a moment away....

Today we visited the fine town of Oxford where we were immersed into more of this country’s rich history. The architecture of the town was truly spectacular! It was a fine opportunity to see what London might have looked like today had the great fire not of occurred. Today, we walked in the footsteps of some of the world’s finest and brightest. The city’s rich literature history was just as equally compelling as its educational.

We visited the Bodleian Library which was absolutely beautifully and also went for an amazing tour of Christ Church. Our tour guide- Shaun aka "Bowler Hat Guy"- was one of our best guides yet! We definitely got the inside scoop and the VIP tour. We ended the day taking a sneak preview of what will be the Story Museum and then had a delightful dinner at the famous Eagle and Child pub or Bird and Baby as it's known to the locals. The talented likes of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien otherwise known as the "Inklings" made it a habit of going round there for drinks and writing some stories a few of you might have heard of... :)

It was wonderful to see such a beautiful town and I'm looking forward to some relaxing this weekend!

Alighting at Horsham

When I first came to London in 2006, I was working on my student teaching. Through a series of events that I had little to no control over, I ended up teaching in smaller town south of London in a town called Horsham. To this day and at the time, I truly believe fate brought me not only to that particular town but also a particular family. I stayed with the Bennett’s during my time in England and truly became one of them. I lived and worked and played with them. I shared my secrets, fears, and happy times with them but most of all, I cam to know them and love them deeply. Tonight, I returned to my English home and saw them once more.

I can’t even tell you what it means to see them. I can’t even begin to describe how much they really mean to me. I can only say that even after 5 years we can still connect once more over a glass of wine or a pint of beer and it’s like we were never a part.

Tonight, we talked of many things. We discussed current events but more importantly, we shared the past together once more. We talked about what had changed (the bathroom and bedrooms) and what hadn’t (Alice’s laugh and Denise’s smile) and we talked about trips and plans and just all the life that can happen to one person in five years. We reminisced about the old days and remembered favorite songs (anything by the Proclaimers) but we also talked about the present and what is going on now in our lives (new schools and futures prospects). The amazing part is that we are all still just as close to one another as we once were. When we look back, it seems like such a long time ago but in our minds it’s like it was only yesterday.

So tonight I dedicate my post to Denise, Simon, Alice and Tom. The four of you made my time in England more meaningful and joyous than I can ever convey in words. You were and are my home away from home and I’m so thankful that you are still here for me now and today. Thank you for taking me in and looking out for me during a difficult time in my life. Thank you for all that you taught me and for everything that you did for me. I will always think of you as family.

"If you dislike change, you're going to dislike irrelevance even more." - Eric Shinseki

The best part of being a teacher and a librarian is that our education is in a constant state of motion and moving forward. We are constantly learning and adapting- we have to. Our students and patrons need us to be there with the answers to anything and everything. I mention this for two reasons: one I thought the quote was fascinating and inspiring and two: I learned something new today. While taking library science classes, we often have to try out new software programs and learn how to use them in the library setting. Today in class, our focus was black and white photos with a splash of color. It sounds easy enough and if you have Photoshop it really is but for those of us out there who don't have this great program we must turn to the Internet for assistance. Stepping outside my comfort zone to learn a new program and a new skill was a little mind melting but the experience of learning something new is what keeps us on our feet. It what keeps us prepared for the future and what it brings.

So about four hours later I finally figured out how to really get RAA!!ool to stand out. :)

Today we went over to the new Olympic Park. This is where the 2012 Summer Olympic games will be held. None of us really knew what to expect from the tour since it's such a "new" area but I think we were all raptured by the amazing Sean once more. His ability to draw in his audience and truly capture the history and essence of his tours and their sites is amazing. The amount of detail that goes into a project like this just blew me away. London should be proud of their foresight and planning. They will do something amazing for these games.

It's RAA!!ool to the RESCUE!!

When traveling in a large group, it's important to have a system in place to be able to keep track of everyone so that you don't lose a member while traveling place to place. A numbering system can work really well or maybe the group can divide into sub-groups but we discovered the BEST solution to be my good friend and mascot, RAA!!ool!! :)

The delightful rainbow puppet makes for the perfect companion on an overseas excursion. Despite his tendency to bite things at random, he is colorful and will always put a smile on your face. Today, we discovered that not only he is awesome but he also stands out in a crowd! Now, it might seem slightly childish or embarrassing to walk around with a sock puppet on your hand in a such a dignified city as London BUT it was comforting to our friends at the back of our line to have a beacon of color leading their way.

We started off our week at the Westminster Abbey with another delightful tour guide, Brian. We learned so much about England's royal line and the rich history this country has to offer. There are some out there that might make jokes about the English monarchy and find it out dated, but I find it fascinating. I love that so much of how the country started is still present today. It feels like you are really there, seeing it all in the past. Visiting England is like going into a time machine- it's all still here.

We heard a beautiful concert at St. Martin's in Field at Traflagar featuring a piano, flute, and oboe. We were only to catch a taste of this beautiful concert before we headed off to the London Eye. Though it can make for a terrifying trip, the scenery is exquisite from that perspective and you get the chance to capture the whole city. Our whirlwind day ended in Notting Hill where we all finally got to check out Harry Potter!!

LONDON: Straight no chaser

I've always thought that one of the best ways to learn your way around somewhere new is to get lost. Start wandering around (hopefully when you have time to do so) and try to find your way around without asking for help or using a map. Now, one shouldn't take this it an extreme or anything but you'll find yourself paying more attention to what's going on around you and what goes where. Just take it all as it comes, as the Bush song goes.

There are so many little things going on around us all the time- things you would miss unless you weren't just sort of wandering. Today on our walking/coach tour of London, our wonderful tour guide (whoslightly resembled Alan Rickman- not just in looks, little of the voice and what I assupersonality to be in real-life, it was AWESOME!) he would often take us off the beaten path to share a random bit of history or odd fact about the area. It was like getting to hear all the dirty gossip about royalty and aristocrats. :)

For our first weekend in London, we definitely covered a lot of ground. It was good to get a nice tour around the city today to give everyone a general idea of where we are. I'm looking forward to seeing more sights and learning more about this amazing country later on. Hopefully, RAA!!ool will be able to make it out tomorrow for more photo opportunities!

Sometimes it just seems silly

When you're staying somewhere outside the comforts of home, you will obviously see differences between the two places but I advise you to look for the little differences out there. Don't just accept what you have and think that's all there ever was and will be- look beyond and begin to question the world around you. Open yourself up to new perspectives and begin to ask "Why are things this way?"

In doing so, you'll begin to see the world in a new light. You see things from a different angle and you might surprise yourself with your insights. Being able to do these things is something that makes us the unique creatures we are.

Remember that there is more to life than work. To take time for yourself and to relax in the moment. Why not sit in the park on your lunch break and read a good book or take a short nap? Why not play with your kids in the fountain, or at least push some obnoxious ones into one. :) Sit with some friends and catch up- or simply enjoy a cup of good tea. These are things that make life meaningful and worth living. It's something we need to be more mindful of and it's certainly something our fellow neighbors to the East haven't forgotten. Sometimes- the way we get stuck doing things just seems silly.

And so it begins...

Today was the first official start day of our program. This morning, as we all arrived, we got a chance to get familiar with the study center, the surrounding area, and the teachers and staff. The study center and our flats are located just outside the heart of London. We are just minutes away from Covent Garden and Trafalger Square. It's a wonderful location. The center itself is right on Great Russell St just a little ways from the British Museum. I can't wait to continue exploring around tomorrow.

The neighborhood we are staying in is absolutely gorgeous- We are actually a little ways away from the center in Bedford Place but we have our own flats! It's very posh and there are two beautiful parks nearby. Despite my initial trials and obstacles- everything is fitting into place perfectly now.

RAA!ool's Wild Ride

Check out what RAA!!ool has been up to this last week.

Bitter Sweet

Considering that it took a little over 24 hours to return to my beloved England, I'd say bitter sweet describes the day exactly. I love to travel. For a person who can never, NEVER have a job that involves driving through traffic each day- traveling is relaxing for me. I honestly don't mind the delays or the people everywhere. I love to people watch and extra wait time just means that I get to read my book that much longer. :) Today however, certainly caused a bit of trouble.

I left my home in Missouri around 5:30 on Monday to make my 7:30 flight to Minneapolis and then catch the 9:45 on to Heathrow. Everything was moving along smoothly until I made it to Minnesota. I was actually excited when my connecting flight was moved from Atlanta to Minneapolis- I thought "Oh hey this will be great! The airport won't be as busy and there will be fewer problems- HUZZAH!" Well friends, that didn't really turn out that way.

First we were delayed because some other plane was in our spot, then my connecting flight was in G concourse while I was in C and I had about 2 minutes to get there. I make it to my plane sweating and damn near close to an asthma attack but then I find out that we are delayed due to a maintenance thing. Again I thought to myself, "Oh that will be great, I can sit here and relax a bit- we've got all night to fly right? What's an extra 30 minutes or so?"

Famous last words friends.

We sit and we sit and we sit- the powers that be keep assuring us that it will only be another 15 minutes or so. Right. Almost 2 hours later, they give us the unfortunate news that the plane cannot take off and we will have to wait for a new one. This isn't the ideal situation but at least there's another plane right? :) They told us it would fly out at 3:30 AM but that friends turned into almost 5 AM. You know, there's only so much you can do in an airport in the middle of the night. I would also like to point out that those floors are not meant for anyone to sleep on.

I will say though, my spirits were still high! :) I had a great book to read and they gave us food vouchers and even gave us $100 Delta bucks in case we want to give them a second chance. Not likely boys. ;) The flight over went great (once we finally took off) there were great movies to watch and the chicken was pretty tasty.

I finally make it in to Ol' Blighty and a feeling home sweet home envelops me. I had forgotten how much this place means to me. I had a long trek from Heathrow down to Horsham- but it gave me the chance to see the city and take it all in.

I wanted to stay in Horsham because when I came here before that's where I lived. I wanted to get here early and see my old English family and get settled in. So I arrive at the last train stop in my old English town and I realize how late it is and that I have forgotten to book a room for the night. Opps! "No worries!" I tell myself- (I wish I would stop giving myself advice) "It's a tiny English town- surely there is one little room for moi!" But since today is the travel day from hell- I of course was wrong again! I called everywhere and not one hotel-bed and breakfast-or lonely shack on the street had a room for me.

So what do you do when it's midnight and you're in a foreign country and you have no where to stay?

Sit on the side of the road and panic of course!! :)

Thankfully, a cab driver took pity on me and took me around to other hotels until we found one just outside of Horsham. So here's my break down of the day:

Traveling the underground to get to the train station- $5

Train back to visit my lovely Horsham- $20

Making endless phone calls using your credit card trying to find somewhere to stay- amount unknown since my card stopped working after a while

Buying a train ticket back to Gatwick to find a hotel service only to find that there are no more trains running this evening- $6

Driving round Horsham and the surrounding area looking for someone who will take me in-$35

Finally finding a place (though I think they only took me in because of my tear stained-face and red eyes) and getting to take a hot shower- priceless.

Click here to view my first podcast!

Check out my first podcast!

London Baby!

This will serve as my personal blog to document my time in London and Paris this summer. Here you will find my reflective yet random thoughts during my time and also plenty of visual aspects to show what an amazing time I'm having!! :) ENJOY!