Thanksgiving Thoughts

Okay, I know I said I would post about the rest of my Paris trip this week but I've been busy. I promise I will get that done this weekend (that's a lie because Liz will be here. I'M SORRY I AM TRYING). 

I thought that I would take a moment to express what I am thankful for, even though I am unable to celebrate Thanksgiving. 

The basic list:

• Bill Sheasgreen (and the entire ICLC staff)
• Gluten free digestives
• Cadbury
• Edible gluten free bread
• Skype/Google Hangouts
• Netflix

Those are the things I am thankful for, not only on a daily basis, but especially today as they are helping me cope with the distinct lack of turkey and sweet potato pie in my tummy. 

On a more serious note, I have a lot to be thankful for, this year more than most.

I am incredibly thankful for this study abroad opportunity. I knew that I was going to learn a lot about a different culture and go new places but I did not anticipate learning so much about life and myself in a short few months. I've learned so much about who I am and what I can do. Finding somewhere to live and adjusting to life on a new continent all on my own has made me much more confident in my life skills. I've learned how to make new friends, which doesn't seem like a huge deal but I've never really had the experience of going to a new place and not knowing a single person. Even when I moved to Ithaca I had Liz so there was one person that I could always talk to (or steal food from those few times). 

I've learned that there are some people in the world that are truly terrible and most of the time you just have to suck it up and deal with them, but also that sometimes it is okay to be blunt and stand up for yourself. Most importantly I've learned that you don't have to be be friends with everyone. It's exhausting trying to be nice to someone when they can't even provide basic respect--- you don't have to be nice to everyone, as long as you aren't being mean it's all good. 

I've learned that I hate living in a messy apartment (you win, Mom and Dad). I love coming home to a clean house. Dishes in the sink, cups on the counter, and things laying around where they don't belong make me angrier than the Hulk. A clean house is a happy (and not smelly) house. 

I've learned to appreciate my friends and family more. I never experienced homesickness before coming here, and it stinks. There is literally an ocean between me and my loved ones which makes me appreciate the little things and daily interactions so much more. My friends in Ithaca make an effort to keep me up to date with all of the excitement (or lack thereof) at school, my family chats with me so that I don't feel left out even though I am missing so much. And despite being quite literally on the opposite side of the world, Rachel has managed to torture--I mean, entertain me, all the way from New Zealand. 

I have some pretty amazing people in my life and I cannot wait to see them all when I get home. 

Finally, I am most grateful for the opportunity to be able to HANG OUT WITH MY SISTER HERE IN LONDON. That's right, Duchess Kate and Queen Elizabeth are taking over London for a few days. Brace yourself, England. It's gonna be a bumpy ride. 

xoxo,

Kaity

Paris Hold the Key to Your Heart: Day One

The movies aren't lying: Paris is awesome. 

Let's be honest- yes, the Metro is dirty- yes, it smells like pee and feet, but once you get past that its pretty freaking magical. 

My favorite book, movie, doll, and cassette tapes were about Madeline. My favorite Disney (and one non-Disney but equally as awesome) movies were at least partially set in Paris (The Aristocats, Anastasia, etc., etc.). Come on---How could it not be my life's goal to visit Paris at least once?

Well, seven year old Kaity would be very happy because not only did I go to Paris last weekend but it was better than I ever could have imagined. 

Day One:  Notre Dame and The Louvre 

Our train to Paris left at the crack of dawn on Friday morning- and yes, I do mean the crack of dawn. My alarm went off at 4am... I wanted to die but I was also obviously extremely excited. We were (surprisingly) successfully out of the flat by 5am and on time to the train station. 

Some of us came highly prepared for the journey... (well done, Mary. You rock that neck pillow girl). 

I was far too excited to sleep so I spent the two hours listening to the soundtracks from Phantom, Les Mis, and Anastasia. 

Once we arrived in Paris we quickly dropped our stuff off at the hostel and then went on a glorious walk led by none other than Bill Sheasgreen. It was pouring rain the entire time, but it was still amazing. On his walk we went to that bridge with all of the locks on it, Notre Dame, and we stopped outside of the Louvre. 

The candle I lit in Notre Dame

Bill in action

**I'm only putting up a few pictures here, there are a ton more on my Facebook page if you are interested!**

Notre Dame was amazing. It's magnificence cannot be captured in a few photos. Everything about it was fantastic, even though the gargoyles did not start singing to me. 

After the walk was over my friends and I decided to have a little down time in the hostel before dinner and the trip to the Louvre. The hostel was pretty awesome, our beds had curtains so it was like being in your own little cave. 

After a quick rest we went to the Louvre to explore. OBVIOUSLY the first thing I did was head straight for the Mona Lisa. Let me set the record straight here, it is small, but not nearly as small as I was anticipating. Some of the pictures make her look tiny but really that's just because the railing is so far back from the wall. Once we found her I couldn't pass up taking the ultimate selfie...

And once we got that out the way we explored (got lost) in other parts of the Louvre. 

After walking around for hours and feeling like we were all going to collapse we decided to go back to the hostel to hang out until we fell asleep. The hostel was having a huge party that night but we just stayed in our room eating snacks and singing along to the music that was blasting downstairs (and also creeping on our friends who we could see across the courtyard.).

Day Two is going to have to wait until tomorrow. I'm tired and I need snacks. 

xoxo, 

Kaity

RIP October

While the best month of the year (don't even try to say it's not true) is over, I am more than ready to say hello to November!

So many good things are happening in November this year! As of today there are.... 6 days until my Paris trip, 21 days until Liz gets here, 25 days until I go to Marrakesh, and 56 days until I fly home!!!! So many amazing things are happening so soon! 

The past few weeks have also been exciting (and busy)! Halloween was last week and it was pretty fun! I FINALLY got to go to Chipotle, which was AMAZING. Especially because they had a special where if you came in costume you could get a two pound 'boorito'. So I threw on some cat ears and whiskers and got really cheap Chipotle. After getting this delicious food, a bunch of friends and I went to a party at our friends' flat. We watched Halloweentown (YAAAAAAAAAS!) and hung out for a few hours. 

This past Wednesday was cool because I got to celebrate a holiday that we do not have in the United States, Guy Fawkes' Day, aka Bonfire Night, aka The Fifth of November. 

Remember! Remember! The Fifth of November,

The Gunpowder Treason and plot!

I know of no reason The Gunpowder Treason

should ever be forgot!

If you have seen V for Vendetta you probably know what I am talking about. Basically Guy Fawkes tried to blow up Parliament while EVERY important person (including the King) was inside because they were Protestant and he was Catholic. They caught him at the last minute and foiled his plans. He and his co-conspirators were executed for treason. At first it was celebrated as an anti-Catholic festival but now the meaning is gone. 

Unfortunately, the school decided to schedule one of our DLT performances on the evening of the fifth so I MISSED EVERYTHING. I was pretty upset, but there were people protesting anyway so it was probably a good thing. 

Yesterday was also exciting as we got to go see a debate on Doctor-assisted suicide at the House of Lords. We only stayed for an hour (because it pretty much went on all day) but what we saw was pretty cool! It was interesting to see not only the differences in opinions about this between the UK and US but the differences between the House of Lords and House of Commons. The Lords are so much more respectful and...quiet. PMQ gets especially rowdy in the Commons so it was nice to see a different side of the government. 

I am super busy writing papers and studying for quizzes, and finals (ah, so soon?) but I've only got 5 weeks left of classes and then the real fun begins! 

xoxo, 

Kaity