Uffff.

I really hope people had a better first day and first week of school, because mine absolutely sucked. So, I now I have to catch you up on London, I will get to that another time, because I'm on an iPad and it's too long to write from here.

So my first day was, how do I put this... Interesting. So I get off the bus, 10 minutes before school starts, with no schedule. I think my brain couldn't read the alphabet or something, so I went to the wrong homeroom in the first place. They then sent me to room 223 where I should have been placed. I was not on the list, so they told me to go to the sophomore homeroom, I went to my old geometry class, where I met my old geometry teacher in 326. I was not on that list and so I made my way down to the Library.

In the library, they told me my homeroom was 226, so I made my way to room 226, well it was N-O and my last name is M. So I obviously wasnt on that list either. So I went back down to the library where I waited in a long line. Then when it was my turn, they out me on the side and told me there was a problem with me. Then this lady took me to the Grade Level Office, telling me on the way that I was "invisible" and the "mystery woman of the hour". I saw my counselor, she gave me my schedule then told me to go to room 226.

"I've already gone there, I'm not on the list, it's not my homeroom," I replied.

Then another lady took me outside to look at the list, "Your in 10th grade-"

"I'm not in 10th grade. I'm a junior. I know I'm a junior."

"It says here that your a sophomore."

"Well, I'm a junior." then we went back into the grade level office.

Turns out I'm still considered a sophomore and am in a sophomore homeroom.

So I'm a junior that's considered a sophomore that's taking senior English.

It's so confusing.

Made. My. Day.

Dear Parents of Richard M-,

Richard is again invited to travel and study in the summer of 2012, this time to Australia and New Zealand. She will join other high school students from the north H- area as a part of People to People, an educational exploration program founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. You know all the potential that lies within Richard and this is her unique opportunity to stand apart from peers.

Richard can experience 17 days of rewarding activities and meet the people of Australia and New Zealand, all while earning high school or university credit. -

If you didn't know by now - Richard is my dad. :)

Alexa has also stated that she will be keeping this letter and framing it.

The party was amazing Just thought I’d tell you this.

Soooo I owe you another Ketchupp

So the next day we rode a bus to Epsom, where we went to a park and played on a playground. It was sooo much fun, then we went to this place, climbed a tree and then had a stick/sword fight then headed back. We met this guy that’s in our year at our school and that’s coming to the party tonight and got on the bus to go back to Alaima’s.  Then we went to go watch Princess Bride in the park  and afterwards we went to TGI Friday’s.

The next day, we went to the Beach, or Brighton, where it was so windy that the waves were humongous and it looked like the ocean was angry.  The water was FREEEEEZING, even colder than Lake Michigan!!!!!!! Alaima realized that she dropped her phone in the sea, but we played in the ocean anyways.  After this, we were so wet and it was cold so we attempted to dry ourselves with the wind with no success, but no worries,  we dried off slowly. We ate lunch then headed to the pier where, I was the reigning champion on Guitar Hero.  We went into a haunted house that was more laughable than scary, which was totally fine with me. Then we rode on  a ride sort of like the one you see in the Sandlot, and then a baby ride… we rode the baby ride 3 times… Then we went to Alaima’s.

Monday, we woke up late, got Alaima a new phone, then headed to Central London. We got into Mayfair, I got a mango passionfruit drink that made my dayyyy, then walked down Bond Street, then walked to Picadilly Circus, walked to Green Park, saw Buckingham Palace, walked around St. James’s Park, walked to Westminster, got the tube to South Kensington, posed with a poster of Justin Bieber, got Phish Food, took it to Hyde Park where we ate the whole pint in, oh, 5 minutes at most. Then we climbed this awesome tree.  We headed to Edgware Road where we had dinner then went back to Alaima’s.

Tuesday, we weren’t allowed to go anywhere but Kingston because of the stupid riots. So we watched a few movies and hung out for basically the whole day.  Then at the end of the day we met Yousoff at Frangos and we stayed for a really long time. So then we walked Yousoff to the train station where there was these creepy guys (who I’m pretty sure were drunk) were staring. So we hugged Yousoff goodbye and the guy went in for a hug from Alaima. I was so proud of her, she stepped back, put her hand out and said, “Excuse me, no.”

The guy replied, “What I don’t get a kiss goodbye?”

Yousoff looked at the guy and said, “You want a kiss goodbye?”

“No! Not from you!” They got on the train and rode away. Then we hopped on a bus and went back to Alaima’s.

Today we ran some errands and hung out. Now we’re getting ready for the party.  Cant wait!!!! So excited!!  

 

Until next time,

Amberr

Part 2 of the London Experience

We woke up at 9:15am and were out of the house by 11.  We were all so tired, anyway, we went on the train to Waterloo, tube to Leicester Square, then another tube to Russell Square. The tube station had stairs or elevators and the elevators were PACKED. So we decided to go for the 175 steps to the surface. By the end, we were panting and wanting water so we went to Tesco’s to buy some water. We got our water and walked to the British Museum.  It was BEAUTIFUL.  Magnificent. Simply amazing.  There was so much there, of course it IS the British Museum.  Although I did not see the Rosetta Stone, I saw mummies and a LOAD of artifacts. The architecture was amazing, as well.

After this, we decided to get sandwiches and head to the park we found on the way to the British Museum. So we’re walking and walking and we found a Sainsbury where Gemma and I got sandwiches (Alaima’s fasting) and I bought chips.  We walked back to the park and as we’re half way through the park, we realize something. This isn’t the same park.

So we kept walking and found the park and sat down to eat.  We ate our food and our energy levels soared. Fed the pigeons. We walked back to the Underground, walked down the 175 steps and got a tube to Covent Garden.  We arrived at Covent Garden and climbed the 195 steps to the surface.  By the end of this, our legs were shaking.  We looked at the street performers (I think my favorite was the silver guy who went into Boots to spray on his abs) and went to the apple store where we climbed more stairs. 

Then I met Alaima and Gemma’s friend, Yousoff, and we walked around Covent Garden, going into some stores.  We then decided to walk somewhere.  I’m not sure where our original goal was to end up. Anyway.

So we’re walking past this huge, old building and it’s the Freemason Museum.  Well, Yousoff and Alaima were very excited about this (they’re more conspiritists, or whatever you call them), so Gemma and I said, “sure”. We go in and they have cameras EVERYWHERE.  Then we had to get a pass. We go upstairs and the whole place is silent. Yousoff and Alaima then saw a door and were like OMG. So Gemma and I were like, “OMG it’s a window!!!” Then we pass down this hallway and we can see the museum.  This place was CREEPY. I did not get a good vibe from this place. It was like a horror movie and one of us was going to get killed any minute. I stuck with Gemma, so I’m not sure what was going through my brain, but I was like, “I’m gonna trip Gemma, so I stick my foot in front of Gemma’s” and I ended up falling on the ground. I couldn’t help it, I started to laugh and so did Gemma.  The place was SILENT. I’m pretty sure, the looks we were getting, were not happy ones.  So we look around, I wasn’t paying much attention to anything, just staying close to Gemma and Alaima. So Gemma agreed that this place was creepy, so we decided to get out of there.  She tripped on the wall. Impossible? I thought so too, until today. So we started laughing at that. We ran out of that place as fast as we could. I wont ever go back to that place, even if someone were to bribe me all the money in the world. NO WAY.

So we decided to walk to Embankment, where the River Thames flowed. We sat there and just talked and sat some more.  After we sat, we walked to Trafalgar Square, had a mini water fight with the water from the fountain then sat down on the steps.  After a while, we crossed the bridge and watched some of the street performers. My favorite was the bubble guys that blew giant bubbles.  We walked past the London Eye, then walked to this place with a bunch of graffiti that’s allowed to be there. Then we walked to Waterloo station, Gemma, Alaima and I got on a train, sat down, got to our stop then walked back to Alaima’s house.

I think my feet might fall off, they hurt so much.  Now nobody’s talking, because everybody is so tired.

Not sure what we’re doing tomorrow, but I assure you I am wearing comfy shoes.

Until next time,

Amber

1 word : London

Part 1

I landed in the airport and went to customs where I got intensely interrogated, received my luggage and met Alaima and Gemma where they ran to greet me and hug me.  Alaima’s mother drove us to her house, where I’ll be staying for the next two weeks.  We hung out, then we hopped on a bus and got off and walked to my old house.

As you can see, the weird brown tree died.

We then walked on the Queens Promenade to Kingston where we went to Starbucks to get water, then to Bentalls to try on funny, weird, ugly clothing. We then ventured to O2 to top up my phone, it was successful and we walked out of there and returned to Alaima’s.

We hung out at Alaima’s for quite a lot of time, talking, and talking. 

Then we went to Frango’s for dinner and it was AMAZING. I realllllly liked it. Then we parted ways with Gemma and I stayed up with Alaima. I don’t think I’ve laughed so much in SO long. It was amazing.

Then I woke up this morning and then Gemma walked in and we talked. It was raining and we had planned to go to the park and watch a movie, so we hung out and then we went to the park. But we didn’t stay, we just walked around.  So we decided to run our errands, Gemma went to the bank, I went back to the O2 store to say that it hasn’t done anything.

Well, lets just say I was not happy, they would not refund me my 15 pounds even though it was their fault really. Well I wont go into detail, because well I wont. 

So then we went back to Alaima’s, got into our pjs, skyped with my family then we went to this field.  We danced and took many pictures, then ate pizza . Its awesome. I feel like I never left, at first it felt like a dream, but seriously it feels like I never left.  I love it here and being with my friends is amazing.

Till next time!!!!!! Love you all!!

Buhbye for now

Falling In Love with English Boys part 4 or 5

I've lost track of which part it is...

Anyway, it freaked me out when it was saying that she was studying for her Ap English and world history tests - which is what mine were.
But, alas! here comes a difference between my life and the book!
The character goes back to visit London in the winter break, well obviously that didn't happen for me and I board the plane today! So super excited!
Wish me luck!