Our 44th President

As much as I absolutely love having the opportunity to be in England right now, I wish that just for one day this semester I could have been back in America. Election day yesterday was such an incredible rush here with us Americans buzzing about it and the Brits putting in their input, but I know it would have been even cooler in America...and I would be much less tired as I stayed up past 4am until Barack Obama was secured as the United States next president.

This is the first presidential election that I have taken an active role in. I remember the past two quite well and know that I watched the polls roll in for them, but this one felt much more personal. I think part of it is the fact that everyone is talking about it, reporting on it, and asking me who I am voting for. (This is especially true when I meet new people and they realize I am American.) The election of our next president is not only affecting America, and this has been shown to me in so many ways because of the places I have been in the last few months.

Since this blog is about my experience in London, I feel that this is a crucial point to blog about. History was made yesterday (this morning for me) as Obama was the first black man to ever be appointed to presidency. I know you all know this, but my roommates were all trying to think of the magnitude of this as we sat in our London loft. When we have grandchildren, my roommates and I are going to say that we watched the election in London, where the BBC tried to report as efficiently as possible but multiple technical difficulties, people talking over one another, and literal fights about journalists all busted out in between coverage of the election. It was definitely not the streamline CNN reporting that any of us are used to.

The same images and segments were put on repeat with the BBC, just as they are with CNN, but there were multiple instances in which no one knew what to say next. They didn't know if they were going to a reporter on-site, and if so the sound was almost never working. Reporters who were on-site were shown just chatting with party-goers instead of giving the latest updates a few times. And, an US ambassador to the UN was on the BBC and after one bit literally said "First of all, that reporter should be fired. He was fighting with that man and he should not be a credited journalist." Yes, the reporter was disagreeing with the man he was asking questions to, but there are cultural differences that must be recognized, as well. British journalism just isn't approached in the same way as American journalism is. There were loaded questions being asked multiple times (where the answer is within the question.) Anyways, it was very interesting to watch. In my British Broadcasting class we talk about differences in the way things are reported in the UK and the US, and I have experienced it first hand at my internship. This one example just shows how culture really does differ and matter between countries, even if they do speak the same language.

Well that is enough of that. To illustrate my claims that the world is included in this election, I am posting a few random photos I have taken in other countries. Obama had the majority of publicity everywhere - I rarely saw anything posted about McCain.

Graffiti down an alley near the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy.

A speech was being held to discuss issues relating to the campaign in Dublin, Ireland.

This cover of a magazine was plastered poster-size on almost every street in Paris, France.

One last difference in the elections is the way Barack Obama's name was said. I would have given anything to go to the BBC and tell their reporters that it is BA-Rock O-bah-ma, but instead they seemed very happy saying Ber-eck E-bah-mer. (A British accent adds an "r" to words ending in "a." For example, a girl named "Emma" would have her name pronounced "Emmer.") This was very annoying. They got McCain right, though.

And one final note: Remember, Remember the 5th of November. It's Guy Fawkes day!

Paris - The City of Lights

First of all, if you are in America and haven't yet, GO VOTE! :)

And now on to Paris!

We took the Eurostar (train) from Bordeaux to Paris in the early hours of Friday, Oct 24. Turns out, the Bordeaux train station couldn't connect to the website that we bought our tickets off of so we finally ended up getting them a few minutes, literally minutes, before our train took off. We ran to the train and finally got on at 7:27am. The train took off at 7:28am. Talk about cutting it close.

The French countryside was really pretty - there were beautiful houses and land and since we were in the middle of wine country, there were tons of vineyards. We finally arrived at Gare du Montparnasse around 10:30am and took a taxi to our hotel, as we had no idea how to get to it by any other means. The taxi only ended up costing us €26, split between 6 people and we got to take the scenic route - across the Seine, past the Louvre and seeing our first glimpse at the Eiffel Tower, just like in the movies.

Straight from our hotel we decided to walk past the Opera House and then on to the Louvre, taking in one of the most famous sights in all of Paris!

Me, Heather, Veronica and Mary Kate in front of the pyramid entrance to the Louvre.

We didn't go into the Louvre this day, but we did walk all the way through the Gardens de Tuileries, then through the long stretch of the Champs Elysees and on to the Arc de Triomphe.

Another view of the Louvre and an Arc.

In the Tuileries Gardens, I was a tree hugger. I have a very similar picture next to a tree statue in Dublin, Ireland.

We all hung out around this fountain for awhile. There was an artists' exhibition going on for three days only and we happened to be there during it! So, there were random pieces of artwork all around the Garden, including a revamping of the fountain and tree houses! (Pictured is Andrea, me, Erica, Mary Kate, and Heather.)

The Arc de Triomphe!!!

I'm not sure if you know what that is in the background, but, it is definitely the EIFFEL TOWER. We were all pretty impressed. Here is Heather and me on top of the Arc de Triomphe. We had to climb 284 steps that spiral all the way to the top, but it was worth it once we were there.

After all of this we took a nice long scenic walk back to our hotel, taking in everything that is Paris, including baguettes and crepes. MMmmm. We got ready to go out for the night and made our first stop the Eiffel Tower. It was breathtaking.

Erica, Andrea, Veronica, me, Heather, Mary Kate and the Eiffel Tower. So cool.

We went to eat at a restaurant near the monument and then decided we wanted to go down closer to the area that the Eiffel Tower is in. We were planning on going up the next day, but decided on a whim that we should go up at night! So we did. And it was incredible. They pack you into one elevator like sardines and you shoot up at an angle to get to the first and second viewing areas. Then, you get into another elevator which pushes its way to 905 feet in the air to get to the top. We got off here and looked with awe at Paris.

Erica, Mary Kate, me and Andrea on the top of the Eiffel Tower! It was beautiful, cold, a little scary and just really exciting.

This is how far from home (Etats Unis is United States in French) we are. Andrea, Veronica and Mary Kate are all from Massachusetts, so the NY distance was actually pretty close to their actual distance.

And then, when we decided to head back down to the second level (at around 500 feet) we got off and it started sparkling! Very cool. I am such a tourist.

Bordeaux, France

Wednesday, Oct 22 was an entire day of travel. We were up at 5am in Galway to get on a bus back to Dublin. We then took another bus from the train station in Dublin to the airport. Then, we were in the absolutely best plane situation we could have been in - our plane was very under-booked and we had all already made our seat reservations at windows. So, all six of us were in a line of windows at the back of the plane with the other 2 seats next to us completely open. It was amazing. After so many days of travel and tours and everything, all we wanted to do on our transportation was sleep, so we got all got to sleep the entire way to Bordeaux! As you can tell, I was really impressed. We had been traveling all day, so by the time we got to Bordeaux (where we took another bus to the main train station) we got ready and then went up to a main area for the night.
At the Place de la Bourse, which overlooks the Garonne River. The girls are in front of the Fountain of the Three Graces. The women in the fountain had breast cancer awareness ribbons around them when we were there! It was very cool. We went out to eat at a lovely restaurant in a side street - a very French meal was definitely had. We had a three course meal with wine that was made right in Bordeaux, which is in the French wine country. Our waitress was so nice - she asked us if we were students and what we were studying. She tried to get us to use the minimal French we knew and she worked on her English to make our stay more enjoyable. It was just a great time - we had so many courses and fun and ended up staying at the restaurant for at least 2 hours. We then walked back through a few main areas of the city and went back to our hotel.

In Bordeaux and Paris we found it easier and more cost-efficient to get a hotel room for four people (the most allowed in any hotel) and use it for the six of us. So, we slept three on a bed and continuously went in in small groups instead of all six of us at one time, so as to not be noticed. The things we do to save money.


The second day in Bordeaux, we got up and went on a two-hour long walking tour. The woman giving our tour was actually giving two tours at the same time - one in French and one in English. She would start out by saying the information in French and then turn to us and speak in English. She was such a good tour guide, though, and always made sure we understood what she was trying to say.There was also a carnival (they call it a fair)! There is a fair in Bordeaux twice a year, every year. It was next to the center and the main park area, open to the river whenever there isn't a fair.

Bordeaux is made within a crescent along the river. There are two different sides, the main side and then the modern side. We went on to the modern side to see the Botanical Gardens.

Mary Kate, Erica and Veronica showing some love to one another as they walked through the water garden area.

The Cailhau Gate on the old side of Bordeaux.

Place de la Bourse in the daytime. This foggy area goes off multiple times per day and includes water during the times when it is not steaming. It looks like a mirror and shows the exact replication of the Place de la Bourse area.

Included within our tour price was the opportunity to go wine-tasting. After we finished seeing the sights of Bordeaux, we went and had our wine-tasting and then went on to a restaurant named Baud et Millet. Baud et Millet boasts over 250 types of cheeses and a number of wines, as well. We all had one of the most delicious meals of the trip which included the freshest cheese I have ever eaten.

On our way home, we decided to walk towards the river so we could follow it home. Here is the opera house, and us imitating the Greek godesses at the top!

Heather, me, Andrea, Erica and Mary Kate doing our best impressions.


Andrea and I then decided we really wanted to go on the Ferris Wheel, and we got everyone to come with us! Even the two who are incredibly afraid of heights. It was SO cool - we got to see the city at night, the river and bridges and the entire carnival. It was a great end to the night.On the ferris wheel! Heather, Veronica, Mary kate, me, Andrea, and Erica.

Cliffs of Moher - Galway Day 2!

On our second day in Galway, we decided to do a day tour of the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren. The tour bus picked us up in front of our hostel and then we met up with other people for the trip. We traveled through the Burren, which is one of the largest areas of limestone rock in Western Europe. The rock showed through all of the land, with grass only growing around it. Our first stop was at the Aillwee Caves, one of the oldest caves in Ireland, which has 3,400 feet of passages leading into the heart of the mountain that it is contained in.

Veronica and I in the cave.

This is a waterfall within the cave that has mass amounts of calcite build-up. Calcite seemed to be the only real mineral in the cave. It makes up the limestone rock that is within the Burren. (Yay for learning something in my Geology class last semester!)

The cave stop had a really great view of the Irish countryside. The bay is also in the background on the right side. (Andrea, me, Veronica, Mary Kate, Erica and Heather.)

After this we headed onto a pub where I had my first plate of Sheperd's Pie. (I know, it has taken me quite a while to have it, but it was delicious!) Then we stopped at a coastside area known as Blackhead, with an excellent view of Galway Bay. It was gorgeous!

Galway Bay - it was so windy my hat almost fell off!

And here are the seriously phenomenal Cliffs of Moher!

We climbed one of the cliffs to see everything - it was so beautiful.The Cliffs and me.

A couple of us then climbed up to a different cliff, too. This is the one we were on in the first few pictures! We were all the way over where the castle-type structure is on the top. It was too bad it was under construction.

The first cliff and I!

Our final destination was a stop at Poulnabrone Dolmen - a megalithic monument tomb that was an ancient burial site.

The day tour was such a great way to see these areas and definitely took its toll on us. (We had to bundle up to go - wearing multiple layers, hats, gloves, etc.) The whole tour was so cool, though! It has unanimously been named one of the absolute best things that we did by everyone who was on our trip.

Gorgeous Galway

From Dublin, we took a morning bus across the country to Galway. The trip was so great - the countryside of Ireland is definitely one of the best parts of it, in my opinion. After we got settled, we went to a pub named "Paddy's" for lunch and then decided to walk through the square and on to see a few touristy-things as this was going to be our only day actually in the town. (We did another tour outside of the city the second day.)

We started off by walking through the Latin Quarters, which is were all of the shopping and most of the restaurants are. We then continued on to walk to the gorgeous bay.

So serene.

These steps led right to the water. If we would have gone down a few more we may have been sucked into the current! It was SO windy this day, too, that the water was rushing along. (Veronica, Erica, Me, and Mary Kate.)

This is the Spanish Arch - one of four - that were built in 1854.

We walked out onto this little strip of land between two parts of the bay. It was SO cold and windy here, but also incredibly beautiful.

Our Galway hostel was the best way we have stayed yet - we had a 6-person private room so it was just like our own hotel room, but we each had our own bed! We even had a bathroom within our room. We went to a place called Fat Freddy's for pizza/pasta this night and then went out with one of Mary Kate's best friends, Kara, who is studying abroad in Galway. We went to a club and got to experience a little Irish college culture, as it seems the majority of the people who make up the population of Galway are college students. One interesting thing about their club scene is that the clubs hire people to give out stamps in the middle of the streets. If you get a stamp, then you can get into the clubs for free. It is a strange system, but you can bet that we all ran to each person and had at least 5-6 stamps on our hands by the end of the night!

Here is Erica, me, Andrea and Mary Kate out in Galway!